Conquer the Gauntlet - More Than a Crazy Run!

Today, we ran the Conquer the Gauntlet run in Tulsa. It was 4 miles and 31 obstacles on a course that had been soaked in a steady morning rain. For one of my best friends and I, this was more than just a crazy run. This was the first steps to completing a promise we made to each other over 4 1/2 years ago.

At the time the promise was made, I was pregnant with Bailey and we made a pact (that I also made with a few other close friends) that we would not let each other get out of shape. That no matter how many kids we had, or how much weight we gained during pregnancy, we would help each other lose that weight so that we could be the "cool moms." Ok, so now that we've had kids, we realize that we are no longer cool, but a girl can dream can't she?!

Kris and I met when we became roommates in college. She played on the basketball team and I played on the volleyball team. We were in great physical shape. We were athletes. We are still athletes. It's just that after having kids, our athletic bodies have taken on a new form. We know how to push each other to do our best because we know what each other is capable of. We don't have a lot of sympathy for each other. We tell it like it is, and that's what true friends are for.

I've had three kids, Kris has had two kids, and we both have some weight to lose. Not to mention, Kris just had her second baby 9 weeks ago. Yes, 9 weeks. She's insane! And I ran with a fractured rib. We were quite the pair! Along with support from our awesome husbands who also ran the race, we Conquered the Gauntlet. It wasn't easy, but we did it!

If you want to know the definition of a true friend, then here it goes:

• Someone who pushes you to do an obstacle that you didn't think you could do, and then cheers for you as you succeed.
• Someone who walks/runs the entire race with you and never leaves you behind.
• Someone who pulls you out of a water filled mud pit because you can't get out by yourself.
• Someone who high fives you after each tough obstacle that you survive as a team.
• Someone who gets their shorts caught on barbwire (on the top of an obstacle) and rips them as you cut your butt cheek on the same barbed wire.
• Someone who verbally tells you that they are proud of your accomplishments multiple times during the entire 4 mile run.
• Someone who pushes you out of your comfort zone.
• Someone who Conquers the Gauntlet with you.

This is not our first race, and it won't be our last. This was just a stepping stone in the right direction. Kris and I told each other that the next time we run this race, we will both be at 100% and we will Conquer it like we were meant to Conquer it.



Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves."