Redefining Possible

One year ago today, I was a stay-at-home mom who started going to the Central Bucks County YMCA a couple of times a week to walk on the treadmill and watch an hour of television, because I desperately needed some “me” time. A month later, I saw a video of Tough Mudder in the Y’s fitness center and thought, “Wow, how awesome is that? I wish I could do that!” A month after that, I signed up for Tough Mudder and started taking the Y’s Tough Mudder training classes and I never looked back.

In 2012, I finished:

·         Two 5K Races
·         A 10K Race
·         A 13K Race
·         The 10 Mile Broad Street Run
·         Two Half Marathons
·         A Tough Mudder
·         A Spartan Sprint
·         A Super Spartan
·         The R2C Relay Race
·         …and THE PHILADELPHIA MARATHON!

In just one year, I went from not being able to run on the treadmill for even 1 mile without losing my breath and having to slow down to walk to running 26.2 miles without stopping (other than slowing down to walk while hydrating at the drink stations and one very quick pit stop at the bathroom a little past the halfway point). I still can’t believe I did all of that this year. It seems almost impossible to me.

A year ago (or really at any point in my life before now,) I would have thought someone was crazy if they told me I’d finish all of those races in just one year – or even just in my entire lifetime. I was never athletic, even when I was a kid. I usually sat on the bench for most of the game in any sport I tried, and I dreaded having to run the mile in gym class and always slowed down to walk along the way.

How did I do it? It was actually very simple. I made the decision to do it and do whatever it took to reach my goal. My first goal was to complete the Tough Mudder with the team at the Y in April. I took the Tough Mudder training classes offered by the Y and got a personal trainer, because I had no idea what to do or how to start training.

Running was part of my training for Tough Mudder, and I knew there would be points during the Tough Mudder where I would have to run up to 2.5 miles in between obstacles. So, I started training for the Y’s 5K in March. I knew if I was ready to run a 3.1 mile 5K a month before Tough Mudder, my cardio would be in good shape for the race. I started running on the treadmill for just one minute, and then I’d slow down to catch my breath. Then, I’d increase to 1.5 minutes, 2 minutes, etc. until eventually I could run an entire 5K on the treadmill without needing to slow down.

Once I learned how to run without slowing down, it actually became fun for me. I wasn’t out of breath anymore, and mainly just felt an amazing adrenaline rush every time I ran. Sure, I felt some muscle or foot pain when I would run longer distances, but the high I got from running outweighed any of the minor pains I felt, and those pains always subsided very quickly.

I started signing up for lots of races. The excitement I felt on race day just added to my enjoyment, and I realized that I really loved to run! Someone who hated running for 37 years now LOVED to run. Once I finished the Tough Mudder, I decided to sign up for a couple of Spartan races. In addition to my love for running, I was hooked on obstacle racing too. Obstacle races were so much fun, and I loved working together with a team to help each other reach the finish line.

I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon after I completed my first half marathon in May and planned to train the right way for the race, running one long run every week and increasing my running distance by 10% every week until I was able to run 26.2 miles. Well, life got in the way, and I never had a training run that lasted more than 13.1 miles.

The week before the race, I got a chest cold and I seriously doubted that I would be able to run double the longest distance I had ever run before. I almost decided to push the marathon off until the following year. I let fear creep into my head. I started to listen to that voice of doubt that told me I couldn’t do it…and I almost quit.

I got lots of encouragement from friends during that week, and I started thinking about all of the things I had accomplished that year. I ran hundreds of miles this year. I jumped over fire. I crawled through a pond of water with 10,000 volts of electricity shocking me as I weaved through live wires during Tough Mudder. I climbed walls…sometimes using a teammate’s back as a step stool and towards the end of the year, jumping to the top of the wall and pulling myself over all by myself. I jumped off of 20 foot cliffs into freezing water and submerged myself in a dumpster filled with water and ice cubes. I crawled under miles of barbed wire, over rocks and through mud. I dragged blocks of cement and carried sand bags up and down black diamond ski slopes. I climbed parts of mountains that were almost vertical while dodging falling rocks at Spartan Race. And the list goes on… How could I NOT attempt this marathon?   

A couple of days before the marathon, I just made the decision to do it. I was going to finish that marathon, even if I had to walk for part of it. I arrived on race day and never felt more scared and excited at the same time. I entered my corral and looked out amongst the sea of people who I’d be running with. I saw a spectator with a sign that said “Less than 1% of people have completed a marathon” and I got chills. Before I knew it, we were off, and there was no stopping me.

During the race, I soaked in the cheers from the spectators and ran a little faster whenever we neared a speaker with music. I smiled at kids who were high-fiving people from the sidelines, and I reveled in the energy that surrounded me. As I rounded a bend in South Philly, I saw a man cheering for the runners while balancing on canes in each hand. He was my motivation throughout that race. Every time I got tired, or my muscles got sore, I thought of him and how he couldn’t run and I told myself that I HAD to run because I COULD run. I wouldn’t take for granted the gifts and the health that God has given to me and I’d use it to get through this race.

Right before I crossed the finish line, a complete stranger looked me in the eyes and said, “You did it, Jennifer! You just ran a marathon!” and my eyes welled up with tears. My chest started getting tight, and I almost lost it. I was so emotional that I couldn’t even breathe. I calmed myself down and crossed the finish line with a tear streaming down my cheek. I did it! I couldn’t believe it! I still can’t believe it.

I was very sore after I finished the marathon and my muscles were so tight that night, but it got better the next day. On day two after the race, I’m barely sore and now I’m thinking about what’s next for me… One goal for next year is to get my Trifecta at Spartan Race. To do this, I need to complete one Spartan Sprint (3+ miles), one Super Spartan (8+ miles) and one Spartan Beast (12+ miles). There’s also a Spartan Ultra Beast that’s 26.2 miles with mud and obstacles.

I already know I can get the Trifecta. It’s just a matter of coordinating my schedule. But, I have no idea if I can complete the Ultra Beast. It’s hard to imagine going the distance of running a marathon, and piling obstacles on top of that. So, maybe that’s my next big challenge. Stay tuned for more, because I’m definitely not finished yet!

