Hiking - A New Adventure

Hiking! 

So Im a bit bored with running. Time to switch things up and try something new. I'm not a go into the woods kind of person, but Im bored with running. 

I've been running for almost 2 years and I need a change. So Im trying something new. 

It was actually fun and I enjoyed it. Sure, We walked the whole time becuase after all, hiking is walking but more challenging. 

Sometimes you just have to change things up a bit to stay active. Doing the same thing constantly can be boring and you'll loose interest and stop. 

After running the Princess Half Marathon and 10k, I've lost my interest in running.  I ran 10 5k runs last year. So far I've done the Disney Princess Glass Slipper Challenge and Spartan Sprint. I have a Color Vibe race later in the year. Thats it. I've lost my drive and motivation. 

So its time to try something new, but at the same time, still training. My other half likes hiking and thats what he does to stay active. We usually do our own thing. He invited me to go and I finally said yes!

So my new adventure is hiking. I wont give up on my running. I have the Pixi Dust Challenge to prepare for for next year!

Stay tuned for more!!!

Spartan Race

Spartan Race

Charlotte, NC

April 12, 2015

22 Obstacles in 4.3 Miles

Packet Pick Up

The Map!

If you want to try a run that is fun and challenging, this is the race to do!
If you are looking for a race that is going to challenge you mentally and physically, this is the race for you! You will have a blast! Be sure to have a team put together! Even if it's a small team. You'll want to help each other throughout the event! You don't have to do a team, but it was so much more fun having a team! My brother and Shannon helped me and I helped them!

I loved this race. We were covered head to toe in mud! I knew this was going to be a hard race, but I did not realize how you need a lot of upper body strength. I personally can't lift my own weight and this whole race is about lifting your own body weight.

I'm glad that I had my brother with me. He's a US Marine and Body Builder. He was able to help get my butt up and over walls, pick me up when I needed help and was just the best brother!

The best thing about this race is that EVERYONE will encourage you and help you. It doesn't matter if you know that person or not, someone will help you! So be sure to help someone who is in need of assistance, but someone else will end up helping you!

Towards the end, I was physically exhausted. The Inverted Wall about killed me and I nearly skipped it. I was so tired that I was having a hard time pulling myself up even with 3 people pushing me. I looked over and saw other people my size and bigger than me getting over and I pulled that strength out and gave it my all. I was able to get over that inverted wall. This way at the 17th station!

By the time I was at the Barbwire (20th stations) I was done! About half way through, I told my brother I was ready to punk out! People behind me started yelling at me from behind and telling me I can do it, "you can't punk out, it's not allowed" and so forth! Encouraging words from strangers! They kept me moving, rolling, crawling, and so on!

I completed this muddy race and I'm so proud of myself! I did it! Plus, I got a FREE Beer at the end too!

The worst part of this whole thing is that it's in Charlotte, which is about 5 1/2 hours away from my home. After the race was over, I had to drive 3 1/2 hours to Wilmington to drop off my brother and his girlfriend, then another 2 hours home...MUDDY! Once home, I had to take a shower! That was one long day!

I would totally do this again! I'm looking forward to the next race, next medal, and next t-shirt! I'll be hitting up another Sprint before I try doing the Super or Beast! But I will do all 3 one year and earn a full Trifecta Metal set!

My next Spartan Race will be in Fayetteville in September. Another Sprint! They have a Super in August...not sure if I'm ready for that or not just yet! Hmmm...I may have to think about doing that!

We Did It!!! (Shannon, James and Myself)

Free Beer! Oh Yes!!

 

My Goodies! I earned that!!!

 

Must Be Earned, Never Given!
AROO!

RunDisney Half Marathon & Glass Slipper Challenge

 

runDisney Princess Half Marathon

My Results are at the bottom on this blog!

Sherri and I are ready to get this party started. We are in corral "O" today. The last corral is "P". There is about a 10 minute span between each corral leaving the starting line.

Keep in mind, I did NOT train for this. I should have and I know, but I just didn't. Sherri and I, neither trained for this. We went with the "Lets Wing It" thoughts!

