Final Countdown

Here we gooooo ...

Cincinnati is at the top of the list! We're next!

Well folks this is it - the long awaited day is finally arriving - GORUCK Challenge! I am so excited anxious nervous ... (too many emotions for words!) And I can not wait until tomorrow night!

Last weekend I was able to bust out a weighted thirteen miler. And it was fabulous. Thus I can faithfully draw the conclusion that the odds are in my favor and I will not die during the Challenge.

To help appease my over-planning self, here are some of the last minute preparations I am taking before the big event:

The starting point has been revealed. We are to meet at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse (famous for Cincinnati barbecue ribs) for the 1AM Challenge.

Tonight there is a pre-event Ruckoff (definition: found here) at the Hofbrauhaus in Northern Kentucky. Unfortunately due to work I am missing out in the festivities and have to wait until tomorrow to better get to know my teammates.

my ruck load

The packing list includes the following items (taken directly from the GORUCK site - with my thoughts added in blue:)

• GORUCK Backpack - You have the opportunity to pre-order a GORUCK backpack when you register. If you pre-order a bag, your brand new bag will be waiting for you at the starting point. If you already own a GORUCK bag, feel free to use it for the Challenge, as the bags get better with time and use. If you do not pre-order a bag or bring your own, we will have a variety of GORUCKs for you to borrow for the Challenge, but we cannot guarantee which type of bag you will get to use. (I pre-ordered a GR1 and CAN NOT WAIT to see the freaking thing! Already scheming how I am going to pack up the load tomorrow night!)
• Water - Camelbak bladder or water bottles. Important: In summer months, Camelbaks are ideal, but they tend to freeze during winter Challenges. If you are signed up for a winter Challenge, bring water bottles instead. (Got my water bladder and have run with it. Love that thing.)
• Food - Energy bars and/or gel shots. Our preference is Peanut M&M's. (Please see below for my complete food packing list addendum.)
• Headlamp - Mandatory for all night classes. (check.)
• Lightweight trail running shoes that can get wet and handle varied terrain. (Well they are not trail running shoes but rather old cr*ppy Nikes with little wear left in them...)
• Lightweight pair of socks and clothing that do not retain water. (Planning to wear my go-to Nike shorts, C-Bus marathon Nike DriFit, and some awesome socks my mom gifted to me.)
• Lightweight windbreaker that does not retain water. Note: This is required for any Challenge where temperatures are expected to drop below 50 degrees. This is to prevent hypothermia, and you will not be allowed to participate without one. (Throwing this into my car but hoping I will not need to carry it in my ruck.)
• Gloves, no matter the season, to protect your hands (Hunting for my old LAX gloves when I reach my parents home. In the likely case that these can not be found, I am bringing my disposable pair of gloves from the swag bag at the National race in DC last March.)
• In winter months, a winter hat (It's July ... )
• One small waterproof bag with a change of socks and an extra shirt. (More awesome socks and a long-sleeve Nike plus a sleeveless Under Armour.)
• One form of identification. (Driver's License.)
• $20 for a cab in case you are unable to complete the Challenge. (I honestly do not have $20 cash on me. I will attempt to remember to drive through an ATM but will most likely end up borrowing the spot from my mom.)
• Bricks - If you weigh under 150 lbs, bring 3 bricks. If you weigh over 150 lbs, bring 4. Make sure they are wrapped in something, a t-shirt or whatever, with duct tape covering your new best souvenir. Your back will thank us later. Do not worry about the size of the bricks, the color of the bricks, or the brand of the bricks. Just bring your bricks. (I've got three. And they are super wrapped. They are currently tied and being held together with a yoga strap ... Don't ask but a stroke of genius on my part.)
• Your class is responsible for bringing one 25-pound weight. This can be a dumbbell, but it doesn’t need to be. Get creative, and don't ask us any questions about this. It's your team. (My class has selected to bring a case of beer - hopefully a good flavor aka Bud Light - but I'm not too picky - plus four 1 lb bags of Peanut M&M's. Sounds like a good plan. I can equate our extra weight to a typical grocery store shopping trip for me!)
• A friend. True, the team comes together as one, but you will not regret coming with a battle buddy. (I don't know anyone personally - yet - but some future teammates have already begun doing it up Facebook style. I think I can speak for myself as well as a few others in saying that we are all really excited to meet each other!)

