Friday Favorites #6

1. Cali Combo

Rock 'n Roll announced the re-design of the Cali Combo medal and I'm swooning over it hardcore. Check out this beauty:

You can earn this for running three of four races: San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, or Los Angeles. You might count me in for 2016...

2. 25 Days of Sparkly Soul

Um... heck yes! Sparkly Soul is bringing back their 25 days of SS love by doing a daily special all the days leading up to Christmas! This week has featured the silver headbands, neon pink and bows! I can't wait to see what else is in store and grab some stellar deals on my favorites - and for stocking stuffers!

3. Ugly Sweater Socks

ProCompression released their annual holiday sock yesterday morning and most sizes sold out in like, record time (think less than 3 hours for the S/M sizes) - holy whoa! Did you get your hands on some? I've got like four holiday races coming up and can't wait to see how many other people are rockin' 'em too! 

4. Demolishing Goals

I totally demolished my November goal of 115 miles and ran 123 instead. December's been off to a funky start, but if I run all the miles I've mapped out for December, I'll get my magic 1,000 on Christmas Day... Merry Christmas to me, right? My present to myself when I make it is a new, shiny Garmin and retiring my old girl that's well over three years old.

5. Demolishing More Goals!

Other goal I'm demolishing? Getting that credit card debt worked off. Tina would be so proud! My 2015 goal was to reduce it by half and I'm pretty sure I've reduced it by nearly 75% and am so so sooo close to being debt-free. I know a new car is in my works in the future closer than I'd like, and I'd love to be ready for it with having all my credit card debt done looming over my head.

It's a happy day, happy Friday, and happy kick-off to the holiday race season weekend with my favorite local 5K! Yipee!

What are you loving this fine Friday?

Friday Favorites #3

Aaaaah, Friday. Best day of the week, because obviously... WEEKEND! This is my first Friday back at work (we have Fridays off during the summer) so it feels a little odd being back to a 5-day work week schedule, but because classes haven't started yet, it's still quite mellow and therefore, awesome. 

I've got all kinds of goodness going on today because it's the best day ever, so enjoy!

1. Sparkly Soul Fall Cleaning Sale!

Obviously the number one reason today's already a great day but add to the fact that much like their spring cleaning sale, SS is back at it with a FALL cleaning sale! Get a 6-pack of headbands for just $30 (bear in mind that a wide headband alone is normally $17, thin $15) so this is a GREAT deal. Count me in for two - I'm going to hope I get a few random ones I don't own, but it's also a great time to stock up as small pick-me-up gifts and even stocking stuffers for running friends for the upcoming holidays (can you believe it's that time?). Purchase your packs here!

2. All the Race Discounts!

We're going to feature Long Beach today because it's in just three short weeks (wheeeee!) and I'm super stoked about it being part of my birthday shenanigans (see below). Long Beach is truly one of my favorite races in Southern California and I'm super stoked to be one of their inaugural ambassadors! Doug's running this race too as part of his three-peat to get one of those golden seashells... but I digress. Join me for Long Beach, won't you... or any of these other awesome races?

3. Birthday Shenanigans!

So what I'm officiall dubbing #30halfsfor30years is creeping up on me! As of yesterday, it's just two weeks until my big 3-0 and I'm flying coast to coast and back again for three half marathons in 8 days and adding two new half marathon states while I'm at it. We booked our Portland flights just the other night, so it's making it really real and I'm beyond giddy excited. Check it out:

Saturday, October 3: to Portland

Sunday, October 4: Portland Half Marathon (half #29)

Monday, October 5: Home from Portland

Wednesday, October 7: to New York City

Saturday, October 10: Rock 'n Roll Brooklyn (half #30!) + flight back to LA

Sunday, October 11: Long Beach Half Marathon (half #31 for good measure)

Can you say AWESOME SAUCE? I can! Much more to come on all of those, but I have discount codes here for all the above races, so join me at some point!

