New Year New Gear, February!

I was so excited, back in January, when Nicole from Apples and Arteries posted for the first time about New Year New Gear! Nicole said:

During 2012 I participated in a few exchange programs and had fun meeting fellow bloggers and readers.  Since this is the time of year when many people set new fitness and health goals, and who doesn’t love New Gear to help achieve goals or get motivated, my idea is New Year, New Gear.

Here’s how New Year, New Gear works:

1.  Please send me an email if you’re interested in participating.  

2.  You’ll receive your match by email from me.  You’ll be responsible for emailing your match.
Introduce yourself and find out more about the person’s health/wellness interests and fitness activities.  Also ask about clothing size – if the person is comfortable sharing – brand preference, items on their wish-list.

3.  Shop around and put together a fun package keeping to a limit of $15.  Maybe it’s a new workout top, running socks, hairbands, a pair of shorts.  You’d be amazed at the goods you can find at the outlets (UA, Nike), TJ Maxx and Marshalls, and department stores. Be sure to include a gift receipt (when available).

4.  Ship the package.  Please be so kind as to include a note of motivation.

Note – as a participant, you’ll be matched with one person to send to, and someone else will be matched with you to send you New Gear.

How cool is this!?

This is my second month participating, and I am loving it so far!

For February, I received my package from Becky at Olives n Wine. I told her I wanted to try out some new socks for running, and she hooked me up!

TWO pairs of socks, an *awesome* wrist wallet, and a jump rope. She sent the jump rope because she read on my blog that I wanted to try cross training instead of just running. LOVE her! The socks are so soft and comfy! I have already used the wrist wallet twice over the weekend. The first was to hold  Twenty during a 2 mile fun run. It didn't get sweaty or gross, and neither did my wrist. The next day I wore it reversed (yellow, reflective!) to run a Half Marathon. I thought the key would rip it, because it was so large, but it held on and was in perfect shape after the race was over! LOVE! Sadly, I have yet to try the jump rope. I have caught a lovely cold since the Half, and have been resting after work! Can't wait to try it though!

I sent my Gear to Debbie at Healthy Running Mom. Check out her blog, she even has a giveaway going on right now!

I have already signed up for the March exchange, I am having so much fun with this!

What kind of exchanges have you done? What kind would you like to do, but haven't seen?

E Murray Todd Half Marathon

Two weeks ago, I checked the weather for this morning's Half Marathon, and it said low 50s. NICE!
Last week I checked the weather and it said low 40s. Not great but do-able.
This morning it was 30*. Seriously. Let's throw in the wind chill, and it was probably 20s. It.Was.Cold.

I met my friend Eileen in the parking lot at about 7:20 and we picked up our bibs and long sleeve shirts.   Luckily, registration was indoors at Brookdale Community College's Athletic Building! We did some laps on their indoor track and stopped for a potty break. Just before it was time to line up, I ran into some friends and we stopped for photo ops!

First, with Sherri, who I met through this blog! So great to meet a fellow Half Maniac at such a small race!

Then, I got my photo with my friend Eileen, who I have run a bunch of races with, and will be running more with this year! LOVE her, she has definitely pushed me to run better races!

Lisa is a fellow Half Fanatic, and Jersey Girl! We met through FaceBook and have met up at a few races, and will luckily be meeting up at even more this year! She is also a Half Fanatic, what an awesome bunch we are!

After the happy photo ops (there will be *no more* of those!) we lined up for the race. It was chip times, but only at the finish, it was a gun start with no starting mats. I started my watch at what felt like the start, and we were off. No worries tho, after the photos, I put on a running cap and gloves. Good thing, it was soooo cold!
The first few miles were very nice, rolling hills, but the wind was brutal. And then the steep hills started! They also didn't rope off the roads, so we were running on some very small or non existent shoulders with cars zooming by. Eek!
I stopped at mile 5 and walked while eating my Honey Stinger Waffle, and was dismayed to find that the mile 6 water stop was closed because they ran out of cups. Really? Now I am thirsty, the hills are INSANE and the next water stop isn't until Mile 8.
Many steep hills later, and one really bad step that left me with a sore knee for the rest of the race, brought us to the mile 8 water stop where I finally got my water! Whew! After the that, the hills were more rolly, and we were in farm country. Beautiful farm country. LOVED it. My friend Lisa caught up with us at this point (she was always right nearby, she was run/walking so she would pass us, we would pass her, and on...and on...lol) and stayed with us for the last miles.
After farm country we entered Thompson park, and some windy roads. There was a nice water stop there, and also Dave from the JSRC playing his trumpet. I *love* Dave and his trumpet! Races without him just are not the same!

