AHHHHHHHH ! ! ! . . . it's the zombie run ! ! !

I don't know about you...but I can think of no better way to spend my day than running from zombies : )  Actually, I think I may be doing just that on May 19th-  The Zombie Run is coming to Charlotte... I can not wait!!!!

A friend and I ran in The Color Run in November, and I have been looking for the next fun run I would do, when I was told about the Zombie Run.  As soon as the words came out of my friend Vicky's mouth, I knew I had to do it.   I mean...seriously...how could I not?  Surprisingly, it has been a lot harder than I thought it would be to get people to join in my enthusiastic response to the news.  I will prevail though.  So...be on guard people...you may be receiving a phone call to join my team : )

The run begins with an overturned tanker- the source of the chemical causing the zombie invasion.


On the course, you will run through the military-controlled apocalypse zone and through the vaccination hydration center, all the while helicopters are hovering overhead and the military will try to hand out life saving face masks. Honestly...who would not want to participate?

If you don't want to run from zombies...maybe you would want to do the chasing instead- you can sign up as a runner, or you can choose to be a zombie.  As a zombie, you will get a professional makeover to help your transformation from run-of-the mill human into flesh-eating zombie. 

It all ends in the quarantine zone where the zombies and humans make nice...listen to music...eat some grub...and take some pictures together to commemorate the occasion.

You can register for the Charlotte Zombie Run here.  If you don't live in Charlotte, you can look to see if the Zombie Run is coming to your city here.

I hope to see you there : )

(all images are from the official Charlotte Zombie Run website)

Garage Girls: Workout #70

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So, it has been a great six month ride...and I have to say, just because today's workout is the last Garage Girls post I will do, my journey definitely does not end here...and I hope yours does not either.  In fact, this whole endeavor started as a strength booster for my beach trip...and it turned into a group of ladies working out in my garage 3 times a week for 6 months.  To my Garage Girls- you guys have been a huge inspiration to me- true warriors who have been dedicated through the heat and now the cold.  I look forward to seeing you reach your goals...AND create new ones.

Now...let's see how much ass we have kicked since we first started- today is the final benchmark workout comparison.  Run and push hard...like this is the last time : )

     Warm-up: 

      50 jumping jacks

     Workout:  (3 rounds for time) 8-10-12

      1st round - 8 box jumps, 8 air squats, 8 sit-ups, run 400m
      2nd round - 10 box jumps, 10 air squats, 10 sit-ups, run 400m
      3rd round - 12 box jumps, 12 air squats, 12 sit-ups, run 400m

     Also: record and compare

     # of air squats you can do in one min.
     # of sit-ups you can do in one min.
     # of sit-ups you can do in one min.

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #69

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We are almost to the finish line...so to speak.  Two more Garage Girl workouts and then we get to start over.  Today, we are going to re-do the workout that I consider to be our hardest- "The Murph".  I have done this workout 4 times...and I always...always...dread it.  But, I am always VERY proud of myself when I get done...and I can't wait to do it again to see how much I have improved...until the day comes when I have to do it again : )

Give it your all today.  Finish with a bang : )

     

     Warm-up:

     50 Jumping Jacks

     Workout: " Murph "

     run 1 mile

  
     100 jumping pull-ups

     200 push-ups

     300 air squats

     run 1 mile

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #68

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After a long weekend like the one we just had, I feel the need to do something besides eat and eat some more.  I need to recover from the three Thanksgiving meals we consumed...which I think will take a lot longer to work off than it took to eat.

Today is the first of the last 3 Garage Girl workout, with Wednesday's workout being "Murph" and Friday's being our final benchmark workout to see how far we have come in 6 months. 

Let's get started!

     Warm-up: 

      50 jumping jacks

     Workout:  once for time

      run 300m
      50 push ups

      run 300m

      50 jump squats
      run 300m
      50 jumping pull-ups
      run 300m
      50 reverse lunges
      run 300m
      50 weighted sit-ups
      run 300m
      50 box jumps

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #67

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I don't know about you, but I feel as if the only thing I can possibly do right now is roll around.  I have enjoyed my first of three Thanksgivings...and I feel like I really should work some of it off, before I enjoy my second one this afternoon : )

     Warm-up: 

      10 burpees

     Workout:  2x for time

      10 box jumps
      run 200m

      20 butterfly sit-ups

      run 200m
      30 step ups
      run 200m
      40 tricep dips
      run 200m

      50 reverse lunges (25 each leg)
      run 200m

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

The Color Run Charlotte 2012

The Color Run took place this past Saturday in Charlotte. It was very cold...and very windy..and very fun : )  I was not sure what to expect, but I can tell you that there were a ton of people, all dressed in white, and all consumed by a somewhat eager and frantic anticipation.  The run was held around the Charlotte Motor Speedway, so the logistics, such as parking, were convenient.

