Horsey

A few weeks ago we got a steer brought to our house. It's blind and my stepdad didn't want it out in the fields with the rest of the cows. So we brought it home and its across the road in my Grandparents barn lot. Nathan was excited to get a cow we had a heifer last summer and he missed it when it was gone.

So I told him he could name the cow and well he wanted to name it Horsey.... I asked him several times over several days and the name remained the same. So I guess we have a cow named Horsey. At his age I had a stuffed pound puppy I named Arfy because that's what dogs sounded like. I figured he would name it cow or moo but I like his name.

Horsey is still skittish around us and it makes Nathan a bit nervous to go in the pen (can't say as I blame him)

But Nathan loves to go feed him and carry the bucket of feed.

Once the weather gets a bit nicer and warmer I'll let Nathan and Blake help with the feeding of an evening but right now its to cold and nasty out.

Nathan thinks he's big stuff getting to carry and pour the feed and telling Horsey to come up and eat. Now we will see how this goes when Horsey is in our freezer this fall.....

The Race entry that scares me!!!!

The race that scares me!!!!!!!! I have said earlier in the year I would love to do a Tough Mudder or a Warrior Dash. Well I had seen some advertisements about a Fugitive Run and noticed it was held local (the other two races are at least a 2 hour drive from home). I looked at the site and what was said about it and pondered the idea of "maybe" registering.

 

The week leading up to the Freezin for a Reason 5k I noticed one of the prizes that would be drawn was an entry to the Fugitive Run. I commented on the post that it looked like a fun race. Never gave it a second thought.

 

When I arrived at the race Saturday I got my packet and as I was standing there trying to get my race bib pinned on my costume, Laurie came up to me and handed me something that was folded up. I opened it and it was the coupon for the Fugitive race!! I was speechless. For one I never "win" anything and two never thought I would be the recipient of the coupon she said it was their way to thank me for helping out and for posting and re posting about the race on my facebook page. To say I was excited was an understatement!

 

Of course I wasn't around any others that were in to doing races so no one but my friends husband found my excitement in it. He had thought about doing the race since he is a cop.

 

Yesterday I sent the email to the address that was listed on the coupon and waited. Well got the reply and directions on how to enter and use the coupon. Never in my life have I had to fill out a death waiver for anything. Lets just say it was SCARY!!

The reply to my email registration:

You are registered!

We'll see May 25th!

Happy training, D'ettra 

I asked a couple friends of mine if they would like to do the race and they are thinking about it. I think it would be awesome to have a girl team to compete in the race. If not I will do it on my own (fingers crossed I can get a couple brave souls talked in to it).

 

Yesterday I started to worry about the training aspect of it. The race is May 25 so I have some time to get ready just not real sure what to do. But I will figure it out because I have something to prove. Back when I mentioned doing an obstacle course race my husband told me I'd never be able to do it.. Sorry that's the wrong thing to say to this girl!

Freezin plunge...

I had posted earlier last week about a challenge I had became a part of. If they got 200 people to register for the race by the start of the race three of us would take the Freezin Plunge in a dump tank of cold water.


Well the morning of the race they were at 190+ and I knew we would be plunging so I packed extra clothes with me and a towel.

Didn't even know this one was taken. It was not long after the race I was giving my key to Donnie and my phone so he could take pictures. Probably the only picture of the back of my costume.

Here is Bryan announcing that himself, his wife and I would be doing the plunge. It all happened pretty quick I had planned on taking my shoes off and well he just ran and jumped in. So we followed.

I can say its not easy or graceful getting in and out of these tanks. They are waist deep on me and then add the costume I am sure it was quite the sight.

Here is the three of us in here and then another guy did a summer sault over the edge and joined us. I kept waiting for someone to push me under but I got lucky I stayed dry chest up.

The water was cold but while we were out on our 5k someone took the bobcat and put huge ice chunks in the water to make it colder... I did find out who that was and they aren't on my nice list. The water was plenty cold without having to add ice bergs..

