Fitness Friday: Keep it Sassy Giveaway

Running gear isn't cheap. Like most runners, I'm always on the lookout for quality products at reasonable prices. Headbands are required running gear for me. They need to stay put, hold my hair away from my face, and look nice. 

I first saw Sassy Bands in pictures being worn by my friend Erin who is also a runner. After seeing several more pictures of the super cute headbands, I finally checked them out. There were tons of colors and designs, but I couldn't believe the prices.

I reached out to Sassy Bands because I wanted to see for myself if these headbands were as good as they looked, even though they are much more affordable than other bands out there. I found out that Sassy Bands was started by a soccer mom who found the other headbands too pricey, so she started making her own for her daughter. Soon her daughter's teammates were making requests for bands too. 

Paula sent me three bands to try. Not only are they adorable, but they are non-slip velvet backed and comfortable (I tried them on several runs). They come in over 300 different styles (with new ones every week) and the choice of 4 different widths. Sassy Bands also offers custom sizes and have been made for as young as 18 months.

I'm really looking forward to wearing the Flying Pig Sassy Band during the half marathon in Cincinnati in May. You can order your own Sassy Bands by sending an email through the Facebook Page or by emailing directly at sassybandsarethebest@yahoo.com.

Now I want to share some sass with you! Three of you will win your choice of three Sassy Bands! To enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will run until Sunday, March 10 at 11:59 PM EST.  Winner will be announced on Monday.  Good luck!

(I was given headbands by Sassy Bands in exchange for a review.  Sassy Bands is providing the giveaway.  I was not compensated for this post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Black Cat 10 Miler 2013

Saturday I was back in Salem, Massachusetts for a Black Cat 10 Miler repeat. This race was started in 2010 with the intention of being a Boston Marathon 20 mile training race, but then evolved to offer a 10 miler and relay option too.  Last year I ran it a couple of weeks after completing an awesome sub 2-hour half marathon. This year, I used it as one of my final long training runs for my next half marathon.

Getting to the race meant an early wake up and departure because it was about 70 minutes away and it started at 8AM. At the race site we quickly picked up our race bibs and shirts, hit the restrooms, and then stayed warm inside while listening to the DJ'd music.

We spent a little more time at the start line than I would have liked since it was only 30 degrees and the sun wasn't strong enough to provide much warmth. I was wearing a new pair of Nike thermal running pants, but I still got the shivers. I knew once we got going I would be fine though.

As usual I went out faster than I would have liked. Since the first mile or so was mostly flat, I didn't worry too much about my pace. I knew we would hit the most challenging hill on the course heading into Marblehead around mile 2.5, so I slowed down even though I wanted to keep up with Daisy. When I hit the turn around, I saw her heading to the port-a-potties, so I stopped to blow my nose. She was having issues with her running top, so I went on ahead of her.

Turn around at Devereux Beach

My first half splits:

Mile 1    833
Mile 2    839
Mile 3    901
Mile 4    837
Mile 5    851

After the turn around, my early morning departure started to catch up to me. I did not have my normal pre-run breakfast and my gas tank was running on low. My Simple Hydration Water Bottle with Cytomax helped boost my energy, but also left my stomach feeling queasy for most of my final miles. In the last mile there were a couple of short climbs that tested me mentally, but I was so ready to be done that I forced myself to push on. 

Official time 1:32:21

Second half splits:

Mile 6    913
Mile 7    909
Mile 8    908
Mile 9    935
Mile 10  858 

This was my third ten-miler and my slowest time, but I chalk that up to my fuel fail. I'm happy with my race pace (officially 914) and my ability to pull it together when I started feeling crappy. I guess you could say that I'm finally learning to listen to my body.

I like this race. It has a horrible start time for runners coming from out of town, but it's a great distance, semi-challenging, has great runner support before, during and after, and gives out a finisher's medal along with an awesome long sleeve shirt. 

Want to know more about my awesome silver sparkly headband? Check out my Sassy Bands review and giveaway coming soon!

