Turkey Day 5k

I started Thanksgiving by running a 5k with one of my best friends! We both started running around the same time but the only time we seem to actually be able to get together for a run is during a 5k (hopefully a 10k in January). This was our third race together and we rocked it!!! We both had our best time ever for a 5k and we helped push each other through the cold and the early morning time.

The first mile I could not feel my face or my hands. Finally after 1.5 miles I started to warm up. It was great to know that I still had hands, I wasn't sure they would make it through the morning. During the race, I picked a lady out of the crowd that I wouldn't let get out of my sight. She ran slightly faster than the pace I would have chosen to run on my own. Around mile 2, she stopped running and began walking. I started to get sad that she wasn't going to help push me for the rest of the race. I almost yelled encouraging words at her as we ran by her but there were so many people starting to walk that singling her out might of made me look like a creeper.  The last half mile we were running directly at the sun, I really wish I would have brought sunglasses. All you could see was a bright light and what looked like hundreds of smokers since the air was so cold. Finally we saw the end and I was able to sprint to the end. Note to readers: my sprint is probably as fast as other people's normal pace. We felt great at the end of the race.

Our next race will probably be The Hot Chocolate Run the end of December. Then in January we are doing our first 10k together. My BFF has done four half marathons but she has never done a 10k so I am excited that we will both get to do our first 10k's together!

How do you and your BFF stay fit together? 

Vitacost Cyber Monday Sale!!

I went all over town and did the crazy Black Friday thing. I waited in checkout lines at two different stores for over an hour each. I am burnt out on standing in line!! I am very thankful Cyber Monday can be done from the comfort of my home and some sales start before Monday like Vitacost's sale.

Vitacost is having a SUPER CYBER SALE with 15% off of EVERYTHING!!! 

Here is a little information if you haven't heard of Vitacost:

"With Vitacost.com, you don't have to choose between stores that sell products you don't really want at super low prices, and stores that sell the better health and wellness products you want at crazy high prices. We offer over 2,000 of the top, most-trusted natural brands, diet foods and healthy living essentials, the very best nutritional supplements, whole foods and sports nutrition at discount prices, up to 50% off. And we'll deliver them right to your door for FREE if your order totals $49 or more. Otherwise, shipping is just a small, flat-rate fee of $4.99, no matter how big the box."

The deal just keeps getting better!! Now you can get $10 off a purchase of $30 of more by CLICKING HERE. Do you know how much awesome stuff you can get!!! With 15% off everything + $10 off, you will be one happy shopper! 

The sale begins Saturday, November 24th and ends Monday, November 26th at midnight EST so don't wait until the last minute to shop! 

Let me know what awesome deals you snag! 

Sweat Pink!!!

I recently discovered I was accepted as a Sweat Pink Ambassador!!!! Today I received my beautiful pink shoelaces! I immediately put the new laces in my shoes and couldn't wait to try them out so I went for a nice two mile walk with my kids and husband. I can't wait to see if pink shoelaces actually make you run faster, like I have heard. I plan to run all over town with my shoelaces and hopefully try out some new ways to sweat pink.  I love the color pink and actually I discovered Sweat Pink by looking for pink shoelaces for breast cancer awareness month in October. Now I have my own pink shoelaces and am very proud to wear them as a Sweat Pink Ambassador. My pink shoelaces will be making an appearance at the Turkey Day 5k bright and early on Thursday morning. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! Look for a giveaway coming in the next week, might even include a pair of pink laces :D

How are you celebrating Thanksgiving? Does it include any healthy choices?

Being Prepared

Normally I like to run in the mornings but since I started working earlier and the days are getting shorter, I try to get my runs in when I can. I get cold all the time! I was wearing four layers on top and two on bottom, two hats (not evening joking) and two very mismatched socks and I decided that it was a perfect time to go on a run. The first mile I was still freezing even with all the layers. I started to heat up. Finally I decided I had to lose some layers. Picture this, a woman running as she is trying to take off sweats without stopping completely and without taking off her shoes. I must have looked hilarious!! For the rest of my run I looked almost like a legit runner except for my super awesome, very loud, mismatched socks! It started snowing so I ended the run early but it was enjoyable! I still have 9 more miles to go until I complete my goal for the Frosty Fitness Challenge but with it being cold I will be lucky if I complete it this week. If I would have planned my outfit better and worn my running clothes instead of just what clothes that I thought were warm then I wouldn't have been stripping in the middle of the run so be prepared! With that being said I really need to go shopping for cold weather running clothes. Any suggestions or brands that keep you warm on your cold runs? 

Oh Interval training...

I have a love/hate relationship with interval training. While I haven't been doing it all that long, I am already noticing an improvement in my time. Which is awesome!!! I am not the slowest runner in the world but I am no where near calling myself fast. I love interval training for helping improve my time and my running overall but man sometimes it is just hard! Maybe interval training is easy for some people but I find it some what challenging and that also makes the feeling after a run feel so much better. I am signing up for the MRTT Virtual 10k in January. I know that I will be ready for a 10k for sure by then. I also plan to do an actual 10k in March and hopefully my pace will be good enough to qualify me for a decent corral for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in January 2014. I am hoping to get a run in tomorrow morning. This week I am taking part of a 5 week challenge called Frosty Fitness Challenge. For the first week, you need to run as close to a 20k (12.4 miles) as possible. Sounds like a fun challenge and I will do my best to make sure I get the miles in! Can't wait!!

Finally getting back on track

Working two jobs is hard! I thought that once my seasonal job finished last week then I would have tons of free time to run, well so far that doesn't feel like that is true. I finally got a decent run in (first one all week) and looking forward to getting two more in this week. Today was perfect for a run, weather was awesome and my ipod was charged. However I only listened to three songs on repeat. I wonder how awesome I look singing AND dancing as I am running by traffic.

Saturday is my group run with MRTT. I can't wait!!! I love running with people and unfortunately I rarely get to do it since I have to drive 30 minutes to meet up with any of my running friends. YAY for running with friends (that sounds like a fun app)!

Do you prefer to run with friends or a lone?

Nice little Saturday Run

While working two jobs it has been hard to find the time to get a run in. Since one of my jobs was seasonal and ended Saturday I am looking forward to having some more "me" time. Unfortunately I only ran once this past week. Next week I will be able to find more time especially with the daylight savings time change. I can't wait to see the sun at an earlier time. The run I was able to go on this past week I choose to do with my daughter. We only did two miles but I couldn't be more proud of that little girl. She wasn't feeling great due to a cough and even fell pretty hard at the beginning of our run. My tough girl said she did not want to quit and wanted to keep moving. She is an inspiration and one of the reasons I run!

My husband and I are participating in Pile On The Miles. I will be trying to run 40 miles in November. Super easy for some people but it will be a good challenge for me. My husband is a rock star and is going to try and walk around 200 miles in November. He is a walker and does a crazy amount of miles every night so I think he will be able to do it!