Do a mud run

“The last obstacle was a gigantic wooden wall; the biggest of the race by far. My arms felt like two deflated balloons hanging limp at my side, my legs didn’t know what was going on and my mind was in full-on retreat mode. Still, I leaped at the wooden wall and slipped down. Holy shit; it seemed like before me stood every negative thought in my head that was saying, “You can’t do this, back down now,” in wooden wall form. And it was right, I couldn’t. I even verbalized that to my teammates and started trying to walk away. I didn’t want any more of this. Nope, one of my long-time friends wasn’t letting me off that easy. He pushed me back to the wall. I gained footing on the ledge half-way up and then they elevated me to the top. I swung myself over and dropped down. I took to a knee and was breathing heavy. But damn that was cool. It felt amazing to have friends there willing to pick you up and get you over your own insecurities, doubts and fears. I had never felt that type of bonding in such a tangible, gritty way.”

“Ready? 3…2…1, and we were off. That early morning vigor had returned and I just wanted to kick some ass the best I could. I was at almost a brisk run, hurling myself over haystacks, over wooden beams and then arriving at a long, white slip n’ slide. The others hesitated and I just launched myself down it…until about the middle when I stopped sliding. I was wet, but not that muddy. So far, it didn’t feel like a mud race. I felt great at this point, however and marched on. Doubt, she reared her ugly head. Over walls, balance beams, just straight jogging, into mud pits (it had become a mud race) and then there she was. [...] It didn’t help that the mud/wetness was weighing me down and causing me to slide, even if I somehow managed to pick up the pace.”

“I finished. I was caked in mud, elbows, legs, face, my shirt was sticking to me, but I finished the race. Through the help of my brother, friends and maybe a little bit of my own will (however little was left), I finished. I didn’t feel great physically and if I’m being honest, I wanted to lie down because I thought I was going to black out, but mentally, I was back to my early morning vigor. It just felt so overwhelmingly pleasing to have finished.”