That was one Tough Mudder!

Back in June a good friend, Bryce, of our was talking to Steve while I was watching Bachelor Pad with his wife Brittni. I should know better than to let the two of them talk to long beyond earshot.

The next thing I know Steve comes out with a silly grin on his face and informs me that Bryce has talked him into running a race.

Let me pause here to say that Steve has never run a race before. He has told me many times that he only runs if dogs are chasing him.... or the Army tells him.

So I laughed at him... sorry but I did.

Because this wasn't like any old road race that was a 5K or even a 10K.. oh no.... it was 12 miles and had 25 obstacles.

Bryce had talked Steve into running the Tough Mudder.

Well, running a race like this is on my bucket list,{#39} so I was game. The only thing was that I was not in shape {and nither was Steve} so Bryce offered to help train... motivate us.

{oh, and I need to mention that Bryce also talked another friend into doing this... Jason. And then... he went on to create a team 30 strong}

After injuries and busy schedules and kids and sickness.... we made it to race day.

So December 3rd. We packed up the car full of people and made our way over to Tampa.

 Bright and early... getting ready.

Walking up to get our packets there were over 15,000 runners that day. There were herds of people that were started every 20 minutes from 8:00am until 1:00pm.

Here is the group that we rode up with. {Jason, Steve, Me, Aaron, Richard, Bryce} In the beginning... when we were all clean.

We have not yet discovered what we have signed up for

Do you see that..... that in the distance. That tractor in the background. It just dumped a half ton of ice into a pool of water. I can assure you that it was cold.... very cold when one is forced into it.

That's my number.  {it was put all over my body}

I really can't believe that we are doing this!! But I am so happy to be sharing it with Steve.

 It was fun to see all the costumes that were sorn.

There were many that were dressed in the bear minimum.

The rest of this picture is not so family friendly. But he was happy enough to pose for the picture.

Our start time was 10:20, after some WOO-RAH's we were off.

At first it didn't seem so bad. And then... oh man. This race was so fun!! First the Tough Mudder support the Wounded Warrior program. And it wasn't a timed race, and that I liked. Everyone out on the course was so willing to help who ever needed it.

Except the guy who said he would catch me and didn't....

I was so proud of myself. I ran every step!! {very slowly but I did it} and I conquered every obstacle!

It was amazing!

We did it!! we earned our orange headbands!!

This is the original team of 4 we started this journey together and I couldn't have done it with out these guys. They hauled my butt over every one of the obstacles and made sure that I wasn't too far behind. We trained together in the beginning and finished together at the end.

It was the best thing I have ever done and I was so happy to do it with such great friends.

Until next year when we do it all again.


{the next day I couldn't move!! it took 3 whole days to recover from this. i am excited for next year knowing a little better what to train for.i think this will be a yearly thing.}

What am I thinking?

Ok, so I must be crazy. That's what you say to people who do what I'm going to do. Do you what to know what it is? I'm going to run a MARATHON! Steve's sister Michelle and her husband are going to do it so I signed on with them. Running a marathon has been on my list since I graduated high school (gasp!) 10 years ago. You know, the list that everyone has of things they want to accomplish before they die. Well running a marathon is on mine, and I figured if others are doing it then I will to (yes I am a sheep). This is a good time. I'm done having kids so no worries of getting knocked up again before I race (shut-up Jen) and I guess I should be done being lazy. Don't get me wrong.... I exercise, and I walk every day, but I haven't ran, I mean really ran, in yup... 10 years. So here we go....

The race is in Vegas and we are running in honor of Steve and Michelle's brother Benji, who died in a helicopter crash in September 2007. His tag name for everything was Heliroo. It's for both his loves, fling helicopters "Heli" And Jeeping, he was fearless and it was said that it looked like Benji was jumping and bouncing off the rocks, "roo".

So "Go Team HELIROO!" We love you Benji, this one is for you!