i do not whine, kids whine - tough mudder #2

So they say you're crazy if you do a Tough Mudder more than once,  I guess that makes me, Brad, and Jessi, quite crazy then (we also dragged Jessi's boyfriend Dan out for his first experience) !!! Our second Tough Mudder is in the books and we didn't even have to travel all the way to Canada to do it this time.  Let me tell you....

It was awesome. 

It was warm. 

It was long. twss

It was hilly. 

And it was MUDDY!!!! 

10 plus miles, 19 obstacles, and lots of rocks and hills that weren't even obstacles just part of the course.  The Wilson Ranches Retreat in Fossil, Or. is where the event was held and it was the perfect location for a mudder.

You can check out the photos they posted on their facebook album to get a better idea of all the events. 

Before the mud.

Pre-Race. So fresh and so clean, clean. 

 via

Stole that one from their facebook.  It was right as I was climbing out from the Arctic Enema aka ice water that we had to go all the way under in. Also lost the head band from the photo above in that obstacle. Whoopsies. 

Here is someone's Go-Pro Video of the race: 

And here are the after photos:

We made it!!!

So.much.mud. 

This wasn't even the muddiest we got during the race.

A beer had never tasted so good! 

I'm cool, I know. not

We got head bands and shirts and our pride for finishing a second mudder! 

Things to take away from Tough Mudder number 2: 

::It is a lot more pleasant to do when the weather is warm.  The water obstacles are refreshing, even if said obstacles may have cow shit in the them. Unlike Whistler, BC where it was 32 degrees and multiple obstacles involved the snow that was present. 

::They aren't lying when they say the electroshock is live. Got zapped more than once and it wasn't that great of a feeling, but I didn't black out so there's that? 

::Being able to pull yourself up over walls and obstacles is a big advantage. 

::But you definitely need teamwork to make the dream work to finish the race. 

::You should totally sign up for one in your area!!!! 

::The permanent marker is really hard to get off your face and body even the next day.  I might be rocking my number on my arms and legs a little bit at work today. 

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAHHHHHHHHHHHH! 

<3 BB

#backthatazzup tough mudder style

Do you ever just have one of those evenings....

::The kind where you're late to an appointment because of traffic, your gas light comes on half way through the commute, annnnnd you have to pee. Not sure if I am the only one, but I PANIC as soon as my gas light comes on, because the one time I didn't panic I ran out of gas. Embarrassing.

::The kind where you walk in the door and the first thing your boyfriend tells you is you smell like beef jerky. (We later discovered it was from the sweatshirt I put on, hadn't been washed since the weekend and it still smelled like campfire.) 

::The kind where you go to the grocery store and you're smelling new shampoos and it squirts up into your nose. facial.

::The kind where you buy these awesome treats:

because you're cutting out dairy, but then when you go to open the container they spill all over the sink and counter, 3 of which ended up down in the garbage disposal. WAHHHHHHHHHH

No?! Just me?! Cool.

Needles to say, all those Almond bites were gone by the time I went to bed last night and I am extra glad it is Friday.

Also, if you're curious I made it to my appointment in time and didn't run out of gas. It was for a massage and don't get all ohhh and ahhh for me, this was not your normal, relaxing, happy massage.  This was a massage done by the sports massage therapist that worked on me in college for track.  It's deep tissue and it's painful, BUT they are the most beneficial massages I have ever had when it comes to preparing for an event.  I have been having knee and back pain and I think it has to do with my tight hip flexors so I am trying to get them loosened up before this weekend's TOUGH MUDDER! 

::Speaking of, go check out Jessi's weekend links that are Tough Mudder style. Great Transition into this week's links, Brooke

::Just a few pie charts, you know, very educational ones.

::In honor of Fathers Day.

::37 things to consider before moving to Portland.

AND MY FAVORITE LINK OF THE DAY....

::Season 2 of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee has arrived!!!!!

Also, it wouldn't be Friday if I didn't #backthatazzup, so we're gonna #backthatazzup Tough Mudder style. 

