Dina Does Tough Mudder Tri-State 2012

I  did it, yup, I earned my bright orange Tough Mudder head band.  One of the happiest moments of my life.

Something I realized is that there’s such a great feeling crossing a finish line.  Now I know it may not seem like such an accomplishment.  So many people have completed this obstacle course, so it may not seem like such a difficult feat.  But it’s so much more than that.  Anyone can go through those obstacles (or opt out of them) and finish the 11+ miles.  For me, it sort of symbolized how far I’ve come in life.  It wasn’t just 11 miles for me.  Thinking about even just 6 months ago and then versus now is such a huge difference.  My body, my mentality, my strength, everything…I have grown so much.  Crossing that finish line was like the icing on my cake.

I made sure I at least attempted every obstacle course; it bothered me that people didn’t even TRY.  Sure, there were a bunch I knew I wouldn’t be able to do, but I wouldn’t have felt like I completed the course if I didn’t make an attempt at all of them.  Actually, there was one I didn’t think I would be able to do completely – the  Island Hopping where you have to get from one tree stump to the next.  I did it.  Not many people that I saw made it across without slipping into the water, but I did.  Very proud moment.  Now what if I hadn’t even tried it because I was scared or doubted myself?  I wouldn’t have known that I could do it.

Now I know why people enjoy racing and competing so much.  There’s such a sense of accomplishment, and not just about training hard for whatever it is you are working on — but more about yourself as a whole.

Here are the pictures my sister and some friends took from the event:

Getting my number

All smiles before game time!

Me & My team – best friends since high school. Team Shannon – we were sponsored by The Shannon in Hoboken

Listening to the motivational start speech

I think I’m dancing, trying to calm my nerves…

…and we’re off!

Climbing up the first wall of many….

Right after the freezing ice bath

Finally all dirty!

All finished – rocking my new t-shirt and our well deserved headbands!

Have you done the Tough Mudder?  What do you think of it?