Come with me, if you will, on a journey, to the hottest place on earth, White, GA. Picture this: a rugged wilderness of chalky red dirt, thick haze, cypress trees, and one billion insects all buzzing in unison under the blistering sun of north western Georgia. Picture 100 properly pitched tents, which have been long abandoned, by owners who are too busy carrying teammates up hills on their backs, exercising at the break of dawn and eating rice soup to be bothered with torrential rain.
Welcome to my new life. Welcome to a place deodorant has no lasting effect. Welcome to an environment of safety with in extreme adventure. Welcome to a scenario where culture is rich and the days are so intense they will leave your head spinning well into the next week.
Welcome to The World Race training camp.
Due to the above statement, it would come to pass that in the murky, waters of a balmy, ill-kept lake, filled with weeds; I gave a swimming lesson to a 6’5″ tall red headed man with an irrational fear of water. In the waning hours of Tuesday evening, I stood with my teammate, Ryan, in a “too warm for comfort lake” as I taught him to swim. In our short, but rigorous, lesson Ryan learned far more than I could ever have hoped. I was shocked at how deeply he trusted me. I was amazed at what he accomplished.
Eventually in his aquatics venture, albeit with a life vest, Ryan swam across the entire lake! The look of pride and victory on his face was priceless and I have never felt so proud to call somebody my teammate. What he did took faith and guts that I am not so sure I even have.
Look out Michael Phelps…Ryan Hughes has you in his sites!!!!
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