we survived the hill and more

The Biggest Loser Off-Road Challenge was similar to the Dirty Girl and yet very different. Less caked on mud, more rustic terrain. And did I mention that it rained last night.

We arrived the hour early, and it started an hour late. It was part of a larger Spartan Race that was going off in waves. Clearly the Loser wave was changed. It was hard to wait, but wait we did.

It was a small group. Less than 100 people. One participant lost over 400 pounds.

And yes, that is flip flops in my pants. There was no way I was losing my shoes this time. My sneakers were taped on!

We lined up at the bottom of a large hill. During the prep talk, they said the worse was 1/2 mile up hill. It wasn't a horrible hill from what we could see at the start line. We reached a summit, walked across the top, turned a corner, and there it was. The hill from hell. It made Frederick Street look flat. Some people went up monkey style. That was probably better than walking. Bonnie and Dawn still beat Lydia and I to the top. Some lady was crying walking up it. Wailing even. Lydia was happy she brought her inhaler.

Apparently the hill was not the first obstacle. No that was called Over, Under, Thru. I needed help on two of the three portions. (Bonnie took pixs. No obstacles for her. Still recovering from that broken wrist.)

Over. That nice man helped me. (OMG I look like Sharon!)

 Under. Get that big butt down Gayle.

 Thru.

Then we headed toward the next event. Rolling mud pits. Five hills, five holes filled with water.

 Then off to the slip and slide which sent you into the lake. Lyd hit a rock. See the pix of her brush burn and black and blue mark on line. The lake was supposed to be 4 feet deep. I was on my tip toes and still had trouble keeping my face out. I had my hand on my shoulder trying to save my pedometer, which was on the shoulder strap of my bra.

 Coming out of the lake. Fat escaping everywhere!

This obstacle you climbed up the back side, went over and came down the front. There were several tall walls that we skipped. And the balance exercise. That was tree trunks that you hopped from one to another. I think it was doable, but the logs were so far apart. I would have broke an ankle. Then there was a rope climb, and a barbed wire crawl that was a football field long. After you finished you climbed yet another wall.

 This one was near the finish. I bet it took me 10 minutes to go thru it. It led to a short wall that you climbed with a rope.

Bonnie did not get the pix of me falling off. I didn't try it again.

The final obstacle was hopping over fire. I tried three times and couldn't do it. Dawn and Lydia were successful. The man said it was a mental task rather than physical.

We finished. We survived. And because Bonnie came along, we have the pixs to prove it.