Go Girl Sport Promotional Code

Susan at Go Sportswear LLC emailed me yesterday with a promotional code for 20% off all you have to do it benefit is to type in 20SHEGO when you check out!  Yay! So even if you don't win the giveaway you can still get a great deal on their apparel and accessories! Pretty sure I am going to be getting the toga tank to go with my skirt in the mysterious jade color.  I was kind of on the fence about spending money on it, but decided 20% made it worth it to have the matching shirt! :)


 Just imagine this skirt and shirt in the mysterious jade!  Super pretty!   So if you haven't entered the giveaway yet check it!

And I bet you can guess what else!  yup daily reminder to vote for me at Team Refuel if you have a minute!  I love your votes!  You can get a bonus entry for every vote during the giveaway just go leave me a comment that you voted.  Thanks!

Keeping it short today since I worked yesterday and today so hope you all have a great Friday.  Anyone have any fun plans for tonight?

Go Girl Sport Running Skirt Review and Giveaway

 Go Sports Wear was founded by two active women (love it).  They bill it as "the athletic brand for women who dare to be different".  (love that too)  I got into running skirts last year.  Before that I had always snubbed them.  One day I bought one at Target and fell in love.  I finally got brave enough to wear it to a race at the last race I did of 2010.  I loved it. I couldn't wait to race again and to get more skirts.  So my natural pick from Go Sports was their skirt!  I picked the jade color because I want more color in my running attire.  My first though when I pulled it out was "I love the jade color"  The colored part on the skirt is mesh and underneath are little shorts.

I haven't run in it yet because I am having some shin pain  :(can you guess which one hurts?)   but I did take it for a test drive on my elliptical and so far we are best friends.   There is one pocket in the front for a key or gels or chapstick. 

It is shorter than I thought it was going to be, but I am 5'8" so it won't be so short on a shorter person.   I think the length is no shorter than most running shorts though.  Personally I think it is a great length for racing

 My main goal here is to show off the little logo on the back of the skirt, because I think it is really cute! I love the mesh inserts on the skirt and I think the design is fun and different from others that I have seen.  That is a major bonus with me.  I don't like to race in the same thing as everyone else.  I guess I like to stand out  :)

 I also did some lunges and squats in the skirt to make sure me and the little shorts were really going to get along.  We still do! My cat Tip didn't care so much about that.  He is begging for some food here.  The raccoons got into the shed and ate all the cat food.  Lucky for the Tipster I had some in the house too.  He doesn't like to miss a meal.

 This is me contemplating running in the skirt.  I was good and came inside to write this review instead and ice my leg a little more.   I have been keeping my running shoes off, so I am not tempted to run.  I am determined to rest it some more. 

 Here is what they have to say about the skirt now that you have heard my little bit

Don't save this skirt for a black tie event! The Tuxedo Skort is great for racing, hiking or kickin' it at the gym - and destined to be a staple in your athletic wear wardrobe. This flattering design features a low rise waistline with a wide band to keep things smooth. Front and back mesh panels will keep you cool and pique the interest of those around you. Attached 3" inseam boy short has offset seams, sewn outward to avoid chafing.

EDIT!  They are offering my readers 20% off !!  All you have to do is enter 20SHEGO when you check out!

I know not everyone loves running skirts as much as I do, but here is a great chance to try one for free or add another to your collection!

You can win one!

Here is how.  Leave a separate comment for each that you do!
1. Mandatory!  be a follower of this blog and tell me so in a comment.
2. Check out their website HERE and tell me your favorite thing.
3. Like them on FB HERE or follow them on Twitter HERE leave a comment for each
4. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about the giveaway.  Leave a comment for each

Bonus Entries

5. Vote for me HERE for Team Refuel.  You can get another entry for every day that you vote.  You can vote once a day per computer.  Just type Christy in the search box and vote!  Thanks


Contest ends 10-04-2011 with the winner being announced on the following day.

Go Sport gave me this skirt free of charge but the opinions expressed are truly my very own.

