Bring It 2014!!!

Here below is an excerpt from my blog entry exactly 1 year ago on January 1, 2013:

So for this year - I want to keep it going. I want to keep this body, mind, and spirit fit and healthy, and happy. I want to challenge myself in new ways. Some of what I am looking forward to this year are reading, writing, travel, more prayer and meditation,study, healthy living, Triathlon! Blessing and serving others starting with those closest to me. I make this not as a checklist as mentioned; but that it may become a way of life - My Way Of Life! Happy New Year! Bring it on 2013! Oh and as Bruce Lee says "There are no limits; There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them" So I'm going!

As I reflect on this and the year that has past, I have several thoughts and feelings running through my mind and heart. I feel blessed, content, happy, excited, accomplished, determined, and positive to name a few. I am not saying everyday was a perfect day - there were difficult times this past year. I have been through some hard and trying times with dear friends and family. I have seen tragedy and heartbreak come to pass for many - but through it all I see the human spirit persevere and of course love prevail!

I feel strong in body, mind, and spirit. I have read, written, traveled, studied and worked towards living a healthy lifestyle. I have had some firsts with overcoming fears and working towards goals and accomplishments. I have met some amazing new friends along the way and strengthened bonds and ties with old friends and forever family. So yes indeed 2013 was and will always be a blessing to me.

As I ponder the year ahead; I am once again excited to set goals, dream and WORK to make those dreams come true. I will do some things that are "hard" for me. I will have some "firsts" and continue to love and serve with all my heart and soul! So Bring it 2014!!!

Below is a little list I found on Pinterest that I thought would be a cool little guideline for me - There is ALWAYS room to improve and better oneself.

Happy New Year!!!

Here's to Strong Women

So what do you say? How about a little:

I love the Cranberry Triathlon because it's local with a pretty venue. Sometime this past winter my good friend (aka Swim Coach) Jen and I agreed we would participate in the Tri as a relay team. She likes to swim, I like to bike, we would just need a runner.

During Tough Mudder training this past winter I met a new friend that helped me with all kinds of running tips. Not only does she run, but she's good at it and actually enjoys it! So I hit her up. Our conversation went something like this:

 "Lisa would you want to do the run leg of a Sprint Triathlon for Jen and I?" she says "Whaaat??? No I couldn't - I wouldn't want to let you down but WOW that sounds fun OK! and I will work really hard on my running" 

Yay!!!! We have a team. I sign us up as the the "Fit Hick Chicks" we are all from country towns.

Another Tough Mudder, Jen (aka Mother of 5) posts (somewhat impulsively) on Facebook (just 2 weeks prior to event) the link to the Cranberry Tri "Anyone interested in doing this as a relay team?" She later told me she honestly didn't think anyone would respond. Ha Ha - be careful what you ask for! She gets 2 takers. Crystal, who agrees to swim. She admits to being a strong swimmer in High School but hasn't been in the pool in 9 years! Wendy a mother of 2 agrees to bike, but is worried because she states "I only have my old clunky Mountain bike" Oh well no worries - they have a team and sign up as "Team Strong" HOORAH! 

The excitement mounts over the next couple of weeks. We are swimming, biking, running, and getting excited! My sister is kind enough to let Wendy borrow her road bike for race day! Crystal gets in the pool with us - Yup she can swim alright! She's an athlete! This is going to be fun - We are Women and We are STRONG!

                                                               

So comes the day; we are ready. Swim leg is first - it's always a little somber down by the water. There is something about looking out at those buoys all set up in the water - looks and feels nothing like the clear clean water of a pool. It's a 1/2 mile swim (a tad long for a Sprint) and we would later find out it was actually closer to a .6 mile swim! 

                                                              

                                                                  

                                                                 

                                                                 

Jen and Crystal are off in their Royal blue swim caps. I always love to watch the athletes swimming -perhaps because for a long time it was the event that intimidated me the most. I only watch to the second buoy and make my way to the bike transition; why? Because I know Jen will be quick!

