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Tie Dye 5K “Run with Heart”

Two years ago I was at Flying Feet Sports looking for new sneakers.  I was on my way out with my new kicks when I ran into Missy Mulcahy.  She asked if I was looking for a race and handed me a flyer for the Tie Dye 5K.  She explained that the race was in memory of her late husband Mark who had passed away suddenly on December 1, 2013 from a heart attack.  I was unable to run the race last…

 This was my third Warrior Dash.  I won’t dwell on all of the things that they have in common with one exception.   St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  They have raised more than 14 MILLION DOLLARS to date.

The Basics:

Location: Camp Warwick, the Warwick, NY

Timing: None (unless you are in the competitive wave)

Course: Trail, mud, obstacles

Size: X-Large (but it is broken into medium sized waves)

Differences:

Parking:  There was a shuttle back and forth from the car parking area (an elementary school) to the race instead of onsite parking..  We usually bring a few gallons of water to wash off any lingering mud, and change by the cars.  Instead we had to bring a bag with clothes and change at the after-party.  On the plus side, there was no waiting for the shuttles.  They ran continuously throughout the day.

Starting Line: This was the first year I saw someone checking wave times at the starting line.  They had two volunteers standing at the opening of the corral checking bibs.  You may need to be creative/sneaky if you want to switch waves.

Photos: My sister brought her camera and triple sandwich bagged it.  It was a pain to take out and put away, but we were in no rush and she got a lot of great pictures and video.

The course: The course was very hilly.  The first two miles were a struggle. Up and down, up and down we went through the mountain trails with a couple of obstacles stuck in the middle to break up the monotony.  I appreciate the distance between the start and the obstacles; it gives time for the pack to spread out.

Obstacles: I swear this was the easiest Warrior Dash at least when it comes obstacles. There were no muddy mounds that forced you work together to get up a hill.  Goliath didn’t have the wet balance beam between the cargo net and the slide. The only obstacle we all struggled with was the “Fisherman’s Catch”.  We were all too short to reach the overhead rings and I think we all fell into the cargo net.  I have video and photographic evidence:

Lines: Great lines for obstacles.  Most of the obstacle races get bogged down at the obstacles.  The lines on this day were excellent.  I don’t think I had to wait for anything.  I don’t know if that is the result of being in one of the preferred waves (aka more expensive), or if the attendance at the Warrior Dash is waning.

Cleaning Up: They had a shower system setup at the bottom of the hill. The water for the showers came directly out of the nearby stream so a lot of people skipped the showers and went directly into the stream.  The water was COLD and the weather was cool.  Once you immersed yourself in the stream it was cold but manageable.  It was also much easier to scrub the mud off you.  I don’t think my daughter was a big fan, but eventually we coaxed her into the water.  They had a changing tent (at the top of the hill) so there was a little privacy.  I think we all prefer changing in/by the cars.

Favorite Moments:

The mud: It was like swimming through thick dirty chocolate pudding.  It was gross.  It is always gross.

Fire jumping photo: The actual fire jumping is always a bit of a let down (I don’t think an insurance company would allow you to have a fire event where there was a real danger of roasting participants).  That being said, it always makes for a great photo.

Goliath Pictures: I loved the slide and Kayleigh hated it.  By the looks on our faces, you would have thought it was the other way around.  I look like I am sliding into a pit of cobras.

After the race:  We had an awesome breakfast in a nearby convenience store.  Taylor ham, egg and cheese on a hard roll is one of the greatest creations in North Jersey.  The bagels are also superior to anything we have found in PA or Maryland.

Goodies:  The usual stuff.  Shirt, hat and medal (wood block).  I think I will run with my hat next time.

Other Mud Run Reviews:

Here is my review of the 2016 Rugged Maniac: https://mdracereviews.com/2016/07/12/rugged-maniac/

Here is my review of the 2015 PA Warrior Dash: https://mdracereviews.com/2015/08/31/pennsylvania-warrior-dash-2015/

Here is my review of the  2014 Maryland Warrior Dash: https://wordpress.com/post/23899686/816/

Here is my review of the 2014 Your First Mud Run: https://mdracereviews.com/2014/05/05/your-first-mud-run/

Here is my Review of the 2011 Run For Your Lives: https://mdracereviews.com/2011/11/08/run-for-your-lives-literally-sort-of/

Links:

https://www.warriordash.com/

https://www.warriordash.com/get-involved/st-jude/

“I am forever engaged in a silent battle in my head over whether or not to lift the fork to my mouth, and when I talk myself into doing so, I only taste shame.” -Jena Morrow

“A serious illness is like an earthquake, devastating at its epicenter with pain and suffering radiating outward to friends and family.”

