I'm Going to be a Princess and Give Away Winner

As of last Friday night, I am officially registered for the

2013 Disney Princess Half Marathon.

My boyfriend and I are making it a huge birthday/vacation/running extravaganza! I will be in Florida from February 16th through February 26th (the race itself is on the 24th). I'm so excited I can hardly see straight!
We booked our hotel, dining reservations, airfare, and race registration. This is REALLY happening! AHHHHHHH!!!! Any other bloggers out there going to do the same race? It would be awesome to get to meet up with some of you amazing people! Looking at our dining reservations, I just have to be very careful that I don't overeat the days leading up into the race (which is going to be so hard to do while we are on the Disney cruise!). I'm going to need all the strength I can muster... or I'm just going to have to utilize the fitness center and pools as much as possible- that sounds like a better plan.

I've decided (as was my previous plan) that I'm going to try and dress like Ariel for the run (it is a tie between her and rapunzel, but I would look horrible as a blonde!). Purple top, green sparkle skirt, green compression socks, and green shoes. I may or may not also dye my hair bright red the week before the trip (so it doesn't bleed everywhere when I'm actually running).

This means I really need to be serious about my training. I keep saying it over and over again, but life continues to get in the way. What happened to the discipline I had last year?! I miss it. Tonight I'm going to do some cross-training to get myself back into the swing of things. Then, Thursday morning I'm doing a 3 mile run. Saturday or Sunday (depending upon weather) I'm going to do an 8mile run. I should be doing a 10 mile, but since I haven't run at all this past week and a half, I don't want to jump back in too soon and hurt myself. I'm going to listen to my body and take it slow. That's really all I can do! I need y'all to help keep me on track- if you don't see me updating, please shoot me an email and make me feel guilty!

I think part of the reason I keep slacking on my training is because I'm scared of hitting double digit runs. I shouldn't be, considering I did them last year, but I think I'm psyching myself out because sometimes I have really great long runs and sometimes my body is so tired that my long run is horrible and it depresses me.. Any advice on how to stop that? I could use it.

In other news, the MDA Lock-Up fundraiser was a great success! A HUGE thanks to everyone who donated as $600 was raised. The page is still up for another month or so if anyone else would like to contribute. However, the winner of the Mystery Loot Give Away is Jessica Hill! She wins a gift certificate to Lululemon and an array of goodies that will pamper and delight!

Again, a huge thank you to everyone who particpated!

Happy last week of summer!!

ING... B-I-N-G-O!

It's Official- I am registered for my 2nd Half Marathon in October.

HOORAY!!

I just sent in my payment and have 66 days to finish my training before I tackle the ING Hartford Half again. I'm actually very excited! I had a blast running the course last year and am very much looking forward to doing so again. I only hope the day will be as gorgeous out as last year.

Today is another long day at work. However, I intend on going to bed as soon as I get home so I can get up and put in some miles tomorrow. My back up plan is to run after work (in case I hit snooze sleep through my alarm clock again). I'm currently about 2 weeks behind on my training, which is okay because I had originally added in 3 extra weeks, just in case. However, I've decided I'm going to increase my short runs to be 3 miles, instead of 2 for twice a week, on top of my long runs. The only thing I'm worried about, with this upcoming race, is that I won't be ready. And, I know, I need to push those thoughts right out of my head otherwise I'm going to self-sabotage.

To keep myself sane, I'm carrying Kara Goucher's book around with me. That way, when I feel the negative thoughts creeping in, I can crack the book open and get some motivation! (It works, I swear!)

On another note, I'm not sure how many of you read my last blog post, but I am doing a "Mystery Loot Give Away". My boyfriend and I are raising money for the Muscular Distrophy Association, and I'm turning to all you lovely people to help us out. For every $10 you donate, you will get an entry into the give away!

Now, you may be asking yourself, "But, Cupcake, why would I donate if I don't know what I might win?"
And to that I would kindly answer, "Because you're such a wonderful, amazing person that it doesn't matter what you might win. You just know that your donation is going on to help millions of people who suffer because of MD." Then, knowing you would probably want a little bit more information, I would continue, "I can't tell you exactly what your prize is- just know it's going to be pretty awesome! There's some pampering stuff, something worth money, and maybe even something for your feet!"

So, once again, I get down on my knees and humbly ask all of you lovely blog followers to please reach down into your pocket/purse/wallet/manbag/backpack/fannypack/Spibelt/piggy bank and please DONATE to a GREAT cause!

I promise, it will be worth your while! 



I'm Going to Jail and Mystery Loot Give Away

Yes, you read that title correctly- I'm going to jail.

Source

I'm so angry! I look horrid in orange!

Really, it's all my boyfriend's fault. If he hadn't flipped on me, he would've been the only one in prison, and I could've helped bail him out. But, no, he broke. And now we are both going to jail. It's a shame too, because all that awesome loot is hidden away, and only I know where to find it.

