Maren and Greg picked me up at 8:30 to head over to the Larry H. Miller compound. Maren was running in the Tough Mudder event. This is an event that raises money for the wounded soldiers. It was cold that morning with a cold breeze coming in from the North. I was bundled up and still felt the chill of the breeze. I was so impressed with Maren. Her stamina, her determination and her competitive spirit. You combine all those and you can accomplish just about anything you put your mind to and accomplish she did. I still think back on what she put her body through combined with the cold day and I have to say I was and still find myself in awe. We were there from 8:30 until 4:30. A long day but a great adventure that I was glad to be a witness of. I’m so proud of Maren. She was by far, the best of all her team and I don’t doubt that it was because of her positive attitude that the team made in across the finish line. Below are a few of the many pictures I took of her and the course.
The beginning of the day. Checking in and getting ready to run.
The first obstacle was jumping in ice cold water, going under the water and coming out in a huge mud puddle. Imagine how cold you would be jumping in water that they had just dumped tons of ice in to and the temperature outside at 62 degrees with a cold wind.
Maren climbing the wall to begin the race.
This is coming out of the first ice cold water dive into a mud puddle that any little kid would die for!
Her next obstacle was the Electric Eel. The runners had to slide on their stomachs through electric wires hanging down that if they touch them would shock them. We heard people screaming, yelling and even some cursing as they went through this obstacle. Maren went through it with flying colors and said the she felt the electric shocks. If you look closely at the third picture where Maren is just entering you will notice the yellow wires hanging down.
This next event involved 10 huge mounds of muddy hills that the runner had to climb over and the slide down into waste high mud. This course was estremely demanding because there was no way to climb the hills without your team mates helping from behind as well as from the top. Both pushing and pulling. Add to the fact that you are soaked in mud and water and freezing.
Victory at last and feels awesome!
We found this fox hole as we were walking and I had to take a picture of it. Not much to see but something I’ve never walked by before. You get the size of it compared to the shoes.
This next event was the tricky bars. An incredibly challenging one knowing that if you didn’t make it across the bars you would fall into the ice cold water below. I told Maren I would give her $100.00 if she could make it across. She got to the half way mark and just couldn’t hold on any longer. I noticed that there were very few people who were able to make it across and a lot of men couldn’t even make it half way.
After you left the bars you had to climb a huge hill that was so slippery you could not possible climb it on your own. Again it was people supporting from the back and pulling you up from the top. When Maren made it to the top she turned around and let the guys grab her ankles and the lowering her down the mud hill so that she could grab the hands of those trying to climb up. When he gave the OK the men would literally pull her back up the hill along with the person she was holding on to. It was an emotional moment for me to witness Maren’s strength and her willingness to help others in need. There was no hesitation on her part that she needed to stop and help those behind her. You can see her being supported from the back and pulled to the top.
Pictures below are of Maren being held by her ankles as she slides back down the hill to assist her team mates and others.
The finish line! People just took off their shoes and left them there.
As Maren’s team neared the finish line Greg made the comment that it all looked like the Bataan Death March. I agreed. I’ve never seen so many tired and beat people walking toward the finish line. I believe his other comment was they looked like the walking dead.
Maren always managed to have a smile on her face and a look of determination throughout the whole ordeal. She certainly became a hero that day in my memory bank. She made the comment that she was glad I was there because it gave her the encouragement to keep going. I also believe that her mother was also there every step of the way – an angel on her shoulder pushing her on. What an incredible day!! I love you, Maren.
