What happened at this race is exactly as the title sounds. You haul a pumpkin through a race course and over obstacles. Exactly the kind of race I would be interested in!
As the cap to our mini-moon, Rob and I headed to the Chatfeild Botanical Gardens for the Great Pumpkin Haul Race on Sunday. After picking up our race bib, we walked over to the pumpkin patch to pick the pumpkins that we would carry through the entire race.
Sadly, most of the pumpkins were rotted and falling apart due to all the rain this year. We finally settled on a pair, after switching them out four times for better ones, and waited for the start by getting our pumpkins weighed.
Two waves of runners went before we started running. I quickly found it extremely awkward to run with a pumpkin. After experimenting with a variety of different positions, I finally settled on carrying my 15-pounder at baby bump height with my hands laced underneath. It was the most ergonomic.
Obstacles included climbing over hay bails, crawling under netting, and stepping over “spider web” ropes.
The race was short, only 2 miles, but I was thankful! My arms were jello by the end of the race and my orange albatross was starting to fall apart due to my bracelet cutting into it’s one rotted spot, but it made it to the end.
We stayed for a beer tasting at the finish line and then headed out. I think the race organizers could really make the after party one for the record books if they had a few more vendors and if participants got a bit more dirty throughout the race. A smashing pumpkins contest would also be a good stress relief. It is a genius way to get rid of the left over pumpkin crop!
RQ: What sort of adventure races have you participated in?
I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
What a fun race! It actually sounds pretty brutal to me, but a good overall workout. I agree the last obstacle should be smashing your pumpkin! A little sad and wasteful, but, as you say, a good way to get rid of the leftover crop.
The pumpkin patch had already taken all the good pumpkins out to sell. So the leftovers would have just rotted. It was pretty good workout. My arms were sore for about two days.
This looks like it was alot of fun!…great way to end your mini-moon!
It was a blast!
That race sounds awesome! I’ve never heard of anything else like it. After 2 miles I’ll bet everyone was glad to set those pumpkins down for good 🙂
There were some guys carrying 2 pumpkins! I thought they were crazy! They looked beat by the finish line.
This race sounds AMAZING!!!!!! 🙂
It was a lot of fun!