Shin + Pain = Not Good

I haven't run very much since the half marathon on the 18th.  A couple of easy runs and a 5k.  I haven't run because I have been having shin pain and I am not really sure what to do about it. There is no definitive sore spot.  The tibialis anterior if anything has some pain when I massage it but nothing major. It doesn't hurt to flex my foot up or down.  Walking up stairs is barely painful.  It gets my attention but doesn't alter my gait.
 

  But when I run or jump on the leg I feel pain.  It goes away once I am warmed up and I don't even notice it after a mile or so.  It does not get worse at the end of, during or after the run.  I am at a loss about what to do.  It doesn't hurt when I do the elliptical machine so I have mostly been doing that, but the weather is nice and I would rather run outside.  I am trying to be patient about it, but I am not good at being patient.  There will be a sports medicine ortho surgeon at work tomorrow and hopefully I will be working with him so I can hit him up for advice.  I am trying to be optimistic.  At least all of the races I was really training for this summer are over!

I really want to run but I don't want to make it worse.  Anti-inflammatories can completely mask the pain to the point where I can jump with no pain.  I don't want to use them though and do activities that can make the underlying problem worse. 

Any thoughts or advice?  Anyone have this before?  Everything I have read on a stress fracture says if you have one you should be able to pinpoint a sore spot on your tibia.  I don't have a sore spot so hopefully that is not the issue! It isn't really sounding like the classic shin splints either so not really sure what to think!

ps if you could click on THIS link and vote for me for Team Refuel it could really brighten my day!  Thanks!, now I am off to pick crab apples to make some jelly!

Winnings, Kids and self timers

My kids discovered how fun the self timer on my camera is.  Little Cowboy took like 50 of these and was really proud because they look scary.  He does look kind of scary.

Little Cowgirl took a different approach

and threw in some crazy dance moves.  I think she gets these from me.

My  right shin has been hurting at the start of my runs for about a week now  :(  I did a super easy 5.5 miles yesterday but decided to go low impact today with 67 minutes on the elliptical and then did  the Hot Body Workout.  Surprisingly the side lunge jumps did not bother my shin, other wise I was going to substitute in something else. I could tell I have been slacking on my upper body workouts lately the reptile pushups about did me in. 

Now on to the fun winnings!

 I won this MONTHS ago and had nearly forgot about it.  So I was very surprised when I finally got it in the mail Saturday.  Lots of interesting info and small enough to carry in my purse to take to restuarants. I was not happy to see that something I sometimes order at Applebees packs a  whopping 1310 calories and I thought it was just chicken, rice and veggies!

 I won these cds in a jumping photo contest over at Fast Cory's  where I was voted best jumper in the world lol.  Beautiful and awesome.  I haven't listened to the Silent Night one yet.  I am waiting for a little closer to Christmas for that one. They are mostly solo piano featuring Cory himself.  You can check out his music website HERE  I recommend it!  Thanks Cory!

 I entered a bunch of drawings at the expo for the race I did Saturday  and I won the grand prize from the Visalis booth.  I won a single serve blender, a 30 serving bag of their Nutritional Shake Mix with non GMO soy protein.  It can be used as a meal replacement (doubt I would use it like that) or as a snack.  It can also be added to oatmeal etc for added protein.  I will probably use it as a snack and additive.  I also got some energy drink samples and flavor additive samples in strawberry, orange, banana, peach and chocolate. 

 and wooo hoo after I had this post all typed up and ready to be published in the morning I found out I  won the Allied Medal Displays giveaway over at The Athletatarian! 
So excited!  I was just looking at my medals this morning thinking I needed a place to hang them!  :)  The funny thing is she won my Aspaeris pivot shorts giveaway recently!  If you don't read her blog you should check her out.  She is super cute and enthusiastic and has lots of fun giveaways. 

On a fun note, yesterday I whined about losing a follower, but I ended up gaining four! Too funny!   Thanks to Arena, Cortney and Ed and Running for the Kitchen for making up for the pooper pants that quit me.  and thanks to all my other followers that are still with me I would be sad to lose any of you.  You would be sad too,I have some fun giveaways coming up soon I promise!

and here it is the reminder to please send a vote my way over at Team Refuel .  Some people have asked if there is any way to see how I am standing in the voting.. as far as I know there is not.  Nail biting!