4. Tiux Socks Giveaway

Today's the last day to enter for my Tiux compression socks giveaway - soft, cushy, and who doesn't like pink and lime green together? Enter here so you don't miss out on the chance to win! Show your legs some recovery love...

and last but not least...

5. Football Fridays are BACK!

Doug's back to coaching season - though he has been for a few weeks now - but I just love the fall. He's coaching at a new high school, closer to us and where we moved to, but with a few coaches from his last team along for the ride too. I get to join in on the fun via grandstands, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Fall has actually been creeping in during the evenings, so Fridays are jeans, hoodies, and all kinds of cheering for our Eagles! Though games are stressful from his end, of course, I enjoy getting to wind down my week that way - good fun away from a computer, away from chores and life at home, and enjoying watching these kids do their thing. 

And that's that - it's a good day. Beautiful day outside, despite hights of low 90s, it's going to be gorgeous. I'm hoping that once 'fall' starts on Monday, we'll actually get to see some of that weather?! Please and thank you, I'd appreciate it.

Have a GREAT day and a GREAT weekend, friends! 

Exploring the New 'Hood + Sparkly News!

During the summer, my campus is closed on Fridays to use as energy conservation days - pretty awesome. So most of campus works 4-10s Monday-Thursday so you're still pumping out a 40-hour work week with the benefits of 3-day weekends each week between commencement in June and the start of school at the end of September. Pretty sweet, right? Never mind the fact that really, I'm working like 60+-hours between Monday and Thursday, but I will very happily take my Fridays to go! 

Last week, I finally got on an outdoor run and got to check out some of the new neighborhood that Doug and I moved to. I've driven around it a lot, but running? Far from it. We're only about .8 miles from the Pacific Electric Trail, which I see all over my Instagram feed from local running friends and was soo excited to finally go run it for myself!

The trail itself is hot - at least in the stretch I ran, no shade, but it's cool that you can either run (or bike) on either the concrete side or a dirt trail. On tired legs, I very happily took that dirt trail that morning! Spanning 21 miles from Claremont to Rialto, the PET is very much a hot-spot for cyclists, runners and folks just out on a morning stroll with their dog. It's good to know you'd pretty much never be alone on  a run out here! 

Sparkly Soul pictured: Satin Confetti Hearts wide.

The PET follows the route of the legendary Pacific Electric Railway, an electrified railway system famous for their "red cars" that came all the way to San Bernardino from the Pacific coast, through Los Angeles. The building of this railway was crucial in the build-up and growth of the Inland Empire, especially for agricultural industries that popped up (citrus, wine!).  The railway ended operation in the 1950s when the freeway system came to be. One of the last remaining railway depots of the San Bernardino line is at Etiwanda, just up the road from where we are and was my first view of the trail! Pretty cool (I think I get my train and history nerdiness from my dad, because he just loved this stuff!) 

You'll notice I also got to rock my newest Sparkly Soul headband too -- stoked to announce that I've been asked to come back as an ambassador for a second year to represent my favorite running accessory company everrrrrr. Who doesn't wanna sparkle on a run?

Tickled pink to be back, too!

I mean... with like 30 of them in my bathroom, you might think I love them just a little bit, right? And to think, there are still colors I don't have in my collection that I want to add soon! Can you say #addicted? I might have to get this one for RnR Brooklyn, too...

Needless to say, I truly believe in their products and am the biggest fan. I love getting to represent them all over the west coast at races and getting to introduce people to the sparkliest, best headbands ever! Hopefully I'll get to again soon!

I am super grateful they've asked me to come back and can't wait to share the Sparkly love some more wherever I go. If you haven't tried them, please feel free to ask! They are velvet-lined, which truly helps the grip on your hair so they're not moving and sliding around everywhere while you work out. I only run in these guys, and will even wear one under a visor, just so I know the sparkle is there, even if no one else can see!

More sparkles coming at you soon! 

Friday Favorites - July 10

I love Carlee's regular Friday Favorites posts and I've got so many things to share this week, I thought I'd jump on board! I haven't done one of my own in five-ever, so it's about dang time.

