Fat Suit

So… running. I miss it. It’s like a bad relationship- you say you need space, and then you take it but it’s always on your mind, everything you have reminds you of it and you have moments of longing…. That is me and running. After my first two children came into the world, I “celebrated” with a half marathon, except for Ella. I was sadly sidelined. And I was actually sad about it!

So what happened?

I have been asked alot of questions about this, as well as my most recent blog about being Brave.

(If you haven't read it- you should- the author is phenomenal if I do say so myself! You can find that entry here: http://justkeeprunningrunningrunning.blogspot.com/2016/06/being-brave.html )

Did I quit because running is boring- no. Actually running is a sanity check for me. A stress reliever. Plus I usually listen to audible books when I run so I tend to run longer just to finish that chapter!

Sadly, though, I was icing my knee and my hip nightly and then it got to the point where it was painful even on the off days. A trip to the Doctor diagnosed me into a large “runner’s knee” category which then landed me in a physical therapy office. Although the consistent visits to physical therapy kept my legs shaved regularly, it was definitely a trying experience. From there the diagnosis was more specific (no I don’t remember what they called it), but the short version is that I had extremely pulled my IT Band, which in turn (because I ran through the pain- I’m tough what can I say?) I then proceeded to pull out the muscle around my hip to compensate. Continuing to attend boot camp with the aches and pains just made it worse. Turns out when the instructor tells you to squat a certain way—pay attention!! Had I noticed earlier that I was squatting with my knees and not my hips I could have saved myself a lot of pain, and co-pays. But here we are! Now I know! A perfect storm of trying to work off an injury had caught up with me.

Forced into a “no running until you’re cleared” turned me into a grumpy momma. So as I braced the brave challenge with my daughter I became hopeful that this would lift my spirits! Why did I take on something new while injured? Well, it’s a moving injury. In other words—exercising and ice are the best way to make it better. The only obstacles I now have (in addition to the mountain I already had) are I don’t have any balance; I have to limit jumping-type impacts and baby my right knee. But it’s a work through type of journey and the longer I wait the worse it will be (insert eye roll and long huff here)!

So what is the goal here? Why are my brave challenges focused mainly on healthy things and not fun things like sky diving? And why am I even doing this? Let’s preface this next part and just point out that I am not looking for compliments or to argue with anyone about what is healthy and what is not. I feel like that is a personal debate and struggle. So here, I will tell you MY opinion and where I am coming from and you can do with it what you will.

I have 3 beautiful, ornery, funny and challenging children. They each own a piece of my heart I will never get back, nor would I change anything about it. But when I go outside to play with them, I struggle. I do not, personally feel, like I am the me I should be. I have not made the healthiest decisions to land me where I should be, but instead have landed me where I am. Blatantly put, I feel like I am wearing a fat suit that I can’t unzip. Where my running clothes fit and not just hide the jiggle! I want to play with my children and be able to enjoy it, not try to catch my breath during red-rover. I want to feel like the me that I should be. Now I have read many different posts and blogs about being happy in the state you are in- and I think that is a great perspective- for other people. For me, I just can’t say that. With the personality I have I would simply not try any more if I told myself I was happy. NOT that that isn’t ok for other people—you go for it if that fits you! But for me, for my kids and for my husband I can do better. And I wholly don’t believe in a goal that ends. For instance, I will do this to lose 20 pounds for the wedding I am in. Nope. I think that sets me up for failure. Instead my goals are more like once I lose 20 pounds, I will start in on the next 10. And I want to be healthy and show my kids how to be healthy. To love my kids enough that I also love myself. Cheesy. I know. But that’s the dill pickle.

