Highlights From My 14 in 2014 Race Challenge

Last year I accepted the challenge of running 14 races in 2014 and I’ve been chronicling each race here on the blog.  Feel free to go back and check them all out, HERE!  I’ve gotta say, I’m really proud for achieving this goal, but I’m kinda glad it’s over.  I really enjoy running races, but ensuring I had 14 throughout the year was tough at times.  I was literally scheduling my life around races, not that I minded that too much (wink wink)!  We got to travel a bit for races too, which I loved, except when Jason forgot to pack our bag with my race sneakers for the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon.  Yea, that wasn’t too fun.  Thankfully, it all worked and I ran the race in new shoes thank to my sister!  We also traveled to Temecula, CA for what should have been my Spartan Trifecta weekend.  I’d ran the Spartan Super in April here in Vegas and was all set to run the Spartan Beast & Sprint SoCal but the weather had other plans.  There was a major heat wave and although I did finish the Beast with my girl, NinjaEve, the Sprint was canceled the following day.  I really enjoyed running the Spartan Beast, even though it was a pretty brutal course, and I’m looking forward to going back and trying for my trifecta again next weekend! AROO!!!!

A few other favorite races were the Bubble Run 5K because I got to run it with my 5 year old daughter and that was just a blast!  I also had fun running the Komen Race for the Cure 5K with my sister.  Of course, I can’t forget Tough Mudder and facing my fear of heights.  Different than Spartan in so many ways, Tough Mudder has a way of changing me for the better each time I run it.  I can’t wait to see what Tough Mudder X3 has in store for me in 2015. 

Running 14 races in 2014 ranging from fun 5Ks to a half marathon and physically grueling OCRs, taught me that I am capable of so much more I give myself credit for.  We are all capable of so much more. Our bodies are strong and can get us through anything, it’s our minds we have to convince otherwise.  I see that now.  But, most importantly, this year has shown me how much support I have from my family and friends.  I could not ask for better people in my life and I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it.  I just know I couldn’t get along without them.  I couldn’t get along without friends willing to french braid my hair at 10pm so I don’t have frizzy hair for a race, for a sister who is willing to drive over 3 hours to watch the kiddos while we run a half marathon, for friends & parents who don’t complain when I ask them to watch my kiddos so I can run and train for races, for racing OCR peeps who run & encourage me even though I’m slower than they are!  Thank you! 

Yes, 2014 has shown me so much love and support.  It’s made me appreciate those in my life so much and I hope to always be there for them like they are for me.  I’m ready to take on 2015 running some fun and challenging races.  I know I won’t ever be alone.  This journey is not mine alone, it’s a journey I started for myself, but has become so much more than that.  It is about finding inspiration where there was none before, it’s about motivating not just myself but those I love.  No, I won’t be running 15 in 2015, but every race I run this year I will run with purpose.  I will give it my best because it’s the least I can do for everyone who is helping me get to where I am going.  Where that is exactly, I’m not sure, but wherever this journey takes me has got to be way better than where I was before.  It’s already been a fun ride so far! 

Where will 2015 take you?

 

2015 The Year for Finding Balance

I’ve been on this “fitness journey” for almost 3 years now.  Like all these stories go, I was tired of being overweight and sluggish.  I’m not saying my life was terrible and depressing, far from it!  I was enjoying life, with maybe a little too much indulgence 😉  One day it just clicked.  I needed to do something about my weight.  So, in February of 2012, I joined a gym.  One of the scariest things I’ve ever done is walk into a Body Pump class alone.  But, as embarrassed and  unprepared as I was, I kept going.  I also started running and the weight started to come off.  Slowly.  Since Feb. 2012 and into the first part of 2013, it was all about the weight loss. It took 15 months or so, but I lost 30 + lbs. and I was feeling great!  I was sure I would meet my goal to lose 50 lbs by the end of 2013.  Well, it didn’t happen.  I ran my 1st Tough Mudder in April of 2013 and I became hooked on obstacle course racing and running.  I ran 6 races in 2013 and I couldn’t get enough!  I blogged about 2013 being  the year of the races.  Never in a million years would I have said that crawling through mud and barbed wire, climbing over 6 ft walls, and running 13.1 miles would be my idea of fun.  My friends didn’t recognize me.  I was a changed person.  Changed for the better.  I was training hard and eating good, maybe too good! Hence, I didn’t lose the weight.  I gained some, actually.  My trainer says it’s muscle, I’m pretending I believe her 😉

