Channeling my inner warrior

I did it.  I conquered Warrior Dash 2012.  Last weekend, the Diamonds in the Dust, my group of 7 women ran through the woods, crawled over barriers, under barbed wired, up cargo walls, over junk cars, leaped over fire, and swam through mud pits, and had a fantastic time.  We did this all while helping St. Jude's  research!

I have always wanted to do a 5k, half marathon, or a sprint triathlon, so when I heard about the Warrior Dash, I decided this would be my starting race.  I chose this one for a couple of reasons. One, the obstacles would break up the run.  Two, who wouldn't want to jump over fire??? and three, I think St. Jude's is an amazing charity to sponsor and donate my money.   I signed up back in April, so I wouldn't back out and thought that would give me plenty of time to train and get in better shape.  I was using it a goal to reach towards.  I started using the Couch to 5K treadmill running program, which seems pretty reasonable, mind you I never made it past week 3.  (I have no idea how someone who has not exercised in years could do that program at the speed indicated is beyond me).  I am not the most consistent exerciser with my travel schedule but I thought I'd be farther along that I was come race time. 

I woke up early Saturday and took a quick shower.  It was forcasted to be a beautiful day but started off a little chilly. I met my other Diamonds in the Dirt at the Bread Co and we had a bite to eat and then all piled into Julie's SUV to head over to Old Monroe, MO for the race.  After crossing the Missouri River 3 times, we finally headed the right way. Parked in a field a good mile away from the race, checked in, pinned our bib number on, tied our timer to our shoes and headed the start.  They have different start times and I think each had about 600 people in them.  At 11am we were off. I ran the first half mile to the first obstacle.  My sister had kept telling me she was so worried about my knee and me falling that upon walking up to my first challenge with mud, I was so over cautious that my foot slipped a little and I slashed my ring finger on barbed wire. After crawling through mud under planks, there was a nice guy working the race that had gauze and tape so we wrapped my bleeding finger as best we could and we headed on ward.  Of course I would be the one injured on the first obstacle.

It was tough. I sweated. I could not run the entire race. I did however conquer my biggest fear....the wall.  I have always been afraid of heights and climbing a wall using a rope added into fall from a tall height was terrifying.  I had to get out of my head and just grab onto the rope and climb.  I think some fears of not being able to do something  played into my fear, but I decided if other women not is as good of shape as me could do it, then I could to....and I did!  I think that was a break through for me because I didn't talk myself out of trying.  I loved leaping over the fire and breast stroking through mud.  I didn't hurt my knee and I completed the race!

I did however, get a tetnus shot at Urgent Care afterwards with mud still coating my body. Better safe than sorry!  I didn't have a great time. It took us 1:05 but we did it...as a group too!  I would do it again next year too.  Here are some of our pictures.