![\"Walk-the-Plank-Obstacle\"](\"http:\/\/50.28.65.156\/~avcelitetraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Walk-the-Plank-Obstacle.png\")
<\/a> that she share them with the group that would be going through the training. She opted not to share the pictures since she didn\u2019t want people to get preconceived ideas about the obstacles.<\/p>\nShe knew what we were up against\u2026we did not fit the mold for the participants that usually join the race (we were predominantly 40-60 year old women..not 25 year old stud muffins.) I knew we could accomplish this event, especially with Amy carefully watching us every step of the way and making sure we stayed uninjured.<\/p>\n
We began training in October 2012 for the race in February 2013. The requirement from Amy was that we be enrolled in AVC Elite group training Monday and Wednesday sessions and she would add a Saturday training day.\u00a0 We were on our own to run two to three days a week to get the base conditioning in. I can\u2019t even guess how many hours we put in from October 2012 to event day on February 23, 2013 but needless to say there were a lot of hours involved.<\/p>\n
In addition to endurance, Amy placed an emphasis on proper running with your weight balanced underneath you<\/a>, 180 steps per minute strides, proper arm movement and no over-striding.\u00a0 She constantly emphasized hydration, proper nutrition, proper sleep, all components that made us the best condition that we could be in.\u00a0 Not to say that I couldn\u2019t have run more or had better nutrition but her constant reminders were always there making sure that we were giving it our all.<\/p>\n The training sessions all run together but the memories that come to the forefront for me are the following:<\/p>\n The spirit of camaraderie in our training was unparalleled.<\/a>\u00a0 When someone achieved an obstacle that they hadn\u2019t previously been able to do, the entire group cheered.\u00a0 When someone had an injury, (and there were plenty of them) the entire group rallied around that individual.\u00a0 We had such a fantastic collection of personalities all melding together to conquer this achievement.<\/p>\n Most everyone on the team had an obstacle or a fear that they would need to overcome to complete the entire Tough Mudder event. We didn\u2019t dwell on the obstacles we weren\u2019t going to try\u2026we would simply try every one and if we couldn\u2019t get it done after a couple of attempts, we would move on.<\/p>\n Finally it was race day\u2026 The 15 of us showed up at the training facility at Ellsworth and Guadalupe. After an inspirational speech by Sean Corvelle (boo-rah), and we were off for 12 miles of running and 21 obstacles.<\/p>\n The actual race itself is a blur, with the hardest obstacles for me being the Berlin Walls and Everest.\u00a0 Everything else was doable. I was definitely fatigued during the race, but felt I had the endurance to complete it. We stuck together as a team and although it took us a bit longer because of that, we were there for each other the whole way.<\/p>\n Memorable moments:<\/p>\n After a couple of months had passed since the Tough Mudder event, the daughter of one of my friends did the Mid-Atlantic Tough Mudder where one of the participants drowned.\u00a0 I realize that many accidents happen especially in such a difficult event, but I sincerely feel that Amy trained us to prepare for the race and we were the most prepared we could have been.<\/p>\n Thanks, Coach Amy, and I can\u2019t wait to do the next Tough Mudder event! What will you check off your bucket list this year?\u00a0<\/strong> Rim-to-Rim at the Grand Canyon? Tough Mudder<\/a>? Ironman? An Ultra Trail Event<\/a>?\u00a0 What ever your fitness goals, AVC Elite Training can help you achieve them. Contact Amy today and let’s get to work<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In June of 2011, I received a text from my brother that had the link for the Tough Mudder event on it asking me to check it out. I said I was down for it, but couldn\u2019t get any other … Continue reading <\/a>Amy worked predominantly on our endurance in the Saturday training sessions.\u00a0 The basic training session was warm-up, run, cardio exercises, run some more, and yet more cardio exercises. Towards the end of our training we were up to 13 miles in total with 20 or more obstacles lasting 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>First training session running, doing 2 minute cardio exercises, and walk\/running up and down Kong with Kettlebells<\/li>\n<\/a>We had an amazing group of friends and family there to support and cheer us on. They couldn\u2019t have done more for us than cheering us on at each obstacle.\u00a0 Big Kudos to Helen, who trained with us through every Saturday session, and took amazing videos and pictures of the all the FUN we were having.<\/p>\n<\/a>Thanks Tough Mudder team!\u00a0 You guys are the absolute best. You guys are the toughest Mudders I know\u2026thanks for helping me cross this off my bucket list\u2026<\/p>\n\n
\n~Margie<\/a><\/p>\n