obstaclemudrunner.co.uk
ForEliteAtheletes toFunRunners
30
HEALTH : CHALLENGE
are you up for it?
The human
body is an
incredible
thing. It
performs
miraculous
feats every day
As much as it
pains me to
admit it, being
diagnosed with
PTSD 6 years
after losing my
sister to a rare
spinal tumour,
has been very
hard to deal with
To you and I, rolling around in the mud on a regular
basis is the norm.
We see nothing wrong in our dirty antics and harm no
one, other than ourselves (and our washing machines)
in our activities.
But to the poor, clean, un-educated souls, who have
resisted or ignored the call of the OCR wild, they will
never understand why we do what we do and, with all
things that the masses don’t understand, since time
began, it’s easier to class it as crazy, rather than try it
or join the minority.
If being a lover of mud is wrong, then I am guilty as
charged, but you know what...I don’t care! I love the
euphoric post race feelings. I immerse myself in the
glory of the race. I take pride in my battle scars and
the kisses placed upon my body by each and every
obstacle. And I will shout about it from the highest of
walls, to who ever will listen to my filthy ramblings.
Speak to any adult, and most will confess to suffering
from depression at sometime in their lives. Whether it’s
a mild case of the blues, or a more serious diagnosis of
clinical depression, it’s not a fun thing to deal with.
As much as it pains me to admit it, being diagnosed
with PTSD 6 years after losing my sister to a rare spinal
tumour, has been very hard to deal with, but I will
forever be grateful for the release and therapy gifted to
me by training and racing and here’s why I am the first
to promote the healing properties of mud and sweat!
Let’s go back to 2010. What were you doing then?
For me it was a big year – In 2010 I ran my first OCR.
Just 1000 people ran that day at Spartan, a pretty
unknown event in the UK back then. Total strangers
became best friends, the most unlikely people stood
shoulder to shoulder, and we ran as one. From that
moment, I was hooked.
Friendships were made in the early years of OCRs,
friendships that still stand firm today.
In May 2010, I opened Bootcamp Revolution
Obstacle Course Training Centre. I was told I was
mad, no one really understood why I wanted to invest
my time, money and knowledge in an activity that so
few knew about, or had a passion for. Regardless, I
followed my dream... Because in March 2010, I lost
my big sister Sammy.
After being diagnosed
with a rare spinal tumour
at the age of 30, she
was left totally paralysed.
She fought to lead a
normal life, and raise her
daughter herself, but she
eventually lost her battle,
and was taken from us at
just 40 years of age.
Within what seemed like a few moments of losing
my sister, I hit the deck running, opening Bootcamp
Revolution and focused all my efforts on my new
business. The words my sister had instilled in me
“from small acorns, great oaks grow” will forever drive
me, but what I failed to realise was that I had not
allowed myself to grieve.
Why am I sharing this with you? If you’re reading this,
then you’re aware of the power of positive mental
attitude, and you know what the mind can achieve
when your body is tested to it’s limit.
The human body is an incredible thing. It performs
miraculous feats every day; it fights off evil attackers
in the form of infection, it regenerates, it’s internal
cooling system is space age and it is blessed with a
cardiovascular system nothing short of a miracle!
The body also has an amazing system of nerves,
brain activity, hormones and defence mechanisms,
which it uses to protect, defend and heal itself. My
favourite is its amazing ability to alleviate depression
with wonderful little chemicals called Serotonin &
Dopamine.
MIGHTY OAKS
If you’re reading this, you’ve no doubt been on the receiving end of the
accusatory statement “ARE YOU MAD??”
By PT
Emz Watts
