Tough Mudder, phase one- registration

Well it seems like this blog that used to be a travel blog has now turned into an exercise blog. I have been blogging about once every three months and it seems like it always to do with something about training for some event we were talked into doing. Well, here is another one.

Gordon signed us up for a Tough Mudder that will be held in Lebanon, Oregon on August 9th, 2014. He has been talking about doing once since we finished the Portland, Oregon Marathon (26.2 miles) on October 7th, 2012. I can't let him commit to such an endeavor alone, so I told him I would do it with him.

This is total craziness I know. Mainly because I have a fear or plunging, swimming, or walking in water that I can not see in to and this event will have several obstacles with mud and water involved which implies little to no visibility. The race is 12 miles long with 25 obstacles including monkey bars, jumping off 30 foot ledges into a muddy creek, crawling through culverts and climbing up 12 foots walls. All of this will require immense upper body strengths, endurance, and fearlessness. Some have said it is more difficult than running a marathon. Since we have done a marathon, well, why not attempt the next level? Right?

So, here we go, phase one- registration is complete and we are on to training physically and mentally. We made list of five goals to start. "1) run 2-3 times a week 2) yoga 3)pullups-rope-climbing gym 4) muddy hill work 5) obstacles at Joe's".  I am riding my bike to work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays as long as it is above freezing and not raining- that is good for endurance, cardio, and lower body strength- 20 miles round trip.  I have run twice this week and Gordon actually ran with me this evening, our first run together since the marathon.

Gordon broke his back (again, after getting it fused in June 2010 after having it broken for 13 years from snowboarding events) May 25th, 2012 while we had just begun our training for the marathon and unknowingly finished the training up until 6 weeks before the marathon. He ran the marathon anyway after the doctor urged him not to. Gordon has not really run since the marathon on October 7th 2012. So he will have to slowly ease back into it.

More to come as we continue our journey in another lifetime accomplishment. Here is to life and living it to the fullest!