Storm The Beach - Week 3 - Friday

Today's team camp was awful. We warmed up, stretched, then went for a run. I did fairly well while we were running on the road but once we hit the beach, it really fucking sucked.

Food was so-so. I think, okay, I'm positive, we're going to start low carbing/Prmal Sunday. I was trying to figure out what to do about my iced coffee - I usually use a cup of coffee and a cup of milk. Twice a day. That's a lot of dairy carbs right there, and a quarter of my daily goal. Then I remembered egg creams!!! Basically, they are just a raw eggs and heavy cream, with other stuff blended together. I've had them before and they are delicious. I don't worry about salmonella either.

Lowcarbfriends.com has a thread full of egg cream variations. Here is one I found specifically for coffee:

3 eggs 
8 oz coffee (brewed strong & chilled overnight - or you can make & use coffee ice cubes!)
1 scoop whey protein powder (chocolate or vanilla or strawberry)
splash of sugar free syrup (french vanilla or chocolate or any flavor you like!)
2 Tbsp heavy cream
2 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil (melted)

blend/froth eggs first; add cream and blend/froth again (makes it fluffy!)
add the rest of the ingredients in the order above; add melted CO last


I don't know that I will necessarily add the coconut oil to it, or the protein powder. I'm not really crazy about protein powders.

Storm The Beach - Week 3 - Thursday

I am so sore from yesterday!!!! GAH!!!

I am really disappointed in myself. I ate crap at work. I counted the points, but damn. I should have known better. Things fell apart after I got home from our early dismissal. I'm struggling, mentally, with Weight Watchers. I'm afraid to use my points. I know that's totally ridiculous. Nothing appeals to me. I hardly ever crave vegetables. I love fruit, but fruit does not love me. It triggers cravings and I eat too much of it. I would love, love, love to go Primal/Paleo but I don't want to give up certain things completely. I'd like to have the occasional XYZ but I'm not the kind of person who can handle an occasional XYZ. I don't do well with never having XYZ either so WTF?

Storm The Beach - Week 3 - Wednesday

Team camp was fun today. Okay, not really. We warmed up, did walking lunges, pull ups, push ups and these weird things with towels on our feet to work the core. My hands are raw from gripping the bars and I forgot my gloves in my car. I'm taking 6 activity points for this crap.

Food:
iced coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
apple & cottage cheese [4 P+]
banana [0 P+]
turkey burger w/ beans, onions & sweet potato [10 P+]
fruit smoothie [2 P+]

I know I under-ate today. I'm tired.

Storm The Beach - Week 3 - Tuesday

No workout today, just GO FAR. I'm feeling some of my old energy come back.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
apple & cottage cheese [4 P+]
plum [0 P+]
green beans, black beans w/ cheese & salsa [8 P+]
banana [0 P+]
honey chicken w/ California vegetables [11 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 3 - Monday

I did not go to team camp this morning because my nose was stuffed up and my chest was tight. There was no way I'd be able to keep up with the running or any kind of cardio. I'll have to start taking a decongestant in the middle of the night so when I wake up, I'm not stuffy. I did feel incredibly guilty all day for not going, but I'm sure there was no way I would have made it through the session.

Food:
iced coffee w/ skim milk [4 P+]
hard boiled eggs & plum [4 P+]5t6rfgvtttttttttt <----- LMAO! I didn't notice this. I think my cat stepped on my keyboard.
barbecue beef sandwich w/ plum [9 P+]
pork loin & green beans [9 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 2 - Weekend

I've been sick. Allergies are killing me. Food was not great.

Storm the Beach - Week 2 - Thursday

No workout today, thank goodness. I'm tired and sore.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
hard boiled eggs & cottage cheese [8 P+]
banana & plum [0 P+]
egg & cheese omelet w/ pancakes & syrup [18 P+] - I felt guilty for eating this. Grr. I should have had a salad.
turkey & cheese on whole grain bun [11 P+]

I didn't get my oils today.

