Setting goals for a healthier lifestyle - mud runs

[edouble101 314]

November of 2012 I was fed up with my inactive lifestyle. I was drinking a case of beer a week and over eating at every meal. I decided I was going to start to run again as well as do mild weight training and put more thought into my diet. I also registered for a Warrior Dash that was in August 2013. This would help motivate me to make a change. My goal was to be able to run this in a decent time. A few weeks into my running and my knees were in constant pain. A soreness that bothered me all day every day. February 2013 I was diagnosed with degenerative joint disease in my knees. I supplemented my diet with Fish Oils and Glucosamine Chondroitin. After a couple months these supplements along with stretching alleviated all of my knee pain! Since January of this year I have lost almost 30lbs of fat. I am not quite where i want to be with my physical conditioning but I am getting close!

 

I was road running. I was also having some deep muscle soreness in the sides of my calf muscle that I was not able to ease. I purchased running shoes that are suitable for my gate and stopped running roads. I strictly run on trails only. I am very fortunate to have a lot of state game lands and state parks near my house. I wear a pair of Inov-8 X-Talon 212 for muddy trails. Awesome shoes! Here are a few pictures of the trails that I run. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weight training that I do is mostly body weight type of exercise. Pull ups and push ups are a staple in my exercise plan. I do my workouts in my garage. I bought my pull up bar and dip bar at http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/  I have a 80lbs heavy bag and a double end bag that I use occasionally for cardio. A majority of my workouts are crossfit based. Here are a few pics of my garage set up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a phone call in the evening on July 2012. A buddy said that he has an extra ticket for the Spartan Race that was the next day! Of course I said hell yeah but I really had no training for this. I am very happy that I did it. It was awesome!!!! The event was at Blue Mountain ski area. We had to run up and down a mountain with 15 obstacles. I finished 281 out of 5635.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I ran the Warrior Dash that motivated me to exercise from the start. The Warrior Dash was fun and much easier than the Spartan Race. I finished 150 out of 7118.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anybody that is looking to be healthier through exercise and diet can use mud runs like I did for motivation. They are a lot of fun and is a great event to do with family and friends.

 

 

 

[Shogen 325]

nice setup and great motivation!

[edouble101 314]

nice setup and great motivation!

 

If you have a chance sign up for one of the Spartan, Warrior Dash or Savage races. There are more but I haven't tried them yet.

 

I am doing the Savage Race tomorrow!! 5-7miles with 15 obstacles iirc.

[Shogen 325]

If I had money to spend to race I would be .... is that you with the nipple ring??? lol ... sessy boiiii !!!

 

 

nice setup and great motivation!

 

If you have a chance sign up for one of the Spartan, Warrior Dash or Savage races. There are more but I haven't tried them yet.

 

I am doing the Savage Race tomorrow!! 5-7miles with 15 obstacles iirc.

[edouble101 314]

Lol @ the nipple ring comment, yes that is me.

Save up for a race. Most people have a blast doing these.

[Shogen 325]

lmao

 

Lol @ the nipple ring comment, yes that is me.

Save up for a race. Most people have a blast doing these.

 

I know... I will do it soon, before the end of fall season ... 

[edouble101 314]

This weekend I ran the Savage Race, 5 miles and 25 obstacles. Cold day at 45 degrees!

 

 

 

 

 

Sprint at the start

 

 

The first obstacle was being submersed in ice water

 

Sawtooth Bars was fun

 

Big jump

 

We ran in then non-competitive heat. I finished 1st in my age group and 8th overall. Going forward I will only run the competitive heats.

 

 

 

 

So far this is the most fun that I had at a mud run. The obstacles were awesome!

Edited September 16, 2013 by edouble101