Where have I been? And where to now?

I started this blog when I was training for Tarawera 60km in 2013.  That was my first event over 45km.  I completed this event and since then I have also completed The North Face 50km in 2013 and then had two DNFs in 2014; Tarawera 60 km and The North Face 100km in 2014.  I got as far as check point 5 (75km) in TNF in 2014 which has been my longest 'run' to date... although most of it was walking!

Since then I had a year off to try and have a baby by IVF, in which I was unsuccessful in getting pregnant but successfully spent about $10, 000 and gained 20 kg.

I'm back to lose the extra weight, gain fitness and finish what I started, so have signed up for Tarawera 100km and UTA 100km (formerly TNF).

Healthy!

It's taken me much longer than I'd have anticipated to get over the cold.

Ran Striders 10k at Lane Cove and took a few more seconds off my 2012 10k time and then ran a further 5k with Alison and felt pretty ordinary.  The next day I tried to run the 15k on my schedule but had to walk after only 7k of very slow running; my heart started racing and skipping beats which made me cough.  Same issue as I had years ago.  I walked till my HR returned to normal and then ran again, only to have to stop again repeatedly to try and settle the HR.  At 11k I wrote the run off and walked home.

Recovery week 

Monday rest day

Tuesday had a session on my program but didn't feel up to it so decided to run Wednesday morning.

Wednesday didn't feel up to a run in the morning so decided I'd run before Primal.  Left work late, got caught in traffic and only just made it to Primal in time.  Conditioning workout with Elliot included some 100m sprints.  Felt dizzy and weak and generally blah so didn't run after the session either.

Thursday Ran to RunClub from work.  Felt better than the last few days but not great.  Session was a killer but loved it!
drills
run throughs
16 mins of 'rolling hills'
core work
5 mins of 'rolling 100m'
5 mins of hill reps
800m on track
stretch

Felt great afterwards!  Thighs hurt to walk after all the squats at Primal yesterday so I might not be able to walk tomorrow!

Mungbean and sick

I'm fully sick... and not in the good way.  No Primal for me tonight :( Lucky I had a great weekend of running!

Saturday ran 15km with Sara in Brisbane along the river.  Not only was it lovely to have a good long run/chat with Sara but the pace was faster than I usually run my long runs and the weather was hotter and more humid so I was very happy!  Ran 15k @ 6:45/km by the Garmin I was wearing and 6:39/km by the Garmin Sara was wearing... work that out!

Sunday ran 10km with Mark, Emma and Buddy the dog from their place to Moffats Beach and along the waterfront to Lake Currimundi.  Love running with my family :)

I've now run 3 perfect weeks (i.e. followed my program to the letter).  Very happy with myself!

Time Trial

Tonight I had 8k on the program so headed off for about 3k before the Run Club session started.

I didn't have much in me after yesterday's 8 x 100m sprints and running with kettlebells so the pace was fairly cruisey.

Session went as follows:
2 x 400m warmup
Form drills with 200m run-throughs.

3k timetrial (18.06)

Uphill walking lunges
Triceps dips

Speed and Power

Yoga with Zoe in the AM

PM
It's not often a session makes me feel like vomiting. Tonight was one of those rare sessions. I also felt like crying and slapping someone. All at once.

4 rounds of the following with 100m kettlebell run between:
10x burpees
5 "man ups" (kettlebell press-up to rows to press-up to half burpee to shoulder press)
10 x box jumps

1 minute of each of the following with 100m sprint between each:
Superman using crank-it straps
Wall squat medicine ball throws
Thrusters (the worst bit if the burpees)
Sit ups
Clean and press using barbell
Sumo squat to upright row using barbell
Squats using barbell

I didn't stay for a second session. I didn't have it in me!

Treadwind running

Primal on Monday

Crank-it class
10 mins on the spin bike between classes making up my own session in time to the music :)
Kettle bells from hell.  I'm surprised I can still move my arms!

This morning I had 1k easy, 3k @ 6:15/km, 2k easy on the program.  I had a lot of doubt about whether I could do this.  But I did.
7:05,
6:16,
6:15,
6:10,
6:41,
6:21

I really didn't feel comfortable in the first km and when I saw I was running 7min pace I knew I had to step up quite a lot.  My lungs were burning and I was running into a headwind for some of the second km.  I guessed I was running at 6:30/km.  I reassured myself that if I was slower than the pace that's ok.  I just needed to keep pushing the same effort and remember that there was a headwind.

