High Ropes Course!! TSN - April

TSN April took us soaring high in the air for a high ropes course!   We did a 2 hour high ropes adventure at terrapin adventures.

It was a beautiful spring day and once again, we had mixed feelings on this TSN.   The course is tucked away in Savage, Md, near the Savage Mill Mall.   We arrived and were equipped with our climbing harness & helmet.  

Molly, Andrea & Erem ready to take on the high ropes course!

At first, the course looked small and not too intimidating...but that was only from the ground!    The course was comprised of 3 levels of challenges.   To get to the first level, we had to clip in our harness and climb a ladder to a platform about 1 story off the ground.    Once I reached the platform, the fear set in!   The first challenge was to walk across a tight rope while holding onto a rope above you.   We made it across the first challenge and started to gain some confidence.   Each level included- challenges.   The most difficult challenge on the first level for me was walking across the log beam with nothing to hold on to but your harness!   Andrea crossed this one with no trouble, but she was taken out of her comfort zone when crossing the tight rope while only holding on to 2 ropes that hung vertically above you about 1/4 and  3/4 of the way across the rope.   Her legs started shaking and she was nervous, but she didn't give up and made it to the end of the first level!   Erem isn't a fan of heights and was out of her comfort zone on the first level, but she did amazing and didn't give up.   She was very scared but she pushed through the obstacles and pushed herself to complete them.   I was so proud of her to complete the first level.  Erem was done after the first level, but Andrea and I pushed on to the second level.  

Molly traversing the rope ladder

Andrea & Molly ready to start the second level

Andrea crossing the ropes with ease

The second level was about 2 stories off of the ground.   The first challenge was to walk across a rope with nothing to hold on to!   Andrea was ready to give up part way through this one, but of course she didn't!   The hardest obstacle for both of us on the second level was crossing the log beam that swayed back and forth!!   The rope net was also a physical challenge, but we both knocked that one out with ease.  

Andrea was done after the second level, but I opted to give the third level a try.    The third level was a blast.  It was about 3 stories off the ground.  The first obstacle was essentially a backwards zip line.   I faced backwards and pushed my feet off the platform and zipped about half way across the line and then had to turn around and pull myself the rest of the way across.   There was also a forward zipline that was surprisingly one of the toughest for me.    I had to talk myself into jumping off the platform and then I slid about 3/4 of the way across the line and then tried to pull myself the rest of the way but my rope felt like it was stuck and I had a slight freak out moment but I looked down at Erem and Andrea and I heard them cheering for me and they helped me find the strength to pull myself to the end.   The next challenge was a mess for me.   It consisted of 3 ropes that were kind of tangled together and you hand to cross them with nothing to hold on to above.    I clearly didn't have the right technique as I found myself half way across but kind of crawling across.   The leader said it was certainly unconventional but it was working so she said go for it.  The group of folks behind me were cheering for me and it felt great to get to the end.   Now came the challenge that I was most afraid of!    I had to stand on a platform and jump out for a hanging rope and then swing to a rope ladder.   After asking the lady what happens if I don't make it and she assured me that they would pull me in if I didn't I finally went for it and....I made it!!   This was an exhilarating feeling!!!   Now that that was done, there was one final challenge....the leap of faith.   In order to get down from the ropes, you jumped off of a platform!   After completing that last terrifying challenge, I was feeling good about this last one.    They got me all tied in and I jumped!   It was such a fun feeling.  Once again, I could hear Andrea & Erem cheering which made it even more fun.   Erem took a video, which is shown below.   The girls give me a hard time in the video about not grabbing the rope....but you weren't supposed to grab the rope, just aim for it ;)    Overall, this was a huge success and we all had a blast and took ourselves out of our comfort zones.   For those with kids, they offer a kids version of the ropes course and I can't wait to take my kiddos to check it out!!

The start of the most difficult obstacle for Molly

Molly ready to start the third level

Molly doing the squat crawl and desperately trying to make it across

The video of Molly making the leap of faith...

TSN March

Our March TSN introduced us to the art of pole dancing!!  TSN March was organized by Leia & lead by the amazing Katie Gosney.  Thank you to both ladies for making this TSN such a blast!  Katie is an incredibly talented pole dancer and teacher at Aradia Fitness.

Some of us were a little nervous at first, but Katie made us feel comfortable and taught us some fun moves.     The favorite moves were our fireman and spins on the bar!   She also choreographed an amazing chair dance that we did over and over again because it was so much fun.   We definitely learned that not only is pole dancing sexy, but it is an excellent workout!!!   I can't wait to try another of Katie's classes.

February TSN...

For our February TSN, the Sole Sisters tried a jewelry making class at Potomac Beads in Alexandria, VA. (http://www.potomacbeads.com).

This adventure started with the task of picking out beads for our 3 sets of earrings.  This sounds simple enough, but with 2 huge rooms full of beads, it was no easy feat!   We were instructed to pick beads for a single drop, double drop and cascade earring.