I also spend Thurs all day at Universal Studio's. Then Friday, we got up for my daughter to run the Frozen 5k and my son to run the Kids Run 1 mile, which I ran with him. Then we hit Universal Studios for day 2. Saturday, I got up, ran a 10k, and we went back to Universal Studios for day 3. Now it's time for the Half Marathon!

 

Here We Go!

 

Mile 1 and my shin splints are killing me! Where is the medic station?

Oh it's coming up shortly...

Thank you Medic Dude for taping up my leg! You are the best! It doesn't hurt anymore!

 

Mile 2

I'm ready to go! I'm feeling pretty good at this point.

 

Magic Kingdom enterance!

There were workers who had signs that said "Bump" and they were making up their own song and dancing to the word "Bump".

WHAT WHAT!!! The Magic Kingdom and I get the run threw it!

Oh Yes!

 

Mile 3

I'm feeling good...how many more miles until I'm finished???

 

5k Flag!

 

Mile 4...heading into the park

 

Mile 5 - yep...I've made it this far!

 

Mile 5 Flag

 

THERE IT IS! Cinderella's Castle! I'm so excited!

 

Yep Yep! This girl is getting excited!

The Castle!!

I get to run threw this Castle! Have you run threw the castle?

 

Princess Delina is about to run threw the Castle!

 

Mile 6

 

10k - Behind the scenes! They had floats back here all over the place. It must be where the characters on their floats for the parade every day!

 

Oh Crap..look at all these people...one lane to run in.

Someone's yelling that the Balloon Ladies are right behind us and we need to get moving!

 

Miles 7...Am I close to the end yet?

 

Do you see those bus's? Yep...the Balloon Ladies are nipping on my heels and there is about to be a "Sweep!" A sweep is when you are not at your pace and will be taken out of the race!

Must Keep Legs Moving...No time for character pictures...Must...Keep...Moving...

 

9th mile....is there an end to this race?

 

15K

HOLA!

 

The Last Major Sweep of the Race! I'm doing my best, but those pesky balloon ladies are so close!

At this point, I can no longer feel my legs or feet except for the blisters on the sides of my heels. My brain feels like it's in a drunkin' fog. I'm ready for a mental break down...which ended up happening. At the bottom you'll read more about that.

When runners say that their mind starts going after you've been running for a while, it's true! You won't understand it until you've had it happen to you! It's crazy! I thought I was losing my mind. Seriously!  I did. It's not joke!

Thank you Jesus!

Do I even own anything from the waist down?????

There is a GOD!

And a lady with donuts around the corner from Dunkin Donuts. I wish I could have had one. I know I'd throw it up though.

 

My ONLY Character Photo! I don't mind. I like Sophia. My niece and I watch her together!

Must keep legs moving!

 

20K...Am I at the end yet???

 

I DID IT! MILE 13! FINALLY!

I had to have a picture of myself at mile 13. I stopped long enough to have my picture taken because Ariel is my favorite character and I needed proof for myself that I made it!

 

There it is! The end is in sight!

WOW! What a day this has been! My body wants to stop moving so bad! Just get over that finish line I keep telling myself.

 

I met the lady in yellow around mile 4 or 5. We chatted for a bit and then I ran on head of her. She came up behind me just after mile 10. She patted me on the back and told me to keep going. I completely broke down crying. I was exhausted, my body was screaming at me, my brain is telling me to quit, my brain is tell me to just stop and rest for a second, and I was just DONE! She said NO! You are not allow to quit! You've come to far to quit!

She then introduced to me to the lady in pink. This was her first half marathon too. After we got past the last "Sweep", I just couldn't push myself anymore. I let those Balloon Ladies pass me and I just kept walking. The Lady in Pink kept talking to me and kept pushing me. She was with me until the end.

As we approached the finish line, I said to the lady in pink...we can run this! Let run over the finish line together! I don't know where I mustard up the strength, but I did and I ran over that finish line.

