Back in the middle of December, I received an email from a social media consultant for Spartan Race, asking if I wanted to talk about Spartan races on the blog and give out a free admission to any U.S. event. I just couldn’t deal with any emails right after Tony died, and I seriously forgot all about it. He contacted me again last week and said “just following up on my email I sent to you.” I replied and told him that I was sorry I didn’t get back to him, that my husband had died recently, but I would love to give out a free entrance to this race – some of these races cost up to $140!
He replied back with condolences, and he ended up giving me a free entrance to a race too! Well, the secret is that I signed up for a Spartan Race!
That’s kind of what my body looks like – ha! In any event, there are some Spartan races that are called sprint ones, and the one I chose to do is in Milwaukee the weekend of May 23. It’s going to be at Miller’s Park, and since it’s at the stadium, Hannah and Jacob and whoever else can register for free to be a spectator to cheer me on – how cool is that? I have 16 weeks to train – it’s 3 miles long with 15 obstacles. It will give me something to work for, and my only goal is to finish it! My step-son is doing an 8 MILE race in Texas! We’ll just both be bad-asses!
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I’ve talked about baking up a bunch of potatoes on the weekend to use during the week. Yesterday I ended up making a potato hash with egg beaters, baby spinach and bologna. I love German bologna! Of course, with Frank’s RedHot.
I ended up dressing up for work – well, dressed up for me. I recently bought a necklace from my friend Karli who is a consultant for Stella & Dot. I had a gift card that I used to buy this necklace:
It’s silver (I hate gold) and can be worn 4 different ways – I just did a smaller loop, a longer loop and kept the tassel on – check out my BOLD pants! I bought this outfit at Goodwill on Saturday for $6.99!
I didn’t realize how blurry the picture was, but you get the idea. Of course my boss asked if I was interviewing! And yes, that is horse wallpaper in the bathroom in my office – the first time I saw it, it freaked me out!
I went to the gym and ended up doing 15 minutes of arms for strength, then walked 2.5 miles.
It was snowing really big flakes when I left the gym – check it out! That is snow falling in front of my face – and Shelley, I didn’t wear a coat because it was only 30 degrees. 
Guess what I made over the weekend? More lasagna soup! This time with medium shells.
I ended up doing another 5k after work – I walked around my office quite a bit, so I knew I’d hit my goal of between 18,000 and 20,000 steps for the day:
Hannah LOVES Asian food. She blames me because I craved it when I was pregnant with her, and hated the taste of red meat – and well, she’s not a fan of red meat now. I ended up making veggie spring rolls for her with veggie fried rice and I added cooked chicken to mine and Jacob’s spring rolls. That girl is picky about her chicken too!
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:107]
I ended up buying something called spring roll pastry sheets:
Each one is 45 calories, and super thin. My only problem was that they didn’t stick together like normal egg roll wrappers – usually I just wet my finger around the edge of the wonton wrappers and press and they stick. Um, nope – that didn’t work at all. So I went to youtube, and found a video of a woman who made a “paste” out of flour and water and that did the trick. Now, I deep fry these, but since my deep fryer keeps the temperature right, they aren’t greasy at all – I add 1 teaspoon of oil to the recipe above for “absorption” but I doubt that much gets absorbed – each one came in at 104 calories, 1.6 fat, 13.8 carbs, 1.5 fiber and 9.2 protein.
And check out my steps!
I bought a bunch of t-shirts at Goodwill to wear to the gym. I texted this picture to my step-son Joe and his wife and their friend Natalie:
Love it!
Please leave a comment on the blog if you want to enter for the drawing to win a free entrance to a Spartan Race! I’ll pick a winner on Friday.
You’ll do awesome in the Spartan. I can’t wait to hear how you do.
And PS. That wallpaper is SO weird.
I have been reading for a while now. This is my first comment. So very sorry about the loss of your husband. You are putting on a brave face. Hugs to you! I just bought a Jawbone and can’t wait to try it.
So exciting. I would love to do one of these. I have done a few of the mud runs, so much fun
Thank you for the awesome call out, friend! I am so happy that you love your necklace!
And I’m not entering the contest for the race with my comment, but I do just have to say that you continue to be an inspiration in so many ways!!
Congrats on the Spartan race, I have been tempted to sign up for years but never had the nerve. I love a challenge and would love a chance to give this a shot.
When Steven asks me how I feel I have started to [sarcastically] answer “Like a million and one bucks.” Because you know it’s usually, like. . . a buck seventeen, giggle – but here’s the thing – when I saw you in your new outfit I thought, immediately, “Bizzy looks like a million and one bucks” And I mean that – no sarcasm at all. Honest. And the pants are the perfect pop of color – love the whole ensemble. Isn’t Stella and Dot the bomb?
Now about this Spartan Race. HOLY MOLEY hand me a cannoli – jiminy crickets thats’ insane and I looked at only the sprints in our area. Now, before you think I have lost my mind – I was going to enter on behalf of a great friend from HS who is an avid runner and I think she would get a kick out of this kind of thing. She actually reminds me of you in a lot of ways – always smiling – and her blog is called “Kim runs miles with smiles” So if we are allowed to enter by proxy – I would love to enter for a chance for her to run a Sprint in Washington DC in August. If I win for her, she will either remain my friend and be thrilled or finish this race and never talk to me again. But it will be a nice excuse to visit DC and cheer her on, since I can’t get to you and do the same.