Whew! Now that the awkward part is out there- I was cleared for boot camp so I took that as a good start! If you are looking for a challenging workout, let me tell you- this is IT! Not only is the instructor fantastic, but the people in the group as fabulous as well! They even miss you when you cannot make it! If you want a good place to start with intense interval training- this is it! But they will kick your butt so be ready! Don’t let them fool you—they are fierce and they will make you push harder. But I was comfortable in the class. I no longer needed humor to deflect the “there is no way I can do that” feeling and class was a fun place to be! Although I was nursing the ole knee and hip I was still getting in a good workout.

If you don’t know what boot camp is—it’s 40 minutes of continuous interval training. Or, in my opinion, 40 minutes of good ole fashioned sweaty fun. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. I can actually see my muscles and I am no longer a grumpy mom! It’s funny, it’s hard and it’s addicting. Now if you know me, and that my sarcasm is a sign of terrified-ness, there are moments in which I’m not sure if I am going to make it! Some tell me I am dramatic, but humor for me, is a deflector. If you are laughing at me you probably won’t pay much attention to the fact that when she says do 15 burpees I struggle at 10.I have also learned that running isn’t the only sport in which a good bra is needed! Although I love boot camp, and even more so- the people, it’s time to add some flare into the mix!

So why write about this? Isn’t it too personal?

Maybe.

But on the other hand-- Is it too personal?

In my life I have grown the most by people sharing struggles that are very dear and personal to them. Ones that others would be embarrassed to bring up, much less make public. It would truly be an honor to be help in some way to another, goodness knows I have a few that I need to pay forward! Not to mention the adventure of marriage, motherhood and friendship requires moments of pure bravado. Who knows, maybe the extra practice will make the brave face easier to put on!

All that said- at the end of the day- I want to be brave enough to be the me I know my loved ones deserve.

As the Brave challenge begins, and my husband’s availability to be home in time for my evening boot camp I know it’s time to take on a different spin of boot camp and start TRX!

You should totally join me! You know it would be fun(ny)!

More on that later…..

Have a brave day!

Being Brave

As I look back on this blog and all I shared with you, I definitely used the time to bring you in to the humor of how I run. And I have definitely had some adventures with running; accomplished some goals, got peer pressured into everything (insert eye roll) and had some memories!

But as life has moved on, things have definitely changed for me as well! We are now blessed with (3) munchkins ranging from 8 months to 5 years old! So as you can imagine our life is in a constant state of chaos and change! And sadly, so is my figure.

One of our biggest changes this year will fall onto my compassionate, shy and reluctant 5 year old child. Kindergarten is coming! In the many conversations we have had about this new adventure for her, and there have been oh so many, we have discussed being brave. That there are things in everyone’s life they may not want to do, but they have to build up the courage and brave the change. During one of our many conversations, she looked me in the eye and asked

“Do grownups need to be brave?”

“Yes.” I told her

“Then what are you doing that you have to be brave about?” She replied

Well. Crap.

Nothing. I do the same thing, every week. I expect amazing results from my normal routine even though I won’t go out of my zone to push the limits. I like my comfort zone, there are snacks here. You can totally judge me, I am ok with that. I forget how comfortable I am where I am until I see a picture of myself, or notice how often I grimace and hide from a camera. Things have to change, but I have to be brave enough to change them.

I then decided, and promised my daughter, that I would find some ways to be brave with her. We would be a brave duo! Well, it turns out she hasn’t let me forget and keeps asking me what I am doing to be brave! As a great reminder we put it on the wall so we can see it every day and I know myself well enough that if I don’t make it very public, I will probably lose sight of it. And if I am going to ask her to do things that push her to the limits; I should definitely lead by example! Alright everyone- it's time for me to put on my big girl panties (bigger than they should be) and BE BRAVE!

So I made a list of things to do, then realized my list weren't things that would push me. More along the lines of things I wanted to do. So, round two, here we are. I have made my list of things I am NOT comfortable doing, and am giving myself 9 weeks to do them. 9 weeks seem like a lot of time but as I sat down to plan this adventure I realized it really isn’t. At all. Nope. Maybe I should have said a year. That would have been good too. Sigh. However, in 9 weeks I will be another year older. 