I have been stalking the GORUCK Facebook page and browsing through photos from previous Challenges. It only gets me more obsessed and wishing more and more that tomorrow was here now!

I did some super shopping for sustenance to procure the following stash:

Kroger did not have my favorite GU Chomps but I think I can survive with my selection. Plus I added in a bag of Goldfish crackers and a Vitamin Water.

Okay - so this is really it. I am going to do this thing. Coming back successful.
Or not coming back at all.

Final thought: I am throwing in some band-aids. Just in case.

On another note: I registered for two Fall races today. My schedule has been updated and now definitely includes the Columbus Full and Savannah Full.
I've got some more miles ahead of me ...

Never Forget

Sometimes I think that I should quit running. I think that maybe I don't want to do this anymore. I lose motivation. I stop posting miles. I forget why I am doing it all.
I fall out of love with the sport.

And then I experience a workout like the one I completed Sunday.
13 miles and many hours later ... And I am again reminded to never forget these reasons why I love running so much.

> Getting up and getting going.
> Living life on shuffle.
> Feeling the air bursting into my lungs and hearing my heart pounding.
> Feeling my legs and arms and back burning - and then keep on going.
> Stopping to smell the roses (or the hydrangeas or any other type of flower.)
> Never stop smiling at the sight of a tekel.
> Watching the city light up at night.
> Running home in the dark.
> Chasing the sun to race the sunset.
> Taking a detour and enjoying the change of scenery.
> Enjoying the simple things: like a cool sip of fresh water.
> Knowing that I am strong and carrying the weight.
> Smiling at strangers.
> Watching the fireflies come out and light up the night.
> Taking in nature and all of its beauty: from a bunny to a baby deer.
> Feeling connected to those I love (whether they are miles or continents away.)
> Knowing that even if I stop to walk I will make it home.
> Aching for days after = success

I run because it is what I do. And I do it because it is what I love. 
Never forget.

We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. -Sir Roger Bannister

Making Strides

C90X is still going strong. While I can not boast to have accomplished any spectacular workouts over the past week I have not been completely idle. Every single day I have signed up to get moving and that's what I have done. I am getting up and getting going. One day I had an errand to run in the city and parked my car further away than I would have liked. (Mostly I didn't want to fight the evening rush-hour traffic to scout out a parking spot.) I spent twenty minutes hiking around the city blocks (even if my main intent was to hunt down the perfect bottle of champagne from the local wine shop!) It's those little adjustments that are making the difference. I do not let myself go to bed each night until I have exercised. Keepin' up the hard work.

I also paid the price (again) this weekend in making the fatal mistakes to waltz around in heels. Blisters abound. womp womp. But I like to think that I looked good doing it. "No excuses. Play like a champion."

But I am making strides in the right direction towards accomplishing my goal of completing the GORUCK Challenge! The pre-race days are winding down and as my nerves continue to grow even more and more anxious I am slowly but surely beginning to cross things off of my list. I have actually taken the water bladder out of the box (big step there - I'd better pace myself) yet still need to rinse it out and practice a run while using it.

 And last Sunday I wrapped my bricks! I immediately put them into my Flying Pig backpack and have been wearing it around whenever I home ... further evidence to prove my true dork-ness. Oh well. I own it. Here's the progression I took -
I will be sure to let you all know how they fare for me come Challenge day!

layer #1 : all-over duct tape

layer #2 : covered in bubble wrap

layer #3 : final seal with more duct tape

I am also plotting for a major long run this weekend - attempting to pull a weighted thirteen! Yikes! I've been thinking "Hopefully the weather cooperates" and then I smack myself and think "Silly girl! Rain or shine - you're gonna be running it either way!"

