I just returned from one of the most intense 11 days of my life, also known as Training Camp!
- Cold, bucket showers
- Different cultural foods and customs everyday (we seriously take forks and spoons for granted around here)
- Early Mornings, sometimes with exercise periods
- Sleeping in a tent
- Packing up your pack and tent (almost daily)
- Sessions about growing spiritually and preparation for the Race
- Getting to know the people I will be spending the next year of my life with
- Team building
- Lack of sleep
- …
The list goes on.
It was stretching in so many ways. I lived in close quarters with 48 complete strangers who quickly became friends. Singing around a campfire, working through staged but very possible field scenarios… And hiking 2.2 miles with my pack on my back, in 38 minutes (38:00)
The first time I didn’t make it on time, I was over by 4 minutes. I was given a redo the next morning and that experience will forever be part of my life.
I was allowed to have two others with me doing the hike, a trainer and someone from my squad. The trail was quickly lined with the other squad mates, from all 3 squads, cheering on all of us who hadn’t made it the day before. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I can’t tell you how badly I wanted to quit. But I also can’t tell you how badly I wanted the end goal, to be qualified to go on the World Race with this squad and my team. I was sore from the previous days hike but my walking partners kept pushing me, encouraging me when I needed to run, and cheering for me when I did.
I topped the final hill to people cheering me on, wanting me to succeed, and immediately team mates were there taking off my pack and giving me water to drink! I cannot describe how I felt when my trainer told me I did it, that the moment I crested the hill she stopped her watch and it was exactly 38:00!!
I have never felt the sense of community like I did in those ten days. People coming around me believing I could do it. Shouting and cheering me on. It would be a very looong post if I tried to tell you everything that happened.
I am proud to say that I am part of 5th Generation A Squad! And I can’t wait to see how God is going to use a fence builder to build His kingdom!
My team left to right; Me, Zach, Averi, Meg, Lauren, Kayla and RJ. We are team Ablaze!