In all seriousness. we will only be in jail for about an hour on August 23rd. My boyfriend got chosen by the MDA (Muscular Distrophy Association) to participate in their annual Lock-Up fundraiser. He has to raise as much money as possible for his "bail". Best part, he gets to have a partner in crime (yours truly), and we will be locked up in front of Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in New Haven (best prison food EVER!). He's managed to raise $100 so far, but I know we can do more! So, I figured I would share the information with all of you wonderful bloggers out there and see if anyone would be charitable enough to help us out. In case you weren't aware, all funds raised by the MDA Lock-Up assist the Association in providing lifesaving research, a nationwide network of medical clinics, and accessible summer camp experiences to individuals and families affected by neuromuscular diseases. It really is a wonderful cause, so I hope all of my readers will consider giving at least $10 to help out.

To sweeten the deal a little bit,

decided I will share my hidden loot with you.

Source

Therefore, for every $10 donated, you will get an entry into the

 "Mystery Loot Give Away".

I can't tell you what you will win just yet because I don't want the 5-0 sniffing around more than they already will be. However, suffice it to say, it's pretty awesome. I promise. I mean, if it wasn't, why would anyone care if I had taken it, right? ;)

Anywho, here's the link to DONATE.

Make sure that once you have donated, you come back and comment on my blog how much you gave. This way, I know how many entries to give each person. Also, if you share this blog post on your own blog/facebook/twitter/social media, leave me a comment with a link and I will give you an extra entry. I am going to send out a super huge thanks in advance to everyone who helps us out. I know people are strapped for money nowadays, myself included, but every little bit helps and it truly does wonders for those who suffer, or a family members of someone suffering from, muscular distrophy.

Excitement Ensues

3 awesome things to be excited about right now!

First, I won Pumpkin to Princess' Sparkly Skirt give away! HOORAY! I chose the mermaid green sparkly running skirt (that goes perfectly with my green Zensah compression sleeves) for the Disney Princess half outfit. I will definitely post pictures when I get the skirt in. Now all I need is a purple top and some green shoes haha. So, Thanks to Amy for having such a fun give away!

Another thing that I am excited about is the fact that I FINALLY broke through my weight plateau!
If anyone remembers, I was stuck at 212-215 for like 4 months. But, the other day, I got on the scale and low and behold 206!!! FRIGGIN SWEET! I am now 7 pounds away from being under 200 for the first time in almost 9 years. Holy crap crackers Batman! 7 pounds before I accomplish my first of many goals!

Goal 1: Get under 200lbs.
Goal 2: Get under 180lbs.
Goal 3: Get to a comfortable size 10 or 12.

The way my bone structure is, I don't want to lose too much weight because I think I will look awkward. But a healthy size 10 or so should about do it for me. I'm so close, I can taste it!

Speaking of tasting things........   Finally, the third thing I am excited about is this:

 

Can you say ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!?

Pumpkin Pie and Apple Cider Yogurts?! As soon as I saw them at Target, I snatched them up. They are on an awesome sale as well- 10 for $5! I got 3 pumpkin pie and 2 apple ciders (I have to share haha) but I fully intend on going back and stocking up some more. The pumpkin pie one is my all time favorite. It's 170 calories, but it's perfect for breakfast, as a snack at work, or even something after I workout. The apple cider is only 80 calories which is fantastic. Needless to say, my two favorite things of the fall season have just gotten even better! YUMMY!!!

What's your favorite thing about Fall?

Check Me Out!

Ok, so I'm no where in that photo. But aren't my models amazing?! 

Virtual round of applause for them, please!

My brother, his girlfriend and my sister were nice enough to model the new shirts that just came in for my fundraising efforts. As you may remember (cause I've mentioned it about 10000000 times) I'm raising money for the National Stroke Association in honor of my mother. She's also the reason that I'm planning on running my first half marathon. So, in order to increase donations, I decided to design and sell tshirts! WOOT!

The tshirts are $15 and half of the proceeds go to the NSA. 

I have included one of the shirts in my fundraising give away HERE which ends Sept. 29th!

TOMORROW IS YOUR LAST DAY TO DONATE AND GET ENTERED TO WIN MY GIVE AWAY

So I'm begging one last time to please please please please find some spare change somewhere and donate to a great cause and get the chance to win some pretty nifty stuff!

On another note, I did another double duty workout today. I went to the gym this morning with Tina again and we both did an hour of cardio. Then I did about 20 minutes of machines for my upper body. I had to run some errands- got my oil changed and brought my tap shoes to get fixed because the sole was separating from the taps. Then, I went to work. When I got home, I headed out to try a new Zumba class with my mom's friend Heather. It was a lot of fun! I've done Zumba before, but this was a different instructor and place. We had more room, louder music and a better atmosphere. I loved it! (I love anything that's like dancing) My back is already starting to hurt though, so I may break out the icy hot in an effort to make sure it doesn't get worse come tomorrow. 

Did anybody else have a rocking workout? Or, better yet, do more than one workout today?

A Fond Farewell to the Week From Hell

Today is going to be a long day. 

