The Everyday Warrior

A chronicle of the everyday challenges of being a mother, a runner and everything in between.

My Bucket List June 1, 2012

Filed under: Fitness,Fun,Life — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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Recently I was cleaning out my nightstand and I came across my bucket list. Reading it over made me realize two things. 1) It desperately needed to be updated. There were many things on it that I really had no interest in doing any more. 2) I haven’t really accomplished many of the items on the list even though I wrote it back in 2010. So far the only items I have crossed off the list are run a 5k and go to a Garth Brooks concert. Because of that I figured I would post the list here and maybe that would encourage me to cross off some more items.

So here is my bucket list. It has everything from silly to serious and everything in between. In no particular order.

1. Travel to Greece- Someday when money allows I will see those sparkly blue waters. :)

2. Go on a cruise – Believe it or not, I have never been on one!

3. Take Brennen to Disney World – This was one of my favorite family vacations as a kid and I want Brennen to experience it too!

4. Take a cooking class – Not sure why about this one. But it seems like fun to me and I could learn something in the process.

5. Take a dance class – I love to go out dancing! So this would be so fun for me.

6. Go snowboarding - Hard to believe that I live in Michigan and I have never skied (other than cross country) or snowboarded! I am not a big fan of Winter but maybe if I had a Winter hobby I would be!

7. Try indoor rock climbing - I am deathly afraid of heights but I still want to do it. Should be interesting!

8. Go on a zip line – Not sure why I am feeling the need to torture myself with another height challenge but it looks like it would be fun if I could just get over my fear!

9. Go to a planetarium – This should be an easy one to cross off the list!

10. Go to New York City – Lots of things I would like to do there!

11. Be in the audience of a live TV show - Doesn’t matter which one. Just think it would be interesting.

12. Go to Tigers Opening day - I live in Detroit and I have never been to opening day for the Tigers. It seems like a great excuse to miss work for the day if you ask me!

13. Go to the Lions game on Thanksgiving –  Again, as a Detroiter, it just seems like the right thing to do. ;)

14. Make a bear at Build-A-Bear - This one is kind of silly but I have always wanted to do it and never have.

15. Run a marathon – This will have to wait until Brennen gets a little older so that I have more time that I can devote to training. But I would love to have a 26.2 sticker on the back of my car!

16. Pay for in-vitro for a couple who otherwise couldn’t afford it. - Obviously this will have to wait until I win the lottery or become much more financially stable. But I would love to give this kind of gift to someone since this is how Brennen came into our lives.

17. Try CrossFit - I love watching CrossFit on TV and I think it could be a very addicting workout for me!

18. Try Zumba – Dancing and working out all in one! Why not give it a go?

19. Ride a mechanical bull – This might involve some adult beverages first!

20. Find someone to grow old & grumpy with – Doesn’t everyone want this?

21. Finish Bachelor’s Degree – Better late than never.

What is on your bucket list?

 

My Memorial Day May 30, 2012

Filed under: Friends,Fun,Kids,Life,Running,Work — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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The craziest thing happened to me on Memorial Day!

I. DID. NOT. WORK!

This may not sound like a big deal to most people as I am well aware that 99% of people not only do not have to work on Memorial Day but also get a 3 or 4 day weekend. Not me. I work in the hospitality industry where weekends and holidays are “perks” of the job.

Prior to this past Monday, I have worked every Memorial weekend and Memorial Day for at least the past 8 years. This year my super awesome boss decided to work on Memorial Day so I didn’t have to!!! Did I mention how awesome she is? Because of her I had the best Memorial Day ever!

I started my Memorial Day with a 4 mile run that turned into 5 miles. I was trying a new running route and underestimated the distance of the loop. I can ‘t say I minded the extra mile. I was just happy to be running pain-free. At the end of the run I was a hot sweaty smiling mess.

I spent the rest of my day with a few of my favorite people. Including this little guy.

I spent some time at the pool, ate some food, took Brennen to the park & splash pad and ate some more food. It was good times!

I couldn’t have asked for a better day!

How was your Memorial Day?

 

Summer Reading May 25, 2012

Filed under: Life — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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And no, that’s not me. IF only I were that tan!
Click for Source

I would like nothing more than to sit on the beach and read a good book. But alas that is not my life most days.

However, I do try to read a little here and there when I can. Most of my reading happens just before I got to bed for the night as a way of unwinding and unplugging from my day.

Here is what I am currently reading.

And yes, it is actually a book not an e-book. Although, I do have a Kindle which I love but after Brennen got his hands on it, it no longer works. :(

So the book I am reading is called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I am about half way through it and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far. The book details the author’s decision to devote 12 months to her happiness project, which is basically a systematic approach at trying to live a happier and more fulfilling life by completing monthly resolutions. Coincidentally, the author also happens to have a blog about her happiness project which is also a fun read. Click here to check it out.

Have you read The Happiness Project? What did you think? If not, what book are you reading right now?

 

I’ve been MIA! May 23, 2012

Filed under: Blogging,Fitness,Friends,Life,Running,Tough Mudder — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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Can you believe that last time I blogged was May 9th??? What is wrong with me?

