I’m not a runner…
The closest I came to being a runner was doing a 5 km run in an event that used to be here in Calgary. The event was called the ‘Toughest Calgarian Alive’. I’ll tell you this story because it’s the closest thing I have to a story about a run. (And you’ll see that at the bottom of the post I have an interesting article from Craig ‘no cardio’ Ballantyne about preparing for a ‘run’.)
I never really trained for the run, not in any sort of strategic way that is; mostly because I’m not fond of running, but also because I never knew where to get a plan. Duh…
Come to think of it, I never specifically trained for any of the events for that contest. I just did my regular workouts. Well, that’s not totally true. I never trained for the events because I didn’t know how…
Here are the events and my training protocol for each:
- 5 km run – I don’t like running so I’d take my two dogs out and run around the block about once a week. It was actually more of a rodeo with two boxers that outweighed me. Especially if we spotted a cat.
- 100 m swim – I used to swim competitively, so I envisioned the swim while I took a shower (I never got in the pool until the event).
- 100 yard sprint – How hard can this be? Anyone can finish a 100 yards right?
- Shot putt – I regretted not even picking one of these things up until the day of the event since there was a huge audience, after all, I have my pride.
- Bench press – Finally an event that I did on a fairly regular basis!
- Rope climb (with no use of the feet) – I did manage to find a rope that I practiced on in my garage, but I could only manage 3 hand over hands since the roof was low…
- Pull ups – Again, something that I did in my workouts on a regular basis!
- Obstacle course – I went into this event totally blind. However, I did walk around the house in the dark after re-arranging furniture, would that count?
The contest was scored by accumulating points at each event. As it turned out, I was pretty much dead last after the 5 km. I managed to gain some ground in the swim. The lifeguard was at the ready for several of the competitors who barely made it. I held my own in everything else. No other women were able to climb the rope, most dudes couldn’t either, and the pull ups and bench press were good events for me as well.
I won the women’s overall my first time out. Not surprising with this stellar training regime (insert laugh track here 😉
I won the women’s overall in the second year I did the event as well. I guess all my experience from the first year paid off…I mean who needs to pick up a shot putt more than once a year to improve? (Again, insert snort ;).
I was actually pretty impressed with myself at this contest since I was competing against women half my age. I was 38 and 39 when I competed in the Toughest Calgarian Alive. I was going to do it the year I turned 40, and I actually made more of an effort to train for it when 10 days out I found out it was cancelled due to renovations at the University of Calgary gym where it was held. As far as I know, the contest hasn’t been resurrected. If it were, I’d do it again. It was a grueling day, a definite challenge, right up my alley.
I wonder how I’d do at an event such as this if I had a strategic plan? A better way to prepare? Clearly, I relied on luck and athleticism to get me through the events. As it turned out, I beat lots of the men in several of the events as it were, but seriously, the competitive nature in me would have wanted to beat them all. I really should have been more prepared.
I recently came across this program by my mentor, Craig Ballantyne. It seems Adventure Racing is big now and he actually made a program to help you prepare for one.
He tells all about it below. I found it a bit surprising that Craig ‘no cardio’ Ballantyne is pushing cardio…really? It intrigued me…Then I looked at the program a little more closely and saw that it included full body workouts, hill sprints, interval training and explosive movements. All these things would have helped me in my ‘Toughest Calagarian Alive’ contest and his program definitely help you in any sort of Adventure race preparation.
Okay, I’ll turn it over to CB now and he can tell you a bit more about this program:
Why You Should Do Cardio
By Craig “No Cardio” Ballantyne
Yes, I AM doing cardio.
What?
Why?
Because I need to be tough.
I’m preparing for a 10-mile tough mudder race in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in June.
And so recently I ran 4 miles in 29 minutes. Not bad.
(Definitely not slow cardio…although it wasn’t exciting.)
I’ve also ran 8 miles in just over an hour.
Why?
To build up my body for the 10 miles.
Now I’m ready.
Are you?
I can get you in top shape in just 4-8 weeks here
(Perfect for runners and endurance athletes of all kinds.)
Discover the Safe and Quick Way to Getting Fit For 10 Mile Runs and Obstacle Courses with TT Adventure Race Training
Run, get dirty, and go through strength obstacles – that’s basically what I’ll be doing in the 10 mile Tough Mudder race that my friend, Matt Smith, challenged me to try.
And you know what….
It’s this new trend – “Adventure Race Training” – that everyone can’t help but rave about. And who wouldn’t when you can be a kid all over again PLUS lose stubborn fat and gain lean muscle
at the same time.
NOTE: I just hit a personal best in the deadlift while still training with cardio, thanks to my unique plan.
It’s time to let out the kid inside of you.
And that’s exactly why I’ve put together this one-of-a-kind workout program. In TT Adventure Race Training, you get to train as though you’re preparing to compete in one of the most physically demanding races – the Tough Mudder race.
NOTE: You don’t have to be doing an adventure race to get the fat burning benefits of this workout. ANYONE of an advanced fitness level can try this tough program.
And inside this special TT program, you’ll go through The “Adventure 600”, a brutal challenge workout designed to increase your strength and endurance, two total body workouts that’ll shred the last bits of stubborn fat, AND you’ll have a plan for gearing up to run 10 miles in a Tough Mudder.
Whew – that’s a LOT.
But it rocks.
And not only that, you’ll also discover that these TT exercises will help get you through the obstacles you’ll face going through the Tough Mudder race – that way you’ll ace the race while leaving your friends in awe… not to mention all the heads you’ll be turning with your lean and ripped physique.
But what if you have NO intention of ever doing an adventure race?
That’s totally fine because you can still use these 3 powerful workouts to rapidly transform the way you look and feel. I guarantee it.
Heck, the hill sprint program alone is one of the nastiest fat burning challenges I’ve ever put together. And with a new challenge every week, you’re going to get better and faster, all while shrinking your waistline and looking hotter than ever in time for summer.
Throw in the first metabolic resistance training circuit from Workout B, and your metabolism will be revved so high, fat simply won’t stand a chance of staying around for beach season.
And then there’s The Adventure 600, an 8-exercise, all out fat burning circuit, swooping in to put the finishing touches on a beautifully sculpted physique.
So whether you’re training for an adventure race or simply wanting to transform your body, I promise these workouts will deliver amazing results.
Get adventurous. Get TT Adventure Race Training.
Get super fit – super fast – here