What the heck is Dominion Riverrock? Weeeelll it's a 2 day outdoor lifestyle festival that just happens to take place a few blocks from where I live. Kayak acrobatics, freestyle bike competitions, music, food, beer, and yes, a mud run. There was even an above ground pool for an air dog competition. I think I spent close to an hour just watching dozens of dogs jumping off a platform into a pool over and over. Some confused pups were trying it for the first time and it was hysterical to watch! Too bad my mutts want nothing to do with water beyond drinking it.
One of the great things about Richmond is that we have a gorgeous riverfront with the backdrop of the city skyline. I live smack in the middle of downtown, but when I walk my dogs it's not uncommon for me to see bald eagles, otters, snakes, racoons, ducks, geese, opossums, herons, etc. The James River Park system is amazing, and anytime I feel like ditching sidewalks for river rocks, I can take a 5 minute walk and do just that. The woods are so thick you're completely unable to tell you're in the middle of the city... I love it!
Friday I participated in the MGD 64 Filthy 5K Mud Run, which was a blast! I was MAJORLY disappointed that yet again I had camera problems. After charging not one but 2 batteries overnight, my camera worked for about 30 seconds... it's an Olympus Stylus Tough (aka me-proof), which means I could have taken it with me through the mud, dropped it in the river, and tossed it over the finish line and it would have been fine. I was so pumped about being able to snap pictures during the race and I ended up with zero. So all these are from image searches. UGH!
A bunch of military guys in their fatigues ran in the 5K which I though was great. There was a chick in a wedding dress and a few tutus and clown wigs here and there, but my favorite getup was a girl dressed in all white spandex running gear with bunny ears on her head band and face paint whiskers... she ran alongside a guy in a dark green sweatshirt and pants with a big rubber garbage can lid strapped to his back painted like a tortoise shell. OF COURSE my flippin camera failed me and I nearly tossed it in the garbage I was so irritated. These would have been suuuuuch great pictures! OK I'll stop whining about it now I swear.
Anyway the trail involved running across an overpass, through some gorgeous trails at Belle Isle, rock hopping, and even running waste deep in the James. It rained all day, so the trail was extra muddy and the rocks were super slippery. I remember the smell of honeysuckle following me almost the whole time, which was kind of nice considering things like BO, mud, and fish from the river were what I was expecting to smell. The finish line was basically just a mud pit with dozens of people belly crawling in it... and let me tell you, this was some COLD mud.
We won't discuss my race time...worst ever! I blame my waterlogged shoes. After the race I enjoyed my free beer (Yuengling...not MGD 64.. I was stoked we had a choice!) and walked around all the vendor's booths, stages, and event posts. Luckily there was a bag check and a wash off station, but I ended up jumping in the river to rinse the mud off like most of the others. I was still filthy, but something about walking around covered in mud with a beer in my hand made me happy. I finally headed home and was able to get a lame picture of the remnants of my mud bath.
Can't wait for the next mud run/obstacle course! They're soooo much more fun than other races. : )
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