I am a SPARTAN!

I am a SPARTAN! I think that's what they had us chanting at the starting line. I had registered for the Super Spartan (an 8+ mile obstacle course) on September 8th and was planning for that to be my first race. But, I got a Living Social deal a few weeks before the Spartan Sprint in PA and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a sneak peak at some of the obstacles in July.

Spartan Sprints are 3+ mile obstacle courses, so I thought it would be a "lite" version of the 12 mile Tough Mudder course I did back in April. But, I was wrong. I got an email from Spartan right before the event, saying the course was 5 miles and the terrain was steep and treacherous. That scared me a little bit, but it was less than half the distance of Tough Mudder, so it shouldn't be a problem.

We got to Blue Mountain and it looked beautiful. I was excited to get my medal and become a real Spartan that day. The announcer at the starting line was bashing Tough Mudder and saying this course was harder than a Tough Mudder, and I thought that was rude. I personally don't like it when anyone bashes their competition, but I was still excited for the race.

The first half of the race was uphill...up some very steep hills. I started running and felt like quitting about 5 minutes into it. I was getting winded running up an expert ski slope. Those slopes were tough! I just kept telling myself to keep going and just put one foot in front of the other. I knew I would eventually get up that mountain if I didn't give up. I didn't have to be a superstar...I just had to keep going.

At one point, after climbing up a steep hill, they had us go down again, and I started running. That was a big mistake, because I was going so fast down that hill, I almost lost control. I felt like I was skiing downhill on ice and couldn't stop. I forced myself to stop before I got to the wooden Spartan wall, but it was a little dicey! Thankfully, I didn't barrel right into that wall.

I don't remember the order of all of the obstacles and I honestly don't know any of their official names, so I'll just talk about each one as I remember them:

• The Walls: Some walls were short and some were tall, and they were all over the course. At Tough Mudder, I needed a boost to get over all of the walls, but at Spartan, I could get over most of them and only needed a boost for 2 of them. So, I think the Spartan walls were easier. I remembered seeing pieces of wood nailed to the walls on Spartan videos and pictures, but none of these walls seemed to have them. So, you either had to pull yourself up and over, or find someone to give you a little boost. We also had to go under some walls and through the middle of some walls that had holes in the middle.
• The Bucket Carry: They gave us big orange buckets (like the kind you find at Home Depot) and told the guys to fill them 3/4 of the way with rocks and the girls to fill them 1/2 way with rocks. Then, we had to carry the buckets without setting them down all the way up a hill, and then down the hill, and then dump the rocks back onto this big pile. I put the bucket up on my left shoulder and held it steady with both of my hands over my head. This seemed to work well for me. I saw people shifting from shoulder to shoulder, but I didn't want to risk dropping the bucket, so I just kept it where it was. This wasn't too terribly hard, but my shoulder was getting sore by the end.
• The Rope Climb: We had to walk down into a ditch of muddy water and climb up a rope tied with knots and then ring a bell at the top. I'd guess it was about 20 feet high, but I'm not 100% sure. I didn't make it to the top. I fell and had to do 30 burpees as a penalty.
• The Concrete Pulley: They had a pulley set up with rope tied to a concrete block. The girls had to pull the pink striped blocks and the guys had to pull the red striped blocks in a controlled manner, all the way to the top and then slowly lower the block to the bottom in a controlled manner, without letting the block drop. This obstacle was really easy for me.
• The Sandbag Carry: Once we got to the top of the mountain, we were starting to celebrate. I gave one of my teammates (Matt) a high five for making it to the top with me. Then, they gave us a sandbag to carry (40 lbs. for the girls and I can't remember how heavy the guys' sandbags were - but they were bigger.) We had to carry the sandbag down a double black diamond ski slope and then back up another double black diamond slope. Going down wasn't so bad. I carried my sandbag in front of myself like a baby, and did pretty well. The way up was a different story. This was probably my most difficult obstacle. I moved the sandbag to the top of my neck and back and started making my way up the mountain. There were people dropping like flies all around me, and big, muscular men sitting down on the mountain and looking like they were going to pass out. This hill was so steep, that I almost fell backwards when I tried to stand up straight. I had to make my way up the entire slope bent forward to keep myself from falling. This would have been hard to walk up, even without the sandbag. But with the sandbag, I couldn't use my hands to help balance myself or event to grab onto the side of the mountain so I wouldn't fall. Oh, and there were rocks all over the hill. So, you really had to watch your footing, or you'd fall. I slipped once, but caught myself before I fell. I made it through this obstacle, but felt very drained afterwards...and we still had another 2.5 miles to go after that one.

