HARD CHARGE AZ 2014
Since I started OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) I have challenged myself in many ways, but its not very often that I get the chance to venture outside of the Spartan Race world. I felt honored when I was asked by XRaceWear to represent their clothing line at the televised Hard Charge race in Tucson, AZ on March 29th which was such a GREAT event with wonderful people. The layout of their course and the terrain is completely different from what I am used to over here on the North East coast though. Arizona is hard ground, flat trails, lots and lots of dust/sand- I already knew that this race for me was going to be a challenge.
One thing that shocked me was the fact that we were able to see the layout prior to race day. Getting the VIP gator ride outlining the course was definitely a first for me, but very helpful when planning out how to reserve my energy during the race. I remember as we were riding along the trails I would be saying to myself, "My knees are not going to like this" lol and (("Don't stress about where you place, just run for fun." )) <-- It was THAT thinking that got me through the race the very next day and once again taught me the power of being able to relax with the positive.
Someone recently quoted a line from the book "Born to Run", which I have yet to read but it really stuck with me and continues to repeat in my head as I run. I don't remember it exactly but it was something along the lines of: We can't just train and race, running for miles and miles because we feel like its an obligation or that we have to win, but we do it because we truly love it. Their explanation expressed that everything we push ourselves to do comes with a mind game. These mind games will try to play with you like someone throwing a ball back and forth in a game of catch. You feel strong, then you feel defeated, you feel strong, and then you feel defeated again. We feel defeated/ we slow down because we allow our minds to defeat us. When we open our hearts to the love we have for the sport and really dedicate our thoughts to a more positive mind set there comes a sense of relief. The stress we hide in our shoulders are softened and the grind we drag between our teeth is loosened. During the long sections of trail running at Hard Charge I had a lot of time to identify what was holding me back and all I could pin point was my attitude. During my runs I have to remind myself that I do it because I love it not because I have to do it.
I recently had an appointment for my VO2Max test with Dr. Harry Pino at Chiropractic and Sports Recovery in NJ. I not only learned what my VO2max was (68.5) but I also was able to learn a lot just by talking to both Dr. Pino and Dr. Jan Kasprowicz #ElitePerformanceTeam . I learned that I have to breathe more from my gut, loosen my jaw, relax my shoulders, run more mid foot instead of the ball of the foot and STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH. I had always stretched before and after races but apparently never enough. My hips were TIGHT! I am coming to find as I learn more from training more regularly and properly that my hips were a big part of why my knees were hurting so bad after racing or after/during training runs.
Hard Charge was the first race after identifying these new discoveries about myself and I can't even begin to tell you what a big difference something so small can make. The race was 4.2 miles of flat ground and typically I would finish a race like that with achy joints, purple knees (just from running) and my overall thoughts would be full of anxiety. This was different. I was relaxed, energized, my knees didn't hurt and were no where near as close to the purple shades I usually see on them coming out of a race. When I was running I didn't allow myself to focus on the negative - instead I constantly went through a check list of the things I needed to remember: check my running form, my breathing, my upper body relaxation, the angles and form my arms are swinging in…. This was the first time I was able to fully distract myself from anything negative coming into my head and man, what a difference.
So entering the race I thought, "This is a runners course, Im not going to sweat it cause I know its not my 'cup of tea'" but in the end this little "I hate flat courses, I know I won't do well" girl ended up taking 3rd overall for the girls. It's moments like these that remind you to not knock yourself down just because something may appear as a big obstacle. Its those obstacles that, once overcome, make you see that there is potential for success in your doubts and you are stronger then you think you are.
OCR is constantly changing my life in one way or another, whether mentally/physically/emotionally and I feel extremely blessed and so so thankful for all the opportunities I have been given. Self discovery is not something that just gets shipped off and sent to your front door. You have to WANT to learn and grow in anything you do in life- you have to PUSH through the pains when things don't go your way and remember there is a better days ahead and above all you have to BELIEVE in yourself and what you are capable of because its NEVER too late to create the person you always wanted to be.
(^^ I am 24 not 26 and live in Bloomfield CT not CO lol)
P.S. I believe the race will be Televised nationally on Fox Sports in June. I will let you know more about specific dates when I can --Also you can visit (HardCharge.com) for more details.
Until Next Time!
The Messner
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