Fitness recap for the past few months

The downside of having three blog posts and working as a reporter is that sometimes, things suffer. So here is a recap of my current fitness challenges and state.

In the past few months, I have participated in a number of races including:

My first Tough Mudder!!!!

The Burpee 5K (yup, it was as bad as it sounds)

The Rockman Challenge (3 miles padds, 16 miles bike, 5K run, ¼ mile military style obstacle course and 50 meter sack hop across the finish line)

It's Glow Time 5K

Warrior Dash Wisconsin

Don't Mess With My Tutu (virtual race)

Still upcoming this year:

Ugly Sweater Run

Run, Santa, Run

(both set for Dec. 6, 2014)

Earlier this year, I was fairly heavy into working out and was working with a personal trainer on Sunday for an hour for about 10 weeks. The reason? I was with a group of five people who were training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro from July 1-7. Our group received strength and endurance training, and it really paid off.

Day 4 climbing up Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro, "The Roof of Africa"

Unfortunately, I had a little mishap the day before the climb. I was getting into a car in Tanzania and did not have my head completely in when I stepped up into the van. As a result, I hit my head, with much force, on the doorframe, causing my neck to snap back violently. I was in tears immediately, and a rather large bump formed on my head.

I figured the safest place for me was on Mt. Kilimanjaro - what is there to hit my head on there? So the next day I went with the rest of my team to begin the ascent. I did not make it completely to the top, I had to turn around at about 16,404 feet. But considering it was my first mountain climb and my first time above 3,000 feet (and I was the only person on our team who had never climbed a mountain before), I was pretty pleased with the result.

After I returned stateside, I was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, which really threw a twist in my workout schedule for two months. As a result, I have put on 8 lbs. (and probably gained back the 1.1 percent body fat I lost on Kili). However, I am doing much better now and am determined to get back into a good fitness regime.

Creating a pattern is the tricky part. I work long hours and have had some setbacks in my personal life, but I am happy to report that I ran 2.2 miles last night and another 2.2 miles before work this morning. It would be great if I could get another run in today still and slowly make this a pattern. I have found that when I run in the morning, I have more energy and a better attitude when I go into work.

I am trying to make a conscious decision to change, and that includes blogging on a regular season. Here is to a new and improved me!