Dirty Dash Fall 2014

This is going to be a short blog post because I am itching to go on a run. Why, you ask? Because yesterday I had the time of my life running the Dirty Dash, and now I feel like I've caught the bug. The running bug.

The Dirty Dash is a 10 kilometer run through the muddiest, muckiest course you can imagine. In between swimming through rivers of muddy water and slipping down muddy hillsides, you also get to complete obstacles like wall climbs, monkey bars, rope walls, tire runs, hay bales, and rope walls. And at the end, you get to slide down a 150 foot slip n' slide.

Unlike other mud runs like the Tough Mudder, the Dirty Dash is all about fun. You are far more likely to see people laughing and high-fiving than jostling for position or checking their time. This makes it a perfect run for me since you are more likely to see me eating Reese's peanut butter cups than running a race.

My race team was comprised of my friends Christine, Kinza, and Rich. Robert was supposed to run but had a last-minute home project to attend to.

The joys of home ownership

Dirty Dash Fall 2014 All-Stars or as Robert called us "Rich and the Hot Mamas"

Christine is the only real runner on the team, but she's nice enough to not ditch us for more physically fit teammates. The first mile was cool. We were all trudging along at a mediocre pace, when all of a sudden Christine decided to use her inhaler, which gave her some kind of running super powers. The rest of the race, she kept saying, "Can we start running now?" which led to to groans from the rest of us and cries of "Who gave her the inhaler?" All joking aside, she was our pacesetter, and I'm happy that someone in the group pushed us a little.

Me, Kinza, and Christine

Kinza had my second favorite comment of the day after a particularly filthy obstacle where we had to crawl through sewer pipes Shawshank Redemption style. Covered in mud, she looked at me and said, "No one back in Pakistan would understand why we do this for fun. They are trying to get clean drinking water, and we are choosing to get dirty." Nonetheless, Kinza -- who is the cleanest person I know -- got out of her comfort zone and braved even the muddiest of obstacles.

Kinza taking a selfie at the field house where we usually work out; a much more pristine environment. 

 Post-finish line

My next Dirty Dash may be a totally different experience since Aidan is begging me to take him. I think he would love it and would maybe find his gateway to running too.

"Please take me next time!"

Looking forward to Dirty Dash 2015!