Double Crap.

Please feel free to join me on an adventure- or all of them. Seriously. It would be super fun and you know it! And we all know I am going to make my sister do at least a few with me! If anything it would be fun to come and laugh at me. Or us. Probably us.

Here we go- things I have yet to be brave enough to try-

•  Meal prep weekly (you would think that staying home would make eating what I should be eating easy- nope. Not at all.)
• Working with a personal trainer- I am a rather cheap person. I think everything is expensive (unless we are talking about sneakers) and I always thought I could do it on my own. “Could” being the word to focus on here.
• Water boot camp—because boot camp isn’t enough, I OBVIOUSLY need to do it in my bathing suit!
• TRX boot camp—when your body weight is the resistance, being the heavier attendee seems quite unfair, just saying.
• Cleanse. Do I really have to go into why this one is a tad bit un-nerving?
• Double my daily steps—why else do you track your steps if you aren’t going to do anything with the information? Unless there is a step club I am unaware of! Oooh maybe there is and they have snacks- OH AND the snacks should get better the more steps you take! This is an amazing plan!
• Workout 2x a week, in the morning, for 4 weeks. Sigh. This is going to take more bravado and discipline than I care to admit.Have you every seen that fantastically fit people working out before work? 

So there you have it. Time to take on my brave adventures and don’t worry, I’ll let you know how it goes. Even though it is safe to say it will mostly be disastrous, funny and you’re going to wish you had been there!I have already started my journey and schedule and there are already many laughs, eye rolls and moments you will enjoy reading about! 

Here’s to a braver me! 

My little freeloader

So it is official- or has been official for about 33 weeks- we are expecting #3. Crazy, I know! I find it odd that people make the same comments to me about having another baby as they do about the different races/experiences I volunteer myself for....

"Are you crazy?"

"Another one? Were the first two not enough?"

"How do you do it?"

"That's awesome, I am happy for you, and at the same time a little scared of you!"

I could go on and on, but let's stop there! No, the comments don't bother me, I take them as compliments! I love the adventure my life has become and I have no issue with the take other people have on it! But let me tell you, the first few weeks of this baby's life, and my exercise life have not meshed well! If you have kids, you know the extent of fun ("fun" is used lightly here) that a pregnancy can be! Nausea, constipation, fatigue, heightened sense of I-smell-everything-including-your-ketchup, constipation.... It's a fun little cycle, so why not throw in boot camp and a few miles each week while I'm at it? I have been DETERMINED not to gain the massive amounts of pounds my first two children blessed me with . Let's be honest, they didn't bless me with them, I used them as a nice excuse to eat everything and do nothing! (Including me eating all of their fruit snacks- seriously those things are freaking delicious!)

**I apologize for the delay, I had to go have a fruit roll-up**

This is a first for me, I have never exercised when I was pregnant... I beached my belly from day one, rolled out the maternity pants and lived on the couch! But I KNEW I could do this... Or at least I was determined to try! I just spent the last 6 months getting back down to my wedding day weight (yes, yes I did) and this pregnancy was not going to be a gut buster! 

Here are the 5 things I have learned about exercising while pregnant

1) There is NO amount of walking/running/jogging that I will not do to move my bowels. None. If you tell me I can sit down and poop if I go run 3 miles... DONE. (By the way, it really does work! Every. Time.)

2) Even the smallest jog was a new experience! My best bra, shirt and pants and it didn't matter... I jiggled EVERYWHERE! There wasn't a part of my body that didn't feel more jiggly-wiggly than I have every imagined... I really wanted to duct tape it all down... True. Story.

3) Sweating a little bit here and there actually helps you want to eat and drink! I had the biggest aversion to water this time- water! But I will say a brisk walk definitely helped me chug it down!