1. Sparkly Soul NEON Fun!
I mean... y'all know I love my Sparkly Soul. That might even be the understatement of the year. BUT I also love all things neon. And now they've combined two of my loves together!

You can also enter to win these neon 4-packs!

ENTER TO WIN 1 of 3 NEON 4-packs (thin or wide - winners choice)- Enter via Rafflecopter here: http://gvwy.io/s7rj1dOR 

- SHARE your favorite neon headband or tag a friend on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with hashtag #NEONsparklysoul and tag Sparkly Soul (@sparklysoulinc) through 7/13 11:59pm PST. Who doesn't want to win all the neon love?

2. Strut Your Stuff Sign Co. 

Now that we're in our new plac (also more to come on that later), and I've been collecting piles of medals on the corner of a chair at my parents' house, I've been eye-balling getting a medal holder - FINALLY! - for all that bling! Strut Your Stuff has some of my favorites, if not just for the quotations that they've done on some of their boards. Aaaaaaand the best part is that I just won one from their Instagram account! 

Can you say exciting? I sure can! Now my medals will finally have a home! And I think I'll scoop one up for Doug so he has a place for his, finally too. Happy times!

3. We Have Our OWN Place to Live!

I know, you'd think this would be an update from a long time ago, but like many other things... that'll come soon. Doug and I finally moved to our own place about two weeks ago, so it's been a crazy time of unpacking, finding things, waiting for the interwebz to get installed (sad when you realize how internet-dependent you've become) and so many other things. I'm beyond excited and it's wild and weird and wonderful all at the same time. 

4. We're Vegas-Bound!

... I guess following #3, no it's not what you think. Doug's officially on his three-week summer vacation and my next six weeks are absolutely bonkers, so all we found time for was a weekend to get away and go do something. So we're out for a few days just to get away and relax a bit before the crazy begins for me on Tuesday and before football kicks back up for him in a few weeks. Hooray!

Happy times. Happy Friday. Happy weekend everyone!

Whatcha up to this weekend?

Disney Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend Expo Fun

Last weekend, I had the superbly wonderful opportunity to represent Sparkly Soul again (like in October) at the inaugural Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon weekend. 

Disney expos are no joke - especially since this was slated to be a BIG race, being an inaugural one and all, we were prepping for some long days! Set up on Wednesday, 9:30-8 on Thursday, 8:30-8 on Friday, and who knows what crazy hours on Saturday. Because it was a multi-race weekend (5K on Friday, 10K on Saturday, half on Sunday), it was an extended expo as well.  I was only there for some set up, all day Thursday and most of Friday before heading out to Austin. 

(Seemingly) Unlike Rock 'n Roll, which is pretty relaxed in nature, runDisney expos have all kinds of guidelines and expectations of its vendors. First off, vendors are invited to participate in the expos - booths are hard to come by and are uber expensive, at that, so getting selected to have a booth at any runDisney weekend is a major deal. 

Vendors are fully expected to have their booth set up, product displays complete and be ready to go no less than 15 minutes before the doors open. You think this wouldn't be hard, but given the other expos I've worked at/seen, there are always vendors scrambling until the last minute, and even then some. We even had two staff members come fix our banner becaue it was drooping a little too much for their taste. 

We weren't allowed to wear jeans. Not that we did for Sparkly Soul at RnR anyway, but you saw no (if any) vendors wearing jeans at their booths. Again, it's a race expo, so who wants to wear jeans anyway? But you get my drift. 

We also weren't allowed to sit - like ever. Apparently at past expos, photos have been taken of vendors and sent to their company, being like, "Hey, tell your people that sitting isn't okay." The only reason a vendor should be sitting is basically to demonstrate how a product works to a customer. Fascinating, right?

But MAN runDisney expos are seriously amazing. I've only been to one Disney race, mind you, and I remember being totally excited and overwhelmed because it was my first big race and I had no idea expos took on such personalities! Yes, expos have personalities, and runDisney certainly lives up to the Disney name and hype.

