I should have started this blog the day I decided to participate in such a challenge, but better late than never.  Today is May 29, 2012 and if recollection serves correctly I began training for this Tough Mudder Challenge on March 1, 2012. 

Some notes on my progress thus far. 
   In October, 2011 at a doctor's annual visit, I weighed in at 178 pounds
   I was basically a couch potatoe and my physical activity consisted of a few laps in the drive way at night while letting out the dogs.
   Sometime in February my husband began discussing the Tough Mudder challenge. I was only interested to be a support to him.
    Sometime in later February I looked at the Toughmudder web page and felt there is no way in hell I would attempt to try to do such a thing.
      Shortly thereafter I committed to trying.....and so the training began.

The training began at a slow paced walk of about 1/4 of a mile, walking on paved roads in my neighborhood, feeling a burning in the thighs as soon as I exited the drive way. 

After a week of this I felt it was time to increase the distance, if not the speed, and I guesstimated a distance of 1/2 mile around the neighborhood, continuing on the fairly straight, flat, paved road.

I believe I actually posted on FB in March that I was beginning to train for tough mudder. Friends must have known what it was. I was given overwhelming support and encouragment as well as the recommendation that this was my death wish.

At this point, I may have lost a few pounds and added a little more distance in my walk but I was unable to do a push up, I hadn't done yoga in over a year so the flexibility was poor, and I was pretty winded when I returned home from the walk.  It was still like pulling teeth to get me out there for a walk.  On Tuesday night I was bowling and Friday was shopping so I had at least two days off each week.

April came and the weight was coming off slower, the endurance was building, I was walking a few hills and for longer distances.  Earl felt that for training purposes, to be on track for 2013, I needed to increase my distance a little every month. 

On May 1 each weekend is committed to 4 miles...this from my slow beginning of 1/4 mile at a time, he thought I was going to make a 4 mile walk. Who did he think I was...

It's now the end of May and beginning the first weekend in June I'll increase the walk to 4.5 to 5 miles.  My first 4 mile walk was with no breakfast or coffee under my belt and less than 6 hours of sleep.  My left leg was cramping by 2 miles and the knee felt like it was going out of business by 3 miles. The bandana was soaked in sweat, but I arrived to the final destination after clocking 4.25 miles and although tired, I wasn't short of breath.  It felt like such an accomplishment.

Just last weekend I showed Earl what I thought may qualify as a pushup.  He encouraged me and I did one more.  I'm amazed at myself. Who knew. 

This mornings weigh in is 158.  I walked 3.5 miles on a wooded trail yesterday up and down winding hills, and ran 1/4 mile of that distance...then went to the beach and walked another mile or more in the sand.  Training is good, climbing stairs isn't the challenge to my lungs as it once was and the sense of achievement is so satisfying, I may become addicted.

This is a blog of my progress.  Let's not lose sight of the final goal.  Tons of work ahead like learning to dive and swim, crawl on my stomach in the mud, keep my balance on narrow beams and so much more.

This is for the wounded warriors....but most of all this is for me!!