NEDA Mission:  NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.

The Basics:

Location: Allentown, PA

Timing: Nope, just walking and enjoying nature

Course: A 1 mile walk through the park

Size: Small (about 50 or so)

Pre-Walk:  My family is far from perfect, but I KNOW that when the chips are down we will always be there for each other. So yesterday we walked for my niece, Julie.  I am so proud of her for reaching out and not remaining silent when she realized she needed help. I am proud of her for fighting the fight each day. I am proud of her for not giving up or giving in. I need her to know that when the road ahead seems dark or unsure that her family will always be there.

  Walk Day: We arrived around 0930 for the 10am walk.  The weather was threatening to rain out our walk, but it held out (mostly).  We don’t usually get the NJ clan and the PA clan together in the same place so we took a ton of pictures.  A special thanks to the race director for taking the picture of the whole gang.

Before we started the walk, we were able to hear some individual stories from others who have struggled with eating disorders.  The stories were poignant, tragic, inspiring and triumphant.  I don’t think there was a dry eye in the group.  One thing that resonated with me was that this is an illness and it needs to be treated as such.  If you have cancer, you go to a doctor for treatment.  It isn’t a secret you need to hide from family and friends.  The stigma associated with mental illness often prevents those who require treatment from getting the help they need.  We must all work together to remove the shame and fear of having an eating disorder.

  The Walk: The park itself is beautiful.  We started at the Allentown Fish Hatchery or “Li’l-Le-Hi” Trout Nursery and meandered down a half mile to a funky red covered bridge. It was a nice relaxing walk and a great chance to see and catch up with the New Jersey Chamberlin clan. Everyone was very friendly and there was a real sense of community amongst the walkers.

Post Walk: After the walk we were quick to get to our cars.  The weather was not treating us kindly and we all had over hour and half rides to NJ and Southern PA. It would have been nice to have had some better weather so we could talk to some of the other participants and hear their stories.

The Goodies:  The NEDA shirt.  It is actually a magical shirt.  Why is it magic?  The shirt in the picture clearly grey, but in real life it is more like a teal blue. Maybe this isn’t the coolest magical power, but maybe I haven’t tested it fully.  Want a magic shirt?  Participate in a NEDA walk.  They are all over the country and they are growing.

So far this walk has raised over 8K but they are still short of their 15K goal.  If you are interested in making a donation, visit their website: https://nedawalk.org/lehighvalley2017

Links:

https://nedawalk.org/

Need someone to talk to? Toll Free Number: 1-800-931-2237

#NEDAWALK

12th Annual Clarabeth 5K

I have been looking to volunteer for a great race for a great cause and I finally found it.  On Sunday September 18th I am volunteering for the 12th Annual Clarabeth 5k to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer in York PA.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider adding this race to your race calendar.  Run/Walk Information Event Location: John Rudy Park – York, PA Event Date: Sunday September 18, 2016 Link:

The Hard(est) Cider Run

I signed up for this race for the cider.  I didn’t really care where it was or what the race distance was.  I was in it for the cider.  Lucky for me it was in Biglerville, PA which is about an hour away from where I live.

An hour seems to be about as far as I am willing to travel for most races (although maybe a little further for cider).

I was also happy to learn it was a 5K.  I didn’t really…

  Lititz, PA bills itself as the “Coolest Small Town in America”.  It received that honor back in 2013.  Since my sister, niece are the coolest triathlon team we figured this race would be a good fit for us.  Julie would be our swimmer, I would bike, and Kim would anchor the team with her run.

Completing a triathlon is on my bucket list but, so far I have only finished them as a member of a relay…

My sister, niece and I decided to run this race last year while we were at the Warrior Dash. While we had fun at the dash, we didn’t find too many of the obstacles very challenging. One of the other participants overheard the conversation and volunteered that the Rugged Maniac had a lot more obstacles.  So without researching the race, I signed us up in March.

Mount Maniac

The Basics:

Location: Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ

Timing: $10 for a timing chip (we skipped it)

Course: Mud, muck and obstacles

Size: Extra-Large (medium size waves every 15 minutes)

Helping Hands on the Warped Wall

Pre-Race:  No problems registering.  The earlier waves seem to fill up fast so I would register early if you want one of them.  The earlier waves offer a less beat up course / obstacles.  The earlier you register the less you have to pay.