When the Garmin flashed "6:16" for the first km I was very surprised.  Felt like I couldn't keep the pace up as my lungs were burning and my legs felt like weights.  "6:15"

Turned the corner directly into the wind and slogged it out till the end of the km.  I didn't see the time so assumed I was slowest in this km.

2 km easy to finish and the last one out of the wind.

Glad I had the Garmin on as I would have felt very demoralised had I not known that I was actually running much faster than I thought.

100% week!

Coach Criniti had a quiet (email) word to me two weeks ago about my training and asked if I want to do this event.  I replied yes and something shifted in me.  It was like I suddenly realised wholeheartedly (or wholeheadedly) that I DO want this.

Since then I've had two weeks where I have run every session as per the program.  Rather than finding excuses not to, I've been finding anticipating the struggle to motivate myself and preparing strategies to ensure that I do.

Today I knew that I was tired and run-down and on the edge of getting sick so I decided to sleep rather than get up at 5am to run before the conference.  I knew that motivating myself to run after the forum would be a challenge so I thought about it all day.  I imagined myself getting ready to run when I got home.  I thought about what running gear I would wear.

When I left the conference I called Stella and asked if she had run already.  No?  Do you plan to run?  Do you want to run with me?

So when she got home we both got ready and headed out for a lap of the bay.  We were treated by the most incredible sunset so stopped to admire it on the Iron Cove Bridge.  I'm so grateful for my sight, beautiful sunsets and Stella's company on the run tonight.

Rewards of Running

My reward for getting up at 5:30am for a 10k run before the Animal Activists Forum.

Today I also have 10k on the program and usually I have to run in the morning to make sure that I don't slack off later in the day but today I needed the sleep in so I'll run after the forum.

Runclub Returns!

Coach Criniti had 8k on my program for tonight.  I know RunClub is usually about 4k so before we started I headed off for a 4k warm-up run.  Funny how you never notice the tailwind but you always notice the headwind!

RunClub session as follows:
2 x 400m easy warm up
stretches
form drills with run-throughs

4 x 400m with 45 sec standing recovery @ 6/10 perceived effort (p.e.)
core work
6 x 200m with 20 sec standing recovery @ 7/10 p.e.
core work
walk to Balmain Shores
1km @ 6/10 p.e.
walk back to oval
stretching

Great to see some of the old crew back (Munch, Theo, Karsoon and Jamie) and some new faces (Rebecca and Lucia).  It's good to be back!!

The last two weeks I've stuck like glue to my program.  Dave emailed me two weeks ago stating the following, if I really want to do this event, I'm going to have to ramp up the training.  I realised I really do want to do it and I've been super focussed (by my standards) ever since.  Bring it on!

Evil Elliot and Tempo Run

Wednesday

Morning - 60mins yoga with Zoe.

Evening - arrived at Primal to find that Elliot was leading the session.  I've seen him putting other's through their paces so was a bit nervous.  Turns out the nerves were not unfounded!

Started with a short, sharp run around the block after the warm-up and then made our way to the whiteboard.  The whiteboard had the session on it and it looked hard:

Part 1
1 minute per exercise

• burpees (seriously?  burpees for 1 minute!)
• plank
• thrusters (the worst bit of the burpees; from squat position with hands either side of your feet, jump back to plank position then forward to squat position etc.)
• push ups
• something else which my traumatised brain has blocked out

Part 2

12 reps of each x 3 rounds:

• box jumps
• squat to shoulder press with powerbag (15kg or 10kg)
• dips
• horizontal rows (or incline rows)
• deadlifts with 12kg (or 8kg) kettle bells
• kettlebell swings with 12kg kb
• wall squats throws with 5kg medicine ball
• slams with 'dead ball' (12kg 'ball' that doesn't bounce)

After 'part 1' Elliot rubbed off the pushups and made us do the lot again.  I think he was contemplating making us do it a third time but perhaps my look put him off.  I was certainly trying to!

Part 2 was ok the first time round.

2nd time I had trouble lifting the 12kg dead ball over my head so had to swap it for the lighter one which was 5kg.  A LOT lighter but easier on my back.

3rd time around I swapped to a 10kg powerbag as I was getting fatigued and did the deadlifts with the 8kg kettle bells.  

Elliot then threw in a 'sneaky' part 3 (what the?)

20 reps of the following:

• full sit ups
• 'froggy' sit ups
• leg raises 

each with a short sprint in between.

Tough session but a good session.

