We survived the Tough Mudder!
Was there really any doubt?
We had some doubts going into the Tough Mudder. Vegas and I were coming off a week of softball and – having done this once before – I was already dreading the Arctic Enema.
We’re terrible about getting out the door in the morning, so I made our breakfast for the road. It was an overnight creation much like this apple pie one, but with chia seeds, vanilla rice protein, cinnamon, ginger, and persimmons.
We parked, walked half a mile to the race area, and chugged the C4 they were handing out (that stuff is like workout crack). They had a hilarious warm up – picture one of the Village People leading borderline-pornographic stretches. Then we were off!
Of course the race began with us trekking through swap. Literally. Our feet were sinking in the mud and at one point I was up to my boobs in inky water. I was thankful Vegas thought to bring goggles. We were dunked in water in at least 4 obstacles; the water was disgusting and I know my contacts wouldn’t have survived.
Thankfully this race was 100x more organized than the one I did 4 years ago. There was a ton of water and fuel along the course, and it was just 10.3 miles (as advertised). It was also warmer so that dunk in ice water at mile ~7-ish didn’t feel so bad.
I was really proud of us for completing every single obstacle. The “Cry Baby” tear gas obstacle was the worst. IT wasn’t physically challenging, but not being able to see or breathe due to the vapor was panic-inducing.
They had beer and beef jerky at the end, so you know Vegas and I were happy campers.
32,468 Garmin vívofit steps steps later, we crashed in our hotel room after a massive steak dinner. We barely stayed awake to catch the end of the World Series!
[Tweet “SoCal @ToughMudder recap – can’t believe they had a tear gas obstacle! #fitfluential”]
Read on for my eats, then join Jenn’s WIAW baby here this week!
Breakfast:
I had my usual morning cocktail and sludge (mixed with kombucha).
Vegas and I have been eating Arman’s tasty brownies for breakfast with coffee. I used my Growing Naturals Chocolate Rice Protein Powder, as well as P28 white chocolate protein butter for extra protein and chocolate goodness. Totally legit meal when you have no groceries.
Lunch:
Again without groceries, we had yogurt bowls. It was really good – Greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 a scoop ofGrowing Naturals Chocolate Rice Protein Powder, cinnamon, and some cashew milk. Topped with hemp hearts and pomegranate arils.
This was followed by an unpictured Quest S’mores bar as I was running out the door an hour later.
Dinner:
We went to see the Peanuts movie and stopped in at Yard House for a bite before. We split a lobster artichoke dip, and I got a delicious Cobb salad with shrimp.
The meal was better than the movie. It’s just not as entertaining as an adult… oh well.
***
Now to choose the next adventure… I’m thinking it’ll involve snow!
Have you ever done a Tough Mudder?
Have you seen the Peanuts movie? Thoughts?
The obstacles in those races are intense! Way to go! And that’s a toooon of steps. I bet you crashed!
Pomegrante arils! <3 So delicious, but they sure put up a fight!
Congrats on the race! It is good you were able to get such a cute picture during it- I probably would have been making all kind of not so attractive face.
Oh man… you should have seen the other pics. LOL!
I did a spartan race almost 3 years ago with my friend who’s a trainer and CrossFitter and I don’t think I could do it again! My claim to fame was actually climbing a rope to the top which will probably never happen again! She pulled a tire up a hill for me which is now my marker for a true friend, lol 🙂
Pulling a tire up a hill is a legit litmus test!
That picture of you guys is hilarious! Never did a tough mudder because I’m not much of mud lover haha!
Just reading about that race I know I wouldn’t last long. If I didn’t chicken out right before the start already ;).
So .. that Peanuts movie: do they talk at all? I only saw the trailer recently but it didn’t seem like they did.
They do talk! It’s basically the original Peanuts cartoon with the little red haired girl and the Red Baron (if you ever saw that).
Holy moly that race sounds so tough!! Good on you guys 🙂 I had never heard of Peanuts until this new movie so I’m not sure how I feel about it. But I’m thinking I won’t go out of my way to watch it based on your review haha. Such a gorgeous picture of the yogurt bowl, by the way!
Welcome back from the tough mudder! You make all that look so fun.
Oh, and lobster artichoke dip sounds sooooo good. Jealous!
Tear gas!? OMG! I would’ve been very very freaked out. Awesome job to you both 🙂
Panic. Attack. 🙂
I’ll run a marathon for free; you couldn’t pay me (well, how much…) to do a Tough Mudder. But you are more badass than I.
You run my marathons and I’ll run your Tough Mudders. Deal? 😉
I’ve never done a tough mudder before, but it looks awesome in a scary way haha. I bet that beer tasted amazing afterwards!
Congrats on the Tough Mudder! I used to work for a non-profit and we held a “friendlier” version that I loved participating in – so much fun! Also that salad!! Looks AMAZING.
you guys are the best! love the persimmon pre race meal. and that ice bath.. i would have just stayed in there. I”m a wuss.
Oh nooooo… if you’d seen that nasty brown water you’d have jumped out STAT.