Storm The Beach - Week 2 - Wednesday

Team camp today was a wonderful change from the last 4 sessions - there was no running, no cardio, just upper body and core bodyweight exercises. I loved it. I'm only taking 4 activity points for it though, instead of my usual 6.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
hard boiled eggs, apple & cottage cheese [8 P+]
navy beans & brown rice [9 P+]
granola bar [5 P+]
carrots & red pepper slices [0 P+]
baked fish w/ onions & olive oil [5 P+]
yogurt [3 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 2 - Tuesday

I had GO FAR and actually ran a bit with the kids today. My legs and feet are a little sore from yesterday's team camp, and I'm not looking forward to another round tomorrow. And then going to GO FAR at the middle school.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
banana, hard boiled eggs [4 P+]
ham & cheese on English muffin [7 P+]
baked potato w/ pork [8 P+]
chicken salad w/ cheese & fat free dressing [5 P+]
asparagus w/ olive oil [2 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 2 - Monday

Team camp this morning...it sucked. It really effing sucked. We did a lot of running and sprinting. It really sucked. We did lunges or hops from one end of the parking lot to the other, then sprinted back. After a few circuits of that, we did intervals around the building. Jog around the building, sprint the parking lot. Repeat. I couldn't keep up with the jog for the first two circuits and I had to walk a bit. I was sucking wind so hard and crying (for real!) and I almost turned around and walked back to my car. One of the older team members actually grabbed my hand and sort of dragged me along. The encouragement was nice but I was so embarrassed that I couldn't do it. My chest hurt and my breath was ragged and I really thought I was going to need my son's inhaler. I managed the third circuit without stopping because all I could picture was my friend, Kathy, telling me to use my anger as fuel. And I was angry, damn it. I was (am) so freaking pissed off that I let myself gain 40 pounds and stop exercising. I swear, if I get back down to wear I was, I will kill myself before I let myself spiral out of control like this again. I had to walk a bit in the fourth circuit, which was the last one, then we had to jog back to the gym. Someone always hangs back with the slowest team member. It's wonderful that everyone is so supportive but being the weakest link is really hard for me. I am seriously considering not doing Storm The Beach because I know I'm going to hold them back.

I used to think I worked out hard. Until I started doing this. What I was doing before was weenie stuff. Sure, P90X was challenging and New Rules of Lifting for Women made me sweat and shake like never before and Insanity made me cry a couple times. But the team camp workouts are seriously brutal. Jim keeps telling me to stop walking and start running. No one lets me back off to a more comfortable pace. I know it's not supposed to be comfortable and now I'm all pissed off that the four years I did spend exercising were not "hard" enough. As much as I hate getting up at 4:45 AM and as much as I hate running in the sand and much as I hate being pushed so hard, I may have to try to keep the team camps in my budget. I know it would be good for me, in the long run. But every day I want to quit.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
banana & hard boiled eggs [4 P+]
turkey & cheese sandwich on whole grain bun, apple slices, tomato carrot cup [10 P+] - I had lunch at school with my son, since I was off today to get him out early for an appointment. I really, really wanted cream of potato soup with my sandwich, but at 9 points per cup, I had to pass. I'm pretty proud of myself for making a good choice.
ham sandwich, green beans w/ olive oil [13 P+]
yogurt [3 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Sunday

I did a whole lot of nothing today. I cleaned up the house a bit, but other than that, I read and worked on the computer.

I hopped on the scale this morning, when I shouldn't have. I didn't exactly take a starting weight measurement, so I don't know where I stand but I know I have not lost! And it pisses me off. I'm so angry at myself for this downward spiral I've taken and I'm trying really hard to hold it together.

Food:
oatmeal w/ banana & Nutella [7 P+]
pickles [0 P+]
ham & cheese on tortilla [10 P+]
chicken roll w/ baked potato [15 P+]
toast w/ jam [6 P+]

I do not want to go to team camp in the morning...five more weeks. Ugh.