After we received our medals, the Lady in Yellow was waiting for us. She gave us BIG HUGS and I started crying again! I did it. I still get teary eyed thinking about that moment. I did it!

Thanks to these 2 ladies, I finished this half marathon! I couldn't have done it without them! They will both always hold a special place in my heart!

*9/22/15 - I did some hunting and I found out the ladies names!
Pink: Maria Mitchell (Florida)
Yellow: Annette Booker (Texas)

 

WE DID IT!

Happy 40th Birthday Sherri!

This was a weekend to remember!

 

My body, legs, and feet hurt so bad that I got a free ride on the luggage trolly to go to our hotel room!

At this point, had you asked me if I would ever do this again, my answer was a sure fire "HELL NO!"

But now, I would definitely do this again!

As my sister said "Its like child birth, you don't remember the pain! So you'll do it again!"

That's exactly it. I don't remember the pain and will defiantly do the Glass Slipper Challenge again next year! I'm down for some more self torture!

 

My Medals! I'm so Proud of Myself!

 

We got these cute bags when we were getting drinks after we received our medals.

 

One of my Greatest Accomplishment!

I never thought I would actually ever do a half marathon, let alone do the Glass Slipper Challenge!

I couldn't be more proud of myself and I earned those medals 100%!

My Results

 

runDisney runners snack box!

They had some yummy treats in these boxes! Want to know whats inside? Run a Disney Race and You'll find out!!!

RunDisney Enchanted 10k

 

runDisney Enchanted 10K

  

My Results are at the end of my blog!

It's so early in the morning! Got up at 4am to get ready! I'm running on 4 hours of sleep!

Lets Do This!

I highly recommend that you prepare for your runs! The weather in NC has been cold and I've been slacking. I think I've ran maybe 3 days to prepare. Not good.

However, I've done 2 days of Universal Studio's at this point. Running on little sleep. I had to be here at 5am. The 10k starts at 5:30am. Oh yes, it's early! I'm sleepy and my brain is not completely awake!

 

The Starting Line!

I'm in corral E for this run. It's my first 10k, so when I registered, I did not have proof of my time. So I'm in the last corral. Thats ok with me! At least I'm here doing this!
Time starts when corral A goes. There is a 10 minute wait between each corral that goes. I'm here for fun, not for time!

My pace is about 16 minutes.

 

Mile Marker 1

Woo Hoo! I made it!

 

Mile Marker 2

Yay!
Somewhere between mile 2 and mile 3, I can across a lady who was struggling hard and was on the side of the road. I was on the left and she was on the right. I saw she had no one with her. I run across everyone to get over to her. I patted her on the back and gave her encouraging words. She gave me a half smile, but I knew it meant something to her. I could see it in her eyes!

As runners, we need to do this for each other! We are all here doing the same thing. Even though I had no idea who this woman was, I just knew she needed some encouragement and I wanted to offer it to her! Even if you don't know someone, but see they need some kind words, give it to them! It really does help!

 

Mile Marker 3...almost done!

 

My Happy Face! I'm moving out of my comfort zone! I'm a 5k'er! I like to stay within 3 miles. So going beyond that 3 miles is huge for me!

 

Picture Time!

I didn't have to wait in a line, so I jumped in there!
My friend who is about 4'11" said "You finally found someone who is taller than you!"

 

Mile Marker 4

Getting closer to the finish line!

 

There are so many people, but I'm enjoying taking in the sights!

 

Mile Marker 5..WHAT WHAT!

 

Oh Yes! I'm almost done! I'm so excited!

 

Here it is! Mile Marker 6

 

FINISH LINE!

I did it! I completed my first 10k and I feel great! I'm so proud of myself!

 

Sitting down, taking a break before we try to find the car!

 

And here it is! My 10k Medal! I did it! What a great day!

MY RESULTS

5k Split - 45:45
Clock Time - 2:28:27
Net Time - 1:38:04

Div. Place - 1182
Gender Place - 7311

Total Runners - 10989
Total Women - 9740