We signed up for the noon wave. Of course 6 months later I couldn’t remember what time I had selected and I couldn’t find my confirmation email.  I emailed the folks at Rugged Maniac and received a confirmation of our race time and a copy of our registration with a few hours.

I also received an email in the days leading up to the race from the race director that included helpful tips, and a map of the course.

Race Day: My niece, Julie, stayed out all night the night before the race.  I have no idea how she managed to survive the day.  I would have never made it through.  In addition to being tired, she had already tore up her knee the night before so she would be running with a handicap.  My sister, Kim and I would be running with our own handicap, old age.

We arrived an hour before our race time so we had plenty of time to register. The lines were a little long and a little slow, but I have seen worse. They combined the registration with the “Free Beer” ticket, and “Over 21” wristbands. I always suggest showing up early b/c I hate being rushed.

We had time to waste so we wandered around the Party Zone.  They had a bunch of vendors giving away free samples so we grabbed a few and looked around.  I was bamboozled by the Coconut Water folks.  They convinced me that the Lemonade flavor Coconut Water tasted “exactly like lemonade”.  Lies! It tasted like barf.

My sister and I also had time to ride the mechanical bull, who I named FuManchu. I don’t think either one of us missed a calling as a bull-rider.

  The Race:  Unlike some other races, you had to run in the wave you sign up for.  They check your bib before you get to the start line.

It was a mudfest.  From the first obstacle to the last there was mud everywhere. I was waist deep in the mud before we reached the quarter-mile mark.  He are some of the highlights /low-lights from the obstacles.

Head Scratcher- Low crawling through barbed wire through the mud.  There was a team of three girls in camouflage and one of them got her hair stuck in the wire.  Unable to easily back out and untangle herself, she asked for her friends to cut it.  That is the Rugged Maniac spirit.  It was also one of many times I saw people helping each other overcome obstacles.

Bang the Gong- By the time we reached this obstacle they had taken away the trampolines you were supposed to use to jump and slap the gong hanging above the muddy waters. Instead of bouncing you just had to take a leap and hope for the best.  All three of us fell short of the mark. We didn’t miss our callings as basketball players.

Frog hop- You were supposed to leap from lily pad to lily pad without falling into the pond.  My frog skills were lacking and I crashed into the water after the first 3.  Kim and Julie made it across.  Much better frogs than I.

The Ringer- Cross the water by swinging from ring to ring.  We all failed miserably.  Most people didn’t make it.  The rings are slippery. My old people arms can’t hold my chubby body while swinging on rings, but lets blame the slippery rings.

The Accelerator- The final slide before the finish line.  The water was starting to get low and we all slid into the hay bales at the back of the pool.   Actually I slid into Julie at the back of the pool.  Sorry Jules.

The Gaunlet-  Run across the platform while big bags swing back and forth trying to knock you over.  The bags are MUCH lighter than you think and you can bull your way straight through them.  Unless you slip off the mat and into the water like my sister.

Warped Wall- Harder than I thought.  It was made more difficult from hours of wet muddy people trying to climb it before us. The volunteers on top probably had the most difficult job of the day.  Hauling dead weight like me over the wall all day long had to be exhausting. Julie persevered and made it up ion the 6th try.  My sister opted for the ladder climb after a couple of tough falls.

Balance or Bust-  We all tumbled into the drink.  None of us even made it halfway.  All of the balance beams were connected together so they all swayed at the same time. We didn’t miss our callings as gymnasts.

Commando Crawl- Crawl under barbed wire down a muddy hill, through a rocky, muddy, ouchy mud pit and then back up another muddy hill under the barbed wire.  You really had to work to climb up the muddy slippery hill.  I had to dig my nails into the mud to claw my way to the top.  I also had to lend a hand to two people coming up behind me that got stuck.  It took three days to get the mud out from under my nails.

The Trenches- Jump over trenches.  The distance increased between the trenches.  Kim made one of the jumps by the skin of her big toe.

Ninja Escape- If you have seen the Ninja Warrior show on TV, they always start with hopping back and forth between wooden ramps over water.  This was like that, but without water.  I saw a lot of people wipeout on the muddy/slippery ramps.  Wipe out bad.