Thursday 

yoga cancelled as Ruby wasn't well

run club cancelled due to weather forecast

So, despite really not wanting to run, I took myself out for a 6km run with 3km @ 6:15/km in the middle.  Nice to see Linda in my warm-up 1km.

Every run takes me closer to my goal!

Mental Toughness Training

Sunday I really really really wanted to stay in bed.  So I did.

But I also really really really want to run this event next year and I know that each run I miss takes me further from my goal so I hatched a cunning plan to make running rewarding; I ran to Marrickville Markets (5.6k) and ate a vegan schnitzel, drank an iced chai and relaxed in the 'chai tent' while listening to the guy who plays guitar and sings there every Sunday.  Then I bought some food supplies for the week and walked to Crystal St.

When I got to Crystal St I ran for the next 5k and then walked the remaining distance home.

Monday rest day

Tuesday I really didn't feel like running despite having 5k on the program but I thought of Cheri and her very long ride on the weekend when she didn't feel like it.  I had said to her that those sessions are the ones that get you to your goal.  I gave myself a talking to and headed off for a run around Callan Park and Balmain Shores.  Easy 5k and another run closer to my goal.

Topped it off with a 60m yin yoga class.  My muscles are really feeling the lack of yoga lately.  Lucky I've got a class with Zoe before work tomorrow.

Homebush 10km

Very happy with my run at Homebush this morning. In all honesty, I only went because Coach Criniti put it on the program.

I wasn't feeling great with an upset tummy and was worried I'd have a repeat of my last Striders 10k at Lane Cove when i also had an upset tummy and ended up taking multiple toilet stops.

Before the start i noticed that the usual crowd of older people I can count on to bring up the rear weren't there, so I said to Leonor, "i think I'll be last today".

Everyone took off and surged ahead of me. I was last by quite a long way when I passed the 1km marker in just over 6:04. This confirmed my thoughts about my finishing place as I knew I was pushing harder than I should yet was still 200m behind the person ahead of me. I sang to myself to "You can run your own race" (to the Fleetwood Mac tune Go Your Own Way).

I settled into my pace (6:30ish) and switched my mind into thoughts of gratitude for being able to run whenever I noticed my thoughts going to self-criticism for my lack of speed and whenever I heard my thoughts go to "I can't keep up this pace" I switched this to "I wonder how long I can keep up this pace for?"

At 3k my guts kicked and I started to concentrate on the halfway mark and the toilets located there.

At 4k I overtook an older man with blue calf guards as he cheerfully told the Marshall "don't wait for me". I passed him and said "he may have to wait for me though!"

Cursing the "gingerbread men" (a la Tony's Trials on Marathontalk), at the 5k mark I startled all the marshals by running at speed in the wrong direction, toward the toilet and blessed (but temporary) relief.

I then concentrated on trying to catch blue calf guard man. I couldn't see him anywhere but could see someone else in front of me so spent the next 2k chasing him down. I finally caught him and focused on trying to keep the pace up. What pace I didn't know as I still struggle to operate Allan's Garmin and it seemed not to be consistent in beeping at each 1k split.

With 2k to go I saw a woman in a bright blue top and so set my sights on catching her. I did so with about 300m to go and then looked toward the finish.

Everyone was gathered around the food and refreshments across the road, completely oblivious to the three of us yet to finish but the lovely Leonor was there; my own personal cheerleader at the finish, thanks Leonor!

I will wait for official results as I had trouble operating the Garmin at the start of the race (damned bezel!!) but think I ran sub 65, which is approximately 3mins and 2 toilet stops off my last 10k if a long way from my PB.

This might seem disappointing on the face of it as Homebush is flat and Lane Cove is hilly and two fewer toilet stops would suggest I should have run faster however flat races are much harder for me without the downhill to recover and gravity to assist.

Nice to catch up briefly with Ron "sportsman" and Peter Nuttall at the finish but I'm afraid my conversation skills were lacking!

Updated layout now with extra motivation

On Saturday my housemate Stella and I trekked up to Raymond Terrace for Stand Your Ground 1, a course by Emazon.  The workshop was great and I came away with a lot of tea.  I also came away with some ideas for shifting the self-sabotage issue I have with running.  I realised how many 'rules' I've set myself and continue to make on a moment to moment basis "If I run now I can do x", "I must run or else y", "I have to do everything on my program or I've failed" etc. etc.  This is hooking my inner rebel who says "yeah, you can't make me" and then I get locked in a battle of good and evil in my own mind.

