I spent a lot of time today watching Tough Mudder videos; both the official videos on their site and one's made by people who ran the damn thing. My excitement is building along with the apprehension of knowing that my friend Jason has yet to sign up...bastard. This poses a problem because Jason was the one who told me about the event in the first place, and now the Saturday date is 90% sold. Damnit.
I also was reviewing different blogs from people who did Tough Mudder and I came across one that mentioned CrossFit as a training method. I've never heard of it but I was intrigued by their horrific stories of sweat, vomit, and dramatic weight loss and muscle building. Here's the link:
Crossfit
First off, let me say that I don't think this workout is for me. I like P90X for how tough it is but I can still do the workouts from Day 1. CrossFit is completely fucking crazy because they expect you to do 15 minutes of non-stop exercises, including olympic-style deadlifts, from Day 1. I imagine that any CrossFit student that would hear me whine about the program, without trying it first, would call me some colorful names. From what I've seen....well, I know my limits and CrossFit just may be beyond them. A lot of people swear by the program and I may look into it further as I get into better shape, but for now I will stick with P90X. Hell, I had a very hard time with Insanity so I can't push myself further into a program that looks 10 times HARDER. Not yet.
After watching all those videos and learning about CrossFit, I was pretty amped up to do Core Synergistics today. It's pretty fucking weird to admit that considering I hate Core Syn. I had an awesome workout today! I really tried to limit my breaks and push myself further than I had a couple days ago. You know what? I was topping my rep. goals and really crushing the workout. I checked my weight and I am officially down 6 pounds as of today!!
I only have one more day of my recovery week and then I start phase 2 of P90X which means I have to deal with the pure hell that is Chest, Shoulders, and Tri's. That workout is a fucking monster! My goal for the next phase is to do Ab Ripper after my resistance days since I skipped it during phase 1. Also, I plan on purchasing the rest of my Mudder gear so that I can start my trail running.
I am getting close guys...only 63 days left until I am deep in the shit at Amherst Quarry. 6 pound weight loss is nice but for me it is just the beginning. Tough Mudder awaits and I need to be in fighting shape.
Tough mudder tough mudder tough mudder tough mudder...
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
65 Days and Counting...Gear Options and P90X Updates
65 fucking days and counting!!
I am a little over 2 months left until my date with Tough Mudder and I am PUMPED!! P90X has been going great for me...3 weeks in and I am down 5 lbs! I am concentrating a lot on the more cardio-based workouts of the program like Plyometrics, Kenpo, and Cadrio X. However, I am still following the classic program with the resistance days, except for Legs and Back because I hate that workout. As of this writing I am on day 3 of my first recovery week so I get to do Kenpo again, which I absolutely love. Yesterday I had to do Core Synergistics which I absolutely HATE, so the program tends to balance itself out that way. Like I said in the last post, I won't be able to complete the program prior to Tough Mudder but I will be able to get far enough to see some major improvements in my physique and endurance.
The left side of the blog displays the gear I am looking to use for the event. The only gear that I have purchased so far are the Vibram shoes which are awesome! I got them for Christmas and I use them for almost all of my workouts. They're great for balance and doing cardio workouts like Plyo and Kenpo. As we get closer to the event I plan on going running on trails with them to start getting used to running outside and on uneven ground.
As far as the rest of the gear goes, I have looked into Under Armour for their Cold Gear Leggings and Compression Shirts which I believe will be the best bet for me. The only problem is that frankly I don't know what the weather will be like in April. This has been a very unusual winter and by April it may not be 30's and 40's, but 50's and 60's. I still think I should go with the ColdGear stuff because it will be 9 in the morning and I will be jumping into ice cold water...and actual ICE WATER. Seriously, there is an obstacle in which you dive into a dumpster that is basically a giant 711 Slurpee. I don't want to wear anything that is loose which is why the compression Under Armour stuff appeals to me, and apparently many other Tough Mudder veterans. The only issue is that I don't have an athletic build so my skinny chicken legs are going to look real fucking awful in tights. I'm thinking about buying a pair of cheap gym shorts to wear over the leggings so I don't look too silly.