I am waiting at my bike as my son runs by "Mom get ready!! Jen is coming! she is one of the first blue caps out of the water!" ... " Mom she passed some people in the waves in front of her!" Oh geesh no pressure or anything. Sure enough here she comes. She's wet, she's tired, but she is quick. I yell to her "Awesome Job!" I unwrap the timing chip from her ankle, put it around mine and I'm off! Of course I don't set my bike computer - I never do in these things - I get too anxious and too excited. But I know I pedal as hard as I can. I am not tired from the swim and don't have to save my legs for the run. So I pedal pedal pedal. Before I know it the 14.2 mile ride is over! I come into transition and there is Lisa - quite funny, she doesn't say a word to me, I know she is anxious and has a look of pure determination on her "game face" She rips the timing chip from me and is off!

                                                             

Jen (runner from Team Strong) reports Crystal is in from the swim and Wendy is en route on the bike. Man this is fun! We have a huge cheering crowd there. Yup our families, friends, Team leader Liz Martins and several other peeps from Team Strong show up to cheer us on! This is amazing and wonderful - The support means more than you know!

We make our way to the finish as both runners are out on the course - It won't be long now.

And here she comes, Lisa sprinting to the finish - with her flaming red hair! She is awesome! We are yelling and cheering for her the whole way! 

A short time later the amazing mother of 5 sprints to the finish as well! We cheer, we hug, and we are jubilant! There is nothing like being part of a team!

Jen and Lisa (runners)

Rhonda & Wendy cyclists hence the funny shorts

We all hug, kiss, and praise each other. We are on a high from feelings of accomplishment, camaraderie, and admiration for one another. We all agree we will definitely be doing this again next year!

Yup we do everything but think to check the results board - but who would have thought:

Whaaaat??  Fit Hick Chicks for the win!! Yea that took me a few days to get over that one. We missed the ceremony - I mean how awesome would that have been to have gotten our Trophies together as a team. Jen and I went the next day to watch some friends compete in the Olympic Distance Tri and went searching through the box for our trophies. But I finally came to terms with the fact that we have our memories, each other, and the win! And that is priceless.

missing our teammate here - But that's ok - Picture re-do below:

And how's this for pretty dang awesome?? In reviewing the results......after just 2 weeks of pulling a team together, Team Strong placed 3rd!! That deserves a HOORAH!

Everything You Want

                                                               

Has there ever been a truer statement? I know without a doubt I have missed out on certain opportunities in my life because of fear. Fear is a very real thing.  It is legit and it can be the "Thief of Dreams"

My triathlon fun first began in the year 2011. Up until this point I only participated in triathlons where the venue was a fresh water swim. I know ponds and lakes can be pretty gross with their murky waters, slimy fish, and gushy bottoms; but hey no big deal; give me a Snapping Turtle over a Shark any day! 

And there you have it - one of my true legitimate fears. Right there, up above has ultimately kept me from participating in a Triathlon with an Ocean Swim venue. And if you don't think there are Sharks around these parts. Think again. Buzzards Bay is a breeding ground for the Great White! So you say "they don't come into shallow water" Not so - a positive identification of a Great White was spotted just 2 years ago near the mouth of the Westport River! In recent years there has been more and more sightings in the Cape Cod waters. Now this can be attributed to the high Seal population, but let's face it I could definitely look like an injured seal in my wet suit in the eyes of a Great White.

I want nothing more than to overcome this fear and participate in an Ocean Swim. So I sign up for "The Escape the Cape" Triathlon on June 8, 2013 and mark my calendar. $85 bucks right there - no turning back now - ha ha!

The day arrives and I am still on a high from completing the Tough Mudder a week earlier. Escape the Cape ocean swim takes place in beautiful Onset Harbor - it is actually a perfect race to participate in if it ones first ocean swim. The water is calm and it is a point to point swim with the shore line on your left the whole way. The water is shallow; which should comfort me but somehow it doesn't. Physically I know I can do it but "Shark" is on the brain. 