Without going into details of my childhood which are not necessarily helpful here, suffice it to say that I was an over-responsible child.  I had to develop maturity beyond my years very quickly and be responsible for myself at a younger age than ideal.  I also developed a strong sense of responsibility for other people's emotions but that's not so relevant.  One of my colleagues who was also a child carer for a parent said it best when she said "I'm in recovery from being over-responsible".

How are these two things related?  I have a very well-developed stubborn streak and inner rebel and she protects me from over-doing.   I'm going to call her Violet.  Unfortunately she doesn't know when the rules I'm setting are helpful to me, she just rebels against being constrained by 'should' and 'must'.  She's just trying to keep me from going down that old road.

So, with this in mind I'm setting out to get Violet on board with my training.  I figure I just need to let her know that running is something I want to do, not HAVE to do.  So I compiled a list of reasons I love running to tell myself instead of saying "I have to go for a run"

Reasons I love running:

• Surpass my self-imposed boundaries, proving I'm stronger than I think I am
• Achieve my goal of Tarawera 60km
• Increase self-confidence and self efficacy   
• Feel and look better in clothes (and naked)
• Boost energy
• Lift mood
• Boost memory
• De-stress
• Be with nature
• Increase determination and distress tolerance
• Be social! Meet new people and see friends
• Live longer
• Boost immunity
• Strengthen muscles
• Increase creativity
• Increase fitness and stamina
• Improve speed
• Strengthen bones
• Lose weight
• Improve sleep 
• Increase vitamin D levels
• Listen to music/podcasts
• Reduce appetite and increase healthy food choices
• Explore the neighbourhood (advantage for Urban Max)

I then told myself every run I log takes me closer to my goal of surpassing my self-imposed boundaries; every step takes me closer to the Tarawera Ultra.  Every run I miss for reasons other than illness or injury takes me further from my goal.  No 'should' no 'must' just simple statement of fact.

It wasn't easy but I went out for the 6km run scheduled on my program (1km easy, 3 km @6:30/km, 2km easy).  I missed yoga as a result but I'd already been to Primal this morning and done a strength session so figured if I missed yoga I'd done more than enough today.  At that moment it was more important to myself that I complete the run as programmed.

She believed she could, so she did.

Wagga Wagga Wobble

5km on the program so 5km I did. Felt pretty good although cold! There was frost on the ground as I ran around metropolitan Wagga. I had seen the Wiradjuri Walking Trail on the map so tried to find it but didn't. Happy with 6:41/km average pace as I ran uphill on the way out and down on the way back.

Tough Mudder Event Report

My tough mudder race report borrowed heavily from the official website for details.  

Before!

L-R: Wazza, Chris, Sean, Me, Lou, Benny, Phil, Sheree photo taken by Joanne

Start - We all climbed over the warmup wall and into a large holding pen where we were given instructions, motivated and fired up with music and the Tough Mudder Pledge ---->

A team photo, hugs all round and some laughter over Sheree's fall while coming off the warmup wall.  Countdown from 10 and we are off, through orange smoke!

Charge onto the Tough Mudder course with a start wave full of pumped-up Mudders. Battle cries are essential! The Braveheart Charge marks the beginning of every Tough Mudder obstacle course. 

Running through fields and through steep muddy trenches... little did we know how many of these there were going to be!  Each of the obstacles had running, river crossings, or muddy trench crossings in between.

1. Kiss of Mud #1

Eat dirt as you crawl commando-style under barbed wire set 8 inches from the ground. This obstacle is true to it’s name – Mudders must belly-crawl through mud in order to avoid getting snagged by the barbed wire above.

I lost my race number bib... yep, on the first obstacle.

2. Arctic Enema

First you must bravely jump into Big Mudder’s floating iceberg abyss. Once submerged, find the mental and physical strength to swim through the ice, under a wooden plank and pull yourself out on the other end before you become hypothermic.

It was very cold.  Hard to explain how cold this was without being quite graphic about parts that don't usually get mentioned in polite company.  

3. Berlin Walls #1 

This obstacle relies on teamwork. Scale two 12′ wooden walls with the help of your teammates... they got your back, literally. 

I'm quite scared of heights so I wasn't looking forward to this obstacle.  There was a narrow strip of wood (see above) which you could use as a toe hold but nothing else you could grap onto.  The wall was too high to reach the top so I was totally reliant on my team mates to give me a leg up.  Once I was on top of the wall I panicked briefly.  I asked Lou and Sheree "how do I get down?" it looked too high!  They guided me through the technique "turn around, get your leg over the wall and lower yourself gently with your arms (thank you for all those assisted chin-ups Ray and Phil!)  In reality I dropped like a sack.

