Truth be told, endurance events – a GORUCK, Spartan’s Hurricane Heat and the like – are 100% out of my comfort zone. I am intimidated by them. I’ve successfully completed two Spartan Hurricane Heats and was medically dropped from a GORUCK Tough, a 12ish hour event, somewhere between the 6-8th hour. In each event at some point I told myself that I’m never doing another one of these events again. I was out of my comfort zone. The medical drop really did a number on my confidence, not because of the medical DNF part, but that my physical fitness was not up to snuff.
The introvert in me is terrified of doing things in public. Singing, dancing, being in a position of leadership, all are uncomfortable to terrifying. I want to say that’s my push to do these type of events, to say, “I do X because it terrifies me!” That would be bad ass, if it was the truth. But so far, that’s not the case. I try to be part of the herd and blend in. Do the work, sure, but not to stick out. That doesn’t push me forward. Being part of the herd doesn’t make me a better human.
Reading gear lists for Spartan’s different Hurricane Heats at times makes me feel sick, not because you have to do something disgusting, but you have to memorize a song or dance or anything else that would make me want to disappear. Hurricane Heats are designed to get you out of your comfort zone and I need to start to see them as that and use them as the tool they are for. Teamwork and growth.
Even though I told myself in each of the endurance events that I would never do one again, I’m glad that I don’t listen to myself. I think this is one of those times that listening to your gut is the wrong choice. Earning my two Hurricane Heat dog tags is something that I will never forget. When I need a reminder that I can overcome obstacles and face my fear I will wear that necklace and remind myself that I can get out of my comfort zone.
I do have a 9/11 GORUCK light coming up and I am actually training for it with mixture of the Pathfinder Forward training (completed PFF class 12) and the 6 week GORUCK plan. I want to dominate this GORUCK and if I keep my training up, I will.
Next, go fearlessly into another Hurricane Heat and stay out of the shadows.