I even got to drive through the 5K start line a few times, and walked underneath the finish line a few times while going back and forth from parking to the Disneyland Hotel where the expo was. Being around all the finish lines, race buzz and expo fun makes me REALLY excited for the Pixie Dust Challenge in May, my first west coast Disney race!

Did you run Star Wars this weekend? Do Disney expos live up to the hype of the Disney brand in general?

Surf City | Week 10 & Giveaway Winner!

After last week's seemingly long run bust, I wanted to rebuild and kind of re-focus. I think I started that off well this week and managed to carry it all out too. Stoked with how this week went - check it out!

Monday: Rest
Rest
Starting to think that Monday rest days make me lazy the rest of the week... re-considering rest day options. Maybe Sundays will become rest days, and Mondays cross-train days. Might try that this coming week and see how it goes. Update to come next week!

Tuesday: 9 x 400 / 5K Pace
Rest
Still couldn't get up early enough in the morning to get it together. Sigh. I need to get my morning act back on track, 'caus this isn't working all that well for me! I also had our office holiday party after work, so there was no chance to run after work... basically, Tuesday bit the dust. 

At least these guys turned out cute!

Wednesday: 8 miles pace
3.62 mi / 33:43 / 9:18 pace
Since I couldn't get my act together to get my Tuesday track sesh in, I opted to make up for it on Wednesday. Whether or not I was going to make it to 9 x 400 repeats was the real question. When I got to the 5th repeat, I was already struggling, and thought I could settle for 6, and then I got to 6 and thought I could handle 7, and then I finished 7 and wanted to be done more than anything. 7 it was - again, better than nothing, but not awesome.

Splits at 2:04, 2:03, 2:01, 2:06, 2:05, 2:08, 2:08, 2:06. Not awesome, but done.

Also, be sure you're joining me and Run DMT for Track Tuesdays (or, you know, whichever day of the week you prefer)! Check out this week's delayed post out here!

Thursday: 4 miles
3.93 mi / 38:01 / 9:40 pace
I was determined to get some good miles in on Thursday. Morning didn't happen (surprise, surprise) and the Athens Christmas parade was on Thursday evening. I was walking in the humane society's group, but that's next. I opted for some lunchtime laps - and oh my goodness! So glad I did! What an amazing run. I headed down a half-mile to the campus track, did a number of laps (while, did I mention, Reese Hoffa was practicing?), and then ran the half-mile back to the office. I think now that it'll be slower at the office during finals and the last week we're open, I'm going to try and get at least one or two lunchtime runs in each week. What a great feeling! Lunchtime success.

And then walked a mile in the Athens Christmas parade! Happy evening. I've never walked in a Christmas parade, but what fun! For a parade being on a Thursday evening, it sure does shut downtown down!

Molly sure puts up with a lot...

Friday: Rest
Rest
It felt like the longest week ever. Now that finals are here, the office slows down a lot since students are holed up in their caves... so the next few weeks will be slow! But that's okay -- countdown til Christmas vacation is here! After work on Friday, I headed to happy hour with a few new colleagues who started here at UGA in the last two months - super fun! And was grateful for some social time. Happy times ahead!

Saturday: 17 miles
17.02 mi / 2:57:52 / 10:27 pace

I think that says it all! I took off on a 17-mile adventure around 10 am, which turned out perfectly, except for the fact that it literally swallowed my entire day. Never mind that fact. Taking an idea from a Twitter friend, Lindsay, I planned to do a few loops around my house - that way, I didn't have to carry anything, but could break up the run into chunks and get back to water/energy refills when I needed it. Originally my plan was to do three 5.25-mile loops of the big block near my house and then a little extra .6 out-and-back stint from the last loop which would put me just about at 17, and I could finish off anything short of that around my complex. I finished the first loop at 5.6 miles and knew that I couldn't handle going back in the exact same direction again, so opted to back track and head backwards towards another 5-mile loop with a killer hill smack in the middle. And after that, settled back into the 5.5-mile loop again for the last stint. My Garmin died when I got back to my apartment complex at just shy of 15.5 miles, so I thankfully had my phone and went back to the Map My Run app (that I haven't used since August) and finished off the last 1.57 miles in loops around the complex. Not the best way to end it, but .... it's done! I did it! I did it! I did it! PDR, boom.