4) Boot camp was the ONLY time I was not nauseous. How is that for fat-girl karma? I was too dog tired to wash the dishes, participate in fun-filled activities outside of movie time and nap was the absolute best part of the day but if I could get started at boot camp I got an hour of non-nausea. And I was willing to push through an hour of stair-climbing, burpee filled boot camp if that meant I could smell ketchup and not want to lose my breakfast.

5) Lastly... I didn't need my maternity clothes from the instant that test was positive. I am not talking about those of you that are naturally smaller and your little bean shows in your tummy right away. I am far from it! With my first two, the instant the double line showed up I drug out those large and stretchy pants. (Ok, with the second maybe I never had them all packed away) But the 3rd time has been a charm.... well that and my super stretchy yoga pants!

Results of all this madness? I smelled worse, my house was filthy, my children unbathed and my husband loved the menu of pizzas and take out for 2 solid months! The flip side? I gained (0) pounds for my first trimester! CRUSHED IT! And have continued the weight gain to be so far under my other two children that I MAY strut my stuff from time to time....

Now my belly is out there- and by that I mean push-ups are no longer measured by how low can you go, but go as low as your belly will allow! I did it, even when I thought I couldn't and who knew that fitness and pregnancy could be such an adventure!

Here's to my attempts at being a fit momma, an easy birth/recovery and easy pooping!

6 more weeks... 6 more classes.... And cheers to only 6 more pounds (<-- that all belong to the baby!)

One more burpee never killed anyone... That I know of!

~K

Southern Frigid Running

I spent this year's first few month's moments of spare time preparing to run a race with my older brother and sister in Texas. He is stationed there with the army and invited us to come on down and run with him. Who doesn't want a WARM(er) run? Plus a kid-free vacation? STOKED! I may have spent nap time running one million laps around our yard to get the miles in- but other than weird looks from our dog- I got them in!

Training completed. Tickets purchased. Body Glide packed.

I found out right before I left that we were in fact expecting #3, so the wonderful wave of fatigue and nausea were in full swing but I was DETERMINED not to quit! I could do this! I was pregnant, not broken. 

At this point the goal was to finish, not PR, but finish. If that meant I walked, then so be it! As the days approached we started to notice a cold front heading for Texas. A cold front. And by cold, I don't mean 70 degrees. I mean COLD! So in the days leading up we began to prepare for this cold, but can you ever really prepare for it? You don't know? Let me tell you! NO! No, you cannot! You know that you will sweat as you run, and then you will be all sweaty which means you catch something terrible... All because you exercised in the cold. That's dumb. (How did I prepare for it? I ran mostly inside.... I am not a good cold runner... I should relocated somewhere tropical.)

So how did it go? Well... every time I think of Texas; I want to cry. Like a baby. And hide under a table in a dark corner so no one will make me go. Does that help?

The flight was interesting- which should have been a clue as to how the whole trip would be! My sister (oh yeah- she did this with me but let's all not act surprised by that! If Katie is doing something crazy, more than likely Amy is in the thick of it too.... Or behind it) ended up missing her flight. I have never experienced someone missing their flight before, and it happened. A storm had moved into KC that day and slowed down the highways, at least that's the official reason. What do I think happened? I bought her lunch, since she was running late, and her tray of cheese, apples and hummus cost me $20. TWENTY DOLLARS. I sure did carry that all the way to Texas with me and delivered it to her five hours later, it was $20 hummus people. And she ate it, either because I terrified her or she was actually hungry at that time.

Once we ALL finally got to the airport, some of us were waiting more patiently at the Texas airport than others for my sister's plane, my brother picked us up and we headed for the hotel. That was two hours away. People, when I run a half marathon I go to bed at 7:00 pm, that is before my (4) year old goes to bed. Here it was 9:00, we were checking in and I still needed food for breakfast before the race. Ay yayayayayayayay. Drop off bags at the room, take some nausea meds, go to Target, take some nausea meds, check the weather (have about 15 minutes of pure shock and dread at the weather report), try to sleep. And by try I mean I think I finally conked out three hours prior to needing to be up to go.