But, it's also going to be a good one. 

I can tell already.

I mean, I already did my run at the gym, took a shower, picked up the shirts for my half marathon (remember the tshirt I described in my give away post?) and am now relaxing before I head to work and then rehearsal. I feel so accomplished and it's only 8:45 in the morning. Perhaps I could get used to this getting up early thing? I read an article in Runner's World that gave tips/tricks on training yourself to get up early - I'm going to start using them on a daily basis and see if I can't become a morning person.

Anyway, as I was saying, it looks to be a stupendous sort of day! Hooray! I could definitely use a great day...or week, even. Especially after last week. Last week, I was sure the world was coming to an end. Monday I had to call out of work to watch my niece who was sick with a super bad ear infection. I didn't really have a problem with that, though once we started watching The Little Mermaid for the 4th time, I decided it was time to switch things up a bit (she LOVES mermaid) and convinced her that we should watch Finding Nemo instead. Thankfully, she agreed.

That day wasn't too bad, mostly because even though my niece was sick and somewhat cranky, she is still completely and utterly adorable.

Please note, this was taken a few weeks ago, when she wasn't sick lol

Tuesday I ended up covering a shift for one of my co-workers, which was fine because I had missed hours the day before. Wednesday I had girls night with one of my best friends. And then Thursday happened. (insert a DUNH DUNH DUNH noise here) I was up at 5am on Thursday morning. No, not to run or go to the gym. I was up because our basement was full of smoke and my parents had to call the fire department. It seems we had a small electrical fire in the basement. The firemen (all 20 of them) deduced that the compressor on the fridge in the basement/family room went up and is what caused the problem. So, after the 4 fire trucks departed from our street (I apologize to our neighbors), we started cleaning out the fridge and freezer in the basement, the area around it, etc etc. I even went so far as to clean bathrooms and hall ways (when you're on a roll, it's hard to stop). Needless to say, I didn't go to work that day either. What time wasn't spent cleaning was used searching for a new fridge. Oy. On the up side, I'm thankful that my dad was up early for work and saw the smoke and that everyone is alright. That definitely could have ended much, much worse.

Friday brought a small ray of sunshine into my life though. Not only did I get up early to go to the gym with Tina again, but after I got home, I remembered I had made plans with one of my mother's friends to go on a short run! Woot! Double duty workout day! At 10am, Heather showed up and even though she is still recovering from being sick, she wanted to try a run. I decided 2 miles would be a decent enough distance for a trial run with her. Heather does Zumba so her cardio is pretty good, but she is a smoker (trying to quit though!) and recovering from bronchitis, so her breathing was causing her havoc. I let her set the pace and told her when/if she needed to walk, we could. I have to say she did very well! We did 2 miles in about 35 minutes. Heather had a good time, as did I, and we are hoping to do another short run again this week. Hopefully, I can get her addicted and have another running buddy muahahahaha.

One last thing to mention- PLEASE don't forget to check out my Donation Give Away HERE! It's a fantastic cause and the stuff you can win is fun! Only a few more days left to donate for your chance to win!

Donation Give Away

Ok, so maybe it's my lack of awesome posting that has everyone missing the fact that 

I'm doing a GIVE AWAY!

That's right folks. This kid got together a bunch of fun stuff and one of you lucky people is going to win it. 

I mean, seriously, check out all this fantastic gear.

 

There's some amazingly fun stuff in there, including: GU Chomps, GU gels, a hydration belt, a foot massager, and a pair of wool running socks (so good for running). I will also be including a pink "Running for Mama" tshirt in honor of the fact that I am running my first half marathon for my mother. 

You may be asking yourself, "What is this 'Running for Mama' business and why do I care?" Well, let me explain (for those who don't know or remember). Back in 2001 my mother had a severe stroke. She was barely able to speak and lost feeling on the entire right side of her body. She persevered through months of rehabilitation (learning to walk, talk, cook, and do every day activities all over again) and finally regained the use of her body to the point where you couldn't even tell she had had a stroke. However, since then, she has had 4 other minor strokes, each taking their toll on her both physically and mentally. My mother has struggled through so much; she can no longer dance or go to the gym, as her right side does not fully cooperate with her. I intend to run (and finish) my first half marathon race in tribute to my mother and all that she has had to combat in her life. All donations raised will go to the NSA in her honor. 

So, how do you get a chance to win this banging collection of loot?

It's EASY!

Go to this page HERE and donate to the National Stroke Association.

For every dollar you donate, you get an entry into the give away!

Therefore, $5 - 5 entries!

See how easy that is? 

And once you have donated, leave me a comment to let me know.

Not only will you get the gratitude from this kid, but there's a good chance you could win the give away!

I am going to extend the give away until Sept. 29th. The winner will be drawn Sept. 30th!

11 Miles Later

Ok, so remember that 10 mile run from hell I had? 

I just blew it out of the water!

KABOOM!!

I, literally, just got home from the gym where I did my 11 mile run. So many amazing things to report!!

