Warrior Women

Today I challenged myself.  I did something I did not think I would ever be capable of  and I did it with my sister and my aunt.  I completed the Warrior Dash and I feel awesome!

I am incredibly uncoordinated.  I am clumsy and bruise easily.  My legs are a testament to this.  I don't consider myself to be physically strong.  I also don't like being dirty.  I always admired people who did obstacle races, but thought I would never be able to do one myself.  Luckily,  I have a sister and aunt who encouraged me to give it a try.

My kids call her, Great Grand Eileen.  She is awesome and one of my heroes.  Eileen is fit, can do handstands and kettlebells.  She is an amazing woodworker.  She hikes, she skis.  Eileen is smart and a gifted teacher.  Students love her.

 My sister, Sally, has not let lyme disease hold her back from embracing life.

 We are women warriors.

The course was dusty.  The first mile is just running, first up a hill over very dusty, sandy ground.  My ankle threatened to roll during the first mile, but luckily I avoid injury.  I jumped over walls, climbed high walls with a rope, crawled under barbed wire, crawled through tunnels, climbed cargo nets, jumped in a series of mud pits, waded through more mud, crawled through mud under barbed wire, slid into a pool of muddy water, crossed slacked lines while being sprayed with water and suspended high above ground, and jumped fire.  It.Was.Awesome!!!!!

I honestly surprised myself.  I never got stuck.  I might even described my movement through several obstacles as spry.  I made it through every obstacle on the first attempt.  I also got very dirty and muddy. 

I removed my eye block and discovered I was dirtier than I thought despite hosing off.

The camaraderie on the course was great.  There were so many fun groups of people, everyone willing to help out someone stuck.  Afterwards, we headed to the beer garden to redeem our free beer.  I, famed for my dislike of beer, felt it important to at least try my celebratory beer.  To my surprise I actually kind of like the belgian white.  There may be hope for me yet.

Classic Eileen pose

 I can't wait to see the pics taken by course officials. I think everyone needs a picture of them leaping over fire.  We opted not to take any post-race pics wearing our fuzzy red horned helmets.

I can only imagine how difficult the course would have been if it had been rainy instead of blazing hot.  Those mud pits might have been impossible to escape.  Maybe next year I will get the chance to find out.