I guess it’s because I am not really training for anything right now plus work has been crazy busy and then both Brennen and I have been sick. Life happens!

You may remember that I was supposed to pace my friend in her first 5k race on Mother’s Day weekend. However, due to my Tough Mudder injuries and her lack of running because of my lack of running we decided to bow out of that race with the intention of selecting another 5k in the future where both of us felt more prepared. Luckily it doesn’t count as a DNS for me as I never registered for the race.

My next scheduled race is the Warrior Dash in July. Perhaps I will find a 5k to do sometime between now and then but I am not feeling the need to race like I normally do. Maybe it is because nothing can ever really compare to the Tough Mudder or maybe because I have been slightly bored with my weekly workout regimen. I think it might be time to mix it up a little. Maybe try a Zumba class?!?!

So what have you all been up to? Any ideas on how I can get out of my workout rut?

 

Running Shoes May 9, 2012

Filed under: Running,Fitness,Fashion — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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Well….. In all honesty I wear running shoes and heels and lots more! What can I say, I love shoes!

Currently I have four pairs of running shoes in my closet. Two pairs of Asics Gel-Cumulus and two pairs of Brooks Pure Cadence.

My Asics!

My Brooks!

When I started becoming a more “serious” runner I was running in Nike’s. As my miles increased it became evident that the Nike’s I ran in were not right for me, so a stop at my local running me store landed me in a pair of Asics Gel-Cumulus 12. I ran in that model for well over a year before I became curious about running in a more minimalist shoe. That is when I took the plunge and bought a pair of Brooks Pure Cadence shoes. I loved how lightweight they were and how much more I could feel the surface I was running on compared to running in the Asics. However, I was too impatient to scale back my running and adjust to running in the Pure Cadence so eventually I stopped wearing them. BUT…. I have recently made the full transition to my Pure Cadence shoes and I just love them.

And although I love my Brooks shoes, that doesn’t stop me from ogling and lusting over other running shoes. The ones that have been piquing my interest lately are Newton running shoes. They are very different from other running shoes as they have more cushioning in the forefront of the shoe to help promote landing on the forefront of your foot as opposed to your heel. And they come in super awesome bright colors! I love a brightly colored running shoe. Who wants to blend in with the crowd?

Aren’t these awesome looking?

Check out this recent article from Runner’s World to learn more about the Newton running shoes!

So what’s stopping me from trying out a pair of Newton’s??? The hefty price tag. The ones pictured above are $155!

Have your tried out a pair of Newton running shoes? If so, what do you think? If not, what are your favorite pair of running shoes?

 

I am Stubborn and I Know It! May 4, 2012

Filed under: Family,Fitness,Health,Running — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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I will be the first to admit that I am stubborn.

I can’t take all of the credit for it though, I got it from my Dad. My Dad gave me his love of country music, his competitive spirit, his athleticism and his stubbornness. You gotta take the bad with the good right? And in all honesty being stubborn is a bit of a family tradition. EVERYONE on my Dad’s side of the family is stubborn. You should see us when we all get together!

In honor of being stubborn, I should confess that I may have “injured” myself at the Tough Mudder. I say “injured” because I can’t pinpoint what or when exactly it happened but I know that ever since the Tough Mudder my back and my left knee have been hurting. Hurting to the point that it brought me to tears during a run last week. Common sense would say to back off from running and give my body a rest. And if it were you asking me for advice, I would tell you just that, let you body recover. But I don’t like to rest. I like to run. And when I am being told I can’t run, even if it is by my own body, I am determined to run even more. For me running is more than exercise, it is the one thing that I can do that keeps me mentally strong. No other form of exercise has that same effect on me. I NEED to run.

In retrospect, running my impromptu half marathon just a couple weeks before the Tough Mudder was probably not the greatest of ideas. I had no taper week before the half and no rest week after the half. I was after all, training for the Tough Mudder. Perhaps that is what did me in. But I got a PR!!!!

I ran again this past Sunday. A short and easy 3 miler. The first half was pain free but the second half was mildly painful. And then when I woke up the next day I was in full fledged pain again. And of course I tried to run, but only made it a half mile before I gave up and jumped onto the elliptical. Being a runner who all of a sudden can’t run is very demoralizing. Ugh! So I finally caved. I have not ran since Monday. I have done other types of workouts that are low impact. But not running. I’ve also been doing lots of icing, stretching, taping and foam rolling.

I’m crossing every body part that I have that I can get back to some sort of a normal running routine next week. Hopefully the running Gods will be smiling on me again very soon! As a side note, I feel very badly for the people that have had to endure my crankiness for the past week or so. I promise I will be back to normal as soon as I can run again!

How do you cope with not being able to run?

 

Wordless Wednesday #10 May 2, 2012

Filed under: Fitness,Friends,Health,Wordless Wednesday — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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I won the lottery! April 30, 2012

Filed under: Friends,Life,Running,Travel — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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Just in case you are not connected with me on Facebook or Twitter, I got some big news last week! I won the lottery! Well, the lottery for the Nike Women’s Marathon that is!

I am super excited! This will be my third half marathon and my first ever trip to California! I love using races as an excuse to travel!

