Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Obstacle Run

This weekend, as I mentioned, I participated in an Obstacle Ru:n, Conquer the Gauntlet:



4.1 miles.  28 obstacles.  Prizes consisted of a shirt and medal:




What did I do?  I moved 4.1 miles. I climbed walls including a 12 foot one, humped through and over mud, climbed out of a 10 foot pit, tried swing across water obstacles (and failed miserably), crawled on my face in mud, climbed a 15 foot tire chain and then back down, climbed a slanted wall with rope, carried a 40 lb bag for a lap, hammered a block of wood with a sledge and back, and ran and walked through mud.  And more mud. 4.1 miles worth of mud.

And all I got was this T-shirt and medal.

One might wonder why a person would do such things.  And it would be reasonable to wonder.  Even if one was to win the competition, the purse probably pays for the race (just).  I finished tired and sore and covered in mud (showering was an hour long affair).

Why do it?  Bragging rights, for sure - I finished.  I made it.  I tried every obstacle (although I failed at a number of them).  But I can hold my head up high.

More importantly, I found out I can do things I did not think were possible.  I climbed a wall with help and then helped other climb.  I heaved myself over and through and under is ways I could not expect.  I managed to do one or two obstacles - the 15' tire climb and the slanted wall with the rope -that I not think that I could do.

And most of all, I finished.  I kept moving.

How did this change anything?

Because today when I hit a problem I could not solve or something that bothered me instead of getting worked up over it I simply said  "I climbed walls and things and crawled through mud this weekend - if I could do that, I can do this."

Maybe I did not find my outer limits this weekend, but I sure got a little closer.

6 comments:

  1. An achievement indeed my good man.

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    1. Thank you John. It really feels like one.

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  2. TB - sounds like you were put through an obstacle course very much like basic training. good job, my friend!

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Thank you Kymber! Although if this is similar to what they do in basic training, I would have been embarrassing as a soldier. I am sure you were much better!

      Lhiats, TB

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    2. buddy - you have to remember that in basic, i did my first mile and a half training wearing my own running shoes. did it in 7:36. then they strapped combat boots that were at least 3 times too big for me for the next 7 weeks. i managed to do my mile and a half in just under 14 minutes! i just made the cut off.

      but i was in basic training. you did this because of trying to test your metal which is so much different! i am glad that you were able to succeed as much as you did! and i am glad that you got a lift out of trying as hard as you could!

      i am sure that you feel that a lot of the stuff on that obstacle run could have shot you down ---- except that it didn't! and i think there is a lesson to be learned from that!

      your friend,
      kymber

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    3. Thanks Kymber! Overall I would say that I did not successfully complete most of the obstacles I anticipated but there were one or two that I did do that I did not think I would be able to. That was very satisfying.

      Lhiats, TB

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