Xtreme13: Hiking Great Falls

Xtreme13 was on the move again. Sunday we went hiking a trail in Great Falls park located in Potomac, MD.  As always we invited a group of friends to join in on the fun. This was a first time for most of us including myself. Black folks just don't hike. Well we changed that stereotype today, 10 people at a time!

We met up at 8:30 in the morning and rode to the park caravan style. We all had a variety of "gear" to make our experience a good one. What I should have had were a pair of gloves with good grip and a bee keeper's hat to kip the gnats out of my face. SERIOUSLY! I'm sure I ate at least 4 bugs with 2 flying in my ear and 2 more flying up my nose. NOT COOL! Needless to say I did a lot of screaming and ducking and swatting. I survived though.

We hiked about 4-5 miles up and down rocks and such. Now going in I thought we would be walking a rocky trail, I did not realize we were hiking a rock trail. While my body hurts from head to toe post hike it was a lot of fun and the views were amazing. The falls are simply beautiful.

We were both about to take off running from the gnats swarming us

A view of the falls

People were kayaking behind me

They were really pretty, I even caught Chrissy in my panoramic shot

Group shot, we were missing 3 people

On our way to the trail we saw some ducklings

(click the picture to make it bigger, cute right.)

Selfie of me and my cousin Ty on the way to the trail

My Babe was the Ranger, he is pointing out the trail information

The sign says its the toughest trail in the east... *pause for reaction*

The mosquito/gnats were attacking us. I was trying to hide from them.

After some crazy hiking we ended up on a little beach area.

 

I was good and warmed up, that sweat shirt had to come off.

So I used the sleeves to fight the bugs, it totally worked

Rock climbing for real...

Here is a video of our hike, my Babe captured our experience on his Go Pro camera.
Because it took us hours to hike he sped up the video, which turned out pretty cool.

We all had a blast and we had a lot of jokes and laughs for sure. We also had some classic funny moments. Here a few quotes from my girls...

Chrissy says " This flubber sucker done tried to kill me - this is some slip!"

Ty says "I can't drink water cause it ain't no where for me to pee, dammit"

DeAnn says "Are you sure this is still the blue trail??" "this is some blue-bullhit"

Xtreme 13: Glo Run & Tough Mudder

#Xtreme13 is still in motion, today's edition is about the race life...

Back in March my girls signed up for The Glo Run and asked me to join in. Certainly! The race fell on the same day my Babe was doing the Tough Mudder. His race is a 13 mile military style obstacle course. My race was a 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk. They had a DJ and everything, he got us hyped prior to start and then we did the Wobble and some other stuff after the race was over. The super cool thing is this event took place at night; we took off running at 8:30pm. HOW FUN IS THAT!!!

This race took place down at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Beautiful scenery but it was cold and most of us weren't exactly prepared for that especially since it was nice and warm the week prior. One monkey don't stop no show thus the show went on in spite of the cold weather.



They provide you with a Glo Run shirt (pink or yellow) glasses and or necklaces. The glasses are totally hilarious and didn't fall off the entire time I was running. If you've been following my #Xtreme13 post then you know I'm all about a funky pair of leggings for my #Xtreme13 activities.

Those of you that know me know I'm nobody's runner. I tried to prepare myself by doing a little running two weeks prior. By running I mean run/walking using the couch to 5k app. I think I ran about three times a week. It was enough to help me survive this one. I plan to keep at it as my next race is in June.

The standard race bib.

This was my running crew Jacktosis, Mrs. CPKC, Kdice1 and yours truly MimiCuteLips.
We've been friends for 15 years.

Yall know we had to take pictures solo and group.
Hey you live in the moment and capture it on film.

It's dark and we are almost ready to go.

We are DONE! It took us 45minutes to complete 3.1 miles.
We did some walking in the mix but overall not bad for our first time.

Along the course were several glo tunnels that were pumping music and had people cheering us on.
I had to capture each one and then turn the cam on me at the end.

They said have fun, we had fun!

This is us finishing up!

