Opening up about my new obsession

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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If you've been here before, you likely know about the YouTube show I co-host, The Craftbeericans.  If you're new here or didn't know, please check it out and subscribe.  I'll wait...

This has become a fun new hobby for me.  I'm trying to learn more about the industry and what I like in a craft beer.  With the new endeavor, I've started collecting bottle openers.  It's funny because some of my new ones combine my love for wrestling with my craft beer obsession. My friends have been keeping an eye out for me and adding to the collection.  

Here's what I have so far...  

Warrior Dash medal doubles as an open

My first Luchador from Sean & Grace Mocaby

Caught this in the crowd at WrestleMania 32

Not a ninja, another luchador, from my friend Josue

Life's a beach
From our friends Tiffany & Bill 

HerrinFesta gift.
Cut pizza AND open beer

The Benefits of Peer Pressure

Run with the Eagles half marathon

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin 

A few years ago I decided that my midlife crisis should be about running.  At that point I was doing 5Ks and a little bit of extra running in between those races. I added the Warrior Dash to my bucket list and that was followed by a half marathon.  I've now done two of each and am eyeing an upcoming marathon in October.  It's the Shawnee Marathon in Harrisburg, Illinois and my goal is to complete the race and live to tell about it.

Me, Jim and Justin after a run

As my running journey started I met others along the way in my same age group, including a friend I'd made years earlier when I moved to southern Illinois.  When I first met Jim Olsen he was about twice the size he is today.  Jim started eating right and running and lost a lot of weight.  I'm sorry I don't know the total, but the important thing is he did it and he's continuing to do it.  I'm proud of what he's accomplished.

2015 River to River Relay 

Jim recently announced his plans to run 1,000 miles this year.  My goal is set at 700 for 2015.  I did 600 in '14 and 500 in '13.  But because of his example, I've decided to push myself to hit that 1000 mile mark this year too. I hope by putting this new goal in writing it'll help me stay accountable. I finished 600 miles for 2014 on New Year's eve morning.  I know I can do it, but I'll welcome any support along the way.  Thanks for reading and supporting all my crazy endeavors.

Warrior Dash 2013

The 2013 Warriors

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @mycents on Twitter

In mid 2012 I decided I wanted to do something more than just a typical 5K race. Some of my fraternity brothers invited me to join them in the Warrior Dash.  It's a 5K, but with about 8 or 9 obstacles thrown into the course.  I did it last year and loved it, so naturally I wanted to return in 2013.

I expected the course to be the same or at least similar to last year, but much to my surprise, there were several different, and in my opinion more challenging obstacles.  Probably the most difficult was the muddy hills.  I don't know what the actual obstacle name is, but you start in a pit of muddy water and have to climb a hill of mud.  The process repeats three or four times.  But it's pretty much impossible (at least for an old balls like me) to make it up these hills without help. That's where the brotherhood of Sigma Nu kicked in.  My brothers helped me and my wife get up and over those hills. This was Lisa's first Warrior Dash and she was the only girl in our group.  I'm proud that she got out there and did it.

The rope wall

In addition to climbing the mud hills, there were also monkey bars to conquer over a small trench of water.  There was a new net wall this year that you had to go across instead of over.  There were walls to climb, trenches to crawl through, and fire to hop over.  The event ends with the pool of mud with barbed wire strung across the top.  This is where you truly get down and dirty, and just like last year,  I lost my footing and fell climbing out of the mud and the muck.  Lisa and I held hands as we crossed the finish line, proud of what we'd accomplished.

The medal

Volunteers stood at the finish line and put our medals around our necks.  This year's doubles as a bottle opener.  After spraying off with the hose and changing into a clean set of clothes, we toasted each other with the complementary beer.  It was a great day, and even better we were helping a good cause in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

I ran the race this year with a WingMan HD camera strapped to my forehead.  I'm sure I looked like a fool, but I think I got some great footage.  Check it out.

Facing 40: 500 Mile Goal

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

It's been a while since I've posted a "Facing 40" blog.  As the clock struck midnight on New Year's and I kissed my wife and toasted my friends with a glass of champagne, the reality hit that we have now entered the year I turn 40.  Before when it was still months, and months away I kept saying once 2013 starts I'll get back on track.  Well, it's here and it's time.

My friend Kevin, who I told you about several months ago, has once again inspired me.  The man has lost more than 130 pounds. Probably closer to 150 at this point.  In September, we did the Warrior Dash together, along with some other college buddies.  (Brothers in Sigma Nu actually)  It was a blast.  I've already committed to doing it again, as has my wife and some of her friends.

Our first family 5K
Jingle Bell Run, December 2011

As a way to start training again and get into better shape in general in 2013, we have used our smart phones to set a goal.  Kevin set the example and plans to run 500 miles this year.  Lisa and I quickly got our Run Keeper apps open and set the same goal.  To avid runners, that's not a lot, it's just over 1.3 miles a day.  But I haven't run since November.  I'm hoping this app will help keep me on track along with the motivation of my wife and my friends.

