Warrior Dash - any big girls/guys doing it?

_SusieQ_

I am far from my goal, but consistently working out and my stamina and endurance is better. I signed up for Warrior Dash in September a couple months ago as a motivator. Now that I am 5 1/2 weeks out I am SCARED SH*TLESS!! Seriously, what was I thinking?!?!?!?

So my question is, has anyone done this while still big? And by big I mean 250+ lbs, or possibly double your ideal body weight.

Please tell me I won't die trying.... *whimper*

Grimmerick

I am signed up and don't worry, most people are there just for fun and they come in all shapes and sizes. Just take your time and have a BLAST!!

sarah44254

I am not too big, but when I did it in April this year I had a huge guy ahead of me the whole time (outrunning me and everything).

He was at least 6ft and very round in the middle. He was also wearing body armor, a helmet, and carrying a sword! This guy was major awesome. He jogged ahead of me the entire time (I have around a 14 minute per mile pace) and he was able to do EVERY one of the obstacles.

I was so scared of the race, but it was incredibly fun. SO much fun! if you are feeling odd about an obstacle it is fine to skip over it, just walk around it. But most of them (other than scaling the wall with just a rope) were very 'easy' and not too challenging for me.

schmaggie

I did the Chicago area Dash in June, and it was a blast. I currently weigh in at 210, which is about 40 pounds from my goal, but last summer I did the Muddy Buddy at 270. Here's what I will tell you:

DO IT!

It will be hard, but you will have a blast. There will be obstacles you are not sure you can finish, but you will try, and when you get over the wall, you will be so proud. You will leap over fire. You wil scale walls. You will probably bypass an obstacle or two, but you will TRY, and it will feel incredible.

And you will be so excited to sign up for the 2012 Dash, because now you KNOW you can do it.

Don't think you'll be the biggest person there; you won't be, not by a longshot. And the thing about obstacle races is, unless you're in the front of the pack, most people are very helpful and encouraging to others in the race. I had one woman wait for me on the other side of the top of a wall, and she literally reached down, grabbed by big ol' thigh, and hoisted me over ... just because she wanted me to succeed.

Now, in the 5 1/2 weeks you have left, work on some upper-body strength if you can. That's the one area where I was unprepared for Dash. If you can gain some shoulder/chest strength, you will RULE THE DASH!

Peace, love and mud-
Maggie

schmaggie

I did the Chicago area Dash in June, and it was a blast. I currently weigh in at 210, which is about 40 pounds from my goal, but last summer I did the Muddy Buddy at 270. Here's what I will tell you:

DO IT!

It will be hard, but you will have a blast. There will be obstacles you are not sure you can finish, but you will try, and when you get over the wall, you will be so proud. You will leap over fire. You wil scale walls. You will probably bypass an obstacle or two, but you will TRY, and it will feel incredible.

And you will be so excited to sign up for the 2012 Dash, because now you KNOW you can do it.

Don't think you'll be the biggest person there; you won't be, not by a longshot. And the thing about obstacle races is, unless you're in the front of the pack, most people are very helpful and encouraging to others in the race. I had one woman wait for me on the other side of the top of a wall, and she literally reached down, grabbed by big ol' thigh, and hoisted me over ... just because she wanted me to succeed.

Now, in the 5 1/2 weeks you have left, work on some upper-body strength if you can. That's the one area where I was unprepared for Dash. If you can gain some shoulder/chest strength, you will RULE THE DASH!

Peace, love and mud-
Maggie

schmaggie

And I'm sorry this posted twice.

tashjs21

I am going to do the one in April!! I am no where near ready right now but I figure as long as I don't come in dead last I'll be alright. :laugh:

5 weeks is a long time to kick up those workouts! You'll do better than you think! :flowerforyou:

EyeAye

I'm signed up for the September Dash also. I'm scared too! I have not lost the weight I wanted to, but I am lots stronger and healthier. I freaked out when the photos of the obstacles changed on the course map. Glad someone posted that we can go around the wall. Yikes. I will be so proud to complete it, but fear it too. I still have 90+ pounds I want to lose.

You will be great. Just stay focused and keep moving forward.

_SusieQ_

thank you everyone.

Good ideas schmaggie, I have kicked it up these past couple weeks with some weight training, trying to gain some upper arm strength/muscle.