Tired and hungry, next up somebodies drive-thru

I have several race/walks coming up, May 5th we are doing the Race for Hope in DC, and this walk is to help bring awareness to Brain Tumors. We are are doing this in support of a friends family. This will be our second year participating. The entire family will be there so I will be pushing my little one in the stroller. No running for me. Following that is the Race for the Cure in DC May 11th. We do this one each year to show support for my Mother in Law & Mother who are both breast cancer survivors. This is another family event for us so I will be pushing the stroller. That wraps up the month of May. June 8th is the Run Amuck 5k obstacle course race in Quantico, VA. I will be running that one with my Babe and our son. Should be fun, this is my first obstacle course race.

Thanks to Groupon and my Babe I signed up for a mud run later in the year and the girls and I will do the Electric Run in September. That is similar to the Glo Run; we will work on beating our time.

Until next time!

Xtreme 13: Biking over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge

#Xreme13 the duo edition (Me and my Boo-thang) had a day date that had us on a two wheel adventure.

We rode bikes from the National Harbor (MD) across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Old Town (VA)

I've owned this bike for about 4 years and I've only been on it twice.  When my Babe took it down it was dusty and my tires were flat. OH!

The view was nice as you can see but the workout was serious. Going into VA is mostly up hill and requires some leg work I'm not accustom to.  This also meant one should know how to work their gears. Ummm I missed that class, but no time like the present right?

This was my guide, I'd follow him to the moon and back but this time it was just into VA and back.

Just the two!

After grabbing some grub we rode around Jones Point (VA) I hadn't been over there in years. Since the bridge renovation they have redone the park and it looks really good. While riding around we decided to look for the boundary stone.

Jones Point Park, located near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, has two important historical artifacts: the original south corner boundary stone for Washington, D.C., dating to 1794, and the 1855 Jones Point Lighthouse. In 1791, George Washington led the survey that carved the District of Columbia from Maryland and Virginia, including Alexandria. The survey began at Jones Point, and a stone was installed to mark the spot. It was replaced in 1794 and embedded in the seawall One of the first federal projects the new nation undertook was the construction of lighthouses to protect shipping. The Jones Point Lighthouse, built in 1855, served that function until 1926. Source

The stone is in the glass below me. My right foot is in MD, left foot in VA and my hand is in DC

He climbed over this fence to get the close up shot of the stone above

He decided to dance over the boundary stone with his legs in MD, VA & DC

O_o

After all of my hard work I got a vanilla shake from the Harbor.

YUMMERS!!!

#Xtreme13 continues on, next up hiking. Black people hike yall. hahahahahaha

Xtreme 13: Go Kart & Paintball

Xtreme13 event #4 happened last night & #5 was today.  First up was Go Karts at Allsports Grand Prix, in Dulles, VA. It was Parent's Night Out at our sons martial arts studio (they do this about once a month) so this was a great time for the parents to get out and have some fun while our kids were having fun too.  The dads have been talking junk to one another for a few weeks now. They all professed to leave one another in their respective dust. Men!

This was my first time at this place, my Babe has been on the Go Karts before but also does their Mini Motto (Racing dirt bikes around the track) in the winter. After an hour and pretty decent traffic we arrive and register on the computers (you also select your "racing name" during this time) and pay per lap. I only did one lap, my Babe and some of the other parents did two laps. After that you get suited up, yes you put on an actual NASCAR like suit that looks pretty slick. We watched a safety video and then head out to the track. You get your hood, your helmet and gloves. Check the monitor to find out which car you are in then hop in. IT IS TIME TO RIDE!!! or in my case cruise. Yes I was driving like the old folks, straight "Sunday Cruising" don't judge me. After the watching the safety video I was afraid to run into anything, anyone or get black flagged and sent to the penalty box. Oh it's serious

Suited up

The gang is all here, including my baby girl Nori

(This is where you watch the safety video)

They were going so fast it was hard to snap a picture

Pose for the camera... click... click...

My Babe beat us all both times, but we are good sports.

My girl had to get in the picture too. =)

Me and my girl!

You know we need video right.

After racing we headed over to Sweetwater Tavern to recap our evening and enjoy some grub. 

 They let the kids play with old school etch-a-sketch instead of paper and crayons. (Cool points) They make their own beer and the rolls are THE BOMB!!!!