4. King of the Mountain 

Finally something I could do... run... hills.  Up and down.  It was actually quite a reasonable run in the bush.  I didn't push hard because I wanted to save energy for later and I was concerned that two of our team were behind me and I didn't want them to get left behind.  The rest of the team got a long way ahead as it was actually a fair way to the next obstacle where they were waiting.  

5. Twinkle Toes 

I saw where this obstacle was as we drove into the site but it was clearly unfinished and the course didn't take us anywhere near it.  Instead I think they added in... 

5. Bale bonds 

Hurl yourself over a stack of hay bales.  The hay bales present a unique challenge with an uneven surface and loose hay making it difficult for Mudders to get a good grip while climbing. Once you get to the top, help Mudders behind you by giving them a hand! 

This was pretty easy but the holes between the bales meant it could get a bit treacherous if you weren't careful.  

6. Kiss of Mud #2 

So much fun the first time so they made us do it again!  Actually this one the wires were a little lower and it seemed longer.

7. Funky Monkey 

Some have been greased with our finest mixture of mud and butter and if you slip you’ll fall into an icy pond below. Bars are spaced 1.5 feet apart and you will be on an incline upward for the first half of the Monkey and then descending downward for the second portion.

This was my biggest concern when I registered.  I'd never been able to do monkey bars and it took me months before I could do 6.  I managed three rungs before my grip slipped and I fell into the icy and muddy water.   Phil made it almost to the other side.  Everyone was cheering... 1 final rung and he slipped!  So close!

8. Trench Warfare 

This military-style obstacle requires Mudders to crawl through narrow, dark, muddy trenches. Watch out for rocks, obstructions, and the occasional splash of muddy water from the Mudder crawling ahead. We advise all Mudders to move quickly through this obstacle to reduce the risk of contracting gangrene or trench foot. These trenches will test the stamina and mental grit of all Mudders, especially those who fear dark, confined spaces.

I don't have a fear of dark, confined spaces but even I paused before getting in.  Once in there it wasn't as dark as it appeared and wasn't as confined as I feared.  I was able to crawl on forearms and knees.  

Two of our team had phobic fear of tunnels.  One encouraged the other to go in and when he did opted to go aboveground herself :P.  When he emerged from the tunnel I gave some support to get his breathing under control.  Most of us had one or two obstacles which challenged us at a very deep level.  It was very inspiring to see Benny face his fear.  

9. Dirty Ballerina 

Leap with the grace of a black swan muddily over our 4-foot-wide mud pits. 4 feet may not sound challenging at first, but the tracks of leaping Mudders will erode the mud pits into wide, jagged-edged muddy gaps. Should your inner ballerina stumble, as she often can, you’ll find yourself submerged in a mud pit and calling your teammates for an assist.

This obstacle played to my strengths (long legs and cautious approach) so I found it easy.  It was a series of deep (chest high) trenches filled with runny mud.  The strategy that worked for me was to edge close to the edge of the trench but not so close that the muddy bank collapsed and you ended up in the trench.  Then, I focussed on a firm spot on the opposite side and gently jumped, aiming to land on that spot.  It worked a treat whereas others tried to take running jumps and ended up with too much momentum and would slip over and slide into the next trench.

10. Boa Constrictor 

 If you don’t like small spaces, this obstacle will be a challenge for you. Crawl through a series of pipes that force you on a downhill into some freezing mud, then a slippery uphill to the other side. Your legs will be useless in the narrow confines of the Boa, so use your arms to pull yourself through this obstacle. 

These pipes were shorter than the trench warfare tunnels so you could see the other side.  It was all downhill into mud and a very slippery uphill pipe out of the mud.  I floundered around uselessly like an epileptic eel as I didn't have the upper body strength to pull myself up the pipe.  Then I realised I could use my legs as I did have just enough room.  Phew!

11. Electric Eel 

Slide on your belly through frigid water and beware of the shocks overhead. Should you try to crawl on your knees, you’ll be smacked with live wires and your body will compulsively contort. Be sure to protect your head, otherwise you might experience what Big Mudder calls a brain reboot.

Sean ripped through this like he was being chased by whatever eats eels!  Inspired I tried to so the same.  I could see live wires sparking in front of me but the shocks weren't as bad as I feared.  Certainly they weren't as bad as being shocked by an electric fence and that's happened to me enough times!  Sheree got shocked repeatedly and quite hard in this so I think I was pretty lucky.