Impending Doom

The GORUCK Challenge is quickly closing in and I am beginning to get more than a little anxious and nervous. While researching the event I came across a number of testimonial posts from previous GORUCK participants. Here are a few sites that I've found helpful and describe what is soon to come:

Ben - Florida
James - Maryland [check out his Parts 1 + 2 : He's done this TWICE!]
Asha - California

There was one post in particular that I found enjoyable to read and extremely helpful: it's written by Mike who completed the Delaware Challenge back in May. The blog entry was great and I have decided to steal the format as my race day approaches and tailor it towards my individual style:

Why did you decide to do the GORUCK Challenge?
I heard about GORUCK while researching the Tough Mudder running series. TM is an event that I would love to complete but unfortunately there are no sites close by until 2012. When I stumbled across the description of GORUCK I was intrigued and the idea stuck in the back of my head. It kept nagging and bugging and growing on my mind. Finally I knew that I couldn't resist the temptation anymore so I gave in and registered. I decided to do GORUCK because I like a challenge. I think that the human body is capable of so much more than we credit. I want to test my physical limits. I feel that if when I complete this then I know I can accomplish anything. That plus pride.

How did you prepare [still preparing] for the GORUCK Challenge?
Well I have been training hard as a runner and fitness fanatic for the past two years. I have run four half and four full marathons. My body and mind have changed and I am a new person from where I was back when I first started on this journey. But GORUCK is going to be a different type of challenge all together so I have altered my training to prepare. I have added a significant increase in weight training to my routine. I have (recently) challenged myself to get up and get moving EVERY SINGLE day - even if that means busting out a quick weight series at 11:20 PM or simply spending 10 minutes focusing on stretching and holding a few yoga positions. I plan to continue training over the next week and a half by adding in additional weighted running series and continuing to push myself. The most important factor, however, I believe has been the mental preparation. And unfortunately that is something that no one else has access to - as it has been 23 years in the making for me. My life and my experiences have shaped me into the person I am today and have prepared me for any challenge on this planet. I truly believe that what I have been through will help to mentally get me through GORUCK.

Over Analyzing vs Preparation: A Fine Line
"Hi. My name is Carrie and I am an Over Analyzer." (crowd responds: "Hi Carrie.") I think that this is truly one of the greatest challenges for me because I am obsessed with the impending (why do I keep using that word - it sounds so scary and foreboding!) GORUCK Challenge. My mind is (almost) constantly consumed by the event. Luckily I have an extraordinarily busy job that I totally love and it keeps my mind occupied for many many hours throughout the day. It is when I leave the office each night that the mental battle begins - Do I workout or not workout? Am I truly tapering or just slacking off? What about the gear I want to bring? Is it right? Is it good enough? Who are the other people I am going to meet? Am I going to be the youngest: the smallest: the weakest? What if I slow the team down? What if I can't keep up? What if I have to quit? (Just to name a few of the thousands of thoughts constantly berating my mind.) I am definitely prepared ... well not quite. But I am getting there. I am registered. I have taken the plunge and secured my place. At this point there is no looking back. I over-analyze. It is what I do. I accept that fact (and the first step is admitting you have a problem.) But my over-thinking nature is what helps to get me prepared. Prepared for the one event for which there is no way to truly prepare.

A Looming Deadline
It's amazing how time flies. I still feel like it was just December when I first discovered the Challenge. Or the later winter months when I first began training with my MiR weighted vest. I can think back to my three most recent races this spring. Remember the days in May when I really began to amp up my training. And then I look at the past few weeks where my dedication has been lacking. Checking the calender and I realize that I will soon be wearing my pack and taking off with my class. It's coming. And there is no stopping it.