Some of the easier obstacles were the Pack Mule (carry a 25lb bag for 25 feet), Claustrophobia (dark tunnel), and Anti-Gravity (bounce to a cargo net).

We had a great time.  The course was rough but we survived.  After 2 hours of playing in the mud we crossed the finish line.  Bloody but proud.

A special “Thank You” to the guy who helped my sister when a careless chubby guy slid down a hill and pinned her leg under him (that would be me).  Sorry Kim.

The Accelerator

Post Race: At the finish line they gave you hand wipes (like you get when you eat ribs).  Covered from head to toe in mud and they give you a few hand wipes.  It was a little strange.  They also handed out the medals, water, some fruit and some energy drinks.

We meandered to the shower area and donated our sneakers.  My sneakers had survived a half marathon, two mud runs and a color run. I think a shed a tear when I left them behind.

The “shower” is basically a hose with a bunch of holes poked through it.  The lines weren’t very long and there were bars of soap and bottles of shampoo strewn about if you wanted it. Julie was horrified that people would share soap.  “You don’t know where that soap has been,” was her perspective.  Kim and I used them anyway. Wiping away the mud revealed dozens of scrapes and cuts. None of us escaped the Rugged Maniac without sacrificing some blood.

Goodies: The shirt and the medal.

Cotton shirt and the medal

Links:

https://ruggedmaniac.com/

The race was supported by the Festival of Fire Foundation, an organization which helps local communities raise money for PPE / Fire Equipment or special causes. The Jacobus Color Festival of Fire and 5K would raise money to benefit the Jacobus Lions Ambulance, Local Fire Companies and Gift of Life.

My mother, father and younger brother all worked for the Hawthorne Ambulance Corps, so I appreciate all these volunteers do for the community. I vividly remember my parents rushing out the door whenever the police scanner would broadcast a call for assistance.

When we moved to the area over a year ago, we looked at a number of homes in Jacobus.  I was pretty sure that was where we were going to end up, but it was not meant to be.

Quick Wikipedia Fact: Jacobus was originally named New Paradise but was renamed due to misdelivered mail to Paradise, PA. The first name of the local postmaster at the time was Jacob and mail was delivered to Jacob US-Mail which became JacobUS (Jacobus).

I don’t know if anyone else cares, but I found it interesting.

Stage 1 of a Color Run (clean)

The Basics:

Location: Jacobus, PA

Timing: No timing

Course: Road / Trail

Size: Small

Pre-Race:  We signed up for this race so long ago that I barely remember doing it. I know it was online and it was a breeze.  The race directors did an excellent job informing everyone via email Facebook when they had to change dates due to the bad weather.  I believe they offered refunds to those who asked. Everyone else would automatically be entered in the race on the new date (4th of July).  If I couldn’t make it on the 4th I would have considered the money a donation to a good cause. Luckily we were in town and we were ready to go.  Kay had a blast last year and was looking forward to it again.

Race Day:  We missed picking up our packets on the day before the race, but they had race day pickup starting at 0700.  We left the house at 0710 and we were there by 0713.  We parked at Dallastown Area Intermediate School which had a TON of parking.  We walked a block to the Jacobus Lions Club Ambulance Building.  I don’t think it took us more than 5 minutes to get our shirts and bags.

We had time to kill before the race so we purchased 2 bags of color ($4) to get into the spirit of the race. They planned to have two heats, faster people first and then a slower group.  We joined the faster group, because we were ready to go and didn’t want to wait around for another heat.

Stage 2 of a Color Run (messy- at the start)

The Race:  Color Runs are not for the serious racers.  You can run as fast as you like, but the enjoyment is in the camaraderie with people around you. We walked / ran whenever we pleased.  The course starts off on the street (open to traffic) and winds its way down a local trail (Hollow Creek Greenway Trail).  Along the way was plenty of color stops.  The course went back on mostly the same trail, so you got pelted twice in some places.  The race wasn’t too crowded so we really, really got a ton of color.  I think we got hit 9-10 times.  It was crazy.  I got color crushed at the blue, purple and yellow stations.

The Purple Station near the Finish Line clobbered you with color

Post Race: At the end of the race, you were awarded with another color packet to go crazy with. The race was in conjunction with the Jacobus Blast 4th of July party so there were a ton of activities going on.  There was free water at the finish and there were lots of food trucks at the festival to satisfy any food desire you may have had.  Kayleigh found “Volcano drinks” and I knew she would have to get one before we left.

