Ruckus Boston 2011: A Tale of Two Races

June 4th had arrived and with it came Ruckus Sports 4 mile obstacle course race at the Marshfield Fairgrounds in Marshfield, MA. I was ready for a challenging and fun time and it didn't disappoint; but we will get to the race in a moment.

For this race, unlike some of the past obstacles races, I, with the help of other like-minded Aggressors, managed to convince several new people to join in on the fun. For some it took only an invite and they were up for the adventure; while others, however, needed a bit more persuading. A friend of mine signed up because his wife, who does not back down from a challenge, did. No self-respecting man is going to let his wife Man-Up him. Another friend, who hinted on backing out, quickly changed his mind when threatened with unrelenting and disparaging affronts to his manhood; and, yes, there would have been ruthless mock and scorn. Finally, we were able to convince a few women who have never attempted an obstacle race by challenging their ovaries: "Yeah, it's probably not a good idea if you sign up. You wouldn't be able to handle it, because, you know... you're a girl." Nothing like good ole' fashion sexist misogynism to get the estro-rage pumping!

And so, with a full group of friends by my side, I bring you to the race...

Having competed (and I use that word lightly) in a few obstacles races the common gripe I have are the lines before the obstacles. If you are going for time nothing will ruin it more than having to wait for people to complete an obstacle. Before you start in with the whining, I am fully aware that these races are open to everyone regardless of physical athleticism and I fully support them getting out of their lives for awhile and having some fun. It's what Aging Aggressively is all about! However, you also have to understand that if my brother or a few of my friends clock a better time than me I will be the one suffering from unbridled mock and scorn. We don't want that.

With that said, I give Ruckus high marks with how they staged their race. The first 2 miles were mostly trail running. It was well marked and full of terrain changes, i.e. dirt, open fields, mud, single track. There were challenging obstacles, 11 total, but were spaced out. More importantly, though, the course allowed people to get out and run; which had the excellent effect of thinning the group well before the majority of obstacles were met. Thinning the group meant little to no lines at the obstacles! I didn't have to wait which is HUGE. I hate lines.

The end of the trail run opened into the final series of obstacles within the fairgrounds. Once we hit the fairgrounds we were faced with another 13 events which would lead us to dirty, muddy glory. Here was the place that separated the men from the boys, or the women from the girls, or the people who were faster than me from me.

If you have been reading any of my past blogs you would know that I learn a little every time I race. This event was no different.

1) Ruckus was the first time I was ever called someone's Rabbit. A man whose name I have forgotten was using me during the first few miles as a Bunny! And he passed me, dammit! To his credit he did politely ask me to speed things up because the next Bunny was too far ahead to catch and he wanted me to push his pace. I, regrettably, could not. My legs were not feeling very hoppy.

2) Ruckus gently reminded me that I cannot rely on age and gender to determine the likelihood of me finishing before someone else, as a woman with gray-streaked hair not only caught me, but high-fived me in pure, encouraging sportsmanship before quickly pulling away from me to conquer the race in true AARP fashion.

What about the obstacles you say? Aside from a few failures with ripped cargo nets and a useless rope swinging thingy, the final series of challenges were great. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ranger Bar, the Nose Bleed Nets, the Monkey Bars, and all the Walls and Barricades, to name a few. I definitely dug the end of the course. Ruckus staged the end perfectly. They lined several obstacles, dirt hills, and one mud pit together in full view of the spectators who, regardless if they knew you or not, were cheering the racers on loudly and raucously with chants of "Mud! Mud! Mud! Do it!!!" What do you do? You give them what they want, which many racers did with aerobatic jumps and twirls, each ending with a resounding and crowd-appealing sploosh.

SUMMARY
The Ruckus Race was a great time. The registration could have been a little smoother. They should have provided waiver sheets to sign when you got your bib number. Instead, they told you to leave the line you were waiting in and go to that table over there... no not there... there, yes, that one... the one with no sign indicating that the waivers are here, to get your waiver. They also should have had signs at the Gear Drop for drop off and pick up. Some people may have missed their heat start because they were waiting in line with racers who already ran. I don't have much to say about the vendors because I only visited one: Swing Juice (http://www.swingjuice.com/)! Overall: Fun and challenging course with just a hint of reckless abandon. Congratulations to my friends and family who, for many, was their first experience with obstacle racing. Huzzah!

P.S - The reason I called it the Tale of Two Races is because I qualified for the Champion Heat. Top 10% baby!! I never qualify for anything so, to me, it was fantastic. Not for nothing but I did drink an entire bottle of Mango Swing Juice before my race. Coincidence? You decide :)

Heat Results: Overall place = 21 / Age group place = 20 / Time = 35:07
Champion Results: Overall place = 34 / Age group place = 30 / Time = 37:11

I should have had another bottle of Swing Juice before the Champion Heat!