By the time we got out two others had jumped in as well. It was fun and drew a good crowd. I am very glad I sucked up the courage and plunged. Glad my costume survived it to see another day as well!

I got out of the water and grabbed a blanket headed to the car to change. After I changed I went back over to the pavilion for a bit and headed to the gas station to get a cappuchino to warm me up. My hair was still fixed pink and had the tiara in and the gas station attendant gave me a very weird look!

This race will be an annual event and I am excited for the next one. I think the plunge may be staying around but may move to an open body of water. I am sure I will plunge again next year. Just hope next year its either warmer out or my costume is a bit warmer. I woke up Monday morning with horrible chest congestion :(

Freezin for a Reason 5k

Part 2!

The race registration started at 5:30. I got there around 5 got my packet and number. They were less than 10 people away from us taking the plunge for reaching 200 particpants by the time the race started we had 255!!!!
I walked around mingling trying to stay warm unti the start of the race. For it being the first year for this race it went amazaingly well and very organized. They started maybe 2 or 3 mintues later than projected.

I had decided to walk this race when some of my friends said they were doing it but couldn't run it. So my costume was a bit fluffier and to long to run in which was ok since i was walking with friends. Well day of race two of them backed out due to another conflict in scheduling. Then the friend that I got ready with quit not even a tenth of a mile in to the race.
I tried to run and did for a bit to pass some people then walked my own pace. I was upset that I got left alone for the race mad that I had a costume I couldn't really run in. But I quickly got over that and went on. I passed several people and then saw a lady walking alone, I came up next to her and started chatting. She was walking my average speed so I stayed with her the rest of the time. The group she was with was much taller and faster than her (she was about my height 5foot) I think she enjoyed the company as well. Since it was a race in the dark and people were pretty spread out.

I never asked her what her name was but when we rounded one corner some people from the Ambulance base that knew me was blocking traffic started cheering for me and yelling my name. We got around the corner and she goes um I hope you have the same first name as me because I didn't know any of those people! So weird to run in to someone with the same first name!

While walking they had signs posted in different areas and this one we stopped to take a picture of. Loved it!!!!

I knew most of the people blocking the streets which was nice to hear encouraging words and cheering me on.. Had people randomly taking pictures of my costume some I even stopped so they could get a good picture.

We got close to the end and there were two fire fighters up ahead of us and one was walking full gear and air tank and the other was only partly in gear. I told her that we could pass them she didn't think so but inch by inch we got closer and then we passed them. I picked up the pace quite a bit not sure if she would keep up but she did. After we got way ahead of them I told her to be proud we just passed to young fire fighters :) We turned the corner in to the park and I really wanted to run the rest of the way to see who I could pass but I stayed with her partly figured I would trip over my cold numb feet or get tangled in costume and face plant concrete.

I finished with a time of 56 min and it was a few minutes faster than my 5k in December. Not to bad for being in full costume tiara and all and being right at 32 degrees or less. I was happy with my time and happy I pulled off wearing a costume and not being shy about people wanting pictures.

Not long after crossing finish line. I was still cold and knew what was coming next......... Everyone was like go get in the fire truck and warm up. I knew it would be dumb for me to get warm then back out in the cold. So I just kept the jacket on and kept walking around.

I took these two pictures day after race

My bib with the number 1.. Not sure why it excited me so much but it did!

The front of the shirts in the race package.

Up next is the finale for the race night..... Lets just say it was also way out of my comfort zone super cold but yet fun and very well worth it!

Freezin for a Reason pre race....

This race recap will be broke up in to at least 3 posts other wise I would be writing a book and no one would make it to the end....

Saturday morning started off way to early for me we had a first responder call at 5:30 am and it was close to my house so I went. I then had to rush from there home to get dressed (yes I went to a fire call in my jammies) to meet my dad at 6:30 at my Grandma's so we could move her to a different house. Helped with that until 1ish and then drove to St. James to Ron and Amanda's house so we could get ready for the race. She was going as 80's theme which was funny since she was born in the late 80's but between her husband and I we helped her pull the look off.