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Saturday

Ah, blissful rest day. Other than the Saturday Fitness Beatdown. Today's challenge was plank with feet on medicine ball, max time. Here's my submission - it was my second attempt. My first was just as long, but I wasn't comfortable with how my feet were positioned.

 

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
ham, eggs & biscuit w/ butter [12 P+]
fruit smoothie, chicken & turkey wrap w/ chips & a cookie [21 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Friday

Another team camp workout and GO FAR today. Team camp was brutal. We ran on the beach. In the soft sand. In the dark. We did push ups in the sand, jumping jacks, hops. It sucked. I really enjoyed it. I almost think I should take 9 Activity Points for it but I'll stick with the 6 I've been taking.

Food:
banana [0 P+]
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
plum, bean & cheese burrito [6 P+]
ham & cheese croissant w/ baked potato [17 P+]
fruit smoothie [2 P+]
green beans w/ olive oil, string cheese [6 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Thursday

I am so sore. Thankfully, no team camp or GO FAR today.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
apple & cottage cheese [4 P+]
tangerine chicken w/ brown rice [9 P+]
more tangerine chicken w/ brown rice [8 P+]
salad w/ chicken breast & fat free dressing [7 P+]

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Wednesday

It was another early morning with OBX Team Camps. Today we alternated running and stretching and bodyweight exercises (lunges, high jumps, curb kickers [these are fun!], push ups, tricep dips). It was exhausting and my entire body felt like a wet noodle by the time I finished. I'm taking 6 Activity Points again.

After work, I headed over to the middle school to do GO FAR with them.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
apple & burger [5 P+]
chicken salad w/ cheese & fat free dressing [6 P+]
granola bar [5 P+]
chicken fajita salad [12 P+]

I know I'm not eating enough. I'm afraid to eat more. I know that less is not always better and that undereating, starvation mode, blah blah blah. I know all that. Damn, I've been doing this for 5 years. I know just about everyfuckingthing about nutrition and exercise. I also know that it's a complete mind fuck and hard to control.

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Tuesday

I really need to go grocery shopping.

GO FAR started today. I have the Fun Run (1 mile) kids. They are younger and we can't take them running on the road. So we play running games with them in the back of the school. It's fairly low intensity on my part. Lots of loud talking, that's about it.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
protein shake w/ skim milk [5 P+]
chicken fajita salad [7 P+]
tuna steak w/ green beans [11 P+]

Off to bed. I have team camp in the morning. We're doing lots of running and cardio. I also have GO FAR with the middle schoolers tomorrow, all 5K runners.

Storm The Beach - Week 1 - Monday

So, I got my ass out of bed at 4:45 AM. I was awake long before that, for several reasons. One, I was afraid I'd oversleep, so I couldn't really sleep. Two, every time I did fall asleep, I was dreaming that there was some hold up. I couldn't find my contacts, I couldn't find my money, I couldn't find my workout clothes, I couldn't get my 60 year old car to start, there were zombies in the way. And I'm pretty sure this all started because I really could not find my contacts last night. I think I left them at the hotel. It was a fresh pair and my favorite case. Boo. Now I have to buy a new case today.

I had no idea what to expect with OBX Team Camps. I knew a few of the people who were going to be there, so that helped. I'm not going to comment much on the people, other than that everyone is very friendly and helpful and motivating.

After I paid my fee and signed the forms, I warmed up with a brisk 10-minute walk on the treadmill. Marlee and Jim (the trainers) called us into the training room. We did some stretches while they told us how the next six weeks would go. Then we were off on a short run outside. In the dark. Back to the room, where they took us through a series of exercises - jumping jacks, various squat jumps, push ups, high knees tricep dips, butt kicks, jump lunges, Bosu burpees. Yeah, more fucking burpees. I liked these much better than my Spartan penalties. I could go slower and the Bosu kept a lot of pressure off my wrists. After all this stuff, we had to get into plank position while we went around the room and introduced ourselves and said why we were there. I was a sweaty mess when I walked out to my car, but I felt pretty good. It's only six weeks. I can do this. But then again, I have GO FAR starting tomorrow. I don't know how much extra exercise I'll be adding at home. Maybe some Turbo Jam or try Zumba. But I'm not adding anything until next week, so I can see how this week goes.

