T-Minus 7 Days: Removing the Monkey

7. Will Patrick finally remove the monkey from his back by successfully completing the Funky Monkey obstacle?

I know this is a sore subject for one of us but I know this is definitely a goal in Miami.  Patrick typically dominates the course so holding the Funky Monkey over him is one of our few pleasures.  We spend the rest of the time trying to catch him on the course.  I would bet on him this round after several near misses on the last two courses.  We promise to have the footage....whether it is the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat!

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My Start to "Our Year in the Mud"

My Start to "Our Year in the Mud"

Usually when I think of starting a work out regimen and adopting 
a rigorous nutritional diet, I think WTF - not WTM. But I have to admit I'm inspired. Getting inspired at 39...now that's not too bad. I've often heard that one needs to make their mark by the time their 40, so I guess there's no time like the present. Maybe I'm confusing inspiration with the onset of my midlife crisis. I was really hoping to hold that off until I was at least 45 or so, but I don't think a midlife crisis is that bad when it comes to getting my mind wrapped around trying to compete in the World's Toughest Mudder. I mean I did just complete two laps at the Society Hill Mudder so aiming for 4 or more at this years World's Toughest doesn't seem that unreasonable. (As long as I don't reflect on that ridiculous Artic Enima obstacle.) I did just successfully spend the last 45 minutes going through my meal plan for the week. Maybe this year will be My Start to "Small Victories."  Dropping down to my ideal 180 is probably going to be the hardest challenge in this whole endeavor.

This isn't going to be the first time I've prepared for a Mudder. Well I can't really say I prepared for my first one. I got up to a maximum 4 mile run but that in no way prepared me for what I was about to face at Wintergreen last year. That course was accurately described as up the mountain and down the mountain. A tough course - probably the Toughest yet for me at least. Then came Pennsylvania and a Double Mudder at Society Hill. A bit of veteran I have become. 

But again, this time I truly feel inspired to get ready. I mean - I am blogging about it. Truly, I'm not sure how you couldn't be inspired if you followed any of the results of the 2012 World's Toughest Mudder. My hat is still off to the great coverage available on MudderNation. I spent the better part of the day calling out to my two girls to come and watch the latest video - especially those covering Amelia Boone. A true inspiration to all of us - not just the girls and women out there!!!!

This will be the first time though that I really get prepared. Prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually. Yes - spiritually! Go ahead and say it - it's not a bad word.

I actually thought of a pretty good start to this journey. Over the past weekend, I completed a 13.5 mile loop hike around Three Ridges in the George Washington National Forest. I have done parts of that trail a couple of times, but never the entire loop. Good strenuous hike over beautiful mountain peaks and along wonderful mountain creeks. (Ahhh you didn't know I was a poet as well did you. It all just flows.) I'll have to admit it was tough. I haven't been in the back country of any forest since my oldest was born, and I truly forgot how to pack. 51 pounds on the back!!! About 20 pounds of it were never used. Note to self - leave the change of clothes in the car, denim is heavy. And yes, one sweatshirt is plenty for a weekend hike. But we did find a Weirwood. How appropriate for a December hike - Winter is Coming!!!

One of the great perks of the Tough Mudder, for those of you who don't know, is that it isn't really a race. It is truly about the camaraderie. I mean granted I'm on a team of two other males so it is probably always a race, but to me it's a lot like golf. No matter who is out there with you, it is still you versus a little ball that just lays there and mocks you. The Tough Mudder is about me. My race. My preparation. My test. Having 2 buddies to pull me a long is a huge bonus. And I definitely would not be out there if it wasn't for them. I guess in all things there is a benefit to having, as I like to call them, a couple of Mudda Brothas!

So here I stand - or actually sit as I work to draft my first post - preparing to commit myself to a year of P90x, Insanity, and running. Running - yes for the first time in my life I'm going to commit myself to running. I WILL FEEL A RUNNER'S HIGH I SWEAR IT!!! That, in and of itself, will be a victory for me. There is very little exercise that I love less than running. I guess that is why I'm grateful that I've actually found a race that makes me run - along with wading through chest deep mud, jumping into freezing water, crawling through narrow underground tunnels, and ultimately learning to enjoy a good electrocution. I mean you really haven't lived until you've had an electrical wire ping you on the top of your head. (Put a helmet on, hit yourself with a hammer and you too can enjoy all there is to a good 10,000 volt shock.) 

Wait a minute - maybe this is a midlife crisis. I guess we shall see. But I don't think it can be all that bad. At the end of this thing I will probably be in the best shape of my life.

So let's go. 13.5 mile hike - check!. The first day of Chest and Back P90x behind me (seems like I just finished 90 days of that stuff) and Insanity plyo in the back of my mind for this evening. Should be fun!!!

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