Which of my three prizes do you think is the coolest?
I am going the say the Cory Reese cds!

Running Like a Girl

Happy Monday!  I was so excited last night for the premiere of a new season of the Amazing Race.  I think that show would be so FUN to be on, unless I would have to bungee jump or eat something really gross.  And coming later this week is all new Survivor!  Yay for fall TV!

A friend sent me a few pictures from the race Saturday.  This was coming towards the finish line, I was pooped!  I thought I did worse than last year at this race, but I went and looked at my times yesterday and turns out I was faster than year.  I like it!

There was a tornado last Father's Day in 2010 at the race location which is also the county fairgrounds so they are just finishing up repairs to the parking lot.  I think everything else has been fixed.  Montana isn't really in tornado alley but we get them occasionally.  No one was hurt and it ripped the roof off of the arena.  Luckily there was nothing going on although the night before there had been a big concert.

Hi I am Christy and I am addicted to racing!

And a daily reminder to please send me a vote for Team Refuel.  I feel like such a pain in the ass begging for votes everyday, but I really want this!  Go HERE, put Christy in the search box and click on me (I am wearing a bright yellow shirt) and then the VOTE button.  THANKS A MILLION!!  I appreciate every vote. You can vote once a day until October 15th, which seems like forever from now but I know will come really fast.

I just noticed I lost a follower..boo.  Too bad for them I have some fun giveaways coming up soon! I guess you either love me or you don't  :)

What fall TV show has you most excited? 
It's a toss up between the Amazing Race and Survivor

Anything fun over the weekend?
A 5k race!

Does it make you sad when you lose a follower?
Maybe at first but I do understand. I have dropped some blogs too along the way.  You can't please everyone!

We ran like girls! Run Like A Girl 5k Race Recap

 I wasn't sure if I was going to do this race because  yesterday I was having a lot of pain in my shin when I ran.  So I iced it last night and wore my compression socks to bed and took an anti inflammatory.  It was a little sore this morning but quit hurting as soon as I got warmed up and now 4 hours after the race it still feels good.  I got a yellow Team Sparkle Skirt that matched the shirt in a most awesome way.  My friend BranDee who is very crafty made one for my daughter.  And one for my sister and her daughter.

 and one for her friend Stacey and her daughter and one for herself and three for her daughters.  Very fun to all match.  We got tons of compliments on the skirts. Now I want one in every color! I also love this race shirt.  Girl cut, a fun design and pretty colors.

 BranDee and her daughters also found some very fun socks.

 After the race they had a women's expo we could go through and breakfast. 

 I wasn't going to wear this headband but my niece insisted!

 My sister Jami and her daughter. My sister was super awesome and pushed my daughter Avery and her on in my double stroller.  After I finished I went back and ran in with them.

I ended up 3rd overall and 1st in my age group although they didn't have any awards just some door prizes which I didn't win.  We did get a bag full of goodies like lotion, tea, a candle and some shower gel.  Super fun.  I got a teal scarf at the expo.

The course was an out and back along a walking path the overlooked the river.  It was really pretty but there was a distinct sewage smell for about half a mile of it.  The course had 2 biggish hills and lots of smaller rolling hills.  My time was Garmin time was 22:42 for a distance of 3.22, average pace of 7:02.  I was hoping for a little faster but am not disappointed with my time.  My lower calves are very tight and sore from the half marathon I did Sunday.   The first two girls were quite a ways in front of me and no one was close behind me so it was hard to stay super motivated.  I like to be pushed by other runners.  Not a very exciting recap I know, but I did have a lot of fun!


I have another 5k I am thinking of doing next weekend.  After that there really isn't anything for a long time  :(  I am planning to wear my Team Beef shirt again next weekend.  I really like that shirt! :)
and a reminder to please vote for me for Team Refuel if you have a minute and thank you so much!!!  Just type Christy in the search box.  I have on a bright bright yellow shirt! 