5:00 am... We are up, fed, dressed in what we were willing to carry if we got to hot, the duck was ready and we needed to get to the shuttle. This race was offering a shuttle as most do, so we thought it was no big deal, EXCEPT their plan of five shuttles changed that morning when only one showed up. for hundreds of people. Oh, and it was raining. RAINING and in the 30's. 


SERIOUSLY. I have never wanted to quit a race in my life, but at this point even where my thighs naturally rubbed to keep warm was cold! This was not a good sign. After about 17 hours, OK 45 minutes, of waiting for the shuttle we were dropped off at the starting line about two miles away. 


We barely made it across the starting line before they started to tear it down for the 5k finishers, we were off to a great start. Walking was no longer an option, if I was going to make it out there, I was going to have to jog simply to stay warm. And at first, it wasnt bad. The first four miles were okay, and things were moving nicely. Then the rain started, or shall we call it sleet? Let's call it sleet, that sounds more terrible. Because it was terrible! 

At mile 8, I was OVER IT. I was out of fruit snacks, granola bites and body warmth. My feet were still dry and that was the only thing still dry. All I wanted was a finish line, or a cart picking up the slow pokes- I would have had no issue hitching a ride. None.

BUT... I didn't quit. None of us did. Not even my mom who stood at the finish for the better part of an hour with new blankets and snacks to help us survive our trip back to the car.




Amy and I survived (seriously that was the goal- and yes she beat me), and my brother finished his first full marathon. I got a blanket, a medal, some fruit snacks and a nap... It was a fantastic end to a race I will always think of and shudder. 





It was the worst experience of my life, but I love that I had it. I loved being with my brother and sister and my mom and enjoying the rest of the weekend (that didn't involved running)!

May your runs be dry and warm....
~K

I am a Judgy Judgerson...

Don’t judge a book by its cover- I know my parents instilled this lesson into my brain over and over-- but it never took.

In my journey to get my last 18 pounds off by Christmas (I can do it, I can do it…) I have decided to venture out of my normal routine. How many times have we heard that when you hit a plateau to change it up. I like change as much as the next person- but if it means this last 18 pounds then bring on the change!

A while back I attended a boot camp class with my sister at a local community center- and I had an OH DURRR moment… I live in a community, and we have a center- three of them actually- SURELY they have a boot camp class at one of them. SURELY. So I went digging online and sure enough…

“EXTREME BOOT CAMP – SEE GREAT RESULTS AND GET WHOLE BODY BENEFITS FROM THIS FAST-PACED PROGRAM. CHOOSE YOUR METHOD EITHER HIGH OR LOW INTENSITY”

I maaaaaayyyyy have missed that first word, got overly excited about the affordable class, it’s right down the street (literally), and had time slots that I could make work (with some help) for childcare, that I didn't stop to think about what I was getting into! But I did this class awhile back… I would be FINE!

It was time to head to the class. After my sister kicked me off the phone so I could go in (I may have been stalling… maybe), I paid the nice old man at the counter and settled into this huge old gym. It was big enough for a basketball court and more, with two stories of stairs off to the side (who needs stairs in a gym??), and plenty of room to move around. While I was waiting for class to begin, I started to check out the other people trailing in. Okay, okay, I was judging the other people trailing in. And my confidence began to build. I was (by far) the youngest person in there. I think the next youngest in age was in their 60’s, followed by other women in their 80’s. I got this in the BAG! I mean, I am a half marathon runner, right??

The instructor came in, super fit and super nice, she walked right up to me (the new face in class) and explained to listen to the ole body, and only push as hard as I could- avoid injuring myself. Oh lady- I am an expert, I am an exerciser right here. She headed to her mat, began the wonderful workout music and the party was ready to begin.

