CrossFit, Yoga and Mud Runs - Oh MY!

It's been a while. My apologies. Sometimes my life just gets in my own damn way! But, I am here today to catch you up a bit.

After a week of a nasty cold and the following week being laid up with horrible muscle spasms in my back and a doctor's note (which pretty much excused me from life for a week), I was finally able to get back to CrossFit. In that two week time, I was having the worst withdrawals. I felt horrible, sluggish and was so inactive. Meanwhile I'm watching people from my box posting on Facebook about how they smashed their PRs, finally got that HSPU (Handstand Push Up) or shaved 9 minutes off their baseline. This is wonderful news! But I was sitting at home, so jealous that my goals were taking a backseat to health issues I had zero control over. Needless to say, it felt amazing to finally be back.

The bad news: My "welcome back" WOD was 150 push-ups. You read that right, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY PUSH-UPS!!! If you took a pause from your push-ups, you had to go take a run. This was a horrible WOD! I'm so proud I was able to finish, BUT my arms felt like they were going to fall off....for an entire week following!! This made my other WODs that week almost insufferable. It was rough.

So, what do you do the day after you (somehow) bust out 150 push-ups? Well, the sensible person rests and recovers. This crazy girl decides to try Hot Yoga. That's right, I took my noodle arms and met a friend for Hot Yoga; for the first time. Ever.

I know zero about yoga. A few simple poses and to remind myself to breathe is the extent of my yoga knowledge. I have an amazing best friend who is so mindful of her own body/mind/spirit and who is currently exploring yoga more in depth. (Some of you may know her as Wednesday Blogger: Zo.) Every time I hear her speak of yoga I feel enlightened! It has encouraged me to dip my toes in the water a bit. The best way for me to learn is to do. So, a friend of mine and I bought a Groupon for ten sessions of Hot Yoga. We went for the first time, the day after push-up-hell-WOD, and it was the most intense workout experience I have EVER endured. I have never sweat so much in my entire life. I mean, wring-your-towel-out-when-you're-done kind of sweat. It was amazing. To think of all the toxins I was able to rid my body of is incredible. The state I was able to take my mind to was ineffable!  It really was an enlightening experience and I can't wait to use my other nine sessions.

All of this hard work, besides benefiting my overall health and wellbeing, is in preparation for our next mud run. Hub and I, along with two fun friends, are going to tackle the Rugged Maniac at the end of November. My first mud run (Warrior Dash back in April) was so fun but one obstacle defeated me. I refuse to allow that to happen again! So, I'm going to be busting my butt during the month of November to prep for the Rugged Maniac.

That's my recent haps. What goals are you currently working towards? What new fun activities have you tried lately? Would you do them again?

See you at the finish line!

Mud is Good for the Skin, RIGHT??

I sure hope it is because, come Saturday, I will be covered in it!

On the 13th the hubby and I, along with a few friends, are going to be celebrating our wedding anniversary by participating in the Warrior Dash!! Two of our other Bloggers, Stefanie and Andrea, just competed in the Dash in Lake Elsinore. And they killed it! I hope to do half as good as they did. Really, my only goal is to finish, preferably unscathed.  

Being new to running, it is important for me to have goals. 5Ks are a great way for me to have that driving force. If I have something to look forward to, it keeps me going.

We ran our very first 5k a couple weeks ago. The event itself was a disaster (that's a long story for another day, but I can say this: DO NOT do the Neon Run! This is not to be confused with the Neon Splash Dash). But the actual running-of-a-5k thing went great. I surprised myself at how well I did! Even though the Warrior Dash is full of obstacles, I am still pretty confident I can conquer it. 

The hub and I are a bit obsessed with races at the moment. Though we've only completed one run, here is what our upcoming schedule looks like:

• April 13 - Warrior Dash (5K w/ obstacles) - My goal is to finish and not die.
• April 20 - Pat's Run  (4.2 miles, longest run of my life) - My goal is to run the entire thing without stopping and a director at work has presented a challenge to everyone: beat his time and he refunds your entry fee! Not sure that's feasible but would definitely be the icing on the cake.
• May 11th - Neon Splash Dash (5K at night covered in glowing paint) - Hoping this event isn't a bust like our first 5K and just want to have fun

Hub wants to eventually run a marathon, perhaps by next year. I'm not sure that is a goal of mine just yet, but it would be an amazing feat!

What kind of fun things do YOU do to get moving??

**The above picture is NOT of me but I hope to be that happy when caked in mud.

We Are Warriors

So a few of us here at Muscles, Madness and Martinis are headed to the Warrior Dash this coming weekend in Lake Elsinore. It will be a crazy day filled with mud, strenuous obstacles and many friends cheering us on.

There are nearly 20 in our group and we will be running for personal best during the day. I'm curious to see what I can do after having a whirlwind wedding, getting in a car accident, coming down with a cold and not exercising much over the last few weeks.

I'm hoping to finish. There are 17 obstacles that will all kick my ass, wear me down and discourage me as I go; but I have my husband by my side, who won't ever leave me behind, along with some of the most amazing friends who will help and pull me through.

I'm excited that I get to experience the Warrior Dash and the mental anguish that will come with it!

What competitions are you preparing for and who will be next to you when you cross the finish line??