I don't know about you, but they look pretty psyched to me...
Our team and race number was 6. Imagining how we looked lined up with our numbers on our thighs (666) I sort of regretted not using one of our other team name choices - "Dust Devils".
Serious-looking competition. 24 other teams of hard-core runners. One team was doing their 50-th or so adventure race (yikes!!!)
GO!!!!
The rest of the pack pulled away pretty steadily as we had to slow to speed-walks. Although we would never catch up, we kept hearing that the next team was only 15 minutes or so ahead. Ironically, the team that would win had overslept, and left nine minutes after everyone else! Way to go, guys!
Soon enough we reached Challenge 1 - "Swamp Thing". You wade 200-300 yards across the swamp, in opaque water up to chest high. The footing ranged from two feet of mud to solid ground, with tree trunks and branches hidden underwater to trip and step over. We each picked up a stick to help with the crossing - cypress knees made good handholds too.
Crystal hates swamps, and couldn't believe she had to practically swim this one. At one point she called out: "Mark! Hurry up! There's something moving in the water over there!" No gators, though, only fish. She's over the swamp phobia now!
We all emerged wet and filthy, facing four more miles with wet shoes and socks to reach the paddle leg. Grace's shoes grew new arch supports as the mud in them compacted. My wet feet slipped around in my shoes since I had on silk socks (great blister preventers!).
Squish! Squish!
