USMC Mud Run 2011

On June 11, I ran my first Mud Run 5k! I have been training for this for the past couple of months and it was AWESOME! We had such a good time. This was ran by the USMC and raised money for Toys for Tots, Wounded and Homeless Veterans, and a few other charities. There were over 2200 people signed up to race the event. This course was 5k (3.1 miles) of creeks, muddy hills, mud pits, climbing logs, rope hills, and TONS of other fun obstacles. I was so worried about wearing myself out halfway into the race but my adrenaline was at max the entire time, and we pushed through like champs. I was so proud. I was on a team of 4 and we had to run it together and finish together. One of our teammates got injured in the first creek but she did such an awesome job throughout and finished strong. Our time was 59 minutes with at least 15 of that waiting in line at the obstacles. It was great! 

Here are some pictures of our day! 

We arrived at about 8am. Our run was not until 10:15 (group run), but I had some friends doing the individual run at 8am and I wanted to get there to see them finish. I was only able to see 2 out of 3 friends finish. They did such an awesome job! We had a long wait after that until our race started. It was beginning to get hot and a little humid. We took a lot of before pictures with our groups. 

This was my group, the Mud Pies! 

A beautiful view of Pilot Mountain in the distance (and the line of portable potties) haha.

This is an appropriate estimate...if it wasn't for the waiting. The entry into the woods, creeks are pretty narrow, so when you are trying to fit 1000 people through there...it gets pretty backed up fast. 

It was nice to rest, but we were ready to go!!

Oops, this one is out of place. This is where a lot of people stashed their muddy shoes after the race. I chose to save mine for next year. A little mud never ruined anything. :)

The lines for the showers were out of control. I think we probably had to wait a good 20 min or so to get rinsed off a tad. 

The finish line mud pit. This was the 3rd mud pit of the course (and the longest)! 

another before shot snuck in there...

This was the Mud Run Training Group from the Stokes YMCA. I have made a lot of awesome friends in this group and am so proud of us all! 

Coming into the last Mud Pit and we all had to lock arms and finish as a team. 

The Marines are in the pit splashing you and yelling (in an encouraging way) at you to finish strong. 

At this point, it's flat on the belly swimming and crawling through the end. Almost there! 

Nice and Muddy! :)

I have been super slack on updating this lately. I've just been feeling a little un-motivated to do much at all other than run. I've been running for about 3 months now, give or take. I'm trying to get use to carrying on with normal, everyday life after I come home for a run but that hasn't been happening. Usually I will run, and then come home and crash for pretty much the rest of the day. It's pretty pathetic really. I am just hoping (as well as my family)...that my body will get use to it and allow me to carry on with enough energy for the rest of the day. You're probably wondering why I do it if it is so exhausting. I can't really sum it up any better than, I am just addicted. 3-4 months ago, I hated it. I was always getting injuries whenever I would try to run, whether it was shin splints or a stress fracture. I joined a running group and we gradually worked our way up. We started running 1 min, walking 2 min and doing that for about 30 min total. I looked at the schedule and noticed that in a few weeks time they would expect me to run for 11 min and so on. I thought I could never do that. My breathing was terrible, my legs and knees killed me, etc. I pushed through. It sucked. But before I knew it...I was running a mile, then two, three, four. I stuck with 4 for quite sometime...and I still do that. But yesterday, I did 6 miles with no stopping. I honestly felt like I could do more if I had the time. I seriously wake up most mornings, and feel super sad if my schedule doesn't allow me to run. It's crazy. Who knew that I would feel this way about something I hated so much months ago. Running definitely grows on you and it's such an awesome feeling when you break personal records. 

My first official run was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Winston Salem. I was so excited to do it, but nervous at the same time. I had to work the night before...so I packed the car with my running gear and went to the race straight from work. I went alone and that was a little intimidating. I'm not use to running without my girls from our group. 

This was my first racing bib! Eeeeek! I need to frame it! :)

This was the walk to the starting line from the bus. It's a little hard to see...but that's quite a line. 

There were over 10,000 people signed up to race that morning. Wow! I tried to get good pictures of the crowd but was unsuccessful. I am way too short to get head shots of crowds. I stole this from my (much taller) friend Stacey's page. She was there also, but there was no way I could find her in this crowd! I was waaaaaaay up there where the balloon arch was. 

The lessons that I learned from this race are... Get at the very front of the crowd if you don't want to dodge walkers, and women with strollers. I, personally, would never want to have my kid in a stroller in front of 10k people pushing through a starting line. Call me crazy! But, yes it seriously happened. It took me about 3-4 minutes to push through them and actually get started. Ugh! 

Also, I bought a HUGE waist pack thinking that it would be awesome to hold my phone, keys, gatorade, etc. in. Boy was that the dumbest thing ever. It added about 5 lbs to my rear and bounced up and down the ENTIRE time. I seriously considered trashing it in the barrel on my run even though I just bought it the day before. It affected my run so badly. 

I finished in 43:09. I don't race for time. That's really not my goal. However, I was pretty happy with that time considering new course that I had never ran, the stroller/walker holdup, and the waist pack dilemma. I had a bittersweet finish though. Although...I probably would have been super embarrassed to have people waiting for me at the finish line...no one was there. It was my first race, and to see people there cheering on their family/friends as they crossed the finish. I was alone. :( And like I said, I probably would have hated them see me as sweaty and exhausted as I was...it was still a little heart breaking. 

But, I did it. I finished it and ran the entire time. I was proud and still am of the progress that I've made. 