• The Rope Pull Up a Cliff: We had to make our way up a cliff (almost vertical slope) using a rope and our feet. This was challenging, but I was able to make my way up quickly. Note to self on this one. Don't put the rope in between your legs when doing this obstacle, because when the person below you pulls on the rope before you get to the top, that big rope in between your legs is no longer your friend! I'm pretty sure we had two of these obstacles, because I remember making sure I held the rope to the side of my legs the 2nd time.
• Cargo Nets: They tied cargo nets to the trees and we had to climb up and over and then back down them. We had to do this at Tough Mudder too, but one thing that was different is that the cargo net part stopped much lower than the one at Tough Mudder. At Tough Mudder, I could climb to the very top and then flip my legs over. At Spartan, the little squares of rope stopped, when the top of the cargo net wall was at my chin, so I had to use arm strength to pull my body over the top. That was a bit harder than just climbing to the top and going over to the other side.
• Mud Pits: We had to climb up and back down 6 little muddy hills with water pits in between them, while someone sprayed us with a fire hose. The water pits were anywhere from shin deep to chest deep, and they were nice and cool and the fire hose felt great. I loved cooling off during that obstacle, especially since it was so hot out. That is, until I heard a guy shout: "Are these the porta potties?" Uggh...
• Monkey Bars: The monkey bars are my weakness. I can get across the monkey bars at the kids' playground, but I have trouble doing ones that are wider apart, especially after I've been running and doing other obstacles. I think I fell at the second bar and had to do 30 burpees as my penalty.
• Cement Block Chain Pull: We had to pull a cement block attached to a chain down a hill, through the edge of a lake and then back up the hill. Downhill wasn't bad at all. The water in the lake gave me some resistance, but pulling that cement block out of the lake and back up that hill was tough. I was glad I was wearing gloves. I held the chain as close as I could to the cement block so it wasn't dragging too far behind me, and just pulled it as hard as I could.
• Rock/(Wood) Wall: This was set up like a rock wall, but with blocks of 2/4's nailed to a wooden wall where the "rocks" would be. You had to go sideways across the wall, holding onto the wooden "rocks" and stepping on them all the way across. This one looked so easy, but it was actually very hard for me. I couldn't get a good balance on those wooden "rocks" and fell about a quarter of the way across. I had to do 30 burpees as a penalty.
• Vertical Logs: They had a bunch of rows of logs sticking vertically out of the ground. They were different heights and widths, and you had to step or hop to each log until you got across to the other side. This one was easier than it looked for me. I went slowly, but made it across to the other side without falling.
• Crossing The Lake: This was probably my favorite obstacle. We got to go on a man-made slip 'n slide down a hill, which landed into a lake. The water wasn't too deep (up to my chest at the deepest point) and we had to get across to the other side of the lake, going under about 4-5 barrels. It was nice and cool, and I just walked across the lake, enjoying every minute of it. It was my easiest obstacle, and the most fun, because of the slip 'n slide!
• Barbed Wire Crawl: This was the 2nd hardest obstacle, because it was so very, very long! It was probably 4 times as long as the barbed wire crawl I did at Tough Mudder, and it felt like I was crawling over rocks and cement, rather than mud and a few stones. We had to crawl, roll or slide under a long path of barbed wire. I tried the "rolling" technique, which I saw lots of people doing at Tough Mudder. The rolling definitely made it easier, and saved my knees and elbows from being too scraped up from crawling on my stomach. But, the rolling made me so very dizzy. I could only do a few rolls, and then I would have to crawl for a while, until the dizziness went away. At some points, I just went on my back and shimmied sideways, rather than rolling. I did this when I was too dizzy to roll, and my elbows and knees were hurting too much to crawl. The horseflies kept landing on us and biting us during this obstacle too! I saw lots of blood on people during this obstacle, but I made it through with just some minor scratches. I don't think I touched the barbed wire at all though...my scratches were all from the rocks and cement on the ground.
• Tire Flip: We had to flip a tire off a peg and then flip it back on - 2 times. The guys had huge tractor tires to flip, but the girls had much smaller tires (maybe half the size). This obstacle wasn't too hard for me. I tried to flip the tire slowly so that it wouldn't flip too far away from the peg. That way, I could flip it right back onto the peg, without having to push it closer. Other than that, it wasn't too hard. I might like to try flipping the guy tires next time!
• Running Through Fire: This was a very small patch of fire on each side and one line of fire, which we had to jump over. The fire at Tough Mudder was much longer...so long that I couldn't hold my breath for the entire time, and I choked on the smoke. The Spartan fire was a piece of cake. I just held my breath so I didn't breathe in the smoke and jumped easily over the fire.
• Rope Climb Up A Wall: This one was much easier than I expected. You climb up a slanted wall, while holding a rope and while people are shooting fire hoses at you. I thought it was going to be much slipperier than it was. Maybe my shoes were just good, but I didn't slip at all. I felt like water was constantly being sprayed at me, so it was difficult to see sometimes, but I got over it without a problem. The back of the wall is like a ladder (kind of like the other side of the half pipe wall at Tough Mudder and wasn't too hard to get down.

• Spear Throws: We had to throw a spear at a bundle of hay and get it to stick in. I had never thrown a spear before, and didn't hit the hay. So, I had to do 30 burpees as a penalty.
• Gladiators: Right before the finish line, we had to run through 3 big guys with gladiator sticks. Each of the 3 guys wacked me right in the middle of the stomach with their sticks. It didn't hurt too badly, but it did stop me in my tracks when they wacked me.

A few of my team members made it to the finish line before me and were there to cheer for me as I crossed. That was so nice! We hosed ourselves down, changed, and sat at a table wearing our Spartan Finisher medals, while drinking our much deserved (and free) Long Trail beers. It was so nice sitting there and looking up at that mountain, realizing that we had made it all the way to the top and then back down again in one piece.

I noticed that there seemed to be a much larger percentage of men at the Spartan race than I saw at Tough Mudder. I don't know if that's just the distribution of male/female in the wave I happened to run in or if less women run in Spartan races. I didn't really mind that there were fewer women, but it did surprise me because it was noticeably different than Tough Mudder...at least in my eyes.

I wonder what the Super Spartan has in store for me in September. I'm sure it will be tough, especially since this next one is even longer than the Spartan Sprint, at 8+ miles. But, I know I can get through it if I just keep putting one foot in front of the other and promise myself that I won't give up.

9 years younger in just 5 months!

I think I've finally discovered the fountain of youth. I started my journey in January of 2012 at the ripe old age of 37. Just 5 months later, I turned 28. I never thought I'd see my 20's again. Actually, I never even thought it was possible.

A couple of months before, my chiropractor diagnosed me with arthritis in my neck and lower spine. I couldn't believe it...Arthritis was for old people! Was I really getting that old? I also had constant pain in my right shoulder and constant carpal tunnel syndrome. You get older and older, and your body starts hurting more and more, and there's really not much you can do about it, right? WRONG! So very, very wrong!

You see, my goal in January was to train for the Central Bucks Family YMCA Tough Mudder team event being held on April 29th. Up until January, the most I'd ever done exercise-wise was walking on the treadmill at a whopping 3.8 mph and watching TV to escape the insanity of being home with 3 very young children, and to satisfy my chiropractor, who told me I should start exercising to help my arthritis.

One day in December, I saw some videos in the gym of people crawling through mud, running through fire, and climbing over huge walls. I was completely amazed by their strength, and thought it looked like so much fun! I decided to start training for it. I had left my full time job earlier that year, and really needed a goal to work towards...a BIG one! This was it.

I asked my husband for some personal training sessions for Christmas and started working towards my goal in January. I went to a Tough Mudder (now called AMPed) class every Saturday morning, worked with Marsha Hughes (my awesome personal trainer) every Wednesday, and ran on the treadmill 1-2 days a week.