Countdown: 3 Days 12 Days (!!!)
I feel like if I blink it's going to be here. And then (hopefully) it will be over before I even realize it. I have been marking my life by GORUCK for the past few months. It's been almost as if I can't even begin to consider what path my life is going to take until the Challenge has been completed. I keep telling my friends that I want to come visit them. I am trying to plan my Fall racing schedule. But I honestly don't want to look too far into the future until I have conquered this next event. Right now my life consists in only two parts: before and after GORUCK. Before is going to be marked with excessive work and stress and anxious nerves. And (if I can stick with it) lots of excellent training. After GORUCK ... who really knows? In the back of my mind thoughts of the Ascent have begun to linger. But how can I truly even begin to think of this until I complete the Cincy Challenge? Don't let me get ahead of myself.

Packing
With my registration I purchased a GR1 for race day. I've got a water bladder (still unopened in the box) and the bricks are sitting on my kitchen counter (I probably should get around to wrapping and practicing with those sometime soon ...) I have not yet decided what I am going to wear. My dad gave me a head lamp last night and it has since been glued to my little cranium (yes I know I am a dork.) I am still debating the snacks to bring and I know this will inevitably end up in a trip to the store with me standing for at least 30+ minutes in the fitness section scrutinizing over PowerBars and gels and ultimately result in me buying lots of pomegranate GU chomps (my drug of choice.) As much as I like to plan and over-analyze I know that it will mostly come down to a last minute decision.

Countdown: 6 Hours [kinda ... but not really there just yet]
As of today, when my Challenge countdown reaches six hours I honestly don't know where I will be. The time is going to read 7PM on Friday July 1. It looks like right now that I will be at work until at least 5:30 PM (note to self: talk to the boss about the possibility of getting out even a few hours early) with a minimum 2 hours drive to Cincinnati. Add in the factor that it the summer's biggest holiday weekend plus my city's major firework celebration takes place that evening and I am anticipating traffic at a standstill with the drive to take MUCH longer than expected. Best case scenario I will be able to roll into my parents' home before 8PM (wishful thinking on my part) eat my last supper and power nap for an hour or two. However I know the reality will probably read something more like a 3.5+ hour drive followed by limited eating due to my lack of appetite from nerves and the never-ending barrage of questions and catching up with my family. I will get in my Prius and drive to a yet-to-be-announced location (obviously using my GPS because despite the fact that I grew up in Cincinnati I rarely wandered outside of my small suburban loop) and get there all a fluster. I will sign the death waiver and then the real fun begins.

What is your biggest fear / demon for the Challenge?
100% physical. Simply that I will not be strong enough to complete it. There are a lot of other (not so) little things weighing on my mind but ultimately I am scared that I will not make it to the end.

What do you feel is your biggest strength for the Challenge?
My spirit. I have been through a lot mentally and emotionally in my relatively short years. When you've gone through all that I have experienced anything can seem possible. I am able to keep a calm head in any situation and reasonably good at putting things into perspective. I am blessed with the ability to be simultaneously extremely detail oriented while looking at the big picture (I am the perfect mix of highly green with the right addition of yellow - for anyone who knows what that means - I love you.)

Does anything about the Rehoboth Beach Cincinnati Challenge specifically make you excited or nervous?
Excited: hometown. Plus this is the Fourth of July weekend. It's the freaking birthday celebration of the world honoring the greatness that is America. Commemorating those brave patriots that risked their lives for our liberty so many years ago. The Green Berets will be leading the event. I can think of no better way to celebrate this amazing nation than by good livin' during the Challenge. Plus I hope we get to see some fireworks. Nervous: hills. hills. hills. And the probability of getting into the Ohio River. I am a swimmer yes but that water is far from sanitary. (Oh well I did survive the murky depths of Logan in the Warrior Dash ... mysterious bumps are still to be found on my body ... but I guess I'm alive.)