And then I tried that. Two bags of ice. I lasted maybe five minutes - maybe. I think next time I try it, I need to put a sweatshirt on or something so my upper body doesn't shut down in shock of it being so cold! After the ice bath fail, I headed back to the complex office to see if they'd unlock the pool for me instead, but no dice. Womp. Settled for a hot shower, compression socks, and TV for the rest of the afternoon. I survived!

Sunday: Cross-train
Rest
Surprisingly not sore in the slightest from Saturday's adventure. I feel like I'm moving slow, but really... I'm walking pretty normally! Victory even after ice bath/cold something fail! A few friends from the dog park and I had a pre-Christmas potluck before we all split ways for the holidays. Gorged a little bit, had some great company and a great afternoon! Such fun!

Total Week Run Miles: 24.58
Total XT Miles: 0 (oops)
Total Week Miles: 24.58


And now... what I know you've been waiting for... our Sparkly Soul Giveaway winner... !

Congratulations to...

Laurel Cedarblade!

 Laurel, and I've sent you an email with details! I must receive your response b 8 pm EST on Wednesday, December 12, or I will pick a new winner. Congratulations, hooray!

How did your training go this week? Any other tips for ice-baths? Brrr!

A Runner's Guide to Christmas 2012

I've seen a dozen lists all around the blogosphere about great gifts for runners for 2012. And some lists I think "Yep, totally want one of those" and some lists I see something and think "Um, really? Every runner wants that?" So while I feel that these posts are all over the place, I'm making my own - partially of things that I've seen are super cool (that I would love to have!) or things that I think you should consider for the runner in your life!

1. Raw Threads Half Marathon Tank
Raw Threads has a ton of cute running stuff, anywhere from headbands to tanks and tees, and some are specific to half marathons, marathons, Boston, you name it! They've also got a couple of great Beer Run and I Run for Wine shirts. Just love their whole collection! I adore this half marathon tank: Live - Love - Run Half Marathons. Adorable.

2.  Women/s Under Armour Fleece Divide Hoodie
I'll admit that I've become a sort of UA snob. I first fell in love with a pair of their tights when I started running in Texas, and now I've got a couple of pairs and a few tees and long sleeve tech tees that I adore. I first saw this hoodie at a Dick's Sporting Goods in Orlando while we were there for Wine and Dine and now I lust over it every time I see it. A few fun colors, but I love this pink one! No surprises there.

Also check out the Charged Cotton Storm hoodie, in even more fun colors and just as adorable.

3. Race Medal/Bib Rack
There are oodles of these floating around the internet, Etsy, and dozens of other blogs. I've made my own medal rack, but frankly... I'm running out of room! I love Running on the Wall because while there's a few pre-made designs and slogans (with still tons of colors to choose from), you can also create your own message to go on yours! You can get a bib rack and a medal rack to match, or just do one or the other. Love them!

4. Road ID
It's one of those things you know you should have... you just haven't gotten around to ordering one yet. That's me and Road ID. Especially since I normally run solo, it's a safety thing (at least I run with my ID!). These are actually super cute, not only functional, and come in a few colors (and a few variations, I just happen to like the Sport band best).

5. Energy Supplements
If you run often, you know that you need these guys - whether Gus, bars, chomps, or sport beans are your chew or goo of choice, they add up and aren't super cheap. With marathon training taking in full force these next few weeks, I looked at the cost of buying a box or two to get me through and was not pleased with what the total would be on these guys! Thankfully Clif also runs an Amazon page and you can get a box about $4 cheaper than you can on their own website - thanks, Clif!

