Earlier this year, I ran in the Landis Down and Dirty Adventure Run. I figured I wouldn’t take part in another run until next year. Well, as Britney Spears would say, “Oops I did it again.”
When Michelle Patterson asked me a few weeks ago if I was running in the Patterson Farm Pumpkin Dash, I laughed it off. The dash was a 3.8-mile trek through the vineyards, through the farm, over a climbing wall, through a tube, through squishy tomatoes and pumpkins, and over hay bales. But the race was a way to raise money for the Rowan County United Way fundraising campaign, and I was in.
Patterson told me that if I can do the one in Landis, I can do this. She was right, but I couldn’t do it by myself.
When I made the decision, I knew immediately I needed someone who would have my back, or at least someone to push my backside up a hill. I called my best friend of 18 years – Jessica Brown ­­- and she agreed.
Jessica and I go back to junior high, with bad hair cuts, boy crushes and weekends at the mall. She also was part of our Fantastik 4 team in the Landis mud run. She didn’t hesitate, so I signed us up.
Our team name by the way was aptly called BrownPotts. We thought it was funny. I’m still laughing, but it could just be because I’m tired or in delirium.
I must confess she regularly exercises and I regularly sit on the couch. I knew she would cheer me on and pull me over the hay bales if I needed it. She did, and I needed it).
I’m not going to lie. It was cold Saturday, but ever the Girl Scouts, we were prepared. We were never Girl Scouts, but we were somewhat prepared for the weather. We each had on two to three shirts, including a long-sleeve T-shirt, fitted pants and windbreakers. I’m so glad we thought of layering up and wearing the double pants because the first obstacle was no joke.
After running (walking really fast) through the first turn and the vineyard, we came to cold mud and sprinklers.
I can easily say I was the only one in the race who was eye level with the sprinklers. If you know me then you know I’m not tall and if you don’t really know me just imagine a 10-year-old because that’s about how short I am.
Everyone got wet around waist level from the sprinklers. Me, I got it right in the face. I almost lost my shoe twice. I forgot the tape to tie down my shoes like I’d seen some people do in the Landis run.
“Come on, you can do it,” Jessica told me.
“I can do it. … I can’t do it,” I said to her.
I think our favorite obstacle was the first set of hay bales that we likened to the ABC show “Wipe Out.” It was everything ‘Wipe Out’, minus the water, getting hit in the face, falling off and the laugh track.
The thing we noticed, after every turn we made, everyone told us we were almost done. We were never almost done, but telling me the end was near was better than knowing the end was not near. I did enjoy seeing people cheer Jessica and I onto the next obstacle.
Jessica and I did get to catch up in between catching our breath. Even though we were only half way through the run we made a game plan for next year, and it involved running.
I think one of the funniest moments was at the last set of hay bales. Jessica and I had strategized that she’d go over the first one and turn and help me. Then I’d do the same for her at the next one.
What is it they say about the best laid plans?
She pulled me over the first two bales by more or less just grabbing me by the back of my pants and hoisting me over the last one.
Who else can you get other than a best friend to pull you up by your britches?
When the race was complete, we were cold, covered in mud, but smiling. I’m glad we had some best-friend bonding time, and the event raised money for the United Way.
Our time was 1 hour 6 minutes and 11 seconds. Hey, second to last isn’t that bad when you’re doing it with someone you’ve known since junior high.
Check out some of the people who were apparently hardcore:
The overall male title went to Alfredo Dominquez, who came in at 24 minutes and 47 seconds.
The overall female title went to Josie Heglar, who came in at 34 minutes and 32 seconds.
For more results take a look at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.