Happy Halloween!!

Here's my little Super Man!!

This season, we went to a pumpkin patch to choose Lars' pumpkin.

A new friend found our pumpkin (outside).

Pumpkin carving time!!

Trick or treating tonight!! Lars' first time eating some candy, should be interesting. Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!!

What are your plans tonight?

Spartan Super Finisher!!

Saturday was the BIG day!! Here's the course map for the Spartan Super Race. One of the sucky parts of the day was the huge traffic jam with parking (as expected with anything going on...ie: sports game or concert). The other thing was that it was pouring down rain. Not a deal for us racers, but for the spectators, especially my hubby with Lars in the stroller. The rain cover tent was ultra small and there wasn't any room for them. Some old lady gave up her spot under the tent, so they could come in and get a little dry. Other than that, it was a great day!!

Here's the course map:

Most photos were taken from my friend Dylan (my team mate's hubby). Like I said, it was a very cold, and wet start. To come up to the start line, you had to jump over a small wall (about 3'or 4' tall). 

Here are me and Kelly during the race. I think this was about 3 miles in. It was just after the monkey bars (which I didn't do well).

Some of the obstacles we had to do were: climb over walls (I think there were 4 vertical walls), which got taller and taller each wall. throw a javelin into a thing of hay, work your way through a rope maze, go through a wall, under a wall and above a wall. I think there were about 3 barb wire crawls (which were my favorite), cross some very smelly water, pull a block of cement up a huge hill (and back down), carry a sand bag the same, monkey bars, rope climb, inverted wall climb, transverse wall, a v shaped climb (up and down), fire jump (to get to the finish line), go under a wall in muddy water, rope climb over a wall and ladder walk down and think a few more. 

Here we are pulling the huge cement block up the huge ass hill. That was so hard!

After carrying a 5 gallon bucket of rocks up and down a huge hill, I stopped to say hi to my support crew.

I made it half way on the transverse wall. I think if it wasn't so slippery, I could have made it. One of the down sides of the mud, but not really). 

Right after I went under the wall in the water (waiting for Kelly).

After changing and trying to get warm with a well deserved beer! best support crew I could ask for!!

Well deserved sticker on my car (next to my 13.1 sticker).

Day after bruises (they look much, much worse now). I love battle wounds!!

Front of the medal

Back of the medal (in case you want to do the trifecta (all 3 races)).

Kelly and I after the race. I loved that they had a fire going to keep racers warm while the fueled. 

Some of the race photos:

Kelly and I after getting help climbing up a huge, very muddy, very slippery hill. We couldn't have done it without this guys help. 

Never too good to get help. 

That's another awesome thing about this race. People were so willing to help you. I had some guys help me get over a few of the walls, help with the cement and up this hill. I would have had to do so many more burpees than I already did. Yes, i had to do many, many burpees. I tried every single obstacle. I'm so proud of myself. I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face. I left everything on the course and enjoyed every single second. I know what I need to train more on (wall climbs mostly) and to get better shoes for this. 

Have you ever done a Spartan Race before? What was your experience? 

Race Day

I'm starting to get ready for Spartan Race day. On race day, my wave doesn't start until 11:15 and I have to be there 1 1/2 hours prior. So, I have some time the morning of. But, I like to be prepared. I need to set everything out and put it by the door. 

The only thing is that I don't know what to wear. I normally know what to wear to a race. But, this isn't a normal race, at least for me. I'm going to be drenched in mud, going under barb wire and so much more. I don't want to mess up any of my good race clothes. So, I just don't know what to wear. 

Do I go with capris? They could drag me down and be too heavy with mud and possibly get snagged going over a wall.

Or, do I go with shorts? I don't want mud in personal areas, or get more scrapes and bruises than I normally would. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm going to have scrapes, bruises,and possibly even blood. 

Please help me and give me our opinion of what you'd wear for a race like this...

2 days until the Spartan Race!!!!!!

Spartan Taper Time

I can't believe it's almost here!! The Spartan Race is this Saturday!! My free weights have been my best friends (even through my entire training). This week, my plan is to keep working my legs and abs. Yesterday, I included my arms. That was the last day. 

My arms have changed. I can even do 3 sets (5 per set) of pull ups. I was hoping to be able to do 3 pull ups, period. I'm so proud of myself! I've made a change that I wanted (actually a little more) and I know that is success, I have buff arms (for me)!!

How am I feeling?? My nerves are getting the best of me. I know I can finish the race (not sure how many time I'll have to do burpees, though), but I'm so scared!! I think it's because of the unknown. I'm super excited, but really nervous!!

I'm on a count down...4 days! Eek!!!

Have you ever done a race like this (or a Spartan)?