I think of you so often and I find strength in your attitude and go forth with life -ness…..I have no idea how you do it, but I thank you for you. Love you girlie. So much.
So proud of you, Biz! You’re going to rock the race!!!
I hope that the mere thought of you interviewing improves your bosses treatment towards you. Or at least gets you a new bag of chips! 😛
How awesome! I’m sure you will do great at the race, and I’d love to win an entry 🙂
I love your selfies Biz, they always make me smile. So proud of you for entering a spartan race!
“If you sign up for the hard stuff, then the hard stuff in life that you don’t sign up for gets easier.” (Iram Leon)
Way to go Biz, good for you. Always fun to have something to train for. Looking good, your outfit is so cute.
I can’t wait to hear how amazing you do!!! I’d love to do spartan as my return race
Good for you! I would love to do the race along side you in Milwaukee! I’ve never done one and always wanted to.
Sign me up. I’d love the challenge.
The sprint Spartan will be awesome! The owner of my gym did it last year (with a small group of people from my gym), and they had a blast. I think you will enjoy the challenge and have fun at the same time! 🙂
Hey Biz and Fran it’s my birthday weekend too. However I live within driving distance. Even better my son lives in Milwaukee so I always spend my birthday there if possible. Meant to be it seems.
Obviously this isn’t a comment to go into the draw….it is a comment to say “yes, you ARE a bad ass!” 🙂
I’m so excited that you are doing a Spartan race!!! You will be awesome because you are so strong!!! You look gorgeous all dressed up!! (the wall paper is a bit freaky in a work bathroom)
I think Julie’s sisters are running that race. I was just talking to Julie about going to Milwaukee for Memorial Weekend. Its our 5th anniversary ( together). What a strange coincidence. My first time in Wisconsin, we went to a Brewer’s game at Miller park and we tailgated. So much fun.
Woohooo on the race! That sounds awesome – you are going to rock it! And as I said on Instagram, looooove the necklace. great choice!
Hey Biz,
I read yesterday about star shaped snowflakes and it looks like you have a couple on your hate. Awesome!
Good luck with your race. 🙂
I looked back and you were not even wearing a HAT — not hate. Ha ha But still, those are star shaped snowflakes. Cool!
You are doing the race! My daughter has told me about them! That is awesome,Biz. As is how great you are looking. I am so happy that you seem to be doing so well. You really, really rock!
OMG! You signed up! So awesome!!!!!! And I love that necklace (and outfit)! Super cute!
Oh and I do not want to be entered! Just wanted to leave a comment!
Congrats on entering the Spartan Race! Is there mud involved? The mud always freaks me out – where does it come from and what’s in it?? Anyway, Miller Park is a nice venue and the whole event should be a good experience. I lived the first 40 years of my life within a couple miles of Miller Park/County Stadium so I certainly know where it is and just might be able to come and cheer you on! I was thinking about a May weekend for the Madison Farmers Market, but I think you’ll be pretty busy training 😉 so maybe a June weekend? Have a good day today!
Way go jumping out of the comfort zone. The Spartan race is all you and all of the other super athletic types you have as readers. I would be lucky to run/walk on a flat surface. I about bust my bottom tripping over cat toys that are only inches off the ground. Love, love , love the outfit. I do like bold colors.
I’ll Go and cheer you on with Hannah and Jacob!!
You look so nice in that outfit! Amazing how a necklace can really pull everything together – and how fun to get to shop with a gift card!
Now, about that lack of coat…girl, I’d have been wrapped up in a coat, cowl, gloves and possibly a hat! You are crazy. 🙂
The Spartan race sounds like it will be a good goal for you! I’m done with doing obstacle races, but that’s because my body likes to go wonky whenever I do the silliest little thing. It will be fun to have everyone there spectating, too.
Wahoo Spartan race!!
Great job on the steps (I am lucky to break 6000 each day, but I did swim 30 laps today).
That hash looks AMAZING.
Hi Biz, I am so glad to see you are keeping busy. It reminds me of after my mom died I through myself into working out and those endorphins really help keep the blues away in tough times. Trying to find that mojo again and a race would help I think!
Well sweetheart I would love to, it’s my birthday weekend but the organization has to provide a plane ticket for me and you have to promise dinner in bizzy’s kitchen 🙂
I’m just kidding of course, I’m not entering the giveaway.
But I do find it very cool that you signed up, another thing out of your comfort zone. Very proud of you.
I love the necklace and the pants, I love color in a wardrobe.
That’s awesome about the marathon! You will have so much fun. You look absolutely fabulous in that Goodwill outfit. I need to check out the one near my neighborhood. I love a bargain. Make it a great day!
I’m so excited for you and your Spartan Race! You go girl! You are so adventurous; I will live vicariously through you!