Let's start at the beginning, shall we? (After all, it's a very good place to start. And extra points if you get the musical reference!) When I woke up, I was having a hard time motivating myself to get to the gym for my run. My body is just exhausted from everything I have going on and it didn't want to do 11 miles. With some helpful motivation from my friends, I finally got my butt out of bed and headed to the gym.

I hopped on the treadmill, started my Pandora radio station and went to town. Before I knew it, I had 2.1 miles under my belt... in less than 30 minutes... and I hadn't stopped to walk yet!! WHAT!? That's insane for me- but also a banging achievement. Woot!  

But, wait, it gets better! 

I continued on with my miles, trucking along with some awesome music being played. Seriously, I was super impressed with my Pandora today, it was like reading my mind and knew exactly what songs would keep me moving. The treadmill stopped at 60minutes, as I was at about 4.1 miles. Over 4 miles in an hour?! Another super achievement!

I restarted the treadmill and continued trekking along. Around mile 7 my legs started feeling tired (I had forgotten my compression sleeves at home- damnit!) but I pushed through and managed to do 8.1 miles in 2 hours and 2 minutes. That's the longest I've EVER held a decent pace for..Holy crap crackers Batman! I ended up getting off the treadmill at 8.1 miles to refill my waterbottle and get a Powerade as I was sweating monster buckets (seriously, you should have seen the treadmill floor.... gross!!). I hopped back on and finished up my last 2.9 miles. Those last miles were a killer- my legs were cramping, my body was tired of holding itself upright, but I pushed through and managed to hit 11 miles at 2:48:50!! That's faster than my 10mile run by like 15-20minutes! Granted, I know it is easier to wrack up miles on a treadmill, but I'm still rather impressed with myself. I just hope I can get my legs to recover in time for rehearsal tonight.

Oh! And don't forget to donate to my fundraiser for the upcoming Half Marathon and get an entry into my give away HERE!!! Thanks in advance y'all!

The MotherLoad

Dog sitting job= done! Yay for being home with internet connection again! It's not that I didn't enjoy being disconnected for awhile, but I missed my blogger friends and it's going to take some time to catch up on what's been going on with everyone. As promised, this is going to be a jam packed blog post so grab a beverage, maybe even a snack, and buckle in!

Alright, first things first. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I take immense joy in sharing with you the odd, interesting and hysterical things I come across while running. I happen upon so many odd things, that I've even started a separate tab on my blog to keep track of them. One of my readers emailed me the other day because she wanted to share something she had come across on a run with her friend:
"...one day my friend and I were doing a long run on a country road and I spied what looked like an old blue crochet hat.  Being the curious type, I picked up the "hat" which turned out to be a toilet paper roll cover---it felt like something was in it, then the bottom fell out and yes, something was in it---A LIVE MOUSE!  My friend and I both screamed and restarted our running!"

 Source

I couldn't help but laugh at that. I have seen some crazy things, but I've never encountered a live animal. I'm sure I would have knocked a few minutes off my run time if that had happened to me! Thanks Vicki for sharing your story, look for it to be updated on my other page as well. 

In other news, right before I disappeared, I was nominated for another blogger award!

Yay blogger award love!!

Here is how it works:

• Link back to the blogger who nominated you
• Choose 5 blogs and leave them a comment
• Post the award on your blog
• Enjoy and share the love :)

I was given this award by the amazingly awesome Wells L @ My Story...Chapter 2. Honestly, she's such an inspiration. Her blog is heartfelt, funny, informative and just an all-around great read. And she is probably one of my all-time favorite bloggers ever! We have yet to meet, but I feel like her and I would make great friends lol I'd have to say that Wells is also probably one of my biggest fans. She comments on almost every blog post and DailyMile post as well. And every time she does, I just feel so flattered that she takes the time to encourage and support me. So, for realsies, go check out her blog for yourself and you will definitely see how amazing she is!!

The five blogs I am nominating are:
1. Amy @ Pumpkin to Princess
2. Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner
3. Victoria @ Finding Happiness in Health
4. Katherine @ Forward FootStrides
5. Wym @ A Tall Order

Alright folks, as we all know, I started this journey of training for a half marathon. And guess what? It's getting closer!!! I decided at the beginning of the year that to give myself some extra motivation and raise money for a great cause, I would solicit donations from friends and family for the half marathon. The charity I chose was the NSA- National Stroke Association. This cause is very close to my heart because my mother has suffered a series of multiple strokes over the past decade. Thankfully, she is still with us, but every stroke takes it's toll on her. I go into more detail on my fundraising page HERE.

Now, I'm sure you are wondering how you can help, right? Aren't y'all just the sweetest?! You can most definitely help by going to the above fundraising page and donating to my cause! Not only will you get the joy that comes with giving and the gratitude of this kid, but, for every $1 you donate you will get one entry into my newest give away!