Get some! 

last year 

So ready. 

Yes, that would be the beef jerky, camp fire sweatshirt, in case you were wondering. 

HOOOOOORAH! 

<3 BB 

workout wednesday :: tough mudder

I say TOUGH, you say MUDDER!!!

TOUGH!

MUDDER!

That's right folks, this girl is running a Tough Mudder on Sunday because she's such a bad ass crazy.

If that video doesn't get you jacked up and pump your face off, then you're doing it wrong.

Here are 31 reasons Tough Mudders are for crazy people.

Watch this video from Time Magazine to learn more about how the race came about and what it is like to partake in the event. 

My dad asked me once, 'Why in the hell would you spend money on putting yourself in pain?!' and to be honest the guy makes a valid point... especially for a second time!!!!! Yes, this is going to be my second Tough Mudder race. I blogged about the last one here. Really though, he could have easily asked the same question every time I did the heptathlon in college track too, but for some reason I just love it. I love having something to train for. I love pushing myself in events I wouldn't normally do, and I love getting to say 'yeah, I did that and it was pretty bad ass of me.' 

My friend Jessi (who ran it with us last year) and her boyfriend Dan will also be joining Bradley and I and I am pretty excited about it! Especially because it is supposed to be 80 degrees for it instead of the 32 degrees and snow we had for the last one up in Whistler, BC. 

Wish me luck!

So in honor of my race on Sunday, I'll leave you with a Tough Mudder inspired workout:

5 Rounds For Time: 

::10 burpees

::15 hallow rocks

::20 push-ups

::15 thrusters (65lbs bar)

HOORAH!

<3 BB

beach bod thursday

Ahh sheeeeet, it's about that time: Beach Body Time.

via

ahahahahahaha. 

Kidding, don't panic. You're freaking me out.

Here are some of my favorite workouts that you can do to get ready to rock your favorite one-piece, bikini, or sweat pants all summer long. Not to mention the fact I have another Tough Mudder coming up in just over a month! Mama needs to get in gear.

via

::First workout on the list is one that I do fairly often, because you can do it anywhere.  No equipment needed, other than a deck of playing cards. 

Deck of Cards

I have mentioned the deck of cards workout on the blog before, but here is the run down. 

::Grab a deck of cards

::Assign each suit a movement (here is what I often use)

-Hearts = burpees 

-Diamonds = squats

-Clubs = push-ups

-Spades = v-ups

-Jokers: Man-Makers 

::Each card you draw is the number of times you'll do the movement. 

Joker = 20

 -King =13 

-Queen = 12

-Jack = 11

-10 = 10, etc.

::This At-Home Chipper is one I stole borrowed from Carrots 'n' Cake and is also one you can do at home. 

via

::Next is a Crossfit inspired workout from the Blonde Ponytail. 

::Do each movement 10 times before moving onto the round of 9.

::If you're feeling really beast mode you can then count back up. Start with 1 of each movement and then head back to 10. 

::Last, we have one that you might need a gym for, unless you keep heavy weights, boxes, and a pull-up bar around your home. 

::5 rounds (as fast as possible):

-10 pull ups

-10 thrusters (70lbs bar)

-15 box jumps

Good luck getting ready for funshine! It's supposed to be in the 80s this weekend here in Portland and if our apartment pool isn't up in running, the complex can expect to see a kiddie pool out my front door. Sorry, not sorry.  Don't forget the sun screen! 

Cheers, 

<3 BB 

Cooper Mountain Nature Park

Does anyone else get a bit stir crazy by the end of January, only to realize we have at least 4 more months of rain to get through in Oregon before the weather decides to be nice?  I mean I get it - it's winter, it's cold, it's rainy, there is a lot of great college basketball on Saturdays, and I love me some NFL on Sunday, but at a certain point I get tired of being inside.  I am like a child that way.  You can only entertain me indoors for so long.  Plus, I get extra tired of using it's grey and rainy out as an excuse to lay on the couch all winter day.

