Warrior Dash

Do you remember last year when our son Evan and his friend Charlie ran in the Chicago Police Department's 5K run?

Well, this year they decided to do a 5K of a different kind.

THE WARRIOR DASH

Fasten your seatbelts, we're in for a fun and bumpy ride. This is how we roll in the American midwest.



No, the Farmer is not racing. He's here for moral support. He did say that he plans to go into training and race next year!

What's a Warrior Dash, you ask. Well, it's a bunch of people who love to run and have fun while doing so.

Here they are attaching their bib numbers and timer chips on their shoes.






Evan and Charlie are slotted in the 11:30 start time.





This race is scheduled for TWO FULL days. There are slot for 500 runners every half hour, all day long. That's alot of runners. The Saturday races filled up months ago!

They're off and running.






There goes Evan. He's on the left in the sunglasses.






Each heat is sent off with a giant fireball.






There's more fire later in the course.

The race is run through a huge paintball course outside of Chicago. There's a ghost town, junk cars that they must jump over, a tunnel and more.

Oh, and most people do this in costume.

Remember the picture from yesterday? That's the Elvis contingent. They're watching earlier heats while waiting for their start time. That's the hay bale climb on the right.






I remember thinking on the way into the venue that I better see some kilts, because what's a warrior without a kilt?






There were plenty of kilts, including this entire family. The kids were racing with dad on Father's Day. Mom had sewn all these kilts for them. Believe me, this was no small task.




It's all about the details and the details are in the back. Lots and lots of pleats. Mom did a great job!






You'll see one of these kilts later and believe me it's not going to look like this.

This picture is for my friend Leslie in California. It's all about the tutu's!!!!!



Tutu's everywhere, including a bride in a tutu. I'm not quite sure but I think a wedding took place at this event. There's a ballet troupe coming up later in this post. Stay tuned.






They run through the course of obstacles until they come to that hay bale climb. Next is the rope wall. Think Marine Corps basic training. Here's a young woman who seems to be dressed as a Scout leader, making her way over the wall.








Evan is over and coming down.






Taking off and heading for the next obstacle.



FIRE!!!!





This is a member of the LaGrange Fire Department. They had a team in the race. He has just passed through the fire jump.






Here's someone's office manager.






Evan is over and on to the next obstacle. The course was a little muddy.






Hopefully they're not squeamish about getting dirty because the next obstacle is the MUD CRAWL.

Charlie dives in, intending to do the breaststroke.






The crowd is amused by Evan's slip and butt flop.






Evan crawls through and I'm hoping that his shorts are not sucked off in the mud. This is a family event!!!






Charlie gets closer to the finish line.






Evan is almost there.






Waiting at the finish line is staff handing out bananas and water.






Evan and Charlie enjoy their well-earned reward. Beer.






Charlie finishes and mom and dad congratulate him although mom Donna is hesitant to get a hug.






Evan poses with Sister Mary Mud Pie






We get a little crazy. Just blowing off steam. (She's probably a commodities broker.)






Daugher Sarah practices her cheerleading skills with the boys.






Remember those ballerinas in the pink tutus? Here they are post-race.






And more ballerinas. These girls were stinking cute and it appears they are professionally trained. Look at that beautiful form on the hand positions. I think I'll add them to my Peep List as my Official Blog Ballet Troupe. I can't read their t-shirts but I'm sure this troupe has a name. (I think Krista is in this group. Krista..... identify the girls).



Charlie poses with the ballerinas.



Nobody knows nobody, but everybody knows everybody. Know what I mean?




Donna dances with Charlie.






The running shoes are trashed.



You think?









Seems like a waste? Not to worry. All these shoes will be picked up by an organization called GREEN SNEAKERS. They'll be thoroughly cleaned and be sent around the globe to people who need shoes!








We do believe in washing our hands before we eat our barbecued turkey legs.






Team USA.






Indian contingent.






This woman shows how to keep her man in line.






And here's that wonderful mom who did all the hard work making kilts for her family. She's not unhappy about what's happened to those kilts and she's proud of her Warrior. Notice also the cute expression of the girl in the background.






I hope you had fun with us at the Warrior Dash.




Check out their website because there's a Warrior Dash coming to a city near you.

There is no admission charge for family, friends or spectators. So even if you don't dash, you can still attend and have some good clean muddy fun.