Almost everyone knows the famous line from the movie "300", uttered by Gerard Butler as he kicks a Persian messenger into the abyss. I had the chance to live it today. Or at least a short version of it, anyway. I ran the Spartan Sprint in Laurel, IN at Haspin Acres. While fun is one of the words I would use to describe it, I would also use: punishing, frustrating, Hell on Earth, intense, cold, wet, muddy, and grueling.
I honestly thought Indiana was flatter than what I experienced today. I have lived here my entire life and never would have thought there were that many hills that are that tall in Indiana. According to the staff of Spartan Race, the course was 4.7 miles long and had a total elevation change of 10,850 ft. with 25 obstacles interspersed. I felt every last one of those feet. Haspin Acres is a motocross, ATV, and SUV park. We were running up and down all those tracks all day long. Did I mention that there were also ponds on the property and we were in and out of those ponds as well.
Spartans are known for their inner toughness and their willingness fight and to face death if it is a glorious and honorable death. They have no quit, no surrender within them and will be stopped only by death or victory. As we loaded into the chute to begin our wave of the race, the emcee got us jacked up by reminding us of what defines a Spartan and implores us to ask ourselves several times during the race, "Who am I?" The answer is, "I am Spartan!" This race is designed to test our mettle, to grind us down to our core and force us to answer the question, "Who am I?" I can affirm, "I am Spartan!"
From the first obstacle just 2 feet from the start line to the last obstacle that was the finish line, we are tested and forced to dig deep into that primal, instinctive core to not only survive, but overcome. This is not to show our competitors, because they are going through the same thing. It is not to prove to the staff of Spartan Race. It is not to show the spectators. It is to show ourselves that we are hard enough and resilient enough to not accept defeat; to refuse to quit or give up. A Spartan finds no honor in quitting. There is no honor in looking at an obstacle and giving up. There is no honor in turning your back on another Spartan. The true honor is found in seeing that obstacle as a stepping stone to becoming a better person. It is rarely pretty or beautiful when moving over an obstacle or hurdle. In fact, if you were to watch me, or anyone else, traverse this course; you would find it is quite the opposite. It's ugly, dirty, and usually painful and bloody. But the reward...the reward is incalculable. The satisfaction of knowing one can not only survive, but conquer. The knowledge that when tested and beaten down, one can step up and persevere to push through. That is Spartan.
I found something on that course today. I found that physically, I can keep running longer than I thought I could and I can put up with a whole lot more physical abuse than I originally thought I could. I found that I will help others when in need. They are going over, under, and through obstacles as well and may need just as much help or maybe even more than me. I found that mentally, I can shut out the cold and the voices that tell me to quit. I can shut out the pain in my knees and ankles and keep digging. When faced with a vicissitude, I will not give up. I will not quit. I will not turn my back. I will overcome. I will conquer.
I am Spartan! Aroo! Aroo!
No comments:
Post a Comment