What was I thinking?

Last night I sat in bed reading, enjoying another chapter of Anna Karenina when my husband, Josh, came into the bedroom. "What's this $106 charge on our credit card?" he asked, showing me his computer. 
"Oh, that's for Tough Mudder," I replied nonchalantly.
"Seriously?"
Our eyes met, his brows pointed like the alps in disbelief while mine narrowed in defense. 
"Yes," I snapped while licking my finger to turn the page.

I'll admit, this was an impulse decision. And usually the bigger decision, the less I think about it. For example, I woke up one day in 2007 and decided I was going to Africa for six weeks to teach HIV/AIDS education in the middle of nowhere. Nevermind the fact that I'd never camped more than two nights in a row, find most outdoor creatures disgusting and didn't have the $3,000 needed for the trip.  But I managed to raise money from bewildered co-workers and family, bought underwear you only needed to wash once every three weeks, and even got shots for typhoid and yellow fever.  A week before my trip, civil war broke out in Kenya and I decided that getting shot by some guy on the side of the road wearing a Nike shirt while wielding an AK-47 wasn't the best way to start the new year.


Other similar impulse decisions include:

• All 4 of my tattoos (average wait period: 6 hours)
• Deciding that 20 minutes into our first date, I was going to marry Josh (which I did)
• Quitting my job via post-it note (yes, this actually happened)

Which leads me to yesterday. Work was slow that afternoon and I decided to kill some time on Facebook. It was like a sign from God when I logged on:

1 event upcoming.

Ok, it wasn't a booming voice in some bush but God knows he needs to take unusual measures to get my attention, even if its through the evil troll Mark Zuckerburg. So I click on the event and see my PERSONAL INVITATION to join a team for Tough Mudders 2012.  Without reading about what Tough Mudder is or the physical fitness requirements, I sign up. I did a little dance at my desk (and was immediately out of breath) before grabbing my daily afternoon snack: a Mountain Dew. 

And that brings me to today. When I actually went on the official Tough Mudder website and read about this death defying obstacle course designed by the British military.  Here are some of the highlights:

WARNING: Tough Mudder is 3 - 4 times longer and much tougher than a typical mud run. On average, only 78% of participants finish the event. Only those in reasonably strong physical condition should enter. See our Training Page for training requirements. 



Training requirements? An average completion time of 3 hours? A mandatory signature on an accident policy in case of traumatic injury? Oops, maybe should have thought this through a bit more. 


So I started this blog. Because next week, I start training for what will likely be the worst physical experience of my entire life (besides childbirth, but I do get a free glass of beer if I cross the finish line. Last time I checked, hospitals don't dole out free booze for popping out a kid so I got that going for me). And I want to share my journey with others who can laugh at me, laugh at this ridiculously crazy task, and cheer me on as I become:


A tough mudder.