Fitness Friday and a GIVEAWAY!!!

I am super lucky to have this giveaway from the great people at the Color Run.  I am so excited to be able to present y'all with such an awesome giveaway as my very first giveaway.  I have never done the Color Run as I am planning to run my first in March, but I will give you all the details!!!

The Color Run is also known as the happiest 5K on the entire planet.  That is pretty exciting!



It is a 5K run where you get covered in colored powder at each kilometer.  The Color Run has two "rules:"

1. Wear white at the starting line.

2. Finish plastered in color.

Another thing I already love about the Color Run is the charity connection.  Even though the Color Run is a for-profit organization, it has an emphasis on charity. In each city, The Color Run partners with a charity.  The partnerships happen in different capacities, but it is great knowing that you run for a cause!  It just makes running that much better!

Nervous about being covered in color? Don't be, none of these people look worried.  They are all ecstatic to be running covered in color!! I can't wait to try this!

This event isn't only for runners.  According to the Color Run FAQ, "you can run, walk, crawl, or cartwheel if you wish." So there is no excuse not to enter this giveaway and do the Color Run!

What are you waiting for? Enter the giveaway!!! You will receive one Color Run entry to the city of your choice!

View cities here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I was offered two free entries for this post- one for myself, and one for a giveaway.  All opinions are my own.***

Check out http://www.talkless-saymore.com for her #fitnessfriday.

Race-Day Essentials + Fitness Friday

I am doing a link-up with The Rushing Herd.  She asked What's in YOUR race bag?

I am also more of an over-preparer with the mentality better safe than sorry.  I am just going to tell you what is actually in my car when I go to the race.  I will spare you the details of what I bring for an away race.

1. Two Pairs of Running Shoes
I always bring an extra pair.  What if the sole of one of my shoes snaps in half when I put it on?

2. My Nike+ GPS Watch
I log my training on the Nike+ website so having a way to input the info is vital.  Some people swear by "running naked"- without technology, but this is the one piece I need.  If I want to run by effort, I just change the settings so I only see time elapsed or the time of day, but I always want to see my results AFTER my run!

3. Running Clothes- obviously
I prefer something looser (a singlet type tank) on top and something more fitted on the bottom (I usually wear spandex shorts or capris).  I got some Oiselle Rogas today and I am in love!  I kind of wanted to go for a run when I got them, but I couldn't.

4. Various Food
I like bringing some food and water/ Nuun to snack on before and after the race.  I usually pack an apple, some Nuun, and some pretzels or other starch.

5. Towel and Change of Clothes
I don't want to drive back in gross clothes! Enough said.

6. iPod (for longer races)
I only use my iPod on long runs and during longer races where I need some sort of distraction.  I have to wear it in an armband- I CANNOT carry it.  It drives me crazy.

7. Applesauce and other fuel for longer races.

8. Band-Aids in case blisters develop.  (Haven't had any problems with my new shoes!)

9. Extra Hair Stuff- ponytail holders and headbands.  I keep my hair simple on race day- high-ish ponytail and a hard plastic headband to keep the hair out of my face.

10. Hat and Sunglasses- I have a hat that I really like that I wear most races to keep the sun out of my face.  If it is really bright outside, I tote along my sunglasses that are obviously not made for running.  Any suggestions on some relatively inexpensive running sunglasses?

11. Hand Sanitizer- I am not really scared of germs, but it is nice to have after applying sunscreen and before driving back to not make your hands feel so gross.

12. RoadID

13. Extra Safety Pins- I don't want the race to run out.

14. Chacos- Got to have something comfy to put on after the race.

Diva's Half-Marathon Recap

So I decided it is time to post this because all of the other bloggers have their race recaps up from last weekend, so I should finish mine from the 28th of April.

I ran the Diva's Half-Marathon in North Myrtle Beach.  I went up to Myrtle Beach on Saturday afternoon (the race was on Sunday).  Saturday I went to go get my packet at the expo.  The expo was mediocre.   It was well organized, but it was small.  I guess I am just spoiled by the Bridge Run expo in my hometown so other expos seem like a disappointment.  I got my packet, walked around for a few minutes, but then I left to go visit a couple of stores at the outlets and then go get some pasta.

So they had a bit of a shirt problem.  The shirts were supposed to be women's sizes, but they ended up being more like kids sizes.  I got a small because I was worried about how small the women's sizes would be, and it barely covers my belly button and it is quite tight.  Luckily, they had a system to get the shirts replaced and I should be getting mine in a few weeks.

My bib.

