Overcoming all Fears and Staying True: T-Minus 2 Days

2. Can we as a team stay true to the pledge that brought us to Tough Mudder in the beginning?

It's easy to lose sight of what this whole journey is about even though we recite the Tough Mudder pledge before every race.  The pledge requires a great deal of balance especially when your goal is competing in the World's Toughest Mudder.  You want to run fast and set a personal best for course time but the teamwork and camaraderie is what truly keeps bringing you back.  It is one of the few places where completely strangers go to extraordinary lengths to help each other conquer the course. 

My favorite part of the pledge is one that I don't think gets enough focus because you are really overcoming many fears.  Some of these are known fears while others are unknown because you have never subjected yourself to electroshock in the dark (Dark Lightning).  Just about every fear you may have is out on the course including:

• heights
• water
• heights that lead to water
• electroshock
• electroshock in water
• extreme temperature changes (Arctic Enema)
• running 10-12 miles
• tight spaces
• tight spaces in water
• tight spaces where you get shocked

Can you tell that shock may be a worry of mine going into West Virginia?  We all have fears that we will face on the course.  Some we readily speak about while others are kept closer.  I am confident that by putting teamwork first and helping fellow mudders that all fears will be overcome.  Stay tuned to the whole fear report!