Stepping into the Arena

      The people that are closest in proximity are not always the ones we can be closest to-- the ones we can be most real with; the ones that we feel just GET us.  That’s why I’m shivering in the desert morning. I’m here to run a Spartan Sprint 5k with two friends I’ve never actually met, despite having known each other for over two years

       In 2020, we were all part of a group suffering our way through a program called the 75 hard challenge- an intensive 75 days of completing 5 daily–-and specific—tasks promising to build mental fortitude (miss one, and you have to start over at day 1). Not everyone  intentionally does difficult things, or has a similar mindset of pursuing personal growth; so through triumphs and trials a camaraderie was formed that was more of a support system than I had experienced before.

     What was meant to be a quick 75 days, turned into the good part of an entire year as the program proved more difficult than I’d anticipated: all the executive functions that make my daily life its own challenge multiplied as I restarted over and over, struggling with time management, attention to detail, and prioritizing; and to up the challenge ante, I was doing it during my third trimester of pregnancy through postpartum. 

      

      Doing a Spartan obstacle race this year was already on my set list, and to do it with some of my 75 hard crew... well, it can’t get much better.

     Never having met in person, I didn’t know if it was going to be a bit awkward to meet like this-- but as I made my way through the tents set up for the event, I heard my name, and looked up to see Michael and Chris, smiling, and any nervousness disappeared. 

   We had agreed ahead of time that even though we were a team each of us was running our best and didn’t need to wait for one another along the way, but that didn’t eliminate the feeling of absolute support as we cheered each other on. What an incredible feeling. 

     So many times planning the trip I thought I would have to back out of the race (as many of the original group had needed to do) and it was Micheal’s steadfastness that kept me from giving up completely. He was in the homestretch of another round of 75hard during a very busy time and still managed to have contagious optimism leading up to race day. 

    Chris decided to join our team spontaneously when the original group went rapidly from 6 to 2, and that meant so much. But that’s the kind of person he is. The kind of person that you want in your corner. And that’s the lesson for me right off the bat- that cheering other people on feels amazing, and having people that not only show up, but are excited to see you succeed, is a whole different level. 

My challenge to you, dear reader, is this: cheer someone on this week. This world needs more high fives, and more “you can do it!” Life is hard, and we need eachother. 

I know you’ve got this.