I’m not sure if you caught the memo, but we have a lot of people coming to this little Spartan Race shindig this weekend.
A lot of people. Over both days, we’ll top over 300 folks.
Many of you will be regulars on the course with the team. Many of you will be running in the team heat with your own family, friends and co-horts. Some of you will be entirely solo.
Let me introduce you to the idea of a Battle Buddy.
Your Battle Buddy doesn’t have to be one person. You could have Battle Buddies.
These are the people who will stick with you on the course. These are the people who will push you over walls. These are the people who will share their stories with you, while you run, jog or walk through the trails.
In turn, they are the people that *you* will motivate to keep going when they’re done. You’ll give them a knee to help them over an obstacle. You’ll get friendly with their butt when you push them up something they didn’t believe they could do.
And you’ll share your life stories with them.
Your Battle Buddy may not be who you thought it would be when you started out either. You may find yourself left behind by your own friends, as they move on and run their own race. You may find yourself along side someone you’ve never met before.
But, we’re all Spahtens, and this is our time. Everyone you toe the line with is part of this community we’ve forged over the past year, and no matter how quick or slow they are – how much experience they’ve had – they all have had a Battle Buddy.
I joke that you’ll finish the race with 250+ of your new best friends – it’s really not a joke at all. Thats how many of us have become best friends … time on the trails, spent talking about life. A knee to get up a wall, or a shout of encouragement to get that last knot on the rope climb. Shared triumph when you do an obstacle you never thought possible, and muddy hugs when you cross the finish line.
So – when you line up for the start of the race this weekend, look around you. Look beyond your immediate friends and the people you brought with you. You’ll see someone your size. Your ability. Sharing the same injury, or with that same look of fear in their eyes that you feel.
As you start moving through the course, keep your eyes open – help each other, and when you find yourself naturally in lock step with someone – say hi, shake hands – you just met your new Battle Buddy, and maybe best friend, for life.
So true! met 2 amazing people when running my first spartan. So blessed!
[…] did a great series of blog posts for the Sprint (Here, Here, and Here). All of which are still super applicable here. Some points to remember (for the newbies, […]
This was one of the best pieces I've ever read! It is so true and hit home. I will forever be grateful to the complete stranger who dragged me out of the hip deep mud on my first Spartan. And I won't forget the heart felt thank you when I hefted a total stranger over the 8 foot wall encouraging her while she screamed in fear at the height. I have met some amazing friends and will look forward to making many more. Spartan for me is a TEAM! A way of life that encourages, helps, supports, laughs and sometimes buddy carries you when you need it. This is an amazing group and I am grateful to be a proud part of it! AROOOOO
Battle Buddies will also be with you at other races than Spartan Race too – that the awesome thing about the NE Spahten community!
Love it