Putting the puzzle together...

...we are definitely coming together as Adventure Racers, Sunday helped to prove that. What an experience. We were basically given a quick refresher on how to use the compass, minor details and BAM. Off we were to find 4 beach balls in Hilton Falls. Lucky for me Susie was on my team. We got off to a slow start because we struggled with the first check point. No biggie, we were quickly off to find the others. At one point we passed the same man three times (it was all in our strategy). By the third check point we opted for the road less travelled (this way is shorter) and the rough patch of the course....seemed like a good idea at the time. Wow, that totally put my mountain biking (or lack of) skills to the test. I looked down at my hands and my knuckles were white, I vaguely remember someone telling me this is a nono. Ooops.

When we met up with Shane along our detour and he reminded me of some important points. Switching gears, shoulders back, lock your core, let your bike take the bumps etc. etc. Good thing I don't have ADD because that's a lot to focus on. Susie and I made it back safe, sound and pretty muddy. What an awesome day, Susie and I even managed to get some chats in along the course. I loved the whole morning! I'm officially hooked. Thank-you!

Burn Baby Burn!

Sorry about the lack of blogging last week. Reports cards got me.

I loved loved LOVED the workout today. Fresh after the Moon and June and after Susie's e-mail last week I was pumped. Pumped to get whipped! This will give you a sligh idea of how the workout was. I just had a shower and I couldn't shampoo my own hair. That's how awesome the workout was. So here I am, blogging with half soapy unbrushed hair (and by hair I mean fro).

We started out with skipping and ladders. I love the ladders, they always remind me how uncoordinated I am. "Lock your core" I hear in the background. After that we went to the football drill, I can't believe I was pumped before the workout :) Truthfully, this is an awesome all around workout. I felt it everywhere, especially in my forearms (which might explain my hair right now). We lie side by side in plank in a straight line all the way down the field. OH WAIT...before that we do 15 burpees (see previous blog on burpees), 20 mountain climbers, and 15 squat jumps. Then we lie in plank, then continue to jump over each person one by one. Just take a second and picture it. Then listen to it...you wouldn't believe the sounds that came out of us ladies. I think we did that one three times but to be honest - it's much of a blur.

Then along came the TRX machine. Oh boy. This definitely reminds me how much I have to work my core. Honestly, this was so hard. I love it, but it was so so hard. At one point my thighs wouldn't move and Susie replies "how many are you at?" I manage to get out "12" and Susie just laughs. I probably sounded like I just complete 100. Nope 12. I definitely need to get working on my core. That's embarrassing.

Finally was the windsprints. I don't mind the wind sprints, in fact sickly enough, I love sprinting. This was a great opportunity to try out our new Sunnto Heart Rate Monitors. Sprint. Check your HR. Rest. Repeat. After the second sprint Susie comes over to me and asks about my HR. I tell her and I'm waiting for a 'great job Carpenter!' Nope. "I guess you could have went a little harder out there." True.

Awesome workout thanks to Susie. The weather managed to hold off for us, which was a bonus! As always, I'm totally looking forward to next Sunday.

Mountain biking + navigation skills = a wicked Awesome DAY!

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www.RACEDAYRUSH.com/Phat Chicks Workout #5

Mountain biking = almost love at first try

WOW!
This will probably be my cheesiest entry. I am a new person. The mountain biking session on Thursday was AMAZING! Hands down. I felt like I was on a constant rollercoaster. You know that feeling when you are scared but confident and nervous but excited? Yeah, that one. That's how I felt the entire night. I learnt so much about mountain biking and myself that night. For a chick with little confidence to feel that good about herself is awesome. I don't think I'm in love with mountain biking just yet - I'm still scared. I'm just really into that feeling of adrenalin! I was describing how I felt to Neil and he politely says: "Uhhh, yeah. That's adrenalin."

We finally get to this calm and beautiful river and here I think... the men are going to give us a motivating talk on how awesome we are. Then I remember that we are training with guys tonight. Shane holds up a heart rate monitor and points to the river. "First three people to cross the river with their bike and back gets a HRM from Suunto." More adrenalin. Why do I always get this feeling of panic when someone puts competition into anything?! It can be the first person to eat their cereal. I have to win. It turned out we all got our brand new heart rate monitors from SUUNTO. What a relief. Mine is bright orange and I love it!



My highlight. Just when I think the night couldn't get any better... FREE SAUCONY SHOES! It was like Christmas morning. It started out as the first person to make it all the way up the hill (and by hill I mean death trap) in their saddle without stopping gets free Saucony gear. Piece of cake. They had me at free. I did it and then Matt Merko says "Anyone willing (crazy enough) to do it again for a pair of Saucony shoes?" "I'll do it." So I did. This hill was steep and my thighs burnt so bad I felt like I was climbing Mt. Everest but at the same time I love that feeling of a grusome workout (I think that's why I'm a runner). So true to his word, Matt Merko, our wicked awesome Saucony rep is sending me my new kicks!

Awesome, Awesome night. I can't wait to get back out there and scare myself a little more.

Three Cheers for Hills!

I thought I would blog even though I missed the trail running session today because I was still out there running. Just running the roads instead! I finished the Mississauga Marathon today in 1 hour 43 minutes and I felt amazing (that's a PB for me)! I was shooting for a strong 1:50! Awesome. Normally I'm a lot more stiff and sore but today I felt great. I have to say, my time is all thanks to the horrid hill training with Phat Chicks and Race Day Rush. Definately worth the buring sensation. I was able to tear up the last two hills. I mean I gav'er (talk about outer body experience....haha) I didn't even know where the energy was coming from. It could have been the wicked weather or the fact that Mississauga is very downhill for a marathon :) Either way it was an amazing day and a great way to start out the summer season!

I also ran into Shane's friend Eman - running the half with the helmet camera. I gave a shout out to the Phat Chicks and of course RDR. It was exciting to see the reactions of people... "Does that guy have a helmet on his head?!" or "What is he doing?" Once I told Eman my finishing goal I felt the pressure to do it because it was on tape. Thanks!

In the end, it was a great day, ran over half the race with my brother, got a massage and the sun was shining all day. I do however, miss all the Race Day Rushers! I'm looking forward to this Thursday!

Shannon

Still going strongish

Hi,
I'm feeling a bit down because I missed the workout today. An important one too. Also missing the group! I am still keeping up with the homework and gearing up for the Mississauga Marathon. I'm only doing the half but I'm hoping (I'm putting it out there because I need the pressure) for a 1:45 half. I think I can. This will be included as my RDR training runs ;)
Today I did the core homework and I felt great, I'm still steady at 15 (male) push ups in a minute which is frustrating and burpees still hate me.