Spartan Race Workout Tour

In case you haven't heard, I'm signed up to run the Spartan Super in Red Deer in September, courtesy of Becky and her giveaway she had on her blog a few weeks ago. The super is 13+ km and I think I'm in denial about how hard it is going to be! The Spartan Sprint, which is only 5km, is in Calgary in August and I'm on the fence about registering for that one. On one hand, I think it would be good practice for the Super race, but on the other hand, I'm nervous it will scare me off even more from it. Sometimes it's better not to know what you're getting yourself into, ha!

But I digress. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a Spartan Race Workout Tour, but thanks to Laura, I found out that Calgary actually had the tour coming through. The workout is an organized event that occurs over two hours and is meant to teach you "exercises to help you over the toughest of obstacles while you train with like-minded Spartans". Registration was only $10 and that included a "I'm Training for a Spartan Race" t-shirt! And even better, partial proceeds went to charity, in this case, the charity being Huntington Society of Canada. So really, there was no excuse not to attend.

 

I was terrified to go alone, so luckily I was able to convince my Aunt's step-daughter Kate, and her husband Dan to go with me (they're already signed up for the Spartan Sprint in Calgary). I just didn't know what to expect. I was worried it was going to be very hardcore, and like a military boot-camp style class, where we'd be doing pushups and burpees in the mud with a trainer leaning over us yelling us to push harder! and, do ten more! Thankfully, it was nothing quite like that, but it was still a TOUGH workout.

 

For most of the gruelling two hours, we stood in one spot spread out over the large field and we're put through HIIT style circuit training. The class was led by David Wilkinson, the owner and head coach of Rooted Fitness Crossfit here in Calgary. The exercises he put us through were supposed to mimic a lot of the movements and body positioning that will be required of us during the Spartan Race. There was also some running/sprinting involved, and of course, a TON of burpees. And let me tell you, Spartan burpees are so much harder than "regular" burpees. The penalty during a Spartan Race for not completing an obstacle is 30 burpees. We were timed for three minutes to see how many burpees we could do, and I was only able to eek out 25. Seriously, I better not have to do any during the race or I'm screwed!

{photos ℅ of Spartan Race Facebook page}

Of course, in hindsight, I would have been fine showing up to the Spartan Race Workout Tour on my own. The camaraderie was fantastic and there were a lot of other people there on their own. Plus, the age range was huge, from kids (you had to be at least 13 to participate), to adults of all ages and fitness levels. So, if you have an opportunity to attend a Spartan Race Workout Tour and you don't have anyone to go with you, do not be afraid! I promise it will be a fun and memorable experience! And, hey, you don't even have to be registered for a Spartan Race to attend.

{photo ℅ of Spartan Race Facebook page}

I'm so glad I went and got my butt kicked for two hours - let me tell you, I was exhausted and sore the next day, but it was so worth it! Two hour workouts are no joke, but it reminded me that I'm stronger than I always think, but I also could stand to throw some burpees into my training. Thanks Spartan Race for organizing such an event! All of the photos from the workout tour can be seen on Spartan Race's Facebook page here.

Are you signed up to run a Spartan Race this year? 

Have you ever run a Spartan Race before? 

A Mini Getaway

It had been almost two months since I last saw my mom, so last week, I packed us up, and Sully and I hit the road to Edmonton. I had been feeling a bit lonely since my in-laws left after a month long stay and a dose of mom and Gramma time was just what Sully and I needed!

{Edmonton River Valley}

We arrived last Tuesday and ended up staying until Friday. My mom lives in a spacious one-bedroom apartment and Sully had a blast running around, exploring new cupboards, pushing the elevator buttons, taking the garbage to the garbage shoot and yelling at passersby from the balcony. I was a little bit worried that sleep would be an issue since the last time Sully had to sleep in the play pen, he didn't do so well, but this time he slept like a champ! He did wake up early, but he would easily go back to sleep with me in bed for another hour or two.

