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…State 24: Ohio…

One of my long term fitness goals is to do a fitness event in all 50 states.

I recently had the opportunity to cross off another state: Ohio!

I made the 10 hour drive from the Midwest to Cleveland to participate in a GORUCK event commemorating the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over 80 people showed up to participate in this event.

What I learned about Cleveland and Ohio:

  • It was nice to navigate through the state! 3 lane highway a majority of the trip while in Ohio.
  • Cleveland is a BEAUTIFUL city! The downtown Cleveland area is created by some beautiful buildings, churches, and other monuments.
  • The Winking Lizard was kind enough to let our group congregate there. They provided PHENOMENAL service.  The food was also great (although it is not a traditional healthy place to eat they did have some good healthy meal options on their menu!) and they also had an extensive beer list!
  • Cleveland has THREE major league athletic teams!?? How did that happen!?? (Cleveland Browns NFL, Cleveland Indians MLB, Cleveland Cavaliers NBA)

Random things I noticed about Ohio:

  • Gas prices were approximately $0.10 – $0.15 higher in Ohio than in Missouri
  • I saw MORE cops while driving through Ohio than I saw in any other state (I traveled from Missouri —> Illinois —> Indiana —> Ohio)
  • If you want to take a picture in front of the “Welcome to Ohio” sign be cautious. The sign is located on a overpass that you pass under (and it is a busy highway) so you would have to stop in advance and have the sign in the distance behind you.
  • A version of “The Christmas Story” house is located in Cleveland!

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…Fitness: my lift, my love, my addiction…

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Hi…My name is Stephanie. And I have an addiction. 

I am addicted to the stale musk of sweat when you walk into a gym…

I am addicted to the sound of weight plates clanging together…

I am addicted to hearing the light humming sounds of treadmills and other fitness equipment…

I am addicted to feeling sore when I wake up in the morning…

I am addicted to the feeling you get when you physically push yourself so hard during a workout that you can’t quite figure out if you are going to pass out or puke (sometimes as the same time…LoL)…

I am addicted to crushing personal records that I know that I was unable to do previously…

I am addicted to pushing myself mentally and physically…

I am addicted to helping those around me see their potential both physically and mentally…

I am addicted for helping to educate, motivate, and inspire someone to get up and make changes in their life so they can help improve the overall quality of their life…

But most importantly…addicted2fitness_2

I get that not everyone will truly understand my desire or need to push myself constantly.  Do I know I can do it…yes.  But, I have not found anything that I can not do and that is what drives me even further.

This fitness craze for me started in 2012.  Don’t get me wrong, I have always been an athlete and I have always been active.  Growing up, I played a lot of different sports and remained active even throughout college. It wasn’t until AFTER college that I had the time, resources, and money to dive into doing more athletic activities.  I started by first doing a Zombie Run with one of my best friends.  The trail run mixed in with mud bath instantly had me hooked. I was not a huge fan of being chased by blood dripping mummies, but I enjoyed the “capture the flag” concept that the race offered.  A few months later I signed up for my first Tough Mudder. WHILE I was training for my first Tough Mudder I was also training for my first NPC bikini competition. After that, I did a few more NPC competitions but really started to take a dive into endurance races. For the year of 2016 I wanted to put my focus on endurance races and GORUCK events instead of NPC competitions. And that was one of the best things I could have done.

I spend 2016 traveling, exploring, and living. Most importantly, I spent 2016 doing what I love most…growing my business and pushing myself physically.

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Why do I do these races? 

These races are not just about the medal or patch that you get when you complete the race.  The race is about the experience and the people. No two races will be alike.  You will get to battle some of your own internal demons.

You will question if the training you have been doing was enough.  You will question if your strength and overall abilities is enough.  You will question if what you are doing is something that you should actually be doing.  You will question if you are helping or being a burden to those that are around you. You will have a million other questions rummaging through your brain, but most importunately you will battle and defeat these questions of self doubt.You will conquer those very things that are trying to hold you back. To your surprise,  you will also help to push and motivate someone else around you to also push through those same questions and self limiting thoughts/feelings.

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I do these races BECAUSE I CAN. So many people take advantage of the fact that we have bodies that are capable of moving, climbing, pushing, pulling, running, etc. So many people 2nd guess themselves and do not show up to do events that they sign up for. So many people fail to even understand their worth and physical capabilities. If I am able to help just ONE person push past those barriers, that helps for me to validate my efforts.  It helps to prove to me that all of the work that I put into my training while people are sleeping, while people are out partying and having fun, while people are inside and I am outside getting tortured by the weather of mother nature is worth the milestone of conquering a feat that was once unconquerable.