This past Sunday I asked Brad if he wanted to get out of the apartment even though it was raining and luckily he was game.  (It did help that only the Pro Bowl does anyone eve watch that? was on and his Indiana Hoosiers had already won earlier that morning.)  We wanted to try a new trail so I headed to Google and found that Cooper Mountain Nature Park is only a few miles away.

Now, technically this isn't hardcore hiking or anything, but it was definitely a nice change of pace from a treadmill or busy street roads. It offers 3.5 miles worth of graveled trails and overlooks the Tualatin River Valley.  Tough Mudder Training, anyone?! We are signed up to run our second mudder in June, who wants to join our team?!

Oh hey, Cooper Mountain. Nice to meet you. 

Initial view of the TRV. 

Don't ask...

Pre hike stretch, which was needed because our pace was as fast as you could walk without turning into a run.

Look guys, Nature!

Rain, we're not afraid of you.

Brad and I were curious to know how the tree lost its bark, but not quite curious enough to Google it.  Do any of you nature enthusiasts know why?!

It bodes well for me that grey is one of my favorite colors.

Team Selfie. #telfie? Okay, I will stop talking now... 

This playground was perfect for Tough Mudder training.  Obstacles on obstacles on obstacles.

Beast mode.

There might have been an older couple giving Brad and I funny looks as we were on the playground, but whatever....We are definitely planning on returning to get a few runs and other training in, maybe even bring Jessi and Dan the Man with us, since they are also signed up to run the Mudder! #hoorah!


Anyway, if you are looking for a change of pace or want to get some Mudder training in, Cooper Mountain may just be the place for you.


Cheers,

<3 BB

Knucks To Canucks!

Just got back from my first shake out run since Tough Mudder and boy did I need it. My hip flexors haven't been this sore since day two of my first hep freshman year of college. Thanks TOUGH MUDDER for reminding me I still have them!

The Boy, Jessi and I just got back from Canada after competing in one of the coolest and hardest competitions I have been in: Tough Mudder - Vancouver. Popping our Canadia Cherries together, we took our schweddy balls and hit up I-5. On the way up to Whistler we were able to pit stop in Vancouver, which I have decided is a pretty legit city. You get a thumbs up in my book, Coove (I know you were worried I wouldn't approve).

Lion's Gate Bridge is super pretty, in case you had any doubts.

After some random, but awesome entertainment (including Street Magic by an Englishman, Hungarian Dancers, and a Chinese Wushu competition) and fresh sushi in Vancouver, we hit the road again and made our way to our hotel in Squamish, BC (or Squatamala to the locals).  This song might have been played more than once one the drive (obvs Brad's request):

Squamish is 40 mins outside of Whistler and was the perfect spot for us to crash before getting up bright and early (5:01 am early, to be exact) for the race. We ate at the super chill Howe Sound Inn & Brewery and enjoyed it so much our first night in town, we headed back for more the next. Brad was happy because the Euros were on both nights and Jessi and I were happy because of the yummy menu. With full tummies we headed to bed early -- lights out at 9:15, Grandma needs her sleep to compete.

Originally, I had planned to channel my inner Katniss Everdeen for this event, but then I forgot my bow at home so that ended pretty quickly. All in all though, I think I made her proud. Luckily, signing up for it eight months in advance gave me the chance to build up my upper body strength and step up the cardio so I could pull myself up over the Berlin Walls and Everest obstacles pretty easily, as well as kick Brad's butt in the monkey bars (nbd) and still be able to run the 10 plus miles. Ok, that isn't entirely true, we did give in and walk up the Olympic Ski Jump mountain, because well it was steep and at mile 10 and by that point our quads were spent.

So fresh and so clean, clean lasted about 30 seconds into the race before we had to crawl under our first barbwire obstacle.

To answer your question: Yes, we did jump into that iced over lake.

These were the Monkey Bars that I went Beast Mode on.

