Category Archives: Going Strong

Weekend Camping Trip Part 2: Not Quite Kid Free

10/23/2015 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

Part 2 of our weekend camping trip brings us to our only full day of “roughing it” in the ~~wilderness~~ park with full facilities. This was our time for freedom from all parental responsibilities, time to spend time talking to each other without interruption and just enjoy one another’s company.

There was only one caveat; the campground was full of families with kids running around. Yep, the site next to us had a brother and sister close to Avery’s age, we could tell from the loud crying around nighttime (and we actually talked to the parents who are both really nice) but they were cute and had us missing our little girl back home.

Other, older kids around the site were not so cute and spent wayyyy too much time fishing right in front of our waterfront tent site as they screamed at anything and everything. It was okay during the day, but when it’s 9 at night and we were trying to get some rest, our patience dwindled. But we didn’t let that ruin our time together, especially not with a site like this.

Our day started by venturing out to the urban jungle nearby in search of black gold (aka coffee). After trudging through a few rough areas (construction) and dodging wild animals (people), we found our prey at a Starbucks. Yeah, so the coffee scene is lacking around this area, but we wanted caffeine dammit!

We made it back to camp and vowed to not drive again until we left the following day. With that, we took off to explore the area around Lake Lavon on foot while talking about how we missed our little girl and what we need to bring for our next trip that we forgot this time around. I was also searching for a large rock or other heavy object to get my squatting out of the way. Yes, I’m still squatting every day, but think I’m close to the end.

Finally, I found my rock of choice. It wasn’t the best, but it’s as if they don’t leave rocks laying around just for visitors to pick up and squat with. Ludicrous!

My squat variation of choice was front squats holding the rock up to my chest and did 5 rounds of 20 front squats.

I finished with a little conditioning by doing 4 rounds of 50 seconds on, 10 seconds off of split squats with foot elevated on the rock, push-ups on the rock, running in place, and bent rows using the rock. I felt like that was good enough, but geez, there were some sharp edges on that thing!

Meanwhile, my lovely wife (who actually knows how to relax) cheered me on and kept me motivated with beer and an empty chair waiting beside her.

I was ready to join her, but had to get something out of the way first. A cold jump in the lake.

Apparently, lakes in October are not very warm. Brrrr! I was pretty muddy after slogging out of the lake, so I made use of the shower on site before claiming that empty chair. Oh, and when they say warm showers in campsite amenities, that really means cold. Here I am afterward, obviously tense and covered in goosebumps.

I quickly changed into dry clothes and made use of our car as a clothesline. Note to self: bring clothesline for our next camping trip.

By this time, I was ready to settle down and just enjoy our surroundings. I grabbed a chilled can of Zevia Tonic Water to mix with vodka to enjoy in that empty chair Kelley had waiting for me.

Good thing my bride of 8 years has such a warm heart, she definitely helped to defrost my still shivering body from the cold lake and shower. Just seeing her smile can warm me inside and out on the coldest days! Yeah, I sound all gushy, but I tell no lies!

We made it a point to sit together to watch the sun set on the lake that evening. Our view was magnificent with the silhouette of this tree beside us.

But, as beautiful as it was, it seemed as if something was missing. Maybe just a little of….

….and a touch of…

…and topped off with…

Yeah, that’s more like it. Fun and romance captured on our camping trip. Oh hey, you can see that rock that cut my hands down there too.

We finished watching the sun on its descent with more drinks in hand as we listened to kids run around and scream all around us. Even with the screams, I wouldn’t trade that semi-peaceful moment with my wife for anything, it’s something we don’t get to enjoy enough. Not to mention actually being able to hold a conversation without the common toddler interruption.

Once it turned completely dark, we spent the remainder of the night in our tent doing what any couple would do with no kids around; watch more How I Met Your Mother. Thank you, Verizon mobile hot spot!

Our data is almost out for the month and we just started a new cycle, but it was soooo worth it. We both had trouble sleeping that night. Mainly from the screaming kids and parents fishing right next to our tent, but the sloped ground didn’t help matters. But, alas, we made it through the night and didn’t spend much time before heading home to G-Ma and Avery.

The drive back took only half as long as it did there, and we were glad to get back home to our little girl. Only problem was, something just happened that had her in a very bad mood for almost the rest of the day.