I woke up race morning late so we rushed to the start line (not a good way to start a race morning).  I did not have time to stretch so I felt that at mile 4.  The entire race was tight which I think was primarily because of me forgetting the night before, and then not having enough time race morning.  I learned that stretching during a race takes up a lot of valuable minutes.  No good.  I also woke up not feeling much better from the nasty cold I had been suffering all week.  I tried to keep a positive attitude on race morning, but between being late and sick, I wasn't expecting much out of the race.

Miles 1-6 were okay.  It was just running.  Nothing too exciting.  The course wasn't too exciting and I knew I had a long race ahead of me.

Miles 7-9 were where things got tough.  I really felt the effects of not properly stretching and I also had some nutrition issues.

Mile 10 was rough.  I was definitely starting to get sore.  That was not good.  I also became extremely unmotivated and was just searching for my parents just to get some sort of motivation.  I definitely started to feel the effects of being sick- I could barely breath through my nose and my energy was zapped.  I think I need to work on my nutrition strategy some too.  Any suggestions?

I don't really remember where that was, but I am pretty sure that was a fake smile.

Miles 11-13 felt sooooo long.  There was nothing I could seem to do to make them go by faster.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I finished in 2:18:56.  I was disappointed in my time after spending so much time and effort to prepare for it only to be sick on race day, but at the end of the day I am still proud that I finished my second half-marathon.  I have a lot of races ahead of me.  I am super excited about Kiawah.  

Overall, I would recommend this race to someone who lives close and just wants to do a run on a flat and fast course, but there wasn't really anything too exciting.  One thing that I loved about this race was the enthusiastic spectators.  There were a lot of people with really funny signs that made me laugh even through my mile 10 crash.  One thing that I didn't like so much is that the 5K runners and walkers shared the course for part of it, and at the time I was hitting the part of the course that we shared, there were a lot of 5K walkers and half-marathon runners in a relatively small area.

I better go to sleep so I can wake up to run a 5K tomorrow.  I don't really have any expectations for it.  It is mostly just a race to gauge where my current 5K time is to set a goal for the fall, but I do love races- big and small, long and short.  They are what keeps me running- even the ones that I didn't do well in give me motivation to do better in the next race.

Upcoming Races

This weekend I am going to run a 5K to try to get a base time for my goal 5K in the fall.   I have not run a 5K in a year and a half so I really need an idea of how fast I can run a 5K.  I am hoping to run a fast 5K in the fall to improve my speed (in hopes of a sub 2:00 half).  I have no idea where to even start with speed-work, but thankfully I am a subscriber to Runner's World.


My summer training plans are to keep my running going (especially building a good long-run base), and to complete lots of cross-training in the pool to try and beat the heat!
My fall training plans are to train for my sub 2:00 half-marathon finish.  I will be attempting speed-work (ugh) and of course- lots of miles (yea)!

This fall I am going to attempt to run a speedy 5K.  I have been focusing on distance for a long time, and I am excited to see how fast I can run when I actually train for speed.


I am officially registered for the Kiawah Half-Marathon in December.  I am super excited about this because I am sure that the seven months I have to train for this are going to go well and I will finally have a sub 2:00 finish!

Race recap tomorrow for the Diva's Half-Marathon in Myrtle Beach!

Last Run before the Bridge Run

I went on my last run (a "shake-out" run) before the Bridge Run tomorrow.  I meant to wake up and do it this morning, but that just didn't happen.  I covered 1.5 miles with my dog.  I normally don't run with her, but she was begging to go so I took her.  It would keep me at an easy pace anyway.  I went at an easy 10 min/ mile pace.  

my feet ready to go

I have been resting this week as I hope to get sub 50:00 in the 10K.  I am not 100% sure I will make that goal, but I am going to give it everything I have while I am out there.

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 3 miles

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Rest day from exercise, but I was on my feet all day.

Thursday: Same as Wednesday, but I was volunteering at the Bridge Run packet pickup instead of shopping :)

Friday: 1.5 mile shake-out run

I had pasta and mom's meat sauce for dinner tonight and it was oh-so-good.  This is my typical pre-race dinner so I have confidence that it will sit well with my stomach.

food prep

Tomorrow's Plan:

2 mile warmup run

some food- probably some sort of apple/applesauce and some dry cereal and water and maybe some peanut butter on the apple- I do not have a 'set' pre-race meal, but I know that a combination of those things works for me so I don't worry about it too much.

6.2 miles at an 8:00 pace

2 mile warm-down

We will see how all of that goes.  This is kind of in the middle of my training for the Divas Half Marathon on April 28 so I haven't been doing a whole lot of race-specific work outs, but I feel like with all of the people and all of the excitement, I should be able to run fast.