Warrior Dash vs. MudRun

A couple of weeks ago, 6 of us (Vince, Eddie, Abel, Shannon, Yeshica and I) put on our silly outfits and made our way to DFW Adventure park for the Warrior Dash and ready to have the "craziest day of our lives"... so we thought... I personally think that the hype about the Warrior Dash didn't live to expectations. Vince and I did the MudRun last fall and wanted to try the Warrior Dash this Spring. It's half as the length of the MudRun and significantly less obstacles and their much easier as well.

When we get there - we had to park off site and had to be shuttled in to the Adventure Park. When we got there, we were scrambling - we didn't know where we were suppose to pick up our package and all that. We finally find the tent where we were supposed to pick up our package. After waiting a while in line - they tell us we had to sign a waiver form first and had to go to another tent. Which we did. By the time we got our package - put on our number tags - our wave was had already taken off and we had to hurry and make our way to the starting line (which wasn't very clear where it was). Since we had to take off so soon - we didn't have time to put up our package so Vince and Abel ended up carrying their shirts and other stuff with them the entire run.

I thought this was very unorganized. I like the MudRun because you had to pick up your package ahead of time so that all you have to do is show up at the starting line.

The course started off with a short run then the first obstacle was a walk across the water, followed by some running...and there were about 5 or 6 obstacles - non of which I thought were challenging at all. It was a pretty hot day and I thought that one water station at the halfway  mark wasn't sufficient. We saw a lot of walkers and there wasn't a sense of urgency from the competitors - unlike the MudRun. I was very disappointed by the fire obstacle as well...It wasn't really a fire - I don't know maybe because it was windy or what but the fire was pretty much non existent all it was was smoke. I really didn't get dirty until the final obstacle which is the mud crawl. After that - you come out all muddy and it seems like you've just been though hell when in reality it all seems like a cover up.

After the run, we were awarded the warrior medals and make our way to have our picture taken...then we were hoping to get some turkey legs and beer! Only they ran out of turkey legs and beer which was a bummer! We didn't stay much longer after we washed up.

I think the Warrior Dash is more for fun and glamour. It's more about dressing up (costume contests) than actually the challenge of the course. I think it's a good starting point for people who have never done these kinds of runs before but having done the MudRun and go from this seemed like a non challenge to us. You definitely need to these runs with friends because you guys make it fun along the way. Helping each other and calling each other out! Nevertheless, at least now we can say that we've done the Warrior Dash but prefers the MudRun.

Take the Blah out of that Skinless, Boneless Chicken

Big time meat eaters (like myself) who are looking for ways to reduce the amount of fat in their meals or for people who wants to eat healthier usually resort to chicken for protein. A big problem I found about is that people think that boneless, skinless chicken breast has to be plain, dry and lacks flavor.


This week, I've played around in the kitchen, coming up with different chicken breast recipes. These are very simple to prepare but absolutely moist and do not lack flavor and of course without packing lots of fat and loads of calories on it. So I thought I would share them :)


Lemon Chicken

• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• zest of 2 lemons
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lemon

1. Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don't let the garlic to turn brown.
2. Take pan off the heat, add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9x12 baking dish.
3. Pat the chicken breasts dry and place them over the sauce. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken.
4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, until the chicken is done. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices.

Pomegranate Balsamic Chicken 

• 2 4oz pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded to even thinness
• salt & pepper
• 1/2 of a red onion, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup of 100% pomegranate juice
• 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• about a tablespoon of chopped fresh parsely

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat, coat with cooking spray. Add onions and cook for 2 minutes.
2. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, add to pan. Cook for 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove from pan, reduce heat, and de-glaze with balsamic vinegar and pomegranate juice. Heat until just smoking, return breasts to pan, and simmer for about 4 minutes or until liquid is reduced by 2/3. Plate chicken with onions and drizzle pan sauce over breasts. Garnish with parsley. 

Grilled Chicken with Spinach Pesto

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1/3 cup plus olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1. Heat grill on medium high heat. Lightly oil the grill pan. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Set aside.

2. Combine the spinach, pine nuts, lemon juice, and lemon peel in a processor. Lightly pulse. With the machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup of the oil, blending until the mixture is creamy. Add salt and pulse.

3. Transfer the spinach mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste.

4. Spread the pesto over each piece of chicken and serve.

No Longer a Runner

After my run today, I've decided that I am putting off running the half marathon. The goal was to run a half marathon this year but I'm just not ready for it. I've been training for over a month now and I just can't stand it. I used to be a runner, ran track and cross country in high school. I enjoyed it then. I used to enjoy it but since I started "training" or started to just do the miles, I just started hating it. I work out because I enjoy it, I lift weights, rock climb, play sports, mountain biking, road biking, swimming, hiking, pole dancing, yoga, enter warrior dashes and mud runs because I ENJOY them. It's not a chore, it's not because I HAVE to do it, it's because I WANT to do it. I run after lifting and it's fine. 1.5 - 2 miles no problem but I found myself loathing my run days. I realized that I don't enjoy my runs, I don't feel good after them either, it's always "glad that's over" instead of "wow I just did that"... So given the negativity that I have with having to log miles a week - I've decided that I will hold off on that goal and maybe do it when I feel like it, maybe after I learn to enjoy running again. I'm not putting my running shoes up completely but they won't be logging in the "required miles" for the week like they have...I'll do my usual after workout runs but that's about it - maybe more if I feel like it. But for now, forcing myself to run isn't working and I definitely HAVE to enjoy myself before I can even get myself to do it.... on the other hand, I absolutely LOVE biking so I think we're going to go for the 56 mile bike ride in Rockwall sometime in the summer. Can't wait! I look forward to our rides every weekend!

Balancing the Scale

I've been working out consistently for a good while now... always active but I wouldn't call myself gym junkie ... and I can definitely see and most importantly FEEL the results. The other day, someone told me that I was looking good and as much as I workout I must have lost some weight and asked me how much have I lost... I didn't know the answer to that. The last time I weighed myself was probably over two months ago...So I was curious... I weighed myself when I got home. And I weighed the same as I did (I think) when I weighed before working out BUT I've lost inches - I didn't measure but I can tell by the way my clothes fit and the way I look.

I just never (okay not never - because I can think of an occasion when I did but that lasted like a week) really cared about the weight..maybe because I never really had much to lose. I find that a lot of people get too bogged down by the number on the scale and lose sight/focus on being fit and healthy. My weight fluctuates up to 6 lbs in one day! So I can't be bothered by the "last 5 lbs" or whatever .. As long as I know that I'm treating my body right by eating healthy, indulging when I want and giving my body the activities to keep it functioning right then I'm good.

It's all about balance. I remember when I got my weight down to 105 lbs, I didn't feel as good about it as I do where I am now (116 lbs which is where I think I will be from now on if I stay as active). I was at my "ideal weight" (or so I thought) but it came with a price. I restricted, deprived and pushed myself so much that at the end I caved and gained it all back and then some. So when my focus turned to just being active and enjoying myself and eating smarter and balancing the two with minimal effort as it should be, my body rewarded me with a body that I love and finally accept. When you FEEL good, you'll LOOK good. :)

So I say ditch the scale (unless you have over 15 lbs to lose and using that number as your motivation then go for it but the last 5 lbs? I say the hell with it (Jenny! AA!, Ash!, Cassie!)- as long as you know you work hard and you've put your all into it and that last 5 lbs lingers on?... tell that 5lbs to go ahead and stay - they keep you warm at night and you love the company. :)