I spent an afternoon cleaning out old files and paperwork and came across a folder that contained the one piece of evidence I have that proves I played a team sport during my childhood. I am not and was never very athletic. Short legs don’t run very fast. Poor hand-eye coordination can’t hit or catch balls. And no upper body strength meant I couldn’t throw things very well or far. I did dance, drama and art. Activities that didn’t involve a field and were the least likely to cause injury. And while I did play youth soccer, I don’t recall enjoying any second of it.
That was probably because I was bad at it, coupled with the fact that I didn’t want to do it. But like most parents, mine wanted me to be well-rounded, active and involved in stuff that included other kids. To say soccer wasn’t a good fit is an understatement. I was so bad I once kicked the ball towards my team’s goal and then this girl yelled at me and then I started to cry...while still on the field. I’m telling you, this picture did not bring back great childhood memories that are now some 20 years old. But I tried it and stuck with it for a season, and luckily we all moved on. I swear, I’ve moved on.
Come this June, my athletic “prowess” will be put to the test in something called the WARRIOR DASH (this must be yelled out with the force of a Viking making its latest conquest). By its own admission on its website, “Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire leaping, extreme run from hell”. Yay. It was brought to our attention by Hal’s paintball buddies who are all signed up. Normally, the men do their own thing with an unspoken “no girls allowed” rule. But since two significant others are joining the guys, I was invited and encouraged to participate in the fun.
When I heard that there was mud and fire involved, I adamantly shook my head in refusal. It’s not that I mind getting dirty but choosing to crawl through mud while running a 3.5 mile dash and ending the course with a final leap over fire sounds unappealing and hazardous to my 29 year old body. Whose idea was it to leave the fire until the end of the race? There’s also a wall to climb over, a cargo net to climb up and something with logs you have to jump or swim over. In an attempt to market the fun of this, Hal reinforced the team effort involved and how the gang sticks together through it all. He also said something about beer and warrior helmets given out to the participants but I was busy reminding Hal that my short stature may be a huge detriment to my ability to complete this course. Mostly, I didn’t want to be that girl that slowed everyone down by having a heart attack trying to crawl through the giant pipe.
In the end, my desire to get to know Hal’s paintball friends and experience the camaraderie was enough to sign up. And while I continued to show great trepidation, Hal reminded me that we survived an unexpected and strenuous rock scramble not because we were experienced hikers but because we were there to support one another through it. So come June, it really won’t be our athletic prowess that will be tested. It’ll be our ability to get each other through this in warrior-like fashion.
Come this June, my athletic “prowess” will be put to the test in something called the WARRIOR DASH (this must be yelled out with the force of a Viking making its latest conquest). By its own admission on its website, “Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire leaping, extreme run from hell”. Yay. It was brought to our attention by Hal’s paintball buddies who are all signed up. Normally, the men do their own thing with an unspoken “no girls allowed” rule. But since two significant others are joining the guys, I was invited and encouraged to participate in the fun.
When I heard that there was mud and fire involved, I adamantly shook my head in refusal. It’s not that I mind getting dirty but choosing to crawl through mud while running a 3.5 mile dash and ending the course with a final leap over fire sounds unappealing and hazardous to my 29 year old body. Whose idea was it to leave the fire until the end of the race? There’s also a wall to climb over, a cargo net to climb up and something with logs you have to jump or swim over. In an attempt to market the fun of this, Hal reinforced the team effort involved and how the gang sticks together through it all. He also said something about beer and warrior helmets given out to the participants but I was busy reminding Hal that my short stature may be a huge detriment to my ability to complete this course. Mostly, I didn’t want to be that girl that slowed everyone down by having a heart attack trying to crawl through the giant pipe.
In the end, my desire to get to know Hal’s paintball friends and experience the camaraderie was enough to sign up. And while I continued to show great trepidation, Hal reminded me that we survived an unexpected and strenuous rock scramble not because we were experienced hikers but because we were there to support one another through it. So come June, it really won’t be our athletic prowess that will be tested. It’ll be our ability to get each other through this in warrior-like fashion.
Let the warrior training begin!
OMG! This is amazing that you are doing this. I can't wait to hear more. PS, that soccer picture is a classic. xoa
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