Mens health Survival of the fittest

2 years ago I watched Ryan take part in this event and at the time (as mentioned in previous posts) I honestly thought it just wasn't possible for me to ever do something like it. I was so proud of him as it was the first event he did and it was the hottest day of the year. I watched people coming in at the finish line and thought they all looked as though they had been to hell and back - it was something I just thought I wasn't capable of!

This photo was taken and used to advertise on the website and in the magazine.

He finished his first race in 1hr 45ish if I remember correctly and he thoroughly enjoyed it! Since then he has done numerous events and I even did my first one (fright night) 2 months after this men's health. The following year came and he insisted he would do it again and he did - think he managed it in 1.22mins. At this stage I had competed in a number of events but secretly this is the event I REALLY wanted to complete - just because it seemed so impossible a year ago. So when new year 2013 approached and we decided which events we were going to do - this was a definite on the list but the prospect scared me!

Somehow Ryan and I ended up booking Tough Mudder just one week before this event! I know - STUPID! However it turned out to be great practice for the one event I had been dreading. I knew I had done enough training as Tough Mudder was 17k and Men's health was only 10k but it didn't stop me from feeling incredibly nervous on race day!

T-shirts were green again - same as his first year.

As usual we were in a rush to get there which didn't help my nerves! Ryan very soon raced ahead as I was keeping a steady and comfortable pace to start. At the second obstacle I managed to fall and hurt my ankle a bit which sucked but I knew I still had a long run ahead of me so I trotted on. Very soon after this I met a lady (I normally find friends on my runs) Rhian Edwards - her children were running a small section of the run with her and I thought it was so sweet! Very encouraging for her and kept my spirits up too!

The route was very flat through Cardiff City and the obstacles were minuscule in comparison with Tough Mudder so I didn't find it too hard however if I didn't have Rhian to run with me the rest of the way I probably would have found it incredibly tedious! Most of the events we do are in fields or forestry with different terrain but I found the city flat and samey. It was nice going through the river when that came around though- I luckily had a gel stuck in my bra which Rhian and I shared. I did get very thirsty during the run as it was quite a hot day and as I am prone to stitches I gave the half time water a miss.

refreshing walking through the river.

By the time I could see the finishing wall I was already feeling pretty proud of myself as I certainly didn't think it was as hard as I had thought previously. I'm not saying it was a complete walk park - as events go it was pretty tough but considering I never thought it was possible for me to do it, I was impressed. 

My favorite part of the event was toward the end when Ryan came to help (run with me) to the finish line - he never fails to do this and it gives me a real boost when I am really tired at the end. He even gave me a leg boost up over the wall at the end. Also my goal time for the event was 1.45ish (Ryan's first events time) and he said I was on track - instant motivation!

I finally finished at 1.48 and extremely proud of myself! I did it! The event I didn't think possible. I believe Ryan did it in 1.20 something (similar to his time last year) He always impresses me!