Since I'm back to Weight Watchers, I have to assign this some activity points. I didn't wear my heart rate monitor (and I won't be at all for the group stuff) but my handy dandy app gave me 6 points for 30 minutes of high intensity circuit training. I guess I'll take that. The sessions are actually an hour, but filter out all the BS and it's probably half hour of ass whooping. So, 6 APs.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk [2 P+]
apple & cottage cheese [4 P+]
banana & broccoli [0 P+]
chicken, cheese & black bean salad w/ fat free dressing [9 P+]
carrots [0 P+]
omelet w/ cheese & salsa [10 P+]

I wasn't all that hungry so I went to bed early (for me, anyway) and read a bit. I didn't hit my points target for the day.

Storm The Beach

This is in 41 days.

Training with OBX Team Camps starts tomorrow morning at 5:20.

I will be there. Stick around for the daily blogs. I have to lose 40 pounds and get my groove back on. I'm ashamed that I gained 40 pounds in 8 or 9 months, but I'm done avoiding the elephant in the room. Weight Watchers and PAID fitness start tomorrow. No, I'm not getting paid for it. It's costing me more money than I care to part with but I can't afford not to do it. Go Far starts Tuesday. I will be getting a lot of exercise.

40 pounds. Man, that sucks.

Spartan Sprint - Conyers, GA - March 10, 2012

I got some good advice the night before the race: Good luck tomorrow! Don't die ;)

That was pretty much the plan. Actually, the plan was to just eat the race fees and stay home but I couldn't go through with that. I didn't want my adoring audience to think I was a chicken. (Bitches, that's sarcasm.) And I will admit, I was super nervous about meeting my cousins, who talked me into this whole mess in the first place.

The weather was gorgeous. I didn't get specifics but the day started off just warm enough to not need a sweater while we waited. We left the hotel at 7 AM and drove the (just under) 2 hours to Conyers. I was a wreck the whole drive, queasy with anticipation. We didn't eat breakfast when we woke up, but I did stop and get some bananas about 20 minutes from the event site. That helped me a lot, and I felt better. Sebastian didn't want to eat anything, and that worried me because I knew it would be a long time before we'd eat again.

We got there and I straightened out the issues I had with Sebastian's registration (they screwed up and put him in the adult race, when my confirmation email clearly said the Jr. Adventure - I guess a lot of people had similar issues). I didn't bother trying to move to an earlier wave time for us so we wouldn't miss the kids race. We did, however, sneak into the 10:30 start group, even though we were scheduled for 11. My cousin insisted it really wouldn't matter, and in the end, it really doesn't. I don't know how the chip timers work - all I know is the event paperwork said to start with the right wave to make sure our timing was correct. So my official time might be 30 minutes short but that doesn't matter. I wasn't competing for time. I was just trying not to die.

While we waited for our start time, we walked around a bit, watching some of the course-end obstacles. From the start line, we could see the barbed-wire/mud pit, the rope climb, a block wall (like a rock wall, but just with wooden blocks), some sort of rowing machine, and a couple other little things that looked like they were no big deal. While we were watching, the first finisher of the first wave came through - Hobie Call, who is some sort of Spartan Race god - in under 45 minutes. I don't remember his exact time, but it was pants-shitting impressive. Here is Hobie with my cousin, Scott:

And here we are, pre-race:

Going in, the only things I knew were that the race was going to be 3-4 miles long, and that the penalty for failing to complete an obstacle was 30 burpees. No one knew how many obstacles there would be, or what they would be - unless of course you could see them from the start/finish line. And I knew that I'd be doing 60 burpees based on two of the obstacles I could see - the rope climb and the block wall.

