Meet Carie
The jack-of-all-trades, Carie has a background that includes a long list of activities. She prefers to try new things to get her heart racing. You might find her on the golf course, volleyball court, bike path, kayaking or in a zumba class. She’ll train for the Dirty Girl WI event in her hometown Madison gym.
WI Race Wrap-Up
One word: AWESOME. The WI Dirty Girl Mud Run was a FABULOUS experience! I can not stress enough how much fun this event is and how every women should do it! The day started with a little rain, but that didn’t damper anyone’s spirits and the mud run was made all the better because of the extra MUD!!
Wave 7 came up quick. And, with this wave, also came the sunshine. 
My team, the “PriMUDonnas”, started off with a bang (and lots of laughing), running the trails, climbing hay bales, through tires, uphill, downhill through tubes, under nets, over walls and most fun of all…through the mud! We didn’t know what was around each corner, but as soon as we saw the next obstacle, I’m pretty sure we ran a little faster to get there.
My preparation for the Dirty Girl Mud Run came down to mostly running and some upper body strength training (in addition to the usual stuff like biking, canoeing, golf and some kick boxing classes) 3 to 4 times each week for about 3 months. I think the well-rounded approach I took to the event was a good one. And, I’d recommend it for any other dirty girls out there looking for some advice.
Don’t forget this event is strictly meant for us ladies to have fun while getting some great exercise and spending quality time with our girls. The day couldn’t have been better and I’ll certainly be back to do it again and again. Bring on Dirty Girl 2012! Hope to see you all there with me.
August 29th, 2011
Summertime Slackin’
Hey Dirty Girls! If you’re anything like me, you’ve been totally taken by the beautiful, warm summer weather and may have slacked a little in your Dirty Girl Mud Run training. Oops. Not to worry though — there’s still plenty of time to get your butt in gear! Which is great news for me because, for some reason, I’ve pretty much opted to do everything BUT run, lift weights, train, etc. And instead have opted for some low-key frisbee golf, canoeing the Kickapoo River (although quite an upper body workout heading upstream!), leisurely bike rides to the farmer’s market and so on.
It’s been great! And, I shouldn’t be too hard on myself I guess, given most of the activities have provided some sort of physical benefit – especially the canoeing (upper body) and the biking (those hills aren’t easy on the legs). However, it’s time I get myself revved back up for some trail running, obstacle climbing and overall mental preparation for a fun-filled day of mud! I’ve got my Dirty Girl gear (shirt, bracelet, bandanna, sticker) and I can not wait for this event! If you haven’t seen the Dirty Girl store, you’ve got to check it out — lots of cool stuff you can get to tell the world you’re a Dirty Girl!
And if you’ve been slacking a little like me this summer, don’t sweat it…you’ll be doing plenty of that soon enough at Milford Hills Hunt Club, Rocky Mountain Roosters or Emery Park, NY. 
July 10th, 2011
The Course at Milford Hills – Pt. 2
I’m back and I’m ready to share some more details about the Wisconsin Dirty Girl Mud Run at Milford Hills. Many of you are in the middle of, or starting, some training for the mud run and that’s great!
I’ve seen so many great posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter about what you’re all doing to get ready – whether boot camps, trail running, treadmill intervals, zumba classes, weight training, chasing the kids around or the couch to 5K program, you’re all going to do awesome. There’s nothing to be afraid of on this course – it’s going to be pure fun, laughter and enjoyment – not to mention muddy!
When I “toured” the Milford Hills course I was excited to see all the different terrain and the sheer beauty of the place. We’ll be trekking through mud (obviously), water, grass, pavement, up and down hills and through trees and fields (with paths cut out for us). There will be 11 obstacles throughout the 3 miles. That means we’ll be running/jogging/walking for about 1/4 mile between each obstacle…that’s not so bad, right?!? Check out this page on the Dirty Girl website, to see the actual obstacles on the course to get a better idea of each one.
Milford Hills Pond
If you get a chance to run in some grass or do some trail running, that would be a great way to get yourself ready for the event – it’ll help you get used to the feeling of running/walking on something other than pavement or a treadmill. The course is winding and has different elevations – one of the coolest parts (in my opinion) is the tire run through the trees. Gorgeous. Oh and there’s some cool water features along the way as well – a small pond and a little river we get to trek through. AWESOME!
River on the course
As I’ve mentioned (as have the other bloggers), this event is going to be so much fun! I’m not gonna lie, I’m not the best runner, but I do know that once I finish this mud run I’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment. It’ll be something I’ve never done before. And, it’ll be something I’ll never forget!
So now you know what I’m most excited for (mud, tire run, laughter). What are you most looking forward to at the Dirty Girl Mud Run?
