Mix it up trail runs

I am not much of a runner. Matter-o-fact I will not run on asphalt at all, I absolutely hate it. But I do enjoy trail running, it is much more of a work out and more adventurous, plus the scenery is amazing.

This year however, my Brother and I want more of a challenge, something to push us harder. So we have been looking into the spartan races, Warrior Dash, Dirty Dash and Runner Cross.

The Spartan is what we really want to do, but at 8+miles, 20+ miles and 30 Burpees per obstacle you can't complete...it is daunting. Admittedly I could run the miles (slowly) do the obstacles, but Burpees...they kill me...2 sets of 30 and I would be done. So we have put that off until next year.

So this year were looking at The Dirty Dash and Runner Cross being held in Salt lake city.

Training for this has been very different. You have to run, but also add Pushups (sometimes every half mile) Rock carries (10-15 lbs for maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile for me), Burpees (Ugh), Squats, pull ups, push ups, etc. 

I have to say, I find it very refreshing and very challenging. I'm not even close to where I want to be, But I've lost ten lbs in a month and gained much more upper body muscle.

Next stop....Spartan 2012

Dawn wants me to look like wolverine in Xmen.

 

My Response...I guess I have to get a little white mustache, and claws.

El raquetball...

I played raquetball once in highschool, for approximatley one hour, because I ran into the wall, rammed the raquet handle into my stomach and threw up. Yep, no more raquetball for me.

However, we now have a pass to the Orem Fitness center and the boys and I decide to play raquetball. We have no idea what the rules are or how to play, so we watched some other guys for a minute, (who knows if they knew how to play) and then just began.

I am proud to say, I only lost once, that's right...I showed them who was boss. No mercy!! Not really, we just rotated playing to ten. It was a blast and now every thursday night at six we have a court reserved.

When I say every night, this coming thursday will be our second time.

I have also started spinning classes to get ready for the upcoming biking season. In reality however it is just so I can somewhat keep up with my younger brother going uphill, it hasn't worked so far, maybe this year.

Last saturday, there were many new women attending. It seems Zumba didn't start when they thought so the did a spinning class instead. We all gave them suggestions and showed them how to work th bike. Afterword to be nice they invited us to come to Zumba with them. they assured us that other men went. We assured them that we are not.

It didn't happen, and never will.

That would be wrong at every level that I can think of.

Every level.

Seriously.

Oh, and before biking I did the eliptical for 1/2 hour...pointless...I don't know if a more boring, useless piece of equipment could be invented. Well maybe the thighmaster would be a close second.

Do snowshoes really work?

Due to the fact that my family snow shoes quite often, (and perhaps because of my larger-than-average-perhaps-I-should-be-on-the Biggest Loser-size), people commonly ask if snowshoes really work.

Yes they do...here is some proof.

Keep in mind the video is low quality, but you get the point (it was taken by an older version of the waterproof, droproof, olympus camera)

First the Location. Julie Andrews Meadow, about 2.5 miles up from the Bear canyon trail head, much less traveled than the pine hollow freeway trail, steeper(2,000 feet in 2.5 miles), but much less raveled.

Second, the snow depth; Guthrie dug down until he hit dirt at around six feet. The next two are the test. One without one snowshoe, the other with both.

Without one Snow shoe.

With two Snowshoes.

Conclusion, yeah they work.

Fun? You bet.

Hard work? Breaking trail is one of the hardest workouts I have ever done.

Don't believe me? Come try it, you will probably love it as much as we do, just please don't tell everyone about this trail (Big smiley face emoticon).

Workout with my wife

You would think Dawn is pregnant today. She is having a very hard time walking. Why, you might ask? I talked her into doing a Suspension trainer workout with me yesterday.
 I made my own trainer and so we did this;

Without the "pop" at the end. . .yet. That's next. Then we did regular sqauts.

12 reps each, Repeat whole circuit twice.

Followed by a run/walk for 40 minutes.

Now she's using the roller.

Rock on.

Suspension Trainer

My brother and I are always looking for new ways to workout as we get bored very easily. The TRX Suspension Trainer (TM) came out and we were interested. However at 150-200 dollars, it was far more than what we wanted to spend. so . .