CHALLENGER STORY made a call, I own it and normally would not budge. I mumble that I have nothing left to give, while I put my socks and shoes back on, over those blisters and tired feet.
Next thing I am linked into Bella’ s arm, and this amazing human supports me. Three loops, I held onto her arm, while she just talked. I just listened, focusing on her words, and trying to distract from the physical agony of my body. There was another lady, whose name I cannot recall, who also joined a loop. The distraction was exactly what I needed. For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to depend on another human being to be my strength. I felt like a zombie, if not for every aching part of my body, I would have forgotten that I was human. formidable human beings and I got to a point where I questioned what I was doing there amongst these legends, and how I had somehow believed I was ever capable of completing this mammoth feat.
I kept hearing that when the sun came up it would give us the torch to carry us through to the end. Well, the sun came up. My body was beyond any point of normal. The physical agony surpassed all the painkillers. I tried the ice bath which numbed the pain only briefly. I attempted a massage and being beyond the point of dignity, I groaned with the agony.
I had a few dry needles in my hip which gave me amazing relief, but by that time my knees were so swollen I could barely move. I was shattered physically. I was making each loop closer and closer to the full allotted sixty minutes, meaning there was no time to recover. Just keep going.
At one point my legs were strapped to give me quick but temporary solutions to do another loop. Honestly, I salute the Physio team, they gave it everything to try to keep us in the game.
Then it hit. Suddenly, I was alone in my headspace. Loop 19, loop 20. Mental conversations. Loop 21. I was done. I had nothing left. I had given everything. My flame was quenched. I felt like a broken shell with no soul. I spent most of loop 21 resigned to the fact that I had failed. I had failed myself. I had failed my husband. I just did not have what it takes.
I had reached a point where I did not even care that I only had to get through three more loops. My tank was empty. There was nothing left in me to give. I wobbled my way back to the barracks, struggled up the stairs and rang the bell. When the bell goes there is a hype as to who and why, and at such a late stage. I briefly spoke to the photographer, hobbled to my spot, and sat down for the first time since arriving at the barracks. I took off my shoes and just sat there. My feet blistered beyond understanding. I just sat there in my little green camping chair. I had come back within the hour, but I had rung the bell. Game over?
The next moment Richard Laskey is standing in front of me in his cow suit, which at any other time would be comical. He demands, and I quote,“ Put your f & ^ % en shoes on.” Whether from the lack of fight left in me, or some greater power, I listened, and I never listen to anybody. Especially when I have
Loop 24. Everyone came together, united, and did the loop as one, but I was still holding onto Bella. I took plenty of lessons from SBBU 2023, and although I drove home alone, friendships in the fire were formed. I would never have completed this challenge if I had not surrendered and accepted the help of others. Richard, who left no man behind, and kept going back and forth, doing more than his needed time, was epic in completing the challenge. Ilana, who had told him that I had quit, was crucial to me finishing the challenge. Bella, Bella. There is no way in hell, I would have finished without her.
Let us be raw, I would not have regretted not completing the challenge. Not at first. For as long as it took my body to heal, I would not have cared. Weeks later I would have hated myself. Being so close. There is a reason soldiers move in platoons. I will do this challenge as many times as the years allow me. I will come back wiser as I have learnt so much.
SBBU 2023 changed me. All I can say to all the SBBU challengers, live the example you want to teach. Many, such as I, are watching, observing, and learning through you. You are our textbooks. I made loop 24 with only 3 minutes to spare, but I was changed for a lifetime by the people I met, and especially those who carried me.
All my love Chloe( Claudette number 42)
16 SPARTAN BABY BADASS ULTRA 2025