The Coolest Mom in My Kids' Class!

Have you ever agreed to do something, in print. and then immediately realized how stupid you were? 

That happened to me recently.

My friend innocently posted in our running group "I just signed up for the Camp Pendleton World Famous 10K Mud Run - anyone want to join me?

"I will" - my fingers typed - apparently with a mind of their own....

I have never done a mud run. 

I haven't been running in months. 

Stupid is the only word to describe what I had just agreed to do. 

The time between agreement and execution passed FAR too quickly - and last Sunday, there I was....on the bus from the parking lot to the start line with my very cute friend - who graciously provided the tiaras.

 I am sure the cute little 12 year old marines got a huge chuckle out of these two "older" moms....

 If I knew what this map really represented, I would not have been so happy...

 Don't we look lovely and carefree???

 The thing is - I consider myself marginally fit - but able to power through just about anything. I figured I could do the 10K and skip the obstacles if they were truly awful. 

I forgot. 

I forgot that Camp Pendleton is hilly. No, wait - it's mountainous. 

The marines took full advantage of those mountains hills. 

They lured us into thinking it was no problem - the first mile was pretty flat - then - straight up hill for the next 3. 

This "older" mom's not THAT stupid - I walked up those hills and saved my energy for the nice. long downhills at the end! 

 My pride did kick in - and I did every single one of those 15 obstacles. (except the stupid lunges - those aren't really mud run worthy obstacles)

It showed at the end! 

We did get cleaned up (but I am pretty sure I was washing mud out of my ears for a few days after!) 

My sweet husband was really supportive - but didn't really understand why I was doing something this hard and ridiculous. 

To be honest - at the time I signed up, I didn't really understand it myself. 

But when I finished - I had a bit of a revelation.

I want my kids to be able to say "my mom might be old enough to be my grandma, but she did the Marine Corp 10k mud run and that's not for sissies or prisses or old people". 

You see - I really am old enough to be the mom of many of the mom's in my kid's classes. It's what happens when you don't start your family until you later 40's. Most of the time, I don't focus on it - but sometimes it's out there like a big fat ugly reminder that gravity is no longer my friend.The moms I hang out with are skinny and cute and accomplished and cool and fun and full of energy - really, really, full of energy! 

 I am not the hip mom "in the know" on a whole lot of things.....

but last Sunday...

for a few minutes...

I was the coolest mom in my kid's class!

And it felt great!