Oh, you want to know what you might win? Sure thing! I've collected some random goodies for your running pleasure and they are:

• an 8 pack of GU chocolate outrage gels
• 2 packs of GU chomps (in watermelon and peach tea)
• Smartwool PhD running socks
• Foot Rubz ball (similar to a foam roller or other massage product)
• Eastern Mountain Sports Espresso hydration belt
• Running for Mama t-shirt (designed by yours truly)

Here's how you can enter this give away- first, go to my fundraising page HERE and donate some money to a great cause. For every $1 you donate, you will receive one entry into the give away. So, if you decide to donate $20, you get 20 entries! Easy, right?! Once you have donated, come back to this page and leave a comment letting me know.
 
This give away will be going on until 9/28- That's 3 weeks to scrounge together at least $5 for some entries!- And the winner will be chosen on 9/29. Even if you don't feel you can afford $5, PLEASE CONSIDER AT LEAST GIVING $1.... any little bit helps! My goal is $500 and I'm currently at $230, so not far to go!!

Well, that's all for now folks... but I will be back to update again soon!! Promise! :)

And Winner for Worst Blogger Goes To...

This kid.

:(

I'm so sorry I haven't updated. I've been dog sitting for a friend and I can't access their internet. That, combined with work and rehearsals, has had me down for the count. So, even though I've said it before, I am a blogger fail. Please have mercy on me and dig deep down within yourself to find some forgiveness and keep reading my blog! I swear a super awesome update is coming soon.

Here's a preview of what I will be posting about:

-funny things other people have seen while running
-another Blogger award I was nominated for (thank goodness it can't be taken away haha)
-another give away
-raising money for my half marathon charity and how YOU can help (hint: this will be combined with the above)

Get excited... I will be back to posting in NO time... and it's gonna be FABULOUS!!!

Give Away Winner and Amazing Blogger Award

Kristin @ Running to Somewhere kindly bestowed the Amazing Blogger Award onto me the other day! I figured I would combine this post with my give away winner post (this way you have to read it hahahaha)

[Favorite Cartoon Character]

 This is a tough one as I have a couple, but my ALL-TIME favorite cartoon character is 

Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. 

He's just so flippin' cute!!

Source

[Favorite Thing to Photograph]

 I LOVE to photograph nature. I tend to go on random hikes, simply because I feel like taking photos.

Here are a few faves:

[Favorite Thing to Cook]

I'm actually MUCH better at baking than I am cooking. However, I do make a pretty darn good pot roast.

But really, my cupcakes are the bomb!

Pumpkin Spice with Caramel Drizzle (and they are low-cal too!)

 

[Favorite Way to Exercise]

I actually really do like running. 

But I also enjoy dancing as well. 

 That's yours truly front and center... this was during my last show "Chicago"

 

[Favorite Movie]

That's another tough one. I have SO many favorites.

Rundown

The Mummy and Mummy Returns

TransAmerica

First Wives Club

Frailty

13 Ghosts

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Some Like It Hot

Calamity Jane 

Noises Off!

Just to name a few.... haha

[Favorite Clothing]

My favorite clothing is probably jeans/shorts and a t-shirt. 

Whenever I'm home and want to relax, that's what I throw on to wear. 

(That's what I'm in now anyway lol)

[Favorite Flower]

My favorite flower is the lily.

While I do love all the various types of lillies (most especially those that you find in ponds, etc) 

bright, colorful lillies are my fave!

 Source

[Favorite Breakfast]

Hmmm. I don't have a standard breakfast, it really depends on what I'm craving when I wake up.

Sometimes it's fresh fruit with Chobani (and a handful of peanuts) or sometimes it's an egg white omelette with spinach. Those would probably be my two favorites.

[Favorite Book]

This is impossible to answer as I love to read and almost anything catches my fancy. Crime drama, paranormal stories, fantasy, humor, sports, fitness, etc etc. Love it all!

[Favorite Place to Be]

Originally, when I read this question, I thought I might answer Italy because when I visited Italy it was probably the best trip of my life! However, after thinking it over, I have to say my favorite place to be is on stage performing. I went to school for music and theatre, and it is my passion. (I'd like to make a career from it actually). So here I am in a couple of different shows:

 Chicago

The Wildest (I'm in the green FYI)

Putting my makeup on for Pippin

Those are just a few examples- I've done many other shows :)

[Favorite Sporting Event]

I don't currently watch sports. But when I was younger I was really big into the WWE (ok, ok. I know it's not really "sport" so much as "sports entertainment" but whatever.)

Ok, so now I get to tag some people as AWESOME BLOGGERS!!

Amy @ Pumpkin to Princess
Wells L @ My Story...Chapter 2
RR @ Little Fruit Fly In Rainbow Colored Socks

Hooray!

And now, the moment you have ALL been waiting for-

The Winner of my 100th Post Amazingly Awesomely Fantastic 

Give Away is (as chosen by random.com):

Congrats Lauren!!!

Shoot me an email with your information (name, address) at biggergirlsrun2 (at) hotmail (dot) com and I will get your goodies out ASAP! 

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the give away! And a SUPER HUGE thank you for following my crazy self here on my blog.  

