I already have a Tough Mudder under my belt and am running a Spartan Race in July. I have heard that if you can't complete an obstacle, you need to burpee. I thought it fitting, then, to start training for that because I know there will be obstacles that I fail at. Just like Tony Horton says: "Do your best and forget the rest."
So I have created another challenge.....a 30 day plank challenge. But I realized that the initial one I created was very, ummmm, VERY challenging. Not that a challenge, and working outside your comfort zone is bad, but not everyone can complete this challenge. I think these monthly challenges should be easy enough to complete in a few minutes, get you outside of your comfort zone, yet still be doable.
With that said, I have created 2 more versions of this challenge. You know yourself best. You know how to push yourself beyond your limits without hurting yourself. Modify if need be - do these on your knees, take more breaks. As long as you're working to better yourself, it all counts. Here is the easiest of the 3 possible challenges. This still may be difficult for some of you but I know that if you dig really deep, you can complete this challenge!
Here you go for you mamma bears out there - not too easy, but not too difficult.
And for all of you who are advanced, here's your challenge.
Last month, on September 5, I was bitten by a Cane Corso while running. For those who don't know, a Cane Corso is a big mastiff, kind of like this one:
I would like to say it was the scariest day of my life, but watching my kids get hurt (on more than one occasion) trumps that. However - it was pretty darn scary. I was running, minding my own business, and a big dog (didn't know it was a cane corso at the time) was charging on a front lawn, clearly unleashed, making a beeline for me. I had enough time to think "Wow, that's a big dog. I really wish its owners would call it back. I really, really hope it doesn't attack me."
Next thing I know my entire hand is in its maws. It pierced my wrist and lacerated the pad of my hand by my thumb. The owners were standing right there, watching the whole thing go down. Not once did I hear the dog's name. I don't remember how I got the dog off of me, or how I ended up on the opposite side of the road (thank goodness no cars were coming) but luckily, all of the above happened. After what seemed like minutes--but was probably more like one minute--the owners realized what had happened.
After refusing to let them drive me to the hospital, we called my husband and let the ambulance take me.
I am so thankful to the South Euclid police and paramedics who came to help.
Here's the injury on the palm of my hand. I was also pierced on the top side of my wrist. I'ts amazing how many nerve endings are in your hand!!!
Five+ hours in the hospital was not how I was planning to spend my day.
I still had a team squat challenge to complete, and the dog bite and the hospital would not deter me. (Thank goodness it didn't involve my hands.)
And my dear friends left this as a little present for me. And now I run with it---ALWAYS.
I have passed many dogs since the attack and only one has given me a panic attack - completely unexpected. Difficulty breathing, almost in tears. And it was a Doberman - go figure. Luckily I saw it for what it was and since I was at mile 11 of a 12 mile run I kept on going. No way was I going to stop.
Here's another challenge for you. There are SO MANY more ways you can work your core - endless ways you can work your core, but I wanted to keep this challenge relatively simple. Good luck!
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