Well, here came 2014 and I stumbled on a challenge to run 14 races in 2014.  I was so on that.  I’m running my 14th race today, but more on that later.  All of this year I’ve been focused even more on running and training and getting stronger.  I ran another half marathon, I did 2 Spartan races, 1 Tough Mudder, some trail races, and fun 5Ks.  It’s been a very active year, but again, my weight has not changed.  I’ll admit, it’s even gone up.  I’m not happy about that.  Sure, I feel stronger, but a part of me still knows that I’ve been totally slacking lately when it comes to making good food choices.  I’ve let myself become overindulgent again, allowing way more “cheat meals” than necessary.  I’ve tried to fool myself into believing that I’m “maintaining” but the truth is, I feel myself going down a path I don’t want to go down again.  So, after thinking a lot about my fitness goals for 2015, I’ve decided to call this “The Year of Balance”.  I want to focus on eating healthy again.  I want this extra weight to come down.  I no longer have a magic number that I want to reach on my scale (we broke up) or a must-have pant size.  No, I am no longer going to allow myself to be hung up on a number. I know what I want my body to look like and that’s the goal I’m setting.  Of course, I’m still going to be running in races and obstacle courses, they keep me focused and give me something to work towards.  Plus, it’s fun 🙂 I just won’t be using my races and training as free passes anymore.  No more, “It’s OK to eat this or that, I’m running 6 miles tomorrow.” Or “I’m carbing up!” OR “Good thing I work out” as I stuff the doritos in my mouth! Yeah, it’s time to be accountable for my eating habits and my results.  It’s time to for balance. 

Of course, I’ll be sharing lots more on goals and reaching this balance in the next few posts and throughout the year in my monthly goals blog posts. I will also be sharing my racing schedule for 2015 soon.  Now, I’d love to hear about your goals for 2015 and how you intend on reaching them! 

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How to Encourage Kids to Eat Healthy & Be Active

OOPS, so I haven’t blogged all week.  I feel bad about it.  I really enjoy blogging and it helps keep me sane.  But sometimes, life gets crazy and there aren’t enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done and work, laundry, dishes, all these things tend to pile up on you…BUT, that’s for another blog post because I finally did carve out some time this morning to share a bit of my family life with you.  
Most of you know, I’m a mom of two kiddos!  I blog about them a ton, especially when it comes to doing fun stuff together and going on family vacations and adventures!  Today, though I want to talk about how important it is to lead by example and how to encourage kids to eat healthy and be active.  When I started this weight loss journey and began exercising regularly I did it for me.  I mean, yeah, I wanted to be able to run around with my kiddos and not be out of breathe, I wanted to be a good example to them about eating healthy and keeping active.  But guess what?  These things don’t happen by osmosis.  Kids don’t just become interested in eating kale chips because you are.  They won’t trade video games for jumping jacks because you tell them they should be more active.  Nope.  You have to engage children.  You need to get out there and do these things with them.  They not only need to see you go for a run, they need you to invite them to join you.  It took me a little bit to realize that while I was enjoying the benefits of a healthier, more active lifestyle, my kiddos weren’t as involved as I wanted them to be.  So, I made a conscious decision to change that!  And for the past year or so, we’ve been making changes for the kiddos too!  

