Mud Run June 2009 - Proud Mom Report

Yesterday as a family we participated in a fantastic event called the Mud Run (www.mudrun.ca). Billed as Canada's dirtiest trail run, they build in a 50m mud pit with landscapers dirt and a whole lot of water for the last 50m of the course. My husband who still runs off and on and my son Declan (age 6) did the 5K and my daughter at 4.5 wanted to do the 1.5K race. Both included the mud pit. The 5K also had a stream crossing (up to the waist for Declan) hay bails to climb, a 'cliff' which required a rope to ascend, and many more bridges, hills, trees to jump over. Two other neighbourhood families joined us (the boys all get into trouble together) and we headed out early Sunday morning. It was supposed to rain all day but the clouds cleared at about 10am and bright sun stayed for the rest of the day.

Declan has been a big runner at school, he can't wait until he's old enough for the cross country team next year, and loves to do laps on the school field. He really wanted to do the 5K ("1.5 is for the babies mom"), even though the 1.5 was billed as an event for kids up to age 12. There was a kids category for the 5K so we entered him in it. I think he and his two friends were likely the youngest ones to race that distance. Dec was off like a shot at the starting gun. After the first 2K loop we could hear daddy yelling out "Declan slow down so I can catch up!!" Apparently Dec was stopping for dad on a regular basis during the race. They rounded the corner at the finish to hit the mud and dove right in. The last 50m section took them easily 5-10 minutes, losing shoes, getting stuck etc etc. Declan crossed the line in 49:56. He finished 175/310 finishers (overall) and as I mentioned before could easily have run faster if Dad could have kept up. (as a point of reference the winner ran a 23:55 - so its not a fast race). He was likely one of the fastest kids his age out there. Mommy is very very proud. When asked if he wanted to do the race again next year he shouted out "the 10K!!" I think we'll stick to the 5K for a while I'm not sure I want him running much further until he's older. He hasn't stopped smiling yet, although he did fall asleep while eating dinner last night. He strutted off to kindergarten this morning wearing his race shirt and clutching some photos I'd printed of the race.

Greer and I did the 1.5K which started once all the 5 and 10K finishers were done. She had been crying as soon as she saw all the chaos of the mud pit with the older runners in the 5/10K so I wasn't even sure if we were going to be heading out. When I told her she didn't have to do the mud pit at the end she decided to run. Number proudly pinned on her chest we lined up and watched as the 9-11 crowd left, then the 7-8's and then it was time for 6 and under. Most had a parent accompanying them. We waited for the "GO!" and off we went. She's also much faster than I expected. She hasn't shown us her running skills, other than short bursts on the soccer field, so I was a bit surprised. Mommy tried to keep up, but the lack of running training in the past 4 years showed next to the little speed demon. We rounded the corner to the finish and she promptly sat down to take her shoes and socks off and gingerly step onto the edge of the pit. Quickly she decided that it was not for her and we carefully walked around the edge. At the end she got her legs muddy to the knees and announced that she was done. She proudly wore her participant medal and race shirt off to school today.

There are photos up on facebook - if you're interested and can't see them there, I can send a link.

Thanks for listening...

traveling again

Okay here I sit in Malvern PA. Where is Malvern you may ask? Well fly to Philadelphia and then drive for about 40 minutes out of the city. Its beautiful countryside, horse farms, rolling hills and lovely homes. But its not "home".

I've been traveling a bit lately, I know it comes with the job, but three times in the last 4 weeks is a bit more than I planned for this winter. I have mixed emotions when I travel. On one hand I enjoy having my side of the bed to myself and knowing that it will stay that way all night. No scary dreams courtesy of Bakugan's or the TV promos for Coraline. No lost dolls that require finding at 3am. On the other hand I miss Star Wars stories with Declan, and Greer's insistance that the next story will be the last, "I promise promise promise Mommy".

I'll be home soon - remind me once I'm there that I said I missed this stuff :)