Hundreds of people lined up waiting their turn at the starting line.  You could hear the music from the parking lot, and you could hear the excited yelling of the participants as each new wave began the run.  

I ran with two other ladies...and as you can see our race numbers were in the 3000's.  We saw people up in the 50,000's along the course. 

People watching and observing some of the outfits was one of the highlights for me.  It truly was a happy run. 

I had two little cheerleaders on the sidelines cheering me on...

...and thankfully Jason had brought along some hot chocolate to help keep them warm.

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I did not have my camera with me during the run, but this shows what going through the color stations was like.  You could get as much color or as little color as you wanted.  I personally, held up my arms, held my breath and let them douse me in powder.  It only takes about 15 seconds

At the finish line, there was a color toss that happened every 15 minutes.  This is what it looked like in the midst of it...

...and this is what it looked like a little further back. 

Some takeaways from this one-of-a-kind run-

I was determined to be coated in color, but the fact that it was so cold, made it so that no one was hot or sweaty during the race which kept the color from sticking to our skin.  The wind was so strong, that as soon as you ran through a color station, and began running the course again, the color floated away.  It was kind of cool watching people as they ran, they looked as if a cloud was following them as the color burst from their clothes as each foot fall met the pavement. 

Another thought for future runners-  this is a run...not a race.  It is also a 5k which does not last very long.  Go to this run with the intention of having fun, not the intention of racing to the finish line.  I wish we had taken more time to see people along the way.  In fact, next year, I will take my camera along and spend a little time at the color stations, and make sure to get some good shots of people right after they are doused. 

Even though the color ended up around us, more than on us, I had a great time and I fully intend to do it again next year.

The Color Run will be back in Winston Salem, North Carolina in March, 2013.  Here is the site to visit if you are interested in participating.

Garage Girls: Workout #66

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Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I can't think of anything that will make me feel better than having a great workout today.  Maybe, I won't feel as guilty if I have a second helping of...everything : )

Today, we are going to keep incorporating more running into our workouts, while still challenging ourselves with the short circuit strength training.  Here we go...

      Warm-up:

       1 min. plank hold
       1 min side plank (both sides)
       1 min. downward facing dog
       1 min. wall sit

      Workout: (5 rounds for time)

      run  400m
      20 jump squats
      20 push-ups
      20 sit-ups
      20 jumping pull-ups
      20 reverse lunges
     

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #65

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Well, we are coming to the end of the Garage Girls posts.  I have decided to continue through workout #70 - that will give everyone 6 months worth of workouts (3 workouts per week).  I have so enjoyed putting together these workouts, and it has actually motivated me keep going on the days when I wasn't really feeling it : )  I hope you have enjoyed it too.

Today, we are going to work in some more running, working back up to "Murph".  Don't be surprised if you see that workout one more time before all is said and done : )

     Warm-up: 

      1 min. wall sit
      40 mountain climbers
      1 min plank

     Workout: (10x for time)

     10 burpees
     run 200m
  

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #64

There has never been a truer statement, so might as well make the best of it.  It is Friday, once again...give your very best to this workout and then enjoy the weekend- it is well deserved. 

     Warm-up:

      50 jumping jacks

     Workout: 2x for time
       

        run 300m
        50 donkey kicks (25 each leg)

        40 push-ups

        30 mountain climbers      

        20 weighted calf raises

        10 burpees

        run 300m
        10 jump squats
        20 step ups (10 each leg)
        30 jumping pull-ups
        40 bicep curls (20 each arm)

        50 sit-ups

        run 300m

       

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Gearing up for The Color Run...

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The Color Run is coming up in three days and I can not wait!!!  I signed up with my friend Carolyn three months ago and have been waiting not so patiently for the day to arrive.

Now that the day is almost here, I have been debating what to wear and it is time to make a decision.  The dress code: white.  Not the most flattering of colors, but hey...the point is to NOT be white by the end of it : )

The problem may end up being that it is going to be cold on Saturday...and when THIS is going to happen... who wants to invest a lot of money into what you are wearing?

