I'm a Warrior Princess

Yesterday I challenged myself to do something some of the most fit athletes around the country do.....The Warrior Dash.  The Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme 5k run from hell. Warriors conquer extreme obstacles, push their limits and celebrate with music, beer and Warrior helmets.  Here in Alabama, we have a small town called Warrior.  So.....the Warrior Dash had the perfect place to set up the course from hell and challenge the locals to survive it!

This was one of the most insane adventures I have ever done.  I was lucky enough to share my day with some awesome....but athletic girls.  I decided I was going into the whole experience with no expectations but to #1....finish and #2......have FUN!  I did both and cannot not tell you enough how awesome this day was.  Even though I finished close to last of the over 6,000 participants and in my age group, I FINISHED and that is all that matters to me!!

Here is our picture right after we finished the dash.

I have been working out but even when I was at my fittest, I was not a good runner.  I don't like running, have no desire to ever be a good runner and honestly never signed up to do the Warrior Dash to win anything.  I decided to swiftly walk the course and put all my effort and energy into the obstacles.  That is exactly what I did and I did most FABULOUS!

This is the type of "race" where people dress up in crazy costumes,  wear outlandish clothing and basically look as awesomely ridiculous as possible.  I didn't plan ahead for this because I was so busy with my research work but I had thought it would mean a lot to me to wear an ARMY shirt my brother had given me when he was in Iraq fighting for our freedom. (Army.....hoorah)!!  I found the cutest camo print running shorts so my outfit for the dash was on.  I cut the shirt to fit, tied up the shoulders with pink ribbons, wore a florescent pink tank, pink ball cap and my florescent snow cone style Asics.  Pink is my signature color by the way so I was super Warrior but super girly too.  At the race I put the black streaks under my eyes and and I was ready for the challenge.  

Rock on!!

This course was no joke and seriously not for everyone.  Had a lady early on in my group start to cry and beg to go back to the waiting area.  Bless her heart though, she fell a lot and I don't think she was loving that too much.   I was so friggin excited, pumped, in awe, and motivated.  NOTHING was going to scare me away during the dash.  NOTHING!!  

Click below for info about the Warrior Dash and the course obstacles.
Warrior Dash Course

For my Weight Loss surgery followers, I just want to say that there is NO WAY I could have done this 4 months ago (before surgery).  It is amazing what the body can do when it is almost 60 pounds lighter.  I seriously would have NEVER been able to make it over the first obstacle (leaping over 4 foot barriers).  However, this is the obstacle that shredded my whole forearm with scrapes and bruises.  There was not one time during the dash that I felt weak, shaky, sick, unable to go on, breathless etc.  There were some HELL uphill climbs that were TOUGH but I was able to do it at my pace and my breathing was steady.....not struggling.   I made it with grace every single step of the way.  I was even graceful when I slipped at the top of a mud hill, went flying into the air with legs up, slid on my back the whole way down the mud hill and landed in the water.  I started laughing hysterically and couldn't stop.  Really not sure why it was funny but I was dying laughing just sitting in this icy water.  Got up, grabbed the rope and pulled myself back up the mud hill again. This was the 3rd obstacle so it was way too early to not move forward.


It was a long day, cold rainy day, and I was super tired when I got home so didn't post all this yesterday.  I really expected to wake up this morning and need a wheelchair to move.  However,  I am only achy and tired. I am shocked I can move today so I think that says a lot for where my body is now compared to where it was months ago.  I have some scrapes and some nasty bruises.  Otherwise, I am good today.

Here is our picture after the dash.....and after our showers!!  I will post the pics from the hired photographers later once they are posted this week.

Rock on Warriors....rock on!