I was excited about this, initially, because I thought it provided a good reason to go camp near home for only one night. I was even more excited that they had primitive shelters and I was able to reserve one. I was concerned in the week leading in to the race because of all the rain we had been getting. I kept checking the website to see if they'd call it. They never did, so I figured it would be ok.
We got to the park and got all set up and picked up my packet and then it was basically dark. (This was Friday night). By the way, the shirt for this race is BAD ASS.
I slept well, yay air mattress! There was a gentle rain that night, but yay shelter!
The next morning I woke up and spent an epically long time in a bathroom line, then headed to the start.
What struck me at the start was that these people are HARD CORE. I guess that makes sense. I mean the concept of the actual "Shootout" race was run a 5K, then a 10K, then a Half all in order. So yeah, there were some serious serious runners standing around. There were also jokers in floaties, and I really REALLY didn't get what an omen that was.
They started us off all together and I started near the back, knowing I was seriously outclassed. This was supposed to be fun for me. Less than 100 yards into the race there was a looooooong puddle. Puddle may not be an accurate description. There was a probably 50ft section of trail under 3 inches of water. And people were running straight through it. I was all D'FUQ??? I picked my way on the side, trying to keep my feet dry.
About 50 feet farther on, I got it. We came up on another long underwater section, and this one went around a bend and there was no telling how long it actually was. I gave up and went in. It was COLD!
From there it was more of the same, little mud, long "puddle", little mud, long "puddle". No rinse. Lots of repeat. Then we went down a hill through a creek, but it was still only maybe knee level and very short - maybe 20ft long. I figured that'd be the worst of it.
Boy was I wrong.
What is important to note about those 2 photos is THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT. It is also important to note that this is not the deepest we went through. This is just the only time I felt secure enough to take a picture. No, I'm not kidding.
There was one section that was literally chest deep on me, and they had two volunteers (heroes) standing on either end of a BRIDGE that was under 4 feet of muddy water, and the first guy said, ok, you're about to step on a bridge that is about 2 ft wide. You need to walk straight to the other guy to stay on it. DUUUUUUUUUUDES.
Then after that there was another looooooooooong waist deep river section. Like 200 yards long. Then we looped around on the driest part of the course that I saw all day, then did it again. Then finished.
It. Was. Insane.
So anyways, it took me just under an hour. I think the final was 59:40. No joke. My slowest 5K ever by more than 20 minutes. Totally justified, though. Hardest 5K EVAR. And don't forget craziest.
I think part of what is the craziest about the craziest 5K ever is that it wasn't even meant to be a crazy one. It was just meant to be a trail run and then we got like a foot of rain in the week ahead and suddenly it was this epic thing. Don't get me wrong - I would totally do it again. Because what an experience!
Anyways, I had to shower after to get the mud off.
Then I took pics.
Then we went over to San Felipe de Austin Historic Site and there were bluebonnets!
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