New Season

Ah! I love fall! It is my favourite season, always has been. It's the last day of August and summer is fir sure over. Still dark the the morning when I get up and that chill is in the air.

For some reason this year feels different. Something in me has licked into high gear. Some people feel an excitement and renewal in the spring but I am feeling it right now. Big time. It's like my own fall version of spring fever. My mind is overflowing with new ideas, dreams and plans. I don't even know where to start to tell you.

First let's go back a bit. Josh and I took a week off working out after the Spartan Race. Felt it was needed. Then we did a crazy thing and went to Manitoba for the weekend. 32 hours of driving just to stay for a little more than 24 hours. We did get somewhat of a workout pounding tires though. I was quite sore. I will explain later. My topic was more about workouts. Had a good one last night. Josh missed Tuesday because but I went and encouraged a friend to go along. The WOD felt good and I finished strong. Even helped my friend finish hers. Was super proud of her as she had some big anxiety about going to Crossfit. She went and I felt super good about helping her get there and finish. Did two kipping HSPU in a row too. Progress! Last night there were lots of people at the gym. Bree who used to work there came for the night and they did a special workout. I said they because I opted for the regular one. It was insane!! Anyway I choose the sprint workout. Josh was shocked as I always have said I hated running. We did 16 rounds of sprinting 100 m with a minute rest in between. Took just under 21 minutes! Boy was that hard! To my surprise though most of the others working out were done in the same amount of time too! Josh did awesome! And after I climbed the rope higher than I ever had before! Not quite to the top but again progress!

Now let's talk Manitoba. We have made some contacts with a couple who is building an earthship by Winnipeg. They got a mortgage for it! We had been told this was practically impossible. We saw they were just in the beginning stages and decided it was now or never. We went out, filled some tires with dirt by sledgehammer and met some great people. They are helping us out with their process and tips of what we should do to make this dream happen. I told Josh that people who are making their dreams happen have this different kind of energy. This couple, our farmers, others just like them are inspiring to me! I also noticed that it would be easy to see these people and get down on myself because I am not doing more, but instead I feel they have something contagious and it has passed on to me! We have a renewed fever to get our earthship dream happening.

I am also getting more into this wellness coaching idea. I think it would be so cool to be a wellness coach and help people better their lives. I have experienced what it has done for me and want to share. In fact I have shared it and know people have made improvements because they have seen Josh and I do it. I have decided to take a wellness coach certification and start that process. Probably won't be able to take the seminar until November after our Turkey trip but that's okay. Fro now I am recruiting "guinea pigs" to practice on. I made a post on facebook awhile ago and got some encouraging responses. I have been buying some books to start a bit of a library to lend to people to get started. Probably will just be part time at first. I don't want to quit my job just yet. The only reason for that is if we want to get a mortgage I'm sure my secure, decent paying job I have held for 8 years would look better on an application form than "self employed" for only a few months. lol.

Another idea that has been ticking my brain is starting a Paleo Food truck. They are becoming more popular in my town and I just think it would be a really neat thing to do! I have always admired the lady who started Peppermint Andy's for starting her ice cream truck. I may have someone even interesting in going in with me. Even if it is just a daydream I am having fun with it.

Along the lines of food and sustainability (including earthships) all of a sudden I have a great interest in learning how to preserve and can food. It goes right along with the diet changes Josh and I have made, whole foods and being more off the grid. If the world goes to hell in a hand-basket having a self sufficient home and lifestyle will probably save our bacon! (possibly literally too). Fall is the prefect time for this and I have gotten library books to do research and bought some on Amazon.

Summer has been SUPER busy! I have  enjoyed every minute of it but am ready for things to slow down. I want to spend some time at home, especially in the kitchen making things (even though it is much too small and can get frustrating). I love fall! :)

Adventures in Racing

Well I survived my first Spartan Race this past Saturday! And boy was it tough. On a motocross track in Calgary in almost 30 degree heat. Pure craziness. 1 hour and 7 minutes which I thought was a decent time. Failed more obstacles and burpees than I would have liked but what can one do? I got mad a few times and swearing. Not proud of that but I got over it, finished and learned. Josh did awesome, and I held him back as unusual. The GoPro video looked good but it missed the very last minute of my finish though the tough Spartan guys. Again, too many damn burpees.

Things I learned:
1) It is more fun when you have people at the race you know. Even if you don't run the same heat or at same pace as them you still get to hang out before and after.
2) I didn't realize that some of the obstacles I think you could try again if u slip - like a couple of the walls. I should have tried again.
3) Ask for help. I helped someone over a wall and for the life of me have no idea why I didn't ask the same. Too stubborn. I really swore about that one doing my burpees.
4) Bring your own wash station. The line up here was much better but still waited about an hour to get washed off. The same amount of time we spent racing, which seems silly. We're going to buy one of those camp showers or something to bring.
5) Those obstacles seem to be made for long limbed people. I'm just gonna have to get over it and find a way.

It was hard, and I'm not going to lie at some points in the last half of the race I was NOT having fun. Josh as always was super patient and didn't leave me for long even when I told him to go ahead. I really do have an amazing guy.

Now to plan what's next? Will have to comb all the race schedules and see if there is anything left in Western Canada before next spring. I'm really not sure, but I do know we will do more! Just not right away ... I'm still recovering. lol  

Heck Yes!!

Oh yeah! I achieved one, or at least a part of one of the things in my fitness bucket list last night. I had been feeling kinda lazy lately since the Mud Run. I messed up my knee and so wasn't doing a whole lot of working out. Then when I got back to it I messed up my neck a couple times. Been to physio and will keep going to address that.

Anyways WOD last night was some back squats (not feeling as strong with those as I used to) then 10 rounds of 5 wall balls and 150 m row. I was last and it was kinda tough but I have to say my wall balls have been worse before so that is a positive.

After the WOD we were stretching and stuff so I decided to try my handstand push ups again. Last time I tried i got one of the ab mat/pads and put it under my head. I couldn't quite go down far enough to touch it with my head before I felt I had to come back up. I also tried a kipping handstand push up. Didn't happen. Those involve resting your head on the mat, bending your knees and kicking up. Your head comes up a bit and then you push up to the handstand. Last night I was able to do two HSP's in a row touching my head to the mat! Sweet!! Then for kicks I tried the kipping and wholly shit I did it!! Not sure how as it didn't feel like I gave that big of a kick but I pushed right up into it! My second try after celebrating the first was not as graceful and I almost got stuck in the middle but I powered through!! SWEET!

It's the next day and I'm still smiling!! lol