12. Berlin Walls #2 

These walls were higher!  By now I knew the technique for getting up with assistance from the awesome guys but getting down the other side of the first wall I dropped too fast and my hands took a beating.  I think I also pulled a muscle in my stomach which was to give me grief later when running and again after the event when laughing!  Thank goodness for the gloves that Phil had bought us all... just cheap gardening gloves but they helped to grip and protect my hands.  

I admit there were tears at that point as I was shaking with fear and pain.  The guys stayed on the wall to help a few other women from other teams and that gave me time to collect myself and watch how some of the other women slowed their descent using their elbows hooked over the wall.  

I tried this when lowering myself down the second wall and it really helped.  So much of this event was about watching others technique or their pitfalls and repeating what worked and not repeating what didn't.

13. Fire Walker 

As the name of the obstacle implies, you’ll be running through a trench of blazing, kerosene-soaked straw. You can expect flames at least 4 feet tall. While the flames might seem like the most intimidating aspect of this obstacle, Mudders often forget that with fire comes smoke. Take a deep breath before you enter this obstacle because believe us, you don’t want your lungs full of this thick smoke.

I strongly suspected that in risk-averse, fire-safe Australia this was going to be smoke and mirrors and indeed it was.  There was smouldering straw on either side of a wide path and you ran between it.  The smoke and ash was acrid but easy to keep out of your lungs by breathing through your t-shirt and keeping your hands in front of your eyes to stop ash from getting in them.

Somewhere around here Wazza's ITB went and he was reduced to walking.  I was quite relieved to walk and just enjoy the atmosphere.  I started to feel sad that the event would be over soon.  I was having so much fun!!

14. Spider’s Web 

Crawl like a spider up and over a cargo net suspended between two trees – keep a good grip or you will fall into a tangled web (er, cargo net) below! The net is fastened with tension at the top only, leaving the bottom of the net loose and unsteady. Teamwork has proven to be very helpful for successfully completing this obstacle. Mudders will pull the bottom of the net towards the ground to create tension so their teammates can climb with balance and control.

In actual fact the Mudders who had just completed the net held the net out at an angle meaning you were climbing at an angle adding to the difficulty.  I was quite frightened when I got to the top as it was quite high up and wobbling as I tried to get my body over and turned around to climb down the other side.  I took my turn holding the net and could see why so many were pulling the net back; it was much easier to use your body weight to pull the net back than your strength to pull the down.  

15. Hold Your Wood 

Make like a lumberjack and carry a heavy log through a section of the Tough Mudder course. If the course is flat, expect to be lugging your log for at least 1/2 mile. If the area is hilly or mountainous, get friendly with your wood because you’ll be hauling it up a steep and challenging ascent.

The course was flat... but muddy.  Phil had chosen a small log for me and it felt very light.  It only felt moderately heavier after the walk with it which I took as proof all the training at Primal and with Phil had paid off.  

16. Wood Chopped 

This obstacle consisted of about half a dozen large log 'hurdles' which were extremely slippery and mud covered by the time we got to them.  They were high enough (chest height) that I couldn't jump over them without help from the guys.  Lou sussed out a good strategy to get over by herself but I didn't have the strength to do it myself.

17. Log Jammin 

Jump over and crawl under large logs strewn across the course. This may not sound very difficult, but with fatigued muscles and logs placed at varying heights, the Log Bog Jog has proven to be a challenge for Mudders. 

I really enjoyed this as it took some dexterity and thought to get the right strategy.  My muscles weren't so fatigued that it was a challenge and my flexibility meant that getting between the logs was easy.  

18. Mud Mile

Slosh through up to a mile of waist-deep sludge as you try not to lose your shoes in the mud. Balance and coordination are required if you want to make it through this obstacle without face-planting… but what’s the fun in that? Real Mudders eat mud for breakfast. 

Thank goodness it wasn't a mile!!!  Worst obstacle ever!   There were mounds of mud with trenches of thick, sticky mud just right for sucking off shoes and trapping the unsuspecting.  Like me.  

Most of the team had taped their shoes on with electrical tape (I was no exception) so the shoes stayed on but one of the trenches I got bogged and it took two of us to dig my right foot out (thanks Sean!) and two guys to free the rest of me (thanks Sean and Wazza!)   As Wazza pulled my arm and the mud sucked my foot down, Sean tried to pull my let and gripped my bruised shin ow!  Then my hip got pulled out of the socket by opposing forces causing me to scream in pain and fright.  Eventually the three of us managed to get me out.  I really thought I was going to be trapped there forever!  

