Afterglow 2011 - Day 4 Tuesday

The last time that Team Revolution competed in the Slobstacle Course was back in 2009 but that group was missing Jenny, Susie, Stefani, James and Melissa. In 2010 Gail (to my knowledge which isn't always credible) didn't hold the event due to inclement weather. This year we had gathered all of the cousins to Rage for Timmy and show these little kids how to properly run a Slobstacle Course (which is what we called it.) Like every other moment in our life we put our fists in the air and Started the Revolution. It was a sign that we meant business.

Two years ago Team Revolution failed because we didn't have a quality coach to lead us. Uncle Greg was supposed to be that coach but declined. I'm not a great coach but I suppose that I'm the next best thing. Under my leadership we would achieve victory today.

Since I was busy trying organize my teammates and put them in a position to succeed, I was unable to take pictures. So I owe all of these pictures to Stacy, Carol and my Mom. When everyone does their part we can achieve great success and entertain the masses.

The Slobstacle Course is not easy and it can leave people with a sense of doubt or some hesitation to participate. That is where liquid courage comes into play. The Mug is a well established container for the beverage that makes us revolutionize the game. You will be able to spot it whenever that little boost of confidence is needed to excel. We had no trepidation in doing the Slobstacle Course but the liquid courage gave us the confidence to go out there and whoop up the little kids and prove that bigger and stronger people will always prevail. Tough luck pals.

The first obstacle to get through is a goofy one but then again all of them are. We have to hold these poles and get all twisted up and get out of it without letting go of the poles. Oh, and a couple of us were blindfolded. This might not make a lick of sense so that is why I have provided a video of the entire run on the next page. But please make sure you finish this one before moving on. At least do that little favor for me.

Kevin is the goofy one of the group and is therefore expected to do all the goofy tasks during this course. Whether it is putting a bucket on his head with noodles between his legs or picking up bean bags in a little wheelbarrow. The youngest kid on the team is supposed to do the ridiculous tasks. Even though on our team that would be Stacy it was best for everyone's amusement to have Kevin do it. I think we made the right choice.

The sponge pass is probably the 2nd most popular Slobstacle Course challenge behind the potato sack hop. The kids love it because you have to pass the wet sponges over your head to the person behind you. And while doing that you can squeeze the sponge on their head and release the cold water and laugh. This act doesn't help fill the bucket at the end of the line but it does make everybody laugh. And at the end of the day it doesn't matter what time you get. All that matters is that you had fun. Personally I'd like to have fun while whipping the tails of the opponents.

Some of the tasks are actually quite practical such as this one Jenny is doing. She is attempting to throw a water safety life ring onto a cone. In the lake this action might save someone's life but in the Slobstacle Course it was only good for a loud "bonus" point.

Throwing a football accurately is a very useful skill. Just ask NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers if it helps him out in life. That skill may earn him millions of dollars per year but it only earned James and Brian bonus points during the course. And sadly no millions of dollars.

The sack hop is great because you get to put your body into a sac and hop. It doesn't get any better than this folks!! Pure unadulterated fun with something so cheap that it used to carry vegetables then discarded. Or used to ride down giant slides at State Fairs. I know that it doesn't look like the greatest thing in the world but when was the last time you donned a sac and hopped? Never? Don't knock it until you've tried it pal.

Remember when I said it doesn't get any better than this? I was wrong. It does. BRIDE WARS!!!! Halfway through the hop to the finish line Jenny screamed out Bride Wars and proceeded to tackle everyone within arm's reach. It slowed everyone down and added a good 15 seconds to our final time but it was insane. Jenny had introduced us to her version of Bride Wars (which actually had some similarities to the Anne Hathaway / Kate Hudson movie of the same name) last year but jumping on us as we lay passed out on the bed. It was hilarious back then and it still is now. I'm just glad that everyone else was able to see it even though they in no way understood it. What is this Bride Wars?

Susie might have seemed like she wasn't a part of Team Revolution but that couldn't be further from the truth. She hard the most important role on the entire team - she filmed a video of the entire event. That video can be found on the next page. Thanks Susie!

The Moms (and Maddie) were Team Revolution's "cheerleaders" and official photographers. At the conclusion of this portion of the event they started a revolution of their own from their chairs. We wouldn't be here without them and we thank them for the support.

From start to finish the course took us 4 minutes and 34 seconds. That's a long time to be going at full speed and running through the rigmarole that Gail puts together. At the end you need a friend (or in this case a cousin) to lean on for support and to recuperate.

We easily finished with the quickest time amongst the other teams but it's not that much of an accomplishment considering the other teams were compromised of kids under the age of 12. Still it felt good to lay a beatdown on them and knock them down a peg or two.

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