I was so sore after those initial Tough Mudder classes, but I stuck with it, and after a while, it got easier and easier for me. When I was on the treadmill, I would tell myself that I just needed to run for a minute, and then I would start walking again until I caught my breath. Once I got comfortable with one minute of running, I started increasing my time running. Little by little, I started running more and walking less, until I could run an entire 5K on the treadmill without slowing down to a walk.

When our YMCA team did the Tough Mudder on April 29th, I've never felt healthier. I was running up a mountain, and couldn't believe that I was barely even winded. Not only could I do it, I felt AMAZING! After Tough Mudder, I finished the Broad Street Run and my first half marathon. Then, I went back to the Y for another fitness evaluation.

In January, the Y calculated my "polar age" (physical age) to be....drum roll please...37 - my exact chronological age. It wasn't that surprising to me, because I was 37, after all! After Tough Mudder, my trainer kept telling me to get my fitness evaluation done again, because she could see the change in my body fat and was excited to see my results.

I went into that fitness evaluation with very low expectations. I was hoping that maybe my new polar age would be a year younger. After I finished all of the tests, I was completely amazed when Chris Learn (my evaluator) told me that my polar age was now 28. I think I may have even had a tear in my eye. I was thrilled! I seriously couldn't believe it! But, then I thought about it a bit, and it really wasn't surprising at all. I had worked very hard over the past 5 months.

It all started out because I wanted to be strong enough to climb over walls and crawl through mud, but I wound up getting so much more, and I feel amazing! My shoulder pain is completely gone and I rarely experience any carpal tunnel syndrome. My body fat was 25.5% back in January, and now it's 19.5%. That's a huge difference! And the best part is that it wasn't from dieting. I ate whatever I wanted to eat and wasn't even trying to lose weight. I was just doing strength training and cardio training. Most importantly, I was getting stronger and healthier.

But, my journey isn't over yet. I'm doing my first Spartan Race in a couple of weeks, and I have a ton of races on my schedule for the fall. I'm registered for another Spartan race in September, the Philadelphia Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon and the Philadelphia Marathon. Admittedly, I am a bit nervous about running 26.2 miles all at once. There was an option to sign up for the half marathon on that day instead, but I already know I can run 13.1 miles. I'd rather try to run 26.2 and not finish, but know I've pushed myself to the max.

The one thing this journey has taught me is that we are physically capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. My entire outlook has changed. Now, when I pick up something that's heavy around the house, I'm not saying "Ugh" in my mind anymore. I'm thinking about how lifting something heavy is strengthening me. I was at a church function recently, and at the end, it was me and the janitor folding, lifting and carrying the heavy tables during clean up, while all of the other ladies stood to the side and watched. So what if I'm middle-aged and a mom of 3? I could still carry those tables!

I feel so blessed by this wonderful gift that the Central Bucks Family YMCA has given to me. It's a strength I never knew I had and never even thought existed. I feel stronger than ever now, both physically and mentally. This experience has taught me that I can get through anything, and come out of it even stronger than before. And for that, I am forever grateful.

I still got it!

It's been over two months since Tough Mudder, and I have to say I have been really lazy when it comes to working out. I've dropped my exercise down to 1-2 days a week, which I know is not enough. Sometimes, I'll do a bunch of push-ups or plank for a little bit, because I feel guilty that I haven't exercised in a while, but that's about it. I haven't been gaining weight, but I've been worried that I'm losing my strength and muscle. My first Spartan Race is less than 2 weeks away, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it anymore.

I'm part of a Facebook group called Spartan Chicked, which is a group of amazing women who support each other as they reach their goals. it's focused around obstacle racing, but there are other athletes who are a part of this group as well. July is "monkey bar month" in this group, and everyone's been posting videos of their monkey bar attempts. That's what inspired me to test out my monkey bar skills - one of my greatest challenges!

Yesterday, I took my kids to the park and attempted to go across these monkey bars. The first time I tried, I think I only got to the 2nd or 3rd bar, and then I fell. The 2nd time, it was the same thing. But the 3rd time, I made it all the way across, with my daughter cheering me on, saying "Mom, you can do it! You're a Tough Mudder!" She really is my little cheerleader!

So, what did I do differently that 3rd time? I think it was a combination of technique and mental grit. The third time, I gripped the bars from the very top, so my hands wouldn't slip down to the sides. I found it was much easier to hold the bars that way, because my wrists were killing me when they would slip down to the side. I was also swinging my body from front to back. I found that the momentum helped me get from one bar to another more easily.

I also remember telling myself not to give up or let go, no matter what and no matter how much it hurt. Believe it or not, I think that helped me even more than the technique. When I did the Tough Mudder back in April, I was in peak physical condition, but I only made it to the first monkey bar and then fell into the water. I remember saying something like "I can't do it." before I dropped. It was towards the end of the race, and I was exhausted, but I remember not believing I could do it. Here's a link to the video of me attempting the monkey bars at Tough Mudder: http://qik.com/50574930/a03d91f0

I know I need to step up my exercising. After all, I have a Super Spartan coming up on September 8th, and I just won a free entry to the Hardcore Mud Run on September 9th. I'm probably crazy for doing 2 big obstacle courses in the same weekend, but in my mind, it's just another challenge to conquer. This monkey bar experience reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:

"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, either way, you're right." Henry Ford

594th Place Never Felt So Good...

Wow, I finished my first half marathon. And I'm not gonna lie...It was very, very, very tough! I did the Broad Street Run 2 weeks earlier, and that was a breeze compared to the half marathon. It was much, much hotter for this race - in the 70's instead of the 50's. There were some pretty steep hills at this race too. While Broad Street wasn't entirely downhill, it was pretty much flat. I also found that I missed seeing spectators throughout the entire course like I did at The Broad Street Run. It turns out, those spectators were really motivating for me.

