Striding Along - Gate City Striders

Continued from page 17
There were several cargo nets to crawl over or
under and steep inclines and declines that required
team work to get up and over. There was hardly a
flat spot on the course as we ran, climbed and
stumbled up and down muddy Mt. Snow several
times. It was tough fun getting up and down the
mountain through the mud and streams. In several
spots the snow guns were blasting us with water
and making the footing treacherous.
In one stream of nearly waist-deep water high on
the mountain, we came upon another challenger
sitting in the freezing cold water. He couldn’t
move due to leg cramps. He said he was fine and
would be okay. This guy would have gone hypothermic
shortly if Damien and another challenger
didn’t pull him to safety on dry land.
Running through smoke and fire on the Fire Walker
obstacle was difficult but only a short distance of
maybe 20 yards. There was no time for walking at
this obstacle, but rather a blind run through the
smoke and fire. I now see how people are overcome
so quickly in a house fire.
There were safety volunteers along the route but
they can’t be everywhere. They did have firemen at
the Fire Walker obstacle. Entrants did have to sign
a death waiver.
Continued on page 19
July - September 2011 Striding Along 18