Y'all are the BEST!

A New Look and 100th Post Give Away!

It's official! 

I am (currently) posting my 100 blog post!

In order to celebrate, I gave my blog a bit of a remake. Something slightly vintage but still cute.

I love it! Don't you? Of course you do. :)

A bit of news before I post about the give away:

1. I am feeling leaps and bounds better now that I've been on the iron pills for two weeks. I'm not nearly as lethargic and I feel almost like I'm back to my old self. HOORAY! I even went to the gym this past week and did two 30minute circuit trainings and then followed each one up with a short run.
It feels good to be back on track.

2. I am going to be running another 5k this Sunday. I almost forgot that my friend Chris had asked if I wanted to run in the Petit Race (in honor of the Petit family and their loss). It's a great cause and looks to be a pretty flat course. Kristin from Running to Somewhere will also be racing so I'm sure we will meet up. Sadly, Stephanie said she had to work. Boo!!

Alright, now for the fun part! 

The Amazingly Awesomely Fantastic 100th Post Give Away!

Ok, it's a bunch of fun stuff I threw together but they are definitely things that (I think) are important for every runner to have in their arsenal. The Give Away Gift Set includes:

• Relaxing Lavender Foot Cream (because let's face it, we are pretty rough on our poor feet).
• Fresh Eucalyptus Foot Scrub (to help with the calluses and such).
• Stress Relieving Coconut scented Bath Soak (for after a hardcore strength training workout- a nice soak is always on my list).
• Pina Collada scented shower gel (because I didn't feel right including an actual bottle of pina collada mix).
• Sport Spray On SunBlock SPF 30 (it's summer folks, we need to stay safe in the sun).
• Chapstick with SPF15 (believe me, your lips can get sunburned also).
• CLIF Bars in assorted flavors (a great pre- or post-run snack).
• 3 vouchers for Free Zico Coconut Water (chock full of electrolytes and just as hydrating as water- love it!)

So there you have the break down of everything YOU could win!

Here's how to enter:

-Be a follower of this blog and leave a comment saying so (+1 entry)
-Follow me on Twitter (biggergirlsrun2) and tweet "I wanna win @biggergirlsrun2 Amazingly Awesomely Fantastic 100th Post Give Away! And you should too!"Leave a comment to let me know (+2 entries)
-Like me on Facebook HERE (+1 entry)
-Share this give away on your blog/facebook/myspace and leave a comment (+1 entry for each)
-Tell me your all-time favorite race you ran (+1 entry)

All entries must be submitted by NOON on July 22nd and the winner will be chosen on July 23rd.

Good luck everyone! And thanks so much for reading!

I Feel Like a Princess

Nothing much exciting happened today....

except I got some awesome stuff in the mail!

Amy @ Pumpkin To Princess sent me a PINK Princess bracelet! We are both planning on running in the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February! Running chicks in (royal) solidarity! A super huge thanks to Amy for the gift- I love it!

It goes nicely with my Autism Awareness and "In memory of " bracelets.

As if that wasn't amazing enough, I also got my vouchers for my free Zico! Once I go out and get some I will do an official review and GIVE AWAY!!

Are you as excited as I am?! 

I bet you are! ;)

Bondi Band Winner and A New Challenge

Alright Ladies and Gents.... a winner has been chosen!

Are you excited?

Can you feel the anticipation?!

Are you tired of waiting?

Ok, ok.... the winner is......

Liz @ Mommy to Marathon!

Liz email me at biggergirlsrun2 (at) hotmail (dot) com with the bondi band of your choice and your mailing address. Everyone please give a big round of applause to our winner! Hooray!

And now for a new challenge- don't worry, it's not for you all- it's for me. I was awoken by a phone call this morning from one of my dad's friends. He is a police officer in our town and he had heard rumor about what an avid runner I had become. (I instantly corrected him and said I'm not so much an avid runner as a beginning runner, but to please continue on with his question.) He then asked me if I would do the honor of joining him next Thursday morning to help with the Special Olympics Torch Run (the law enforcement officers in our town usually run this leg). It's a 5.5 mile run .... while carrying a torch. I was instantly intrigued! I mean, I'm a little intimidated by the distance and the fire aspect, but I think it's a new challenge and such an honor to be asked to participate! I advised him that I am a sloooooow runner and that I will have to stop and walk for part of it. He said that that was fine and that if/when I got tired I could just hop in the car until I wanted to run again. Car?! What?! Ok! haha. Sounds like a deal to me.

I talked with Chelsea about it and she said, rather emphatically, to "DO IT!" So, I called Sal back and told him I would love to do it. He's rather thrilled, I'm kind of nervously excited. I've already gotten confirmation that my mom will be there taking photos. Now I bet you're all excited to see how it goes haha.

Alright, I'm off to digest a bit more before my nice 5 mile run today. Wish me luck!

