Have you ever watched a movie or tv show and found a scene
that completely grabbed you? Something that took you to a place of desire,
admiration, or ambition? The singer’s voice. The dancer’s grace. The nice home.
The strength in the stunts or obstacles. The corporate position. The happy
marriage. The faith-filled mother. The present father. I’ve seen and felt it
all. One day, I got tired of imagining. I wanted to do. I wanted to feel. I
wanted to experience.
At least two times during the race, I heard people say “ …and, to think, we paid for this?” Yep!
Sure did! Whether a Spartan spent eight hours volunteering or the minimum $149
to touch the course, we paid a price. We also agreed to pay the insurance, and transportation,
and parking, and maybe even other travel expenses. But what do we get for it?
A medal. A t-shirt. A free beer.
We also got muscle cramps. Lots of bruises. Body aches for
days.
The ultimate question: IS IT WORTH IT?
YES, and here’s why:
Spartans overcome the battlefield of the mind. We spent over
four hours on the most recent course. That’s a long time to push your body to
run, walk, climb, carry, pull, flip, slide, etc. In some cases, your body reaches
its limits and wants to shut down but when your goal is completion, you have to
buckle down and find ways to continue on. I believe the will to continue starts
in the mind. Limits are not finite and are often arbitrarily self-imposed. When
we are willing to break beyond barriers and push past pain, we are able to grow
into the fullness of our creation. It doesn’t matter what haters say. It doesn’t
matter what other people are too coward to do. It doesn’t matter how long it
takes to reach your goal. All that matters is that you believe you can do and
that you put yourself out there to get it done. The Spartan course builds that
confidence within you. When you win on the course, you know you can win in
life.
Confidence Gained From Getting to the Finish |
Spartans support other Spartans. There is nothing like being
less than five feet tall and approaching an eight foot wall with the
expectation to get over it. No tilt. No grips. No steps. You get the option of
trying to beat the obstacle alone. At the same time, you get the option to have
support from a fellow Spartan. Get this…you don’t even have to ask. Can you
imagine a life where you get to go through its ups and downs with unwavering
support? You don’t have to face you divorce alone. You don’t have to face death
alone. You don’t have to face terminal illness alone. You don’t have to face
bankruptcy alone. A life where unsolicited support is readily available at all
times, no matter what you are facing. That is what you get on a Spartan course.
A sense of unity and belonging.
Crossing the Waters with Support |
Spartans identify silent suffering. Much of the Spartan race
is done in the woods. The running paths and majority of the obstacles are out
of plain sight. In my experiences, the toughest obstacles are hidden from those
who are not also enduring the pain. The speculator (the family or friend
waiting on the sidelines) does not see everything a Spartan must go through
before he gets to the fire pit. The spectator get glimpses from time to time
but they don’t get the full view. Sometimes in life, we are surrounded by a
circle of people who don’t truly understand our struggle. But when we know
better, we do better. When we understand that people around us are dealing with
much more than we can see on the surface, we can be better friends, family
members, and support systems. The Spartan course reminds us that there is more
than meets the eye. Look beyond the surface.
Smiles Don't Always Indicate Joy |
Spartans get refined in mind, body, and spirit. The bruise
on my arm. The scratches on his hands. The lump on my shin. The sore muscles. Legs.
Hips. Butt. Back. Arms. Shoulders. Everything hurts. Some of this was
unnoticeable during the race and immediately following. However, on the day
after the race, there was definitely residual effects. Sometimes, it takes time
for the adrenaline to wear off and for reality to set in. The pain that you
endure days after the ‘race’ is a necessary part of the process. It’s a
reminder of the past. It’s a reminder of what you’ve overcome. You see, your
refinement comes when you go through something (a storm, some pressure, some
sifting) and come out on the other side (taller, brighter, stronger) than you
were before. The Spartan course puts your mind and body through a true test and
causes after effects. A great reminder of your strength, ability, and endurance.
Intentional Refinement |
Find your inner Spartan! It’s worth it!
Superb post about "Find Your Inner Spartan"
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