Surprise

After failing my agility last weekend, I was pretty down on myself. There I sat at the Medical Examiner the Friday after my agility. I was somewhat following the conversation of a group of friends online (Spartan girls). There was another Super Spartan being run in Phoenix that weekend and they were driving out to go run. They had been set up to volunteer and were getting free races out of it.

At some point, I got involved in the conversation. Before I really had time to rationally think about it, I had agreed to go. We met up in Blythe late Friday night and got to Phoenix at 3:30am. We were on the race course to volunteer by 7:30. The weather was hot and dry and we stood in the heat as volunteers on the course from 7:30 to 1:30. Then we had an hour to hydrate and get ready to race. We ran from 2:30 to 5. After quick showers, we ate and went to bed. We were on the road home by 5:30 the next morning. We spent a grand total of 26 hours in Phoenix.

It was a whirlwind weekend but it was simply amazing. The course was completely flat compared to Temecula and very, very wet. The obstacles were all different from the previous race, which kept me on my toes. 5 miles into the race I hit the six foot wall. Made it over with ease. Six miles in, there was an eight foot wall. That one I needed a boost for. I cut an hour off my Temecula time thanks to the flat course. Once again, I was in it to finish. Having the So Cal race under my belt made this run much more enjoyable as I felt more comfortable with what I could expect. I was not fully recovered from Temecula going in and I was not feeling 100%. But I finished my race and I gave everything I had. In the end, it was one of the most amazing experiences and I met and made friends with an amazing group of girls in the process. I'm looking forward to many more races with my "chicks."

I Don't "Got This"

Ran my first agility for SDPD yesterday morning. What a fantastic failure. I will accept full and complete responsibility for not preparing as well as I should. I was confident that I would be successful primarily because I am capable of completing each component of the exam. Stringing it all together however, is a much different story. Exam started with horizontal bars and quickly shot into three flights of stairs, every stair, down then up. My split time was great- 1:13. With over 2:15 left to complete the remainder I was fairly optimistic. Ran some cones, then the walls. Three foot. Done. Four foot. Done. Six foot. Nothing left in my legs. They were jello. What was most frustrating for me is that I can make it over a six foot wall, I've just never done it right after running stairs. The experience was humbling to say the least. The next time I see this course, I will be prepared. The next time I see this course, I will pass it.

Unbelievable

There is no other word to describe the experience of a Super Spartan. And to say "unbelievable" doesn't even begin to capture the chills that run down my arms every time I think of what I accomplished.

I won't lie. The hills were BRUTAL. Straight up and straight down at times. The wind was gusting, it was hot, it was dry. Somehow, I kept putting one foot in front of the other.

I pushed my body, I heard that voice telling me to stop, telling me I couldn't do it, telling me to give up. Every step, every bead of sweat, every obstacle and burpee completed, I killed that voice. Mile by mile, step by step. As long as I kept moving, that voice got quieter and quieter. Until eventually I started to hear the faintest of whispers, "You can do this, you've got this." By the final downhill stretch to the finish, that whisper had turned into a roar.

With several more obstacles to go right before the finish, I never once gave a thought to not completing the obstacles. At the obstacle just before the rope climb, another runner (male) said to me, "I'll never make it up the rope, I'll just do the burpees and call it a day." I remember looking at him and telling him I didn't know if I would make it to the top or not, but I certainly wasn't going to come all that way without at least trying.

The rope climb had been the one obstacle I was most worried about. I found that by the time I had run over 9 miles, I was no longer thinking about the obstacles, I was just doing. And before my brain knew what I was doing, I was at the top of the rope ringing the bell. That single moment was my greatest accomplishment that day. And my kids were there, right behind me, to see me do what I thought wasn't possible. And to think that I could have missed out on that just because I didn't know that I could do it. That experience alone was worth a million burpees.

In the end, I finished. I knew I would. But not because I trained. This race had very little to do with strength in the long run. It had to do with heart. Turns out I have quite a bit of that. I learned a lot about myself in this race. Safe to say I'm floating on a cloud. A Spartan shaped cloud.

Nerves :-/

The date for the So Cal Super Spartan is quickly approaching and my nerves are starting to get the best of me this time. I'm sure it has more to do with not knowing what to expect than being afraid of the race itself. I've been trying to prepare for whatever may come and at this point all I can do is put every ounce of heart into this run. DNF is not acceptable. Unlike my fun runs where I am pushing to do better, place higher, run faster, the Super Spartan will be me against myself. There is no one else in this race other than me. I will attempt every obstacle. If I fail, I will do every burpee. Every. Single. One. I am accountable to me. If I cheat, if I go less than 150%, then I fail. Failure is never an option. I do not care how fast I finish. I do not care what place I come in. I will do this in my time. I will do this despite every part of myself that will tell me I can't. I will conquer this. And I will finish strong.

Because that's what Spartans do.

The New Year

Rang in the New Year with some great friends at the Gaslamp in San Diego. Had a blast. First time I've ever been out on New Year's Eve and I couldn't have asked for a better night. Yet, even a night of drinking and dancing can't take my mind off my newest addiction to mud. At the stroke of midnight, I was in "line" on my phone for a slot in the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. I had to wait a year to sign up for this run and I wasn't about to miss it simply for New Year's festivities. Luckily, my registration went without a hitch and I was able to get back to the party. June 9, Camp Pendleton, I'll be there. :-)

Just Keep Training

Ran my first ever 10k today. My goal was under 1:10, and I crossed at 1:05. Happy girl. Still looking ahead to my race in January.

Meanwhile, blogging has gotten a little more difficult without internet at home.

Back in the Saddle

Had a few weeks off after the egg retrieval on November 4th but got back into the swing of things pretty quickly. Picked up a nearby race last minute- ran the Defender Dash at the Sheriff's Training Center on November 19. It was about 50 degrees and absolutely frigid in the mud pits, but it was a good race nonetheless.

The race was sponsored by Riverside County Sheriff, Riverside Fire, and March Air Reserve Base and a good majority of the people running were Sheriff, Fire, or military. The race was decent, didn't feel all that difficult in the midst of it. However, it looks like I was beaten and dragged- my body is covered in bruises and cuts and my toe nail just fell off. I look the worst now that I ever have after a race. I guess that means it was a good race. ;-) I finished 8th in my bracket and I'm pretty happy with my time and my pace, so good all the way around.

Been taking it easy this week because the war wounds have me a little sore still. Still managed to PR on my lat pull again, up to 160 now. I'm also good for a little comic relief at the gym apparently. Guys are always laughing at my methods of working the lat pull bar down given that I'm lifting more than I weigh and I will occasionally be left hanging off the bar. I've had a few guys offer to help, but most just stand back and laugh...until I get the bar down and do a couple reps. Then they shut up. Hehehe.

Signed up for a 10k on December 10 in preparation for my 8+ mile run in January. My first road race since I really got back into it, should be interesting. Still working on backgrounds with SDPD, fingers crossed!