Go until you throw!
Posted in Impi News, Testimonials on January 10, 2012
Impi 2010:
In the weeks leading up to the Impi I ran around the mountains surrounding Stellenbosch with one motto in my head “Go until you throw”, super determined to claim first prize. Come race day I was more nervous than I have ever been for any other race, not knowing what to expect and also seriously doubting my abilities. It was only at the water table around the 8km mark that I realized I was almost sprinting through the race and I either had to pace myself or pass out. This unhealthy amount of adrenalin that surged through my system took its toll and I was reminded of it more than once about 20mins after I finished the race…
The Impi 2010 was tough and I felt its full effects the next day. All the aches, pains, cuts and bruises are definitely worth that feeling you get when you cross the finish line and realize that you have just succeeded in what you set out to do, whether it is winning, completing or simply just enjoying the race.
Impi 2011:
Round two: same motto, same game plan. Only this time instead of just doubting my abilities I was also aware that the competition was stronger than I was, one competitor in particular. So I went into the race a little less nervous, still determined to try claim first prize, but this time knowing that that determination was probably not going to be enough.
The obstacles were MUCH worse than the previous year and I was struggling to run compliments of a surfing injury.
Suffering through the entire race at maximum pace, that wasn’t fast enough, with that “go until you throw” churning in my head was not the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Especially when you know you aren’t catching up.
At the second last obstacle I understood why this race is called the Impi CHALLENGE. Getting up those ropes was challenging to say the least, but it was here that the tables turned and I was now almost in front. The last obstacle, the wall, was all I needed to complete ahead of the next competitor, who I was now right beside wondering what the best approach would be and then it would be a sprint to the finish. I knew the sprint would not turn out in my favour so I put whatever I had left into getting over that wall as fast as possible. I made it across the finish line first.
Sometimes it turns out that the results you get when you just keep going are much better than what you expected.