The Evolution
[I can't put anything here yet as my class' Evolution has yet to take place]

What got will get you through the tough moments?
Well I can't really answer this one quite yet ... but I already have a few ideas. It will be my memories. Thoughts of my family. (I heard a song driving to work one morning this week and literally got tears of joy in my eyes thinking of my parents. That's true love right there.) Thinking of my friends. Reminders of past races and victories. Obsessions over work (I catch myself thinking and analyzing about it ALL the time. It never really leaves you.) And then I know I will think about me. No this is not selfish. This is the truth. I will think about my past. My victories and my defeats. My prides and my lesser moments (although I do not call them regrets. I have no regrets in life. Only experiences from which we learn.) And perhaps more than anything I will try to focus on two things: my past and my future. When I look back to one year ago I will see a completely different person than who I will be on Challenge day. Last year my Fourth was (while enjoyable and certainly an experience) marked by extreme levels of unhealthy action. Physically mentally and emotionally. Although I did not see it at the time I was on a train speeding down the tracks careening off towards the ultimate life crash. Living dangerously. I am not that person anymore (or so I like to think and hope.) And I look to my future and all that it has to offer. It is these thoughts that I know will get me through the Challenge.

Support
I am sending out pre-thanks - to my amazing family, friends, co-workers, those from my past who have gotten me to where I am today, those in my future I am bound to encounter - and to all those out there up to taking the Challenge. I am very excited to meet you all and share in this once in a lifetime experience.

You’ve got to stop living for the people who’ve hurt you and the things that have happened to you, and you’ve got to start living for yourself. Do the things that make you joyful inside. -Jolie O’Dell

Shout outs: Congratulations to my cousin Tiffany on her graduation from nursing school. We are so proud of you for your hard work, dedication and accomplishments. And Happy Father's Day to Timbo - my hero and the most amazing dad ever. He's my favorite person in the whole entire world. Love you.

C90X - Day 1

I think most people have heard of P90X. It started out as an info-mercial and has become a worldwide sensation. Spend some money to get the DVD's and invest in a few home fitness pieces. Ninety days and countless amounts of sweat (and probably tears) later and the pounds seem to have melted off revealing a hard bodied babe. Or so the system claims.

My best friend started P90X yesterday. Again. For the fourth time. That's the thing about the system. Everybody seems more than enthusiastic to start but very few ever actually finish it. Ninety days is a LONG time. I counted if off on my calendar and that puts us at September 11. It seems so far away. Then I got to thinking ... could I ever do a physical fitness challenge for 90 days?

I didn't go out and buy the system. There are plenty of (probably bootlegged) copies of the disks circulating around our office and I am sure that I could find a web-site where I could watch them. But I have never really been one to conform to the system. I get bored very easily. I am not sure I could last for that long only working with a few tapes. Now I will admit that I do not know too terribly much about it  - and I am certainly not trying to knock the system. It seems great and I am sure it works for a lot of people. But not for this girl.

So I am dedicating myself to C90X (the Carrie version of P90X.) I am challenging myself to 90 days of work towards continued physical fitness. This means thinking conscientiously about my food choices (as I reflect back on my day now it seems that I have actually done okay!) and working on some form of exercise each day. Part of the novelty of P90X is that there are multiple tapes that allow you to shake up the workout you do each day. I intend to do something similar based on how my mind and body feel each day. My C90X system will also allow for me to fit in workouts around my busy schedule. I do not need to spend 45-60 minutes in front of the TV each day with a tape. There are some days when all I can squeeze in is 15 minutes of lifting - but other days I need to dedicate many hours to my long distance runs. My system will also easily adjust as my training for upcoming events begins to escalate and decline as I taper, race and recover.

The past few days have given us absolutely gorgeous weather for which I have been so very thankful. I've also slacked off big time. But with today being the first day of my new challenge I am spending time lifting and stretching to get my body used to moving again. We'll see what tomorrow brings as I step up to face the day. I am also a person who finds big motivation in numbers. So I plan on putting a chart on my refrigerator (nerd alert) and crossing it off day by day as I work towards my goal.

So I am actually going to give this a shot. Follow along to see how far I actually make it. (And in case you were wondering I could only stick to morning workouts for two solid weeks before skipping out on that bandwagon. oops.)

Weighty Issues

[warning: minor rant ahead - and only semi running related]

I had a great weekend. I finished up a crazy work week with double half days on Thursday and Friday and spent some really fun time hanging with friends. Last night however I was faced with an encounter that really put me off.

