Just the beginning

Where have I been!? Well I've been working very hard on this submission video and training to become the next American Ninja Warrior. And all my friends tell me I’ll be amazing and perfect but I’m intensely nervous and excited at the same time. And I haven’t even been accepted yet.

Let's back up. What is American Ninja Warrior you ask? Well it's a TV show where super fit humans compete against each other on an obstacle course. Except that I've been repeatedly assured that we shouldn't think about it as competitor versus competitor but rather each competitor versus the course. Which sounds kind of the same if you ask me, but apparently it's an important distinction in the culture of Ninja Warrior.

So what has happened is some people I'm friends with have convinced me to apply to compete against the American Ninja Warrior course in Venice Beach. The casting crew is actively seeking female competitors so it appears that in the application phase I have a small advantage over my male counterparts.

But the Ninja Warrior course has, in the past, welcomed female olympians, acrobats, and professional fitness models. In case anyone needs reminding I am none of the above. What I am is a beginner traceuse and an intermediate powerlifter who is looking for an adventure and is determined not to shy away from a challenge.

I was initially suspicious that I would fill the role of the tragically over confidant reality show contestant. You know on American Idol, where they bring people on in the first few episodes just to laugh at their obvious ineptitude? I haven't actually seen American Ninja Warrior so I didn't know if they do the same. But I've been assured by avid viewers as well as the casting lady that this is not what happens. Apparently a few underprepared competitors may make it but only because they sell themselves as a character in their submission videos and wear silly costumes on the show. Additionally, everyone who competes fails at some point, and many top level competitors have gone out on the first few obstacles.

Only one female competitor has ever made it past the first stage, so I have low expectations on my side! And theoretically since I train at Apex Movement NorCal where I can practice a lot of the obstacles, I stand a chance of not embarrassing myself. We have a warped wall, salmon ladder, cliff hanger, jumping spider and even the exact same kind of mini tramp that is used on the show, ha! If I get past two obstacles I’ll be super happy. Three and I’ll be ecstatic. But I’m very much ahead of myself because I haven’t been accepted yet!

My application is in, there’s no turning back now. My mind is overrun with the many hypothetical ways in which I might fail the obstacles. I had a dream that I succeeded at getting up the warped wall (I’m actually currently about a foot short) but then I couldn’t do the climb up to get myself on top of the wall. Oh dear. Well, I have one month to make sure that doesn’t happen. I better go hang on something.

Enjoy my submission video!