The Tough Mudder JetNo confirmation whether the race coordinators fly in on this thing...

I'm always looking for ways to spend more time with my camera in hand and I love the outdoors and anything athletic.

So - it seemed like a match made in heaven when I saw a call for action photographers for the Chicago "Tough Mudder" mud-run. I checked my availability and contacted the event coordinator. The job was Saturday 8 to 2 at the Rockford airport. 

I travel to Rockford a couple times a year for my kids' soccer, so I am familiar with the drive. Done by 2 and alone? I would finally have some time to go check out Rock Cut State Park, which I always stare towards longingly as I drive past, taking my tired family back home as quickly as possible. 

A little work, a little pay and time to play? Sounds perfect.

I showed up at 7:00 am that morning. It was overcast and muggy. I had driven to the backside of the airport, gone through an open security-gate, and found some signs pointing down a gravel road which in turn lead to a paved airport access-way and then to a dew-slick grass field where teenage volunteers were directing people to park.

I had been instructed to bring a lunch, which I had in a little blue cube cooler along with 5 assorted beverages. My little green canvas bag had two back up batteries, an extra memory card, bug-spray, sun-screen, a rain-coat, a camera-cover and a few other essentials I always have when I go out hiking. Attached to the outside of the bag with a clip was my old orange Chicago Bears hat (to keep rain off my glasses if it did start to pour.) 

What wasn't I ready for?

Maybe the fact that they were expecting 12,500 runners over two days!

After searching a little for my contact and then some hijinks finding a map and an ATV, I was dropped next to a field of soy-beans (which I recognize because it was one of my grandfather's cash-crops) and told to walk along a path that lead to a little stand of trees.

My obstacle-assignment was "The Berlin Wall." Basically a high wooden barrier that was totally smooth on the approach side and only had a 2" thick board to get a foot on for the back side. Not too easy under the best conditions for someone relatively fit, and there were athletes of all levels out there in the mud giving it their best.

I started shooting, trying to get 3 shots of each person (as instructed), but there was really no good place that I could get all three shots from. 

I decided that most would want a shot of themselves and their friends "conquering" the obstacle, so I concentrated on the moment of transition from front to back side.

Hang In There!Reminds me of that old cat poster...

If you love sport. If you exercise. If you've ever tackled a task that seemed like it might be impossible - you understand and enjoy the reactions on these faces and the simple heroism that just getting out there and doing something can represent.

I smile every time I look at this smile:

Smile!

I hope (but don't know how) the athletes find these pictures of themselves as they work hard at playing hard. I was basically constantly taking pics between 8 and 2. I know, if it was me, I would cherish a day like this for a long time and want the photos. Lots of folks posed or even asked for a group shot in their joy at having gotten over.

Mother/Daughter MuddersMother/Daughter Mudders

Someone didn't get the memo...Someone didn't get the memo...

When I was dropped off I was told to text if I needed a break. I never did. They just kept coming and I just kept clicking. I figured if they could run, jump and climb and then run some more, I could stand in one place and take the shots memorializing their achievement.

At 2:00, I was instructed to come back in and submit my photos. I finally grabbed a drink out of the little blue cooler as I carried it back across the field of beans. The cooler had somehow gotten heavier.  

I ended up taking 6,253 (Yes, 6253!) separate shots of the participants.

Someone's Getting New InkRunning out of calf-space.

In the end, it had been a hot, sunny day. 

In the car on the drive back, I ate the protein bar I had brought for lunch and drank all 4 of the other beverages I had packed for the day.

As for that side-trip to Rock Cut State Park - I'll check it out another time.