*  *  *

The next #Xtreme13 activity/event was paintballing. My Babe and some other #xtreme13 participants drove all the way to Strasburg, VA to Skyline Paintball & Laser Tag. They had never even heard of this place until a Groupon landed in their inbox. After a long road trip they were all in.

I've never been paintballing because I'm afraid to be hit. I know nobody wants to get hurt but I heard it hurts so bad I'm afraid. HOWEVER since this is #xtreme13 I will participate in the next paintballing event.

They have arrived

My Babe looking all good and stuff!

NBC 4 Health & Fitness Expo 2013

This year the NBC 4 Health & Fitness Expo is a two day standalone event. (Normally it goes hand and hand with the Motorcycle Show.) The really cool thing about it this year besides the 20th Anniversary is my son's Martial Arts Studio (Yong Sung Lee Hapmudo Studios) was asked to perform on both days. SUPER COOL!

The team has been practicing hard and they are very excited and nervous at the same time. My son is new to the Demo team so this is only his third time performing. However this is the largest venue to date.

The demo team was stretching before practice.

The opening ceremony was live, so we had to get live...

A little peacock love

Redskin's RB Evan Royster #22

Go time! (They did an amazing job)

Here is the entire performance.

(Nasir starts at 8:45 mark)

Although we came to support my son and his martial arts team my baby girl managed to have some fun of her own.  She went to visit this super cute pink P.G. County Fire truck.  She played around on some beds at the Mattress Warehouse exhibit. While her brother was performing she decide to stretch out and color. Then she ended up participating in a "Baby Crawl Race".

She had so much fun she took a nap while we were there.

The Baby Crawl (hosted by CareFirst BCBS & YMCA) was super cute, the only rule was no walking or you would be disqualified.  We were shocked that Nori didn't just get up and walk. She hardly crawls anymore but she finally did today. She landed in 2nd place.  She won a nice little baby swag bag. It had toys, food, utensil set, cup, diapers, green friendly sanitizing wipes, a book titled The Happiest Mom and best of all a $25 gift card to Babies R Us. 

 Congrats to my son Nasir and my baby girl Nori. I love them to the moon and back. Day 1 of the Expo is complete, I can't wait to see what Day 2 brings. This is an excellent free family friendly event.

Oh wait, I almost forgot. While we were out having fun and bonding as a family we landed on primetime TV. All 4 of us were on NBC 4 news this morning getting our Zumba on. Then my Babe and our daughter make the 6pm news. WE ARE ROCKSTARS!!!

Xtreme 13: Rock Climbing

Xtreme13 activity #3 is in the books. This time we headed to Alexandria, VA to Sportrock Climbing Center.

It only cost $5 a climb and it includes equipment

Equipment includes these dumb helmets
(insert joke here)

This is how I really feel.

We had a really good time, I ended up doing 3 climbs and my Babe did 4 climbs. 

This was my second time rock climbing, and I am happy to report I made it to the top each time.  My second climb was rough and I wasn't so sure I was going to make it. Half way up I was tired, my arms felt like they had nothing to give and I was sweating. UGH! After screaming it out a few times (Don't judge me monkey (c) Bricooley) I made it to the top and back down again. 

After that they kept calling it #Scream13, I'm cool with that too. I tend to scream a lot in life and honey boo-boo child that is alright with me. Now my third climb I was ready to quit although I was almost at the top. It took a lot of screaming to make it to the top.  The pegs/rocks were so dag on tiny how was I supposed to grip and stand on those?  Exactly! In the end I did and that is all that counts. My Xtreme13 counterparts are a tough crowd, I absolutely can't back out of ANYTHING.

I look part spider monkey and part frog. hahahahaha

I'm not sure what our next Xtreme13 event is but just know I will dish about it.

Here are two group shots of us, they aren't the best but Jeff (our instructor) tried. 

For this event we welcomed 4 new people into the Team Xtreme13

Speaking of Xtreme this hair of mine is pissing me off per usual. Its hard to remain cute and not sweat out my hair while doing these Xtreme13 activities. I'm going to go Xtreme with this hair in a few weeks.