Arizona Warrior Dash 2012

So this Warrior Dash report is a couple weeks overdue – sorry about that!

This year we didn’t get creative with a team costume (kinda hard when all your teammates are boys and can’t be bothered with dressing up.) In the end we decided on “Team Wal-Mart” – as that’s who outfitted us.

So this year was much warmer than last year – I’d say a good 10 degrees or so. We had an 11am wave start time, so it wasn’t unbearable yet but still freaking warm. 

Tom & I did the dash last year, but this was Ben & Joey’s first time. I was glad they switched up the obstacles – I only recognized 2 or 3, the rest were new. And a little more challenging! Several pull yourself up & over, climb back down, etc.

I am probably one of the clumsiest people on the planet, but out of the four of us I was the only one who didn’t fall! I thought for sure I would biff it on the tight-rope obstacle. (Two ropes – one you stood on & one you held onto above your head, had to tight-rope across a big mud pit.)

Towards the end of the race, Joey left us in the dust. Tom, Ben & I were way too hot (and out of shape) to push it any further than a walk/run scenario. At the last obstacle before the fire jumping & final mud pit, there was probably the most dangerous obstacle they had there.

There was a pit that was filled with water (a life saver in those temps) and then you had to crawl over the wall and slide down. However, there was nothing to break your fall when you slid down. So Tom comes barreling down the slide, hits the ground which forces him to whip his head back – right onto the wooden slide. Might have given himself a concussion, who knows.

Anyways, it was still fun & I will definitely do it again next year! Hopefully with a better costume.

Why, hello there.

I don't know why it is so hard for me to blog these days, but wow. I have really dropped the ball!

So, here's what's happened in my life since we last spoke:

• I ran the Firefly Run two weeks ago. It was a lot of fun! We had a freak cold front and the race was at night - so it was quite chilly. I was expecting to do quite poorly, seeing as I haven't been running regularly lately. But I ended up only finishing a couple minutes slower than my PR, so that was kinda cool!

• Last week, a couple of co-workers & I decided to hike Camelback Mountain. I was a little weary because I've never done Camelback before and hear it's pretty tough. We did the Cholla Trail - and can I point out that on that page it says "  Everyone who hikes Camelback for the first time reports that it was more difficult than they expected."

Uh, foreshadowing.

I greatly underestimated this hike. I had no idea that we'd basically be climbing uphill the entire time. My body was not prepared for this kind of beating! After several stops, we were almost to the Saddle part. I asked my friends to stop again so I could catch my breath. And then I started getting over heated. And my vision started going.

And when this happens, I faint.

I didn't want to alarm my friends, so I said I just needed to sit down on the rock for a minute. The scariest part was I could not get a full breath. I would breathe in and my breath would just stop half way - it's about this time I start convincing myself I'm going to die.

I slid down to sit on the ground & my friend Matus realized I was not doing so hot. (My vision is still blacking out at this point.) He told me to take off my hat and that helped cool me down.

After about 5 minutes I returned to the land of the living and told them we needed to head back down instead of up. :) Moral of the story: I'm never doing Camelback Mountain again. Ha.

• Warrior Dash is this Saturday! I promise I will do a recap afterwards.
• Oh, and I got a new job!! I am VERY excited. That's one of the big reasons I have been away from the blog the past month - this was a long process!

Let's talk weight-lifting

Oh hey, remember how last year I got the death sickness and was out of commission for like two weeks? And how I said that I never get sick and it was so bizarre? Guess who is recovering from bronchitis....this girl.

Ugh.

I'm starting to think the state of Arizona hates my immune system! It's all out of whack. Needless to say, I have taken a break from working out due to wanting to die every single day. But I think I am finally almost over it and slowly working my way back to the gym.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I bought the book The New Rules of Lifting for Women. I had seen it around a few of the blogs and it sounded like something I wanted to try. Weight lifting is completely brand new to me. Sure I do a machine or two in the gym, but I've never had a routine or quite frankly really never knew what exactly to do.

