What is the Man Hike? The Man Hike is a physical challenge that every man must endure before embarking on their mission trips through the World Race. For the Man Hike, we were split into the teams that we would be working with most on the field. My group consists of Isaac, Cas, Seth, and Eric.
Finally, it was time to start the challenge! Our teams gathered to have the challenge explained to us. We learned that we would be on a 0.7-mile loop filled with significant elevation changes and natural obstacles. For this challenge, we had to face several handicaps, including carrying different weighted tires, crab walking, and giving piggyback rides. However, the most difficult challenge by far was the 350-pound tire. Our team had a total of 8 laps to complete, each requiring us to handle one of each of these handicaps.
As the timer starts, we decide to tackle the hardest challenge first: the 350-pound tire. As we lift it, we hear thunder in the distance, but we try to ignore it for the moment. Starting to move, we navigate the uphill and downhill portions of the course, struggling through the challenge. By the time we reach the halfway point of the lap, we have to take about four breaks. Suddenly, we hear more thunder, and this time we notice raindrops starting to fall. The rain becomes a torrential downpour, but we push on, we need to finish at least this lap!
We fight our way through the course until we reach THE HILL, a steep incline with a significant elevation change. As we tackle the hill, both my legs and my squad leader Nick’s begin to give out. We take a much-needed break to rethink our strategy for carrying the tire. Luckily, I end up with a lighter load, and we manage to get moving again. But nature throws another curveball at me: as we approach the end of the lap, my contacts get wet from the rain, making me nearly blind until I could clean them off. I realize that I must fully rely on my team to guide us to the finish, and we finally make it!
Once we catch our breath and I clean my contacts, we remember that, in addition to the laps, we also need to complete 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats each. We get to work and manage to finish about 25 of each when we’re told to come inside due to a risk of lightning. Although we seek shelter, we don’t stop, we continue working and finish all of our push-ups, sit-ups, and squats in the next 20-30 minutes.
When we complete our exercises, the leader of the hike joins our group to provide an update. He explains that the threat of lightning has passed, but due to the rain, he cannot “make us” go back out to complete the remaining laps. He offers us a choice: do we complete the next 7 laps in pouring rain without any handycaps or do we sit out and rest. There’s no pressure to continue. He emphasizes that we should not push ourselves out of pride.
After a lengthy discussion, we decided that it would be best for only a few of us to run due to some health concerns among the team. I have great respect for my teammates who recognized their limits rather than pushing through out of pride. Ultimately, the runners who decided to finish the laps were Isaac, Nick, and me. Seth agreed to run the first lap with us but chose not to finish it.
We started running, and the biggest challenge at the beginning was to avoid tripping and falling. The first lap went by, and Seth wished us luck. The second lap passed, and it was starting to get more difficult. By the third lap, we were really struggling. I had never run more than 2.5 miles in one go, so this was unlike anything I had ever done. Isaac and I were starting to slow down and almost give up, but I convinced us to keep going for at least one more lap.
When we reached the fourth lap, it actually didn’t feel too bad. However, the fifth lap was where it started to hurt. My left leg was beginning to give out, and the trail was getting so muddy that we kept sliding everywhere. Because of the mud, we had to grab onto trees while navigating tight turns in order to stay on the trail. This caused my hand to swell up, but I didn’t stop yet. We kept pushing through until the sixth lap, when I was ready to be done. I didn’t know if I could go on anymore.
But then I remembered something from the day before. During a sermon, the speaker asked us to seek God and ask Him what one aspect of His character He wanted to reveal to us. I heard the word “Strength.” At that moment, I didn’t fully understand what it meant, but on lap six, it hit me. So, I kept going, praying for the Lord’s strength as we moved forward.
In the final lap and a half, my left quad cramped the entire time. However, it was only by the strength of God that we finished.
I can definitely say that God showed me His strength. I also had an amazing time, even though it was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done.
Toby, that is so good! You are such a strong man and we are so proud of you. Continue to dig into the lessons that hike taught you.
Strength is a word that God has spoken over our family many times since you were little. I’m proud of you, Toby! Big lessons that He is strong in our weakness.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.