As time went on I started running longer distances and races and I ran my first full marathon in 2011, followed by my second in 2012. I have since been involved in many other races and have traveled from the west coast to the east coast to run them. Running has opened up new worlds for me and I always have to explore new places by going for a run. I have seen so much more when I travel and run than I ever would have had I only gotten around in a car.

Running has opened up doors I never thought possible. I am fitter, happier and have more supportive friends than I ever thought I would. I have a successful blog, ambassadorships and lead a run club where I live. I can’t imagine my life without running. When I heard about the Pretty Muddy Women’s Mud Run I knew I had to be a part of it because it represents the spirit of running. Teams of women, individual women, friends and family come to race together and just be in the moment. Whether you are running for the challenge, mud or just plain fun, this run will be amazing. It will be my first mud run and I can’t wait!

Running has given so much to me. I’d love to know what it has done for you. Let me know in the comments below and be sure to check out my running blog: Reason to Play. If you are in the Sacramento area come get muddy with me!

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You want to start by walking 3 minutes and running 2 minutes. Alternate doing this for 30 minutes. You will slowly start to increase your time running and decrease your time walking. Pay attention to your breathing while you are running. Inhale for 4 steps and exhale for 4 steps. Keep your head up, shoulders back and relaxed. Your arms should swing front to back not side to side because you want your arms to help with forward momentum. Keep yourself as relaxed as possible. Enjoy your time running!

If you are training for a mud run like the Pretty Muddy Women’s Mud Run, then you should also be training with weights. By this I mean, you will need some upper body strength. Doing things like overhead presses, pull ups, push-ups, burpees, high knee runs, bicep curls, tricep extensions, and many other exercises to increase your strength and power. These things will help you to make it through all of the obstacles!

Lastly, you will want to get a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast before the race! Remember the food you eat should fuel your run!

Happy Running
www.healthyrunnerwife.com

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I for one have always wanted to do a mud run but I could never get any of my friends to sign up with me. When I saw Pretty Muddy I jumped at the chance to run it because it didn’t matter if any of my friends were doing it, I would be with a bunch of other women. The other draw for me is that I can be super competitive so I didn’t want to do a mud run because it would screw up my 5k time. With Pretty Muddy I don’t have to worry about it. It’s all about fun with the girls.

What makes you choose a race? Is it the cost? The post-race swag? The event type? The location?

I for one look for events that have a good route, are affordable and are in a decent proximity to home. Those can all change though if the race is for a good cause and it is a once in a lifetime sort of race. I am also a sucker for a good race shirt. I like races that give the option of a women’s fit shirt and I look for technical fabric (moisture-wicking). A finisher’s medal or finisher’s swag is also a good draw for me as well.

What could Pretty Muddy offer to make you more likely to sign up for the race?

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I think we can all agree, unless you are a true natural, running is hard and tedious in the beginning. I for one spent many days wondering why I was trying to run. I worked out at the gym, took cadio classes, did some yoga, but running was different. It was hard, I could barely run a block before coughing spasms erupted. I’m not sure what kept me going in the beginning, but I am glad I stuck with it.

Months of running a half mile turned into a full mile without stopping. From there a 5K race. Does this sound like you? Slowly the miles start to build and with each week came a new goal. Maybe it was more mileage. Maybe a increase in pace.  The feeling of hitting those goals week after week is magical. You start to see that you are achieving way more then you thought possible.

Running gives me that feeling of being unstoppable. I like when people ask me why I run so much. I loved the shocked look that comes with telling someone I have run a marathon.  I truly love to run. I feel happy and at peace after a run. When I am running fast and beat a old time, I feel tough. When I am having  a bad day, a run helps.

Whether, you are brand new to running or a seasoned pro, we all share a love for running.  It doesn’t matter if this is your first week or you have been doing it for years. You are still a runner.

If you are not a runner, I encourage you to try. Go give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? You may actually like it!

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Are you ready, Pretty Muddy Ladies?

That’s right – we’ve got the first round of dates for 2013 events!

2013 Pretty Muddy Events

Dallas, TX – June 1

Chicago, IL – September 7

Columbus, OH- September 14

Richmond, VA – September 28

Atlanta, GA – October 12

Tampa, FL – December 7

Miami, FL – December 14

Click on any of the event cities about to see more information and to sign up. We’re going to have a Pretty Awesome time in 2013 and we hope you can join us!