 

This was more than just a half marathon too. It was a superhero marathon, and they were trying to break the world's record for the most superheros in one place. It was also a much needed distraction from a very stressful week for me. I found this race on active.com on Friday night, bought my Wonder Woman costume on Saturday afternoon and registered for the race at 7:00 AM that morning, just an hour and a half before the race started. I wasn't planning to run my first half marathon until September, but I really needed to make the best of what could have been a not-so-good weekend.

The atmosphere at the race was so much fun. How could it not be fun, with people dressed up as superheros everywhere you looked! There were a couple of crazy people dressed in costumes with long sleeves and pants, and they must have been so hot! I was dressed in a bathing suit-like Wonder Woman costume, over a sports bra and running shorts, and I was hot. I couldn't imagine how these guys felt running while covered in superhero gear from head to toe.

During this race, I "hit a wall." I had read about this mysterious "wall" that most runners hit during long races. It's that moment or moments during the race when you start doubting yourself, when your mind and your body are both telling you that you can't do this and asking you to stop running. I didn't experience the "wall" when I ran Broad Street, and that was a 10 miler. So, I didn't expect to hit it during this race either. I thought I wouldn't encounter it until I ran my first full marathon in November. But, I did hit that wall, and I hit it very hard.

Somewhere around mile 7, I started losing my energy and I felt like my entire body was moving in slow motion. I knew I was still running, but I wasn't passing anyone anymore. Heck, I wasn't even keeping up with anyone anymore. I kept seeing the other runners passing me, one by one...It was almost like I was standing still while everyone was passing by me, and I was struggling to move. My running felt more like shuffling and I didn't know what was happening.

I had run that 10 miler with no problem...Why was I feeling this way at mile 7? I started talking to myself (in my head - not out loud.) Did I start off too quickly? Maybe my adrenaline got the best of me and I didn't pace myself well enough in the beginning. I had a rough week before this race. Maybe I was too physically and mentally worn out to even attempt this half marathon. Maybe it was too hot. Maybe I was getting dehydrated.

I looked around me and everyone seemed to be in such great shape. These people were real runners. No offense to the people who ran Broad Street, but there were a lot of out of shape people running in that race. These runners all looked really fit, and well...they looked like runners. Maybe I really wasn't a runner yet. Maybe I was in over my head. Maybe I wouldn't finish...

Then, I started cheering myself on. I can't even count the number of times I recited these two phrases in my head: "No matter how slowly you go, you're still lapping everyone else who's at home sitting on the couch." and "I'm too tough to kill." I saw the first phrase on Facebook, posted by a running page, and the 2nd phrase was part of a Pinterest image sent to me by my friend Julie the night before. I just kept repeating those two things in my head, and then I opened up the package of Cliff Shot Bloks (energy gummies) that was tucked safely away in my running belt and popped on in my mouth.

In a couple of minutes, it started to happen. I started moving faster, people stopped passing me like I was standing still, and now I was passing them. I passed one person, then two, then three, then four, and then five. I knew I had found my groove again when I caught up to a police officer who I was running near during the beginning of the race. Wow...I had made it through the "wall" and I was back. I don't know if it was because of those energy gummies, or because I had cheered myself on for so long, or if my body just realized that I wasn't giving up.

The rest of the race was still really tough, and I felt like I was losing my energy at several points. After I finished the first 10 miles, I kept telling myself that I only had a 5K left to do. I could do a 5K in my sleep. I did a 5K on the treadmill, almost every time I went to the gym. But this 5K, after having just run 10 miles, was the toughest 5K I've ever run. It felt like it took forever, and there were hardly any spectators to cheer us on during that last leg. I was popping those energy gummies left and right and stopping at every water and Gatorade station.

Once we got near the finish line, I could hear the loud music playing and I could see all of the spectators cheering on the finishers. I got so emotional and started crying. I was really glad I was wearing sunglasses, because those tears were really coming down. But something else happened too. I don't know if it was my adrenaline, the encouragement from the crowds of spectators, or just my pure joy knowing I was about to finish my first half marathon. But, during that last 1/8 of a mile, I felt like I was running so fast. I felt like I was running on a cloud and almost flying. I was passing people left and right.

I truly felt like a superhero when I crossed that finish line. It was such an amazing feeling! And, as an added bonus, they announced that we had unofficially broken the world's record for the most superheros in one place. What a great memory for my first half marathon. I was also shocked to see that my per mile time was better than my Broad Street Run time. I ran the half marathon in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 28 seconds and came in 594th place. Who knew 594th place could feel so good?

Broad Street Run - My First Big Race!

I just ran my first big race and it was so much fun! Here are some interesting things about my experience:

• The hardest part for me was getting to the race start area. There were no trains that connected to the subway in time for me to get to the starting area before 8:30 AM. I paid an extra $20 to pick up my race bib and t-shirt at the race, but that added more stress to the beginning of the race. I had to search for the tent that had the bibs, but at least I got there very early and had the time to find it.
• I think it would have been nice to go to the race with someone else. I didn't love being all by myself at the beginning of the race. I met a mom of 4 before the race who started running about the same time I did. She was also there by herself, but in a different corral than me. So, we parted ways about an hour before the race started.
• I'm glad I went to the port-a-potty about 45 minutes before race time. The lines were extremely long. I probably stood in line for at least 30 minutes before I got to the front.
• They weren't very strict about people sticking to their corral assignments. I was assigned to be in the very last corral, and as I was making my way to the back, I saw several people waiting in corrals that didn't correspond to the corral color on their bib. I made it to the 2nd to last corral and just decided to stay there. Broad Street was so packed with runners, and I could barely move. So, I started in the yellow corral, instead of pink.
• It took about 30 minutes for my corral to get to the starting line. I hit start on my iPhone's pedometer a few minutes before we actually started running. I don't know why I did that, because I knew they were tracking my time through my bib. It really drained my battery, but I'm glad I did that because there was some technical glitch and my bib didn't scan at the finish line. I scanned the QR code on my bib after the race to see the results, and it said "Yikes! This runner didn't finish yet!" That was kind of a buzz kill for me, because I was standing there with my finisher's medal!
• I was freezing before the race, so I kept my jacket out of the bag that I checked on the gear bus. I knew I wouldn't wear it during the race, but I wanted to keep warm as long as possible. As I approached the starting line, I saw piles of discarded shirts, jackets, etc. on the side of the road, and in the middle of Broad Street. I figured I would do the same once I got hot, especially since they were donating the discarded clothing to charity. Right before I started running, I took my jacket off and tied it around my waist, instead of discarding it. It was very lightweight and didn't bother me at all while I was running. I was glad I had my jacket after I finished, because I got really, really cold again once I stopped running.
• There were people who stopped to use the port-a-potties less than a mile into the race. There was such a long line too...I was so thankful that I didn't have to stop to do that for the entire 10 miles. The only time I slowed down to a walk was once while I was drinking some Gatorade. I didn't want that to spill all over my shirt.
• I think I need to practice drinking water while running. The first time I took a cup of water, I probably spilled at least half of it on the front of my shirt, because I didn't want to slow down while I was drinking. I also learned that you don't need to stop at the first drink table. There is such a back up there, and there are another 10-20 drink tables after that with stacks of drinks on them. Everyone wants to stop at the first table, and then it gets jammed. I went to the first table for the first couple of times and hated waiting. Then, I ran a little further the next time and didn't have to stop at all.
• I am wondering if I did something to one of my toes at Tough Mudder last weekend. I ran on the treadmill on Wednesday with my new running shoes and the left 3 toes on my left foot were swollen and sore. I chalked it up to wearing new shoes that weren't broken in yet and decided to wear my Tough Mudder shoes for the Broad Street Run instead. A few miles into the run, my left 3 toes were killing me! I'm now wondering if I have a small fracture or something that's acting up when I run? I tried to put most of the pressure on my heels while running, and that seemed to help. No way was I going to stop!
• I saw lots of people wearing Tough Mudder shirts and headbands at various points in the race and wished I was wearing my orange headband.
• I started getting that little pain in my side about 2 miles into the run too, but I just kept running and eventually it went away.
• While running, I saw a daycare that was open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM - something you don't see where I live! There was also a laundromat with tons of barbed wire on the roof, and I kept wondering why they'd need to do that...So people didn't break in through the roof and steal the coins from the coin machine??? I also saw a Chinese restaurant with the big metal door pulled down at the entrance. It sounded like there was a chop shop in there, instead of a restaurant as I ran by.
• There were so many spectators ringing bells and yelling encouraging words to everyone in the race. There were informal and formal musicians along the path, and I loved hearing their music! I loved the people who held up signs of encouragement, especially the sign that read: "WOOOOOOOOooooooooo!" So funny!
• Note to spectators: Please do not walk directly across Broad Street during the race. At least 2 times, someone walked in front of me and I almost crashed into them...very distracting! I loved it when people who needed to cross just started running forward and then slowly made their way to the other side - That's the way to do it!
• One of the most unexpected things about this race was that I was so overcome with emotion at several points during my run. Sometimes, it would be the loud music and the adrenaline pumping through my body, and once it was because a woman looked directly in my eyes and said "GREAT JOB, RUNNERS!" I thought, "Wow, I am a runner now?!?!" and got all teary-eyed.
• I finished the race in about an hour and 40 minutes, and I think I could have gone even further. Before this race, I was wondering if I'd attempt my first marathon this year, or next year. But, now, I have  my answer - I'm registering for the Philadelphia marathon later tonight and can't wait for it!

Tough Mudder Finisher

I can now say I am an official Tough Mudder finisher! I've been wearing the Tough Mudder shirts while training, but didn't feel like I'd really earned the right to wear them. Sometimes, people would ask me if I did the Tough Mudder when I was wearing one of the shirts, and I'd have to tell them I was training for it. Now, I can say I did it!

This was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life (right up there with jumping out of a plane when I went skydiving back in my 20's). But, while I have no desire to ever jump out of a plan again, I'd love to do a Tough Mudder again!

Don't get me wrong, I loved the experience I had when I went skydiving, but this was completely different. I had to study a book and take an 8 hour class before I was certified to jump out of a plane by myself. But, my preparation for Tough Mudder required hours of training, and the accomplishment of crossing that finish line was so much more rewarding.

When I first saw the videos of Tough Mudder playing in the fitness center at the Y, I thought: Wow, that looks so cool...I wish I could do that! After talking to my friend Lynn, who did a mud run last summer, I changed my thought process to: This is my goal...I just need some guidance on how to achieve it. But, I WILL achieve it! Thank you for inspiring me, Lynn!

I've never been much of an athlete. I didn't make the softball team in high school, and I was on the basketball team my freshman year, but really only played during the last minute of the game when the coach was certain that I couldn't mess up the lead, or when he was certain we had no chance to catch up to the other team. I spent most of my time at the games filling up water cups for the starting players and handing them out during time outs. I also could barely run a mile in gym class. I was so out of breath by the end, and I would always blame it on my asthma.

After my first Tough Mudder training class at the Y, I could barely lift my arms over my head to wash my hair in the shower or dry my hair, I had trouble walking down the stairs, because my legs were so sore, and I seriously felt like passing out for the rest of the day. I kept going to the classes though, and I also started working with the most awesome personal trainer in the world - Marsha Hughes.

Little by little, the classes started getting easier for me. I knew the classes were actually getting tougher, but I was getting stronger and wasn't in so much pain afterwards. I went from barely being able to do a push up the regular way (not on my knees) in Mike Sobczak's Saturday morning class back in January to doing 350 regular push ups on the Monday before Tough Mudder.

I started this journey not because I felt like I needed to lose weight, or get in shape. It was because I wanted to prove that I was tough, like those people in the Tough Mudder videos at the Y. I wanted to prove it to myself, and to the people who told me they didn't think I could do it when I started talking about it.

This Tough Mudder challenge made me realize one very important thing...Being an athlete is a choice, and not something that just comes naturally. Of course, there are people who have natural talent, but even the superstars have to make a choice to train for their sport and do what it takes to be successful.

You can't just show up for practice and games (or the mile at gym class) without doing anything else, and expect to be good at it. It takes more than that to be a true athlete. You need to do more than you think you can and push yourself harder than you've ever pushed before. Sometimes, it takes another person like a trainer, an instructor, or even a friend to keep you going. Sometimes, you can do it on your own and just keep pushing yourself, even when your body and your mind are telling you to stop.