I was out with a few of my friends and an acquaintance from college joined the group to chat. After seeing me the person came over and opens our conversation with the following: "You look like a twig. You should eat something." Well ... hello to you too. Not "How are you?" or "How are things and work and life?" or even "You look great." No. A deprecating comment regarding my weight. From someone who knows little to nothing about my current situation or state of affairs. I tried to follow up with "Oh it's because I run so much." (Because I DO! Anyone who actually knows anything about my lifestyle choices would understand this fact.) And then the discussion goes on and I am further told that I was never fat in college. The person thinks that I looked good back then and it was obviously apparent that I had lost a considerable amount of weight.

I wanted to SCREAM at this person: "You don't know me! I have GAINED 14 pounds since the last time I saw you! You know nothing about me and have NO right to judge me or my body!" But no - I kept it polite and classy and simply changed the topic of conversation.

[now that I've gotten that out of my system ...] I once read the statement that skinny people run faster. Yes, while this is true, I believe that there are two important facts that need to be clarified: (1) Just because skinny people run faster it doesn't mean that non-skinny people can't run fast. (2) Skinny people may be quick, but a truly good runner also requires serious muscles.

I will admit that there was a time (not too terribly long ago I might add) when I was underweight. I had been training for months and had some major races one right after the other. I was struggling with other personal issues totally unrelated to my running and was basically a hot mess in every sense of the word. My body began to deteriorate as a result and my weight dropped significantly. Working in the fashion industry can also put added attention on your body and so almost no one complains when you drop a size or two. But after some really hard months I was able to recognize that my body and my weight were becoming an issue. I had to take a life "time out" and with the support of some REALLY amazing people I put myself back onto the right path. It wasn't easy and took me a long time to get back to the place where I am today - a place where I am very happy and stable in all aspects of my life.

And I think what I found more off-setting than anything else regarding our "conversation" is the fact that this person does not know me or my story. They don't know that I run and weight train like crazy: that I am participating in a fantastic physical fitness challenge in just a few weeks: that I have to eat extra food every day to keep my weight going UP - in short this person does not know me. But they thought that because we sat next to each other a few times in college that they knew enough of me to make a snide comment about my weight. Rude.

When you look at a person you need to look at more than their weight. Those numbers on the scale are nothing more than numbers - they mean NOTHING without the person behind them. Do not make snap judgements about someone because of how their body appears. And I understand that this person was not deliberately trying to be mean or hurt me - but words can wound and you never know how something you say can be taken differently by the listener. Choose your words wisely . Only pass on the good - there is already enough hatred in this world without more negativity being spread.

#iammorethanjustanumber

Bricks Secured

My bricks have been purchased for the GORUCK Challenge.

 

 

best money ever spent ???

And now to get back to training ...
Wish it Dream it Do it - No excuses.

Minor Freakouts

Life is full of little (and big) surprises. Everyone reacts to them differently. Today I was faced with a few surprises. Here's how I reacted.

(1a) I received the following e-mail on my Blackberry this afternoon:

 

In case you can't read the tiny font essentially the message is that my GORUCK Challenge has been canceled and my class will now be merging with the 1 AM class. Minor freakout. I was not planning to get to Cincinnati that early. I work all day on Friday and then have a few hours to drive (on a holiday weekend) and will also need to be physically rested and ready to run for many hours and many miles. After the initial panic hit and I had gotten all of the negativity and worst case scenarios out of my head, I calmed down and realized that it will all work out. I want this really badly and if you want it enough you can make it happen. And I will. My registration is not being withdrawn. 

As the wise Tim Gunn says "Make it work."

[In need of some inspiration? View to clip below.]

 

(1b) I have not worked out in a very long time. This is BAD. I am supposed to be training (and training HARD) for the physical fitness challenge of a lifetime which is QUICKLY approaching. But no. I am slacking. And still sore from Warrior Dash. And continuing to find more scrapes bumps and bruises daily. 

There's always tomorrow? (Famous last words.)

