My Top 10 5K Mud Run Tips

With the weather cooling down, 5K runs are heating up!

Their popularity has grown in the past few years.

 

I did my first mud run in the spring and loved it!

Here's what I learned:

Let's break it down!

 

1. train first!

Make sure you get in several weeks of running before-hand.

There are several apps you can download to get you on your way. I use Couch-to-5K. 

 

2. grab a buddy

It makes all the difference to have someone join you on this journey.
You'll keep each other going AND keep each other accountable.
Plus you'll have someone to talk to at the event. =)

 

3. wear junky shoes

You will get filthy; like you've never been filthy before.

Some runs have a recycling program that will clean up and donate your shoes.
Suh-WEET!

 

 

4. wear gloves

The obstacles are built to provide difficulty, splinters included.

 

5. cover your hair

Your hair is not exempt for the mayhem.

I wore a bandanna and put my hair up in knots to keep out the mud.

Gun Show not included. =)

 

 ^^ see why I call my husband The Stud?! ^^
 

6. wear sunscreen

 It takes a while to get through those 3 miles when you're running with hundreds of other people!

Make sure you're protected with at least SPF 50.

 

7. bring a couple towels

Clean up isn't all that clean. In hindsight, I should have brought

one towel to dry off with and one to protect my car seat on the way home.

 

 

8. glide through the mud pit

Don't try to crawl or push through with your feet.

The fastest way to get through a mud pit is to pull yourself forward with your hands while your feet and legs remain still.

  

9. buy the shirt

You'll be SO PROUD of what you've accomplished!
Get the souvenir shirt so you can show it off. =)

 

10. wear light-weight and snug clothing

Besides the fact that you're running and will be thoroughly drenched in sweat, the mud has a tendency to elongate all your clothing. You'll have a good 3 pounds of mud clinging to you.

Most of all,

HAVE FUN!!

My Secret for Wrinkle-Free Eyes

I currently work at a middle school (grades 6-8).

Last week, I was mistaken for a student.

I thought, "WHAT?!!

Do I look like I'm 12?!"

 

But people honestly don't believe me when I tell them how old I am.

I'm WAY closer to 40 than I like to admit.

And this is why,

MY SECRET WRINKLE WEAPON:

VASELINE!!

I've used this for over 20 years and nothing else.

It's great as a make-up remover, too!

I get the Wal-Mart version of original Vaseline for $2.00.

SCORE! 

After my morning shower, I put that slick stuff on the skin directly under my eye,

I mean, RIGHT under my lashes and on down to the socket bone.

I leave it there while I do my hair and brush teeth, about 20 minutes.

Then, I simply wipe it off with a tissue.

DO NOT RE-WASH.

If there's a slight residue remaining, just rub it in.

Make sure all the shine is gone before applying make-up.

 

And since I'm spilling my secrets anyway,

here are the TOP 10 ways I combat wrinkles.

1- Sleep on your back.

Sleeping on your stomach smashes the delicate under-eye skin in an unnatural way that can set-in over time.

 

2- Always wear sunscreen.

Most facial moisturizers {and even many foundations & powders} contain SPF 15 or higher. 

 

3- Wear your sunglasses.

Otherwise, you'll spend hours squinting, creating fine lines.

 

4- Apply make-up lightly, if at all.

Over-application of foundation can over-emphasize lines. I avoid foundation completely and use only powder, but not under my eyes.

 

5- Cover up for extended sun exposure.

I live in the Valley of the Sun so if I'm outside for longer than an hour, especially poolside, I wear a hat. I carry an umbrella out during my daily lunch duty to avoid sun exposure.

 

6- Drink more water.

I'm a huge proponent of water! It will help your skin retain moisture and elasticity.

 

7- Ditch bad habits.

Cigarette smoke ages skin because it's ingredients break down collagen. Alcohol has also been proven to increase the aging process by causing wrinkles, loss of collagen, elasticity, redness, dehydration and puffiness.