I've always been a "glass is half full" kind of person, but this experience just solidified that mentality for me. I'm doing the Broad Street Run next weekend, and I just registered for my first half marathon in September. I am also quite certain that a marathon is in my future. If I can run through fire, jump into icy water and swim out when I can't even breathe, make it over a massive wall and get electrocuted at least 8 times, why can't I do that too?

There might be some things I won't do, but there is NOTHING I can't do. I believe there is a path that leads to the achievement of every goal...You just need to follow the path, stay focused and believe in yourself.

Thank you to the Central Bucks Family YMCA for helping me to realize this amazing goal!

Amazed

Tonight at Tough Mudder training, I did:

• 80 sliding push ups
• 200 squats with a barbell on my shoulders
• 60 burpees with knee jumps in between
• 30 sit ups
• 50 Russian twists
• Army crawls across the studio 8 times
• Lunges with a barbell across the studio 8 times
• Crab crawls across the studio 4 times
• Bear crawls across the studio 4 times

...plus some more stuff that I can't remember. And, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill this morning.

This is absolutely crazy to me, especially since before the past 3 months, I literally haven't exercized at all (except for walking) in the past 17 years. It just goes to show you can achieve almost anything if you want it badly enough and work hard enough.

My Adventure Around Lake Galena - Tough Mudder Training At Its Finest!

Tough Mudder is exactly 1 month away, and I really want to step up my running. I finished my first 5K over the weekend, but the furthest I had ever run was 4.5 miles, and that was on the treadmill! I've been to Lake Galena before with the kids and read that there was a running path around the entire lake (5.75 miles). I thought today would be the perfect day to take the step to run just a little further than usual. Little did I know that I'd also be training for The Tough Mudder!

I started out running on a path that winded pretty tightly around the lake and it was absolutely gorgeous. I had Bon Jovi's greatest hits playing on my iPhone and I really enjoyed passing by other runners and walkers who either said hello, waved, or nodded at me as I passed. It made me feel like I wasn't alone, even when I was running by myself.

At some point along the way, I lost the running path. I was following the path and it ended up in a parking lot. I didn't see where it started up again, so I headed back down the way I came and decided to head towards what looked like a slightly overgrown trail. I followed it for a bit, but had to climb over fallen trees and make my way through sticker bushes, and then the trail just completely stopped. So, I just made my way towards the lake and started running alongside of it.

I was definitely not on any kind of path, and found myself running through lots of rocks and mud. TONS of mud. There were times when I had to go through mud that was deeper than my ankles, because there were trees and overgrown bushes all around the lake and nowhere else for me to go! Other runners might have gotten upset by this, but I was actually kind of excited. I felt like I was in real world training for the Tough Mudder.

Prior to this, my training had been in the gym or outside of the gym. My Saturday training class was held outside one morning in the drizzle and mud, but I soon realized that did not prepare me for walking in the sludge I was facing!

There was also some psychedelic sludge, which scared me a bit. I'm guessing it was mixed with motor oil from the boats that are on the lake in the summer? I saw animal footprints in the mud too. I was hoping they were from dogs.

My initial goal was to run the entire 5.75 miles around Lake Galena without ever slowing down to a walk. But, at some points, I needed to walk in the woods, or my legs would have been scraped up from all of the sticker bushes. I also had to stop running when I was in the very deep mud, because I think I would have run right out of my shoes! Note to self: Tie your shoes very tightly for The Tough Mudder.

One thing that helped me get through the really thick mud was to walk on my tippy toes. I think it was something about the angle of my feet that helped me keep moving without feeling like my shoes were being pulled off my feet!

Finally, I saw a little bridge and decided it was time for me to find my way back to the running path. I saw some footprints heading back into the woods, and decided that might be the way to go. So, I made my way through the the overgrown brush and finally found the path that went over the bridge. This path did not wind tightly around Lake Galena. It went up a steep incline and I was high in the hills above the lake, looking down at it. At some points, I couldn't even see the lake.

Now, I was running on a path with a ton of mud soaked through and on top of my sneakers and ankles. It felt like I had 5 pound weights strapped to my ankles and I was going up a very steep hill too. I came upon a little clearing and saw an animal carcass. I literally screamed out in fright when I saw that. I stopped for a moment to take a picture and then kept running!

The one negative to being back on the running path was all of those park benches on the side. They all seemed to be calling my name, but I pressed on. I rounded a corner and saw a parking lot and really thought it was the one where I parked my car. I actually screamed: "YES!" because I thought I was reaching my finish line. I got a little closer and realized it wasn't the right lot, and kept on going.

I heard "Wanted, Dead or Alive" playing on my iPhone and kept telling myself I needed to pretend an animal was chasing me and I had to keep running, or I'd end up like that carcass! Even though I did slow down during the really rocky, woodsy and muddy parts, I did run the entire time I was actually on the trail.

I rounded another corner and saw the little fishing dock that my kids like to walk out on when they're throwing rocks, and I knew I was close to the end. I threw my hands in the air as I maded it to the dock and was so proud that I made it the entire way. I checked my iPhone's pedometer and it said I went 6.1 miles in 1 hour and 2 minutes, which I thought was fabulous!

My shoes were so muddy after I finished, that I decided to drive home barefoot!

I also took a picture of myself next to the lake to celebrate finishing my first non-official "mud run." It didn't come out that great, but as they say: If you still look cute after you work out, you haven't worked out hard enough!

My First 5K

I finished my first 5K, hosted by the Central Bucks Family YMCA in 28 and a half minutes. It's funny, I realized after I finished that it was the first time I'd run 3.1 miles outside. All of my training had been on the treadmill up until this point. I was always trying to make sure I ran 3.1 miles on the treadmill so I'd be ready for the 5K, but I knew it would be different running outside, with more inclines, harder pavement, etc. I even saw a post by someone on Facebook saying that running on a treadmill was like running on a cloud in comparison to running outside.

I jogged the 1 mile fun run with Zachary and Annabelle before my 5K. Zachary took off at the starting line and I couldn't even see him anymore. Annabelle struggled a bit, but I was very proud of her. She was getting so tired, but I kept encouraging her and she made it to the finish line all by herself! We were one of the last groups to cross the finish line for the fun run, but I was just happy that I didn't have to carry Annabelle for a mile, and then run my first 5K!

