Spartan Championships: Age is just a number

If you don't already know me, I am Michelle Schutte. I live in Eureka Montana, work at a local Cooperative and am a 56 year female athlete who competes in Spartan obstacle course races. I appreciate even your time in visiting my story here on Go Fund Me and thank you for considering assisting me in achieving my dreams and goals of competing in Spartan racing. This year (2021) I qualified for two different Championships, the first race is the US Championships in Lake Tahoe on September 25, 2021 for the Beast (a half marathon). If I qualify at Tahoe I will have the opportunity to compete in the World Championships for the Beast in Abu Dhabi on December 4, 2021. The second Championship is the World Trifecta Championship in Sparta, Greece on November 5, 6 & 7, 2021. The World Trifecta Championships consists of three obstacle course races: a 5K( or Sprint) on November 5th, a 10K(or Super) on November 6, and last the half marathon (or Beast) on November 7.

Just a note about me and why I race. My goal is to be the best I can be at all ages of my life. I believe the mind is powerful! What I believe is what I nurture and live. Part of what motivates me and I believe is also part of my purpose in life is to break false perceptions about what a 56 year-old female looks like. I believe fear can hold a person back, making of us a shadow of who we were meant to be. I am driven to not let fear or stigmas define who I am. I don’t know what the future holds or obstacles that are there - I realize there are many reasons (health) that legitimately keep people from doing what I do. I value every moment and opportunity I have been given.

When I started this journey in 2017, I had no idea how much it would test me or even the faintest idea of how far it would take me. Who would have thought a 50 + year old woman from small town Eureka Montana would end up here?

But I did by the grace of God and I seemed to have discovered a small part of my destiny. After returning to race from a knee injury in 2019, Covid hit just a few weeks before my first return race in 2020. It's interesting to me how my passion seems to be such a picture of life, a series of obstacles we all face in life and somehow find the strength to face them head on and overcome. And now I find have an another obstacle to overcome, my own resistance to asking for help fighting my desire to not put myself in a financial crisis.

I have already done all travel arrangements for Tahoe, coming to a total of $2, 857.22 (Race fee of $248.05; Airfare for two $824.80; Rental Car of $351.95; Housing of $1,012.42(that's what happens when you wait too long) and replacement race equipment of $420 (OCR racing shoes, supplements, a new water pack -OCR racing often damages clothing and equipment - and some other miscellaneous items).

I have only purchased the registration for Greece so far, all other expenses listed are based on what I have found online: Total $8,841.81, consisting of: Race fee $828.81; airfare for two $1800; luggage $270; hotel for 4 days in Sparta $2,050; hotel for 4 days in Athens $ $2000; food $800; misc/unkown expenses of $800 and taxi $ 300.

I have also had to estimate the costs that will be paid to Go fund me and included it in the grand total of $12,500.

I appreciate you reading my story, prayers are appreciated when sowing into this dream. Thank you again. I am more than willing to post on facebook all my expenses as I have no desire to misuse anyone's generosity. But most of all, I seek to honor the one I serve, the Lord Jesus.