Still Independent

This past weekend was a really enjoyable one. Isaac and I took a road trip basically all over the state of Michigan! Well, that's not exactly true, but we did hit quite a few places....... Friday night was race night, as is custom. Isaac raced the big yellow banana car (!) and took home the 3rd place trophy for the mid-season Points' Championship. He loves trophies;)
After that pretty successful evening, we headed straight to Lake City and spent the night in the campground...in the Escape! Totally wacky, I know, but free and actually pretty comfy. Happily took advantage of the 'complimentary' camp showers (the ones you have to keep pressing ON, just like an automatic turn-off faucet at a rest area....strange), and then we were on our way. Being unprepared for my first meal of the day, I grabbed the healthiest thing the local McDonalds could offer, and Isaac enjoyed something a bit less health-conscious ;) People-watching is one of our habits, so we sat enjoying our all-american food, while the little town of Lake City prepared for their 4th of July parade. It was interesting. They take it very seriously there apparently; every road was lined with lawn chairs, even in places with no people in sight. Not a space was free on the sidewalks, the grass, nuthin'! It was a pretty big affair.
After we'd had enough of that, we left them to enjoy their parade, and buzzed on up to Petoskey. It is a really nice little town, with some pretty streets, and right on a piece of water. I think I could live there. We found the house we were looking for, where Isaac was going to take a look at a dirt bike for sale. He tested it out, hopped off, and made the deal! Must've been a goodie…cuz now it’s ours. Right across the road from that house was a field with bails of hay, and Mary was watching over it…well, a statue of Mary anyway. I thought it was pretty, but the blackberry photo doesn’t really do it justice.

Next stop, Mackinaw. We decided it would be fun to spend the rest of the day strolling around the city, shopping, fudge-sampling, walking the beach, more people-watching, etc. etc. We stayed so long they gave us a $5 parking ticket! That's the thanks we get for enjoying their city and enhancing their economy I guess…..hmpfff ;) We'll send them their $5, so at least the tablet they wrote it on might be reimbursed, at least! Hehe.
Finally, we headed toward Higgins Lake to spend some time with my parents. We spent the night at our cabin, and the next day was beautiful weather. Isaac and I went for a short run in the morning, then a walk on the beach. The four of us took the boat out midday. We did some kneeboarding, which we have not done since like 2 or 3 years ago! Still got the 360 down…which is about the best trick we can do ;) Man, Higgins is still cold, that's for sure, so we did some laying out on the boat after that to soak up some sun. Loved it.

Spent the evening in Houghton Lake with some friends, experienced a really interesting meal at one of the small town restaurants (good food, just unprepared holiday staff)… It's cool, Isaac enjoyed his free nachos! Later everyone went for ice cream, except me, then we hit up the go-kart track, and I completely smoked everyone there in the pink #3 car! What can I say, I'm just good like that. JK. The best part of the day was when two ol' dudes who are friends of our friends, or something like that, loaned us there Zumas (kinda like Mopeds, but cooler). We drode around forever on those things, riding double. It was like a scene from the Italian Job, or the Bourne series! They went like 40 miles an hour, so not crazy, but I felt like we were flying….super fun!
Ike and I watched some fireworks down the beach at Higgins after dark. It's really nice to sit on the dock out over the water with no lights, no bugs, just calm.
Overall, it was a great weekend! We are really happy to be home, with some new memories, some new ideas for the future, a new toy which Ike is enjoying this very moment!, and our sweet doggies. Most of all though, we are really happy to just be free.

Back in Competition!

April 24th, besides being my momma's birthday!, was the day of my very first Figure Show!!! Everything went very smoothly, but also very quickly! It flew by, kind of like my wedding day:) It was one of those things you prepare for months in advance and the actual event itself is like the blink of an eye. All the work and preparation was still totally worth it. Saturday was just a fun day all around...eating pancakes with syrup for breakfast, enjoying one of those all-time girl faves of having my hair done!, getting all dolled up in a fancy "bedazzled" suit and jewelry, playing makeup artist;), and simply getting to show off what you've accomplished in the gym and with a disciplined diet. I had so much help and support not only throughout the last several weeks, but the day of the show especially. My trainer Steve was there to remind me about good posing techniques and cheer me on, and two ladies who've been helping me all along, Jerri and Julie were there to get my tan just right, my suit to stay "glued" on, and basically just guide me along based on their own experience. I totally appreciate them ALL so much! I was one of 9 competitors from my gym, Smitty's Iron Works, in Midland. Our gym had a large crowd of supporters to cheer us on as well!