Edit/Update: As you can see from my DailyMile side bar thingy, I did 5 miles in 1:17:43. Hot diggity dog! it wasn't too hot out and there was a nice breeze. The first 2 miles were rather easy but the last mile was killer. I was hoping to finish the last mile in under 14, but alas, my legs didn't want to cooperate after I took on the monster hill. Also, I had a GU lemon/sublime energy gel on my run today (around mile 3) and I liked the flavor and the consistency MUCH better than the PowerBar one I had the other day.

Last Chance!

Quick Reminder:

Today is the last day to enter my Bondi Band Give Away!!

Go HERE and enter if you haven't already.

Winner will be picked tomorrow!

Mine Eyes Have Seen Some Crazy Stuff

Today was a relatively interesting day. It was really warm and humid (something of which I am not a fan of- I much prefer a nice, breezy 70 degrees to the muggy 90 degrees it was outside). I had to work a lunch program and was home by 2pm. I was out running by 2:30. I had intended on going running so I made sure to drink plenty of water beforehand (4 glasses to be exact) and I downed my PowerBar Vanilla energy gel to give myself some electrolytes. The vanilla flavor was kind of weird in gel form. I think I was expecting it to taste more like frosting and less like goey stuff. it also didn't help that I managed to spill it all over my hands (love having sticky hands as I run). But, it definitely helped. Around 2.75 miles I could feel the heat starting to get to me so I had to slow down my pace. It would have probably been much worse without the energy gel though.

The first 1.5 miles was pretty easy and I finished in about 23minutes. y entire run was 3 miles and it took me a little over 45 minutes. Not my best time, but not my worst either. I was taking a slow pace for multiple reasons:

1. I wanted to focus more on endurance than speed as this was a maintenance run

2. It was REALLY frigging hot out!!

I did see some rather odd and intriguing things during my run today though. First, as I was crossing my half mile marker, a man passed me on a bike. That's a normal thing, right? Well, what if the guy was riding his bike while holding an AC unit on the handle bars? Slightly odd, yes? Power to him for being able to do it because I wouldn't and he is most definitely saving on gas. I applaud you random biker man. I mentioned this siting on Facebook and one of my friends told me that during the Madagascar unrest she saw 4 men running down the street all carrying a refrigerator on their backs. Crazy! I've henceforth decided that there needs to be an ultra-marathon where people have to run carrying some sort of household appliance- television, AC, fridge, etc. I may call it the "Moving Out Marathon" or possibly the "Running with Crazy Shit Race".

Oh! I have some rather exciting news! On Facebook I liked a company called Zico. They make coconut water, of which I am a HUGE fan (seriously, it's SO yummy!). On their page they were having a Pledge posting where they were encouraging people to post things they would like to do/change/etc. If they like your pledge, they will send you vouchers for 12 bottles on free coconut water. 

Guess whose pledge they chose?! 

This Kid's!!! 

 I feel like such a celebrity!

So, as soon as I get my vouchers in, I will be doing another give away. 

I love coconut water and I am willing to share some with my wonderful readers! 

Also, don't forget, my current Bondi Band give away is still open for entries, but not for much longer! 

Enter HERE!

Summer!

It's Warm!

It's practically SUMMER!!

I went out for a run yesterday afternoon- no destination in mind, no time crunch to worry over. It was warm out, which was nice, and I fell into a nice, steady pace. I hit my mile marker and decided to turn back around to head home (I needed to shower and get ready for work). When I hit my street, I checked my watch and did an instant double-take. There was no way my clock read 23:09! What!? That's craziness! That means I did a sub 12 minute mile FOR TWO WHOLE MILES! I'm officially patting myself on the back for that. I mean, it's not a pace I could hold for 13.1 miles right now, but I'm impressed I was able to do it for two miles.

Also, now that it's finally warmer out, a magical, wonderful thing has happened.

Our pool is open!!

Ok, so it's kind of green still and definitely not ready to go swimming in, but at least it's open again! I can't wait to go for a long run and then hop directly into my pool (running clothes and all- minus my shoes and iTouch haha). I'm not a swimmer by any means, but a refreshing dip after a hot run sounds amazing! And who doesn't love lounging in the pool every now and again?

In other news, I went to a friends concert the other night (he's a music teacher and his kids had their final concert of the year- they were Phenomenal!). His school is in a different part of the state, so I headed up there a little earlier than I should have and did some shopping at EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports). It's the first time I had ever gone in there so I did a lot of perusing. They have some awesome wool running socks that I may go back and purchase. They also had a large amount of GU and other energy gels, so I got some. 

I bought a Powerbar gel in Vanilla, a Clif bar gel in Vanilla, and an 8 pack box of GU in Lemon/SubLime. I can't wait to try it out! Anyone ever use any of the above products?  If so, how did you like them? If not, do you use something different that you prefer?

Also, don't forget to enter my Bondi Band Give Away HERE!

Bondi Band Review and Give Away!

Alright folks, it's officially here- 

My Bondi Band Review and First Give Away!

Are you excited? You should be!

