LA Muddy Buddy - Duathlon

The first leg was a bummer for three reasons:
1. The trail was very narrow about 1/4 mile into it, which created a horrendous backup of bikers and runners. The bikers just didn't have room to pass, so they were plodding along single file while us runners were darting into the weeds to overtake them.
2. The course then went into a steep downhill that the bikers were made to walk down due to the danger factor, causing further backups (saw one guy at the bottom being put onto a backboard by paramedics. Must've tried to ride down it!).
3. At the bottom, we had to run out onto the beach of the lake, and then into waist deep water, soaking our shoes, meaning we'd have to do 90% of the race with soaked shoes/socks. Funny, but a bummer!
Anyway, got to the first obstacle, monkey bars, and negotiated them okay, and took about 20 seconds to find the bike where Vicki had laid it. Hopped on and started powering. This segment wasn't too hilly, so I caught up to Vicki early on and kept going.
Second obstacle was a cargo net. No problem there, and back to running. Vicki caught up to me halfway through the run. I was motoring up the hills and passing ALOT of people that were walking every hill. It seemed that every leg Vicki had to do on the bike was super-hilly, and later she told me it was killing her, and she had to walk the bike up several hills. I think if we'd known that, I would have done the 3 mtb. legs instead.
Anyway, 3rd obstacle was a low wall you had to climb over. No problem, and back on the bike right as Vicki was coming in, so a good handoff.
Fourth leg was kind of hilly, and then out onto a road where I was able to get into the big ring for a bit, and onto the fourth obstacle, a high wall with a cargo net climb, and a slide on the backside. Easy.
As I was running out for the last leg, I passed Vicki coming in and told her where the bike was. The last leg was very hilly and steep, so I knew Vicki was in for a hard climb. Turns out she and some other riders missed a turn on the course and went about 100 yards in the wrong direction. At any rate, I continued to pass people and felt really good, strong, and got to the final obstacle THE MUD PIT and waited for Vicki for about 7 minutes. When she arrived, we ran to the pit and got down on hands/knees, but the Marines in the pit were yelling at us to crawl on our chests. Wanting to get REALLY muddy, I went one better and literally put my head under water and came up drenched in mud as I crawled along. When I finished the pit, I got up and had mud streaming in my eyes as the Marine yelled at me to wait for my buddy. It was hilarious! You couldn't even see the little bodyboard I was carrying because it was so coated in mud. Skinned the knees a little, but otherwise, no worse for the wear.

As mentioned, switch with me on 3 mtb legs and Vicki running 3 legs. We weren't far out of the top ten and I think we could have made it had we done this.
Also, I wore a Fuel Belt which was a mistake. Dropped bottles twice and only drank from it once.

Got the video and shot some footage of us fully muddy, and then went to the mega-hose thing they had and rinsed everything. There were about 30 hoses, so it was a giant communal shower. Even after that, we still had mud in our ears and nostrils.
We hung out for a little and watched the Mini-Muddy Buddy with the little kids going through a small obstacle course and then into the Mud Pit. Hilarious. Hope to have Saige on that next year!


A great race. Fun vibe, interesting course, and a great venue! Pretty interesting for my first off-road race. Hope to do it next year with some of my neighbors/friends. A great way to finish my race season! This was my 12th race (11 triathlons and this).