Tough Mudder Utah

So after all the ones that Jake has run, I finally decided (after I got a discount code) to run one as well. I wanted him to know that I am as tough as he is and more. (I'm really not, but I like to pretend I am.)

The race was in September in Cedar Fort and we had a great group to run with. The morning started out a little chilly, around 40 F but quickly warmed up. 

Morning group.

 The first group ran first thing in the morning. The girls, Lisa, Jessica, Cassie and some other wives took pictures. Since pictures tell a better story, I'll let them do most of the talking.

Pre-race family pic.

 While Jake, Jeff, Marc, Cassie and I ran/walked the event, Lisa, Jessica, and Justin watched out kids. Luckily there was so much dirt, all they really had to do was feed them and make sure they followed along.

My little dirt hill climber.

Me, Jake, Cassie, Marc and Jeff starting the event. 

Enough mud for you.

 When the first group ran, they were some of the first through Arctic Enema. There was ice floating around in bright pink water. Check out the pictures below.

Yes, it was that cold.

 What you can't see is that there is actually about 6 inches of ice on top of the water.

Celebrate how cold the water is.

Warrior Carry

It may have taken forever but I made it across on my first try.

 Shortly after this, about mile 8 of 11 we came to a hill and my knee did not like that idea. Knee problems are what kept me from doing this before. We slowed down a lot. Jeff wanted to get some real exercise so he ran ahead.

Jeff in electro-shock therapy

All together at the end, minus Jeff. 

Eventually, we all made it. The only obstacle I didn't attempt was Electro-shock therapy. I have no desire to be shocked. Too many bad experiences as a kid. Did I enjoy it? It was fun. I could do the obstacles anytime. Combined with that kind of distance, I don't think my knees would handle it. I enjoyed being able to do this with Jake. He was so loving and supportive through the entire thing. He would rather carry me than have me sit down or quit.

I have such a loving and supportive family and I love spending time with them, although I don't enjoy living with the knee pain for a few weeks after the event.

Tough Mudder Tahoe

We finally took a trip without the kids. Well, the past 2 trips without kids have both been for Tough Mudders. It was a good time anyway. Jake signed up for a Tough Mudder at Lake Tahoe. Not my preferred way to see Tahoe but you take what life gives you huh. We had a great time driving and staying with Jake's brother, his wife and her family. I love when other families make you feel like family. 

We arrived Friday night and enjoyed a wonderful dinner on the lake shore. The view was beautiful, the food good, and the company so awesome.  

The next morning we got up and ready to head to the Tough Mudder. The place Kristine's family booked was right next to the course so after enjoying breakfast and taking pictures, we walked to the beginning of the Tough Mudder maze.

I call it a maze because we had to stand in line for quite some time (that wound around the shops at Tahoe's ski resort) to check in. At which point we then rode a ski lift up to the starting line. If that doesn't tell you what the course would be like maybe fact of 2700 ft in elevation change over the entire route will. This was the busiest Mudder we have been to. It was part of there "Global Mudder: weekend.

Tons of people waited to start the race. This group just jumped in. I didn't get as many pics this time because I was using other people cameras and stuff but they all start to look the same after a while.

Devil's Beard

What the back of your shirt looks like after running through mud.

The finishers.

Since it was a big weekend, there were lots of extra booths and sponsors. Bic was giving haircuts. I actually think they wanted people to either go mohawk or shaved head for something they sponsored but they gave Jake a regular haircut.

You really trust someone cutting hair in a BIC tent?

We rode the gondola down and walked back to the condo. Cleaned up and got food. Tahoe is very pretty and very similar to Park City. The next morning we woke up and jumped in the car for a long drive home. Because of this trip, I really want to go back to Tahoe sometime to do things I enjoy doing; exploring, water skiing, hiking, adventuring. Maybe one day.

Thanks to Kristine's family for allowing us to tag along. We had such a great time. And thank you for mailing me my shoes after we forgot to pack them with the dirty clothes.

Always playing

We like to play. My sister stopped in town now that she lives on the road so the girls and I drove down to hang out. After trying to make schedules work and trying to figure out what to do, we ended up and the South Jordan Heritage Center (Gale Center). The kids love it there. I wish there were  more places like it. 

Attending school from earlier times.

Buddy (aka Tanner)

How many people fit on your rocking chair?

 The center tells about South Jordan, Utah's history but has many interactive/play areas for kids: a general store, the school house, a pretend house with a kitchen, table, food, but also have information about past and present South Jordan. It's fun to see art from current residents or heirloom items passed down from generations on display.

Later we took a trip to St George. We stopped in Cedar City to hang out with some good friends who live there and so Jake could visit the dentist, which is our friend's profession. The other reason for the trip was the Las Vegas Tough Mudder. We headed down early and walked a little on the strip. Some much has changed since that last time I was down there to hang out. We parked in "Excalibur's" parking lot with little intention of going inside until Ellie and Sammi started talking about how excited they were to go into a princess castle. We walked in and then basically out again.

