The Great Outdoors (Part II)

Yesterday, Suzie Walton gave us some different outdoor fitness options. Here is Part II of her article:

Obstacle Races

If you have 5k experience and are looking to break into something more intense, obstacle races offer extreme fitness fun. Mud pits, barbed wire crawls, and fire jumps are just a few of the obstacles a runner will face in one of these extreme runs.Jeremy Farris’s first experience with obstacle course races began in 1996 at Ft. Benning, Georgia, during a 12-mile Army "Battle Buddy" race to remember fallen soldiers. “I was instantly hooked,” Jeremy recalls. “After leaving the Army in 2006. I was looking for ‘active’ things that my wife and I could do together.”After taking up running, Jeremy and his wife Kelly began taking on these obstacle challenge races often. “Since my wife was not the stellar athlete, our choices were limited,” he said. “So Kelly and I took on quite a few road races, but I knew my passion was in the mud.”Jeremy remembers talking to his wife about a "different" kind of race. “I thought she may enjoy obstacles and mud, and yes, she was hesitant at first. So I fell back on my old reliable—my sister Tiffany.”Jeremy and Tiffany signed up for Warrior Dash Atlanta in 2011. His wife Kelly tagged along as a spectator. “I could see the thrill in my wife's face as she watched my sister and me run, climb, crawl, and fall. That’s all it took—Kelly was hooked too. We have continued to do two to three mud runs a year. From Warrior Dash to Foam Fest to now the Spartan race series. And did I mention travel? We have raced all over the Southeast.”Jeremy and Kelly now run obstacles races both for the love of mud and the love and companionship of each other. "Mud just brings us closer," he gushes with excitement and enthusiasm. “Anyone at any fitness level can enjoy and complete these races like Warrior Dash and Foam Fest. Your focus should be to just have fun. It doesn't have to be competitive. The older I get, the slower I get, the more I enjoy it.”

Marathon

Occasionally there are those extreme runners who have conquered many different 5ks and obstacle races and are no longer satisfied with the shorter 3.1 mile run. For these runners who are searching for a personal challenge to push their limits, the 26.2 mile marathon is not an impossible distance. Ashley Harbison discovered her dream to run this quintessential endurance race many years ago, and has begun preparing to chase that dream again.By the time Ashley was 13-years-old, this life-long runner didn’t waste anytime sprinting to the starting line of the endurance races. Her drive for distance running led her to her first 13.1 miles half marathon when she was in the eighth grade.“At first it was just a goal,” Ashley said. “My interest in marathons began after I ran several 5ks. It's all about setting a goal and reaching it.”The feeling of conquering a goal drives Ashley to bigger achievements.“I love that feeling,” she said. “I've run all types of half marathons— small, big, themed, warm (summer), cold (winter). But, my favorite has to be the big ones.”Ashley’s best advice for anyone planning a marathon is to start small. “It's baby steps. There will be good days and bad days, but don't give up because it's tough. Always remember you are doing what many could only dream of. Finding a partner is also good for accountability and safety. The feeling, the sense of accomplishment you get when you cross that finish line is amazing. No one can ever take that from you, so dream big!”

Garage Games

Go to any licensed CrossFit gym (called a box), and you’ll see people throwing, flipping, and jerking things–wall balls, tires, or serious weight. About a decade ago CrossFit emerged from a dingy garage and has become the “it” fitness craze. CrossFitters go “old school” with exercises like sit-ups, pushups, pull-ups, and squats to improve strength, speed, endurance, and agility. However, the really competitive athletes aren’t shackled to their box. They meet and compete in various CrossFit garage games.Daniel Evans had been CrossFitting for almost a year when he took his fitness to the next level and competed in his first CrossFit Garage Games–-The Dirty South Games.“I first began competing in CrossFit when my fiancé Alyssa and my friend Jon Aaron asked me about joining the team competition,” Daniel said. “The best part of competitions in garage games is the adrenaline rush I get when the workout starts. It's the same rush I used to get at the start of a football game.”Daniel said anyone who possesses a competitive spirit will thrive in the CrossFit competitions. “Don't ever doubt your ability,” he said. “That first CrossFit competition can be overwhelming and can make you doubt yourself. Always believe in yourself and go 100 percent.”When four walls, heavy weights, and loud music get monotonous, it may be time for a change. Get outside. 78