When we finally made our choices, we headed upstairs to the classroom.   The store provided the necessary tools and a cheat sheet.  We started by learning how to make the basic loop with the wire.   I say basic, but it was not a basic skill for all of us. This basic loop waste foundation of all 3 earrings that we made.  Erem's loops started off a little wonky, but she made some beautiful earrings by the end.

Overall, we had a blast.   I can say that 2 out of 4 of us will likely never make earrings again, but we sure had a blast trying something new.

"You want me to do what?"

Amorette is concentrating on her beading!

Molly's finished product

Sole Sisters Take to the Road & Back to Our Roots!

Well the Sole Sisters took on another Ragnar - not exactly a TSN for 2015, but elements of it sure were!  Where to begin............................

In case you don't know, Ragnar is an overnight relay of 12 people that run continuously from one point to another point (generally a total of ~ 200 miles). In this case, we ran from Miami, FL to Key West, FL.  Definitely one of the best ones we've done!! Warm (in February), flat (except for bridges), and ends at a beach!   Our team consisted of primarily friends but we had two drop outs so we found some strangers and some were stranger than others!  Our team name was Team Mimsy and long story short, it's from an old fifties ad about keeping our girlie bits clean.  Mimsy = Girlie bits. 

The name came about after a fitathalon challenge in the summer heat and a few bottles of "celebration wine."  That's probably enough info though!

Here's the whole team at the finish, but boy do we have some stories leading up to the finish... and maybe a few after ;-)

In an effort to keep this post short (and well, it might be broken into more than one), I'm making a list of TSNs for the Sole Sisters during the Ragnar adventure.

1. TSN Molly - Miami and Key West

2. TSN Erem - CONCH! fritters

3. TSN Andrea - Ragner with her hubby

4. TSN Amorette - running the team in as the last runner (and um, running on percocet...another story for another day....)

5. TSN Amorette, Molly, Andrea, Erem - E11even (club) in Miami and worth another post on its own!

6. TSN Molly & Andrea - Ragnar during a Kelly's Boot Camp Contest (required very careful eating and drinking to stay healthy)

7. TSN Molly, Erem & Amorette - singing outloud in Irish Kevin's in Key West

8. TSN Molly, Erem, Andrea & Amorette - coochie coupons

I'm sure there are more......... but for now here are some pics from our adventure!  Loved, loved, loved running with these ladies again!

Erem stretching after finishing her second run - it was during the hottest part of the day!! She did AWESOME!

Hanging out with the Ragnar King - of course!

Done! at the finish

It's not a Ragnar unless someone runs almost naked!

Andrea was running while the rest of us were just standing around, posing for pics.... (Sorry Dre - we love you!)

Another one at the finish

At the first major exchange, when Van 2 started running for the first time.

Waiting at the next major exchange for Erem to come in so Van 1 could start their 2nd legs!

Breakfast break on the 2nd day and the best looking couple of Ragnar!

Erem is ready to run!!!

Molly finishing up her first leg! GO MOLLY!

#readersshouldcaption

Channeling Kelly at the finish - showing her we DO read her emails ;)

Ragnar cuteness.

Few more shots from breakfast on the 2nd day.

Van 2 (where the Sole Sisters lived for 33 (or so) hours) before our start!

January TSN is...

Amorette, Andrea, Molly & Erem with our instructors Philip & Kian

Our first TSN of 2015 was on point as we tried archery!!  We took an introductory archery lesson at Bull Run Archery (www.thearcheryprogram.net).  Our young instructors, Philip & Kian were great. The lesson was an hour and a half and took some of us out of our comfort zone, but we had a blast. We started by determining whether we were left or right eyed.   We did a fun exercise and determined that Molly, Andrea & Amorette are left eyed and Erem is right eyed.   This means that Molly, Andrea & Amorette pull the bow with their left arm and Erem pulls the bow with her right arm.   It was very interesting as we are all right handed.  Erem and Molly learned the importance of properly turning your arm as we both left with horrible bruises on our inner elbow from the bow hitting after each shot.  

Molly doing an exercise to properly turn her arm

 

Erem's bruised arm!!

We each took several shots and one of us hit the bulls eye twice and the instructor referred to her as Robin Hood...but we won't name any names....rhymes with "Holly"   haha.   Andrea must have been aiming for the other target on one shot as her arrow flew right past the target to the far back target.   We all did great and decided that if we get anywhere on the target then we won!!  We learned that when they call "clear" we can go out to the target to retrieve the targets.  We learned the proper procedure for removing the arrows.  

Our target...notice the 2 arrows in the gold...

It was a great experience.  We learned a lot, met some great people and most of all we had a great time!  Amorette is already researching archery equipment so that we can go back and shoot on our own!!  

Stay tuned for February's TSN.....