and no, not THAT kind of flashing! Flashing back to the Cahaba River Ramble, it was beautiful, hot and not too easy. Flash ahead to the Exterra Enduro 19K Mud Run (how many names can they put in this one?) and it made CRR look like a walk in the park. I frequently tell people that want to run Oak Mtn that the operative word is NOT 'Oak'.....it's MOUNTAIN and danged if Exterra didn't go find every single one they had in the park! I know it's by design and they want it to be a challenge, and guess what? It was! The only negative was that they (who ever 'they' was (is?)) also scheduled the Buster Britton Triathlon out there for the same day. This was a recipe for disaster and it did not disappoint. I told my athlete's to get there EARLY because it would be a madhouse, and it was. Cars were backed up to the Interstate and both races had to delay start times and transition closures. Normally not a terrible thing, but June in Alabama? As the minutes tick by it just gets hotter, and it did. We had shade on the trail run and a good thing too since we were out there 2 hours 'ish' (some more some less), but those finishing the 'tri' were right in the sun. Props to all those that finished though, I know of several that completed their first Tri and regardless of time, they deserve a hearty 'well done'! Several did their first Trail Run too - KDS took first in her age group in the 5K and bruised her butt in the process ("Can I see, huh, can I"?), but was just beaming from the fun. They had a mud pit 100 yards from the finish line. We hit it full stride and despite warnings from the crowd and course marshals step 1, ok! Then step 2, ain't so bad - both about ankle deep, step THREE was (on me) mid thigh...STRAIGHT down! It lasted about 20 yards and I only fell/slipped/dipped about 8 more times. I was thinking, "I PAID for this??" If you ran around it (and there was that option) you got a 10 minute penalty....shoulda been 30 minutes! Just too much fun! Was I slow? Oh yeah, for me it eas a trail RUN, not a trail race and I enjoyed it immensely. My only negative is the start, I don't like being 'stuck' in a line of people on single track, usually I start too fast (how many times have I said, don't go out too fast....I know, I know) and it takes a while for the lines to 'thin out'. Too slow can be frustrating too as passing can be hazerdous. But hey, there's a negative to anything if you look hard enough; the fun, the trails, the mud pit all out-weigh the other stuff. 2 quick 'asides' - if you're wearing head phones/Ipod in a trail run you are an idiot! Why? Why run trails? You're missing half of the 'beauty' of the trails! One guy had his headphones up so loud he couldn't hear the start line instructions, subsequently didn't follow them ("Move for the cars") and looked like a 'maroon' (as Bugs Bunny says). I don't get it. 2) Don't throw your Gu wrappers/trash down in the woods - I was surprised at the amount of trash I saw on the trails that are 99% traversed by runners and mountain bikers. We should (and do, actually) know better. Can't let that take away from a great day and something I encourage people to do for some variety in their running. Are you gonna trip and fall? Most likely; there's only 2 kinds of trail runners - those who HAVE fallen and those who are GOING to, but people fall on the road too. It is pretty, challenging, quiet, and in some ways surreal. I always come back from a trail run feeling like I got a great workout, uplifted, and a little more at peace with myself - loved that feeling Saturday. And THEN the Mud Pit! We hit the trails, do a 'Tri', run a 5K the first time for a challenge, and that's a good thing. When we stop challenging ourselves in many ways we stop growing. You don't have to 'win' as in 'come in first place 'win'. You don't have to win to BE a winner. One of my former athletes (well, sort of former - they never really 'leave' and I love that) was the next to last finisher in the Tri - know how she felt? ECSTATIC!!!! I watched her and her smile was wider than the Great Divide! She met her challenge head on and had a blast. It's about where YOU were 2 weeks ago, a month ago, 6 months ago - there's your competition! Are you better than you were 2 weeks ago? Keep growing, find a challenge, small or large, and go get it! Don't worry about what 'place' you'll come in. In running and life there's always someone bigger/smaller/slower/faster and thank goodness dumber....Do it for YOU, have fun, be proud of yourself and never, ever stop growing!