…to learn a new lesson. I just finished the Indiana Tough Mudder and I have conflicted feelings. Normally there is a feeling of completion and elation for success…this time neither of those exists. This may change over time but for now they don’t.
Everything was there to make this event one of those moments you will remember for a while. Friends to hang out with, to race with, and if needed to suffer with. There was an air of excitement and dread, as there always is when there is a big challenge to be conquered. This could be an epic day of competition and camaraderie.
Instead it was an epic day of learning something about yourself that you probably don’t want to know. How much can you suffer and how often can you decide it is about time to quite. When I say suffer I am talking about the type of pain and discomfort that you cannot… quantify with words. I have been through Ice Rescue training with the U.S. Coast Guard on the Great Lakes and submerged in frozen water for periods of time to understand hypothermia. I have completed two different basic training camps for the military and been pepper sprayed and tear gassed for law enforcement training. I thought it could not get any harder than that.
So, what did I learn? It can get worse. My first hint was when they submerged each person in a vat of water that was full of ice, made you go under a plank wall, and walk to the other end and get out and start running in wet clothes…for 8-10 more miles further. We ran through mud, more frozen water, crawled under and through things, and finally over obstacles where your punishment for failure was more water, cold ass freezing water.
I also learned a simple truth about myself. I am mentally tougher than I thought. I need friends, my wife in particular, to help me get through things. I pride myself on being able to do things on my own. This event crushed that pride under foot.
I learned strangers will go out of their way to help you dig your shoe out of knee deep mud without you asking. There is kindness and camaraderie in suffering. The efforts of strangers to help each other out was astounding. Everyone celebrated every one else’s accomplishments. I now understand even more clearly why I compete. I get to see the very best of others.
There are a lot of other lessons I learn but the last one I want to mention here is that I know why I CrossFit. Even after all the in and out of cold water and crawling through pipes and over walls and cargo nets I never once considered quitting because I was tired. My physical fitness was never a concern and it did not occur to me during the race that I was tired. I owe that to CrossFit.
This article was reposted from www.wodmonsters.com
Great article. And I agree, one of the best parts of the experience was realizing that you could not finish it without the help of others. I remember these:
-I took off my shoe to get out a pebble, but my hands were too cold to untie the laces so I could get it back on. Brenda stopped and we tried to cut through the laces with a the edge of a coke can we ripped open. Thank you Brenda.
-After the high jump into the freezing lake (Keith was kind enough to guard my shoe while Bryan and I climbed and jumped together), a group of four of us (I know Billy and Bryan were in there) hugged and jumped to warm up. Thank you gentlemen.
-I got bogged down in the muck, my now loose shoe (a medic cut the laces for me) 18 inches deep, and I couldn’t move. I was hosed. Out of no where, I feel my foot removed from the muck, and I am free. Divine intervention? Deus ex machina? No. Duff ex machina. Thank you Kevin.
-Will Graff. The only thing more steady than the filth from your mouth is your outstretched hand to help a mudder out. It was awesome to watch. Thank you Will.
Great job, team. You were each awesome out there. Everyone check out Craig’s blog post too.