As our warmup progressed, I was feeling pretty great- jogging and stretching is no problem! Nice and easy, breathing fine and still able to hold a conversation. I had a smile on my face and the world was a great place. Then it happened. My perfect little world began to crumble…

We went from pushups to squats to planks and then to jump squats in a matter of minutes. Burpees... As soon as the word left her mouth I wanted to throw up. Never stopping!

Did you need a drink? Oh well!

Did you need to stop? Suck it up buttercup and keep on going!

Do you know that 60 seconds can last for an ETERNITY when you are doing plank-jacks? AN ETERNITY. And just when I thought I had surely finished the 45 minute class, I look up and it had been five minutes. FIVE MINUTES.  As the workout continued the instructor would call out “keep your butt down”, “keep your arms straight”, and “don’t stop now” and as I looked around during those instructions, I realized, she was talking to me! Those elderly ladies were on top of their game. They smoked me in pushups, not to mention they can plank like there is no tomorrow! And then it happened I found out why those stairs were in the gym. I found out nine times. Well eighteen if you ask me, I feel like going up should be one and coming down should be two, but the instructor was not interested in my opinion. Sprints, bicep curls, stairs, planks, pushups in a form I haven’t even heard of before and more stairs. The longest 45 minutes of my life. You knew where I was stationed because there was sweat everywhere and at any given time you could see me lying flat on my back like a turtle trying to take in my last breath.

As class ended, my elderly comrades jumped right up and began talking about attending the next class. And by next I mean the very next class she was teaching next hour! All the while I was just trying to get from all fours into a standing position. For the first time since I bought my car I regretted buying a stick shift and wasn’t sure if I could work the pedals to get home. Getting out of the car once I arrived was even worse.

All that being said, I did it. I survived. I didn’t die and I am sore, but I am stronger. And I can’t wait to go back! I am excited to see how boot camp changes my body in the next few months (yes I signed up for more than one—crazy I know)! Moral of the story... maybe I need to work on my judging skills because in this case the cover was very deceiving! Those old ladies kicked my tail!

Try something new- you never know… you may just enjoy it! 

Much love and burned calories to you!
~K

I am a Maniac!

Well, we did it AND we lived to tell about it! I have never been so excited for an adventure before and let me tell you, WORTH EVERY PENNY!

The Rugged Maniac was a 3 mile course loaded with 25 obstacles. It was hosted at the local ski slopes, and the weather was perfect for it. When I pulled up to wait for my spot, I just started laughing and then I realized that when my sister arrived (who was NOT excited about this adventure) she might just strangle me. And although I don't know why I was surprised to see it, but the race failed to mention that we would in fact be running UP AND DOWN these ski slopes... more than once. I was STOKED!

I got to go on this adventure with my sister, my sister-in-law and a very good friend of mine. We met up prior to our 9:30 wave start time and realized to get to the start line you had to get over a straight 3 foot wall in front of the waiting crowd... That was a bad sign of what was to come!

The duck showed up again! AND he brought my parents and my brother in law.... We were ready to go!


The race began, and although we had decided we weren't going for a record time, we still attempted to make good time at first. And then we got half way up the muddy ski slope and i realized we were in for a long hall.

 Although I don't recall every obstacle by it's name-- I remember the moments that are worth sharing! Once we got to the top of the hill we had (3) 4 foot walls to scale, just in case you're wondering- this is not the point in time that you want to have boobs. They got in the way.... EVERY TIME! We had a few 15 foot "A Frames" to climb over, which were more about height than difficulty- but I realized at this point that having short legs was going to be hard in scaling over the tops of these obstacles and just hoping your foot catches the foot hold quick enough! From there we followed the path around the back of the slopes and went STRAIGHT DOWN a mud trail. This is where we decided that holding onto the nearest tree branch or bush was the way to do it! (No one would let me hold onto them... ridiculous... I know!) At the bottom of the hill we had to trudge through the SMELLIEST water pool I had ever smelled. It was stagnant and murky and there was no way around it. I decided that my sister was older than me and by birth right she could go first... and she did... turns out she also found a log in the stagnant water and down she went! All the way up to her chin and I did the sisterly thing... I  LAUGHED SO HARD I ALMOST PEED MY PANTS. And I couldn't move for a few minutes... so funny. But we continued on....

