World's Toughest Mudder - Check In Time!!!

That time of the year is finally here. Some of the memories of us checking in last year are still very fresh in my head and it is hard to believe that another 365 days has passed. This is always an exciting time of the year for me. For the second straight year I get to spend a crazy weekend with a couple of good mudda buddies. For the second straight year my wife has agreed to come along and be our support in the Pit. This will also be the second straight year that I get to celebrate my birthday on the World's Toughest Mudder course. (I cannot forget my birthday balloon again.)

Check in starts around 10 AM today for us crazies who have done more than 10 Tough Mudders. Not sure really what the pit area is going to look like so it will be great to get there early and pick a choice spot. I guess this is one small perk of having put my body through so much damage on these courses. I knew it would pay off sooner or later.

Last night we got the joyous news that there will be electricity on the course this year. The Electric Eel was on the course last year but I was an amazing 6 for 6 on all of the trivia questions leading up to that obstacle. Get the answer correct and you got to go through the side where wires that were turned off. This obstacle is by far the easiest of Tough Mudder's electricity obstacles. Yes you are coursing through water but if you slither like a serpentine the worst that is going to happen is you will take a few nasty hornet stings in the shoulder. The worst thing - that's funny!! This year they have an obstacle called The Gamble. Roll the dice, accept your fate (or except your fate as Tough Mudder has proclaimed), or take a penalty. Unfortunately it looks like this one involves Electroshock Therapy and this is one that has knocked me out for a split second more than once. For you future Tough Mudders out there you definitely don't want to take one of these in the head.

Today is the day that the Year in the Mud team will again be complete. el Gato (a.k.a. Brian) arrived the evening before last. Today the Gazelle (a.k.a. Pat "T") will be arriving later this afternoon. Gear is getting packed and we are preparing to head out to registration.

Wanted to leave everyone with some pictures of our Day 2 of R&R out here in beautiful Las Vegas. We went to a gorgeous state park called the Valley of Fire and a long desert drive that I had never experienced before. Try to imagine one of those car commercials where you are on a single lane road in the middle of a red rock canyon with no traffic coming in either direction.

Stay tuned for lots of race posts. Soon Tasha will again have her administrator privileges engaged and she'll be able to go hog wild on this thing.

A little desert rest on the long loop hike. 

el Gato decided to create the Fire Valley WOD, but I was only interested in practicing my break dancing skills.

Tasha leading the way on a little free climb up the sedimentary rock. We did not follow.

Wild Thing!!

Balancing Rock. 

Practicing Wounded Warrior Carry. I tend to get the honor and privilege of carrying 220 around.

No this is not Miami but you can read a great post on Refocusing!

Even got in Vegas show - David Copperfield. How in the heck do you get a car to just appear on stage. Crazy! Representin' WTM at some fine dining though.