We're here and we are not quite tough..yet!

January 30th, 2010 (year of our original hero)

Well I want to start off by saying writing a blog entry from the phone has its advantages and disadvantages. I can blame all my spelling errors and other mistakes to the small keys and mobile layout. The other side of this coin is I have no excuse to post my entry because I always have the phone on me. With all of this said, please refer to my Disclaimer when reading any of my entries.
Well it is 3:30pm US time and 8:30pm here and my evening needs to wind down because I need water and rest for tomorrow. Big day tomorrow- the Tough Guy Challenge. I have always been really nervous to compete in this challenge. I really peaked today when Tracy, Joel and myself went and visited the course to register. To get to the course you drive through your typical or stereotypical english town to get to the 2000 acre horse farm that hosts this event. When we do pull up though, it is breath taking. To see the structures, these mental patience let free,constructed and fabricated for our enjoyment..er..displeasure is a site beyond description. I wish that everyone reading had a chance to see this place.
There are few things about this course I need to explain so you can get a glimpse of what this is going to be like for us competitors. The barbed wire crawl, the moat and the behemoth are three major obstacles I need to share to you. The barbed wire crawl or the "stalag escape" is a 15in high roof, twisted barbed wire that is 100ft long. We do have to crawl on our bellies through this-did I mention this is placed in a 10in bed of ice cold water? Can you imagine the body parts that will be going into hiding due to this cold? Next is the moat which is toward mile 6 and is about 200 feet of chest high ice water creek that has telephone poles periodically placed across the creek forcing us to go head first under the poles to come out the other side to continue. Burrrrr! The last obstacle i want to describe is the behemoth (or however you spell it.) This is one of several 30ft tall platforms with ropes, cargo nets and tires meant to cause us all harm. Please go to the website to fully experience this amazing collaboration of mud, ice water,rope and wood.
Sorry to go on and on over this course, but the wonder is something to marvel.
I wonder if my grandpas would look at this and say, NO WAY I'M DOING THAT! Or if they would laugh and say, no problem. My guess is they would say, we were heroes because we had to, but you doing this is idiocy- think of your family. I know my grandpa Pop would be mad that I am doing this because he loved Ang and if I ever did anything that could jeopardize our relationship he would let me know. As it is, I am here and have had no better supporter than that woman. She is the breath to my life and butter to my bread!
So here we are a handful of hours away from the challenge and I need to get some sleep. I need my beauty sleep so I look good tomorrow:)
Until tomorrow - I am out
Talk to you on the drive to Wales.

Good night fine Americans!
Chris.