Y’all make the touch mudder look fun but I know I would wimp out! SO MANY STEPS! That’s incredible, I can only imagine how exhausting yet rewarding that was. I love that y’all did this together 🙂
You guys are such bad asses! Or gluttons for punishment…or both 😉 I love the name ‘Arctic Enema’ for an obstacle- very descriptive!
The s’mores quest bars are one of my favorites!
Gluttons I think! 😉
Yay for Tough Mudders. It was one of the most unique races I’d ever done and definitely one of the most humbling because I’m incredibly ‘weak’, so I needed a lot of help from fellow team members.
Thanks Emily! The teamwork part is really cool – everyone was so generous to stay back and help people they don’t even know.
Hi Laura! Good work on the race, I’ve never done any of those obstacle type courses before and am not sure that I ever will. But I love to hear the stories! 🙂 Thanks for hosting the food party today too!
They always look fun…and crazy! But I would totally do one one day!
The tough mudder sounds like such a fun race! I hope to take part in something like this one day. I cannot believe you covered so many miles while enduring all of this! I think I could maybe handle a 5k, but over 10.3 miles? Yikes. I’m insanely impressed, Lauren!
I felt the same way about the Peanuts movie. It had great animation, but everything else about it was… lacking.
Thank you for hosting this week!! 🙂
The mileage really wasn’t bad – we definitely weren’t trying to run it. I would have died… and Vegas would have killed me. Ha!
Glad I wasn’t the only one who didn’t love the movie. It would be great for a kid though!
Congrats on the tough mudder, that’s on my workout “to-do list”
I haven’t tried a yogurt bowl with protein powder, how much protein do you use?
Thanks!
I use half a scoop of protein since the yogurt has so much in it already.
I want to do a tough Mudder one day soon and of course, like always, you inspire me. I love you and Vegas, if you lived in Northern California I would invite you two crazy kids over for game night. Congratulations on finishing your second Tough Mudder, you are one… Tough Mudder (lol I know you saw that one coming:) )
Awwww… we’d be all over a game night! We both love board games. And Cards Against Humanity.
At some point I need to do one of these races, looks so fun!
You’d love it. Come do the one here next year – I already registered!
Is it weird that I kinda wanna throw mud at you? LOL
Is it weird that I want a mud bath?
Tear gas in a race? I don’t get the appeal!
It was just enough to make you panic. I think it was actually just vapor. It smelled like Vick’s.
I love love love pomegranate seeds – and they are so pretty! Congrats on finishing the tough mudder – 10.3 miles is serious stuff! Love the game face in the pictures
Well done on the Tough Mudder – I know when David did his the artic enema and walk the plank were the ones he worried about the most… Then again it was freezing in Scotland when he did it and they never warmed up again after being in the water! He still loved it though and is keen to do one again now we are in Australia!
That was the biggest problem when I did the first one – it was FREEZING outside and I never could warm up. This time it was 80 degree and the ice was tolerable.
I have never done a Tough Mudder and now I want to do one even less! Tear gas??? OMG just no!
LOL! It wasn’t real… I think. It smelled like Vick’s vapor rub. It was enough to make me panic though!
Great photos! Looks like you had a blast. I’ve never done the tough mudder.
How on earth did your Garmins survive?! It sounds like fun (well, as fun as running 10 miles can be) and that picture of you two is just too cute!
I had to google it first – they’re actually water resistant. And please… you think I could get Vegas to RUN 10 miles?! It was a lot of power walking with the occasional jog.
I love the goggles idea (very steampunk!). Congrats on finishing, though I have no clue why these races include obstacles that do nothing but prove you have pain tolerance (e.g. tear gas, electrocution).
The electric thing really isn’t that bad. It’s a fun race! I love obstacles though… much more than I like running. 🙂
Seriously I would have been freaking out in the tear gas!! Who thinks of that!! Sounds like you ladies had a great time! Greek yogurt with protein and fruit is pretty much my meal at least once a day. #imlazy
They’re total masochists. And we are nuts. LOL!
You should frame that pic of you carrying Vegas – love it! However, I maintain that a Tough Mudder is something I have absolutely no interest in doing haha
I might have to do that! Christmas present… shhhhh…
Way to go on the Tough Mudder- let’s just say if you guys can survive that, you can survive anything! Drooling at the sound of the Lobster Artichoke Dip- girl you fancy ;)!
Haha – that dip was alllll Vegas’ call.
You guys are adorable. <3 <3
Also I don't think I'm hardcore enough to complete a tough mudder..I've done mud races and have fun for about 5 minutes until the mud cakes onto my hands. Then I'm out haha.
Awwww… thanks. 🙂
You could totally do it! They’re spaced out well and the team aspect helps a lot.
You my love have WAY to much fun! LOVE IT! LOVE the eats and the fast feets dude you guys rocked the steps!
LMAO! People say that to us a lot… we just have no limits. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes that’s… interesting. 😉
Congrats on completing the Tough Mudder! Although there wasn’t any doubts on anyones minds that you’d have no issues completing it. Lol. 🙂 Glad you were able to stay heavily hydrated. 🙂 Tear gas? No thank you. Lol Have a great one Laura! -Iva
Next year I plan to stay heavily sedated. 😉