MetroDash

I recently participated in the MetroDash.  It was awesome!!  The MetroDash is similar to the Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and Spartan.  However, the goal is to overcome difficult obstacles, not do something pointless that you will never (hopefully) use in life, like walk through open electrical lines while being wet.  The estimated time is 15 minutes; I took much longer than this, but I did complete it.  I found it challenging, yet not impossible.  It is a great challenge for people who keep themselves in excellent shape.  I was not impressed, mostly because I was able to do everything and I do Not consider myself the most in shape person ever; though I do workout 3-5 times per week.  A fellow participant said, afterwards, “This is not for weaklings.”  I felt good that I am no longer considered a weakling!

The following url shows the typical lineup of obstacles.  http://www.metrodash.com/the-course/

The entire “race” is shorter than a football field length.  This may seem short, but remember, between sprints, you are doing a feat of strength, endurance, and ability.  The obstacles include: rope ladder, box jumps, stutter-step tires, rope wall climb, rope swing, cargo net climb, and rope upside-down traverse.  The weird, weight lifting events were: carry a pile of awkward objects a distance: ax and tire, 50lb sandbag carry, 2 kettle balls, 30lb ball carry/sprint, tire flips.  I say they are weird not because they are unreasonable or too heavy, but because I do not usually carry a tire or 50lbs.  Though I can think of a few circumstances I might need to.  I just do not study them in parkour.

I only had difficulty with two of the obstacles: the 8’ free-climbing wall, and the bungee-cord monkey bars.  The 8’ wall had no handholds, or rope.  Literally nothing to assist you.  You had to use your body, and if you had friends or could make them, anyone else.  I, naturally, asked the next random guy to help me.  I had to step on his thigh, then his shoulder.  Mannn, I thought I was going to break him!  I did it, but then I offered to help him, and he waived me off.  I completed this obstacle with some difficulty.  The monkey bars are Not the ones you played at in kindergarten.  Each bar is separate and suspended by a bungee-cord.  This means it swings forward and backward and stretches down with weight.  This makes it extra difficult.  I did not complete this obstacle.  If you attempt two times and are unable to complete, then you must do ten burpees, which are exaggerated squats.  The upside-down rope traverse was also very difficult.  I have trained them.

Overall, a great event!!!  I really enjoyed it!  I appreciate that it did not let me down.  I wanted something I could hardly achieve, something that would motivate me to push harder, stronger, longer.  It showed me I am getting somewhere and there is somewhere yet to get.  Somewhere where all of this is easy and I finish in less than 15 minutes.  I did not find it expecting too much of me.  I train hard and expect much.  I did the same at this event.  I have a great endurance and strength.  My parkour strengths are traversing and balance, which weren’t really used.  Well, to be precise, there was a lot of climb up, but not traverse across, immediately we came down; which takes out the fun.  Most of the people there did Not do parkour, but rather  Crossfit – the cool, in fashion version of parkour that is streamlined and sold in gyms; not playgrounds, free, and outside.  My only complaint was you did not just have to overcome the obstacle, you had to do it their way.  I wanted to climb the free wall using the sides.  The monitor stopped me and told me that was forbidden.  In parkour, the goal is to overcome the obstacle, any way you can.  I would attack it a different way than you would because we are different training levels and have different strengths and comfort levels.