SPARTAN RACE MALAYSIA

If you follow me on my Instagram, you'll notice I enjoy fitness, or more accurately, photographing myself doing some sort of workout. Yes, I'm one of those. You know, girls and guys who go to the gym spending 45 minutes breaking a sweat, while the remaining 2 hours posing for the self-timed camera to achieve the perfect #fitnessprogress picture to post.

A photo posted by Jenn Chia (@soimjenn) on Aug 16, 2015 at 7:26pm PDT

With that said, I do enjoy pushing my body to its limits, feeling my heart pump so vigorously as if it's about to explode out of my chest and slap me in the face. That, I do enjoy. However, this addiction to exertion is not the main motivation for me to workout, food is.

My primary motivation to workout is driven by how much I love to eat. Even as I am typing this line, I can sense my eyes sparkling with the thought of my next meal. Oh, the potential! Garlic Cheese Naan with a good serving of flavour-bursting Tandoori, or the glistening Chinese Style Sweet and Sour Chicken served with aromatic rice that takes your senses through a gastronomically fulfilling ride. Mmmhmm.

Though, lets be realistic here. The problem with this undying passion for eating is that my body will voluntarily balloon into a sack of potatoes ready to wobble on cue; which is why I force myself to workout.

On the 11th of October, I did the Spartan Race and finished it. "Yes, be astonished and dazzled by my triumphant victory..." is what I would say if I wanted to be a smug dick about it, but since I am not a proper cocky dick (yet), allow me to share with you my personal experience of the race.

Reebok Spartan Race - The World's Best Obstacle Race is now in Malaysia ! Sign up for our next race on the 20th of March 2016 at www.spartanrace.my
Posted by Spartan Race Malaysia on Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Filled with unexplained fear of death, I dragged myself towards the entrance of the race, signed up, and got on my mark at 9.15am. The more I thought about the anxiety, the louder the voice in my head shouted, "Take it easy! Don't so kiasu. Goal of the day: Don't die."

The moment the emcee, Linora indicated that the death trap race has begun, I held myself back from charging through the first obstacle; Instead, I briskly strolled towards The Wall which is the first obstacle - an erected wooden plank forming a barricade. Spartans-wannabe, like myself, had to clamber across it.

I miraculously conquered it effortlessly, which was seriously, well... miraculous. But before I could even rejoice, another obstacle was bestowed upon me, and another, and another, and another, each getting more challenging and intense. I will not suffocate you with a detailed account of each obstacle but there was one that needs to be highlighted.

This obstacle has no name, but I have given it one: The Scary as Shit Wall. It is another erected wooden plank but this is 2.5 times my size in height, intimidating me with all its glory. The objective of The Scary as Shit Wall is to mount yourself over it and dismount to the other side.

A photo posted by Jon Liddell (@jonliddellmusic) on Oct 13, 2015 at 7:55am PDT

I am not afraid of heights but I am afraid of dying. Hence, I was given two options: (1) to climb over The Scary as Shit Wall, or (2) to do 30 burpees.

Faced with this dilemma, Jon, my Spartan Race partner decided to also be my cheerleader (though, not a really good one). Instead of saying, "You can do it!" He opted a more realistic approach, "I think you can try to do it."

Cheerleader or not, intentionally or unintentionally, his borderline patronising remark unsettled the kiasu-ness in me. What started off as a fun ride has now mutated into a bloody warfare. I charged through all the obstacles including The Scary as Shit Wall, making sure I completed the last few obstacles in best time I can possibly set.

The fire that fuelled the kiasu-ness paid off, I was placed 11th in my category with a finisher medal to parade this achievement.

On to the next challenge!

A photo posted by Jenn Chia (@soimjenn) on Oct 10, 2015 at 9:32pm PDT