(2) Today I found out that I will be moving roles and transitioning to a new team at work - an opportunity for which I am very excited! I will be working with the same types of garments but will be going from the female side and now working with male merchandise. I am looking forward to meeting and operating with a new team (but will be missing my current co-workers dearly - they are all awesomely amazing!)

(3) Clearing my calendar for all of Summer 2013 for the Chicago wedding of the year! Two of my best friends will be getting married and I promise I will be there! (But Bethie and Jason please let me know - preferably sometime in the next two years - if you are able to narrow it down to a specific date instead of an entire season. Thanks.) And best of luck as these two begin their big move and transition from DC to Seattle! (I do not envy your week-long car ride with a pug.)

gorgeous ring !!!

(4) My father is still not doing well and is struggling to recover from his back injury. Please keep him in your thoughts. Any and all prayers are greatly appreciated. It is hard to see someone you love so much hurting so badly.

(5) [delayed ... but still a surprise anyway] My baby brother was admitted into Business School! Way to go CJ! He worked super hard on his admissions entrance and it paid off! Now on to the tasks of choosing a major and scheduling classes ... good luck!

siblings steering the cruise ship

(6) Last but not least - and not too much of a surprise or reason to freak out - sleep does wonders. Let me say that again. Sleep is awesome. I have been feeling out of sorts physically for a few days now and last night I came home from work and headed straight to my bed. Many many hours later and I am feeling super refreshed and back to my normal self. Just sleep on it. (Seriously.)

SURPRISE !!!

Warrior Dash

I am a Warrior !!! Today I completed Ohio's Warrior Dash with thousands of other crazies and loved every minute of it !!!

finisher's medal and beer token - due to the long drive i did not imbibe

post-race

My weekend started off quietly with time relaxing and attacking my apartment to get it cleaner than it has ever been (great success.) This was followed by some quality time at my complex's tiny pool with only 100+ of my closest friends (place was absolute crazy-town party scene. I was lucky to get a lounge chair only so I could wear SPF 50 and read Town and Country while others fried their skin and people-watched. Classic Saturday morning.) And then the real fun started when Barbie aka my mother arrived to visit for the night. She even made the trek despite the fact that my father is stuck on his sick bed at home having thrown out his back last week (get better soon!) Mother and daughter spent time eating a delicious dinner, shopping, getting caught in a torrential downpour rainstorm / the Mid West's version of a hurricane, having super yummy ice cream and trip planning (New York City and the Caribbean await these gals!) Today we awoke early to grab breakfast at the bagel shop and began the drive to historical [sarcasm] Logan Ohio.

my homemade race shirt

love to charlie s.

Upon reaching the site we were unsure want to think. The scene was full of anxious nerves and excitement - those who has just finished were jubilant and proud of their accomplishment - and the whole scene reeked of muddy sweat. It was glorious. And some crazy costumes to boot. We even got to ride on a real school bus. It doesn't get any better folks. We bused it over from the parking lot to the official race course, sneaked our contraband cooler past security and checked in. I bibbed-up and chipped-it-on and headed to the starting line.

still clean

pre-race

 We had a little bit of time before my heat started to watch others already tackling the course. The spectator viewing area gave great visibility to two of the obstacles and I began to feel a little bit daunted.

start line

cargo net climb

balance beam

my photographer - Barbie - strike a pose

As my start time approached I headed to the line and waited with hundreds of others. While in the herd I met another lone runner - Meredith - and we chatted about past races and the unexpectedness of what was to come.

with a new friend post-run

After a quick countdown, celebrated with huge bursts of flames shooting from the top of the starting banner, the runners were off. Well ... not runners exactly.

