by Tracy Wynant
In November of 2013, someone (it might have been me) had a brilliant idea: Let's sign up for the Rugged Maniac! It seemed like an excellent plan-fork over $90 and then forget about it for five months.
Flash forward to May 2014.
This is, after all, RUGGED MANIAC, and not a tea party! I start to panic. I have never, never, done anything like this before. I make my friends promise, promise, that we will stick together, help each other, and more importantly, finish together.
In November of 2013, someone (it might have been me) had a brilliant idea: Let's sign up for the Rugged Maniac! It seemed like an excellent plan-fork over $90 and then forget about it for five months.
Flash forward to May 2014.
- Rugged Maniac sends me several emails reminding me that there are NO REFUNDS.
- Rugged Maniac sends me several emails reminding me that the race will NOT BE CANCELLED for rain.
This is, after all, RUGGED MANIAC, and not a tea party! I start to panic. I have never, never, done anything like this before. I make my friends promise, promise, that we will stick together, help each other, and more importantly, finish together.
On race day, May 31, 2014, it's a glorious day in Portland, Oregon. The sky is blue and the sun is shining. With 1.5 hours to wait until our wave starts, I start to think (maybe too much) about the race. I decide I am just going to try to get through each of the obstacles, and if one seems too daunting I will pass it and move on. As each wave before us takes off through the start, one every 15 minutes, my panic level increases until I've completely psyched myself out. Note to self: next time (if there is a next time) be in the first wave!
As we queue up to begin, I notice a four-foot wall PRIOR to the start. What!? An obstacle already?! I'm not ready for this!!
Somehow I make it over the wall, BY MYSELF, and think maybe this will be okay. The horn blasts, prompting loud cheers of "Rugged Maniac" from the racers and spectators. We run through a field to a small creek just big enough for my short legs to NOT clear in one leap. Wet feet, yes, and muddy too. With so many waves before us, the creek is more a coffee-colored, barnyard smelling, muddy consistency than water. (Another reason to be in the first wave.)
I slip and slide up the other side of Creek Stink, and continue on with both shoes full of sand and rock. We cross the creek again and my internal monologue kicks in:
I pull up my big girl panties, which are also sopping wet at this point, and decide to have fun. This was the BEST DECISION EVER! It allowed me to conquer a variety of obstacles, from Tame to Puckering and Down and Dirty.
As we queue up to begin, I notice a four-foot wall PRIOR to the start. What!? An obstacle already?! I'm not ready for this!!
Somehow I make it over the wall, BY MYSELF, and think maybe this will be okay. The horn blasts, prompting loud cheers of "Rugged Maniac" from the racers and spectators. We run through a field to a small creek just big enough for my short legs to NOT clear in one leap. Wet feet, yes, and muddy too. With so many waves before us, the creek is more a coffee-colored, barnyard smelling, muddy consistency than water. (Another reason to be in the first wave.)
I slip and slide up the other side of Creek Stink, and continue on with both shoes full of sand and rock. We cross the creek again and my internal monologue kicks in:
- How many more obstacles do we have?
- When will I be done?
- I want my mommy!
I pull up my big girl panties, which are also sopping wet at this point, and decide to have fun. This was the BEST DECISION EVER! It allowed me to conquer a variety of obstacles, from Tame to Puckering and Down and Dirty.
We climb a pile of old tires, jump over fire, carry 25lb. bags of sand up and down the grandstands, balance on a 2x4 across a pool of water, traverse more water by hanging monkey rings, crawl through muddy and slippery black tubes and pig wallows under barbed wire, cross through a pond of floating pipes with volunteers yelling "DIARRHEA IS REAL," run over a teeter-totter, wade through bubbles, and FINISH down an awesome slide.
In a series of four trenches that seemed as wide as the Grand Canyon, I skipped only one. To scale the twelve foot wall, a man allows me to step on his back while my gal pals give me a few mighty boosts. I hang onto one monkey ring (that's a win in my book) before falling into the water below, and am successful over and over again with the help of my friends and a few complete strangers. I am still amazed by how friendly and encouraging all of the other Rugged Maniacs are.
In spite of my initial fears, the race turned out to be a blast and I'm glad I experienced it. Everyone was there to have fun, the camaraderie was empowering, and it was especially fun to get a little dirty! I'm confident I can call myself a Rugged Maniac with the best of them.
I am so proud of my race buddies. I am so proud of myself. We are RUGGED MANIACS!
Check out Tracy's full profile and links to her other stories on our Contributors page.
In spite of my initial fears, the race turned out to be a blast and I'm glad I experienced it. Everyone was there to have fun, the camaraderie was empowering, and it was especially fun to get a little dirty! I'm confident I can call myself a Rugged Maniac with the best of them.
I am so proud of my race buddies. I am so proud of myself. We are RUGGED MANIACS!
Check out Tracy's full profile and links to her other stories on our Contributors page.
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