My first SV - OORAH! I did it!

There haven’t really been any last preparations. The only thing I did was go for a short run to test my new shoes. Friday morning, I was on my way to Ghent for the last preparations, not for my personal run, but for the event.

There is no time to relax until the run. Saturday, I have to work. But at least I made some kilometres walking. Sunday the day begins early. Working a few hours in the morning till I can start my run! While watching the first start waves and I am becoming a bit nervous!
A few things are still rotating in my mind. Starting with the THIRTEEN long kilometres, I never did that before. Additionally, there will be technical obstacles which I will never be able to conquer. I also took a better and closer view at the starting walls and these are impossibly high! The icing on the cake (not the best wordplay :D) will be my finish obstacle “The Iceman”. I am always freezing, so there is definitely not much excitement about this obstacle. But always looking on the bright side of life: the sun is shining; the weather is great, and my brothers have arrived! We get something to eat and drink and then we are ready to enter our start wave!
Together we are walking towards the walls and I have to say, I am a bit afraid. As invisible as I can possibly be I enter the start area. But unfortunately, our very enthusiastic first obstacle Cynthia sees me, I see her talking to Henry (the guy who stands on the stage all day😉) and I know it is too late for me; they will ask me to come on stage. I unsuccessfully try to hide behind some fellow Vikings. Saying no is not an option here, so I am climbing onto the stage. While standing beside Cynthia I regret not having practiced this warming-up. So, I try my best and it is actually pretty fun to see all the enthusiastic people following Cynthia’s instructions. After the warming-up I reunite with my fellow Vikings, we are ready! Looking at this immense high wall, I ask one of my friends to go over the wall after me. A rather unpleasant idea being the last person one of the start wave not getting over the wall. At the start you immediately notice, all Vikings are brothers. Everybody is helping each other. We leave no Viking behind!

After the Walhalla Walls, we are ready to go! Just a few moments of running later we meet our first obstacle. Instant flashback to school gym classes, I was never able to rope climb. Would it be possible today? Eeh, nope. But at least I tried it. We keep running and I am happy that there are different kinds of obstacles. Walking through mud, pulling cars, climbing across stuff and hitting or throwing hammers. These ones are no problem! Not to forget the biggest obstacle of all: The Fjord Drop. How cool is that! Sliding and flying, I am definitely able to do that! 😊 We stay together all the time and run or walk to the next obstacle. It doesn’t take long until we are totally covered in mud. I have to say that I am happy with my new Inov-8 X-Talon shoes. These give me better grip in all the mud and the shoes are not getting heavy from the water.

Running between the obstacles is not really a problem. It is true what you guys wrote me, being able to run 7 kilometres is enough for the Warrior parkours. We are also walking some parts, but I see a lot of fellow Vikings doing the same. So, you need not to worry walking a few parts instead of running! I must say that I expected it to be heavier. The only thing I am seriously frightened about right now is The Iceman. Arriving there I immediately see CEO/founder of Strong Viking (aka my boss) Jan Reijs. Unfortunately, he recognizes me too and now I know for 100000000000% sure that I can not skip this obstacle. So, with a finish beer in my mind I take three relaxed breaths, get in this freaking cold water and dive underneath the frame. This is seriously cold, I am having a brain freeze! But I did it!! Another obstacle conquered! Now very fast forward towards the finish and my earned finish beer! The moment on top of the Wallhalla Steps is amazing! We did it! 13 kilometres with obstacles! Wow! My finish beer tastes amazing, I have really looked forward to this moment for the last kilometres. Now we can sit and relax in the sun with a beer and some fries! At this moment I notice how many people are proudly wearing their finish shirt! We are also going to do that now!

One thing is for sure, I want to earn my Viking medal this year! The goals is to be able to conquer more technical obstacles, so now I am looking for brothers who are going to join me with during the next Run and I have to continue my training! I am on my way to my next run and my Viking medal!

Oorah!

Kim