When Average Isn't Enough Anymore

Average. That's how I lived my life. I was an average girl. I spent most of my life blending into a crowd. I wasn't stunningly beautiful, highly intellectual, or an all star athlete. To tell you the truth. For a long time, that was perfectly okay with me.

     As I grew up, I started to realize, I had been presented with opportunities I didn't take advantage of. At that time, I didn't realize how little I cared, but looking back, I see that I didn't put forth effort and I lacked drive.

       I ran cross-country my senior year of high school. I have an ex boyfriend to thank for that. I cried every time I stepped up to the starting line. During races I would stop and stretch. I hated running. It was as simple as that. At practice, if I didn't like the workout, which was most of the time, I would walk or ask for modifications. I didn't care to get better. I was medaling at races, and beating my teammates. I placed well enough at Regionals to go to the state meet. Mid race at states, I sat off to the side of the course, cried for a minute and then continued on to the finish line. What I never realized was how many people would have loved the opportunity that I merely thought of as my final round of torture. 

      Fast forward 8 years.  I am 26 and I hadn't raced since. I was approached by a coworker to run Tough Mudder. I had no idea what that was. I did my research. 12+ mile run plus obstacles? Was he trying to kill me? I had never run more than 3.1 miles. What could these "obstacles" be? More research, 12 foot walls, monkey bars, electrocution...I don't know about this. He assured me that we had a "team" to help us through this and that I was plenty athletic enough compared to all the "old people" already on the team. So $100+ dollars later, my name was on the list, my spot was secure and I had 4 months to train.

     In preparation, I signed up for an obstacle course race, Hog Wild 2. I got my sister to go with me and that was the day that changed my life for the better. (My next post "Neon Lights" will better explain how I realized this moment would define my future.) We completed that race and I had a huge sense of accomplishment. I couldn't wait for my next race. I trained and ran and trained and ran. I was in the gym every day. I had passion, drive and a work ethic that developed overnight.

     Once I got into the race scene. I was hooked. Addiction set in and I was always working toward the next race. I started to seek out competitors and put targets on their backs and pick them off one at a time. Race by race. I wanted to be better than average. For once I wanted to be the best.