June 8th, 2011
Milford Hills – Behind the Scenes Pt. 1
Okay Dirty Girls of Wisconsin, I’ve got some insider information for you that’s going to make the WI Dirty Girl Mud Run in August even better. You’re probably asking yourself, “What? how could it get any better?!?” Well, let me tell ya — I had the chance to tour the grounds at Milford Hills last week and, in one word, it’s AMAZING. After seeing the course we’ll be running/walking/jumping/crawling through, I’m even more excited than I was before. And, I think you’re going to agree. So, I thought I’d share some information about it, the people I met and some pictures I took. I’ll probably need a couple of blog posts to do it. This is part one. And, this is what it’ll look like when you park at Milford Hills and make your way up the driveway to the starting line (if you choose to walk, because there will also be a shuttle/tractor that’ll take people from the parking areas to the starting line as well, which is pretty cool).
Driveway to Milford Hills Hunt Club
I guess I’ve always felt that “knowledge is power”. You know when something is foreign or unknown and you’re a little worried about it, but then you go through it or see it and all your fears and anxieties are put to rest? That’s exactly why I’m sharing this with you all. Because there is absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to the Dirty Girl Mud Run. They’ve really thought of everything and the day is sure to be a blast for everyone.
From the beautiful surroundings to the set-up of the course to the first aid station and after-party area, it’s all there for us to enjoy, and that we will!
Here’s some information about the day and the course:
- As I mentioned, there will be parking for everyone and a shuttle to take you or your “cheering section” to the starting line area
- Speaking of the starting line area, it’s very near the finish line…which means people can see what’s happening all over the place!
- Oh and the finish line is right near the changing area, the food and the party (perfect)
- There will be a staging area near the starting line where you’ll get organized in your wave and/or with your team, waves will head out every 15 minutes (there are 150 people in each wave)
- There are THREE mud pits – one at the start, one in the middle of the course and one at the finish…awesome
Future Mud Pit
- Safety is top-of-mind and they’re taking a lot of precautions to make sure the event is safe AND fun
- Practice some trail running/walking to get your body used to running on something other than pavement (just a suggestion as there isn’t any pavement on this course)
The owners of Milford Hills Hunt Club are Lloyd and Dan Marks. These guys have a pretty cool venue. Just as their tagline suggests, it’s not just a hunt club, it’s also perfect for the Dirty Girl Mud Run! And, you should see the club house…it’s gorgeous. In fact, they actually host a lot of weddings (ceremonies AND receptions). So if you, or someone you know, is looking for a place to have a wedding, consider it. Seriously. Or, invite them to the mud run to check it out and cheer you on at the same time!
In my next blog, I’ll talk a little more about the actual course and show you some more pictures. I hope you all found this to be beneficial. Let me know if there’s anything you really want to know about the course and I can try to answer it in my next post.
Girls, I can not stress enough how great you’re going to feel when you cross that finish line after the final mud pit. I strongly suggest you take a lot of pictures afterwards – you’re gonna want to remember this forever!
May 15th, 2011
Hit The Links. Not the Sausage Kind.
Who else is ready for a spring filled with warm temps, budding trees and pretty flowers? That’s what it’s supposed to be like, right? Well, after we get past the cold, snowstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and freezing rain ravaging the entire country, maybe we’ll get outside and enjoy some outdoor activities. As you might know, that’s what I live for! (This might not pertain to those of you in Colorado…from what I can tell, you guys have it made. I’m strongly considering relocating).
Despite the weather issues, I’ve gotten out on the golf course twice already. I know there’s not a huge number of women out there who golf (compared to men), but it can be a great way to spend time with friends or loved ones, enjoy some beautiful scenery and get some pretty good exercise, if you walk the course and skip the cart. And, I think more women should give golf a shot. It’s not just a man’s pastime – that’s why most courses have “women’s tees”. Just keep in mind, you can hit from whatever tee box you want…totally your decision.
When I started golfing it was fairly intimidating. Much like the Dirty Girl Mud Run, I didn’t really know what to expect. That’s what makes new things exciting, but also really difficult sometimes. But, once I tried it I realized how much fun it was and that it’s not necessary to channel Michelle Wie with every swing of the club (Michelle Wie happens to be the only women golfer who qualified for a men’s PGA tournament in 2006).
Despite my competitive nature, I find the game of golf calming and use it to focus my attention on relaxing things like breathing, technique, appreciating nature and having fun. There’s also plenty of laughing – as I often find ways to hit my ball in pretty ridiculous places. Lucky for me, my boyfriend has a keen eye and excels at the golf ball hunt. And, he gets a lot of practice by hitting the links with me.
Here’s something else that’s awesome about golf…most brands make really sweet women’s gear so you can still look cute while showing the guys what you’re made of. I’m fairly partial to pink, so obviously that’s the color of my golf bag and my shoes. Duh. And, like Dirty Girl, it’s fun to get muddy out on the course once in awhile. You’re in nature for goodness sake. Enjoy it! Now, if the weather would just cooperate a little more, I’d be able to justify some new (pink) head covers.
So tell me Dirty Girls, what do you do to relax and get fit at the same time?
April 28th, 2011
