It’s official! I’ve gone mad. I mean… muddy! I signed up for the warrior dash

While stalking on Facebook last week, I noticed a link for something called a Tough Mudder.  While I quickly browsed the website for more information, all I saw was running, obstacles and a challenge.  I immediately thought to myself “where do I sign up?”, only to have my ego softly bruised by my dear husband.  While my excitement may have kept me going for the first 5km of the race, he suggested that I might not be quite ready for the remaining 16km of the race just yet.  He clearly didn’t remember that I have previously run 5 half-marathons, and for my first, I didn’t even train (granted, I was 24 at the time).  So I did what any other person in my dilemma would do – I crowd sourced.

It turns out that my husband was right.  A Tough Mudder is no walk in the park.  Besides the fact that it’s as long as a half marathon, it includes many obstacles that not only challenge the core of your physical strength, but also your mental well-being, including electric shocks.  Clearly, I was NOT up for the challenge.  But nonetheless, I was intrigued.  As it turns out, there’s another, more beginner-like race, called the warrior dash.  And so, it was decided right there and then that I would compete in something that’s more aligned with my current pace (having just given birth 4 months ago) but something that’s not to be taken lightly either.

Here are just some of the crazy obstacles that I will have to endure and pass in order to finish the race: Warrior Roast (aka running through fire), trenches, giant cliff-hangers, petrifying plunge, road rage, storming Normandy and of course, tons of mud!  The names alone have me scared and got me thinking twice about this decision. Not to mention, the course is not flat.  The race I signed up for is taking place at Horseshow Valley, a ski resort.  The hills are not your typical street hills found in most marathons.  I’m talking about SKI HILLS – steeper and longer.  As one person put it “the obstacles will be your ‘break’ in the race”.  Really, have I gone mad?!?!

Training is also required for the warrior dash.  My trainer (aka hubby) and I finalized a training schedule.  With 6 weeks to go, the plan is to run 3 times a week (for approximately 3km  – 5km each run) and strength train 2 times a week.  To achieve this, I will be working out at Fitwall.  An awesome new strength training workout that recently hit Canada.  Instead of working out on the floor, all of your traditional workouts are now done vertically, on a wall, where “you are the machine”.

I’m looking forward to the challenge.  It’s the first competitive race that I’ll be participating in since I had my first son almost three years ago.  It’s also a great way to get back in shape and get fit for “bikini season”.

Have you participated in the Warrior Dash or a similar obstacle race (i.e. Spartan or Tough Mudder)?  I would love to hear from you, what your experience was like and what training you would recommend.  Any tips or input would be greatly appreciated!  At the very least, just let me know that I haven’t gone “mad” registering for this event.