Fitness Friday: Golden Opportunities

Today I am off beginning my adventure running the Reach the Beach Relay in New Hampshire. While I am very excited to be hanging out with my running partner and four other crazy runners in a van for the next 24+ hours, I am also super jazzed about some exciting events that I have coming up next week.

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• On Tuesday I'm attending a screening of the Nike film There Is No Finish Line which documents the spirit of Joan Benoit Samuelson through her career and a Q & A session with Joan after at the Palace Theater in Manchester. Joan is an American marathon runner who won the first ever gold medal for the Women's Marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a two time Boston Marathon winner, and she still holds the fastest finish time for an American at the Chicago Marathon. She has also run a sub-3-hour marathon in FIVE different decades!

     Here is a preview of the film: 

                                   

• On Wednesday, I am one of 50 lucky people who get to participate in a Run with Joanie through Livingston Park in Manchester. This event includes a 30 minute warm up and discussion, a 30 minute run, and a post-run stretch and talk.

In August I was supposed to run the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine in which Joan Benoit Samuelson is the founder and chair. She ran the race herself, along with icons Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to the race at the last minute, so I am thankful to have the opportunity to attend these events and hopefully erase my feelings of disappointment for missing what looked to be an amazing race in Maine. I am optimistic that I will get another chance to run it next year.

Who is the most famous runner you have ever met?

TrainingTruths: Changes & Preparation

Last week I went back to work as the start of another school year arrived and with this came a change to the running schedule. No more weekday morning runs for me. Luckily, my running partner and I work together so we are able to adjust rather easily. 

On top of getting ready for a new school year, I have been getting ready for my very first Reach the Beach. Even though I have a reasonably easy leg (running #7), my running partner has a challenging one. This means we did some hill work. Only one more run before we head up the mountain, so it was a weekend of checking things off the RTB Runner's Checklist.

#TrainingTruth: Switching to afternoon runs from morning runs really wears me out (this is the only picture I managed to get that day!).

#TrainingTruth: Running up a really BIG hill helped relieve the pain in my gluteus maximus.

#TrainingTruth: Every tough run feels awesome at the end.

#TrainingTruth: Least favorite item on RTB packing list: sleeping bag!

#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!

MUST HAVE Winners!

Happy hump day!

Yesterday was my first day back to work for the new school year and back to the after school running schedule. I find it a lot harder to run at the end of the day versus first thing in the morning, but I don't see how people can get up so dang early to run before work. 

So, Monday night I packed my running bag with...

...you guessed it! My running MUST HAVEs!

Today I get to announce the winners of my MUST HAVE GIVEAWAY!

Congratulations to the following winners:

Sandra Laflamme - Simple Hydration Water Bottle

Amanda Naro - Sweaty Bands

Heather Roe - Sweaty Bands

Kierston - Cytomax Sampler

Please email me your mailing information so that I can get your prizes to you.

Do you prefer to run before or after work?

TrainingTruths: Workouts & August Review

The last week of August was focused on getting ready for my first Reach The Beach Relay and enjoying the last of my weekday morning runs since school is starting this week. Although I am regretfully saying good-bye to summer, I am excited about the new running adventures I have coming up this month.

  
#TrainingTruth: Sometimes poor fueling and pushing too hard on a run catch up to me on a humid day.

#TrainingTruth: My RTB Cyclops head lamp made my first night run a success.

#TrainingTruth: My legs do not like running on loose gravel roads, but they love Zensah compression socks. 

#TrainingTruth: Running with a BPM playlist from Rock My Run helped me maintain my pace on a solo run.

2012 Goal Maintenance - August review: 

1. Keep running











2. Run a race a month








3. Continue to improve the blog 

4. Add another New England state to the list of places I have run 



5. Keep meeting new running friends

#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!

Don't forget to enter my MUST HAVEs GIVEAWAY. Today is the last day. 

Winners will be selected randomly tomorrow!

Fitness Friday: MUST HAVE GIVEAWAY

It hit me the other day that there are certain things that I won't run without. Whether I'm running from home or packing my running bag, there are 5 must-haves that I have discovered over the last year and a half and 1250+ miles. Each item plays a role in making my runs comfortable, productive, and fun.

1. My Mizunos. I have three pair. Silver Wave Rider 15s purchased on the recommendation of my local running store (so glad that I listened). Pink Wave Rider 15s Limited Edition that I won in a raffle. I rotate wearing these on my short runs. For my long runs I wear my Wave Inspire 8s that I received from the Mezamashii Project. These shoes make my feet happy. They are lightweight and cozy, yet supportive. Running in these shoes is like putting on a pair of comfy jeans after working all day. You can check out my full review here.

2. My Nike+ GPS Sport Watch. I received this for Christmas last year from my husband and I use it all of the time. I love how simple it is to use. The screen is large and easy to read during my runs and with the laps feature on, it will beep at me. Afterwards, it is a cinch to upload and view all my running stats on the computer or review my run stats on the watch itself. I also use the stop watch feature to time my planks! Another cool feature to this watch is the messages it displays for you. Immediately after running, it will give you positive feedback like Crowd goes wild! It also nudges you to get out there and run if it hasn't been used in a while. (All this watch needs is a camera...you know, like the ones in all the spy movies?)

3. My Simple Hydration Water Bottle. I do not like to run with things in my hands, but I need to hydrate and where I run, I'm not going to find water fountains (or bubblers as they like to say in NH). When I saw this bottle, I knew it was the one for me because it is designed to hook onto waistbands or belts and be handsfree. Running with this bottle is so simple; just tuck it in and go. There are no straps or clips or buckles. It doesn't matter what distance I'm running, I always take the bottle with me. 

4. My Sweaty Bands. I received my first Sweaty Bands from my running partner Daisy as a gift. I tried to wear slip-on headbands in the past, but they always slid up my head. So, I gave up and began wearing the hard plastic kind that press in right behind my ears. You know the kind, right? My first run wearing my Sweaty Bands opened up a whole new world for me. Even with all my thick hair that Sweaty Bands did not move. Now the only problem I have is trying to figure out which ones to buy!

5. My Cytomax. I use this during runs to hold off the energy crash and after runs to replenish and recover. I love that I can make it right in the bottle. Fill with water, add two scoops, and shake. I like to make mine the night before so that it is nice and cold. On long runs, I pour some into my Simple Hydration water bottle to take with me and drink the left over afterwards.  

Now, here's the good news:

Simple Hydration, Sweaty Bands, and Cytomax want to spread the must-have love with some lucky readers of Running Escapades!

So, one lucky winner will receive a Simple Hydration Water Bottle, two lucky winners will receive a Sweaty Bands, and one lucky winner will get a generous variety pack from Cytomax!

To enter: (required)

Leave a comment telling me about your running or fitness must-haves!

Extra entries: (optional) - please comment separately for each one that you do, otherwise they will only be counted as one entry:

• Blog, Tweet, Facebook - tell everyone about the giveaway! And let me know what you did!
• Follow the Running Escapades Facebook fan page

Winners will be picked at random.  Contest only open to US participants.  Giveaway ends Monday September 3. 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW COMPLETE! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

*I contacted all of the brands in this post to participate in this giveaway. All opinions are my own. (obviously)