There's a tired metaphor that we almost started this article with:
"Life is a series of challenges, we all have our walls to get over... "
blah, blah, blah - duh! You're here because you're not the type of individual to be penned in by 4 walls, a cubicle or stopped by anyone telling you that you can't do something. Instead, you search for obstacles just so you can conquer them: ropes, cargo nets, bars, mud pits... and of course, walls!

Most great ideas are spawned from amazing revelations; sometimes the universe opens up and shares its infinite wisdom in the form of one gleaming, lucid thought. This was not one of those times.

Back in 2004, I participated in the most extreme, dangerous event I'd ever heard of with two of my co-workers at ESPN; Balance Bar Adventure Series. Prior to this event, my racing resume consisted of exactly one event; a really short, easy duathlon that I was talked into by my Buddy Chris (I cover the story of that epic event in 7 Weeks to A Triathlon) and prior to showing up for the mandatory pre-race briefing the day before the event I had absolutely no idea what an "Adventure Race" was and what we would be required to do.