Throughout the day they had a ton of activities.  A children’s parade (see pictures below), games, local vendors, food trucks, baseball games and it all concluded with the Fireworks show.

Stage 1 of a Color Run (clean)

The Goodies: In addition to the white T-shirt, and a bunch of local coupons, you get a drawstring bag to carry all of your stuff in. You also get to look like this:

Stage 3 of a Color Run

This is a great first 5k.  Everyone is laid back and easy-going.  The event isn’t timed so there is no pressure to perform.  It is perfect for families looking to get out together or a group trying to do some team / morale building.  The Jacobus event is better than most of the larger events you will find.  This event provided more elbow room, better scenery and more color than the others I have done. We had a great time for a great cause.

Bonus pictures from the Children’s Parade:

Links:

http://festivaloffirefoundation.org/

https://www.facebook.com/JacobusLionsAmbulanceClub/

http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/jacobus/

York Habitat for Humanity 5K

I wish we lived in a world where everyone had their basic needs met.  I wish we all had a roof over our heads and enough food on the table.  Maybe not a mansion and a feast, but the ability to keep warm and dry and your belly full.

York Habitat for Humanity is trying to lead us in the right direction. York Habitat For Humanity’s Vision Statement is simple but profound: “A community where everyone…

Hay It’s a 5K (York SPCA)

I happen to see a flyer for this race at my local True Value Hardware store.  I thought my daughter might be interested in a 5K that would support horse rescues.  I was right.  Although she hadn’t run since the GOTR 5k last year, she was interested in the Hay It’s A 5K which was held by the York SPCA. It was too late to sign up online so we would have to register on race day. If they hold this…

The Wild Half Marathon

I think of running as a solitary, almost lonely sport.  That being said, my favorite races have all been with family and friends.  The Wild Half Marathon was no exception. My sister, niece, nephew and I all signed up for this race last year. Why this race? The Wild Half is in a fun location (NJ shore), boasts a very flat/fast course, and took place the same weekend as my birthday. To make things…

Leg Up Farm 5K

The Leg Up Farm 5k is the third and final leg of the Leg Up Farm Mudfest Series.  Having completed the first two there was no way I was going to miss the third.  The first two were challenging so I expected the same from this one.

The Leg Up Mudfest Series cost $60 if you sign up early for all three.  For $60 you get three races, all at beautiful locations in the York area.  You also get 3 race…

Brown’s Orchards Spring Blossom 5K

Brown’s Orchards Spring Blossom 5K is the second leg of the Leg Up Mudfest Series.  I think this race may need to be renamed.  Last year the Spring Blossom 5K weather looked like this:

The frozen slippery tundra

This year it looked like this:

2016 looks eerily familiar to 2015

Here is a link to last year’s review of the race:

2015 Brown’s Orchard 5k

The Basics:

Location: Brown’s Orchard @ Yellow…

Perrydell Farm and Dairy 8K

The Perrydell Farm 8k is the first leg of the Leg Up Farm Mudfest Series. Last year I ran in one of the other legs of the Mudfest Series and I enjoyed it.  It was the first local race I had run, and I learned that most courses around here are on the hilly side.  This year I signed up for all three races.

Perrydell Farm store

The Basics:

Location: York, PA (Perrydell Farm) 5 minutes off Rt 83…

GOTR York Celebratory 5K

Raising a child is never easy, and raising a daughter comes with its own challenges.  You want your daughter to be strong, smart and confident.  The problem is that you can’t be with them all of the time to guide them when they need advice, hold them when they need comfort or pick them up when they fall down.  Eventually they go off and find their own path in life.  All we can hope to do is give…

Gettysburg Blue-Gray Half Marathon

I have a history of biting off more than I can chew, especially when it comes to racing. I like to sign up for races when the fee is low (who doesn’t want to save money). Unfortunately what may seem like a good idea in May may not seem so bright and shiny come November.

The plan was to run the Gettysburg 1/2 Marathon with Emily (who has been my race buddy on a Zombie Run, Warrior Dash and a…

Equiteam Racing for Autism 5k/10k

This race was a last-minute decision.  My daughter has been running a little bit with Girls on the Run and seemed to be interested in running with me.  Just last week we ran a mile together down the Rail Trail.  She seemed strong and confident during that outing, so I thought maybe she might want to try a 5k with me.  I found one that was close, involved horses, and was for a great charity.  So…