Sunday, June 30, 2013

Dirty Girl Mud Run Recap- Chicago, IL

 
Yesterday June 29th I participated in the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Grayslake, IL at the Lake County Fair grounds. Let me just say like a lot of ladies participating, I hate mud. But this event looked too awesome to pass up. It was pretty nice the event was so close to where I live.
 
My wave was 9:30 so we got there at 8am to get my packet and meet my team. Registration included a nice shirt and a necklace with a charm. You also got some shampoo samples and a free beer.
Glad we got there early, there was a long line to check in but it moved pretty fast.

 
They had so much stuff in the area, food, rinse stations, bag check, Paul Mitchell hair was braiding hair, lots to do and well organized. There were indoor bathroom and also plenty of porta potties, never a line to use them. They also had tons of safety pins, which was nice since I forgot mine. The course was full of photographers, I can't wait to see the pictures.

First member of the team to arrive was my best friend Bonnie and her family. Her husband and son hung out with Justin while we ran. Bonnie and I were a member of the Buff Titches, they are a group of bootcamp girls my aqua fit instructor Irene works out with. Note all pictures below are from Denise's husband.
Our team, we all had shirts but I did not want mine to get dirty

Irene, Bonnie and I prerace
Ready to kick butt on the course!
 

Me, Bonnie, Irene, and Denise
 
I was very impress the race started on time, right at 9:30. The weather was cool for June and pretty overcast. They had the course very well mapped out and it did not take long before we got to the first obstacle.
The em cee was funny, they also had a girl doing Zumba to pump the crowd up.
Bouncing down the first obstacle. Totally fun and not dirty. After this obstacle we rounded the corner and went through a rope maze, also kept clean. Next was a bit of running, we were not able to run too much as the ground was very uneven and rocky.
This was the next obstacle, I headed towards the side with the lower walls. Up and over fast and on to the next one.
This was the first of the muddy events, managed to keep the upper half clean and just get the lower half muddy.
 
Irene was not so lucky as Denise tackled her down into the mud! Next we headed to another muddy event where we had to crawl under a net that got lower and lower. I got more muddy this time.
Starting to get muddier now! The next event was the scariest for me, we had to climb up a large rope wall. I will say that the event was full of volunteers and safety crew. They made sure only a certain number of people were on a structure at once.
Getting ready to tackle my fear and the rope net
 
 Denise and Irene after we made it over
Next we had another rope net but this one was one where we crawled on our hands and knees like a spider. After that is was off to these huge dumpsters full of water we had to wade through, if were we not wet and muddy yet we were now.
Then it was off to the tire maze before a bunch of hills to the big slide.
It was big but it was fun
 
I am so muddy!
 
And we were so muddy afterwards!

 

 

All muddy but still having an awesome time! We only had a few more events to get over before we reached the finish line. Bonnie and I made it just before the team at about 1:04.
We're almost to the end!

Best friends finish together!

We are so muddy but it was worth it! Off to get cleaned up in the rinse area. The rinse area was not much, it was pretty much a dark tent with hoses. We donated our shoes and I headed to get my free beer. I bought a sticker for my car and a magnet. I highly suggest the Dirty Girl Mud run, I am so glad I did it this year and can not wait to compete again next year!
Justin and I then headed to Denny's to get in some much needed protein and then headed home for me to add my bib to my bib holder. I think it looks good with the mud on it.
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 


Brewers Versus Braves- June 2013

Sunday June 23rd Justin and I headed up to Wisconsin to buy more soda at Sprecher and go to the Brewers game. We went to Sprecher and stocked up on soda for us and our friends Nick and Rose. Afterwards we headed right to the ballpark. They had us park in an odd lot at the ballpark but it actually worked in our favor. When we went to leave we got right out. It was Polish night and they gave out a Polish sausage bobble head, super cool. It was over 90 outside and very hot, we even got ice cream to beat the heat. Unfortunately the Brewers lost and Carlos Gomez got injured, but we had a great time. I am so glad we live so close to such a nice ballpark!










 
 


Sunday, June 16, 2013

I Don't Know About You, But I'm Feeling 32...Today!

 
32 I welcome you! Well another year has passed, 31 come and gone. It was a great year but I am looking for all 32 will bring. Saturday we planned to celebrate my birthday since Sunday is Father's Day. I decided I wanted to go to Woodfield Mall to do some shopping and then go to Buca di Beppo for dinner in Wheeling.
Early that day my dear friend Andrea let me know she sent a package my way for my birthday, such a wonderful surprise!
 This super cute package arrived at our house
It has all of these wonderful candles and this body scrub from Glow Baby Glow inside. That night I burned the Maple Pecan candle and then again tonight. It smelled so good!
 
We headed down to Schaumburg about 2:30pm to go to the mall. I got a cute pair of shorts for only $15 from New York and Company. Next we headed to the semi annual sale at Victoria's Secret. I had been looking for some of their VSX stuff.
I got this skirt in orange for $29
And this top in green for $17
 
For my birthday Justin bought me a new charm for my Pandora bracelet. I also could not resist and bought myself one too.
The beach ball I bought myself

The gorgeous heart Justin bought me
 
We walked around the mall a bit more, Justin got a pretzel and I got yogurt. Then we headed up to Wheeling for dinner at Buca.
 We got there early, but they had a table for us. They even gave me this cute birthday card which some of the employees signed.

 Who's ready for some pasta!
 We sat near the bumper car nuns
Excited for dinner!

 The sweet family to the right wished me Happy Birthday as they left. One of the older gentleman asked if with this birthday I was old enough to drink. So sweet!
We got garlic bread for free, antipasto salad, penne al vodka, and baked rigatoni. We always order enough for the next days lunch

He knows to wait until pictures are done before eating

Dig in!

The waiter brought this candelabra and a few of them sang to me. Everyone around us clapped and sang.

When we got home Guido wanted some attention after us being out all day

Burning my new candle
 
Sunday we relaxed and enjoyed the day. Did some chores and watched tv. Went to Culvers to get my free scoop of custard. Chocolate with sprinkles and brownie bites. Then I made this weight watcher meal for dinner. Sausage, pasta salad, and green beans.
I had a Hefe Weiss and Justin had a Stout. We watched Batman the Dark Knight Rises finally! It was a decent movie, a little long, but still pretty good.
 
I had a great birthday weekend, was lucky to enjoy the time, and have some time to relax!