Peep Pressure... the good kind!

I've only done 2 races in my life.  The first was a 5K, solely done in preparation for the 2nd race, the White Rock Marathon RELAY (felt like I should capitalize that in case anyone got it mistaken for the entire marathon.)
Here's how I ended up in the RELAY:

I was sitting around a table at Freebirds with my A&M girls and someone brought it up and the next thing you know I have signed up for the relay.  Yes in my memory, it happened that fast. And yes, it was total peep pressure AND not wanting to miss out on the fun and memories!
And I wish I could say I have grown and would never give in to that or feel the need to do something insane as to not miss out on the fun... but I have gone and done it again.  This week at our staff meeting one of the girls brought up the Warrior Dash and explained what it was and said it would be fun for us to do together.  So who's in?  All these hands went up and mine STAYED DOWN.  No one was really surprised as thankfully my team knows me well and knows... I don't walk, workout, run, and I especially don't DASH!  But as the day went on and more discussions were had and the hype got started, I started to FEEL IT, that desire to want to be in on the fun.  The desire to not miss out if everyone is doing it.  The thought of the pictures and the memories.  Now I was totally in my right mind and had MANY MANY excuses and thoughts of...
I'll slow you all down.
"No Suz, we will all stay together."
But I don't run!
"Suz, there is so much mud you can hardly run."
But what if I can't keep going?
"Suz, we will totally drag you!"
Wait what?

So I started trying to picture myself in the race, really getting in and making it happen... here is what I pictured...
And after lots of conversations, a few pep talks, a promise to not leave me behind, I gave into peep pressure and I signed up!  I have had total buyers remorse since then, felt sick to my stomach, fear I might die and secretly think we will have a BLAST!
April 16th... just a little over 3 months to think about it... YIKES!

Warrior Dash 2011 COMPLETE... with a small confession...

Remember when I told y'all that I had given into "peep pressure" and signed up for the Warrior Dash?
Well the day arrived last Saturday to torture myself and know there was a great possibility I might not come out alive.  Ok, maybe that is a little over exaggerating, but I was nervous.
17 of us sign up to participate and we lost 4 to varying things so 13 of us end up dashing!
Here is the play by play...

Our crew all geared up and ready to go... it was pretty cool when we all got there,

 but turned out to be the perfect sunny cool weather!

Rode bus to race site and picked up our packets... Robbi and I are getting excited!!!

Putting on our numbers...

Another warrior pose before we start...

Jordan, Penick, and Robbi dancin' in line... too much energy...

So Robbi shared some of her energy with Paula...

And of course we do some stretching!!!

First up... walk through a muddy river... a little CHILLY...

Then over some cars...

And through some tires...

Then over and under...

Climb up a wall...

Walk a balance beam bridge...

Get tangled in a spider web...

Under a really low tent area... knees a little scraped up...

Over a cargo net bride...

Up and over some hay bails...

Up a cargo net...

Through a muddy river... beware of losing your shoes...

Over some logs...

Run through fire...

See Watermark peeps... and get the crowd fired up..

Crawl under barbed wire and through the mud pit...

Muddy Warrior Pose...

Mom and Dad came to support and take pictures... but wouldn't hug me at the end :)

And then off for a GREAT post-race meal at Babe's!  Can you say fried chicken and mashed potatoes!!!

Love doing this race with peeps I work with and our "extended family".  

And for my small confession... when we hit the hay bails and I new we were almost done... 

I was...

SAD IT WAS OVER!!!

It was such a blast.  So fun.  So thankful for the faster. stronger ones that were willing to hang back and experience it as a team.  No one had to drag me or carry me!

And maybe just maybe... Warrior Dash 2012 is already on the calendar!!!