 

8- Be self-aware.

 We constantly make faces when we laugh, smile, and react to life. I tend to smile right up to my eyes so I try to remember to scale it back so reduce wrinkle potential.

 

9- Get some sleep.

Your body uses that time to repair and rejuvenate. Your skin in no exception.

 

10- Be happy.

Everyone looks younger when they smile.

 

 

How do you keep wrinkles from returning?

 

Onion Odor

I love the added flavor onion adds to my food but

I HATE the smell!

It gets on the cutting board, my hands, the whole house. . . YUCK!

I use a candle to fix the house smell but this little trick works on

your cutting board AND your hands!

 

You need 3 things: lemon juice, salt, and dish soap.

 

 

 

 

 

My Sweet Feet Secret

I don't know about you but my feet take a beating!

I ask them to take me everywhere and they do; they never get a break.

 

To add to my poor feet's woes is the fact that I live in Phoenix,

where Mother Nature has perpetual PMS.

It's friggin' hot here!!

This was yesterday. It's September for cryin' out loud!

 

What makes it even worse is my slight shoe fetish; I own over 40 pairs.

gasp!

I especially love heels.

I {HEART} SHOES!!

But I also {heart} my feet. =)

I don't like that sweaty, sticky, smelly,
"my foot is stuck to the inside of my shoe and I can no longer walk like normal person without some serious effort" feeling.
But I'm not a nylons type of girl.

I can't see ^^these babies^^ looking any better on my feet than the do in the store.

 The ones on the right look especially special. HA!

 

So here's how I keep my feet su-WEET!

Baby Powder!

 

I just sprinkle it in my shoes,

shake it around a bit,

and VIOLA!

I'm ready to roll! 

The powder keeps my feet dry no matter how sweaty the rest of me gets. It also completely eliminates that uncomfortable "stuck-to-the-shoe" feeling that happens after wearing them for 10 hours. I also use it when I wear flats; it's versatile like that. ;)

Yep, I {heart} my feet.

AND SHOES!!

Brain Boosts for Remembering Names

I often meet new people at work.
They're always nice and friendly.
They introduce themselves by name.
And I completely forget it . . . like, instantly.
It's gone.

So when I run into them again, I just say stuff like,
"Well, hi there!" Or if it's a child they are now
known as "Sweetie" or "Dude".

This is not a good habit for a teacher to have.
Here are 5 ways I found at Psychology Today
that help me remember names:

FOCUS ON THE EYES

A person's eyes don't change much as time passes.

Perfect example: Disney's Beauty & The Beast. At the end, when The Beast is changed back into a prince, Belle recognizes that it's still him by looking into his eyes.

ADD MEANING

Create a connection in your mind with the name and one of the person's traits.

For example, there are 2 sisters, Rachel & Emily, at my school that look so much alike (to me) that I often mixed up their names. They didn't like that very much. Everyone should get to feel like (and be identified as) the individual they are. So, I made up in my head that the sister with the Longer hair had the longer name. I never had a problem again!

{Here's hoping she never cuts her hair!}

PLAN AHEAD

We tend to remember things better when we see them written down.

So if at all possible, study the names on your class list, guest list, or interview panelists.

That's why "Hello, my name is. . . " stickers are so popular!

 

PRACTICE AT HOME

Quiz yourself on familiar faces, like celebrities, to build your brain power.

I often find myself spending most of a movie thinking, "Where have I seen that guy before?!"

I'm actually one of those people that likes to watch the credits. It's helps me put names to faces.

 

RELAX

When stressed, the body releases higher levels of cortisol (aka: the stress hormone),

which does the opposite of the same hormone in small doses: it hinders memory retention.

Maybe that's why I can't remember my own child's name when I'm trying to give

a meaningful "spontaneous lecture".

 

 I'm looking forward to using my new strategies when school starts in a couple of weeks!
How do you boost your memory?