The Spartan Race is full of hills, obstacles, running, mud, water, ropes, and anything else you can think of. Recently, a group of athletes from CrossFit Hale took on the challenge and learned that they are capable of so much more!

One of the most inspiring was Nancy.

Nancy started CrossFit at 58 years old, having never done anything athletic beyond a bit of hiking in her life. Now, at 63 years old and a grandmother, she’s stronger than she’s ever been.

Just a short list of her accomplishments: 5k’s, 10k’s, half marathons, and CrossFit competitions. She can climb a rope, do a handstand, and deadlift over 200 lbs.

The Spartan race was a big one for her, 8+ miles, 26 obstacles, and lots of heights (a big fear of hers). She finished it, and it was such an accomplishment, we asked her to write about it.

Enter Nancy:

What I Knew and What I Learned

It has been one week since I finished the Spartan Race, which has allowed me a bit of reflection and time after the event to put down my thoughts on the experience. This is a recap of what I knew going into it, and what I learned coming out.

I knew that when I say I will do something, I follow through.

I learned, that like most hard things, second thoughts will always creep in. And they did. I also learned, if you are focussed on your commitment, second thoughts lose their power.

I knew that as with seemingly long and difficult WODs, taking things one step at a time and doing what I can will get me through.

I learned that this applied, time and again, during the race.

I knew that what I wore was going to be important.

I learned that asking Tina what to wear was brilliant (sleeves and soccer socks). Always ask Tina!

I knew that I had stamina.

I learned that I had more than I thought.

I knew that the race would include difficult obstacles: crawling under barbed wire, climbing over walls, carrying heavy things like buckets of rocks, weights, and atlas stones. I knew that I could do most of those things because we had spent entire training sessions working on those skills.

I learned that I was at least stronger than the younger, healthy looking woman that followed me on the atlas stone carry when she asked me to hand the stone to her so she would not have to pick it up off the ground.

I knew there was muddy water involved.

I learned that I can do just as much stuff wet and muddy that I can do dry and clean. I also learned that no matter how basic the shower is at the end (cold water from a garden hose, out in the open), it is heavenly.

I knew that, besides the obstacles, the race would include running and hiking and was concerned that, since I was a very slow runner, I would slow the rest of the team down.

I learned that we spent most of our time hiking and doing obstacles – very little time running. Mostly I learned that the team was there for the team and that fast or slow, we would get through the race together. And we did.

I knew that doing CrossFit all these years has made me fit.

I learned that doing CrossFit all these years has made me capable, of doing something like this race, of being able to recover quickly, and of doing so much more than I would have thought possible.

I knew that CrossFit people are caring and encouraging.

I learned the depth of that care and how important it was for me. Every step, Daniella, Mike, Jason, Heidi, and Tina were there to tell me I could do it, to help me up and over, to say, “Let’s just get to that next flag“, to offer me their water, to hold me so I would not fall, to tell me where to put my next step, or to tell me I was doing great. Words cannot express.

Lastly, I knew I was afraid of heights.

I learned just how afraid when we reached one of the final obstacles. It involved climbing up what seemed like fifty feet onto a structure. When I reached the top, I could see I was then supposed to crawl across a wide expanse of cargo net.

The cargo net looked like it was riddled with large holes through which I would most clearly slip through and plunge to certain death, taking with me all of those who were walking underneath said obstacle.

And if one was lucky enough to make it, they would then climb all the way down the other side.

It was up there on that obstacle where I learned, with my son Jay on my side (who would not let me take the easy way out because he never does) and Mike and Tina on the other side of the net, that I had a chance.

From across the cargo net, Tina gave me instructions to not look down and to keep my hands and knees on the cross-sections of the net. Mike sat on the net, keeping it taut, and reached out to me.

I learned that the first step is critical to conquering the most powerful part of the fear. After that you just have to do it.

And I did.

And I learned that the sweetest things were Tina’s hug when I made it and Jay telling me I was his hero.

I knew a lot going into this race.

I learned a whole lot more.

– Nancy W.

You can learn more about Nancy by checking out her profile. Click here for the video.