Moments
With judgement day being well reviewed and written about I thought I would just write about those tiny
moments that make a race, that make you smile when you remember, days, weeks, and even years later.
http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/04/judgement-day-review-believed-hype-done.html
Flipping tyres
One of the task sections of the race was flipping tractor tyres from one post to another, which equated three flips one way and then three flips back. I've never flipped a tractor tyre before. It was way harder then I thought I watched other competitors flipping their tyres, and tried to mimic their technique but I just didn't quite have the strength. Eventually I managed to get my hand under the tyre and get enough leverage to flip it once. I couple of dudes waited and gave heaps of encouragement,but they got bored of watching me hug the giant rubber ring. and made it on their way. Once I got half way and, and done a serious amount of swearing, cursing, and praying in a variety of real and newly invented languages I had sorted the technique. Flipping the tyre by gripping the tread in the middle of the profile rather than lifting from the bottom. Those six flips were an epic achievement for me and was exhausted when I finished. I had watched the guys I started with, flip and finish and run off into the distance, I saw other guys and girls flip faster and overtake me whilst I struggled. once that tyre was back on the starting post I got a huge high five from the marshal and felt AWESOME!
Dropping the sandbag
After a 2km trek with a 35kg sandbag I had incredibly sore shoulders, my calfs and quads were starting to ache, lower back was twinging, but in those 2km i had some great moments of clarity and humour. I had seen people run past with lighter, smaller sand bags, I had seen bigger stronger dudes romp past with full sized sandbags too. As I passed a marshal and stopped for a chat about the weight of the bags, I realised that if i had wanted an easy run today, I would have gone to the gym and gone on a treadmill. Zero regrets about picking a stupidly heavy sandbag. Dropping the bag back at the finish point was incredible. Suddenly being 50% lighter was so empowering I just opened up the legs and enjoyed a wonderful kilometre of good paced running through a beautiful dandelion strewn field. Life is good.
The hug
I'm not a fan of heights, every time I've been to 'GoApe' I've been terrified, but I feel I 'have' to do these things to try and get over these fears and become more comfortable with them. When I reached the 'confidence training' area, I was neatly sandwiched between a professional roofer, MT, out in front and 'I'm really not comfortable with heights', PR. So following a dude overloaded with energy, along climbing and height skills to equal that of a chimpanzee, was both inspiring and demoralising at the same time. It was great to see that all the high obstacles can be conquered and with some ease. When we came to the area were you had to cross from building to building at the height of a first floor window with only 2 girders to act as a bridge, MT skipped across, only stopping for a bit of show boating and posing for the camera. Myself and PR went quite pale, and I even offered PR the chance to go before me.
"No, You go" was the reply. so taking the advise of the marshal I placed my feet in each girder and hands on top and slow shuffled along like a drunk kitten. This was terrifying, i thought once i was half way out, I would settle and the panic would subside. but it just got worse. my mini shuffles where painfully slow, I just wanted to get to saftey I just needed to get to the opposite window. If finally came and I hauled my self through feeling like a kitten who's been in a tumble dryer. I turned and saw PR taking the same approach as I had, you look stupid, you look like a wimp. But for someone who's 'really not comfortable with heights' this was outstanding work to put yourself a huge way outside your comfort zone, to do something you know you will hate and terrify you. As PR pulled his gangly frame through the window you could see the relief and joy about being back on a firm safe holding. We hugged. It was beautiful, and a moment in obstacle running I will always remember, and in the future, mercilessly take the piss out of PR for!
With judgement day being well reviewed and written about I thought I would just write about those tiny
moments that make a race, that make you smile when you remember, days, weeks, and even years later.
http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/04/judgement-day-review-believed-hype-done.html
Flipping tyres
One of the task sections of the race was flipping tractor tyres from one post to another, which equated three flips one way and then three flips back. I've never flipped a tractor tyre before. It was way harder then I thought I watched other competitors flipping their tyres, and tried to mimic their technique but I just didn't quite have the strength. Eventually I managed to get my hand under the tyre and get enough leverage to flip it once. I couple of dudes waited and gave heaps of encouragement,but they got bored of watching me hug the giant rubber ring. and made it on their way. Once I got half way and, and done a serious amount of swearing, cursing, and praying in a variety of real and newly invented languages I had sorted the technique. Flipping the tyre by gripping the tread in the middle of the profile rather than lifting from the bottom. Those six flips were an epic achievement for me and was exhausted when I finished. I had watched the guys I started with, flip and finish and run off into the distance, I saw other guys and girls flip faster and overtake me whilst I struggled. once that tyre was back on the starting post I got a huge high five from the marshal and felt AWESOME!
Dropping the sandbag
After a 2km trek with a 35kg sandbag I had incredibly sore shoulders, my calfs and quads were starting to ache, lower back was twinging, but in those 2km i had some great moments of clarity and humour. I had seen people run past with lighter, smaller sand bags, I had seen bigger stronger dudes romp past with full sized sandbags too. As I passed a marshal and stopped for a chat about the weight of the bags, I realised that if i had wanted an easy run today, I would have gone to the gym and gone on a treadmill. Zero regrets about picking a stupidly heavy sandbag. Dropping the bag back at the finish point was incredible. Suddenly being 50% lighter was so empowering I just opened up the legs and enjoyed a wonderful kilometre of good paced running through a beautiful dandelion strewn field. Life is good.
The hug
I'm not a fan of heights, every time I've been to 'GoApe' I've been terrified, but I feel I 'have' to do these things to try and get over these fears and become more comfortable with them. When I reached the 'confidence training' area, I was neatly sandwiched between a professional roofer, MT, out in front and 'I'm really not comfortable with heights', PR. So following a dude overloaded with energy, along climbing and height skills to equal that of a chimpanzee, was both inspiring and demoralising at the same time. It was great to see that all the high obstacles can be conquered and with some ease. When we came to the area were you had to cross from building to building at the height of a first floor window with only 2 girders to act as a bridge, MT skipped across, only stopping for a bit of show boating and posing for the camera. Myself and PR went quite pale, and I even offered PR the chance to go before me.
"No, You go" was the reply. so taking the advise of the marshal I placed my feet in each girder and hands on top and slow shuffled along like a drunk kitten. This was terrifying, i thought once i was half way out, I would settle and the panic would subside. but it just got worse. my mini shuffles where painfully slow, I just wanted to get to saftey I just needed to get to the opposite window. If finally came and I hauled my self through feeling like a kitten who's been in a tumble dryer. I turned and saw PR taking the same approach as I had, you look stupid, you look like a wimp. But for someone who's 'really not comfortable with heights' this was outstanding work to put yourself a huge way outside your comfort zone, to do something you know you will hate and terrify you. As PR pulled his gangly frame through the window you could see the relief and joy about being back on a firm safe holding. We hugged. It was beautiful, and a moment in obstacle running I will always remember, and in the future, mercilessly take the piss out of PR for!