TrainingTruths: Running with the Stars

When people read that a trio of Olympians will be running the NYC Half Marathon in a couple of weeks, they might get nervous. Even me, although I've already met and run with an Olympic Marathoner. 

This is one of the reasons I find the running community so amazing. Olympic runners, elite runners will line up along side average runners like me to run a race. For a short time, we will all be winners.  

#TrainingTruths: Every runner is a star!

Tuesday: Not even a vacation could interfere with my training to give chase in New York. Although it was a rainy morning in Florida, I still enjoyed a relatively warm run through the green. Not many people ventured out, so I felt like I owned the road.

Wednesday: Since I would be traveling on Thursday and I try to avoid running two days in a row to keep injuries away, I decided to go for a walk. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and I loved the easy, relaxed feeling of being on vacation.

Saturday: Used the Black Cat 10 Miler in Salem, MA (through Marblehead - home to Olympian Shalane Flannigan) as our long run. I love when races fit so perfectly into the training plan! This was a pre-fuel fail for me. The 8AM start meant we were out the door at 530 without my traditional pre-run breakfast. Thanks to my Simple Hydration Water Bottle and some Cytomax I was able to manage the energy in my tank for a pretty good finish.

Have you ever met a celebrity runner?

Tell me about your most recent bright moment!

Fitness Friday: Taking a Break

I was lucky enough to get a break from the weather in New Hampshire,

and spend a few days soaking up the views in Florida.

I didn't realize how much I have been missing the color GREEN!

Like most runners, I take my running shoes on vacation. This was my first visit to my parents new place and the best way to really SEE the area is to go for a run. In true Floridian tradition, the morning I went for a run was rainy which makes it hard to take more than one picture while huddled under the protection of a tree.

The next day there was no resisting the beautiful sunny weather that came. I could have taken the typical mode of transportation,

but instead I took a nice leisurely walk. 

I might not have logged a lot of miles while in Florida, but I did relax and enjoy my break. 

Visiting Florida increased my hunger for Spring, but it also reminded me to stop and smell the roses of New Hampshire. Even though the weather may not be ideal at the moment, I can still get out and enjoy the pleasures of life here.

What are you enjoying right now?

TrainingTruths: A Work in Progress

Tick, tock, tick, tock. Only three weeks until we head to New York! Week 7 training went smoothly and I tried a new workout. Usually I just go out a log the miles, but lately I have been thinking about what I can do to improve as a runner and prepare to attempt a half marathon PR. 

#TrainingTruth: Running is a work in progress

Tuesday: My running partner was not feeling well, so instead of running together after school I hit the treadmill at home for my first Yasso 800 workout. After figuring out what 800 is on the treadmill, I went for it. It took me a while to figure out the speed for the pace I wanted, but here are the results from my first 6x800 interval workout:

1.5 mile warm up

9:24

9:15

9:21

9:10

9:18

9:09

.50 cool down 

After each 800, I did a 400 recovery. After doing some research, I found a treadmill cheat sheet that will help me pick the right speed to challenge myself a little more with my pace the next time.

Thursday: It was a tension-building day at work, so by the time we laced up for our six mile out & back run, I really needed it. What I didn't need was the strong headwinds and an obstacle course of snow & icy sidewalks. Usually I worry about my pace and going too fast, but the conditions forced me to focus on my running. Surprisingly we finished with a negative split.

Saturday: This week we followed the Manchester half marathon course for our long run. The hills were challenging and we kept getting caught at stoplights, but the overall pace was good. According to the McMillan Running Pace Calculator, my pace during long runs should be between 10:09 - 11:23.  

View from Mile 10

What are you working on?

#TrainingTruths is not just about me. We all like to see what everyone else is doing and use that information to assess ourselves. It's not judgement. It's a way to share and learn and make changes when necessary.

To participate all you have to do is share your #TrainingTruths:

1. Tag a Twitter post with the hashtag #TrainingTruths
2. Comment on the Running Escapades Facebook page 
3. Leave a link to your own blog post in the comments

I look forward to reading your #TrainingTruths!