The Warrior Dash race is started in waves and our start time was 11:00. It was actually a great start time because that gave us plenty of time to eat, take the dogs out, and get things together before we started the hour drive to Versailles, KY where the race was being held. (In KY you pronounce it Vair-Sales)
When we got there we had to park in a field. We were very glad we had brought the truck because it had rained quite a bit in the days leading up to the race and the field was very muddy in some places. Very muddy turned out to be a theme for the day. We got to there with just enough time to pick up our race packets, t-shirts and check all of our stuff and head to the starting line.
 |
| BEFORE |
We started the race running on a path that wound through a field and trees. In many places the course was too hard to run on because it was very muddy and slippery. Then came the obstacles. #1 was three rows of giant hay bales that you had to run and climb over. Meric would run up them first and then stand at the top so that he could help pull me up when I needed it. Shortly after that came #2. This one was an angled board that you had to run and climb over. It wouldn't have been much of a challenge but the board was pretty muddy which made it slippery. Meric made it over no problem but I slipped a little. Once over the first wall there were three more 4ft walls to go over. Luckily these ones weren't angled so I could easily push myself up and over. Obstacle #3 was a called Two by Fall. That is because you had to balance across a pit on a two by six board. Honestly it was an easy obstacle.
#4 had a bit of a line behind it waiting to start. When we finally reached the obstacle we understood why. It was mud mounds. You started by climbing up a pile of dirt and then jumping down into a pit of mud. Not too hard except you would get stuck in the thick mud. Every step I took was difficult because I had to pry my foot up. That made it difficult to climb up the next mound of dirt which was a tall as me. Once you got to the top of that pile you had to jump down into thigh high thick muddy water to get to the next mound of mud. And once you accomplished that you got to do it one more time to complete the obstacle. It was difficult but really a lot of fun and Meric's favorite obstacle of the day.
After that we slipped and slid along the muddy course to reach obstacle #5. This was the scariest obstacle for me. A 20ft wall that you had to climb over. There were slats to step on and a rope to help you but they were all muddy and a little slippery. Meric made it up first and stayed at the top to encourage me on. I was glad he was there to help me stay focused and not think about falling. I was pretty proud of myself for conquering my fear and accomplishing the obstacle.
The next obstacle was fairly easy. #6 was a low net that you needed to crouch down and walk under. Walking up the muddy hill to get to it was more difficult than the obstacle itself. #7 was low trenches that you had to crawl through. #8 was a tall angled cargo net that you had to climb up one side and down the other.
#9 was a giant angled board that you had to climb up one side and down the other. There were a few slats and a rope to help. Most people were trying to grab the ropes and use them to pull themselves up. Both Meric and I found it easier to use the slats to push ourselves up and over. Going down the other side I did use the rope to ease myself down so that I wouldn't just slide down the slippery board.
Obstacle #10 was another cargo net. This one was straight up and down and you had to work your way across it sideways. #11 was jumping over fire. This one really wasn't too bad your feet just felt a little warm afterward.
The last obstacle, #12, was the dirtiest. You had to crawl through thick muddy water. It was very messy and as you reached the end the mud got thicker and more difficult to move through. Then there was a mound of mud you had to climb over in the end to reach the finish line. At the finish line they were handing out medals for finishing the race.
 |
| AFTER |
We were so thickly covered with mud it was insane. They had a wash station but they had run out of water. That was the only negative to the entire race. We rinsed off as best we could in the dirty pond near by and then made our way back to the truck. I am so glad we brought a change of clothes and that the truck doors were big enough to change behind.
 |
| Waiting for water |
All in all it was a fun day and I would totally do something like this again. I was really proud of myself for finishing all of the obstacles. I wish I could have gotten more pictures of the obstacles so that everyone could see what fun we had.