Yes, there an be far worse things for me to be addicted to. But, to be addicted to fitness….is that even really an addiction? What could you classify it as? I would like to say that it is apart of me.  It is apart of my lifestyle. I am NOT sorry that I am not the type of person to sit at home EVERY weekend (don’t get me wrong a weekend at home is nice…but that is only blissful for a short period of time). If I have the time, resrouces, and money YES I will fill my scheudle with events. Why not explore and travel if I have the ability to do so? If I had the choice to go party at a premiere club or go roll around in the mud, with my ruck, next to 20-100 team mates, in the rain….guess what I would pick? #mudbath #justanotherdayatthespa

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From the outside looking in, I guess I can not expect or assume anyone to understand or be able to relate to my feeling of passion about what I do.

If I could just take your hand and walk you through my foot steps, then maybe…JUST MAYBE…you would be able to grasp why I do what I do.  I don’t want to put you in my shoes because my shoes are shoes that can not be filled. My ambition and drive is something that can not be replicated but only observed. My dedication to not just to myself, but to my clients and fellow fitness addicts.  This dedication is something that is strong and it will take dynamite to even weaken it.  It is a bond between conquerors and fellow competitors that can not be broken.  No matter how muddy a trail is, no matter how crappy the weather may be, no matter how much it hurts, we are one.

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Each day competitors of all facets and sports wake up and train as if there is no tomorrow. Olympic athletes get a pass for their dedication because ” they are training for the Olympics”.  But common people get questioned and bantered because they want to regularly attend athletic events? Because their dedication to health/fitness is not within the realms of what “some people” feel is normal? All because we are not training to go to an Olympic event? In your eyes there may not be a master event or title we are trying to win.  In our eyes…we are doing what makes us happy. We are doing what gives us a purpose and a meaning.  We are doing what gives us life.

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…WHAT TO DO W/ WHAT IT DO: GORUCK Echo vs GORUCK Kids Ruck…

There are various bags that can be found on the GORUCK website. I know that the first question that is running through you mind is… “Why are these bags so darn expensive!??” and the next question may be…”If I decide to get a bag which bag should I get!?”.

Yes, I admit, these GORUCK bags are expensive.  BUT in reality let me break it down for you…

quality-over-quantity

You can pay $20-$50 for a bag at a typical store. BUT how long will it last you? You will in return burn through SEVERAL of those $20 – $50 bags (because I know I have!) and have to spend more money in the end.  OR You can spend a little more money on a good quality bag and NOT HAVE TO WORRY about the bag failing you.  GORUCK offers a “SCARS Lifetime Guarantee“.

What is SCARS?

It is a way for you to get your bag (and this warranty also applies to various other items that they sell on the site) repaired or replaced if you were to damage it. YES you heard me right… You can get the bag fixed or replaced IF YOU DAMAGE it.  This also applies for regular wear and tear that may occur when you use the bag. GORUCK takes pride in building gear that is made to last through your torturous workouts and training.  How many $20 bag companies offer that kind of warranty!? So is the extra money for a GORUCK bag worth it… YES! Hence why I personally bought a GORUCK bag.

I have had a few questions in regards to the GORUCK ECHO and the GORUCK Kids Ruck.

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As you can visually see, there is some similarity between the two bags BUT there are also a lot of things that are also different.

GORUCK ECHO

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This bag is VERY similar to the GR0, GR1, GR2, and Rucker. It is just a smaller version of those bags.  It has all of the same features at the GR0, GR1 and Rucker. This is a great bag for someone who is small/petite. Or is can be a good day bag and can store all of the things that you need. Yes this bag is the more expensive option (when looking at the Echo or Kids Ruck). BUT you are getting a lot of extra things.  You are getting the padded compartment for your laptap, the padded straps, the molle on the front, and the two internal pockets.  This bag also opens and can be laid down flat.  It also is heavier and thicker than the Kids Ruck. CHECK OUT THIS POST if you are looking for other Ruck options.

GORUCK Kids Ruck

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This ruck comes in various colors.  This ruck is a great day bag and bag for children of ANY age.  There is not a padded internal pocket, there are NOT two internal pockets, BUT it does have the external pocket and the padded straps. The added extra is that the one internal pocket does have Velcro on it so you can attach patches or anything else you would like.

I hope this post helps to answer any questions that someone may have had about these two bags. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

 

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