The awards for the night were sabers for the men and swords for the women; I was lucky enough to take one home! I placed 3rd in a group of 8 ladies, which was pretty good for my first time. I really loved the atmosphere and the hype:) Being on stage was something I am used to, but still I was very nervous and shaking like crazy! We may have been up there for like 5, 8, even 10 minutes, but it felt like 30 seconds...I immediately wanted to run (well not really, with the heels!) out there and do it again, and make improvements from the first time. So in light of that, I have officially set my next goal: the Peggy Sue show on September 25th in Saginaw! I am really excited to be continuing... Right now I am on somewhat of a "maintenance" diet, which is not super strict and allows me cheat items during the week:) My objective is to gain as much muscle mass as possible during this next few weeks off-season. At the end of June I will hit the training and dieting again heavy to prepare for September. Can't wait!!!

Progress

This weekend we celebrated my birthday at mom and dad's house. We spent some time buzzing around Traverse City and Charlevoix all day Saturday. Despite the lower temperature this weekend, the sun was shining and there was, blessedly, no rain or snow! My birthday dinner was complete with shishkabobs, which I could make custom to fit my diet, and a sugar-free lemon cake made by yours truly! Mom found the recipe for me so we could still have a cake on my birthday...so sweet:) I wanted to make it because I love baking, and everyone was so gracious when they tasted the not-so flavorful, definitely lacking-in-sweetness, very plain spongey 'cake'! I thought it was an amazing treat, so I scarfed down my piece, while everyone else got out the syrup and strawberry jam! It was a new recipe to begin with, so I will try it again after my show...it could use a lot more lemon, a bit more sugar!, and of course, some sort of topping or frosting to really make it yummy. It worked for me though, considering what I can allow myself to have at this point....

For myself and for anyone else who is interested, I had Isaac take some progress photos to show the changes I've made and how far I've come from being twelve weeks out, to now 5 weeks out, from my figure show. Essentially I haven't lost much, if any, weight, but clothes do fit differently, and my body is just 'harder'. The goal is not to be skinnier, or weigh less, but instead to have a very minimal body fat percentage, and really toned/defined muscles. Wow, does it take time! These pictures mark the beginning and the halfway point in my training.

Go Figure

So in case all five of you are interested, here's the scoop on what I've been up to. Aside from job-hopping, and deciding I would truly love to finally do something with my design degree, I've taken on a new challenge. It's called 'Figure'. Think body-building, but on a lesser scale. It's fully natural and I won't look, well, scary! I learned about the sport, if you will, a few years ago, and since then have learned of several people I know doing it. Isaac thought it would be perfect for me. We started going to a gym a couple of months ago, mainly for Isaac to strength/endurance train for racing, and discovered that several members, along with the owners, also do body-building, power-lifting, fitness, figure and bikini shows. So finally about 6 weeks ago, I decided I would go for it! Since that day, my schedule has been overhauled into strictly regimented meals and workouts. I took on a trainer, who mapped out a very specific diet and workout plan. I eat five or six times a day, and hit the gym 5 days a week to do weight training, 3 of which are also cardio. It's definitely been a bit overwhelming at times, but already very rewarding! The diet is tweaked specifically to lean out my body (lower body fat percentage), and encourage muscle growth. Sticking to the diet has been the most difficult part!