We started by getting our hair ready in the middle of that we walked over to the race start to see if they needed help setting up. They had plenty of help so we headed back to finish getting ready. I think in all it took us over 2 hours to get ready to go!

This was the back of my hair and I loved it! Wish I could get it to curl like that daily and very glad Amanda helped me with it.

Here I was costume all on and ready to go up to the park.

Amanda and I ready to go her costume was much warmer than mine and she still said she froze.

We got in my car and well..... as you can see my skirt was poofy and made it hard to drive soooo glad that we only had to drive a few blocks that way. We pull in to the park and the first guy that told us which way to go was like so are you here for the race.. UM no we just drive around like this for fun. The guy that actually parked us said we were the first two to show up in costumes.

Amanda already had decided she was to cold and went and found a jacket. I was determined to stay in costume but yes I was cold. This was about 30-40 minutes prior to the start of the race. You can see Amanda's husband in the back ground he ran in full uniform and a blue police themed tutu.

Right before the race. Look I am number 1!!! I signed up the day the registration opened and I apparently was the first one I was happy. I was hoping for a number less than 50.

Not sure if you can tell in that picture but I am shivering like crazy... Not long after this picture I scored a jacket from one of the Fire Fighters and wore it the rest of the evening.

I am a VERY shy person so for me to dress up like this and walk around in crowds of people some of whom I knew and most I didn't was a huge leap out of my comfort zone. I would be walking around and random people I didn't know would want to take a picture of me. Got lots of nice compliments on the costume and everyone asked me if I was cold. I was ready to start replying nope why would I be....

Weekly Chase

Once again its Monday and time for Weekly Chase. I have a race report to do and it will be split up in to at least 3 posts.



Weekly Chase

Last weeks goals were:


1- Challenge goal continue to spend some quality time with the kids each evening. Success

2-Drink 80oz of water daily All but maybe one day

3- Get at least 2 workouts in before race Saturday night. Shoveled the 4 inches of sleet we got Thursday night at home, then the sidewalk in front of our office on Friday, Saturday morning shoveled more out of the bed of a truck moved lots of cinder blocks then moved my Grandma to a different house. Then the race :)

4-Stay caught up on chores around the house have a busy weekend and don't want to stress about it needing to be done. 95% accomplished

5-Stay away from fast food and bring my lunch each day. The two times I ate out I ate sensibly one was chicken sandwich from McDonalds and the other was subway on Friday.

This weeks goals:

1-Challenge Goal- Continue to have family time and not let my mood from work affect my evening at home.

2-Get in at least 3 workouts this week combo of cardio and strength training

3-Challenge Goal-Be in a better mood and be a better wife this week.

4- Drink at least 80 oz of water daily.

5-Make eating healthy a priority at least 90% of the week.

6-Sign up for a race that scares me (there will be a post on this soon)

Almost time to Freeze for a Reason...

24 hours from now I will be getting ready for my first 5k (well done as a real race not virtual) of the year. This one will not be ran or walked fast it will be for fun and time to spend with friends.

I have to get my costume all together and packed as well as some warm clothes for after the freezin plunge... They have 187 people registered now which means they got a few more to register today. So if they hit 200 by the race start 3 of us will be plunging costume and all in to the water.

This morning they thought the race may get canceled due to the weather we got yesterday but I made tons of text calls and facebook messages trying to help find people with bobcats or tractors willing to help clear the course. I have been talking with the administrator of the races facebook page off and on for a few weeks and more recently since I joined in on the last challenge. I have never met her but yet we have talked a bunch I donated the last of my tuele to her yesterday so she could finish a tutu without making her hubby go to walmart.

It will be fun to actually get to meet her tomorrow! I hope to be able to take TONS of pictures of getting ready, costume, race start during race and after. I am sure there will be several taken of our plunge if it happens. I am excited yet still nervous about wearing a costume in front of tons of people and a bit nervous about the plunge in the water but ready to do it!!