Here's a run down of the obstacles:

First, we ran up a little hill, past a smoke-bomb canister. It stunk but didn't really bother the airways. At some point on the course, near the end, Sam farted and it was much worse than the smoke-bomb. I felt bad for the guy running up behind us. Sam said it was incentive to hurry on by. Anyway, being 40 pounds heavier than normal and much more out of shape than I like to be, this little bit of shit wore me out. We jogged up this hill to a fence, which we had to go under. Then more running for a little bit to a series of roadblock things to climb over - very short and manageable - while they hosed us (not hard) with water. Then more running until we hit two or three nets we had to crawl under. Sam got tangled up in the last net because it was long. From there, we had to make it over a wall, under a wall, and through a hole in a wall (There was actually another set of these later in the course). Then it was more running. And more running. Okay, by this point, it was walking but it was a long, long way through the woods until we hit a creek. We had to climb off a platform into the water. Getting through this part was very slow going because it was single file and there were lots of tree limbs, slippery spots, and deep holes in the course. This was probably my favorite part because the group of people we were in the back with were helpful and funny and their "leader" was trying to get down the creek without getting wet, leaping from bank to bank. It was quite impressive. He did fall in at one point, but kept on with his side to side antics. We all called him Spiderman. He was awesome.

Then - shocker - more running through the woods. Finally, a set of walls. Sam gave me a boost to get me to the top, where I waited for him to get over them and help me down. I think there were three of these walls. Then more running. Then we had to climb a cargo net, and I freaked the fuck out. I didn't want to do it. I was scared shitless that the net would break and I'd fall and break my neck. I did it though, even though I was terrified the whole time and on my way down, I couldn't look down. It felt like we were really high up but I know it couldn't have been more than 10 feet. After that, I felt my first (and only) burst of adrenaline.

More "running" through the woods, until we came to more walls to climb over. This time, Sam gave me the boost and I got down myself. It wasn't bad. I was still on my cargo net high. Then more running. And more running. Then, I think we had to pull a 40 pound cinder block on a chain up a hill then back down. That was not terrible. Not a picnic, either. From there, we had a short jaunt to..oh hell, I don't even know what order shit went in at that point. I think the cinder block pull actually came later. I just remember lots of ground to cover.

The worst, for me, was most definitely, without a doubt, the 20 mile long barbed wire mud pit. Okay, it was 100 yards, but it felt like forever. As soon as I hit that cold, wet, mush, I knew it was going to be the worst part of it. And this was one thing I'd been dreading all week long. This, and fire, but thankfully, there was no fire obstacle at this Spartan. I couldn't get any leverage with my feet. Sam was just in front of me and to the side, telling me to dig my toes in and use them to push myself forward. I just couldn't. I elbow-paddled through the mud, my back killing me, and I got snagged several times on the barbed wire. About a third of the way in, I think I started crying. I thought I was crying - not tears streaming down my face, but you could hear it in my voice. I kept saying, "Honey, I can't do this, I have to quit." And I could have because the mud pit was very close to the parking lot. He kept telling me to keep going, keep going. The stranger behind me kept saying, "Come on, girl, you can do it!" and at one point he even pushed me forward by the feet. That gave me just enough of what I needed to get over the hump. At the halfway point, there was an open space with a slope and you pretty much just shot down the slope head first. All I could think of was a baby being born. Here I was coming out of this giant, muddy vagina into a big, cold mud puddle. But by then, I figured it was easier to roll through the last half, rather than crawl. And that's what I did. I rolled the rest of the way and it was fairly - not easy, but definitely not as OMGKILLMENOW as the first half. I got lots of cuts and bruises from this obstacle, and my forearms are torn up from where I was using them to push through the muck.

Barbed Wire Mud Pit

How I Thought I Looked

How I Actually Looked

A walker...get it? My last name is Walker. Zombies are called walkers. Oh never mind!

