Push HARDER

As you may know I have been training with Nate for some time now. The moment he asked if I wanted to join the team for the Spartan Race is one I recall quite vividly. I had to put down the weights to keep from laughing in his face and quite expressively responded with a “heck no!” I thought he was completely out of his mind for asking me to do something that I would never be ready for.

Giving it more thought, I considered that he would never suggest something that I wasn’t ready for. I went home and stared at the registration website for hours. I kid you not, it was two FULL hours. I finally pulled the trigger. Nate was pleased as punch I actually signed up because he was planning to push me harder than ever in my training sessions which was only fueling my major “oh sh!t” moment.

I subscribed to the emails from the Spartan website “Train Like a Spartan” and “Eat Like a Spartan”. At the time I feel like I tricked myself to think that subscribing to these emails would help me survive whatever I had now gotten myself into. The Eat Like a Spartan series features an ingredient and then gives you 7 creative ways to prepare it. I won’t lie that I didn’t even attempt to make one of the recipes nor did I do any of the workouts. However, just by getting the emails I felt more beastly, more Spartan if you will. I watched a video of the rope climb then promptly decided against knowing what I was getting into. I decided to just prepare myself in strength and endurance training. Essentially, I made my primary goal to be strong and confident. After the fact, I realized that without even noticing I had been preparing for this race every single time I had shown up to work hard. Now, I just needed to kick it up a notch and MAINTAIN that momentum.

Why did I do the Spartan Race? I was going to finish this race. I didn’t care if the whole team left me in the dust but I NEEDED to finish. I would prove to myself that I could do it. Our team was amazing. I never expected for a team of 14+ people to stay and work together the entire 6 miles. We started together and finished together. We supported, motivated, and laughed with each other. Strangers offered help. Almost face planting into the mud within the first mile the man behind me pulled me back up by my shirt and goes “You’re okay!” At the start of the race, the memorable man wearing pretty awesome bacon socks told us to never leave a fellow Spartan behind. No one was left behind. 

I didn’t sign up to prove anything to anyone else besides myself. Although, I would be willing to bet that there are people out there that never expected me to fair as well as I did. I may be small but I am fierce and not to be underestimated. When I considered how far I had come in two years; I really stepped back not only in awe but in pride. It is not even the big things but the small improvements that make a huge difference. I am impressed with myself and with the help that I have had along the way. The support of the Plymouth Fitness team has made that possible. This is a place that I have found comfort and a place that I can do what I enjoy. Find your crew, find your class; find the time that works for you – but really make it about you.

Will you be on Team Plymouth Fitness for Spartan in November?

#SpartanUp #TrainHard #BeStrong #TeamPlymouthFitness