Although the order from here is fuzzy.... The adventure included the following moments...

There were a few 15 feet tall Jacob's Ladders and Cargo Nets that we had to climb up and then down. These weren't bad-- the problem was my short legs. Even though that doesn't seem high- your muddy and wet and teetering to the other side was about a 5 second panic moment!

Wading through a water pit that was about waste deep- yet you didn't know when it was going to hit that point. I was fine in the water pit but climbing out of the water on the mud hill I lost my footing and not only went right down on my butt but I then slid a few feet-- laughing hysterically the whole time! The next water pit was more like a river and had floating PVC pipes in hit that we had to get over to continue. Same thing on this one, the depth would change and you wouldn't know it-- but by then the water felt GOOOOOD!

We went up a teeter-totter and then back down enough times that I actually stopped crawling and walked like the rest of the adults! Amy and I helped each other balance on ladders across a mud pit, balanced through blown up bags while balancing on ladders and willingly jumped off into a big pit of (relatively clean water). We crawled through a few tunnels and went down quite a few muddy hills, mostly on our behinds! We helped each other over 15 foot flat walls and survived jumping over fire! We all attempted the swinging rings (grab one ring and swing to another, then another...) and by attempt I mean we at least tried to touch the ring before we just jumped in the water!

Turns out fire jumping while muddy and soaking wet is in fact NOT flattering... In case you need to know!

The worst of them all was the Pipe dream... This obstacle started with sliding (on your stomach) down a large pipe ending up in a mud pit under barb wire. From there you army crawled a good distance to the other pipe in which you had to grab a rope and with nothing but upper body strength pull yourself out. Did I mention that half way through the pit- you ran out of water and mud and got to crawl on sharp little rocks. So fun. And my exit from the tube looked like a terrible birthing video... Nothing about it was decent or pretty! Not to mention when we got to the top of the next hill we had to crawl through another mud pit covered in barb wire.... we were over it!

As we were running down the last hill- again mostly on our butts- I looked back and there was my sister-- flat on her back and not moving! When I walked over to her she just said "Leave me, I AM DONE!" After I was done laughing at her we hurried down the hill, fell at least (5) more times and rounded the corner to meet the one obstacle I was afraid of... The warped wall! (Dunnnn dunnnn duuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnn)

But we were going to try everything, once, and that was what I was determined to do. I would try it once. The bad thing about this was that as the racers were lining up for their turn, the spectators had gathered around to cheer each attempt... No pressure. Here was our attempt...

After my one attempt, we went up the side ladder, over the train cars on a cargo net and down the slide.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! I cannot write enough words to describe the adventure it was for me, not to mention the sense of accomplishment I felt afterwards. For our team, The Blood, Sweat and Beers... all in all we came back with four holes in my (very tight) spandex shorts, one case of poison ivy, multiple scrapes and bruises, a swollen ankle, blood was spilled and many many many laughs were shared!

I cant wait until the next one!




So I will leave you with this... I totally get being afraid of something in the physical activity world, of being to fat to finish (or even try), or being to scared that people will laugh at you or judge you before you even start. Do it anyways! Keep your head up! It will hurt, it will be hard and IT WILL BE WORTH IT! this was NEVER something a girl like me could do! I wasn't strong enough, light enough or good enough... But I threw that out the window and we CRUSHED IT!!!! I was afraid to fall, and afraid I wouldn't be able too... But I did it. And now I feel like I can conquer anything

Blood, sweat and beers to you all!

And until next time....

~K