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!