I love race pictures

This first picture is about a quarter of a mile from the starting line.  I think it would have been a pretty good picture IF my EYES would have been OPEN!  I looked up and smiled for the photo guy right after this but just as I did he put his camera down. 
Bummer

The next two pictures are about 4 miles from the end.  I don't remember exactly where, but I know I didn't put on my sunglasses until the last 5 miles.

I was starting to feel tired but also holding a blistering (for me) 7:14ish and under pace. 

Aww I almost smiled in this one.  I was having so much fun!

And coming in to the finish, the kid behind me almost passed me, but didn't.  HA! Although I think another 10 feet and he would have.  Close call with almost being duded!



Another thing I forgot to mention in my race recap was that tons of the volunteers along the way were dressed up in Halloween costumes.  It made it so fun to run along and see all the fun costumes on the road guards and water station people.  Awesome touch awesome.

There was also something that happened to me at mile 4.12 that I meant to remember, but I can't.  I can only remember mile 4.12.

I do recommend this course for anyone wanting a fast time or a personal best.  It is mostly downhill with 3 areas of uphill they aren't that rough.  You could tell the people that weren't used to training on hills.  I passed quite a few people going up the hills.  YAY for all the hills I run on!

Please don't forget to vote for me on Team Refuel HERE if you have a spare minute.  Your votes are making me so happy.    Thank you all so so much!

Now what to do?

I have not run yet since the half marathon.  I am a little sore in my quads, calves, transverse abdominal muscles  and my trapezious muscles.  I have been on my elliptical 40 minutes Monday and 20 minutes Tuesday.  I also did a BodyRock workout both days.  I keep thinking a should be resting but I just have all this energy and want to do something!   I did the Abs Now Workout Tuesday and the Workout For the Lovers Monday.  Today I am hoping to venture out for an easy run.  The next two days will be rest days as I have to go to work.  Then Saturday I have a 5k race.  It will be the last race on my schedule for the year.  I find that a little sad and a little relieving after having such a busy racing schedule the last 6 months.  It will be nice for awhile to just enjoy my runs and not have any pressure on myself to get in speed workouts and long runs.

I am looking forward to resuming 4 or more Bodyrock workouts a week.  I have only been doing 1 or 2 a week just due to busy running schedule and not wanting to be sore or tired for races.  What I am not looking forward to is winter and running in the snow and freezing wind and icy roads.   :(  Seems like I waited all winter last year for it to be spring and now October is coming and it always snows in October at least one big heavy wet one and it is all downhill from there. 

I just started reading Chi Running.  I got the book a month ago but didn't want to start reading it until after the half marathon.  I didn't want to mess with my form so close to a big race.  I am finding the book interesting so far.  Anyone out there read it or practice Chi Running?  I would love to hear about anyone's  personal experience with it.  I think I will try it out next week and see how I like it and how different it is from how I run now. 

Yesterday was my son's 5th birthday.  5 years old.  So hard to believe, seems like just last week I brought him home from the hospital, totally amazed they just let you walk out of there with a baby when you have no idea what you are doing with one.  Putting on a diaper felt awkward. I wasn't good at swaddling him up.  I was so scared and excited and sore and happy.

My belly was like a basketball,  I look like crap and my belly was never the same.

Ready to go home

Growing

Sweetest little boy ever!

Feet barely reaching the stirrups.

5 years old! Notice his sister in the background with the dance moves

What do you look forward to after a long training cycle?

What do you miss most when not training for a race?

Did you vote for me today for Team Refuel?    
I would appreciate it if you did!  Thanks so much to everyone who has taken a minute out of your day to vote for me. 

Want another chance to win a pair of Aspaeris shorts?  Go HERE to their FB page and leave them a comment.  A random winner will be chosen on 9-22. Or don't leave them a comment makes my chances of winning better  :)

On Pushing Limits

I always find myself picking apart a race after it happens, thinking about how I could have run faster.  I wonder if I should not pick it apart so much, but the truth is I think I learn how to run smarter by doing it and in turn run faster.  So far every half marathon, 10k, and 5 mile run I have done in the past 3 years has been faster than the one before it.  I know eventually that will stop and I am okay with that.  I know that I am getting older and eventually will start to slow up a little.

