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Challenge Yourself


Here at FreeRange Fitness we believe in some basic truths:

  • Being outdoors is more fun than being indoors

  • Getting/keeping fit should be fun

  • Always challenge yourself

  • Cake is good

The first three of those all came together for Karina and myself a few weeks ago when we did something neither of us had ever done before - a Wild Run. Specifically we took on the Summer Wolf Run - a 10k off-road run featuring a series of man-made and natural obstacles located throughout the course. It wasn't a race (although we tried our best not to dawdle), instead it was a physical and mental challenge and at times pushed us to our limits. But as you can see, we also had a lot of fun.


Although between us we have run various marathons, half-marathons, oodles of 10k's, triathlons, duathlons, aquathlons, 100 mile bike events, etc. this relatively short event was something very new for both of us.

For a start - the mud. Boy, the mud. We knew there was going to be mud. We had seen photos and videos of the mud. But until you are staring into a pit of chest-high mud and thinking "am I really going to jump into that?" you don't really understand what you are facing. The reality is that once you are muddy, you are muddy and you soon get used to it - but given that in our daily lives we invest so much time and energy in keeping ourselves and our clothes clean, this felt very transgressive.


Plus, it had the added benefit of making us look forward to jumping in the lake for a swim (fully-clothed, with our shoes on).

Although we were grateful to our training that meant we were able to haul ourselves out of the mud pits rather than wait to be rescued, and get over most of the obstacles with ease (if not grace), much of the challenge was mental. Crawling through dark tunnels; leaping from log to log and trusting your shoes had the grip to stop you from falling into even more mud beneath (by the way, I cannot recommend the INOV-8 X-Talon 212's enough - they got through the whole thing and after a quick run through the washing machine came out looking brand new).