It's My One Year Anniversary...

Irvine Lake Mud Run April 2010

Happy One Year Anniversary to me!!!

One year ago today I started running...I'm sad to say I could only run about 1 mile before I felt like I was going to die! I had never been a runner before and I only started training in preparation for my first Mud Run. I made little baby steps each week, slowly adding more distance to my running workouts. My goal was to be able to run at least 3 miles without walking by July. This gave me 2 1/2 months to reach my goal. As each week passed I started to notice that I wasn't heaving and panting at the end of a few miles. My real motivation came from my running mate, Jenny...who at 50 years old became my unofficial coach. She had the energy of a 20 year old and I could sometimes barely keep up.

As July neared a turn of unfortunate events occurred...Jenny overdid it and a foot injury ended our days of training together, and she grabbed her family and left the country! (Only for a year...to travel around the globe, she's due back in a few weeks). As she packed her bags, she made me promise her that I wouldn't quit running. So I continued on...

I completed my first Mud Run successfully, then signed up for another one, and another one, and yet another one! (July 18th @ www.irvinelakemudrun.com) . I ran the Dana Point Turkey Trot in November, and the OC Chili Trail Run in February.

So this day is significant to me in many ways...I embrace my new life filled with mud runs, trail runs, new running friends, sweaty socks, a closet full of running gear, and a healthy body.

You are never too old to start a healthy lifestyle, find a partner to motivate you, start slow, and set yourself some goals. Sign up for a 5K or if you don't mind getting dirty, a Mud Run.

One year...approximately 750 miles later...I will now pat myself on the back!

The Top 10 Reasons You Should Do a Mud Run

10. Remember splashing in mud puddles as a kid? Here's your chance to tune into your inner child and not only splash in them, but crawl through them...something your mother would never let you do!

9. It's a great excuse to start a healthier lifestyle...training for my first one made me realize I LOVE running and now it's a part of my life!

8. Bonding! You'll never be in another situation where total strangers now feel like your closest friends...the common thread of doing a mud run brings people together, now that's cool! Check out my twitter list of fellow OC Mud runners!

7. You may learn new things about yourself...I never thought I was a competitive person, but I've found out I am...passing by other runners is exhilarating, especially if they're men!
6. Halloween comes in any month when there is a mud run...dig out your angel wings and banana suits...you may just win the costume contest!


5. If you're lucky you just might meet a mud run celebrity...I did! James O'Brien is a veteran mud runner and a super nice guy...easy to spot, just look for the man in the suit!

4. You'll have something good to talk about on Monday morning...and you're co-workers will be jealous!

3. Spending your day outdoors, reconnecting with Mother Nature...and Father Mud!


2. You've been putting off cleaning your running shoes...after the mud run, no more procrastinating, my shoes are nice and clean again thanks to the garden hose!

And the number one reason you should do a mud run...because once you try it I promise you'll want to do it again! It's FUN!!!

So now that I've talked you into it, you have plenty of time to start your training...start slow then build up because when April 10th, 2010 rolls around you won't want to be missing out on all the fun at the next Irvine Lake Mud Run! See you there!

Want to see more?
Here's a video from the Irvine Lake Mud Run

The OC Mud Run is coming!

Last year I watched my son and his friends compete in a mud run. It looked like so much fun that I decided I would like to try it. So when I heard about the OC Mud Run coming to Irvine I was so excited! Trying to put together a

San Diego Mud Run 2008
Originally uploaded by smashgirl

team of 4 has been a challenge...but I'm determined to find my final teammate!
As my friends dropped out one by one with some excuse, I decided to use the power of Twitter to find "tweetmates". So far, I've found 2 total strangers, as crazy as me, that are willing to get down and dirty in this 5K. Now I'm on the final quest for that last fun and adventureous person to complete my "Team Tweet". I promise it will be a day you will never forget, plus you'll get a cool handmade team shirt from me, plus more surprises! Visit http://www.ocmudrun.com/ to check out the details, then leave a comment if you'd like the final spot! ( did I mention that some former Survivor contestants will be there?)

San Diego Mud Run 2008-The Aftermath

San Diego Mud Run 2008-The Aftermath
Originally uploaded by smashgirl

The weather this weekend in Southern California was just like summer. On the coast where I live it was in the high 80's...perfect beach weather. As my husband and son headed for the surf, I drove inland for the Mud Run. My eighth grader and three of his friends were competing as a team. The start of the race was a run through the parking lot, while water tank trucks blasted everyone. The 5K course also had four giant mud pits to crawl through, haystack obstacles and a 500 foot climb up a mountain. With over 3000 runners, they looked like a trail of ants! They had a blast!