Is your city not on the list yet? Let us know where you want to see Pretty Muddy come next! Tell us in the comments and look for the next round of dates coming soon!

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Happy New Year Pretty Muddy Ladies!

With the coming of the new year and all the excitement that it holds, we’ve launched our new site to better encapsulate the great community that you’ve helped us create.

Throughout the site, you should find significantly more information about our great events and how you can be involved.

We’ve loaded up our photos section with some of the best pictures of 2012 events – check to see if we posted one of you!

We’ve also created a page dedicated to our obstacles. If you have any friends or family curious about what running in a Pretty Muddy is like, send them here!

For each of our events in 2013, we need your help – in three very specific ways:

1 – VOLUNTEER – we need volunteers to help out at each event. To learn more about volunteering, visit our volunteer page.

2 – SPONSORS/PARTNERS – we’re looking for sponsors and partners to help you have a Pretty Awesome time! If you know a business that you think would be a good fit, have them fill out our sponsor form here.

3 – GUEST BLOGGING – we need the help of our Pretty Muddy Ladies to tell others what prepping for a Pretty Muddy is like. If you’d be interested in contributing to our blog, let us know here!

Finally to everyone, Happy 2013! Hope it’s Pretty Awesome!

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Ten Tips to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions In 2013

1 – Be Realistic

Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. Likewise, you can’t change everything overnight. Goals are much more powerful when they are achievable with a little difficulty, rather than such a stretch that they’re impossible.

2 – Set Smaller Goals

If you can take your large goals and break them down in to more bite-sized chunks, you’re more likely to succeed. Think of this as building momentum. A few quick steps to get starting and soon you’re rolling downhill.

3 – Build in Milestones

Sometimes, even getting started on a resolution is an accomplishment in and of itself. By planning out where you want to be at year’s end, then determining where you need to be each month to meet that goal, you give yourself the chance for small victories along the way and the opportunity to realign if you’re missing the mark.

4 – Be Flexible

Not everything will go as planned – such is life. Before you set your resolution, be sure to think about all of the things that could knock you off course. If you prepare yourself for the obstacles that will almost certainly arise as you work towards your goals, you will have the knowledge, skills and willpower to overcome them.

5 – July is Part of 2013 too!

Many times, we overburden the start of the new year, while forgetting that we have an entire 12 months to make effective changes. If you’re simply too busy to do all you want in January, plan to start in July or whenever your schedule clears up. Making changes during 2013 is what really counts!

6 – Write Them Down

There’s a strange power that comes from writing things down – they’re more likely to get done! Make sure you record your resolutions and put them somewhere you will see them often. Try scheduling calendar reminders or putting notes in your planner to keep your resolutions top of mind.

7 – Work Together

If you’ve found that you’ve lost your way with your resolutions in past years, find someone to work with you. If you and a friend can tackle the same challenge, you can motivate each other to keep moving forward. Even if you can’t find someone with the same goal, find a friend you can share goals with. If each of you know each other’s resolutions, simply asking each other about them can keep you on the right path.

8 – Don’t Forget Others

We’ve all made resolutions about what we want to change about ourselves, but we often forget about the world around us. Sometimes the best resolutions we can make are the ones that improve the lives of others. Try setting resolutions about charitable giving, volunteering or just helping those around you. It’s incredible how likely you are to keep a resolution when you know that someone else is depending on you.

9 – Start with Habits

The power of habits is unbelievable – both good and bad! If you can start by changing a habit, you’re more likely to carry things through. But don’t expect things to change overnight. Altering your habits will take time and a lot of effort. However, if you can do it, you’re likely to end with change that will stick.

10 – Have Fun!

Don’t forget that a year is a looooooong time. Make sure you work in some fun to your resolutions to keep things from getting too serious and overwhelming. Find enjoyable activities that match up with your resolutions and go for it. Making things better shouldn’t be a slog, so have some fun out there!

If you need something fun and enjoyable to do, consider one of the 2013 Pretty Muddy Events. Great by yourself or with a group of ladies! It’s your chance to make 2013 Pretty Muddy and Pretty Awesome!

Ladies – We want to hear from you! Share your resolutions and tips for keeping them in the comments. We’d love to hear what you’re working toward in 2013!

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