Here are a few things we do & you can use to help you and your family eat healthier and be more active:

   Making easy  Lexi's Clean Kitchen  no-bake nut-free Powerbites! Check out the  recipe  :) Kids love these!
Making easy Lexi’s Clean Kitchen no-bake nut-free Powerbites! Check out the recipe  🙂 Kids love these!
  • Cook together!  Having my kiddos help me cook dinner or a healthy snack helps a ton when trying new things.  It doesn’t mean they’ll love it, but they will at least try it because they helped make it.  And, even if they don’t like a certain dish or vegetable, it’s still a great way to spend time together and talk about the benefits of healthy foods verses junk food.
  •  Make Exercise Fun!  Kids are kids.  You can’t pop in a workout DVD and expect them to love the burn!  You gotta make it fun for them and for us, that means taking it outside. Whether we’re going on a family hike, a bike ride with daddy, or a 1 mile run I like to let them know we’re not just having fun but also exercising.  We’ll do fun little “boot camps” or challenges at the park.  Jason & Diego will play football or basketball.  The important thing is to stay active! 

  • Be Sneaky!  Yup, I am not above tricking my kiddos into eating healthy.  I mostly do this by adding spinach & chia seeds to all our smoothies and making fresh juices with both fruits & veggies!  Smoothies are usually a few spoonfuls of greek yogurt, a banana, milk, berries, a bunch of spinach, and a tablespoon of chia seeds.  One of Elysse’s favorite juices is made with 5 carrots – 1 cucumber – 4 celery – 2 big handful of grapes!  It’s fun to experiment and try new combinations and of course, have the kids help 😉   
  • Share your Passions!  I love to sign up for races and my favorite are obstacle races and lots of times my hubby runs along with me.  It’s fun to take the kids to watch us run and cheer us on.  By race day, they are super excited because they saw how much we trained for that day.  They see us put in the work and then see the results of our hard work.   Nothing like your kid see you succeed and be proud of you! 
  • Get them Involved!  Not only do we sometimes take the kids along to see us race, we also sign them up for their own races!  Of course, there is nothing competitive in these races, it’s just a ton of fun for them and that’s what we want.  There are lots of races that have fun 1 mile family runs or are kid/stroller/walker friendly.  We want our kids to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle now and as adults!  

How do you encourage your kids to eat healthy & be active?  Feel free to share your tips too! 

5 Tips for Running in the Morning | Motivational Monday

I am not a morning person.  I’ve ignored my 6am alarm more times than I care to admit.  I’m not a night owl either.  I can rock 10am like it’s nobody’s business, though!  I have a flexible schedule and can get away with mid-day workouts at the gym and when the weather is just right, I can go for a mid-morning or early afternoon run.  Unfortunately, even with a flexible schedule, sometimes it’s just best to get your workout done and over with first thing in the morning, then you can focus on the rest of your day without interruption for a mid-day sweat fest.  An early morning run also guarantees it gets done.  I’ve had plenty of days when I had every intention of working out or going for a run mid-morning, but then life happens and my workout doesn’t.  

Take today for example, I ignored the 6am alarm clock.  I told myself I’d go run at the indoor track at the gym this afternoon, but then my 9 year old woke up sick and didn’t go to school.  Now, I’m left trying to figure out when I’ll get to run today and it most likely won’t be the 5 miles I was planning.  How I wish I’d just sucked it up and gone for my run this morning.  I know I would have felt great afterwards.  And that’s just it, while I’m fighting with myself to get out of bed, I need to remember how good it feels when it’s done!  I’m determined to make early morning runs part of my routine, especially since I’m considering running the Hoover Dam Half Marathon in December!  So, I’ve come up with a plan to help me and those of you who also struggle getting out of bed in the mornings to prepare for early morning runs.

