Tough Mudder’s a “piece of cake!”

2013 was an amazing year full of “first’s” for me.  My first time breeding and birthing piglets, my first time slaughtering and butchering chickens, my first experience with sheep and broody hens and ducks.  But aside from my farming first’s (which were awe-inspiring and life changing!), I also experienced some personal “first’s”.  I overcame life long fears, conquered some serious obstacles and grew emotionally and physically stronger.  I can’t wait to see what first’s and growth 2014 will bring!

I started running when I was 29.  I was raised in a family that never exercised, didn’t do outdoor hiking, camping, skiing, boating  and really never watched or participated in sports.  I had little to no experience when it came to having a healthy and active lifestyle.  When I was 29, I quit smoking and decided to start running.  Not such an easy task for a chubby, asthmatic almost 30-year-old, but I am stubborn.  It took me weeks to be able to run 2 miles without walking, and I hated every minute of it! But I had set a goal to run a local race and I was going to follow through.  I ran the race, and was hooked.

Last January, my training partner; Tina, and I set a goal to conquer a Tough Mudder race.  Tough Mudder is more of a team challenge than a race.  A physical, emotional and stamina challenge.  Each race is different and each location offered its own unique challenges, but they all consisted of hard-core obstacles including electric shock, ice water pools and 15′ drops into water (and whatever else they can think up to torture us with), 11 plus miles of terrain and a pretty pricey fee (most of which is donated to charity).

We immediately started recruiting team members and began training.  I had been running off and on for 6 years, and had been doing a taebo/kick boxing/ Pilates class for several years but, still, the obstacles intimidated me.  If I was going to commit the time and money into this goal, I was going to succeed.  My upper body definitely needed work if I was going to swing yards across monkey bars and climb over 8 foot walls.  And mentally, I was way out of my comfort zone!  I had a near drowning incident when I was 6 and since had terrible water fear.  I had never been in a boat or swam in a lake.  The water obstacles gave me serious anxiety and countless sleepless nights.

As Tina and I ran, worked out and did push ups, pull ups, planks and tricep dips, we also signed up for 5K’s and obstacle runs at a rate of at least one per month.  After a blistering cold St Patty’s day 5K, over a well-earned Guinness, Tina yells across the crowded room “How about paddling in the River Rat Race?”.  We were already signed up to run the 5K the morning of the canoe race in her home town.  “We can do double duty!” she smiled as she read my mind.

I stood there, looking at her, thinking how I had never been in a canoe, how I am terrified of the water, how the Tough Mudder was mere months away.  I looked at her, at my friends who stared at me- waiting for a reply,

“What the f*@#, why not!” I guess this was going to be the year I conquered my water fear!

Now, not only were we running, working out and pumping up our arms- we were canoeing!

My first time in a canoe was scary, at first, but I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have an anxiety attack and I didn’t hate it!  We went out 3 times before the 5 mile canoe race.  The day of the race, we ran  the 5K and hustled to grab our canoe and head to our spot on the shore.

The race had more than 250 entrants and we were all lined up on the bank of the river.  When the cannon goes off, signaling the start, all those canoes make a mad and crazy dash down river, funneling under a bridge where the risk of capsizing is high.  As we waited for the cannon to go off, me in front, Tina in back, my heart was racing and I was having second thoughts.

“BOOM!!” The cannon explodes and we are off! Into a mix off splashing oars, bumping canoes, and yelling participants and spectators.

I became a crazed general, “Mess ahead!!” as a canoe team flipped into the frigid water in front of us. “To the left, to the left!!”  “Get back!!” as I used my oar to push away a boat of inebriated paddlers who were aiming to crash into us.

It was an exhilarating, physically challenging, fear quelling experience-and I can’t wait for April 2014!

As the Tough Mudder approached, I could feel my upper body getting stronger.  In January I could barely do 1 pull up, by June I could do 6!  We ran and worked out and ran races.  We ran a Warrior Dash, and countless 5K’s, we climbed a local mountain at least once a week.

When the day that we had been training for eight months for finally arrived, I felt ready.  Or at least as ready as I could be!  We loaded up the van with our team, 8 of us, snacks, water, and changes of clothes, and headed to the ski mountain where the course was waiting.

It was an intense experience.  11 and a half miles up and down a ski mountain.  19 grueling obstacles.  4 1/2 hours of physical and mental exertion.  And we conquered it all!!

Standing on the platform, ready to jump 15′ into a snow making pond, I wondered if I could really do it.  As I approached my heart quickened.  Without hesitating, I jumped.  It felt like I was in the air for minutes with my stomach in my throat before I hit the water.  Then it felt like I was plummeting under water forever, and even longer to frantically kick my way to the surface!

Climbing over wooden walls with no way over except the shoulder or boost from my teammate and my biceps.

Crawling on my stomach through mud and rocks and water with electrically charged wires hanging overhead, getting a shock and involuntarily yelling out.

Jumping into a pool filled with ice water and feeling a cold that is indescribable and an animal instinct screaming “Get Out!!” to every fiber of my being.

Crawling through darkened tunnels partially filled with water.

Laying on my back crawling backwards, submerged in water up to my ears, with a chain link fence inches from my nose-fighting the  panic that welled up in me as the water got deeper and only my nose and eyes were exposed.

Conquering the monkey bars and an obstacle that allowed only the tips of my fingers to keep me from falling.

It was a once in a lifetime experience and we were so proud of ourselves.  Of each other.

Our journey didn’t end with the Tough Mudder.  We continued to run 5K’s, my first 10K, several 5 mile races and climbed Mt. Monadnock.

Looking back to a year ago, I am proud and happy with all the accomplishments and friends I’ve made.  I’m lucky to have such supporting family and friends.  My husband and son participated in many of the races, and I am so proud of them!  My husband was my rock through the Tough Mudder…helping me through my “mental break at mile 4”.  My son has joined the cross-country and winter track teams.  A family of runners.

I am healthier and stronger- physically and mentally. I am richer in experiences, memories, bonds and friendships.  Isn’t that what  a New Year is all about?  Living and learning and growing.

What will 2014 bring?  Hopefully faster running times, more laughs and bonds and friendships.  A few obstacle races (but, probably not another Tough Mudder), countless 5K’s, and 10K’s.  A mini triathlon? A half marathon? More mountain climbing and trail running.  Cheers to an active and healthy year full of new and old adventures!