My 5K was next and I felt really good going into it. I think the 1 mile fun run/jog was a great warm up for me! I was really proud of myself for doing the entire 5K without slowing down to a walk at all, and my favorite part was crossing that finish line and hearing them yell on the loud speaker: "JENNIFER PEEEEEEETERRRSSSS." I don't know if that's a common thing for 5K's, but let me tell you...I could really get used to this!

Had my butt kicked!

Well, just when I was starting to feel like I was getting in shape, I had my butt kicked at a Tough Mudder training class with a different instructor. My in-laws were visiting us for Presidents' day, so I had someone to watch my kids early in the morning, and decided to head to the 6:00 AM Tough Mudder training class.

The room was packed, and I saw 2 ladies from my Saturday morning class. I introduced myself to the instructor and he helped me put the weights on my bar (something I never worked with in my Saturday classes). I set up my step and the instructor told everyone to start moving and doing jumping jacks while we waited for the class to start.

I don't remember everything we did during the class, but I do remember that it started out with 100 bench presses with our legs raised up off the ground, then 50 side lunges, then 25 dips (I think that's what they were called). Then, he told us to do it all over again.

We also had to do lots of exercises around the perimeter of the gym, including a bear crawl on hands and feet around the entire perimeter. I also remember doing 50 lifts with the barbell, then a bunch of push ups with our hands on the steps and a bunch with our feet on the steps. I could barely keep up with this class, and everyone looked so fit!

This had to be the hardest hour of exercise in my life! But, I got through it and realized I need to start pushing harder. I wish I could go to those 6:00 AM classes more often. They are so challenging. But, my kids are still asleep at that time, and my husband leaves for work at 5:20 AM. So, it's pretty much impossible for me. I can pretty much guarantee that babysitters won't want to wake up early to watch my kids for me either, and even if they did, it would probably cost me a fortune.

I'm glad I went to that class though. Since then, I've been pushing myself much harder when I exercise and I know it's helped my along my journey in becoming a Tough Mudder.

Training

I've been training for almost 6 weeks now, and I feel myself getting stronger. I take a Tough Mudder training class at the Y every Saturday morning at 7:00 AM, and work with a personal trainer every Wednesday. Then, I do other things on my own, like running on the treadmill, push ups and other exercises. But, I know I really need to step up my activity soon - especially my running. Tough Mudder is in 2 1/2 months, so I still have some time to step things up.

I am making progress though. After my first Tough Mudder class, I could barely lift my arms to use a hair dryer after my shower and felt like I was going to pass out for the rest of the day. The 2nd class was more difficult, and although it was painful to lift my arms that day, it was easier. Now, although I feel a little sore after my classes, I don't feel like I'm going to pass out. Now, that's progress in my book! Eating a decent breakfast in the morning before training also helped a lot. I guess it is the most important meal of the day!

Enlisted!

I really wanted to register for Tough Mudder, but I wasn't sure if I could physically do it. I called the Y and talked to the person coordinating the team. She told me I should attend at least 3 Tough Mudder training classes a week to build up my strength for April. Unfortunately, only one of the classes actually fit into my schedule. So, I signed up for the one class, and decided to see how I did and then ask my instructor if s/he thought I'd be able to do the Tough Mudder.

Then, I called my friend Lynn, who had previously completed a mud run. I asked her if she thought I'd be able to train for it in 4 months. Up until this point, all I had been doing is using the treadmill 3-4 times a week. I hadn't done a push up or pull up since high school (20 years ago) and didn't really consider myself strong. She said it was possible, and that was all I needed to hear. I registered that day. I wasn't going to wait for an instructor to tell me if I could do it - I was going to tell the instructors that I was going to do it, and ask for advice along the way.

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."

- Henry Ford

Introduction to Tough Mudder

While I was Facebooking one day, I noticed the Y posted a video about Tough Mudder, saying they were forming a team to tackle the Tough Mudder in the Poconos at the end of April. I watched this video and was intrigued. This looked tough! I couldn't possibly ever do something like this...or could I?

Maybe this was just the thing I needed to step up my game. I've always been known to give 150% to something I really want to do, and this was extreme. Aside from running and crawling through mud, I'd have to cross monkey bars, run through fire, carry heavy logs up a hill, and potentially even electrocute myself. What's not to love about this?

Two things appealed to me the most about Tough Mudder: it was a team effort, and it seemed really exciting and different. I'd never run in any races, marathons, 5Ks or obstacle courses before. I hadn't even considered it, but I liked the idea of working with a team to make it through the obstacles, and the training program for Tough Mudder at the Y said I'd get into the best shape of my life. I needed to do some more investigating!

Getting "Fit"

I joined the YMCA in my area in the summer of 2011, but didn't have the courage to start working out until September, when school started and our family established a sort of routine. I started out on the treadmill, which was the only piece of equipment in the gym that I knew how to use. I was using the treadmill 1-2 days a week.

Then, the Y held a Frosty Fitness Challenge for the month of December. You had to exercise 12 times during the month of December. Every 3 times you checked in, you got a new piece to add to your snowman, which hung on the wall in the hallway for everyone to see. After you completed your 12th workout, your name was entered into a drawing for a $250 Visa gift card. This was just the thing I needed to motivate me to step up my exercise schedule and make sure I exercised 3 times a week. During a month when I usually gain weight from the holidays, I lost 2 pounds!

Towards the end of December, I knew I wanted to step up my game, but I wasn't sure how. I asked my husband for some personal training sessions as a Christmas present, and he delivered. I thought the personal trainer might help me learn how to use some other pieces of equipment in the gym and then I'd be more in shape and could move on to taking some group classes without embarrassing myself!

Mudder what?

The first time I ever heard of a "mudder" was in September 2011 at a gala benefit for hurricaine victims in Monroe Township. I was fortunate enough to sit at a table with some awesome people who were talking about mud runs. Here's a picture of me and Lynn taken that night. She told me about a mud run she did with her husband, and it sounded like so much fun!