The obstacles on their own were not horribly difficult, but add up 25 of them, on top of 10 plus miles, 45 degree weather, and some ice water and you've got yourself the 'Toughest Event On The Planet'. I think my dad said it best when he ask me, 'You drove 7 hours to put yourself in pain?' My response, 'Yeahhhh, but the view was gorgeous! So it was worth it?!'. Crossing the finish line three hours later after running through the final electro-shock obstacle felt like quite the accomplishment. I think the Tough Mudder Pledge had it right when they state it is a challenge, not a race. Everyone on the course that day competed as a team and I, personally, think that is pretty cool. 

Brad, Jessi, and I have already pre-registered for the Portland Tough Mudder in 2013.  Who wants to join?!

Cheers to Mud!


BB

I Say Tough, You Say Mudder.

Blog post coming soon, but here is a little taste of my Tough Mudder Race. This is someone's go-pro view of the race so you get to see all the obstacles we endured.  I think my hands are still frozen from the lake jump!

Cheers to being tough!

BB

Cheers To The Weekend!

Happy Friday! 

Confession:  I read blogs (hence the reason I started mine), but here is the kicker I read a ton them.  And I don't just read blogs by people I know.  As of late, my motto as been *Leave no blog behind*  I read everything from fitness blogs, to music blogs, to lifestyle blogs, to daily fashion blogs, and don't forget my favies food porn blogs. Which leads me to 2 questions: 1) At what point does one transition from casual blog reader to straight up stalker, due to the fact that you follow certain bloggers on the daily and feel like you're besties, even though you have never met them and they have no idea who you are? --Although, that question is probably best left unanswered for my sanity. 2) What kind of vibe do I want my own blog to have. 


With there being so many types of blogs online, where do I want mine to head.The more I stalk read other blogs the more I realize what I don't want mine to be, which i guess is a good place to start.


I could post photos of my daily outfits, but that just seems like too much work and a little vain for my taste. (Although, let's be honest, I think blogging in general does come with some level of vanity, because you are already assuming your life is cool enough that it MUST be shared with the rest of the internet world). And as awesome as my Style Board is on Pinterest, my wardrobe is not that impressive, nor do I have the funds to invest in one that would be.  Then there is that the whole judgement thing, I am already worried about whether or not people will find my blog entertaining, so the thought of having someone judge the way I am dressed or how I style my hair on the regs just makes me want to break out in hives.  Not to mention how much work it would be to have to dress cute EVERYDAY.  No thanks.


Then there are the hardcore fitness bloggers.  These are some of my favorite blogs to read.  They are often the most inspiring, to the point that sometimes after I read a post I am so geared up I almost want to start training for a marathon (then I remember the time I started training for a half-marathon and it only lasted 2 weeks). I love finding new workouts and healthy snackies and hope to pass them along to you, but as much as I enjoy being active and working out I don't let it consume my life and I don't want it to consume my blog either.  It's a big part of who I am, but not the only one.


Now this gurllll loves her food. Let me tell you, if I could eat for a living, I would.  With that being said, I don't think my blog will be a Smitten Kitchen anytime soon. Have you ever seen a behind the scenes of a kitchen post?! Rumor has it you need a nice camera, good lighting, and time for a lot of baking.  None of which I have.  


So I guess that leave us with just a little bit of me, being me....  Prepare yourselves for new workouts, life updates, recipes to nom on, some fantastic music, and my favisies instagram pics.  


Example: this weekend I am super pumped because the boy, our good friend Jessi, and I are driving up to Whistler, BC to compete in a TOUGH MUDDER race.   It's this SUPER scary hardcore 10-12 mile race, with multiple obstacles including electro-shock,  barbwire fences, and jumping into ice water.  I might have blacked out when I signed up for this, but Brad keeps telling me it will be awesome.  Plus some of the profits from the race go to the Wounded Warrior Project, which I think is pretty neat-o.  So, if I am not stuck in some Canadian hospital (hooray for free health care?) come Monday I will be sure to post more about it next week! 


Cheers to the weekend! 
BB

                                                   Ps. Cheers to coffee too!