20090815 -- Get Ready, Get Set, Get Muddy! (1)

Get Ready, Get Set, Get Muddy!

As adventure races gain popularity, the Muddy Buddy stands out
You stand at the starting line, ready to meet the challenge that lies ahead. In a few moments you will take on the Muddy Buddy. This unique and entertaining race will have you smiling – and dirty –in no time.

Unlike a traditional race, the Muddy Buddy requires each racer to compete with a partner. The "buddies" take turns running and riding a bicycle over a six- to seven-mile course. Along the way, they come across five obstacles. Racers work to overcome these obstacles while taking turns running and biking.

For most teams though, the best part of the race comes at the end. Here, partners must crawl together through a 60-foot-long mud pit. Smiling racers are covered from head to toe in mud when they finally cross the finish line. The race is all in fun. After the race, awards are given to the fastest teams, And one award is even given to the team wearing the best costume. Every muddy buddy feels like a winner, albeit a muddy one!


challenge n. 挑戰
=> a difficult task to do
eg: Although the math test was a challenge, Stacy got an A because she studied hard.

obstacle n. 障礙物
=> anything in your path that make progross slow/difficult
eg: Learning English was the only obstacle Frances had to overcome in order to study in America.
eg: The rocks on the road were the main obstacles to the truck trying to reach the village.
eg: We can overcome any obstacle if we work as a team.

crawl v. 爬
eg: Before babies learn to walk, they must first learn to crawl.

costume n. 表演服裝/戲服
=> clothing
eg: The restaurant is known for making its stuff dress in funny costumes.
eg: The play's costumes are mostly hand-made by the students' moms.
eg: The costumes in the movie really took the audience back to the medieval times(中古世紀).

albeit prep. 儘管/雖然(正式的用字)
=> 原先為all be it連在一起講
eg: Teaching is a demanding, albeit a rewarding job. 教書是一份很耗心力但是很有成就感的工作
eg: The mayor tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to get the proposal passed by the council.

buddy n. 好朋友/夥伴/搭擋
=> call your good friend buddy

Get Ready, Get Set, Get Muddy!
=>原來的句子: Get Ready, Get Set, Go!



//== Chat room ==//

take turns + Ving 輪流
=> alternate
=> to go back and forth between two people

my turn 輪到我
your turn 輪到你
Whose turn is it? 輪到誰

take a bad turn 狀況惡化
=> change to the worse, it got worse

take a turn for the worse/better (健康狀況)情況惡化/好轉
eg: A patient take a turn for the better.


//== Grammer on the go ==//

Racers work to overcome these obstacles while taking turns running and biking.
=> Racers work to overcome these obstacles while they are taking turns running and biking.

conjection + Ving 兩個句子的主詞相同時，可以用此形式來簡化句子

while taking turns running and biking
(conjection)+( Ving )

before
eg: Before going to bed, Jim always eats a snack.

after
eg: After studying in Italy, Laura became interested in fashion.

since
eg: Emma has been more responsible since coming back from college.

when
eg: When driving in the rain, be sure you keep a safe distance with
the car in front of you.

//== More Info ==//

When the Muddy Buddy race started in 1999, about 600 people participated. Ten years later, there were over 20,000 racers. Some of the challenges facing Muddy Buddy racers include walking across a balance beam, climbing a wall, and sliding down a 30-foot slide.

Children can enjoy the Muddy Buddy too. There is a special race for them called the Mini Muddy Buddy.