My First CROSS COUNTRY Race!

This may come as a surprise to my old High School and College teammates, but Sunday was my first real cross country race ever.  Sure, I competed in dozens of meets on teams years ago.  But those races were mostly on golf courses!  I had no idea what I was missing! 

The Cross Country Challenge, in Gilberts, is something altogether different.  What amazes me is that people actually pay for the chance to run through the hip deep swampy rivers, and ankle deep mud.  The pictures tell a much better story than I can, but let me just say this.  It was crazy, dirty, messy, and fun!

I have heard about this race for many years.  It's been around since I was in college, and has developed a loyal, almost cult-like following among some area runners.  I was talking to some other runners during the race who have done it every year for the last decade or so.  But I had never run it until Sunday.

The first piece of advice I got was from several people who have run it before, who suggested wearing shoes and clothes you were willing to throw away after the race.  They were likely to get so filthy that you would be better off sending them to the garbage, than the washing machine.  Race organizers also suggest you wrap your shoes in duct tape to keep them from coming off in the mud.

All of this, I thought must be exaggerated.  No one would want to run a race that extreme.  I was wrong.  More than 1200 people wanted to run it.  Well, run might be an inaccurate description for much of the race.  During one part or another of this race most runners also wade, crawl, shuffle, and stumble.

Fast times are not the idea here.  Survival is a more realistic goal.  Let me briefly describe the course as best I remember it.  You start in a field of long grass and mud.  That leads you to the first of several very steep hills littered with fallen tree branches and hidden under leaves.  You then work you way into the woods where the footing is treacherous at best.

  Along the way you have to hurdle fallen trees, and try to avoid twisted ankles.  Then you come to the first of at least four creeks you have to get accross.  There is no way but to get wet.  And muddy.  And then you have to keep going while carrying an extra few pounds worth of clothing drenched in swamp water and muck.

  

The funny thing is though, I heard no complaints.  In fact, people were loving it.  That's what they came for, and that's what they got.  There was a lot of talk and encouragement for other runners along the course from all the runners.  There were no spectators.  There would have been no way for them to get out to the course other than to get wet and muddy themselves.  So it was just the runners.  And they were having a ball.

There were lots of the more veteran runners who planned ahead and wore appropriate clothes to the race.  Several women wore wedding dresses that started out white, but ended up dark brown.  At the end, however, I spotted an entire wedding party dressed up for the occasion.  They took a group photo at the finish.

My wife did this race once several years ago, but it was really cold, and the water was frozen solid.  So she was deprived of the full experience.  This time, she not only got good and muddy, but she even volunteered to carry the camera and take the pictures I have used here.  Good thing.  There would be no way to chronicle an experience like this without proof!  

The timing of this race was also especially good this year.  It came just a day before our first snow fall of the year, and the start of the "maybe I'll stay inside and hit the treadmill" season.  Well after running the cross country challenge, a little snow and slush is nothing!

This reminded me of how enjoyable it can be to run trail races.  There are several other good ones in the Chicago area during the year, including one this weekend in Schiller Woods.  You won't have to throw away your clothes at the end of that race, but you'll still get off the same old roads and trails for a change.  It is a great way to try something different, and remind yourself how much fun running can be!

See you on the path....

 


 
 
 

Comments

[kevin]

Hmmm. I like the idea of trail running, but I'm not sure I could handle this.

[Judy M.]

But it makes for a great story! I laughed all the way through.

[Trails]

Thank you for taking pictures documenting the race route. Was a great race, and can't wait to do it again. Hopefully next year it won't be frozen over... it is good wet & muddy like this.

[Charleen Vuillaume]

That is our Run to Eat (darien, IL) group as the wedding party. Our bride was my 22 year old daughter, and the groom was our most senior member of the group, at a very spry, 72 years old, or young for that matter. We had an absolute blast. Our wedding attire was purchased at the local Salvation Army and we wore it well, didn't we? We are so proud to have made your blog.
Thanks,

[John Garcia]

Charleen, your group helped make the race more fun for everyone else! Thanks!