Erica Staab

A Happy Warrior

So this weekend I participated in the very first Minnesota Warrior Dash.

Basically it is a 5k and an obstacle course all rolled up into one, and then for a little added enjoyment they plopped it on a ski hill.

I have decided my middle name should be changed to Warrior.

Although you think I jest, I am only half kidding.

I want to remember how it felt to cross the finish line after listening to my fears take center stage all morning. I want to remember how good it felt to have strangers yell out encouraging things to those who looked like they were struggling because we were all in this together.  I want to remember how good it felt to be hot, sweaty, muddy and only through the first third.  And somehow how we all just keep going anyway, just a little bit more until we found that second and third wind to carry us through.  I want to remember how good it felt to cheer others on when I had some extra energy to spare.  I want to remember the guy with the tulle tutu who was holding his wife’s hand saying “Come On Honey You Can Do It!” when her fear was looming large, and watching her do the same at the obstacles that he struggled with.  I want to remember how amazing it was to silence fear with action and to literally leap over fire.  I want to remember what it felt like to celebrate afterwards, to earn your Warrior Helmet.

It felt good to be reminded of a lot of things, to force myself to face my fears and as Nike implores us- Just Do It!

Things I learned/was reminded of at Warrior Dash:

Sometimes, we need to be reminded just how strong we are.

Sometimes we need to step outside our comfort zones, and that is often best done with friends (and it doesn’t hurt to have that followed by a turkey leg and beer!)

Sometimes you need to celebrate your victory and revel in the fact that you did it, you climbed that hill, you hauled yourself over that wall, you broke down that barrier, you crawled through mud and jumped over fire to get where you are.

Sometimes you need to surround yourself with other people who are willing to get a little dirty, to have a little fun, to go that extra mile.

Sometimes you just need to ask yourself… What Would A Warrior Do?