  1. Set out your clothes & gear the night before.  We’ve all heard this before, but I think it really does help.  Not only does it save you time in the morning, but by going through the motions of setting it all up beforehand you are making a commitment to yourself that you will get up!  
  2. Go to bed early.  Here’s another given.  If you want to wake up early, you have to go to bed earlier than usual.  Plan an earlier bed time and make it happen.  
  3. Visualization.  Visualizing yourself running your route is a good way to keep motivated.  It especially helps to visualize the end of the run and how you feel when it’s done.  
  4. Make Plans.  Whether you make plans to run with a friend or a running group, having that accountability will always get me out of bed!  
  5. Suck it up buttercup!   No whining, no complaining, just get up and go for it.  Because, when it’s done, you’ll feel amazing!  

Do you have any tips or tricks for getting your morning runs done?  Feel free to share them in the comments below!  Thanks 🙂

Fitness Friday | Spartan Trifecta

The day is finally here!  We are heading out for Temecula, CA this morning and tomorrow I will be running the Spartan Beast and Sunday, the Spartan Sprint.  Add in the Spartan Super I completed in April and I’ll have myself a Spartan Trifecta!  Woohoo!!

That is of course, if I survive this weekend.  I love that feeling after a race, you know the one where you feel amazing and awesome!  Your body is sore and bruised but you still manage to walk a little taller.  You’re on a major high from completing something completely terrifying.  It’s such a feeling of accomplishment when you cross that finish line.  Not too many things in life compare.  

But, that feeling before a race….the self doubt, the anxiety, the nervousness!  The feelings of maybe I could have done more, maybe I shouldn’t have had that ice cream a few weeks ago.  Maybe I should have ran more during my training.  Maybe, maybe, maybe.  Then come the what ifs.  What if I cramp up during the race? What if I hurt myself?  What if I don’t finish? Well, it’s just enough to drive a girl crazy (and quite possibly her husband too!) Ahhh!! Yup, these thoughts are all running through my head right now.  

Friends ask me if I’m ready and I just shrug, give a weak smile and say, “We’ll see!”  Because, well, the truth is, we’ll see!  I’ve trained hard.  I’ve given it my all.  I’ve been to tons of boot camps, practice obstacle races, elevation trainings  at Camp Rhino.  I’ve sacrificed sleeping in on the weekends.  I’ve sacrificed evenings with my family.  I’ve sacrificed time with friends.  I’ve passed on dessert I couldn’t tell you how many times.  I’ve been so sore that it’s been difficult going up the stairs.  I’ve gotten bruised and scraped.  All for what?  For a medal.  For bragging rights.  For that feeling after a race.  For me.  For my kiddos who believe in me.  For everyone who supports me.  I do it because it scares me.  I do it because it pushes me to try harder.  I do it because I can.  Because I never dreamed I could.  

Spartan Up!  – Aroo

I am Enough | Dealing with Self Doubt

Some days I walk into the gym and feeling like a total badass.  I feel amazing, like I’m in my happy place.  I walk in feeling Comfortable and confident that I belong there.  I’m working hard and this place, this gym, is helping me reach my goals.  And then.  And then, there are days where I walk in feeling like its the first day of freshman year in high school and I can’t find homeroom and I don’t know how to open my locker.  I look around me and see only young girls with flat abs, hair & makeup done, and of course wearing a matching Lululemon outfit! I look down at my shorts and top that do not match, I can feel my hair already starting to frizz, and  well, let’s just say there are no abs of steel here!  I’d love to say that I shake off those feelings and go on with my workout and kill it, but I’d be lying.  The truth is, those feelings of anxiety, self doubt, and pity linger on during my workout and beyond.  I begin to question everything I’m doing.  Am I working out enough?  Should I change my diet?  Why am I not seeing results fast enough?  Should I lift more?  Should I add more cardio?  And on and on and on.  If it’s really bad, I’ll even compare my progress with others.  I know this is ridiculous, but when you’re feeling down, it’s hard to think logically.   