Coming out of that obstacle, I was wearing 10 pounds of mud. I went to the spear throw. I knew I didn't have a chance in hell of making it stick to the hay bale because everyone and their brother was doing burpees. Still, I gave it a shot, came nowhere close, and started my punishment. Burpees suck on a normal day, and by this time I was exhausted and covered with mud.

After the spear throw/burpee obstacle, there was a slanted wall with a rope. The wall and rope were wet and muddy. I glanced off to the side where people were doing burpees and figured I'd soon be joining them. I shocked the shit out of myself when I made it up and over the wall. It wasn't easy once I got to the top, and I almost slipped but somehow I managed to get a grip on the top of the wall and pull myself over. So yay, me.

Next up, the buckets filled with concrete - I think 40 pounds for the ladies and men under 120 pounds. We had to pull the rope to bring the bucket all the way to the top. Again, I doubted myself but it was surprisingly simple. I had such an easy time with it that I held it in place at the very top a bit longer than I probably needed to. Lowering the bucket was definitely harder. We couldn't let it drop but the rope was slippery and I was afraid of it just slipping through my hands and taking tons of skin with it. I was quite psyched to get that bucket on the ground and move on to tire flipping. Tractor trailer tires, just four flips. Piece of cake. Had I known what awaited me, I might have taken my time a bit with these.

There was a neverfuckingending hill where you had to carry a 50 pound sandbag up and down. There was no burpee penalty for the sandbag carry, and the volunteers told us we could cut across the ropes at any point and carry the bag down the rest of the hill, but I said I was going to make it the whole way or die trying. It probably took me 10 minutes (at least!) to do this obstacle. I had to keep stopping and dropping the bag, and since I told Sam to go on ahead, so he wasn't standing there with his sandbag while I took my siestas, I had to get the bag back into position by myself. He waited at the end for me. And waited, and waited. That obstacle really sucked, but I did it. I cursed and spat on my sandbag as I dropped it onto the heap at the bottom of the hill. Okay, I didn't spit on it, but I sure as hell cursed.

Another set of walls! These were really high and I was exhausted. I took the penalty. Others skipped this obstacle too, and the penalty. Lots of people cheated on the burpees. Not me though. Finish, or die trying. That was my goal. Actually, my goal was to finish on my feet and with a pulse, but if I couldn't complete an obstacle, I sure as hell was going to take the penalty for it.

From here, we were back on the run, this time through very narrow trails in the woods. I think this was where we ended up sliding down an embankment, then wading through a swamp. Like I said, there were so many obstacles that it is hard to remember everything in order. The water was fucking cold, and at some point we all had to duck under a fallen tree. All the men complained about their balls shriveling up. I was very happy to be testicle-free!

Up next, another obstacle I was afraid would be on the course - monkey bars. I can't do monkey bars. I never could. I stepped up on the bar, touched the overhead bar, and trotted off to do my burpees. Some guy finished getting across and promptly landed on his nuts when he slipped on the last foot bar. Too bad the swamp water wasn't even colder - he never would have felt it.

More running through the woods. Finally, the rope climb was in sight. I didn't bother trying. I wasn't going to waste my energy trying to climb the rope then doing burpees. I went to the block wall and pretended to make an effort, before doing my final set of burpees. Then it was over a small blockade and to the rowing machine thingy, which was actually much easier than I expected. You had to pull the handles and move the equivalent of 200 meters or something like that. I quickly learned that I could go faster if I held on to the handles and bent over quickly, rather than trying to go up and down with my shoulders doing all the work. Once that was done, I ran to the last set up things to climb over - I think they were giant metal containers, like railroad box cars. There were more stinky smoke-bomb canisters. At this point, I could see Sebastian with Scott & Emme, and they spotted us so we waved and I knew I had to be bad ass. I got down that last little bit with Sam's help, and he sent me ahead of him, through the gladiators and across the finish line.

