^%*&! Just Got Real!

This time last year in a crazy moment of insanity, I committed to doing Warrior Dash just to prove to Kipper I could do it. (in case you missed that episode here you go!)  I still remember the first day we started training. I couldn't even run an entire mile without walking some and I thought I was going to die....like seriously DIE!

Fast forward a few months I did something I NEVER imagined I could. Along side my hubby and some of my best friends, I, Allie Martin, crossed the finish line of Warrior Dash. It was maybe one of the hardest things I had mentally done in my adult life, but it was amazing and I couldn't wait to do it again.

Over the course of the next year we....

Ran a handful of 5K's

Kipper did his first Tri

And we did our first "official" 10K

Then somewhere along the way I had this brilliant idea we should do a freaking Half Marathon. Yep I thought it would be super fun to run 13.1 miles. (I am pretty sure I was on crack at that moment) But in all honesty I really just wanted to go back to Disney World so I thought we could run the Disney Princess Half. I mean who wouldn't want to do a race where you got to dress up in princess costumes, run through Cinderella's castle and when you finish you get a medal shaped like a crown and they glitter you with a wand?!?!?! See how I got sucked into this crazy idea...it was the glitter!! 

This year is the 5th anniversary of the Princess Half, so it sold out much faster than in years prior. In November we realized we wouldn't be doing the Princess Half so I kind of just stopped caring about the whole half marathon idea. Until Kipper started talking about the Cowtown and how he was going to do it. I would randomly say things like "yea, me too" but I never really gave it a lot of thought. It was the holidays and I was focused on enjoying them and trying to relax. 

Then Monday it all became really real - Kipper signed us both up for the Cowtown Half Marathon! I have roughly 7 weeks to get my crap together, 45 days to be exact! But no matter if I have to crawl across that finish line - I will do it.  Please love me during the next 7 weeks.  If I am cranky, socially lame, obsessive or MIA...I promise it is only for a short time. Time to prove to myself I CAN and WILL do this. I might not be able to walk afterwards but failure is not an option. 

Much Love, 

Allie (who is realizing THIS might be the craziest thing she have ever done...)

Allie Facts: Run From Hell Edition

During my run today I started thinking about all the random things that I think about or tend to discover about myself while doing various things. All of a sudden "Allie Facts" was born...

And while I am sure this will only be amusing to me (and maybe to Kipper)....welcome to the first edition of Allie Facts. :)


- I am 30 years old and I still coordinate by hair bow with my shirt when I go run/workout

- When your best friend texts you a picture of a cupcake right before you go run, all you think about during said run is how much you want a cupcake.

- I  think that I would run faster and further if someone dangled a cupcake in front of me the entire time. 

- Those last two thoughts make me realize that you can make a Polish girl run, the Polish girl can lose weight and get skinny, but deep down inside she will always Polish girl who loves her bread and sweets! 

- When I am running outside and trying to push myself to go a little further, I randomly yell out things like, "Keep going!! No really, don't stop!" for motivation. (even though I have my ipod on full blast and I can't actually hear myself very well)

- Running up a hill, into the wind, 25 minutes into a hard workout do NOT mix well for me.

- I really do feel bad for throwing up in that sweet families yard after getting up said hill.

- The building we run by that I always call the "Moose Lodge" is actually a Knights of Columbus Lodge...on Columbus Trail. (I find that very ironic) 

- Apparently when I sing along to my ipod, I sing much louder than I realize because people sometimes give me very odd looks. 

- I almost asked one guy working in his yard why he was looking at me so oddly? I mean was I off key? (hey it is hard to run and sing at the same time!) 

- I HATE running.....but I won't quit because I am going to kick butt, while wearing a tutu at Warrior Dash in just a month! GO GLITTER WARRIORS!!

It Is Still A Mile

As you all know, Kipper and I are training to do the Warrior Dash at the end of April. Today both Kipper and I were really tired and didn't want to go work out, but we both pushed each other to head to the gym. As we drove to the gym, I was thinking I would just take it easy and maybe just walk since I was so tired. Yet as I walked into the gym and stepped on the treadmill I decided if I tool the time to get dressed and drive there, then by golly I was going to give it my all.

While I still can't run a solid mile yet, I am getting closer to it. But while I haven't hit that milestone yet, I did hit a big milestone for me today. While on the treadmill I would walk 2 min, run a 1 min, walk 2 min, run 2 min etc. When I was done with my workout I looked at how far I had gone and how long it took me - I had shaved my time down to a 15 min mile!

Is that super impressive to someone who is a runner? Well of course not! But for me, the girl that even when I worked out 4-5 times a day that HATED running, it is a huge thing! When I was done I felt so empowered and happy that Kipper and I push each other not only to workout, but to run longer, harder and faster.  Can't wait to see where we both are in another month!!

I'm A Warrior...In Glitter!

For the last few weeks Kipper has been talking about doing the Warrior Dash with a bunch of people from work. I had heard about it before because a few other people I know have done it, but honestly I didn't pay much attention. Early this week we started talking about it again and something clicked. As I looked at the website I came to 2 conclusions 1) This actually might be fun and 2) I can totally do this! Monday, January 16, 2012 the Team Glitter Warrior was born!

I have a feeling many of you are saying what the heck are you talking about? Well to sum it up this is the official description for the Warrior Dash.

"A mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme 5k run from hell. Warriors conquer extreme obstacles, push their limits and celebrate with music, beer and Warrior helmets."


The responses from friends have been interesting, both when I tell them I am doing it and when asking them to join me.

Conversation 1: 

Little Alex:  You that it involves mud, right?

Me:  Yea but they give you a Viking helmet, AND there is also a costume contest,  turkey legs and beer. Not that I like beer but still it is an option!

Little Alex: I will do it with you!

Me: Score one for Team Glitter Warriors!!

Conversation 2: 

Me:  Getting a group together to do the Warrior Dash in April. Want to do it? You know you want to join the Glitter Warriors!?!?

J Crab:  Have you lost your mind?!?!?!? Me? Mud? I've seen the pictures of guys doing it. NO WAY!

Me: They give you a beer at the end! :)

J Crab: I can afford to buy my own beer.

 Me: Fine, you can be an honorary Glitter Warrior and a sign holder with Tricia if you would like.

Now Kipper is still a little skeptical and he said that I have to prove to him I am serious about this before he will pay the $60 for me to register. (Apparently planning out cute outfits for everyone to wear the day of does NOT prove ones dedication, just in case you were wondering)  

But I am determined to show him and everyone else I am TOTALLY serious! I am going to not only DO the Warrior Dash, I am going to COMPLETE the Warrior Dash, all while wearing an obnoxious amount of pink and glitter...which I am sure will involve a tutu as well!

 As I was in the middle of Day 1 of Glitter Warrior Training I found that when I started to feel like I couldn't run any further, planning the Glitter Warrior "uniform" helped me forget that I my legs were about to fall off.

All joking aside, today will be Day 2 of Glitter Warrior Training and I am pumped! On Day 1 Kipper and I went 2.5 miles, alternating walking and running, but I ran HALF of it! I was pretty proud of myself seeing that I haven't really worked out in like...um....yea...a year!?!?! Not only did I FEEL amazing, I had a blast working out with the hubby. (By the way, can we talk about how skinny he is getting?!?!?!)



And it will feel even better when I cross the finish line and I'm able to say, " I, Allie Martin, leader of the Glitter Warriors, can do anything...even when wearing a tutu!" Now who wants to join me?????