I’ll fill you in next time, but for now, be sure to check out the sponsored giveaways I posted for Purina Beneful and family games from Spin Master.

Ever plan a getaway with your significant other and no kids only to have kids all around anyway?

Going Strong, Life, Parenting

Squat Every Day Routine + An Open Garage Door Violation

09/19/2015 R.C. Liley 1 Comment

Both sound crazy, right? Who could/would squat every day, and what’s with getting a violation for having your garage door open?! Well, both are current happenings in the Going household, but only one is actually crazy.

Yeah, the violation for a freakin open garage door! Our neighborhood Facebook page was filled with comments from so many of our neighbors all fired up from receiving the same waste-of-ink-and-paper violation. One neighbor mentioned how she was just going in and out putting up groceries when they took a picture of her open garage door “violation”.

Seriously, are we paying dues to our HOA to have someone go around and take pictures of our homes and then send them to us in the mail saying an open garage door is wrong? All I know is that I will continue to have our garage door open as I please. The neighborhood is currently plotting how we’ll send our own violation notices to these people for things that actually pose a concern and detract from our neighborly appeal. I’ll let you know more as the plot thickens.

What’s even more irritating is that Avery and I actually were using the garage then. In fact, with the current strength routine I’m following, Cory Gregory’s Squat Every Day, I’ll be using it *gasp* every day. So, to our ever so protective HOA, here’s a calendar for you to see I will, in fact, be using my garage EVERY. DAY.

The day they took the picture, Monday, September 14th, was my first official starting day. If the photographer stuck around a little longer, they would’ve seen a Daddy-Daughter Duo rocking our squats.

She’s moving up from her body weight squat days and using a ~~wooden rod~~ Olympic barbell now. I had to correct her form a little and let her know to keep a serious face when “going heavy”. She did better on the next set…

Just to be clear, I wasn’t actually making her do squats. Like all kids, they absorb everything their parents do and she has taken to many forms of exercise to mimic Mommy and Daddy. Another good one is overhead press.

Watch out, boys, this girl can hold her own! So, to all parents, let your kids see you being active and healthy, including cooking in the kitchen, and chances are, they’ll want to do the same. Free tip o’ the day there.

Back to the Squat Every Day program, I’m loving it. I am one of those guys who has to do something active every day or I get irritable. It’s like a drug; one that only I can prescribe and follow. Only a week in, but I know I’m “addicted”.

This doesn’t mean it’s easy, squatting with a heavy barbell every day takes a lot of mental and physical fortitude, but that’s why it’s great. One of my favorite athletes, Dean Karnazes, has an excellent quote that I completely abide by.

Who’s guilty of doing this? I was years ago, but now I get out of my comfort zone on a daily basis which, ultimately, keeps me happier. Of course, this mentality is why I am still dealing with a stress fracture in my foot, but refuse to let it get me down.

Yes, I realize there is such thing as an unhealthy addiction to healthy things like exercise, and I can’t deny I’m on the borderline of this diagnosis. I’ve toned down what I do for exercise, though, and instead of high mileage running, I’ve found lifting to be better for me all around.

Over the course of my first week on the program, I PR’d on front squat at 210 lbs for one rep (1-RM). I felt good and could’ve gone for another 5 lbs at least, but figured I’d save it for the next week. My current back squat 1-RM is 280 lbs and I’m hoping to surpass that next week too. As a 160 lb 5’10 male, I’m happy with these numbers, but want more, and so far squatting every day seems like it might get me there.

Next weekend I will be going to the 20th Annual At-Home Dads Convention in Raleigh, NC and am getting pumped about meeting other dad of my kind and obtaining vast amounts of knowledge about being a father/husband from the more experienced dads/husbands out there. Not that I think I’m doing a bad job already. Right, Kelley and Avery? They seem happy enough….

Well, at least Going Mom does, Avery is too concerned about the outside all day every day (ha, like squatting!).

I’m excited about the trip for the convention, but can’t allow to put off my squatting every day, so hopefully the “free weights” our hotel has includes a squat rack. Otherwise, I’ll be on the lookout for a local gym. Anyone know of one? I will not miss a day!

