Challenges, Mud, Hugging Presidents, and a Great Way to Spend a Saturday | VictorSchueller.com

“I do not whine – kids whine.” ~ Exerpt from Tough Mudder Pledge

This past Saturday I strapped up and took on the Tough Mudder challenge here in Wisconsin.  It was so nice and convenient to participate, because the event was only about 25 miles from home.  How could I resist?  You may recall, back in February, I wrote a post about how I was gearing up for the event, and my thoughts about taking on this challenge.

In my post, I asked the questions, “Am I fearful? Am I worried?”  I answered with a resounding “Heck yes!”  It’s funny to look back on those words, now over six months later, after I prepared for this major challenge.  I was thinking about how I would have to consciously change my habits and adopt a new workout and eating regimen to prepare, and how I was going to have to beat my subconscious mind into submission.

So what was the end result?  Over six months of physical preparation — I faithfully did the exercises “prescribed” by Tough Mudder.  There were sixteen exercises that were recommended.  I remember the first day I started doing those exercises — I was huffing and puffing and sweating profusely.  That wasn’t the worst of it — I experienced that the next day, when the soreness set in!  I could feel the areas that were weak and just begging for mercy from the punishment of the new routine.

I kept pushing myself and didn’t give up.  The exercises became easier and the soreness subsided.  I could soon do them without being sore the next day.  I could then start to increase the weight resistance, and increase the number of repetitions.  I could feel and see my body get stronger and leaner.  I started to gain confidence that I was going to be in the proper shape to take on the challenge.

I purposely didn’t revisit my blog post until after completing the event, because I wanted to have the opportunity to look back at my “concerns” regarding the challenge.  I wanted to see what “really” resulted, compared to what I “thought” was going to happen.  Looking back, I am absolutely astounded at how relatively “easy” the event was…Okay, it wasn’t easy easy, but it was easier and less intimidating than I thought it would be.

So, what happened?

First of all, I was prepared; I never slouched or slacked when it came to the physical preparation.  I changed my diet and I changed my exercise routine.  I was physically ready for the challenge.  By being physically prepared, I minimized the anxiety in that area.  I no longer feared the physical task, because I knew I had done what I needed to be ready.

As I was progressing through the course, and completing the events that seemed so daunting at first, I realized that it was all mental.  It wasn’t so much that the obstacles were physically challenging; it was actually the mental challenge.  Once I realized that by controlling my mentality I could overcome my fears, I was no longer intimidated by the challenges.  I actually looked forward to them.

I was able to overcome my claustrophobia and crawl through underground tunnels and tubes filled with water.  I was able to do something that I had never done before, which was jumping off of a platform and landing in water over fifteen feet below!  I submerged myself in ice water; I crawled under (and got shocked by) electric wires (over and over again); I scaled walls that were well over ten feet tall.  I met and overcame all the challenges — and it felt damn good!

I also met these two scantily-clad guys — the two “Presidential candidates,” as I called them.  They were standing right in front of me as we waited to start the race.  The event organizers kept telling us to keep moving forward to let everyone get into the starting gate, and so I was subsequently thrust closer and closer to their briefs!  I asked them if they had brought along any spare underwear, just in case they lost their current pair, and they said n0 — no pockets.  I got high fives and hugs from them right before the race.  I still don’t know how I feel about that.  It was a bit awkward. 🙂  I was trying to bribe some people to pull down their briefs and throw them into a nearby dumpster when the race started by putting some money on the line, but nobody took the bait. 🙂

In the end, I would say it was definitely a fun time.  Sometimes we look at the challenges that lie before us, and we fill our minds with all sorts of preconceived notions of how terrible or hard it’s going to be.  Sometimes we look at those around us, and sensing their fear, we adopt the same fears.  What’s even worse is sometimes the fears of others, planted in our own minds, paralyze us and keep us from even attempting to tackle the challenge.  My experience this past weekend taught me that as long as you make the necessary preparations and do what you can to make sure you are in a position to take on the challenge, sometimes all that’s left are the fears you create in your mind.

If you can win the battle of your own mind, there’s no stopping you.  You can go after and get anything you want.  Once you get what you want, the self confidence and self esteem that you gain from accomplishing your goals and overcoming your fears will propel you to new heights and new levels of ability.  You can realize how truly great you can really be, once you allow your true self, free of fear, to shine through.

I’ll do it again!  Tough Mudder, I’ll see you again in the future.  You don’t stand a chance. 🙂