For a big girl I think I'm pretty capable of doing a lot, but I'm scared the pressure of all the people behind me, waiting on me to finish, might derail my self confidence.

Is it sick that I'm actually excited about crawling through mud though???

_SusieQ_

I'm signed up for the September Dash also. I'm scared too! I have not lost the weight I wanted to, but I am lots stronger and healthier. I freaked out when the photos of the obstacles changed on the course map. Glad someone posted that we can go around the wall. Yikes. I will be so proud to complete it, but fear it too. I still have 90+ pounds I want to lose.

You will be great. Just stay focused and keep moving forward.

Yes, I am most scared about the wall!!!! I just don't see me hauling my body over a wall, not to mention getting back down!! But we will see.

Oh and schmaggie, I have already decided to do the one in Dallas in April with my niece. So I'll be curious to see how big of a difference it will be from September to April!

schmaggie

If anyone behind you gets impatient, they will pass you. All obstacles have several people completing them at once, so no worries! Run your own race, and have fun. Anyone behind you is more focused on their own race, anyway; just throw yourself into it an have a good time. (And yes, the mud makes it all worth it!)

tashjs21

I'm signed up for the September Dash also. I'm scared too! I have not lost the weight I wanted to, but I am lots stronger and healthier. I freaked out when the photos of the obstacles changed on the course map. Glad someone posted that we can go around the wall. Yikes. I will be so proud to complete it, but fear it too. I still have 90+ pounds I want to lose.

You will be great. Just stay focused and keep moving forward.

Yes, I am most scared about the wall!!!! I just don't see me hauling my body over a wall, not to mention getting back down!! But we will see.

Oh and schmaggie, I have already decided to do the one in Dallas in April with my niece. So I'll be curious to see how big of a difference it will be from September to April!

I think that is the one I am going to! Well, outside of Dallas. :drinker:

_SusieQ_

[/quote]
"I think that is the one I am going to! Well, outside of Dallas. :drinker:"
[/quote]

I'm doing the one in Oklahoma September 24th, then I want to do Dallas next April, I believe it's the 14th/15th, 2012.

EyeAye

I'm doing the Sept 17th in Wisconsin. I feel a little dumb admitting this, but I don't want to get my good running shoes muddy. I also kinda want to wear knee pads for the crawling. And having my track record I should probably wear a helmet.

ennaejay

For a big girl I think I'm pretty capable of doing a lot, but I'm scared the pressure of all the people behind me, waiting on me to finish, might derail my self confidence.

Is it sick that I'm actually excited about crawling through mud though???

There are big, small, and medium-sized people who are fast, slow, and in-between, ALL having a great time. You can always opt out of any obstacle you're not comfortable doing. People who are competing will be so engrossed in their own footing and experience that they won't even notice you. Don't put pressure on yourself, there will be space for people to pass you, and I'm sure you'll pass people who are just walking the course. Finishing the course will BOOST your self-confidence, and you'll finish with flying colors.

Have fun girl

_SusieQ_

I'm doing the Sept 17th in Wisconsin. I feel a little dumb admitting this, but I don't want to get my good running shoes muddy. I also kinda want to wear knee pads for the crawling. And having my track record I should probably wear a helmet.

I have heard/seen pictures of the piles of shoes that people just donate b/c it isn't worth cleaning them! WD has them cleaned and then donated to charity. I have already decided I am not wearing my good shoes, I'll wear a pair of my older ones that are a little worn out!

romade188

I actually want to do it next year, either in Maryland, or if they have it in Pa, I'll do it there. I seen someone post a bunch of pics from their experience, and it looks freaking awesome. The warrior dash is my current goal.. I'm sure you will do awesome, good luck!!

EyeAye

I'm doing the Sept 17th in Wisconsin. I feel a little dumb admitting this, but I don't want to get my good running shoes muddy. I also kinda want to wear knee pads for the crawling. And having my track record I should probably wear a helmet.

I have heard/seen pictures of the piles of shoes that people just donate b/c it isn't worth cleaning them! WD has them cleaned and then donated to charity. I have already decided I am not wearing my good shoes, I'll wear a pair of my older ones that are a little worn out!

I didn't know about the shoe donation. That's great. I will wear older shoes too! I am so excited.