Before I know it my heat is up and I am making my way into the Salt Water. I don't think about how cold it is, I don't think about how far it is. All I am thinking is get from point A to point B without getting eaten AND please let me be able to breathe in this wet suit!

Suddenly I am off to complete the 1/3 mile swim. My thoughts go something like this - one, two, three breathe, one, two, three, breathe. Wow! this salt water keeps me buoyant, sharks live in salt water. One two three breathe. Please don't let my wet suit fill up with water - that would really suck. One, two, three breathe. Oh my gosh that arch is not getting any closer. I hope nothing touches my leg or foot. This is taking forever. One, two, three, breathe. If the lifeguard sees a fin does he yell "Shark!" will I even hear him? One, two, three breathe. There's that freakin' finishing arch - get me the heck out of this water! And somehow I am done. I was never so happy to get out of that water and run; no matter how wobbly it was to my bike. And then suddenly I feel fearless!

The rest of the race I am on a high because I know barring any unforeseen circumstance I can finish this race. I am on the bike rolling along and I am happy. My friends and family cheer me on at different points in the race. My Mom, my hubbie and 2 Amigas are there - How blessed can one woman be?

I transition from the bike to the run. This is always the toughest part for me. My legs feel like jello and I feel a bit unsteady on my feet for a bit. Then somewhere around mile 2 I think to myself "Why the heck do you do this? This hurts!" Then a man sitting in his lawn chair in his front yard yells "You got this less than a mile!" I feel invigorated and I move to the finish.

I don't care how many times I cross a finish line,  when the announcer calls my name over the loud speaker there is a feeling of triumph and accomplishment. And there lies the answer to my question "Why do I do this?" I do it because it doesn't come easy for me. And although it is hard; It is ALWAYS worth it. I do it because I want to push past my limits and beyond my threshold. I do it because "If I never take any risks; I minimize the probability of reward" And yes I did it on this day because I would not let Fear steal my Dreams!

Big thanks to my Amiga Jen for the amazing professional quality pictures  - you captured my day!

Are you Tough Enough?

When I started working with Trainer and Wellness Coach Liz Martins back in January of this year, I had no doubt I would be taking my fitness to another level. This woman is fierce, full of positive energy, and just knows her stuff plain and simple. What I didn't know is that within 6 months I would be wearing the coveted "orange headband" More about the head band later.

                                                     
The conversation went something like this:

Liz "Hey I'm taking a team to Tough Mudder this year; are you in?"
Me " Um yea, sure, why not, I like obstacle races, I did the Warrior Dash once - I'm up for the challenge."
Liz "Awesome - we need men too - sign your husband up - you'll get in the best shape of your life - I promise.

First Saturday meeting consists of meeting other team members, watching a video clip of Tough Mudder and disclosing our fears to fellow team members. Wait what??? rewind this video - 10 -12 miles, jumping in dumpsters full of ice, jumping off planks, electric shock - say whaaaaat??? I HATE ELECTRICITY - I've been zapped many a times by a horse fence - No Fun at all!

Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses

Sign me up - I am pumped!!! Now to convince the hubbie

Training starts sometime in February. Recruiting hubbie was a success. We train in smaller groups during the week at various times and then in big group trainings every Saturday at 7:00am.

Trainings consist of running, body-weight exercises, TRX System, resister run, kettle bells, running, push-ups, sit-ups, core exercises, climbing ropes, running, pull-ups, climbing stairs, sledge-hammering huge truck-tires, Jump-Squats, Mountain Climbers, and - oh did I say running? Yes we run - we run the beach, we run up and down sand dunes, we run trails, we run 5k races and we run the hills of Fall River. We even take a couple of  plunges into the 45 degree ocean to try and prepare us for "Arctic Enema" I would later find out there is no preparation in the world for this obstacle.