Shot Bloks are my new favorite, and I particularly love Cran-Razz and Tropical Punch. I've heard great things about their Margarita flavor as well, but haven't taken the plunge into trying them. I prefer fruity stuff and I stick to what I know I like.

6. Race Entry
We runners know that race entries aren't cheap - and if you have to add travel on top of that, running is not a cheap hobby. Whoever said that is a liar. What better than to gift the runner in your life a race entry to the race they've been eye-balling for quite some time and are just dying to run? Genius idea! They'll love you for it, and maybe they'll take you along for the run-cation. My current hope:

I'm in the lottery and crossing my fingers that come December 20, I'll get a really happy email in my inbox telling me to prep for DC! Talk with the runner beforehand of course -- unless you want to surprise them with an all-out vacation (are you buying those plane tickets too?!).

7. Tech Finger Gloves
I've wanted a pair of gloves like these for awhile - and they're from Target, so you know they're not going to cost you an arm and a leg. For a girl who runs with her iPhone as an iPod, it's super helpful to not have to take off my mittens as I run so I can change a song. Handy dandy!

8. Compression Socks
Any runner will swear by these, whether their Pro Compression socks (my personal preference) or Zensah (they have tons of patterns and colors) or any other brand. Compression socks are a runner's best friend - whether your runner actually runs in them, or uses them for recovery afterwards, they are some of the best things to own! Pro Compression also just released a super fun pair of holiday socks, so if your runner has a Jingle Jog 5K coming up, this might make a great early present!

9. iTunes Gift Cards
What better way to stay in your best runner friend's head than supplying them the dough to make sure their playlist is up to date? iTunes gift cards are never a poor choice, and you can get them everywhere at this point (online, grocery stores, Best Buy, the locations go on!). Easy peasy, but so useful, your runner will thank you over and over.

10. Sparkly Soul Headband
Y'all know I swear by these -- add a little bit of glitz and sparkly to the sweaty job that running is! Your runner will look super fab in their collection of amazing colors, in both thin and wide widths to fit anyone's head and - I promise - they don't slip! They're lined on the inner layer that prevents any sort of moving around while bobbing along down the road.

I'm also hosting a giveaway through Saturday, December 8, so you have the chance to win your runner one of these beauties!

Is there anything else on your running Christmas wish list? What else would you recommend?

Giveaway: Sparkly Soul!

Happy Monday everyone! Hope the week and the first Monday of December has sent you off to a fabulous start. Me? This is what outside looks like:

Are you kidding? Yes please, especially after some really cool days lately. However, I feel odd wearing a scarf and having worn my peacoat to work. Hmph.

Anyway, I'm really excited to be hosting a giveaway from the lovely folks at Sparkly Soul - which you all know is pretty much my favorite running headgear ever - glitter and function? What's not to love! Are you a SS lover and fanatic like me? Well, you'll love having the opportunity to win a glitzy band of your own, in your color choice, and wide or thin width.

I personally prefer the wide width when I'm running or at the gym, but I use the thin ones regularly to make me feel like I did my hair in the morning, even when I just blew it dry and threw a headband in. Trust me, it works. I really like the wide bands because unlike most headbands, these guys actually stay - they're lined with a velvet material on the inside, so they literally have no way to slip or move around. Love, just love!

Before one of  my first runs with my black band - where I took 1st in my age group for the first time ever! Glitter works, y'all.

Want to enter to win a super fabulous headband of your own? You've got a few ways to do that! First, comment and tell me what your go-to race outfit of choice is, along with what your Sparkly Soul band color of choice is. And then check out the other multiple ways you can get more entries throughout this week! Comment each time you complete an entry.

Contest closes December 8, 2012 at 12 am midnight EST. Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator and contacted via email.

While you're at it, follow/like/do things with all of Sparkly Soul's sites. They frequently do giveaways and contests (I won five bands in August via a Pinterest contest!) via Instagram, Pinterest, and their blog. Check 'em all out for more sparkly fun! 

Pinterest | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Don't forget to comment and tell me you did a particular entry method. Doing just the entry doesn't count!

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