Our first night in Edmonton, I left Sully with my mom while I went to my Edmonton book club night. July book club is always held at Sarah's house and she treats us to a campfire and s'mores. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate so book club was kept indoors, but it was still a wonderful night. I was worried about my will-power to stick to my 21 Day Fix diet when it came to the food, but Sarah out did herself and had prepped all the ingredients for us to make our own salad rolls! I had never made salad rolls before, but it was so much fun and I definitely plan to make them at home now.

 

I didn't make plans to see anyone else while I was in Edmonton because I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my mom, but I did get away for a few hours to visit with my friend Lisa and meet her new daughter, Jade. Of course, I was too busy cuddling baby Jade to take any photos, but trust me, she is adorable and the whole time I was holding her, I couldn't believe that Sully was also once that small!

The rest of our visit was spent going for walks along the Promenade along the river valley, playing in the fountain, enjoying Starbucks al fresco, going to Taste of Edmonton (where I also practiced extreme self-control!!), visiting with my brother, and watering Gramma's flowers on the balcony. Seriously, I'm pretty sure Sully drowned some of my mom's plants! I also got in all my 21 Day Fix workouts and I even got out for a run on our last morning there.

 

{My view of the River Valley on my run}

On our way home on Friday, we stopped to see my friend Karen and her kids before heading on to Red Deer where we had a little play date with Becky and her son, Liam, at Imagination Grove at Kerry Wood Nature Centre. We had the whole place to ourselves and it was so cute to watch Sully and Liam interact. I humoured Sully a few times and took him down the big slide, but for the most part, he was just as happy to wait for Liam to come down the slide, giggling every time he did.

Those few days with my mom were just what I needed and I came back home feeling refreshed and happy. It's hard not having my mom just a twenty minute drive away, but at least we're still in the same province!

Have you ever made salad rolls?
Does your mom live near or far? 

Initial Thoughts on the 21 Day Fix

It's been three days since I started the 21 Day Fix. (That would be Monday, if you can't do math). I didn't make a big ado about it since there's always that fear of failing and not completing what you set out to do, but it's hard not to mention it here or there, especially since it effects my daily life.

Anyway, before I subject myself to posting any before photos or stats, let's wait and see if I can survive and conquer the next 21 days. In the mean time, here are some of the random thoughts and realizations that went through my head these past three days.

{My little workout buddy}

>> Fiction: I thought I didn't eat a lot during the day. Fact: I really do eat during the day, except that instead of meals, I'm a perpetual snacker and grazer. A cracker here, a hunk of cheese here, Sully's unfinished breakfast/snack/lunch here, etc, etc. I'm constantly popping something into my mouth.  

>> Oh my god, I eat a lot carbs! I almost always reach for something carb-y when I'm hungry. It takes a lot of mental power to convince yourself that you do not need a starchy carb to satisfy your hunger. Still working on that.  

>> I'm starving. I want more carbs. 

>> I might be able to run 10k, but I am not in shape AT ALL.  

>> How am I sweating so much?! Even my eyelids and elbows are sweating. 

>> I am so sore. Every inch of my body hurts. Why am I so out of shape? 

>> Why are my neck muscles so sore? Do I not know how to do crunches anymore? 

>> Why does my kid want me to read him a book while I'm holding a plank? He doesn't even like books! 

>> I don't want another container of veggies. I want more carbs! 

>> I'm starving.  

>> Why does coffee with milk taste so much worse than coffee with cream? Why can't I just like black coffee? 

>> THIS is one serving of brown rice? I've easily been eating three times as much food at one meal as I should have been. 

>> Am I going to be sore for the whole 21 days? 

>> I have way more willpower than I ever gave myself credit for. I can do this.*

*Confession: I'm not doing this all on my own. A friend of mine (she who will remain nameless until she's ready to share her story) started this at the same time as me. We figured the moral support would be good, and keep us on track.  When she texts me that she's hangry and starving, it's so comforting to know I'm not alone. Only someone who has gone through this program or is going through this program, can truly appreciate how challenging it is. And I feel like if we can hang in there together, we can get through this. Accountability really does make a difference. 


Have you done the 21 Day Fix, or a similar program before?