I’ve already started checking into hotels and airfare. I may need to win the ACTUAL lottery in order to afford this trip. Geesh! But I figure, I have 6 months to plan and save for it. I can do it! Right?!?!

I am hoping to make a mini vacation out of this destination race.

I can’t wait to see this.

And ride this.

And go here.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

And lots more stuff!

I will also get to meet this girl! And run another race with one of my Tough Mudder team mates!

It’s guaranteed to be a good time! Especially since I learned two very valuable lessons from my race in Vegas. 1) Do not walk all over the place the night before the race. 2) Do not ignore my “no drinking the night before a race” rule.

Have you been to San Francisco? What are some things that I must do while I am there???

Or do you have any tips about competing in destination races?

 

Tough Mudder Recap April 27, 2012

Filed under: Fitness,Friends,Health,Running,Tough Mudder,Wounded Warrior Project — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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Just about two weeks ago I did something that I said I would NEVER do! I did a Tough Mudder race!

The first time I heard about the Tough Mudder series I immediately decided that it wasn’t for me. I mean there were water obstacles AND height obstacles. Both of which freak me out. Plus it just looked really hardcore and I wasn’t sure if I could do something like that. And then I read this blog post from Kirsten at Running in a Girl’s World and I changed my mind! I wanted to do what she did. Minus the ankle issue of course. So I signed up!

The day before my Tough Mudder I was extremely nervous. I started questioning if I could actually do such a crazy race. I reached out to many of my friends with the hopes that they would talk me out of doing it and not a single one did! Thank goodness I have good friends! The morning of the race I was still a bundle of nerves. Luckily Heidi from Banana Buzzbomb was waiting for me at the Tough Mudder parking lot. I am bummed we didn’t take a pic of us so I could share it with you. But I am so glad I got to meet her! She was super nice and friendly and meeting her helped take my mind off my nervousness about the race. Plus she was nice enough to hold my bag since the bag check people were being extremely frustrating and only giving bags BACK to people instead of taking new bags at the time I needed to check my bag. Thanks Heidi!

Just before my wave started I met up with my team!

That was the first time that I had met any of them in person! And I am so thankful I had them to support me throughout the race! I would have never been able to do it without each and every one of them!

The running portions of the Tough Mudder were easy for me, although I will admit that there were times that I walked. I probably could have run the entire course but since I didn’t have a time goal I just let myself do whatever I felt like doing. The obstacles however, were definitely a challenge! I had decided before the race that if I wasn’t comfortable doing any of the obstacles, I would just go around it. I am proud to stay that I only avoided 3 obstacles, but I did all the rest!

Click on the link below to check out the official Tough Mudder Michigan / Ohio video to see firsthand the crazy course I did!

TM Video

The three obstacles that I avoided were walk the plank, twinkle toes & the obstacle that had rings with water underneath.

Walk the plank was WAY too high and had WAY too much water for me. I avoided the other two because I was cold and I knew that I wouldn’t make it across and therefore would fall into the water and get even colder.

The obstacles that I am the proudest to say that I completed were the Berlin Walls and Everest.

The Berlin walls are high! I am so grateful that I had my team supporting me as I may have decided just to avoid them. But they hoisted me up the wall and when I panicked on top of the first one, one of the guys was nice enough to run around to the other side to make sure I made it down unscathed.

It took me two tries to get up Everest. The first attempt resulted in a sore hip and some bruises on my butt. On my second attempt, I was able to reach the hand of one of the guys on my team and then was pulled up! I was so pumped when I finally got up there! It felt great!

Me taking my walk of shame back into line after my 1st failed attempt.

I am super happy to report that I did not get shocked! Not even once! Turns out that being small was an advantage for me. I was able to go in between the wires on all the shock obstacles without touching them! Phew!

At the end of the race I was bestowed with the coveted orange headband! And I was finally a Tough Mudder!

Don't I look like a bad ass in this pic? ;)

I drove home that day feeling pretty damn proud of myself!  To be honest, the Tough Mudder wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely a challenge and by far the hardest race I have ever ran. However, I trained really hard for it and I think that is why I felt pretty good at the end of it.

I am also proud to report that I raised over $700 for the Wounded Warrior Project. Thank you to everyone who helped with my fundraiser! It was SO appreciated!!! And let’s not forget about all of the fabulous Soldier Story Saturday posts that got featured on my blog. Thanks to everyone who contributed a story!

I was very proud to have those names on my race shirt!

And now that I have finally managed to clean all the mud off of me and my stuff . . . I can’t wait to sign up for my next one!

 

Fab Find Friday: The Orange Headband April 20, 2012

Filed under: Fab Find Friday,Running,Tough Mudder — Betsy @ 6:00 am
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Sometimes the best finds of all can’t be bought…….they must be earned!

I know you all are waiting very patiently for me to post my Tough Mudder recap and I promise I will do it very soon!  In the meantime I will leave you with the Tough Mudder pledge I took at the beginning of the race!

And a video to give you a taste of what I did to earn that orange headband!

If that doesn’t make you want to get an orange headband all of your own, I don’t know what will!

 

 
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