I was excited for this race because I thought it would be an easy 5K of running with some tough obstacles interspersed. No. Wrong. The obstacles were in fact tough. But the running was even tougher. Right from the get-go it was clear that there would be very little (if any) actually running going on during the race. First of all there were hills. Oh the hills. They were big and awful. Living in a flat city killed me during this one. And secondly you had ZERO traction because it was all trail running on nothing but mud. (See above for description of the downpour conditions we endured for hours the previous day.) Regardless of these facts - the race was was in fact totally AWESOME!

climbing down the cargo nets - i'm on the far right

moving to the next obstacle

on the balance beam - second from the left

After kicking my butt up and down woody trails and hills for quite some time we got to encounter some really cool and challenging obstacles. The race course I posted previously was a lie. The web-site lied. Some of those obstacles appeared on the course. Others did not. Plus there were others present that were not previously mentioned online. It was okay. I did not protest. I just did it anyway. Here's what I remember:

Running through hanging swinging tires - immersing in a lake deeper than I am tall and climbing over floating logs - climbing over and through a junkyard of cars while at the same time traversing tires covering the ground - crawling under and through a very long pitch black tunnel (plenty of scratches to prove my warrior-ness) - climbing up and over and back down a huge (20 foot ?) cargo net - balance beam running - dashing upstream in waist deep waters (of very questionable cleanliness - the guy in front of me asked if I had ever wanted to catch dysentery ... ) - going over and under a spider's web net of rope - navigating through raised cargo nets (here I developed the genius idea to simply roll across the nets which worked really well - others were soon following my lead!) - climbing up and down a flat wall that was easily 20+ feet tall - jumping over two rows of open flame fires - crawling through wet mud and sand under barbed wire in a race to the finish! (and that's just what I can remember ... )

When I finished I was EXHAUSTED and above all else ... MUDDY !!! They say a picture is worth a thousand words so ...

Let's just say that even hours later and post-multiple showers I am still finding mud in places in which it should never be.

I would recommend the Warrior Dash to others. Know that there is really no way to train for this race. I suggest being confident in your athletic abilities (there were a few competitors I worried about today but I am sure they finished.) Ensure that you are steady on your feet (I witnessed at least one man bite it and snap his ankle: scary stuff.) And you can't be afraid to get a little muddy. Okay - A LOT muddy. But it was super fun and I would definitely do it again!

official warrior helmet : VICTORY !!!

Congratulations to my friends Bethie and Jason who got ENGAGED today !!! 

Love you both and so excited for your happy future together !!!

Let's Get Muddy

Race day approaches ... Warrior Dash !!!

From the official website: "Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire leaping, extreme run from hell. This fierce running series is held on the most challenging and rugged terrain across the globe. Warriors conquer extreme obstacles, push their limits and celebrate with kick-ass music, beer and warrior helmets."

I heard about this race last December and knew that it was a MUST to add to my list. I tried to recruit a few others to run with me ... but alas I will be trekking this one alone come Sunday. Well ... alone with a few hundred of my closest friends.

The Warrior Dash is 3.1 miles interrupted periodically along the route with tons of challenging and fun obstacles. Take a look at the SOLD OUT Ohio course:

The obstacles planned for the course include: Wicked Windstorm, Knee High H*ll, Junkyard Jam, Deadweight Drifter, Tunnels of Terror, H*ll's Hill, Walk the Plank, Warrior Wall, Hay Fever, Rio Run, Cliff Hanger, Cargo Climb, Warrior Roast and Muddy Mayhem.

There are over 500+ participants with waves starting every half hour on both Saturday and Sunday. While I couldn't get any of my buddies to race, plenty of my co-workers and other acquaintances will be out on the track.

I am looking forward to a great weekend - relaxing by the pool on Saturday, spending time with my mother in the evening and racing in the world's muddiest challenge on Sunday! I know that I will survive but hope I won't hurt too badly ...

Last weekend I went super STRONG on all of my workouts but have been severely SEVERELY slacking ALL week. I've been tired and it was near impossible to drag myself out of bed in the mornings. This could be due to the fact that we are smack in the middle of weeks of fashion's (2nd) busiest time of the year. Fall is coming soon for all you shoppers ... and we're on the other end working extra hard ahead of time to make sure next season's styles look great for everyone to wear! I wish I could say that the end is in sight and a lull will be coming soon ... but in the retail world X-MAS is just around the corner!

Happy weekend-ing. Get muddy!