19. Walk the Plank 

Test your fear of heights and cold all in one with our 15+ feet high jump into freezing water. Don’t spend too much time pondering your leap – Marines at the top of the platform will chew you out, or worse, push you into the freezing depths below.

I got to the top and froze.  "I can't do this" I said aloud.  Then I remembered I'd jumped off the boat in Thailand and that hadn't been much lower and I looked across to see Lou frozen with a lifeguard holding one hand and a young man holding the other.  The person next to me said "she'll never do it" and I though "yes she will" and jumped.  When I surfaced in what seemed a very long time I saw Lou on top of the wall and added my voice to the crowd chanting "go Lou!"  It seems that others had picked up our team cheering her on and added their voices to encourage her.  She jumped!  I wanted to swim over and help her but feared being jumped on by others so kept calling encouragement to her.

20. Everest

A quarter-pipe that you’ll have to sprint up and enlist the help of other Mudders to hurl you over this beastly summit. Everest is coated in mud and grease, a combination which will likely send you right back from where you came. Call upon other Mudders to catch you as you run up the quarter-pipe or work together to form a human chain so that you can scale someone’s shoulders to finally summit Everest.

I really thought I wouldn't be able to do this.  My fear of heights and my fear of being too heavy for my team members almost got the better of me.  I decided I'd give it full commitment for three attempts and if I didn't succeed then I'd pass. I tried twice and felt like I got nowhere near the guys who were reaching down to grab my hand.  I watched everyone except Sheree get up.  Sean who'd stated flatly that he had nothing left and was going to skip this obstacle shocked me by sprinting like a freight train and grabbing the guys.  I knew if I could just get to their hands I'd be ok as I'm lighter than Sean.

I took a final run up and sprinted as fast as I could.  My fingertips reached Chris (who had the longest arms) and then my other hand was grabbed by someone else (Benny?)  I had no strength in my arms to pull myself despite trying and my feet kept slipping on the pipe so I couldn't use my legs either.  They hauled me like a sack of potatoes and I stood shaking at the top.  Shit!  We did it!  Shit!  I had to get down!

Sheree, boosted by my success took another run at the wall and the guys grabbed her too. Jubilant now as we only had one more obstacle and we'd all made it!

21. Electroshock Therapy 

This was it... last obstacle and the one we'd been dreading.  I wasn't as the electric eel had proven to be less than shocking.  We all hugged and I cried a few tears before walking to the obstacle

Sprint through a field of live wires — some carrying as much as 10,000 volts of electric shock.  Some Mudders try to stealthily wind their way through the wires without getting shocked, while others barrel forward to get through as quickly as possible. Either way, you are guaranteed to get zapped with as much as 10,000 volts of electricity and it does NOT tickle. This is typically the last obstacle Mudders must overcome before they cross the finish line.

This wasn't fun!  I ran through after a couple of people who stopped dead when they got shocked and I got belted a few times.  "Move!  Don't stop" I yelled but to no avail.  It took a while before I realised I could run around them.  All I wanted was to get OUT OF THERE!  I ran with my arms protecting my face getting shocked every couple of steps.  

Finally I emerged!  We all hugged and high-fived!  We crossed the line together as a team.  What an amazing experience.  We were muddy, wet, cold and thrilled.  To say we were muddy was an understatement.  The mud was weighing down my shoes (it was in my shoes making my feet very uncomfortable) it was weighing down my pants.  I couldn't see skin on my legs.  My red shirt was black/brown.  It was up my nose, in my eyes, in my ears and wads of it were inside my bra.  My pants were lumpy with bits of mud inside them.  I've never seen so much mud, even in NZ in winter or trekking in Bhutan!

We wrapped up in space blankets, I drank a can of soft drink and it tasted like nectar.  I don't normally touch soft drink.  We got our headbands, a t-shirt, more banana (there were lots on the course) and headed for a patch of sun.  

The event was incredibly well organised except the very long queue to get in and get out of Glenworth Valley but that was caused by single lane dirt road and lots of cars so couldn't be helped.  

I'm pretty keen to do it again in February!  I'd have a month to recover before Tarawera... surely that's enough??

Accountability

Yep, I got overwhelmed by everything and my house of cards took a bit of a tumble.  Travelling for work always throws out my routine and when I'm away from home I miss all the things that keep me honest; yoga, my fellow Mudders and Brudders and these guys:

Primal NRG; Ray, Tarek and Paulo

Tonight I went to yoga and feel so much better for it.  If only I'd remember this when I feel like I'm losing the plot!