I'll be honest the last few months have been tough.  I feel off the health wagon hard.  I knew it would happen too, and maybe I used that as an excuse.  Halloween wasn't terrible, but then Thanksgiving came up and my grandma unexpectedly died two days later.  I found myself stress eating.  Then of course Christmas rolled around and the weeks leading up to the holiday meant an assortment of sweet treats and other goodies were presented on a daily basis.  As I ate a cookie or two or three I would tell myself I'm going to start running again and working out.  But of course I have been battling an upper respiratory infection since November and I used that as my crutch to not do too much.

The Warrior Dash 2012

It all changes today, January 1, 2013.  The run keeper app is set.  I'm wrapping up some work in my office, then my bride and I will hit the road running.  It's chilly out, there is still a lot of snow on the ground, but I'm not letting that stand in my way.  Here's to new beginnings.  If you've set goals in the New Year, I applaud you.  Good luck, I know you will achieve great success.

Facing 40: The Warrior Dash

Sigma Nu Warriors
Warrior Dash 2012
Photo by Stephanie

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Earlier this month I started a new section on the blog called "Facing 40" where I will share experiences and other information as I approach my 40th birthday in March.  I have also publicly vowed to get into better shape and share those successes and failures with you as well.

Over the summer as I was out on a run, I thought I needed something more challenging than a 5K.  I'm not saying 5Ks aren't difficult, but as I get older, I wanted to prove that I could do more than just run something that I've done a handful of times before.  So I started seeking out other races or events that might fill that need I was having.  A couple of fraternity brothers of mine from Sigma Nu told me they were going to be doing the Warrior Dash.  I looked up the race online and was a bit intimidated by what I saw on the official website.  There was fire, mud, and high obstacles to climb during a 5K race.  This was just the something I needed.  It was a challenge I wanted to take.

I kicked up my running routine, hitting more hills and courses off the beaten path.  I also started working out more.  I do 50 pushups first thing in the morning now.  It's all a part of building that upper body strength, which is needed on a couple of the obstacles.

As I packed my bag and headed up to the race (which was about 3 hours away from where I live), I started to feel a bit anxious.  What if I wasn't ready?  What if I fell from one of the obstacles and broke a bone?  After reading the website and the waiver form these were real possibilities.  They also bring up that they're not responsible for anyone who dies during the race.  Dies?  Really?  But I quickly learned that the website's bark was much worse than it's bite.

Good as gold
Photo by Stephanie

I spent the night with a friend I've known my entire life.  My buddy Kevin grew up one street over in my subdivision.  We were in scouts together and eventually ended up at the same university and in the same fraternity.  One point about Kevin is that over the last 10 months, he's lost more than 130 pounds. I was super stoked to hear that he'd be joining the handful of other brothers running the Warrior Dash.  Anyway, on my way to the hotel that Kevin and his wife were staying, I realized I forgot my shoes at home.  I bought a cheap pair at Walmart knowing they'd get destroyed in all the mud and muck we'd be running through.

Saturday morning we met up with our other buddies, Dan, Pete, and Mark.  We discussed the race details, as Dan and Mark had participated before.  We all agreed that no matter how far apart we got during the race, we'd all finish together.  With hundreds of people lined up ready to run in our heat we took off at a relatively slow pace.  We were shoulder to shoulder for probably the first mile of the race.  At one point when in the woods, many runners had to stop and walk up the hill ahead of us because there was no room to move.  Once we reached the top, people started spreading out and the running resumed.  At nearly the mile and a half mark the first major obstacle appeared.  It was a mud pit we had to go through on our hands and knees.  I made it through pretty clean until the end when I got stuck.  The mud was caked on my hands, which was just the beginning of the mess.

Coming out of the mud
Photo by Jason

The course was filled with seven other obstacles.  There were old cars to climb over, net walls to scale across, and barbed wire to crawl under.  Once we climbed over the giant rope wall, all five of us reunited.  We ran to the next obstacle which was another net wall.  After conquering that we jumped the rows of fire ahead of us.  Then the final test, making our way through a massive pit of thick mud.  Oh yeah, and there's barbed wire over portions of the pit that we had to duck.  It was so cold, yet it was so much fun.  As we emerged from the mud it was a race to the finish.  But with all the mud and water it made for a very slick surface.  With just steps to go my feet went out from under me and a went down like a deck of cards.  My ego was the only thing that suffered an injury, although my body was kinda sore after that.

Celebrating a job well done
Photo by Stephanie

The fire department was on hand to hose us off and the five of us enjoyed a beer and the shared stories of the race with one another.  Another one of our brothers, Jason, came along to cheer us on and caught up with us as well.  It was a great way to spend part of the day, knowing that I could do something that I feared for so long.  Not only did I conquer that fear, but I also know we helped out a good cause at the same time (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) and I got to spend part of the day with friends that I haven't seen in years.  I'm already looking forward to next year's race and hopefully with more members of our posse.