Another thing I'm deciding on is head gear. My original plan was to wear a Skull Cap but if it gets wet than it will be heavy and very cold. On top of that, if the weather is actually cold that day, I'm worried about sucking in cold air for three hours running in cold clothes. Under Armour makes a hood and face mask that makes you look like a ninja, but it prevents you from breathing in cold air while exerting yourself outside. That's a possibility for me. Another thing is whether I should wear toe socks with my Vibrams. My shoes fit very snugly on my feet, but a lot of people online recommend wearing toe socks with them to prevent blisters. I'm on the fence with this one.
Finally, I will be buying the kayaking gloves that I have listed because I want the protection they will provide against splinters on the wooden obstacles, and the dexterity for gripping the monkey bars and rope climb while they are wet. That decision seems like a no-brainer.
So final thoughts for today...the more Tough Mudder videos and preview pictures I view, the more excited (and nervous) I become. I feel like I am getting into the groove of working out and eating right so I know that I will be ready for the physical aspects of the event. I need to start running outside to get used to running long distances and on dirt, rocks, etc. I need to keep pushing play on my P90X workouts and I need to keep chanting the mantra...
tough mudder tough mudder tough mudder tough mudder...
I am a little over 2 months left until my date with Tough Mudder and I am PUMPED!! P90X has been going great for me...3 weeks in and I am down 5 lbs! I am concentrating a lot on the more cardio-based workouts of the program like Plyometrics, Kenpo, and Cadrio X. However, I am still following the classic program with the resistance days, except for Legs and Back because I hate that workout. As of this writing I am on day 3 of my first recovery week so I get to do Kenpo again, which I absolutely love. Yesterday I had to do Core Synergistics which I absolutely HATE, so the program tends to balance itself out that way. Like I said in the last post, I won't be able to complete the program prior to Tough Mudder but I will be able to get far enough to see some major improvements in my physique and endurance.
The left side of the blog displays the gear I am looking to use for the event. The only gear that I have purchased so far are the Vibram shoes which are awesome! I got them for Christmas and I use them for almost all of my workouts. They're great for balance and doing cardio workouts like Plyo and Kenpo. As we get closer to the event I plan on going running on trails with them to start getting used to running outside and on uneven ground.
As far as the rest of the gear goes, I have looked into Under Armour for their Cold Gear Leggings and Compression Shirts which I believe will be the best bet for me. The only problem is that frankly I don't know what the weather will be like in April. This has been a very unusual winter and by April it may not be 30's and 40's, but 50's and 60's. I still think I should go with the ColdGear stuff because it will be 9 in the morning and I will be jumping into ice cold water...and actual ICE WATER. Seriously, there is an obstacle in which you dive into a dumpster that is basically a giant 711 Slurpee. I don't want to wear anything that is loose which is why the compression Under Armour stuff appeals to me, and apparently many other Tough Mudder veterans. The only issue is that I don't have an athletic build so my skinny chicken legs are going to look real fucking awful in tights. I'm thinking about buying a pair of cheap gym shorts to wear over the leggings so I don't look too silly.
Another thing I'm deciding on is head gear. My original plan was to wear a Skull Cap but if it gets wet than it will be heavy and very cold. On top of that, if the weather is actually cold that day, I'm worried about sucking in cold air for three hours running in cold clothes. Under Armour makes a hood and face mask that makes you look like a ninja, but it prevents you from breathing in cold air while exerting yourself outside. That's a possibility for me. Another thing is whether I should wear toe socks with my Vibrams. My shoes fit very snugly on my feet, but a lot of people online recommend wearing toe socks with them to prevent blisters. I'm on the fence with this one.
Finally, I will be buying the kayaking gloves that I have listed because I want the protection they will provide against splinters on the wooden obstacles, and the dexterity for gripping the monkey bars and rope climb while they are wet. That decision seems like a no-brainer.
So final thoughts for today...the more Tough Mudder videos and preview pictures I view, the more excited (and nervous) I become. I feel like I am getting into the groove of working out and eating right so I know that I will be ready for the physical aspects of the event. I need to start running outside to get used to running long distances and on dirt, rocks, etc. I need to keep pushing play on my P90X workouts and I need to keep chanting the mantra...
tough mudder tough mudder tough mudder tough mudder...
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