I'm driving up to Newcastle for work tomorrow night so will miss my double session with Lou, Wazza, Sean and Tarek so the plan is to go tomorrow morning (whimper) and do a class with Ray so I don't miss out.  It means getting up at 5am (whimper).  

Tuesday I have a steady 5km on the program which I'll do in Newcastle (perhaps soaking my legs in the ocean at Nobby's Beach afterwards).  Then it's taper till Tough Mudder on Saturday except an easy 5k on Thursday.  

Friday Lou and I will drive up to Terrigal where the Mudders and Brudders have a house rented and Saturday 9:15am is the big event.

If you haven't sponsored me yet, there's still time!  Legacy is a great charity: Lorna's Legacy fundraising page

Smashed

Tonight I was shattered before we even started.

Headed of for a 3.5km run with Lou before Primal and then did a strength class.  It was hard.

Then went for a quick 1km around the block before the second 'conditioning' class.  It was also hard.

I'm tired now.

Trial by Tarek

5km on the program tonight so ran 3.87 around the block before Primal and 1.83 around the smaller block between classes for a total of 5.7km!  Finally ran over rather than under the distance scheduled.

My warm up run was actually a lot quicker than I probably should have gone but I was trying to get in as many kms as I could before the session so average pace was 6:38/km with the first couple of kms under 6:30 pace.

First class was crank it. If you are wondering what crank it is, click on the link to see a short demo video.

We did the following combos x 3 (or it may have been 4... I can't remember)

Crank It (CI) rows
Burpee to box jumps (a new level of yuck!  My two least favourites combined into one awful* new exercise.  *disclaimer: I may mean awful in a good way)

CI push ups or CI tricep extensions or biceps curls)
medicine ball sit ups to wall throw (5kg med ball)

single arm row with a twist
Lunges holding 10kg sand bag over head

Followed by ab work.

Kettlebell class just was too traumatic* to recount here.  Think of lots of exercises in combo holding two large heavy objects and then multiply it.   (*disclaimer: I may mean traumatic in a good way)

Owly vs Monkey Bars!

Friday was a well needed rest day.  Yoga in the morning for 1 hour then nothin' else for the rest of the day.

Saturday the big kahuna!  Wentworth Park workout and Blackwattle Bay run.  Something for everyone.  I LOVE this workout!

Started at Wentworth Park then ran up the hill and around the corner to our little park where we climbed a wall, commando crawled across the grass and I did not 1, but two full sets of monkey bars!!  Yeay me!!  First time ever!!!

We then ran back to Wentworth park and to the first exercise station.  I'm never going to remember which order we did what exercise so I'll just list them.  If you click the link above you'll see on the map little icons where we did a set of 1 or two exercises so you can use your imagination:

• planks over low bar with press up in between x 4
• dips 
• leg raises 
• incline rows
• leg raises
• sideways jump things over a diagonal bar
• box jumps
• chin ups
• obstacle course without touching the ground (first time ever!!)
• stair repeats x 5
• squats 
• upper and lower ab crunches
• side crunches
• hill repeats
• step ups with high knee
• leg raises in pairs
• horrible hamstring exercise in pairs
• supermans in pairs
• pushups in pairs 
• incline rows while everyone held plank position
• plank while everyone else took turns to do incline rows
• balance beam
• more dips (thanks Chris!)
• running backwards across the citywest overpass
• upper and lower ab crunches 
• hill repeat up anzac bridge spiral 'onramp'
• stair repeats with box jump in between x 3
• stair pyramid repeats with the following in between (push ups, sit ups, pressup position to plank position x 10)
• jumping over 'logs'
• more monkey bars (yeay me!)

All up about 2:15 and about 10km distance.

I think I earned a massage!

Midweek Long Day, I mean Run

Thursday is midweek long run day.  10km on the schedule, body in need of yoga and a work presentation at night so nothing for it but to be up and running by 5:45am at the latest so I could get to yoga before work.

My cunning plan to post my plan on Facebook in order to have accountability worked nicely with a text from Mary this morning to check that I was up and running.  Thanks Mary!

My iPhone is still packing a sad with frequent intensity and this morning was no different.  The mapmyrun app crashed at 2.69km but luckily I knew that from my place around the bay, over the new footbridge and home is 10k thanks to my trusty housemate Stella.

Took a photo of the sunrise as it was very pretty (much prettier in real life):

Run was made all the better by a wave from Rachel and Action and a short trot and chat with Linda.

Made it to work in time for yoga so all is well :)