What makes me snap out of it?  How do I get back to feeling like myself again?  It’s tough, that’s for sure.  It’s hard to just say “enough!” and move on, but that’s what it takes.  I just have to say, “Enough of this nonsense, I am enough” and believe it.  The believing, that’s the hard part.  Believe I’m good enough, believing I’m working hard enough, believing in the process.  Yes, it’s tough, but I’m tougher.  And so are you!  The next time you start feeling down on yourself or worrying that you aren’t doing enough, just remember where you started.  I think back at the habits I had before and compare it to the habits I have now.  Sure, I have my days where I don’t feel like a rock star, days I’d rather lay in bed and not workout, days I wish I could eat the whole pan of brownies, but they’re only days.  They aren’t my life.  Moments of weakness don’t define who I am.  They don’t make me turn back to who I was before.  A moment of weakness are just that, a moment,   a very brief period of time.  We all have our “moments”, but it’s important to keep them brief because we can’t let a bad moment change the progress we’re making.  

So, the next time I walk into the gym and see the 20-somthing girl with booty shorts and crop top walking confidently around the gym, I take a deep breathe (yea, I’m sucking it in) and think of how my body has given me 2 healthy beautiful children.  I think about how my body has carried me through 30-something years of life.  I think of how my body can take so much more than I thought it could.  I think about everything I’ve accomplished so far and I feel proud of who I am.  And then, I hold my head up high and I exhale.  I am enough.  

Have you ever felt this way? How do you deal with feelings of self doubt?  

A Couple that Runs Together, Stays Together

I am so proud of Jason for running his first half marathon (Bryce Canyon Half Marathon) with me earlier this month.  He trained hard and it totally paid off.  He finished strong and more importantly we finished together.  It was pretty amazing.  

Our 18 year wedding anniversary is coming up and it got me thinking about how we do so many things together and enjoy lots of the same things too and I think this makes for a happy marriage, it really does! 

When I started this “fitness journey” Jason was so supportive and understood that in order for it to work it had to be a lifestyle change.  He knew that eating healthy and exercising wasn’t just about me, but about the whole family.  He not only stood by me, he joined me.  We’ve been having so much fun running races and participating in obstacle course races together.  Not only is it better for our health, it’s been better for our marriage and our family life.  Having a spouse support you in following your dreams and cheering you on is so important!

Running is such a metaphor for marriage.  It’s about staying beside each other even if you know you can go faster, it’s knowing when to take the lead or slow down a bit.  Jason’s helped me up dozens of walls and obstacles, he’s literally carried me on his back, he’s encouraged me to not give up.  Jason has been to every race of mine either, cheering me on or running besides me.  No matter what life throws our way, I know we’ll be able to deal with it.  Together.  Our marriage is one big fun crazy adventure and I love it more and more each year.  

What are some things you and your spouse do together to keep your marriage strong?  

Being Grateful for Friends and Family

We head off to Bryce Canyon tomorrow and, like I mentioned in my previous post, I’m really excited and hoping my knee doesn’t give me too much trouble on Saturday!  All my races, thus far, have been local and I’m looking forward to a bit of a change in scenery and for cooler weather.  Just really hoping it doesn’t rain on us 😉 

This past Sunday, I had my last long run of 12 miles and I’ll admit it was a challenge.  The sun was starting to burn layers off my skin & my knees were aching, but I finished.  I didn’t give up, although I did consider it! Towards the end of the run, I reflected on all the support I’ve had throughout this journey and began to think of how lucky I am to have people who really care about me in my life.  Especially, my family!  Yes, I started crying on my run! Please tell me this has happened to you before or I’ll be super embarrassed…Yes, you have too?!? Ok, on with my post!  

I am beyond grateful and appreciative to my husband for making my favorite post-run breakfast countless times.  In case you’re wondering, it’s sweet potato & bacon hash with eggs over medium and avocado!  I’m grateful that he’s joining me on this adventure and running races with me!  He’s never once complained about me going to the gym or when I go out for a run and he stays with the kiddos!  He’s always encouraging me and never doubts I can achieve my crazy goals, even when I do!  I love that about him.  