I'm a really good eater. My mom, dad, and husband all know this to be true. I can hardly stand life without pasta, bread, milk, cereal, chocolate, cheese…cheese with pasta…
Even the idea of having a banana is extremely appealing at this point! Now just to clear it up, I do eat, and I do eat very clean & healthy. This has nothing to do with starvation or deprivation or anything of the sort. My trainer sort of weaned me off of my normal everyday diet at first, and my choices included things like whole grain bread with natural peanut butter, all kinds of lean meat, several types of fruit, whole grain cereal with soy milk, nuts, and hummus (yum!) All things I love! Inevitably though, the diet must change as I go. My meals now consist of egg whites, whole oats (oatmeal), and unsweetened applesauce with cinnamon for two, then white meat (chicken, tuna, or fish) with romaine salad and sometimes steamed broccoli for three. I also do one scoop of whey protein a day. As my event approaches, more things will change, and this will allow me to lean out gradually. Yes, of course, it is tough to watch people around me eating pizza and ice cream! However, I have a specific goal to reach, and achieving goals always requires some sacrifice. Twelve weeks is the time frame in which I will have taken on this challenge, which is relatively short, considering any other three months would seem to fly by without much notice. It's only when there is a struggle of sorts that time seems to drag its heels.

The date of my Figure Show is April 24th (mom's birthday! - which means we'll have a big double celebration after and we can both enjoy whatever food we'd like!), and it is in Flint, Michigan. Admission is $25/person. I am super excited about having something just for me, to set goals, and strive to be better at every day. I've really missed having that, so this could be my new thing!

~Emily

[You can find some information on this particular show at http://www.michigannpc.com/.]

Racing Renegade

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

The racing world is so unpredictable. That, combined with the thrilling speeds, is precisely why my husband loves it so much. This past season has proved to be just that; fast one day and slow the next, smooth handling the first lap and evil around lap 200, in the running for a championship one minute and the next your chances are kaput. In the seven or so years that Isaac has been officially racing snowmobiles, he has grown in so many ways. His knowledge, courage, strength, endurance, patience, humility, and hunger to learn and strive for perfection…all are extremely greater in his character than even those few short years ago. Isaac displays such a great attitude when it comes to his successes and even his failures. Both of which he endured throughout the 2010 season.

Isaac decided last fall to put together what they call a "champ" sled. Pretty much it means even crazier, faster, and more modified (not stock) than even the typical mod race sleds. He and his dad spent hours during the week building his beloved Arctic Cat breed sled, making deals for used parts, applying the painting and graphics themselves, and altogether doing everything they could to make an awesome, yet somewhat inexpensive, speed machine. Spending time in the shop is something he really enjoys, so it was good for him.

I was thoroughly impressed and a little surprised at how well that piece of equipment did when put to the test in a race. He entered two classes, one in which he dominated completely and the other he was able to, most every time, fight his way to the front by the end of the short 5-10 lap sprint. Each weekend he took home the checkered in all the finals, until the last weekend at Lincoln. When all was going so well, the worst thing that could happen did…the motor died. But…..even after having blown the motor on the last lap of the last final that would wrap up his total wins, giving him second after being in the lead, and then literally grabbing a completely different sled for his back-to-back race and driving it like a madman to get even fourth, he earned himself two overall points' championships based on the averages. He totally earned them!

The enduro being what he loves the most, has also always been the most unpredictable. Our first time out in Caro, Michigan was awesome. Isaac drove 300 laps and placed 2nd, which was such a great start to the season! The following weekend was the Soo I-500 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It turned out very well, with Isaac and his co-driver, Gordie, finishing 7th, finishing being the first major feat! That is another story entirely. We left Drummond Island two weekends later, after the motor went kaput halfway into the race, so that was very disappointing. Finally, at Lincoln, most everyone's favorite track, the sled was still not cooperating, so Isaac picked up a ride with a different team for the day. He rode harder than ever, on a sled he'd never ridden before, and helped that team to a 5th place finish. Both drivers had the fastest laps of the day!

To wrap it up, Isaac's quest for a Pro-Enduro championship with #33 Skid Row Racing has yet again evaded him. However, he had a blast this season (he always does!) doing what he loves, and there is always next year. I see him as the best, and believe he can be the best, so hopefully soon the rest of the world will know he is the best!

Thanks to Dave, Michelle, Rusty, Lance and the rest of the Skid Row crew, and also to all our friends and family who came to watch and support Ike. Especially Ted, Shane, and of course Andrew for always playing a huge part. Check out our website www.wolfgangmotorsports.com, where I put all the updates and sponsor recognition and such, and I'm always working to make it better! We even have fun apparel with our logo which is not displayed yet, but will be soon. Keep checking back for the upcoming Sprint Car racing!!!