A Chatham mom with a passion for inspiring others is safely back at home after taking part in an international obstacle course racing competition overseas.
Jennifer Tape-Samson competed in four different events at the Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Championships in England over the weekend and returned with plenty of bruises and medals to show for it.
Over a period of just three days, Tape-Samson made her way through, over, under, and around more than 100 obstacles scattered throughout a total distance of over 20 kilometres. During those challenges, her physical and mental toughness was tested to its limits, especially as she battled through the everyday pain she experiences because of fibromyalgia.
"At one point, I was swinging from an obstacle and I fell like six feet onto my back and just laid there for a few minutes and almost got pulled from the course," said Tape-Samson. "I was like, 'Nope, nope' and I just kept running... it was pretty intense."
One of the courses that Tape-Samson completed featured 100 obstacles over a stretch of 15km -- she successfully completed 85 of them and said the support she received afterwards was overwhelming.
"After the big course I posted a picture on Facebook of my body just covered in bruises and people were like, 'Those are battle scars, those are battle wounds,'" said Tape-Samson. "I thought, 'Yeah, I'm a warrior -- I'm a fibro-warrior.'"
Tape-Samson said that sense of fulfillment makes the challenge worth it.
"The accomplishment that I feel and how proud I can feel that I did this even though I have the barriers -- that's the world to me," said Tape-Samson. "I hurt sitting on the couch at home, watching TV and eating potato chips, so why not challenge myself to my full potential? That really why I do it."
Her personal goals aside, another driver for Tape-Samson is the feedback she's receiving from people who are being inspired by her hard work and the results.
"The amount of people that are motivated and moving because I've shared my story, that is my reward... I'm still poor, I'm still working," said Tape-Samson with a smile. "I'm not getting anything out of this except that my heart is full."
While the OCR competition in England may mark the pinnacle of Tape-Samson's journey so far, this is by no means the end of the road for her. She plans to continue competing in obstacle course races and posting her results. A somewhat rough experience on her flight back has her re-considering another trip overseas in the near future, though.
"That was pretty far, and the jetlag, and sitting on a plane... I bruised my back and my tailbone when I fell and there was a guy kicking [my seat] for eight hours on the way back in the plane, so I don't know," said Tape-Samson. "But I think I'm going to keep racing and try to keep inspiring people... if I can help just one person get moving, I think it's all worth it."
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