Warrior Dash - Jackson MS

So a friend at work sent me a link to the Warrior Dash (www.warriordash.com).  I had never heard of it before and decided it sounded AWESOME!  So me and my husband (www.coachcrystalspadawan.wordpress.com) signed up for the April 21 race in Jackson MS along with one of our friends.  We tried convincing a few others but they chickened out!
Anyway, I figured I had the running part down, no problem.  I run 5.5 miles regularly.  Plus, I have done Insanity numerous times and P90X numerous times and just finished P90X2.  I was worried about the obstacles, climbing walls in particular.
Well, it was freaking freezing cold that Saturday morning!  We were running on crazy adrenaline.  I drank a 5 hour energy (yep, I use them all the time), and the boys were chugging Monster energy drinks.  We opted to run in the first wave at 8 a.m.  Best decision ever!
So we start the race to Eye of the Tiger - what a brilliant way to get everyone hyped up.  Mud, mud and more mud.   Mud everywhere.  I remember standing in the gate waiting to start and seeing that people had duck taped their shoes on - I thought that was totally odd and unnecessary.  Well, after the first mud pit, I ended up running past a girl who was wearing one shoe - maybe duck tape was necessary after all!
Anyway, running ended up being the hardest part, especially the last .9 miles.  I started out at a faster pace than I normally run because I was running with the boys.  They are 6 foot 2 inches or taller and I am 5 foot 2 inches - for every one step they took I took 1.5 to 2.  But I refused to let them start out ahead of me.  (Yes, that's me jumping over fire - one of the last 4 obstacles)

Anyway, so the key ended up being well-hydrated.  When the boys stopped for water along the way, I kept going.  I always try to drink a ton of water (at least 32 oz but hopefully 64) before I run.  In my first Dash, I ended up in the top 15% overall and top 4% for women my age (why the heck do I have to have an age group????!!!!).  At the end we were all drunk on adrenaline and ready to run again!  Of course, we didn't do it.  It was freezing cold and overcast.  We went and got a beer instead!

So the boys are signed up to do another Dash in GA while I am out of town.  Then we are all signed up to do the one in AL in October.  I am pumped.  I think I am going to IN for the one in August and have convinced my sister and her girlfriend (and they have convinced some of their friends) to do it too.  I am totally addicted!  It's a good cause too - St. Jude.  You can choose to be a St. Jude Warrior and commit to raise a minimal amount of money for St. Jude, which I did.  Cannot wait to do it again!