05/19/2026
This trip ended up being about so much more than the obstacle course itself.
Yes, we came for the race.
But what filled my cup most was the reminder of how badly we need nature, movement, challenge, community, and time with our dogs outside of the chaos of everyday life.
Race one, I wore myself out mentally before I ever even stepped onto the course. I had pretty much convinced myself I wasn’t capable and honestly didn’t even think I was going to compete or even go to race two. But I did it. And I’m really proud of that.
This weekend reminded me that I can do hard things. That there is something incredibly healing about moving your body, pushing past what you thought was possible, breathing hard, getting dirty, laughing, struggling, and still continuing forward.
It reminded me how powerful true partnership with a dog can feel. Not built on winning, but on trust, support, communication, and connection.
And honestly, one of the most beautiful parts was watching people and dogs grow together in real time. Watching confidence build. Watching dogs rise to the occasion. Watching humans support not only their own dogs, but each other and even complete strangers around them.
I also think experiences like this have a way of bringing things to the surface. We all carry hurt, insecurities, old wounds, and trauma that can show up in unexpected ways when we’re challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally. Kind of like the obstacle course itself… sometimes life really is just putting one foot in front of the other and continuing forward even when things feel uncomfortable, messy, emotional, or hard.
And a huge thank you to Morgan and Kat, our four incredible huskies, and my little mali Pax for taking us beyond what we thought we were capable of. ❤️
The obstacle course may have been the reason we were there, but the experience became something much deeper than that.