About a month ago, my husband Steven called and said he had just registered for the Tough Mudder. According to their website, “Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie.” Of course I had to register right away.
But he doesn’t think I can do it. It is not the race itself he is concerned about. It is the preparation that has him concerned. He is worried I won’t run enough miles, log enough push-ups or stay committed to the training regimen. He might be right. It’s not easy finding time to exercise when your plate is already pretty full with family, job, volunteering, and piles of laundry. I get that he wants me to do the work so that on race day, I will be ready.
There is another race coming up that I am thinking of entering. This one is for a position on the Windham School Board. Some people don’t think I can do it. (Thankfully my husband isn’t one of them). But boy, am I ready. Unlike the Tough Mudder, I have been preparing for this for the last ten years. Within months of moving to Windham, I started the Windham Public Kindergarten Initiative. I have been involved in the Windham education system in some capacity ever since.
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To be honest, I am not sure which race will be harder. The one I have to train for and can power through in one day? Or the one I have been preparing ten years for and will have to commit to for three years?
The good news is that either way, I will not be alone. The Tough Mudder is all about teamwork and camaraderie. Every obstacle relies on working together. Steven will be by my side along with our teammates and none of us will cross the finish line alone. Tough Mudders are team players who make sure no one gets left behind.
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As a member of the School Board I will also be part of a team. A team made up of parents, the community, other School Board members and elected officials, the Administration, and above all, the educators who work with our children every day. Windham will be graduating its first ever senior class this spring. As we celebrate this milestone, I am reminded of the dedicated group of people who worked hard to get us here. As a School Board member, I would be part of a team making sure every child crosses the finish line. Just might be a race worth running.