Liz may very well have been a Drill Sargent in her previous life. During our training sessions she shouts out commands military style, demonstrates exercises, and repeatedly reminds us that "I see EVERYTHING!" And if she detects what she perceives to be slacking by any one member of the team, it often results in extra exercises for everyone! HOORAH!!

I start seeing muscles I didn't know I had, Push-ups! I can do Push-ups!!! Not the girlie kind either - the real deal. Hubbie starts losing weight at break-neck speed. 5lbs, 10lbs, 15lbs, 20lbs, 25lbs, 30lbs! Say Whaaat?

I find a running buddy, Lisa - we meet a couple of times a week and run together. She gives me all kinds of tips and tricks to improve my running. She is awesome!

I meet wonderful, inspiring, and amazing people through this training. We become a team - encouraging one another, helping one another, and getting to know one another. Our team consists of 19 peeps including our leader. 15 amazing women and 4 good men! Our ages range from 18yrs(our little Road Runner) to 50 yrs! We become a team - We become "TEAM STRONG" Hoorah! Yea we chant that Alot!

Well the weekend of June 1, 2013 finally comes and we head up to Gunstock Mountain in Gilford New Hampshire. Gunstock Mountain - yea that sounds cool - we would later come to know that mountain in a very personal way. We would sweat on that mountain, bleed on that mountain, swear on that mountain and in the end CONQUER that mountain!

We arrive as a team wearing our beloved Lime Green & Black team colors - It's a frosty 90 degrees, but are all well hydrated and Liz has prepared us well! We check-in and get our numbers. I can hardly believe when an event staff person writes the number "66623" across my forehead. Not a huge fan of that number - But being the positive person I am, I tell myself "Ok that just means you go into Beast Mode Rhonda." Photos are taken by staff. We are a BIG team in comparison to others. Yea we feel like ROCK STARS!    We are scheduled for the 9:45 am heat but we quickly decide we will just jump in the 9:30AM heat. We are PUMPED!

 

First thing you have to do before you even get to the start is get over a 12-14 foot wall. As we are climbing over the MC announces "If you're having difficulty with this - you might want to rethink why you are here!" Of course we work as a team and are over.

We line up at the start and the MC begins his thing - Hoorah! You think you can do this?! You think you got this?! Are you Tough Enough! The National Anthem is played. We chant the Tough Mudder Pledge - We know without a doubt we will leave no one behind. Our motto all along has been "Start as a Team; Finish as a Team" Liz would have it no other way.

Holy Smokes the MC starts playing my favorite song "Eye of the Tiger" HOORAH! WE ARE READY!!! and we are off!

We start immediately heading up a good size hill about 1/3 of a mile long with about a 20% grade - not too too steep - but steep enough that you certainly don't want to sprint up it. We are met at the top with a welcomed water mister. A quick gathering of our team and we are down the hill and on our way to our first obstacle. "Kiss of Mud" A field of mud and low barbwire. Not too bad, low crawl and we are all through.

This "Mudder" above is a Mother of 5 !!

We then do some fun trail running in the shaded woods - we run as a team and Liz shouts out things like "Let's pick it up Team Strong!" and "Move it out Team Strong!" We run together and feel a great feeling of camaraderie. We encounter some other obstacles such as underground trenches, jumping over huge hay bales, "Hold Your Wood" where you and several other team members carry large logs on your shoulders and go up and around a loop. We continue to run a couple more miles all along knowing we will soon encounter the dreaded "Arctic Enema" 

This obstacle consists of several dumpsters filled with freezing cold water and ALOT of ice. The ice is replenished continually through out the day to ensure the contents of the dumpster remain at freezing cold temperatures. Here the Mudders are to jump from a platform into the dumpster. There is also a board right in the middle of the dumpster that you must go under in order to get out - there is no other way out -

