The Makahiki Challenge

Over the weekend I did something I never imagined I’d ever do. Along with a bunch of my lady friends from my bootcamp class, I participated in the Makahiki Challenge, a 5k mud run. It was challenging, exhausting, long, but most of all, fun!

Being that this was my first 5k ever, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was worried about being able to run the entire thing, because runner I am not. I was also concerned that the obstacles would be too difficult, because although I am in decent enough shape, I stopped going to bootcamp during the holidays, and instead stuffed my face with food. Oops.

Once the race got started and our team made it to the first obstacle, my fears subsided. If I could run to the first obstacle without getting winded, surely I could make it to all the others.

The first obstacle was pretty easy. A wall with wood pieces that we had to climb over. Almost like a rock wall. It took a little bit of help, because the wall was slippery with mud, but our entire team made it over, almost effortlessly.

The next obstacle would have been simple, if it wasn’t for the mud and the fear factor. All it was, was a bunch of 2×4’s arranged to make a ladder wall. Had it not been so muddy, I think I would have been just fine. Making it to the top and have to crawl over was borderline terrifying. The entire time I was worried about slipping off and landing on my back.

From there I can’t exactly remember what came next, but it was something like: crawl through tubes then under a net, crawl under ropes, wade through gigantic mud puddles, cross monkey bar ring things, carry a bag of sand, drag a tire, swing across a thing of water, slide down a hill, swing across a ladder thing, and finally, climb up a wall – American Ninja Warrior-style.

I have to say, if it wasn’t for my amazing teammate helping me stretch to get up the wall, I don’t know if I would have made it.

Not only was this event a great test of physical endurance, but it ended up being a great team building event as well. We didn’t finish with a great time, but we did it together, and had fun!