There were a lot of fucking hills in this course. Aside from the barbed wire mud pit, that probably sucked the most. My legs were so tired at one point, I didn't think I was going to make it. Sam made a list, and including the redundant sets of walls, there were 25 obstacles. Some of them probably shouldn't be considered obstacles because they really weren't that difficult (like the nets we had to crawl under). But anything where I needed encouragement - definitely an obstacle. And Sam was great about giving me boosts over walls and helping me position my sandbag (at first) and waiting for me when he finished an obstacle. He enjoyed himself and wants to get in shape and do another. So I guess we're going to do another Spartan. Scott is trying to get me to sign up for the Tough Mudder in October, but it's pretty expensive and twice as long as this race was. And the obstacles look more challenging, even though he said the Spartan was harder. I think he's just saying that shit so I'll sign up for the Mudder. We'll see. I have until June 30 to decide before the price goes up again.

Sneaking into an earlier wave was the right thing to do. It took us just over two and a half hours to finish. Though I'd hoped to see Sebastian's Jr Adventure Race at 12:15, it's probably better that we weren't there. My cousin finished in time to do the course with him and from what I hear, Sebastian did very well. Sebastian said he had a good time, Scott and Emme said he looked like he had fun (and he behaved himself), and I know Sebastian is really proud of his medal. He ended up having 15 penalty burpees, and his favorite obstacle was the wet mud butt scooching. That's what he called it - I have no idea what the actual obstacle was.

There weren't any pictures of us from the course itself, but Emme did get us at the end. And she took pictures of Sebastian's race for us. I <3 her.

Sebastian and Scott:

Sebastian's obstacles:

Us at the finish:

Post-race, in the hotel:

My shirt was originally black. By the time we got back to the hotel, I just wanted to collapse. I didn't though. I dragged my ass to the shower and had to do everything twice just to be semi-presentable for dinner.

I have no idea where this blood was coming from. I couldn't find a scratch on my face after my shower, but Sam said it was bleeding after the barbed wire mud pit. I don't remember scratching my face. I remember scratching the top of my head though.

Some things I have learned for my next obstacle course race:

• Don't do it alone. Have at least one other person to run with, preferably someone strong enough to hoop you over the walls.
• Roll, don't crawl, through the barbed wire obstacle.
• Hydrate well. I was was afraid to drink anything because I didn't want to have to pee during the race. Piss in the swamp. No one will know.
• Wear Under Armour. I'm too cheap to buy the stuff, especially now that I'm fat again. But damn it, I'm going to lose weight and get back into shape and buy some of the good stuff. 
• Don't plan on keeping your shoes. Well, I figured this going in and wore my old running shoes. There's no saving them.
• The earlier, the better. You want to hit everything before 4000 competitors muck it all up.
• Take copies of your confirmation emails with you. I'm glad I did this because of the mess with Sebastian's registration.
• Don't listen when they tell you that you are halfway. They lie. We were halfway done at three different points. Fuckers.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a million things about the day and what I would do differently for next time. And there will be a next time. Whether it's a Spartan or a Warrior Dash or a Tough Mudder, I'm doing another obstacle course race. But right now I'm exhausted, about to lose an hour due to Daylight Saving Time, and we have to get up early to head home.

Oh, and everyone at the event was super awesome. The 4500 Spartans were helpful and encouraging, and there wasn't a single asshole in the bunch. Not even my husband.

UPDATED: RESULTS - Here are our official results.

Me:

Time - 2 hours, 36 minutes, 22 seconds

3236 out of 3364 overall

955 for females

155 in my age group

Sam:

Time - 2 hours, 36 minutes, 24 seconds

3239 out of 3364 overall

2284 for males

447 in his age group

One week to go!

It will all be over a week from now. I'm scared shitless. As I've said many times, I am no shape to be running this race. I didn't realize there were going to be physical penalties for failing to complete an obstacle. It will probably be push ups and/or burpees. God damm. This fucking sucks.

Oh, and to top things off, it was a bad food week.