Firstly, let me tell you a bit about Bondi Band. Bondi Bands are sweat-wicking headbands, hats/caps, etc for athletic people of all shapes, sizes and ages. To quote them directly, "The simple premise of Bondi Bands is to offer comfy, colorful, and creative headbands to fit every lifestyle and personality. By using stretchy and breathable material, we allow Bondi Bands to fit virtually every head size comfortably and fashionably." I was originally intrigued by Bondi Bands after reading about them on various blogs. Every review I read was the same, Bondi Bands rocked! So, I decided it was time to try them for myself. 

I have very long hair and keeping it out of my face is always an issue, especially when running. So far I've been using bandanas, but they have to pinned to my head otherwise the wind will take them away and the pins tend to dig into my scalp while running. Also, while bandanas are stylish and cheap, they do not wick away my sweat and that's a big downfall. Trying to wipe the river of sweat out of my eyes is super attractive when running down the street.

When I got my tax refund, I purchased two Bondi Bands. One, the pink whirly HERE and the other, Keep Running HERE. The pink whirly one is made of Lycra material, which dries fas and lightly wicks sweat. It is light and breathes very nice, I wore it all around the house last night and it never once moved out of place. The Lycra bands come in dozens of fun colors and patterns. There is definitely something for everyone to wear!

The Keep Running Bondi Band is a heavier sweat-wicking headband that is "comprised of high-tech polyester," that draws the sweat away from the body, "pushing to the outside of the fabric, where it evaporates away... leaving you dry". The heavier bands come in multiple colors and with various sayings/logos/etc. (They even have some that you can customize with your own logo/saying!) This is the one I wore for my 4.3 mile run today.

Honestly, I forgot I was wearing it for most of the run. It was very light and it never moved out of place. Around mile three, when I wondered why I had yet to wipe sweat out of my eyes, I finally remembered I had it on my head. The Bondi Band was fantastic! During the entire run I did not have a drop of sweat run down my head, into my eyes, anything! (And believe me, I was a hot, sweaty mess after this run!) Not only did it keep the sweat from my face, it kept my hair out of the way as well. And I looked stylish the whole time I was running. PERFECT! What more could I ask for?!

So, have I convinced you that Bondi Bands are beyond amazing?! 

Well, with the help of Rebecca at Bondi Bands, I'm going to give one lucky follower their very own Bondi Band. The winner will be chosen at random and will get to pick which Bondi Band head band they would like to own. If you're still not convinced that Bondi Band is as awesome as I say it is, then enter and try it for yourself. Or, if you're already convinced and want to add another Bondi Band to your collection, enter as well!

Here's How To Enter:

Mandatory-

1. Be a Follower of my Blog and leave me a comment +1 entry

2.Like Bondi Band on Facebook and tell them I sent you +1 entry

Optional/Extra Entries-

3. Follow me on Twitter @BiggerGirlsRun2 +1 entry

4. Tell me what your current favorite running song is +1 entry

5. Tell me which Bondi Band you would like (HERE) +1 entry

6. Share one of your most embarrassing/funny running stories +1 entry

7. Facebook, Blog or Tweet this give away +1 entry (for each)

The Give Away will end on June 2nd and the winner will be picked (by Random.org) on June 3rd!

I Will Survive

Hello all of my lovelies!! 

I hope everyone has been having a great weekend, I know I have been.

We've been having some rather gross and rainy weather (we even had hail the other day!). However, when I woke up yesterday the sun was out and shining. I strapped on my new sneakers and went for a run. I decided not to time myself or plan on any specific mileage- I simply ran. I concentrated solely on increasing my endurance, forcing myself to keep going when I wanted to stop. I managed to run the first 1.45 miles before I took a quick walk break (about 2 minutes) then I picked up the pace again. I ended up only stopping twice to walk during my run.

Out of the 3 miles I did, I ran a total of 2.55miles! 

For me, that is ASTOUNDING!

My finishing time was 45:20 or so but I'm okay with that considering I almost got hit by vehicles a few times and had to wait at cross walks, etc. When I started feeling tired, I would slow my pace down to a trot but continue on as best I could. I'm actually super proud of myself. My new shoes, whether they played a part in my better running endurance or not, are fantastic. My feet were a bit sore after my run (because they are still getting used to the shoes) but my knee has been fine so far. I'm planning on going for a longer run tomorrow- I'm shooting for 5 miles. Hopefully the weather will be better and not so spastic.

A quick congrats to those who ran some races this weekend, including  Wells L who had her Half Marathon. You go girl!

Also, stay tuned because I will soon be having MY VERY FIRST GIVE AWAY!!!

Another Give Away

LF at Feet Dominating Pavement is having a fun give away! She was asked to review the SPIbelt- check out her review HERE. I looked over the SPIbelt website and found some pretty nifty things. I really like the Inner Pocket SPIbelt you can see HERE. I like the fact that you can put some GU or a Powerbar and tissues in the front pocket and still have an inner pocket to hold an ID and cellphone, etc.

Anyway, check out her give away and her blog- it's fun times!