I am grateful for my kiddos for embracing this active and healthy lifestyle.  They love talking about my races and going on runs with me.  I love that they are involved and get excited about running their own races.  I’ve never felt guilty about running or going to the gym because I know they appreciate it and it’s showing them that exercise is important and beneficial in our lives and that it can be fun!

I am grateful for my friends who have stuck with me in this crazy adventure!  My friends who’ve come to watch me run or even better that have come out and ran some races with me!  Thanks for trudging through the mud, running through bubbles, and jumping off planks with me! Woohoo!! My friends who have gladly watched my kiddos so Jason and I could run some trails or get some training at Camp Rhino!  To my friends who listen to me talk about Paleo and upcoming races: Thanks for pretending not to be too bored with me 😉 

I am grateful for my parents who also support  me without end.  Without their support (read: they watch my kids most of the time) I wouldn’t be able to do so much of what I do. They’re on a 3 month trip now and we are totally missing them!!

Lastly, I am grateful for sister.  My #1 supporter, my BFF!  We’ve ran 5Ks together.  We’ve ran an obstacle course race together.  She was there to watch me run my first 5K and she’s been there for most of my other races too.  She’s the best race photographer and cheerleader!  

When I signed up for this half marathon at Bryce Canyon, she said she was coming along too without being asked.  She just knew she’d be there for me and I couldn’t be more grateful to her for that.  I mean, who does that? Who says they’re going to take a 4 hr road trip to wake up at 6am to watch you run by for like 15 seconds? Only the best sister in the world, that’s who!  

So really, I just want to say “Thanks” to all of you.  I couldn’t be here following these crazy dreams of mine without you. You all mean the world to me! xo 

I’ll be off the blog scene for a few days, but I’ll be back on Tuesday to tell you all about the Bryce Canyon Half!  In the meantime, follow the fun on instagram @jessieemeric! 

Chasing Dreams I Didn’t Know I Had…..

I heard/read this saying somewhere a few weeks ago and it’s really stayed with me.  I don’t even remember where I heard it or in what context, but it resonates with me in so many ways.  “Chasing dreams I didn’t even know I had” is right about where I am right now.  Yesterday I posted a “Transformation Tuesday” photo on Instagram as part of the monthly #grinderglamchallenge (a fun fitness based photo challenge) I participate in.  You can read more about it on Leti’s blog HERE, she founded the challenge a year ago and it’s grown into an awesome community!  I’m so happy for her and I don’t even know her personally.  But whenever we do meet in person, I’m gonna give her a big hug 🙂 

So, back to the photo.  The response I got was so amazing.  So many people liked it and commented about how proud they were & how happy they were for me.  It was awesome and made me feel good. Thanks everyone for the support & encouragement!  Here’s the photo:

 Aug. 2011 & May 2014 
Aug. 2011 & May 2014 

Looking back at who I was then and who I am now, it’s hard to recognize the old me.  I don’t even mean physically.  Yes, losing 30 +/- lbs. hasn’t been easy.  It was hard work with lots of ups and downs.   I didn’t know what I was getting myself into!  I just needed to lose weight.  That was all I knew.  But, in the process of trying to lose the weight and get healthy I found a passion I didn’t know I had.  I signed up for races and had a blast doing them, especially obstacle course racing.  Ummm…excuse me but I had no idea what obstacle course races were 2 years ago, nonetheless think that I would ever sign up for one willingly and enjoy it!!  I’m giving myself challenges and goals to reach that I didn’t even know I wanted.  I’m running, climbing over 8 ft. walls, crawling under barbed wire, jumping into ice cold water, and loving every minute of it.  

