Mudslog

Trotting through idyllic pastures, prancing up steep hillsides, gliding over horse jumps, sprinting through the stalls to finish in the show arena sounds like a great adventure for horses and riders, right? Well, what if you are a runner doing that for 7.5 miles; would it still be so great?

Eileen, Jan and Mike W. decided to seek out adventure and try a trail/obstacle course race at the GVH Mudslog held on the Jensen Stables farm in Perinton, NY and nearby roads and trails. (photo - Jan in Fleet Feet team shirt, Eileen next to her in black).

 The race began in a cornfield and within .75 miles went up a ridiculously steep, long hill. I don't know how horses grazed on that pasture without toppling over and rolling down. After five miles the runners headed into steep single track trails through a nature park. Welcoming them were two stockade fences to climb over, one about four feet, the second seven feet tall. (photo, Eileen waiting for Jan to climb fence)

From there they ran in a creek (yes, in it), crawled under fencing and a bridge, through more mud and back up to the real trail.(Jan coming out from under bridge).

Finish area. Next time maybe they'll take a horse ride instead? The official race name is GVH Mudslog. The winning time was 9 minutes a mile, that's how tough the course is.