MuckFest MS 2016

Last Saturday Eric and I joined team Muckstache in Denver to raise funds and awareness for MS (Multiple Sclerosis).  MuckFest is a 5K mud run, filled with all kinds of crazy challenging obstacles along the way.  Eric and I participated in MuckFest once before when it was held in Kansas City.  Lindsee and EP have participated for the last three years in Denver.  I was excited to join them for the muddy fun this year.  Mom and Dad met us in Denver as well.  They said "yes" to watching our kids while we all mucked it up for MS.  The course was set up so that spectators could watch some of the first obstacles, so Dad and the kids got a big kick out of watching our team splashing, crawling, and climbing through some of the first mud pits.  There were almost 3,200 registered muckers in Denver this year, making this the largest Denver MuckFest ever!

There were lots of tents set up by the sponsors at the park site.  One tent had neon colored shoelaces for everyone to write a message on, then hang on the Denver wall ~ "MS Will Knot Defeat Us"~

You are all MUCKSTARS!

We had two people with MS that we were mucking for... Mom and our friend, Heather.  They were both there to cheer us on, take pictures, and to see the mass of people there getting mucky for those like themselves with MS.

Below, left to right, Team Muckstache with our MS champions... Stacee, Eric, Mom-Gloria, Delia, Deann, Christen, EP, Lindsee, and Heather.

At the starting line... just the beginning of the mucktacular course... so much more muck to come...

The first obstacle was called the Triple Pits.  It was the largest Triple Pits in MuckFest history!  And, for real, the mud hills were huge and slippery as heck... on the uphill and the downhill!  At one point on an uphill climb, EP slipped, lost his footing and came carrening back down towards Lindsee and I.  Nothing could stop him.  Lindsee being a quick thinker reached out her arms to catch him in a nice cradle hug type catch.  Wrong move, but a nice thought.  EP was like a bowling ball knocking over the pins in a mud pit...there is no way Lindsee could have caught him.... What was she thinking?!!?

So many were thankful for the muscles of "Mucho and Macho" (affectionately named by their father-in-law while watching the muckers from the sidelines) on the Triple Pits and other various obstacles that required being pulled uphill or out of the muck.  (Thanks EP - "Mucho" and Hottie Husband Eric - "Macho", I wouldn't have made it uphill and out of the muck without you both...along with at least 128 other muckers in our wave.)

Next up, the Big Balls!  Yep, those are some crazy Big Balls!  One of those suckers can easily knock you down into the pit of muddy muck.

The best way to get through and around these Big Balls was to crawl under them through the muck.  See me below...crawling under a Big Ball.  No one wants a Big Ball to the face.

Below you can see the Tight Ropes.  This was a pretty simple obstacle.  Walking on a rope in the mud pit while holding on to a rope above for balance.  We all made it across without falling.

The Shake and Quake obstacle scared Lindsee and Delia.  Below you can see Christen, Me, and Lindsee running across the Shake and Quake bridges... The right bridge (the one Lindsee is on) has an exploding water fountain at the end, and almost knocked Lindsee and Delia off the bridge.  Hilarious!

Team Muckstache, below, left to right, Lindsee, Stacee, Deann, Eric, Delia, Christen, and EP.

So glad we could go to Denver and have a mucking good time with my sister and bro-in-law!

Below, the Flying Muckers obstacle.  Four zip lines and Muckers lined up on the platform.  We all go at the same time and hang on as long as possible until our zip hit a stop, then drop into the mud pit.  Below, lined up, left to right, Eric, Me, EP, and Lindsee.

In the picture below you will see on the left, that the first dirty mucker to let go of the zip line was EP.  Yikes!

Beware of Flying Muckers... not to be confused with Flying Monkeys.  Muckers are much dirtier.

 

Lindsee and I were the last to let go.  We hung there and laughed at each other for at least a few seconds after our zip lines hit the stop.  I am sure we didn't do the zip line right, and my arms hurt like you wouldn't believe the next few days after MuckFest, but this was one of the most laugh-out-loud sister moments out on the 5K course for us, with a close second being the the Spinner Cycle, where my fingers could barely hold me as I faced my sister hanging from a moving ring above a mud pit, and I chanted over and over... "I am slipping.  My fingers are slipping", as my sister laughed and laughed.

Below, Eric and I are climbing out of the Flying Muckers pit.

One thing that did not go smoothly on the course and was slightly annoying.... at about three of the obstacles we had to stop and wait in line to go through it.  At one obstacle we waited in line for about thirty minutes.  I am not sure how this problem could be solved for future MuckFests... maybe more time in between wave start times and/or possibly rearranging the order of the obstacles?????

Above, I am navigating the hills of an obstacle.  One misstep and I would have slid down and fallen into the deep pits of muck and grossness.  Below, Lindsee and Eric are running the hills.

The Swing Set is a course favorite for many.  Three giant swings that you must use your body to get going and then jump or fling your body out off of your swing into the muddy water hole.  Then swim to the side and try to pull your tired mud-caked body out of the hole.  Fun times!

Look at those happy faces!

Macho got some serious air.

I did not.

Mucho practiced some kung-fu moves in the air.

Another mucktastic sister moment was when Lindsee and I created sister mud tobogganing.  I think this could, maybe, become a new summer Olympic event in the near future.

Below was the MOST intimidating obstacle, that did not include any muck, on the entire course.  The Crash Landing.  Crash indeed.  We climbed up ladders and stairs to reach a platform high in the sky.  Then one, two, three, JUMP!  What was supposed to happen was a big cool jump and landing on a giant inflated air mattress type thingymajig.  I am not a good jumper.  There were many signs telling jumpers to land on their butt or back...landing on your feet or legs could be dangerous and result in injury.  I am a terrible jumper.  I got so nervous when I walked to the edge of the platform.  Then the man started to count.  AAAAaaHHHH!  "No Thank You!", I screamed in my head.  My body didn't know what to do...A state of confusion came over me and I did a terrible no good jump and landed half on my feet, half on my legs.  What a goob.  From the top of the platform, I heard Macho yell down at me, "Honey, you weren't supposed to land on your feet!".  Yeah, thanks, Macho.  You're the best.  I love you.  If you look below at me on the left, and Delia on the right, you will clearly see which one of us did this obstacle correctly...and liked it.

Next up for a Crash Landing, Mucho and Macho!  Looking good boys!  I am sure you both jumped perfectly, landing on your butts or backs....showing us all how not scary this obstacle really is.  By the way, did I mention how H-O-T Macho is yet?  I would like to take this moment to remind you that I am married to that stud muffin.  (If you aren't convinced, just glance back through some of these pictures of his arm muscles.  I heart those arm muscles.)  And, ladies, stud muffin number two, Mucho, is taken by my sister.  Yes, it is true we know how to pick'em.  Eye candy for days....

We made it!  Below, all of us in our mucking glory, at the FINISH line.  Left to right, me, Mucho, Christen, Delia, Deann, Lindsee, and Macho.

What a mucktacular time we all had for a good cause!

We love you Mom and Heather and will continue to fight alongside you, raising funds and awareness in any ways that we can to Defeat MS.

Meanwhile after the MuckFest, and the celebratory finish line photos....two sisters continued to have fun at the unmucking station....I heart you too, Lindsee!

To find out more about Multiple Sclerosis and/or MuckFest please CLICK HERE  * MUCKFEST MS *