There will be loads more, hopefully...and I can't wait to share them with you. My next run is the Marine Mud Run next Saturday. I will be running a 5k while going through creeks, climbing muddy hills, running through the pine needled forest and tromping though 3 mud pits and countless obstacles...all while hardcore marines are yelling at me. Sound like fun?! Hopefully I will live to tell you about it! :)

Update: Some things I forgot to mention: I have lost 13 lbs since I started running. I have lots more to lose...but am so excited about that. It is definitely a good activity if you are interested in losing weight. That's not the only reason I do it...but definitely a nice bonus! :)
Also, if you are a runner and need something to carry your things in...I have recently discovered SpiBelt. It is AMAZING. It looks super tiny, but it expands and holds so much. I have a Droid X (huge phone)...and NONE of the running packs would hold my phone and that is the reason I originally bought the large waist pack.
My phone, Ipod, keys, cards will fit in it and not bounce at all. And their customer service is awesome. I highly recommend it. :)

My Sweet Babies!

This past Tuesday, we had our photos taken for a "Mommy and Me" session with Ashley from White Rust Photography. I was going to frame them for my mom (Mother's Day)...but it's Friday and I've only received the copyrighted Sneak Peaks...so I showed them to her. I had been so anxious for her to see them. I figured that I wouldn't have time now to have them printed and framed before Sunday, so I'd burst the bubble. She loved them. I can't wait to see the rest and share with you. But, for now, you can enjoy these. Aren't they sweet?! :)

This one is my favorite...

Easter #2

Onto the 2nd gathering at my dad and stepmom's house. My dad always has tons of kites for the kids to fly. They have a lot of land for the kids to run around on and they always have a great time riding the golf cart, throwing balls, flying kites, etc. It was such a nice day for it, but not much wind. Here are a few pictures of them trying to get it off the ground. 

...and it's up!

Jai loved playing on this little trike. It wouldn't really go due to it being in the grass...but he still had a ball just sitting on it and playing. 

Miss Gracie and Miss Mary Catherine. :)

Haha...this is a picture that I found on my dad's mantle. It brings back many memories and I'm sure my brothers both love that I'm posting it. It's too hilarious not too, though. Their expressions are priceless!

My dad looks a little like Michael Keaton to me in this picture...haha. 

Onto the hunt...

Liam and Mary Catherine. :)

It was a great day! :)

Weekend full of Family...

Easter weekend is always full of lots of family, easter egg hunts, and good food. I'm sure it's about like that for everyone. We had a very, very busy weekend but it was a great one. I am especially exhausted because of my 3rd shift job. Usually I am able to go home and take a nap to rejuvenate for the day...but there was no nap until everything was over on Sunday for me. I was wiped out by the end of it all. 

I FINALLY pulled my camera out of the closet. It's been quite a while since I've used it. I think we needed a little break. I'm glad I remembered it though. I got some great pictures of everyone and everything. I hope you enjoy! 

Saturday began with a LOT of baking. I had to bake goodies for the kiddos easter baskets because the one that I ordered for them made it here in pieces. :(

I baked them chocolate peanut butter eggs, rice crispie treats and some cute easter cookies. My mom also made pineapple cupcakes and I decorated them with "Robin Eggs". There were supposed to have cute little faces...but that didn't end up happening because I ran out of time. Oh well, they were still cute (and yummy!) 

My mom made a huge meal for everyone. It was quite delicious. Thanks Mom...I know that was a lot of hard work and we appreciate it! 

After lunch, the grandparents headed out to hide the easter eggs. My parents have such a beautiful yard. I'm envious! 

Rita enjoying her cupcake. :)

...and they're off...

My brother Jody was solo parenting all weekend. My sister in law Chrissy had surgery on her hip about a week and a half ago...and was unable to attend our events.

 I can't wait until you're feeling back to normal CC. We miss you!  :(

...but I took some cute pictures of your family while you were gone...

Jai...making his normal silly faces. :)

My mom and stepdad. 

Poor Larry came home for about an hour or so...from work, then had to head back out. Working is lame, haha. 

My brother Bryan and his wife Angela. 

Trying not to drop them...

This is a RARE opportunity. To have them all there, and smiling. Wow! What an accomplishment! I took 2 shots...and my memory card was full. What are the odds?!

...so I deleted some and went back to shooting.

Easter Basket Time

The Grandparents got them so much that when they opened the "real" Easter Bunny Basket, it looked pitiful. :-/

Between the 3 sets of Grandparents though...they got A LOT. So maybe the kids will forget that their Grandparents outdid the bunny. Poor guy. 

Things get a little loud and crazy when you have 6 grandkids under one roof. Paul is trying to mime that craziness for you. haha

My sweet and handsome hubby. 

...and his favorite...the yoyo. 

YES!!! I finally got him to smile, and it only took about an hour. Focused and on point. Sweet victory!

Jai and his "mee-maw"

If you haven't gotten your little boy/girl an airplane from the Dollar Store...do it! It's CHEAP and the most fun. They spent most of the afternoon playing with these. They were a hit last year also. 

My mom and I.

So we ran home to get the baskets ready for the kiddos, before we headed to work. This one was full of the baked goods that I whipped up for them. 

This was a custom made hairband that I had done for Gracie. Isn't it adorable?! It was from Dunlap Love. She does AWESOME things! We found her at the flea that we were doing and she is just amazing. 

This is upside down (oops) but this is a superhero cape that she made for Jai. He loves it. I forgot to order the mask, and of course that was the 1st thing he asked for when he saw it..."where is the mask?". 

Ugh...guess I'll have to order that now...

...and the owl! Eeek. SO cute! Check her out on Facebook or Google her. Dunlap Love. :)

I have more pictures to come from Part 2 - My dad's House. Hopefully I can scramble up enough energy to post it tonight...if not, stay tuned. :)