The Dirty Little Freaks Run Again

There is nothing that inspires me more in life than seeing women work as a team, overcome fears and find victory in a challenge they never thought they could complete...until they did.


Our redesigned team shirts. Thanks Jill,
Kristen and Gerson!

And, man, did they complete this challenge in such a fist-pumping, arm-raising, whoop and holler kind of way, it brings tears of pride to my eyes. These. Chicks. Rock. And, the Warrior Dash 2012 in Maryland will never be the same after the second generation of Dirty Little Freaks tramped through its course with such ferocity and determination and laughter, we showed the world what it means to be a strong team of kick-ass chicks.

I started the tradition of motivating women through mud races several years ago, but I lead my first big group last year when I took the inaugural group of Dirty Little Freaks through the Warrior Dash, a 5K mud/obstacle race that just happens to be the best introductory mud race around. The 2011 Freaks was a class of eight---eight women who blindly joined me for their very first mud race on a simple leap of faith that I would stick to my promise and pull them through something that was totally out of their element and therefore, freakin' daunting.

The 2011 Dirty Little Freaks at the Warrior Dash

I had the pleasure of running with them every sloshy step of the way and in the end, every single one crossed that finish line last year with their fists in the air and smiles crinkling the mud on their cheeks as the DJ fittingly blared Pink's "Raise Your Glass." That was certainly a moment to remember, and the whole experience inspired me to continue encouraging and motivating new recruits to step out of the norm and jump in the muddy pond with me for some hair-raising, muscle-melting adventures.

The 2012 Dirty Little Freaks BEFORE hitting the mud

This year's Dirty Little Freaks was a team of 21, though five of our girls had to drop out when life suddenly intervened...kids with broken arms, injuries, family. (No worries! These girls have a standing raincheck for our next race...can't let their shirts stay pristine for too long!) In the end, we ran as a team of 16, probably one of the largest teams at the race and definitely the team with the most spunk and the hottest hot pink shirts around!

And, we finish strong!

The race this year was more challenging than last year but still designed for the novice mud runner, and every obstacle could be completed without a team. But, seriously, where is the fun in that? Mud racing is about teamwork. It's about finding your inner warrior and releasing it for a few hours. It's about stepping out of the proverbial box and doing something so freakin' awesome you'll still be telling your muddy tall tales when you're 90. Mud racing is about adventure, camaraderie, cool bruises and the age-old military adage of 'leave no (woman) behind.'

AFTER getting muddy! Go DLFs!

Our four pace groups rose to the challenge and completed their mission. They scaled five walls, climbed ropes, waded through mud, crawled through tunnels, leaped over barriers of wood and fire, crushed the nets, killed the killer hills and took on the slip 'n slide with such gusto even the gravity-defying, butt-blasting bump at the bottom couldn't derail their enthusiasm.



AW! Such support! Feelin' the L.O.V.E.!

They crossed the finish amid the cheers of the crowd, bathed from hair to toe in the stickiest, smelliest, shittiest mud on the planet and they did so with the biggest shit-eating smiles plastered across their faces. If that's not the epitome of warrior spirit, I don't know what is.

Yep! We like to play in mud...

I was in awe of that very spirit as I witnessed it on the course...the way each woman encouraged and whooped-whooped their teammates forward when the hills got longer and the walls taller...the way my girls overcame fears of small spaces, high places and even dirty faces...the way some pushed through the pain of their very first 5K, never once gave up and maintained such a positive attitude throughout the course they inspired the very runners around them to push on and push harder.


Eat it! Eat it!

Yum.

 

Finish as ONE!


These are the very moments that define who we are as women.

These are the moments that make us stronger and happier and more confident in who we are and what type of ass-kicking we can give the world when things get tough.

These are the moments that challenge us to challenge ourselves to be the best version of who we are.

These are the moments that inspire me.


Warrior Spirit!

There is absolutely nothing more satisfying than seeing teammates wipe tears of victory from their mud-stained cheeks, hearing the excited chatter as they plan their next race within minutes of crossing the finish and watching the Dirty Little Freaks raise their arms and their glasses in victory.

So, my friend, raise YOUR glass in honor of the Dirty Little Freaks! Whoop! Whoop!
 
 



Raise your glass!

 And, take one ginormous Warrior-like swig before you do the impossibly possible and sign up for our next muddy adventure in September. The Dirty Little Freaks will run again...the question is: will YOU take the muddy plunge and join us in a toast to new challenges and victorious beginnings?

Here's to you and you and especially, you. See y'all at the fire-breathing, heart-stopping starting gates!



Cheers!

Just call me M.U.D.

            ________________________________________________________________

 To the 2012 Dirty Little Freaks! You rocked this race and rocked it hardcore. L.O.V.E. you all...Carrie, Allyson, Jen, Dorothy, Kristen, Jill, Pam, Heather, Kelly, Christie, Danielle, Candy, Karen, Sheila and Jackie!!

 


Ok...you get the picture...it IS a mud
run, after all!



Special thanks to my dad, Chuck, for taking awesome shots and capturing our day; my mom for watching the girl while I got muddy; and to Jackie, my BFF (as Dad likes to call us), for helping me keep our enormous team together from start to finish and for driving 2+ hours with me, a feat in itself, but even more so when I'm on the worst day of the monthly curse. Love you lots! You all rock, and I couldn't have done it without your support!





And, yes, it DOES wash off!