I’m currently reading Spartan Up by Joe De Sena, the founder of Spartan Race and so much of what the book says about pushing yourself beyond what you thought you could do is so true.  You will find courage you didn’t know you had, strength you thought wasn’t there because we are capable of so much more than we think.  Overcoming obstacles in a race is so much like overcoming them in real life.  You reach a wall, you find a way to go over it.  You forget your fear of heights and you go for it.  You may need some help, but you make it over the wall.  You don’t let the wall beat you.  These are all great metaphors for life too.

Right now, I’m dreaming of a stronger me.  A me that will run a half marathon faster than the last one.  A me that will conquer the Spartan Beast & Spartan Sprint in one weekend and live to tell about it.  Am I scared? You better believe it.  But I want that trifecta medal more than I am afraid of those obstacles.  It’s that fear that drives me to be better.  I can’t quit, so I need to train harder than ever before!  Yeah, I’ll be tired, bruised, sore, and who knows what else, but I’ll come out more alive than ever before!  Honestly, I am happy with how far I’ve come and I’m ready to push myself even harder to reach those dreams I didn’t know I had!  Chasing these goal, these dreams, keeps me focused.  It makes me a better person both inside and out and I like that.

So, what dreams are you chasing? I’d love to hear about them! 

Gearing up for Tough Mudder Las Vegas | Tough Cookies 2.0

Here I go again…getting that same nervous, anxious energy I felt before the Spartan Super earlier this month.  This time, I’m gearing up for my second Tough Mudder event coming up on Sunday!  If you are new to the blog, you may not know how Tough Mudder changed my life, but it really did.  I won’t bore those how already know the story, but you can read my thoughts on Tough Mudder HERE and HERE!  

 I've been having a real hard time practicing this obstacle at Camp Rhino.  Not sure what my problem is,but I know it's all in my head.  I start running towards the ramp and then stop myself halfway.  It's really annoying!  I did it before, I can do it again and this photo proves it! I will get up Everest again. 
I’ve been having a real hard time practicing this obstacle at Camp Rhino.  Not sure what my problem is,but I know it’s all in my head.  I start running towards the ramp and then stop myself halfway.  It’s really annoying!  I did it before, I can do it again and this photo proves it! I will get up Everest again. 

I’m excited to be taking on my second Tough Mudder with 2 really good friends of ours!  Last year, our friend Veronica couldn’t do it since she’d just had a baby a month before, but we convinced her hubby, Ernie, to join our team.  This year, Veronica is joining team Tough Cookies and the 4 of us are ready to take on the 10+ mile course full of crazy obstacles that will really test our stamina and mental grit!  We’ve been training at Camp Rhino and it’s been very helpful to give the obstacles a try.  We’ve been calling our training sessions “double dates”!  Yea, that’s how we roll!  I encourage you to find an obstacle training gym/facility in your own city and if you’re from Vegas, you gotta check out Camp Rhino!  

 New obstacle - Fire in Your Hole.  Like Wet N Wild, but with fire &muddy water at the bottom! 
New obstacle – Fire in Your Hole.  Like Wet N Wild, but with fire &muddy water at the bottom! 

I’m so happy we don’t have a 2.5 hour drive this year to get to the event, since it’s being held at Lake Las Vegas, just 30 minutes away.  I’m also anxious to try out the brand new Legionnaire Loop, which is only open to repeat Mudders and has some pretty challenging & fun looking obstacles.  My sister will be coming along is the official Tough Cookies photographer and her hubby will be a spectator too!  This is the first time he’s gone to any one of our crazy obstacle races, so it’s gonna be a real treat for him & hey, maybe he’ll even join us for the next one (Javier, are you reading this?!)

It’s really going to be fun having them encouraging us along the course!  I just hope they’re nice to us for the Family Feud obstacle 😉 

 Getting knocked down by spectators during the Family Feud obstacle.  This actually looks like fun! 
Getting knocked down by spectators during the Family Feud obstacle.  This actually looks like fun! 

Let’s do this!!  Hoorah!!