After the Park, which we mostly walked through, since Eileen and I were nursing sore knees, we approached the College again. It was such a relief to see the finish line ahead! The three of us staggered over the finish line one after the other and headed over to the "food" table. We got bottled water, and they had oranges and bananas. I really wanted actual food, so I didn't take either. They also had jars of European "Peanut" Butter to try, so I took one. I haven't tried it yet though, lol.

As bummed as I was with my finish time (around 2:50-2:55) I am also thrilled overall with my finish. It was a crazyhard race. The hills were nuts, the wind and cold was insane, and I was wrecked by the end. I had a lot of fun running with Eileen and Lisa.
BUT
My whole body aches, especially my butt muscles lol. My head hurts, even after an Excedrin for Migraines, and even after a hot shower, I was still cold an hour later!
Things I was disappointed in? The lack of water at mile 5, the lack of food at the finish, and the lack of bling. Also, the fact that the roads weren't closed and many roads had no shoulder. It was a $30 registration though, so I wasn't expecting much, but after Disney I am a little spoiled!
Things I loved? Dave and his trumpet, the presence of Police and Park Rangers on the course, and the course was pretty well marked.
Will I run it next year? Maybe not, I haven't decided yet. I loved being able to run a Half so early, so maybe so, lol.

13in2013 Race #2 DONE!!!!

Have you ever had a bad race experience?

Edgar's Irish March to Save the Beach

Thanks to the Running Gods! Races have started at the Jersey Shore, and this weekend I have 2! Woot! I truly need races to keep me motivated to exercise sometimes, and I am so glad that race season has started!

Today's race was more of a Fun Run, and the Hubs even came with me, along with some friends. Instead of tees, we got awesome green hoodies, which I ran in due to the extreme cold! I am not usually one to run in a shirt before I finish a race, but it was a Fun Run so I let it slide this time!
The race started and ended at Edgar's Pub, and we ran through a Base, which was cool.

The course was mostly road, but there was some gravel as well, which made it hard going. It was pretty thick gravel, so it was a little precarious at times! I ran with my friend Cheryl, and the Hubs ran with his friend Rick. Hubs usually runs with me and then bolts ahead to beat me. Every. Darn. Time. It always frustrates me, because I run 2-4 times a week, and he runs, well, never. A mile here or there, but that's about it! AND he runs in jeans and Vans.

Cheryl and I finished in 21:56, and the total mileage was 2.13, so we averaged at a 10:18 paces, which I was thrilled with, since I haven't really raced since November. Jon finished about 3 minutes later. Woot! I finally beat him! I also kept up with Cheryl, for only the second time ever! She usually finishes a few minutes ahead of me!

It was a great run, and a fun time with friends, the perfect start to Jersey Shore Racing! We even stopped back at Edgar's for some free food and drinks (beer for them, unsweetened iced tea for me!). Cheryl's brother won the race, which was also exciting. He finished around in around 14 minutes!

When I got back, I prepped my Flat Mama for tomorrow's Half, the E Murray Todd Half Marathon.

This is my first official Half of the year, my second Half for my 13 in 2013 Goal. I am running with my friend Eileen, so I am very excited! I LOVE RUNNING WITH FRIENDS!!! 

I will also be sporting my new wrist wallet, that I got in this month's #NewYearNewGear exchange! Becky from Olives n Wine sent me my goodies this month, and she hooked me up with new socks, a wrist wallet, and a jump rope (to help me cross train!)

(Yes, my Christmas table cloth is still on my table. Nobody's perfect, lol) I wore the wrist wallet today and it was so Perf! I wore the black side out today but will reverse it tomorrow, and put the yellow side out to match my Half Fanatics Ensemble. It was so comfy and it didn't get all sweaty and gross. Awesome!!!!
Thanks Becky, you rock!!!!

Are you racing this weekend?

No Day But Today Virtual 5K with Half Marathon Option

With my Half Marathon coming to an end, I wanted to do a quick blog about my next event. This one is a little different, because I will be hosting it on behalf of my daughter, Morgan.
Morgan has formed a Relay For Life Team, called No Day But Today. (All you RENT heads out there should recognize the name!) Her team is formed in honor of someone from her Performing Arts High School that is a 15+ year Lymphoma Survivor. All proceeds from the race will benefit the American Cancer Society. She and her friends (and I,  as chaperone) will spend the night at a local park, walking laps. It is a super fun event, and everyone really does have an amazing time!
What is a Virtual Race?

