Spartan

So I have a semi-secret.  I am running the Spartan this summer. So some thoughts. 

I started running about three years ago when I signed up to run a half marathon with my sisters.  I told everyone about my running and training.  I was motivated.  Because I couldn't back out from doing that race when I had spent a whooping fifty bucks on it. 

Then last summer I ran all summer.  I worked out.  And friends and neighbors commented and asked, what are you training for.  Surprise surprise when I said nothing. Just enjoying the feeling of running and working out.

It kind of bugs me that everyone wants to tell me what they are training for. 

Can't we just work out to be in shape.  To feel new strength in our legs and arms and torso.  To relish the wind in our faces?  To feel alive? 

But signing up for this Spartan has most definitely reminded me of motivation. I may be tired after my gym workouts, but I am still going to hang out for five minutes and work on my pull ups.  Because I have a Spartan to conquer.  I will do every burpee assigned with perfect form.  Because if I can't have perfect form on a clean gym floor, how will I manage in the mud. 

I don't want to tell people I signed to run the Spartan because that is NOT the impressive part.  The impressive part is if I can tell people I ran the Spartan and PASSED the obstacles.  That I had the upper body strength to do it ALL.

That is what it is, signing up for stuff is easy.  Training and conquering the stuff, that is where the sweat fills up the pool.