As mentioned before nothing could have prepared me for this obstacle - I heard other teammates describe their experience but I can only describe mine. Thought prior to the plunge - It's 95 degrees this could be refreshing - NOT - I  jump in in blind ignorance, come up, try to take a breath, I can't breathe, I can't breathe! I want out, look to the left, look to the right, there is no way out but under the board. I don't want to go under again, I can't think straight, I can't breathe! I think I hear Dan in the distance "Go Under Rhonda! Go Under! Somehow I manage to go under, I come up, I still can't breathe, I think I see Dan reaching his hand out -  he is talking but it seems to be in slow motion. I am disoriented. What the heck have I done?? I've got to get to Dan but I can't move. Push Push Push - He grabs my hand and pulls me up and out without any assistance from me. See picture below - it isn't a proud moment for me; but I have survived. We have conquered Arctic Enema and we are off! HOORAH!

More running and up more hills. We climb what seems like forever and I think we are almost there until I see this:

And seriously it is. We climb and climb to the top of the mountain; at some points it is so steep some Mudders opt to climb using hands and feet. I am one of them. There are people sitting on the side of the mountain. There are medics driving up the mountain. The heat is brutal - but Team Strong presses on. We gather and regroup so no Mudder is left behind. Well what goes up, must come down. Going down has challenges all it's own. Slipping, falling, pressure on the feet (some of us even lost toe nails afterwards) and somehow knowing you will have to climb again.

At this point some things become a blur for me. I know we encounter several more obstacles. We climb over "Berlin Walls" thank goodness for the men in our group. They vault us up and we work the wall. We cage crawl (I really liked this one) We low crawl through the "Electric Eel" on our bellies through the mud while charged wires zap and snap at you all the way. There are the monkey bars, the Mud Mile, and Fire Pits. It is Crazy!! It is Fun! We are exhausted but we are Not stopping!

Mud Mile

Miles 10 - 12 more climbing - How cruel can this be - more obstacles - I remember climbing over a log obstacle and thinking we're headed to Mt. Everest and almost done - only to be routed up another hill. Could this break me? It could - but no way! I have my team, we have each other. But Damn this hurts!!

We come down the final hill - It's over to Mt. Everest - my quads are done - there is nothing left in them - I give it my all and begin to sprint but my legs give out. Most of the time I can motivate the mind and the body will follow - not this time my legs are shot. Do I feel defeated - Not in the least - I will conquer this one next time - wait what? Did I say next time?? I stand in awe and watch as the "Mighty Good Men" on our team brace themselves at the top and lift one teammate after another to the top. For one teammate Charlene, it is extra special - She wasn't giving up until she conquered Mt. Everest this year. She did it and she owned that wall! She sat at the top triumphant taking her moment in - check it out:

One last obstacle to overcome - It's my worst fear "Electroshock Therapy" Now this is the only thing that stands between me and my Orange Headband:

On the other side of this obstacle is the finish line - there are 10,000 volts of electricity running through these wires. My husband assures me it is not the volts that can kill you but the amperage. Ok - Thanks Honey. At this point Team Strong lines up in 3 rows - we link arms and the MC starts chanting "TEAM STRONG TEAM STRONG TEAM STRONG" and we run. There is mud and slats to maneuver, I trip and do a face plant, a wire cracks and snaps across my face, neck, and side. Uggggh! This sucks. Hubbie's "Hero Gene" won't leave me behind - he grabs me by the elbow, hauls me up. We run, I feel as though I am zapped over and over. Somehow I am through. Through the finishing arch to be crowned with my Orange Headband. Tough Mudder states this Orange Headband can not be purchased it must be earned! 

A fellow teammate later reports we have conquered 12 miles, 21 obstacles, and climbed some 2300 feet. We are happy, we are triumphant, We have completed Tough Mudder Boston 2013! There is nothing we can't do! We are TEAM STRONG!!

Bonus! Team Strong made the Official Tough Mudder Boston 2013 video - Whoo hoo! Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csiQZggoQlM

Special Thanks to the wonderful family members (hubbies, moms, dads, friends) who came along for support. They walked the spectator courses and took the amazing photos to capture our memories forever! Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Some more pics if you care to scroll through: