Emma, Miguel, and I went to visit Miguel's twin brother, Juan, this weekend. Juan recently moved to Greenville so this was our first time to visit him in his new place and city. We were surprised how quick of a trip it felt driving there. From Savannah it takes about four hours, the same amount of time it takes to get back home to Atlanta, but the drive is soooo much more enjoyable. We're not sure if it's because the landscape is prettier or if it's because the drive is broken up into different highways instead of one long road the whole way (if you have ever driven on I-16 you know what I'm talking about). Emma did really well with the drive again! She's such a good girl! Of course she started out in the back seat but only stayed there for about half an hour before she moved up front to cuddle. I'm proud of her for being so good in the car, but the real accomplishment here was that I drove over this bridge!!!
Here is a cute picture of Emma sleeping on my lap during the drive to Greenville.
We were excited to go visit Juan and check out Greenville. Greenville is a really cool city. I like the way it's laid out. It feel's a lot like Athens but without the poverty and the craziness and negatives that come with being a college town. Saturday night we went to a bar and played darts and pool and what was really cool was that EVERYTHING was free! Even parking!!!! And it wasn't crowded at all and there were no sketchy people trying to be pool sharks and take advantage of us all.
This is in downtown Greenville! It was really beautiful at night when it was lit up with lights.
Part of the reason for the trip to Greenville was so that Miguel could be on Juan's team for a race in Columbia Saturday. Okay, let me just say... I am SOO proud of Miguel for doing this race, BUT I also think anyone who signs up to do this race is certifiably INSANE!!!!!!
Here are the details:
*14,000 individuals
*3,600 teams
*Officially the largest mud run in North America
*Not actually in Columbia --- in podunk South Carolina
*3,600 teams
*Officially the largest mud run in North America
*Not actually in Columbia --- in podunk South Carolina
On their website they post this discription:
The Ultimate Challenge Mud Run is over 4.2 miles, and has 30 obstacles that have to be crossed by each team requiring team work and a lot of determination. The 4.2 mile course is an all-terrain race conducted on dirt roads, improved and unimproved trails through the training area. These trails include mud holes, walls, trenches and other obstacles that require swimming, crawling, climbing and jumping. Some people come to compete, but many come just to complete!
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and so tried to take pictures with Miguel's phone. Even more unfortunately, I lost his phone at the second obstacle so didn't get that many pictures. But what IS fortunate is that at a race with more than 14,000 people someone found his phone during the five minutes I didn't realize it was missing and turned it in!! Thank the Lord!
Here are some of the pictures I took... This first one is an eight foot deep trench (I don't know what to call it) and then you have to climb a slippery mud hill. Miguel's team's heat wasn't until after 5 pm so the mudd was REALLY wet and slippery and I saw many people bust their ass on this obstacle.
The guy in the red here is one of the marines who yelled at the runners. The runners were completely out of breath and to me looked miserable. They are only about half way through the race at this point, which the marines kindly reminded them with by saying things like "COME ON! PICK UP THE PACE! RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN!!!! YOU'RE ONLY HALF WAY DONE! YOU CAN'T BE THIS SLOW ALREADY!" If I had been running I would have shot them. If I still had the energy to lift up a gun and pull the trigger at this point.
There's Miguel and Juan!! Miguel had run to the car before the race to get Emma's travel water bowl. They left me in the company of one of their teammate's family. As soon as the team left to get the bowl and do their warm up the family I was with immediately set out to go 'scout out' the race. I, dressed in a sundress and sandals, followed them. I was SOO not prepared for this race. I thought it was going to be like a cross country race and I could plop down in the shade on a tailgating chair and watch from a distance. Ummm, no. My feet are literally still muddy... yes, I have showered since then. Anyways, since Emma and I were being dragged through spider webs and rocky forests, Miguel couldn't find me when he got back from retrieving the bowl and so he ran with it! Miguel was giving the bowl to me in this picture! He's the best! Thinking about others even while going through hell!
Go Babe! Go!
There goes Juan! Miguel and Juan matched by wearing their 'lucky' shirts! Aww! Twins! ;)
After the race they had the opportunity to take a two minute shower... more like a hose down. I don't know why people bothered saving the shoes they wore... they all pretty much looked like this. I saw people duct tape their shoes on their feet which I thought looked miserable but after watching people searching for their missing shoes in on of the mud pits didn't seem like such a bad idea. Luckily, for the Amador household and much to Emma's dismay, Miguel tossed his old shoes after the race!
Miguel and Juan's team did really well! They finished the 4.2 miles and 30 obstacles in about an hour and a half! I love it that Miguel finds so much enjoyment out of things I would never consider in about a million years! Opposites sure did attract when it came to our relationship!
Driving back home with three mud covered, sweaty guys and a dog who had been out in the sun all day was not the worst part of the drive... it was actually passing WAY too many "This is Gamecock Country" billboards (warning: all with Steve Spurrier sporting his visor).
What's amazing is that Emma managed to stay mud free!!!!! I was so happy! This did take some work on my part. I had to pick her up during some of our wanderings through the woods. But mission accomplished! No bath needed for Emma!
On a side note ----> Emma lost her first puppy teeth this week! I think they are adorable but some may think they're gross. She's growing up! I can't believe she's already almost FIVE months old! Biggie girl!!
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