More on the convention as it gets closer or just when I get back and have stories (all good of course) to tell. For now, we’re continuing our backyard landscaping project along with, you guessed it, squatting this weekend. Oh, and cue Beavis & Butthead singing Breaking the Law, because look what we’re doing…

Do you have any ridiculous HOA or other violations to share? Did you “comply” or continue to “break code”?

Ever hear of the Squat Every Day Program? Would you try or have you already?

Going Strong, Life, Parenting, Soft Star Shoes

Colorado Family Vacation Day 4: Trail Run & Distillery Tour

08/21/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

After tackling the 4 mile trail hike with Going Mom the day before, I felt compelled to go back out to make it a solo trail run. The thought was in my head, but I never set it in stone because that be planning, and I hate planning on vacation.

But, as usually happens when I get something in my head, I did it. I woke up early just as the sun was coming out, not from an alarm, but because I had to pee. After relieving myself, I thought long and hard about getting back in the warm bed with my wife, but the allure of a cold, wet (it just rained the previous day) trail run forced me out the door instead.

I wore my trusty Soft Star Shoes Dash RunAmoc’s with Trail Soles since they had done extremely well for everything else so far.

Once more, they were the perfect choice. I was jumping on and over wet rocks, going through mud and streams, and making steep ascents and descents with a solid footing the whole time. Okay, not really, right before finishing the 4 miles, I wasn’t paying attention and tripped over a large rock. Go me!

The fall was hard, and I had a nice limp-run (think Hunchback of Notre Dame) for the quarter mile that was left. My right knee was throbbing with pain, and I’m just now recovering from whatever it was. Glad it was nothing too serious!

I knew I wouldn’t rest until I got at least one trail run in, and I was happy to fit it in. The run started out pretty chilly, and the wet leaves of overlapping plants on the trail only compounded things, but I was soon warmed up and didn’t mind running in my soaked shirt and shorts. The day before, I went for a run down and back up the mountain Steve (Papa) and Kathy (Nana) live on, but neighborhood streets just aren’t the same. That said, I was sucking in air on as I ran the straight one mile up!

When I returned, everyone but Steve was still asleep. Phew, I didn’t miss anything exciting yet! Not long after, everyone was awake and having breakfast. Meanwhile, Avery was having a blast going up and down the stairs.

She loved those things, and we loved that it helped her get that constant flow of energy out of her system. Unfortunately, I think the rest of us lacked the energy to chase her up and down, especially poor Cousin Ashlee who watched/played with her the most.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when she would take a break from climbing and start reading one of the books Nana got her instead.

Love that little samurai pony tail! If you have an extra toy sword, like Leonardo’s from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, please, send it our way to complete the look! 🙂

Our big agenda item for the day was heading to the Breckenridge Distillery for a tasting and a tour. And Kathy mentioned getting me a late birthday present while we were there. Obviously, I chose the Breckenridge Bourbon, and obviously, I kept cool about my new gift.

Kelley isn’t a big liquor drinker, as in, hates it, so it was just Kathy and me doing the tastings. Kelley did try one sip of bourbon and a spicy vodka, but that was about it for her. More for Kathy and me!

We had gone on the tour a couple years ago when Kelley was pregnant with Avery, but they added a lot to their distillery since then. It was interesting to see the changes and go through the enhanced plant. If only we could’ve brought one of these back….

Oh well, my birthday bourbon will probably last me over a year anyway since I rarely drink. Just nice to have a little sip every now and then.

We had more rain that day and kept indoors after getting back. Luckily, we had Avery to entertain us by walking around in Mommy’s shoes.

Man, that girl gets extremely frustrated when she can’t walk very well with the over-sized slippers! But it didn’t keep her from trying.

After a little reading session with Avery, I took off for a solo walk around the neighborhood.

Everyone else hung around the house, but I have this OCD thing about getting an evening walk in. The change of scenery and fresh air was pure bliss and I loved being able to get out in it as much as possible. And the view was spectacular!

The rest of the family went out to the backyard for their fresh air fix and to get more loving from Avery. I think she was smiling on the inside with Papa here.

Same for when Nana joined in; I’m sure of it.

Although she hated having her picture taken, Ashlee has an adorable smile that can’t not be shared too.

If you’re seeing this Ash, sorry, but you having nothing to hide dear!

Another day of vacation had come to an end. Lots of fun was had, and we still had a full day ahead of us. Just that alone made me want to stand on my head…..literally.