The race started on a small beach at 6:45pm in an area about the size of the “end zone” of a football field. We were all packed in like cattle and it was HOT and HUMID.
The first 3/4 mile or so of the course is along the beach on fairly loose sand. For me that equals a 100% probability of a rolled ankle – 4 times. Didn’t hurt at the time – and I barely broke stride. (But by Saturday evening I was bruised, swollen and sore.)
After the beach the course winds through the park – on shell trails, thru grassy fields, up and down hills. Before I knew it I was at the section of the course with OBSTACLES! Here’s what we had:
Here’s a picture of Diggity going over the “jump”. They didn’t get any of me 
What can I say – he’s got long legs!
After the obstacles we went towards the water and had to run (read “wade”) through knee deep water. It wasn’t bad but it was SLOW GOING! The water was nice and warm, and even kinda clear!
Diggity coming out of the water
Me coming out of the water
From here we made our way into a series of paths thru mangroves. In some places we were on sandy paths – others were ankle deep MUCK AND MUD. Which was absolutely disgusting.
At one point the trail got really really skinny and resulted in a serious bottle-neck. I actually stood in one place for almost 3 minutes! (I timed it). Cue lots of jokes about flesh-eating piranha’s and poisonous water snakes. I was scared out of my mind (I didn’t want to get eaten by a piranha!) but welcomed the break.
The last mile consisted of more open fields and more hills and another trip back into the water. This time water came up to mid-thigh on me – I saw some shorter gals that were in up to their waist! Finally I’m back on dry land (and no longer muddy – the water washed off all of the muck from the mangroves!)
Fresh as a Daisy
Now only about 100 yards left to go. So I pushed it HARD.
I came in with a clock time of 52:31 for the 3.3 mile course (which isn’t bad considering I stood still for 3 minutes!). My watch had me at 52:04
I was bummed at first for taking that long to finish. Until I found out the overall winner came in at 22:34 which is considerably slower than most 3 mile races.
PLUS – from here there’s nowhere to go but UP. My goal for the next race on June 11th is to come in under 50:00.
Guess it’s time for some speed work!
Wow that race sounds so cool but I’m so sorry you rolled your ankle FOUR times! What a trooper you are – - I probably would have whined and quit!
Thanks Beth! I roll that ankle all the time so it didn’t hurt when it happened. Took about a day for the pain to set in!