Muddy Buddy: Boulder, CO

Duane and I decided to "take it easy" this month, and instead of running a half marathon, we completed our first Muddy Buddy.  Our experience is filled with mixed emotions...and I think we (mostly Duane) are anticipating doing it again to enter the "competitive division". 

Aspen getting ready on race morning.

Notice the Hawaiian lays on my bike.  I would highly recommend decorating your bike and planning a drop place in the transition area.  For example, we always dropped our bike in the front right corner of the transition space.  This makes it really easy to find!

 The race was a blast.  I like the mountain bike and running combo with some simple obstacles in between.  The total course is somewhere around six miles.  One team member runs while the other bikes, and you trade at each obstacle.  The start was a "fun" run through some hip deep water.  Bikers (I started the bike) had to carry through.  Runners started a minute after the bikers on the same course.  Overall, the bike and run course was easy, though surprisingly hot.  I normally don't hydrate during a six mile race, but felt the need to during this event. 

After the finish line!

Some muddy love for Aspen!

The obstacles were disappointingly easy.  The first was a six foot rock climbing wall with a rope net to descend on the opposite side.  The second was a blown up obstacle, where participants climbed through and over stuff (picture a bounce house with walls and holes).  This was followed by a series of hurdles, a rope net climb and slide (my favorite), and a single rope climb before the mud pit finish.  I got caught up and lost a couple of minutes at the rope net and slide, because everyone waited for each person to ascend the ropes.  Though I thought this was ridiculous, I didn't want to be too aggressive.  When my age group competitors came in and charged it, I finally did, too.  (You are released in age group waves).  Luckily, I'm pretty fast on a bike and we finished first in our age group...and in the top few overall.

Mud pit image during the kids race.

 The race is a little pricey....$150 per team.  But we did it to compete in something light hearted, fun....and ending with beer and food.  This was the major disappointment.  I wasn't allowed in the beer tent with Aspen, and I really only wanted somewhere to relax as a family.  We decided to get food, instead, but there was one tiny food tent and a massive line.  We finally ended up feeding Aspen and taking off.  In my opinion, it wasn't worth the money....and was pretty family unfriendly.  We probably won't do it next year, but Duane's competitive streak wants to give it another go.  I guess we'll see what happens.

Aspen enjoying some food...once we finally found a place to sit!

Rocky Mountain State Games (sprint triathon)

I'm happy I competed in a shorter distance triathlon, but this isn't a race that I would recommend and I will not compete in this tri again. While the race was cheaper and closer than most tris, I felt that it was poorly organized and lacked essential communication during the event. I wasn't a huge fan of the course, either.

Most of the volunteers seemed pretty unfamiliar with triathlon events. Throughout the race, I was unsure of whether or not I was on the right track. The swim was good. Most people i've talked to about this race are nervous about swimming Prospect Lake. It was brown and cloudy, but the temperature was comfortable and I didn't seem to have any issues (skin, etc) afterwards.

The bike event was a little irritating. You begin in a loop course, which I didn't think was communicated...so I felt like I had started in the wrong place. After awhile, it is evident that you will be circling a three + mile course four times. No signs indicated this during the event. Some of the turns were tight, and it wasn't easy to get a good, strong pace.

The run looped the lake twice. However, that wasn't communicated, either. After I crossed the finishing mat once, I was approached to turn in my timing chip. I didn't wear my Garmin, so I didn't know that I should keep going. Everything worked out in the end, but it was irritating.

Overall, i'm still swimming really slowly. I feel much more comfortable in open water after taking some swim classes, but I just need to learn how to pace myself.