Zimmerman on Ninja trail

Sandy Zimmerman, Michael Anderson Elementary physical education teacher, is no stranger to challenges, especially when it comes to sports.

Her accolades in athletics include playing basketball at Gonzaga University and being a former national judo champion. Now she seeks one more milestone - American Ninja Warrior.

Zimmerman is training for the eighth season of "American Ninja Warrior" a popular sports entertainment TV show where athletes attempt to complete four stages of obstacle courses, each one increasing in difficulty.

Potential contestants go through several steps before qualifying for the competition. Requirements include being in decent physical shape, filling out a 20-page questionnaire, making a 2-3 minute video and participating in a regional qualifying round. Show producers select 100 applicants from each region to participate in the qualifiers.

"What drew me to the show is that it's fun and inspiring," Zimmerman said. "The athletes are also what drew me to it. The athletes who make it far aren't always the ones you expect. You'll have these big, muscular guys and they don't do well."

Zimmerman has many reasons for trying out for the show. First, she believes she can do it. Second, no mother has made it through one-third of the entire course.

"I want to be able to represent all moms and to show them that you can be a mother, still be fit and have fun," Zimmerman said.

Depending on weather, Zimmerman trains on obstacles in her backyard and downstairs. Training elements in the backyard include a salmon Ladder, a structure with one movable rung that competitors carry with them as they ascend, and one of the classic obstacles on "American Ninja Warrior." She also uses rope climbing and a mini trampoline to jump to the bar on the salmon Ladder.

She runs across medicine balls placed on tires, which mimics the Unstable Bridge. There are the Quintuple Steps, where she leaps off a series of angled platforms.

In the basement, Zimmerman swings across a rope and grabs on to baseballs hanging on chains. This obstacle mimics the show's Cannonball Alley course.

"It's become kind of a family thing, my kids will do a kid version of the workouts and I'll do the 'American Ninja Warrior' version," Zimmerman said.

"It's become a lot of hard work and it's been fun," she added. She spent the entire summer completing the application process. "I put a lot of time and thought into it," Zimmerman said.

Since completing the application, Zimmerman has continued to train, even taking a trip to Boise, Idaho where she not only got to work out on an American Ninja-style course, but also learn more about the selection process.

One of the people she trained with applied for the show last season. "He didn't make it," Zimmerman said and he never heard a word.

Upon returning home Zimmerman not only had an email from producers but also a telephone call where Zimmerman soon learned that she was on the call back list.

"He said, 'You know, we can't call anyone until February. Officially, we'll let you know in February.'"

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected]. Paul Delaney contributed to this story.