This book has a TON of information. TON. And after you read it, you are super pumped to get started! However, there is one tiny  big thing that has been eating away at me...

INTIMIDATION.

Oh wait. You mean I actually have to go to the gym and try this exercises....in front of people? With equipment I really have no idea how to use?  Because let's be serious y'all...some of these moves are just designed to make you look awkward.

I'm trying to find the courage to start this program because I think it really will be something new & beneficial. Anyone else out there that has done this? Or tips on how to make me not drop a weight on myself or completely look like a spaz?

Shoes!

So here is probably one of the most asked question from a runner: What type of shoes do you run in?

I currently run in Saucony Kinvaras:

 I like them well enough. I like having a light shoe and I've never had a problem with heel strike, so this is a good fit for me. I tend to run more on the balls of my feel than anything. However, it do tend to get blisters on the inside of my feet while wearing the Kinvaras. Maybe these shoes are not wide enough or I just have crappy feet. Or both.

So it's about that time for me to pick up another pair of shoes. The Kinvara now has a Kinvara2, which I'm contemplating. But I'm also thinking about trying a pair of Newtons:

Any of you guys tried this shoe before?? It's almost twice as expensive as the Kinvaras, that's why I'm a little hesitant.

Or, alternatively, which shoe is your go-to?

The gym dilemma

So, I feel pretty guilty going to the gym when it's been so nice outside. I would much rather run outside then hop on the dreadmill, but then I start thinking "Well, you're paying for this membership. You better use it!"

This will happen to me one day. I just know it.

So you guys that have gym memberships: how do you find a good balance between the two? And what's your routine at the gym? I'm too much of a weanie to ask one of the trainers for recommendations, so that's why I'm coming to you. :)

Also - did i mention I turned 30 last month? Yeah, I didn't. Because it depresses me. (No offense to any one) but 30 just sounds so OLD! I did manage to stop feeling sorry for myself long enough to go out with a bunch of friends that night for karaoke. I was a 90s rap superstar that evening!

Oops.

It's been about a month since I blogged last. Why? Because I am having epic writer's block.

And I haven't really been running.

Just a mile or two here and there, but certainly not blog-worthy content.

I've slipped into a bit of a funk again - this always happens after I complete a race. But I am being proactive and have signed up for two races coming up pretty quick:

• Firefly Run - 4.14.12
• Warrior Dash - 4.28.12

I'm excited about both of these! Firefly sounds really fun - a 5k at night & you get to wear as many glow-sticks/glowing objects as possible!

And I have some friends doing the Warrior Dash for the first time, so that's going to be a fun experience too. Already thinking of costume ideas...

So, I hope to start back up my blogging! And getting back to reading all your wonderful blogs!

Color Run!

A new post...I know that's a rarity around here lately! Thanks to those who tagged me in their posts - I hope to  get around to filling those out. :)

Anyways, this past weekend I did the first-ever (in Phoenix) Color Run! It was a freaking blast - definitely recommend it if it comes to your city! My only complaint is that I wish they would have had the race start in waves (there were 6,000 of us!) because it got quite congested at times. I'm sure they will make that improvement for next year.

This was our team "We Color Outside the Lines." Nice & clean to start off. :)

Since it was so crowded, this was the only part of our team that managed to stay together through the race. This was after two color stations.

And here we are at the finish - color everywhere! (Except for Joey who had already had his color blown off by a leaf blower - seriously.)

This was the after party - every 15 minutes people would throw color in the air.

Next to Warrior Dash, this was one of the most fun races I have done. And i use "race" very loosely, as it wasn't timed and was just for fun. But that definitely made the 3 miles go by fast!

So about that half marathon I was going to do in March - yeah, not going to happen. I slacked off and haven't been training. I've been going to the gym (!) but haven't been doing any long runs and don't feel prepared at all. Plus, it sold out before I could sign up.

C'est la vie!

My next race is the Warrior Dash at the end of April - need to start training for the obstacles. ;)