Never Too Busy for a Workout

We had family in town, so getting a workout in was pretty tough. Here are a few pictures of Lars with his cousins having fun:

I wasn't able to get in any runs, but chasing around a 9 month old (he walks while hanging on to one of our fingers), got pretty sweaty. I felt bad for my family having to smell me all week, 

Yesterday, it rained here, finally. This is the first time (this year) that it has felt like fall. I was so happy. I love the rain and the fall weather. My pull up bar is in the dirt (mud yesterday). But, that didn't stop me from doing doing them. 

I can now do 3 sets (5 per set) pull ups. I'm so proud of myself and proving (to me) that I can do this and am getting ready for the Spartan race. I only have less than 1 1/2 weeks until the big race. I'm so nervous. I know I'm going to feel like I have to puke when it comes to race day. Just typing this makes me feel sick. 

How do you feel when a big, and something new, comes around (a new race, first time doing something big)? When I first went snowboarding (when i was a kid), I got a little sick. I know this will happen on race day.

Disco Donut 5k

Yep, you read that right! Over the weekend, I completed another 5k (my second favorite distance). Disco, donuts and 5k all in one race?! Disco Donut 5k: loved it! The packet pick up was held for only one day and for only 4 hours (in the evening). I thought that was going to be a bummer with a long line. When my friend and I got there, there wasn't anyone there (I think most people picked up before the race). It was easy in and easy out. Great thing with a 9 month old! They said they had 200 people sign up (not bad for the 1st year here).

The race entry included a bib (of course), t-shirt, awesome glasses and a virtual swag bag (coupons). This was a first for the virtual swag bag for me. Anyone else have that before?

There was a ton of parking up close to the start line (which I didn't realize, until we walked past all of the empty spots). My experience with first time races, is they are either horrible (late starts and so on) or great. This one was a great one. They started right on time, had some music along the course, plenty of water and donuts afterwards. 

I had my little cheering section.

This race wouldn't be a disco donut race without a disco ball over the start/finish line.

The course was pretty fast, only one little hill in the middle (but it wasn't really anything). Even our spectators got donuts afterwards. I let Lars try his first donut. I had chocolate and he seemed to love it. 

This race was pretty fun and easy going, especially for the first time here. Can't wait for next year. Check out their calendar, they have races all over! Definitely sign up in a city near you!

Anyone else ever had a virtual swag bag? Anyone else run the disco donut 5k before?

More Birthdays, the Perfect Cookies & Pre-Race!

Last weekend was Jason's birthday! He wanted to celebrate by painting little figures. He does this as a hobby and very often! It was the perfect gift. It took all weekend (lots of steps) and we loved it. We got to spend some quiet time together and enjoyed it!

I've been pretty busy lately (working out and family in town). I guess it's tired out a certain little boy. He always sleeps with his butt in the air. It's so cute! My little jelly bean.

I had some strawberries in the fridge that were about to go bad. I only had one more day before I had to throw them out. I searched online and found some awesome strawberry sugar cookies. I haven't found the best sugar cookies, yet. Until this day! These are great. So chewy and just a hint of strawberries. Just the perfect sugar cookie.

My Spartan workout has been going great! I feel stronger and better than when I first started training. My arms have changed (in a great way) and my thighs are getting skinnier. My running is getting faster and easier. I'm not where I use to be (before Lars), but I'm still getting there. 

Saturday is race day! I'm running the Disco donut on Saturday. I can't wait! Disco music while running a 5k, and donuts!!!! Yay!! I've hear there's a YMCA dance at mile 1 and a donut hole eating station and mile 2. And, of course, a party at the finish line! Saturday is going to be so much fun!!

Working out with the rain

Last week, it rained in the morning. Lars and I were stuck indoors. Well, mostly. He was too young when it rained last to do anything. So, I got him all dressed and warm (it was chilly out there) and we played in the rain. He splashed in puddles, stared at the rain falling on us, kicked the soccer ball around and sat in the grass and played with the wet leaves. He loved it!

When we came back inside, I took off all those warm clothes and placed him in the empty bath tub. I had dyed spaghettii in 4 different colors (red, blue, green and yellow) and let him go to town. I knew he would eat it, so that's why I chose spaghetti. While eating it, he would look up at me and say "mmmmmm" with a big smile on his face. 

I guess I tired him out so much, he asked to be fed a little early and fell asleep while eating. His nap time came about 15 minutes early and he slept the entire time too. 

While Lars was crashed out, I worked out. Since it was raining, I couldn't do my pull ups (the bar is outside), so I stayed inside for my sweat session. I worked my arms and legs. I had 3 days off of working out afterwards, so I needed to get things done! Nothing like getting things accomplished when you need to!

Do you ever make these kind of things for your kids? Do you enjoy them making a mess or do you prefer a clean play? What does your rainy day workout look like?