Training After Tough Mudder

I have always been athletic and "in shape" without having to stick to a regular exercise routine.  I ran track in middle and high school and absolutely loved it!  I ran the hurdles, because they seemed different and I always had to be different from everyone else....  

I like being special, what can I say

Now that I have had two wonderful babies and I guess I have to officially say that I am growing up, ugh, I have tried to find a workout ---something-- that I can really get into.

Enter Mud Obstacle Races.  I started talking about the Tough Mudder earlier in the Spring of 2013 to my colleagues at school. A few of them were interested.  So we all got really excited, started talking some more, then summer break hit.  I don't know about them, but I think I might have worked out a total of 4 times over the summer.  Don't get me wrong, I love working out!  I love the challenge, the music, the therapy and the courage of it all, but with 2 children (one 11 and the other 2) life just gets in the way.  

Once August came around and school started again, I was actually able to get back into a routine.  Even better, a small crew of colleagues joined me (they still do on occasion).  

My Tough Mudder crew started talking again and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were actually serious about doing it, I was thrilled.  Nervous, for the 12 miles and electricity that was in my future, but the rush and excitement of this event was beyond words.  

This little crew and the Tough Mudder event were a total game changer in my workout motivation and routine.  I felt the best I EVER had in my life (and I was an athlete in my glory days of high school!).  

I can share with you that I successfully completed the Tough Mudder KY 2013 this past October.  (I didn't do all of the obstacles, but I honestly attempted the first half, the second half were just gonna have to wait until next time because I couldn't feel my limbs due to the cold).  I wrapped myself in a little shiny thermal blanket and hiked my way to the end.  Hiked being the key word here.  

Yes, that was in October and now that it's the end of November, I'm kinda bummed.  I don't have the rush of a "Tough Mudder event coming up in a few weeks so I have to train my butt off" and working out in the cold can be a challenge.  I tried working out indoors, but after training outside and getting in that habit, I just can't make that switch to be inside.  It feels weird, like trying to brush your teeth with your opposite hand, it's just wrong.

So, for Christmas I decided to ask for 2 things:  1) outside workout gear for the cold and 2) another mud obstacle course to train for.  Thankfully, my husband has agreed to do one with me in April.  :)  Now training for the Warrior Dash!  

I am attaching my training schedule so that I can share and hopefully inspire someone else to workout, but also to hold myself accountable!  

This training schedule actually came from Scott Colby and his Tough Mudder Workout, he has vimeo videos and everything if you need help with some of the exercises.  Click here for his info.

Here is my "pretty version" of Colby's interval and training schedule.  As the weeks continue, the # of  times you complete the circuits on each day increases, but we will cross that bridge when we get there :)

If you so choose to follow this with me, let me know how your doing!

It's Almost Here!!

Another school year is about to start and I am kinda happy, kinda sad.  I am extremely excited to see everyone and meet our new students, AND I am so excited about our activities and things we are going to learn; however, this summer has FLOWN by!!  Between Grad Classes and YMCA Summer Camps and Family Events, it has been crazy!  

That being said, I know I am grateful for the opportunity to be a teacher and have the summers to spend with my family and all the "kid craziness"!  

So, in the great words of my late Grandpa Peck, think of it this way...."you don't HAVE to do something, you GET to do something".  Have fun doing it and be thankful that you are blessed with this chance.  

Along that note, there are a LOT of things I get to do this week to prep for my classes!  ;)
One of those is welcoming my students to TLC and to my Mentor Group.  I made this newsletter to introduce myself, provide some communication information and set the tone for Student Success and Support!  You are more than welcome to use the template if you like.....enjoy!

Museum @ TLC

I am an Art and Humanities Instructor in FCPS (Lexington, KY) and the school where I teach has a Museum where we feature Exhibits and Products from all of our classes!  I am the Museum Director and I get to collab with all of our wonderful teachers and build these amazing "installations" with our kiddos!  We throw in some real-world apps, techie apps, field trips, some Guest Speakers and College/Career Readiness and you have one heck of a display!  Yep, don't hate, I get to do this everyday for my career!  and I LOVE it!  

And since I am such a blogger, well of course I had to have another Museum @ TLC blog!  

Here is the link!

Your Welcome America!

Follow both blogs for updates on Art Education, our projects, PBL, lesson plans and MORE!!  

Also on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook!

About Me

My name is Ashley Baker and I have been an artist since I was a baby!   As long as I could remember, I was drawing on the bottoms of tables, painting in the Dining Room when I was "grounded" and drawing pictures of what I was trying to describe.  I have had a sketchbook since grade school and continue to add sketches, drawings, ideas everyday to my current one.  

I have two degrees from the University of Kentucky, one in Art Education and one in Art Studio - Painting Emphasis.  While at UK, I remember my professor speaking in great depth about all the different learning styles; you have the listeners, the visual learners - the ones who see it and they got it, and the ones who have to get up and do it.  I was always the one who had to draw it and apply it to NOW to really understand it.  

 My latest adventure and passion, using Art to support the education in other disciplines.  Surely, I can't be the only kid who doodled what the Science Teacher was talking about, or drew out the Math problems (yes, sometimes with colored pencils).  It wasn't that I NEEDED that to learn, I actually caught on pretty quick.  But my hands had to stay busy while I listened and the images that I drew just reinforced the subject matter.  Plus, when other kids asked me questions, I could flip through y notes and help them understand it.  Sometimes they just needed to see it as well.  And I loved the fact that my notes, my sketches and my little doodles helped them understand Science or Math or whatever!!

Which brings me to TLC.  I currently teach Art and Humanities at an alternative HS in Kentucky.  I do more than teach Art though!  I am the Museum Director and I get to collaborate with other teachers and basically create Art Installations and Exhibits to enhance their discipline!  (Was someone looking out for me, or what!)  So now I have this HUGE room in the middle of the school that I have transformed into a Museum Space.  (The room used to be a library, so you can see how big it is!)  Each little area is decorated and divided so that I have 8-9 rotating spaces to Exhibit work!  

I created this blog because (1) I have 3 separate blogs that I started a few years ago, and it is just crazy to keep up with 3, so I am combining them.  (2)  With all the hype about Pinterest and Twitter and everything, I am really getting back into my blogging groove!  and (3) if I can do anything in the slightest to help/support/enhance your knowledge through any of the art realms, my work here is NOT in vain!