1. You walk/run/bike/crawl the required distance on your own time.
2. You report back to the Race Director (in our case, there is a Facebook Event Page) with your time, and a pic if you took one
3. You get a cool medal! Music notes, in honor of my daughter's school, and a green ribbon to represent Lymphoma.

We chose a 5K, because Morgan's friends will be participating, but we also offer a Half Marathon option. You can run this all at once, or a little at a time.

The Race will take place any time during the month of May, and you can register at any time! Register by PayPal, using kimmiepcft@hotmail.com or PM me for my home address. if you want to mail a check. You can also go to the Relay page and donate directly. The cost is $20. $15 will be donated and $5 will defray the cost of the medal and shipping.

For every 10 people that register, I will add something to the pile-o-prizes. Winners will be drawn on May 31st!

Do you have any Virtual Races on your calendar?

#13in2013......or not?

When I woke up this morning, I was expecting a rainy day! Instead, it was low 40s, and just misty. Hmmmmmm, I might actually squeeze in another Virtual Half today! I was already running Sara-Use it to Lose it's 5K but why not throw in a Half while I am at it? The hubs and I  started the run with the pups, ditched the wee one after 3/4 mile and then shortly after the mile mark, I ran off on my own. The hubs isn't into long distances.
It was so dreary, but not too cold, and I was optimistic. Until mile 5. That is when the rain started. YUCK! I have an actual Half Marathon next Sunday, I was not going to risk getting blisters in the rain, so I texted the hubs to come and get me.

Not quite what I was hoping for, and I never got the chance to make up all of the time I lost when we had the wee pup with us, but not bad either.
The E Murray Todd Half Marathon is next week, and I look forward to the scenery, although I have heard it is very hilly. I ran Hershey though, so I am not too scared!

What are your plans for the weekend?

TGIF

I am still sore from Boot Camp! It really killed me, and between that and the weather, no runs all week! I feel sluggish and cranky, and can't wait to get back out there! All I have to say is

My daughter is in Cabaret this weekend for her school play, and then we are going to see a play on Sunday together at a local playhouse. Next weekend, I finally get to start racing! A 2 mile fun run on Saturday with the hubs and a Half Marathon on Sunday with my friend Eileen. Perfection.

What are your plans this weekend?

Adding Cross Training to your Running Plan

For the last year and a half, I have mostly been running. I knew that you are supposed to cross train, and I tried to add in yoga, P90X, Jillian, whatever, every once in awhile but it never really stuck. Running can be all consuming! 3-4 days a week in runs leaves less time for laundry, kids, the hubs.

When I made my Achievement Board in January, one of the goals I added was to take 10 classes at a local Gym. Shore Point Fitness is locally owned, and the owner, Jen, is awesome! I took a couple Boot Camp classes with her at our local Rec a few years back, before I started running. I bought a 10 pack just after Christmas, and I finally had a chance on Monday morning to take a class!
On schedule was Tone & Tabata. I always wanted to take a Tabata class, and the time was good (we had a day off, thanks to Abe and George) so off I went. I was happy to see some friendly face there, and Jen was super nice! She showed me everything, and talked about the class. When the crew assembled, Jen noticed that they were her regular Boot Campers, and asked if we would rather do Boot Camp. Everyone agreed so she made some adjustments to the class.

I used a 15# Kettlebell, and it was brutal! I did full form push-ups which made me so proud, although she said I was doing the harder than they needed to be. She showed me an easier way, which felt harder to me, lol. Luckily, she said my form was good, so that was a nice bonus. I got through the first round, but only made it through 25 Squat Thrusts in  Round 2. I ran out of time. Epic Fail! One other person didn't make it through, so at least I was not alone in my Epic Fail. We then did 20 second Hollow Holds, and 20 second Supermans, 4 times each before we stretched.
I stopped to take a pic of the board before I left, especially the quote of the day:

By Monday night, I was feeling pretty achey in my arms. By Tuesday morning, every muscle in my body hurt. Tuesday night (last night) I couldn't even do a decent plank, my abs were so sore.
I can't wait to go back!

How do you cross train?