I love me a good sweat.
I have made that clear in the past, have I not?
Running. Gardening. Tennis. Volleyball. Anything that involves sun and exertion and accomplishment.
Now, filth?
Is another story entirely.
And by filth, I don’t mean a wee bit of topsoil up my nose.
I mean mud. Sludge. Murky waters that may or may not contain microscopic creatures that make sweet microscopic love and produce microscopic offspring whilst I share the space in which they wallow.
So you can imagine how shocked I was by my own interest when a commercial aired on the car radio as Twin A and I drove home from her tennis lesson a few weeks ago. The commercial was for The Warrior Dash 5K.
This road race?
Is filth. Defined.
“Eeeeewwwww!” my daughter grimaced, wrinkling her nose. ”Gross!”
It did sound gross, friends.
And strangely intriguing.
I had to know more.
When we returned home, I launched an Internet search.
This is what I found:
Eeeeewwwww. Gross.
I knew I needed a piece of this action.
And the only thing more surprising to me than my own desire to partake in such madness?
Was the boldface type across the top of the Warrior Dash website:
REGISTRATION CLOSED.
Shizznit.
As quickly as my excitement had built for this absurd event
My Warrior hopes were dashed. So to speak.
But time heals dashed hopes, so I was well over the ordeal and perusing Facebook yesterday when a friend’s post caught my eye:
Warrior Dash this weekend — Anyone interested in taking my spot? Does a little run through the mud sound fun? A knee injury will sideline me this year so I need to find a replacement.
Giddy-up.
Now, a handful of phone calls and a transferred race registration later,
I am slated to be a Warrior.
I will be part of the throng of crazies on Sunday, clambering up hills, leaping flames, and trekking my way through indescribable filth.
Fate?
Meh. I’m not too keen on the concept of fate.
I see this chain of events as a divinely approved coincidence. As writer Irene Hannon once put it, “A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.”
Now. I don’t mean to imply that my pal’s knee was whacked by The Big Guy just so that I could have a shot at this race.
But I do believe that all of life’s happenings, as random and unsavory as they may seem in the moment, are part of an enormous, intricately crafted plan that I, in my forty-one years of human existence, cannot begin to comprehend.
So I won’t try.
I will simply have the time of my life come Sunday
When I get to be a Warrior.
**Photos from the Dash are now on my Facebook page! Click here to “like” The Spin Cycle on FB and check them out.
This post was inspired by a prompt from
This week, write a fiction or creative non-fiction piece where fate plays a prominent role. You can write from the position of a complete belief or absolute disbelief in the role of fate in our lives or the lives of our characters.
You are seriously going to do this? You are soooo brave!
Serious as a snowstorm. Umm…mudbath. And probably more crazy than brave, Steve.
I had a friend who did something very similar to this in florida. The pictures afterward were so gross, but very funny too. She had a blast and is planning to do it again the next time.
Did I mention that you get horns to wear on your head? And beer afterward?
You will rock it sista! You doing the costume too?
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.
Go you, Warrior!!!!!!
Thanks, girlfriend. Can’t wait.
Neil did this last year. He was thinking of doing it again this year, but I will be out of town. What time are you running?
And Neil is still alive. Very encouraging. 10:00 start for me. Perfect…I can shower up and make it back home in time to celebrate Fathers Day with the fam.
Brilliantly written Sue! And I agree, I love that quote about the coincidences being small miracles from God. Good luck this weekend…and strangely, I’m jealous…?
Sandra. You should be doing this with me. C’mon…let’s whack a knee and plan you a little south-of-the-border road trip.
Seems somehow appropriate that your blog about the Warrior Dash was posted on the 237th birthday of the Army. Back in the day I got paid to do this sort of thing – wearing combat boots, no less! Something about building character. I trust you used only your middle initial in registering; prefer not to have the family name “Dragged through … “.
