Fourth of July Fun + Giveaway Winners

Happy July... 6th!? Unbelieve that this weekend is over already. I had a three day weekend, Thursday-Saturday off, and had to work today for an event on campus. Despite that, had an awesome holiday weekend with plenty of red, white and blue fun thrown in!

Saturday morning started with  10K (ish) with the IERC, obviously, and a super fab red, white and blue themed club run and potluck. Despite pacers normally wearing our highlighter yellow, we also got to particiapate in the patriotic awesomeness, so naturally I went all out, because who doesn't love holiday dress-up? Especially in these sweet ProCompressions!

Because... 'merica.

After run club, Doug and I headed up to Big Bear, to my aunt's cabin. My parents had been gone all week but were up in the mountains as of Friday, where my aunt, uncle, and other friends were already waiting for us. It sprinkled on the way up and was cloudy, despite apparently being super hot on Friday afternoon.

We headed down to the lake about 3 - apparently my mom and aunt and friends had been down on the shore staking out a spot at like 6:30 am and then came back up to the cabin. Mind you, we were totally lakeside, and right across the water from where the fireworks would be going off. In a total cluster of a production, we had a BBQ, kayaks rented for a few hours, cornhole, and all kinds of thing going on!

Adopted puppy for the day. :)

I took Doug kayaking for the first time - where I pretty much flipped him over not too far into our venture. Pure accident... whether or not he believes me is a different story. Sorry babe!

And before long, it was 9 pm (and cold!) and fireworks time. Big Bear reports that about 80,000 people come up to this mountain town for the Fourth and I would fully believe it. People stayed out in their boats to watch the fireworks, people all over the shores. It was unreal!

It was a wonderful holiday - tons of people, food, fun, and all my favorite things rolled into one!

Other favorites? Giving away fun things! Congrats to the winners from last week's Rock 'n Roll Brooklyn tee/tank giveaway!

Winners, you've all been emailed and have until Friday, July 10 to respond or new winners will be chosen. Congrats! And even if you didn't win, make sure you use code RUNMEGANRUN and you can still save $15 on registration for RnR Brooklyn in October! See? Everybody wins!

How was your Fourth? 

July Recap

july!

July was far from the month I planned on it being - I think the weight of unemployment finally hit me, along with the stress, as I ended up developing a nasty cold that stuck with me (and my lungs) for nearly three weeks. Add a trip to Indianapolis in there, more applications, and the month just really got away from me. So much for #july100miles... but oh well! Life happens, doesn't it?

Total run mileage: 37.. wowwww... so sad. 
Highest weekly run mileage:  15
# Runs: 13
# Rest days: 16 - that's what a summertime cold will get ya! 

# Cross-training workouts:  4 - lots of hikes with mom and Molly! 

# Races: 1

     - Renegade Race Trail Series #2 (I don't think I ever got around to my recap!)
 
Favorite run: The only run I really did do that stands out - conquering trail race #2 of the Renegade Race Trail series! 

Trail racing: where I look more serious than normal.

Most hardcore run: It feels cheesy, but honestly that trail race. I wasn't feeling super well (turns out I had a cold that knocked me out for the next three weeks afterward), it was HOTTER than you-know-what, and my head just wasn't in it. BUT I finished only 11 seconds slower than the first go-round at this race, so I'm determined to make the August one (and last one) freaking awesome. 

Current obsession: Job hunting? Is that an obsession?

Current song: .I absolutely adore this song. And they're Canadian, so all the better. If you dig 'em, go checking out their other single, "Don't Kill the Magic." It's wonderful. They're actually playing locally on Thursday night as well, and I'm kind of contemplating how to make that happen right after this trail race... the temptation! 

Current need:A job, please! A paycheck, please! There are so many races around here in the fall that I'd really like to jump on but I'm actually being really good on this no-income budget of mine and resisting all temptation... as tough as it is, and as much as I'd rather not. You gotta do whatcha gotta do... right?

Current triumph: Finally got my first unemployment check! It's the little things. And having been unemployed for six weeks now, it's unreal how ridiculous the system is and how long it takes to get things processed. I know there are so many people who surely work the system, but man! Shenanigans. 

Current goal: You know the answer to this one. :) A jobby job, por favor! 

What are your biggest accomplishments from this month? Goals for August?

A Non-Peachtree Recap + Giveaway Winner!

Happy 4th of July!

Well, for the first time since I started running, I didn't have a race on July 4. The last two years, I've done the epicly amazing Peachtree Road Race (10K) in Atlanta and am finding myself desperately missing it this year. As many a Georgia runner will tell you, you weren't considered a Georgia runner until you ran Peachtree at least once. Lucky for me, I got to run it twice... and never under my own name!

Friends after finishing the 2012 Peachtree.

This  morning, I wanted to go up to a local 5K but thought better of it and decided I'd run on my own around the city. I figured I could still at least get dressed up, represent the red, white and blue, and have my own fun. And I did. But it was hot and it got gross quick, even though I was out the door before 7:30. I'm going to start having to get up quite earlier to get through these next few weeks... June gloom is over.

I figured 4 miles for the Fourth was appropriate - but man, they were not easy!

The end of my day will look like this, filled with all the patriotic desserts I can stuff my face with - complete with fireworks and all the corresponding patriotic fun:

Yummm... I cannot wait!

In other exciting news, I get to finally pass on the super exciting prize of running Nike Women's San Francisco Half Marathon with Team in Training.

Congratulations Alex! I'll be emailing you this weekend to confirm and sending you all the information you need to know! I hope you have a BLAST and can't wait to here all about it!

What are you doing for the Fourth? Have a wonderful and safe celebration!