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I am definitely going to wear my old shoes, and I am planning on buying one of the Color Run T-shirts...but I just might opt for a white long sleeve t-shirt to combat the cold factor. 

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...but I also want to make sure that I have something to cover my mouth- so I don't breathe in too much of the paint/cornstarch dust and something to protect my eyes because my contacts can be a bit touchy when it comes to particulates : )

The question is face mask or bandana?  I'm leaning towards a bandana ...for obvious reasons : )

Sunglasses or goggles?...thinking definitely sunglasses : )

I can tell you one thing...if I have one spot of white on me at the end of this thing...I will be disappointed. I am looking so forward to this!!! and I can't wait to share some pictures next week. 

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Maybe, I will see you there.  It may be hard to recognize each other though : )

***I just had to share this video one more time...I may be a little obsessed.  I am seriously thinking about making a running mix of only this song. JK.

Garage Girls: Workout #63

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Today I am hurting...not mildly sore...there is a deep pain in every muscle that has any significance in the movement of my limbs.  I am rethinking the choice I made on Monday. Maybe it was not a GREAT idea to compete against my previous time the first day back.  It is kind of crazy that your body rejects the fact you have done something good for it so thoroughly...that you start to think you shouldn't do it again.  This is the moment that you have to talk kind of harshly to yourself and say "Shut the Hell Up!".  And then you get on with it : )

     Warm-up: 

      run 400m

     Workout:  4x for time

      10 knees to elbows

      20 box jumps

      30 jump squats
      40 reverse lunges
      30 mountain climbers
      20 weighted sit-ups
      10 burpees

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #62

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What better way to start the week than with a quote from one of the most positive people in the world?  I have a good feeling about this week- it's going to be crazy busy, but I have created a game-plan and I am ready to go.  Since I have been out of the loop for a while, I wanted to do another workout comparison to see if I had fallen very behind while recuperating.  Today, I thought we could re-do workout #21 known as "Running Cindy".

     

     Warm-up:

     50 Jumping Jacks

     Workout: " Running Cindy"

     AMRAP (as many reps as possible) in 20 minutes.  

     All four exercises make up one rep.

     5 jumping pull-ups

    10 push-ups

    15 air squats

    run 200 m

...and because I love Emma Stone...and I love the movie "Easy A"...here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #61

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The Color Run is next weekend and I can not express how excited I am.  I have had an injury that I have been working through, so when I saw the quote above, I knew exactly how that feels.  And even though I "feel that way" today, I have to get going because the Color Run is in a week.

Did I say I was super excited?....because I am super excited!

     Warm-up:  (2x) series of short runs

     50m lateral
     50m butt kicks
     50m high knees
     50m grapevine
     
     Workout: (2x for time)

  
    10 burpees
    20 jump squats
    30 tricep dips
    run 400m

    20 leg raises
    30 kettlebell deadlift
    40 push-ups
    run 200m
  
    30 step ups (15 per leg)
    40 weighted sit-ups
    50 jumping pull-ups
    run 50m
    

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #60

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Sorry for the late post today. I was working late into the night and jumped out of bed going...going...going...this morning.  It is a cold one here! I am going to wait until later in the afternoon to see if it will warm up at all.  If not, I will be relying on this workout to do it for me.  Stay warm and have fun : )

     Warm-up:

     1 minute plank position

     1 minute side plank (each side)

     1 minute downward facing dog

     Workout: (4 rounds for time)

     20 dumbbell floor press

     20 weighted sit-ups (using same dumbbell)

     20 plie squats

     20 tricep dips

     run 400m

...and here is another great workout song-

Have fun : )

Garage Girls: Workout #59

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It's the beginning of a new week, and this is the day I have been cleared to start working out again. YEAH!!!....I think.  It has been almost two weeks since I have been able to do a workout at 100%, and even though I may not be there yet, I am going to give it everything I've got today.

And...I hope you do too : )

      Warm-up:

       50 jumping jacks

      Workout: (2 rounds for time)

       50 reverse lunges

       10 jump squats
       40 weighted sit-ups
       20 tricep dips
       30 box jumps
       run 400m
       30 mountain climbers
       20 jumping pull-ups
       40 push-ups

       10 burpees
       50 plie squats

       run 400m

    

...and here is another great workout song-



Have fun : )