Ha! It’ll be like a Father’s Day tribute. I’ll be back in time to celebrate at your place. I trust that you’ll ignore any residual mud…
I’m signed up for Tough Mudder in October. Hubs and his sister did it last October. I’m kind of hoping that some sort of injury will sideline me as well.
Look at YOU! If *I* am doing this? *You* are, Leigh Ann. xo
Good for you Sue. I am signed up for the “Dirty Girl Run” in Grayslake on June 30th. Sounds similar! We will have to compare stories!!
OOoooohhh…sounds like fun! Never heard of it, Stacey. I am new to this whole genre of running. Can’t wait to hear about it!
Awesome. some of my colleagues did it last year and might do it again this year.
Have a great time, make sure you get good and dirty
Carrie – The more I learn about this event, the more I come to understand that the “dirty” is way more important than the “running.” Will do.
Great story and good luck with your run. Better you than me. I hate getting dirty….eeewwwww!
Thanks, Tessa. And you’re right. “EEEEwwwwwwww” for sure!
I have a friend who did this- she loved every minute of it. Have fun! Good luck with the dirt and grime.
Two days, Missy! Tick…tick…tick…
I am totally jealous. That looks like a freaking blast. I would totally do it. . . well, if I could actually run. Good luck!
Thanks, Kerry. And you could TOTALLY do this. I believe that there’s just as much climbing, trudging, and sloshing as there is running. Cheers.
AWESOME! I have thought about doing this so many times, but just haven’t gotten up the courage. I’m not even sure what is holding me back – this weekend I am running my first half marathon. That was a scary decision but I just did it anyway. Guess I should approach being a warrior the same way. Good luck and have fun!
Yay, you, Emily! Can’t wait to hear about your 13.1 experience!!
“Murky waters that may or may not contain microscopic creatures that make sweet microscopic love and produce microscopic offspring whilst I share the space in which they wallow.” I love this line! I think it creates a whole new level of gross by the way you describe it. And it made me laugh. Good luck at the race and well done on the post!
That was the funnest part to write.
Glad you liked it!
I keep hearing about people doing this insanity! I don’t think I am ready for the microscopic organisms. I will stick to the sweat for now
Enjoy yourself!
Thanks, Angela. I really can’t wait!
Get it! That’s exciting! I hope you don’t get pregnant by “something” in one of your pores!!! ;-/
Ewwwwwwww. Gross.
Can’t get beyond the muck … well, and also the bit where i don’t run unless being chased.
So you won’t be joining me, then? Humph.
Yelling: WARRIOR! Also, murky. Mmmmm (I finally had a boy; I hope he doesn’t disappoint my desire to explore all that is, um, murky!).
Thanks for the cheer! Also? My Twin B (boy) totally wants to do this with me next year.
This sounds awesome! Best of luck and have fun.
Now, twelve hours post-race, I can definitively say that it WAS fun. Totally doing this next year.
You are AWESOME!! Seriously, I am in awe–go, go you!
*blush* Not sure about AWESOME.
ODD? Fo sho.
AWESOME? hmmmm…
#OkayIllTakeIt
WOW that is so awesome!!! I am so impressed that you actually did it. I can’t imagine the cool points you have racked up in your own house, with your kids and your kids’ friends… WOW. COOLEST MOM EVER.
Thanks for linking up!
Emily
http://www.weakandloved.com
The Small One approached me after the race and said, “Mom? Let me get this straight. You don’t want to get your hair wet at the pool…but you wanted to do THIS?”
Oh my you should drop by my blog. My son just did a race very similar but called the Dirty Dash. It was so amazing and FUN watching everyone in their funny costumes running and wallowing in the mud!
I’m going to do it next year, I didn’t get after it in time and like yours they fill up fast.
Heading over now, Saimi…fun, fun!
You’re a rock star! And getting dirty wasn’t bad, was it?
You’re awesome!
Loved every minute of it, Cheryl. I got to the final mile marker and was sort of disappointed that I was almost done.
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