This was the third year my friends and I competed in the Warrior Dash. This race was by far the hardest race out of the three. The main reason is because we were running uphill for 90% of the race.
Once we arrived at Copper we unloaded all the goods from the minivan. You would think we were packing for a week with all the goods we had to unload. After unloading four of us started prepping dinner and waited for the last four team mates to arrive. Upon their arrival we scoped out the music venue and packet pick up!
Packet pick up is very organized that is if you have your waiver and ID all ready when arriving. They handed us our running chips (which is a free beer after the race or before if you’re brave enough to drink prior to running), our participation shirts and bib numbers.
Penny at packet pick up!
We had limited time to stop and enjoy the band because our lasagna was cooking and we needed to get back to the condo and finish up the final dinner prep and carb up for the race can’t forget the vino with the pasta!
We celebrated Lisa’s Birthday with blueberry pie and ice cream and tons of laughs. It’s always nice to share stories and girl giggles!
- Happy Birthday Lisa!
After dinner and story time we all headed to bed and TRIED to sleep. Have you ever noticed the night before a race it’s impossible to sleep? I toss and turn and I think about stupid stuff and get myself all worked up for no reason. I won’t be forgetting the ear plugs next time because of all the snoring that was happening in my room. Maybe that was causing some of my tossing and turning too.
Race day!
One tough thing for this group of girls is we are all early risers and trying to figure out how much coffee to drink and how much food to eat for a 10:00 heat is challenging. Once up I decided on only 2 cups of coffee, 1/2 protein shake and a small piece of bread with a little cream cheese on it.
We all decided it was time to get our chips on our shoes and bibs on our shirts. The temperature at 8:00 am was chilly! Only like 39 degrees. I was beginning to wonder if I made a mistake buying a tank top this year. Thinking the temperature wasn’t going to rise very quickly. Lucky for me by 10:00 is was 60 degrees and sunny.
Chip = Free Beer!
When we all finished our cute outfits and headed down to the start area to get some photos. Let the nerves begin. Found the outhouse and watched the 9:30 heat take off. As we were watching we had discussions of how to dodge the HUGE rocks that were at the start of the race. To me this is the very first obstacle this year.
WARRIOR DASH – WARRIOR DASH – WARRIOR DASH cheers started and the announcer began getting our heat pumped up. My teeth were chattering by this point. No clue why I was so nervous I have done this race two times before. BOOM off goes the gun and the fire!
In line at the start!
The heat was very crowded and the start was very slow-moving. Slower than the last few years I think it was because we were running at an angle of the ski slope and dodging rocks and people. I managed to get across and down without injury obstacle complete. The course then turned and we headed back across the mountain water running and mud puddles to either skip across or jump. Then we headed up hill by now my lungs could feel the altitude 9,000 feet above sea level. Once I reached the top I was trying to pass the slower people to gain speed on the down hill.
Look at the pile of snow when we make the turn!
When I got to the bottom of the hill the first official obstacle was upon me. I’ve done this one before it’s the barricade breakdown hurdle the wall and crawl under the shorter wall with barbed wire. I could pull myself up like getting out of the pool on the barricade then I would swing myself under the barbed wire and pop up into the next wall. This was a fun obstacle very do able not insanely difficult. Need upper body strength and strong legs to get up out of the swinging move.
Run a bit then we had a steep hill with a rope to go down. This obstacle was pretty simple fast and not difficult. I needed to pay attention to the person in front of me and what they were going to do with the rope once they reached the bottom of the slope.
Run a little ways and the hardest obstacle for me! It’s the teetering traverse! Why is this hard for me? It’s a balance thing by this time my legs are shaking like crazy and I am a little dizzy from the altitude and running. Very challenging for me to keep my balance. I kept apologizing to the person be hind me for being so slow. Shew I made it without falling time to pick up the speed and get to running!
It’s a balance thing!
Second wall coming up! I followed a group of people who had plastic butts on for their costumes. My strategy for this wall was to watch experienced racers go up so I could go up smoothly and not have any delays!
The next obstacle was the tires. I didn’t have a difficult time maneuvering through this obstacle. Takes concentration and not going to fast to miss the hole of the tire.
After the tires was the first drink station. In previous years we only had one drink station I was glad to see some water. I was ready to wet my mouth.
Drink Station = Mile 1
Dee-licious Musings on Food, Drink & Moving 