Mud Hero 2013

About few months ago, I thought in order to push myself, I needed to have a wicked goal to reach towards. What better goal than a muddy obstacle race? So I nudged a couple girlfriends of mine and we registered. Between the day I registered and the day of the race, I had talked myself out of running it at least once a day. I was afraid to be the biggest, to be the slowest. I told myself I'd do it for fun, but secretly knew that deep inside me lives this quiet little athlete that doesn't like to do things half assed. I don't think I have ever been so nervous, yet so excited to try something new, in all my life.
The night before race day I looked at the map. I pumped myself up and looking in the mirror told myself "YOU GOT THIS!" . Saturday dawned blue skies and my nervous belly caterpillars turned to butterflies of excitement.
We lined up at the starting gate, music blaring and the occasional WOOP from the crowd. The energy was electric as runners and non-runners, trainers and housewives, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, athletic people and non-athletic people, geared up for the 6k obstacle race. Jumping, stretching, watch checking, hugging, reassuring, praying, dancing; you name it, it was happening as we all waited for the horn to blow. And then like cattle leaving the pen, we were off.


I wish I could tell you, in detail, about all the obstacles and challenges, mentally and physically, that we faced on the course that day. But I can't. Because time melted away and the only thing that mattered was to keep moving, to keep pushing, to try to get through it, and to leave no one behind. You encourage your friend who is struggling to make it up the hill. You shout praise to the perfect stranger who you watched make it up a tough incline or obstacle. If you saw someone sit down to take a breather, you asked if they were ok, you reassured them that they COULD do it, and told them not to listen to that ass-hole little voice in their head telling them you couldn't. You told those damn hills to FUCK OFF! And you cried a little when you saw that there was still one more to go. You jumped into mud pits, not knowing how deep they were. And you advised the people after you were the best spot to try to climb out of those pits was. You held ropes for the people behind you, just as the people in front held them for you. You laughed when your friends resembled swamp things, and they laughed at your mud mustache. And when you crossed that finish line, no matter how long it took, you did it with your friends. You DID it. You MADE it. You conquered the voice, you conquered the mud, you conquered the pain. You became a MUD HERO.

It really was one of the best experiences of my life. I don't think I have ever pushed myself so much physically and mentally. There were times where I wanted to just stop and sit down and never walk up another hill in my life, but then images of my sweet (clean) little boys waiting for me at the finish line danced before my eyes and it was time to go. Would I do another race like this? Hell yeah! Am I super sore and feeling really old still, two days later?? Ohhh heck yeah! But it was worth it.

Huge thanks to my ladies for running, walking, climbing, clambering, floating, squishing, sliding, and wobbling through it all with me. I heart you all! xo