A few months back, when one of Baby Lighty’s Godparents asked her if she’d like to take part in a local endurance and obstacle race, there was only one resounding answer:
Nope, nope, no, no, no and more no.
There wasn’t even any pretence of “oh well, you know, someone has to look after Baby Lighty…”, my answer was always going to be a resounding no. There was absolutely no way that Mrs Lighty was ever going to be taking part in anything that involved exercise, obstacles and more mud than Glastonbury.
This didn’t deter Mr Lighty and co. from taking part in The Nuclear Races, however, nor did it deter The Nuclear Races from placing a little wager with Mrs Lighty on Twitter that once she’d spectated, she’d want to join in next year (FYI, I have won that bet, I absolutely, positively, DO NOT want to take part next year; The Nuclear Races, I’ll be along to collect that fiver shortly!! ;D).
The Nuclear Race’s finish line.
Mr Lighty covered in mud!
Then when I got there, I had to take on my very own obstacle course: navigating the buggy across long grass (before Mr Lighty had even started the race he had to lift one end of the buggy across the grass with Mrs Lighty carrying the other end and Baby Lighty thinking it was all a great adventure), then jumping up and down to pick up toys being thrown out of the buggy, manoeuvring the buggy this way and that to keep it out of the sun and the wind (this is a British Summer, after all), making up a bottle one handedly whilst trying not to drop the teat on the muddy field floor…
Then there’s one of the main events: the “try to stop Baby Lighty from grumbling by transferring him from the buggy into the sling” event. This involves balancing your bag, coat and blankets on the buggy (a very challenging weight-distribution-to-buggy-tipping-over ratio involved) whilst putting the sling on, placing baby in it, then wearing the baby for the next hour.
And let’s not forget that us parents have our fair share of obstacles to overcome every day. Most days we’ll take part in events ranging from ‘sleep deprived working mother’ and ‘stop the toddler from climbing on the TV unit’ through to ‘the mummy Olympics competitive parenting’ and ‘catching food that has been thrown from the highchair’. Oh and we’re not covered in mud while we’re doing this, we’re often covered in sh.. poop.
Yes Mr Lighty et al did fantastically well to finish the course, covered in mud and determination, having a great time to boot, but as Mrs Lighty walked back to the car supporting the head of a sleeping Baby Lighty in the sling with one hand, pushing the buggy that now contained just blankets, a lunchbox and the change bag across gravel and up a steep hill with the other hand, one of the race marshals commented: “Now THAT takes skill!!”
Who needs an endurance race when you’re a mum?!
“Now THAT takes skill!!”
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Well done Mr Lighty, that’s amazing!! Haha the picture covered in mud is funny but a proud one! 🙂
Oh and it DOES take skill! It isn’t easy holding (or supporting) a baby, pushing the pram UP a hill! xx
Thank you! I’m rather proud of my achievement!! Oh and Mr Lighty’s too, of course… 😉
Wow well done Mr Lighty and he certainly looks a happy yet muddy boy. Well done you for making it as a spectator too, that does take skill with baby in tow. ?
Thank you, the boys had a fab time, although I think Mr Lighty will be discovering mud in places he didn’t know existed for some time yet…! Xxx
Haha. You’re right. I couldn’t face that race either. Why don’t they design buggies to be easier to steer one handed when the baby inevitably decides they’d rather be carried than pushed?
#fartglitter
I glanced quickly at your comment then & thought it was going to say “why don’t they design buggies that can do the obstacle course?!”. Noooooo I don’t need an excuse to do the race thank you!! ? #fartglitter
Absolutely! Anyone that has ever managed to manoeuvre a buggy around a bust supermarket whilst carrying a basket of shopping and entertaining a toddler deserves a medal in my opinion! Brilliant xx
Yep that is very true. I find the buggy hood makes a quite handy supermarket basket?! Thanks for taking the time to read my post xxx
Yes yes and yes! The buggy style olympics made me laugh it can be such a challenge to do anything. My personal favourite is when I try to open a door and get a buggy through the door all by myself whilst also making sure buggy doesn’t shut on baby. Loved this post!
Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that event! I particularly like that one when you’re going into a restaurant, the wait staff can see you struggling but would rather spectate that take part and help?! Thanks for your kind words and for reading my post 🙂
Ha ha BRILLIANT! I signed up for one of these when Tigs was about one, and had to pull out due to an unexpected pregnancy! My friend who soldiered on without me broke her ankle in four places, had to have pins in her foot and 3 months off work …Now THAT is enough to make me think twice to signing up again!
Great post hun – thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub
Oh blimey, your poor friend!! I’ve since heard horror stories about injuries on this race so I’m very glad I didn’t do it!! Thanks for hosting #coolmumclub 🙂
I hope you got a souvenir medal or trophy for taking part as a spectating parent! It is definitely an endurance sport. #fortheloveofBLOG
No no medals or trophies for us mummies. Story of our lives, eh?! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #fortheloveofBLOG
It sounds like you both had to use a whole manner of skills for the day. I wouldnt take part in that race either, I hate mud and I hate running/races even more. #fortheloveofblog
Yep definitely a test of skills all round!! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #fortheloveofBLOG
YES! I completely agree *nods frantically shouting see see to Mr Button. We do this everyday, yes we do. And unlike an endurance race, it doesn’t getting easier the more practiced you become, because the goal posts are always moving. Fab post! Thank you so much for linking up to the #DreamTeam
Oh those blimmin’ moving goal posts! Whoever thought up that as an obstacle was having a good laugh at mothers everywhere!! Thanks for hosting #dreamteam 🙂
I have been winning every endurance and sprinting race (at home) ever since I became a mom! Dont have the energy nor the inclination to prove anything now 😛
Nope good point. And who should we prove ourselves too anyway?! ? Thanks for reading my post 🙂
I completely agree with you! I often find myself comparing what I’m doing to my husband, almost like it’s a competition whereby I feel like I’ve had the more challenging day having to juggle a million things just to get from A to B! Well done you for taking the buggy across the long grass, and baby switching between carrier and buggy – that can’t have been easy if you were watching at different points on the course. I’m intrigued by what a Bundlebean is, I’m off to Google that. Also well done to the husband for completing the Nuclear Races! Thanks so much for linking up again this week at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
Thank you for having me again! All in a day’s work for us mothers this endurance malarkey, eh?! ? xxx