Sammi loves chocolate but wouldn't touch the M.

 Ellie wouldn't even pose for a picture with the M&M. They did think it was really cool. Ellie wanted to try some of the roller coasters but we weren't there long. It was a tough night as we were staying in a hotel cause the boys wanted to run early. Dinner was late and it was about 9:30 local time before we got back to the hotel and put the girls down for bed. Sammi has the annoying internal alarm that wakes her up at about 6:30-7:00 am Mountain time so she woke us all up at 5:45 am local time which was fine because that was about 5 minutes before Jake's alarm was set to go off so we could pack, eat breakfast and be on location to start the race by 8:00.

Early morning group, first run (before).

Early group, first run (after)

 Yes, some of them ran it twice. It was a long day.

Second group.

 It wasn't as warm as we thought it should be because a storm was blowing through. There was chill, wind, rain, sun and then warm/hot. The kids entertained themselves by playing sufficiently in the dirt. Sammi loved putting in on mommy and Madi's shoes/socks.

Second group, after and slightly cleaned up.

They are always looking for people to join their group and do the race. Here is a video of the last obstacle at almost every race, Electro-Shock therapy. Enjoy. Yes those are live wires. If you want good videos where people are knocked on their behinds because of the shock, just look on you-tube. If you want to participate in the next event with them, let me know. If you talk with Jake, he will convince beyond a shadow of a doubt to join. He's a lawyer, he does that sort of thing.

Jake's Tough Mudder

So after running the Dirty Dash, Jake felt pretty good about running the Tough Mudder. Go thing too because he had already registered and paid for everything. I am proud of him and excited that he was able to do something with his brothers.

Sadly, the Tough Mudder is a rotten organization in my book. They make the appearance that they make large donations to the Wounded Warrior Project. Unfortunately the only donations made are ones of friends and family of the participants. Then on top of the outrageous registration fee ($100+), spectators have to pay $20 bucks to watch, unless you buy at the gate at which point it is $40. Because of the spectator cost, I didn't attend.

Luckily for me, most of Jake's family attended and they have awesome pictures. Not so lucky, I don't have copies yet. Luckily, I don't have to pick which pictures to post. Sadly, I don't have pictures to post. Maybe one day I will proudly display muddy pictures of my husband working together with his brothers and a few friends to complete the course.

Exercising

With the weather turning nice out here and with Ellie and I both wanting to be out of the house more, I have started walking.  On warmer days, we head out and walk around one of Denver's many wonderful parks with paths for walking, biking, jogging, etc. You name it. I love having all the paths. Ellie sits in the stroller and "woof-woofs" at all the dogs we pass, which is a surprisingly large amount. After we come home and I do some yoga that I record off the Discovery Fit and Health channel.

I have learned that if you are trying to exercise with a small child at home, do it while they are sleeping or otherwise incapacitated like sitting in the high chair eating.  Ellie crawls underneath me while doing downward dog, climbs on my back folded in child's pose, sits on my legs while performing cat rolling, and sits on my face during the relaxation portion. Once or twice she has stood next to me and tried to mimic what I was doing. It is quite hilarious but very hard to complete the yoga sequence.

So far we have been quite diligent for the 2 1/2 weeks we have been working at this. On days that are a little too cold, I just try to do 2 bouts of yoga. Hopefully we can keep this up and add to it so I don't feel old once we manage to do physically active activities.

One day I might look at changing my diet so it is slightly healthier but right now I'm not too worried as I am pretty sure I eat more fruits and vegetables than most non-vegan/vegetarian Americans. I don't think my diet is too bad but I know it could use some tweaking.

Work 2nd Annual 5K

A couple of weeks ago, my work held their 2nd Annual 5k run. It's part of our work exercise program. Annie came out to run with me, but unfortunately I'm not in as good of shape as she is. Macy wanted to come so she came with her bike. There was a good turnout from the employees as well. Macy and I stretching before the race.

Ellie waiting to start the race.

After warming up a little, we started the race. Even though the original plan was to run together, both Annie and Macy were faster. I didn't realize how much your arms provide momentum when you run.

Luckily Macy came also and rode her bike along side Annie while Ellie and I followed behind. The race went well except Ellie hated it when we jogged toward the setting sun because it was too warm. The problem with that was the last mile and a half was mostly facing the sun. My choices were either continue walk at a fast pace and listen to her cry or continue running (even though I was completely exhausted). Being a first time mom, I chose my discomfort over hers. I hadn't trained too well for this race but I finished with a decent time at a little over 36 minutes. Remember I was also pushing a stroller.

Even with my lack of training, there were no injuries. Maybe next time I will training better before running a race.