Hero Rush is a 5k firefighter-themed obstacle course, made up with 17+ Tough, Crazy, Fear-Facing Fun Obstacles!
As much of you know, I have been a professional firefighter for over 27 years. I'm also a member of the Texas LODD Task Force, http://texasloddtaskforce.com As the crazy ultra runner of the Task Force, I was ask about getting a team together for Hero Rush, how could I say no!
So with that, the "Texas LODD Task Force" Hero Rush team was formed! Made up of 14 people, 10 firefighters, 4 non-firefighters.
As a team, we signed up for the 343 wave. The 343 wave is to honor the 343 firefighters that gave it all on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Centers. Each bib would have the name of one of the firefighters, I would be carrying, Thomas A. Casoria. Firefighter Casoria was with Engine 22 and only 29 years old the day he gave it all, http://bravestmemorial.net/html/members_individual/casoria_thomas/newsday_article.html
Before our wave stated we also honored the 5 firefighters that have also gave it all already this year in the State of Texas,
Pilot Ronnie Chambliss, Bureau of Land Management
Firefighter Jalen Smith, Jackson Heights Fire Dept.
Capt. Neal Smith, Atascocita Fire Dept.
Lt. Eric Wallace and Lt. Gregory Pickard both with Bryan Fire Dept.
God Speed Brothers!
Start time weather, 38F with a 20mph wind! Yes it was COLD!
Once our wave started, it didn't take long before our team was spread all over the place, no big deal. I stayed with our youngest and non-firefighter, this would be her first 5k!
It didn't take long before we got to the first obstacle, climb over a 4 foot wall and through windows.
Are they all going to be this easy, oh just wait!
Next, crawl through a smoke filled maze.
Off to the next one!
Little did we know we would be getting wet before we got to the next one, a stream crossing, knee deep. But the trail runner in me was loving it! This part of the course was single track in the woods!
As we made it to the next obstacle it was a rope bridge, but the rope was fire hose! I was thinking this could be tough! But I guess watching all the Bear Grylls does pay off, I smoked it across it!
Before we got to the next one we would have a nice run in an open field, I put the gas to it, legs got happy!
The next obstacle was crawling though rope filled tubes, needed my knife!
More single track and stream crossing before the next one, loving it! My team mate not liking it so much. But she was hanging in there!
The next obstacle was more crawling! This time you put two tires on a backboard, the tires are a patient. First you go over a 4 foot wall then crawl under barbed wire! I told my team mate, you hold up the wire and I'll do the pulling, team work!
Short run to the next one. This would be carrying a 50 foot section of 3" fire hose, about 75 pounds. You had to carry it up and down a hill two times. This is where all that stair climbing helped big time!
Off to the next one, but first you had to walk through knee deep water on the side of the lake, wasn't that bad.
This next obstacle would be a tire drag! This is starting to be nothing but a everyday workout, love it! You had to drag a tire about 200 feet. So what did I do? Yes, I did grab two tires and took off. Hey, if you're going to get a workout, make it good!
Boom, off to the next one!
Did someone say, CPR? This was by far the easiest one. You had to do 30 chest compressions on the CPR dummy.
Yes, it was a save!
The next obstacle you climbed up a ladder and into a smokey maze. Stay low, grab a wall and go!
My team mate was starting to feel the course a little by now. But like any great team mate, I told her to suck it up buttercup! If looks could kill!
On to the next one, foam filled tubes! More like a bubble bath.
Off we go again!
The Hazmat pond! This is a knee deep pool, full of that jell that you put in a flower vase. You had to go under barrels. Again, team work. I'll hold up a barrel so you don't have to put your head under this crap and then you do the same for me.
Will this ever end? Only 5 more obstacles!
More tire carrying! My team mate was really starting to feel it now! She was having fun getting over a 4 foot wall in this obstacle, but she did it!
As we made our way to the next one, we had a lot of people walking back at us. Are they lost or what?
We found out why! You had to go for a swim in the lake!! So much for staying dry at the Hazmat pond! This was a 100 foot swim across the lake! I'll never complain about getting into a cold river in the summer time again!
Now to climb up a tube 30 feet and slide down a tarp! But first the tube. It had wet boards in it you had to climb, slow and easy. Now for the slide, looks easy enough! That is until you get about half way down it and think, oh crap I'm going FAST!
We can see the finish line, 2 more to go!
What more water?! This time the public gets to spray you with a fire hose! Like we aren't wet and cold enough! I told one of the kids spraying us, I'm going to take that hose away from you a spray you. He just sprayed me in the face, thanks kid.....
Fire, I see fire!
Last obstacle, fire jumping! But wait, fire is warm and I'm cold! So I did what any smart firefighter would do, I stopped to dry off and warm up! Oh crap the clock is still running, I need to go!
We finished in around 58 mins! I know this sounds slow, and it is for most 5k's. But when I found out that the Top Male finished in 39 mins, I was feeling better!
In the end, it was a great day with awesome people! Thanks to everyone for honoring our fallen and supporting the Texas LODD Task Force!