Maybe a better way to think about it is to accept the race, bask in the glory of the race, take it for what it was good or bad and look for ways to do better next time.  There are factors that are out of our control like the weather, but I can control my mental game and racing strategy.

I was thinking last night about how much stronger I am mentally while racing than I was in high school.  I did cross country in high school and was okay but not really stellar.  I do remember that while racing I always went out way too fast and then spent the last half of the race struggling.  When I was tired sometimes I would just walk, big hills - hated them!  Now when I am tired I pull out a mantra, I dig deep, I focus on my breathing and keep putting one foot in front of the other till I get across the finish line.

I have pushed myself this year to a level I didn't think I was capable of. I always kind of figured that a 7 minute mile for a 5k was my limit.  I knew the McMillan calculator said I could pull off a half marathon below 1:40 but I wasn't really sure I could.  I always kind of figured myself a sprinter of short distances not really a half marathon kind of girl.  This year I exceeded my expectations at every distance I ran which leaves me wondering again like I was at this time last year. 

What more can I do.  

How much harder can I push my body.  

What are my limits?

How much faster can I really push these races?

The answers I don't know.  But I really hope to find out.

I do know that I am not going to think that I have limits, I am going to aim to break my barriers and get new PRs.  It won't be the end of the world if I do not, but pushing for them gives me motivation.    :)

Some great quotes

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

"Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you're young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don't let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself."-John Bingham, running speaker and writer

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'."
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

What motivates you?
Do you have barriers you have pushed past that you previously didn't think you were capable of?

P.S. If you have a minute and could please go HERE and vote for me, I would love you forever.  I would love to be a part of Team Refuel.  You can vote once a day per computer  :)  Thanks again.   Only 26 more days of me begging for votes : D

Montana Governor's Cup Half Marathon Race Recap

I wasn't real sure how the run was going to go today.  I have not felt a lot of mojo in my runs the last couple weeks, although I do know by now that the old race day adrenaline would kick in and give me some of that mojo.  I woke up at 2 am.  Ugh not a good time to wake up, I didn't have to be up for another three hours.  So I tried to go back to sleep and I tossed and turned and finally fell asleep around 4:15ish.  All the while I was laying there awake I had ONE song stuck in my head over and over this was it

Happiness, hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with a drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

Run fast for your mother run fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had
And what was left after that too. oh.


I would post the whole song but that would make this very long post even longer!

Yep.  Over and over it played in my head.  I couldn't decide if that was a bad thing or a good thing.  I knew it was on my playlist for the race though..more on that later.

I got to meet up with three people this morning I head never met, but knew who they were through mutual friends for a ride out to the start.  I wish I would have taken some pictures now because we arrived in style! They were driving the pickup truck that the Montana Stockgrowers Association will be giving away at the Stockgrowers convention in December.  I stole this picture from their Facebook page instead. Thanks to Scott and Stacey Hughes, and Sarah Werthheimer for making me a part of the team and making me really feel welcome.  I am excited to get to know them all better.

They also gave me a Team Beef tank to wear in the half marathon.  It was fun to be a part of the team and get to support the beef industry.  The shirts were the ones the team sponsored by the Montana Beef Council wore for Hood to Coast.  Maybe some of you that ran HTC saw them?  Keeping my fingers crossed that the Montana Beef Council decides this week to sponsor a team again and that I get to be on it  :)

It says "Beef it's what's for dinner. Running powered by BEEF!"

Team ZIP zinc iron protein

Perfect weather for the run this morning, it was 52 degrees and overcast, so it was chilly before we started but I knew once we got going I was going to love it!  We stood in line for the porta potties forever once we got there and I had about three minutes to spare once I got done with business.

Miles 1,2, and 3
splits 7:14, 7:29, and 7:33
The gun went off and I worked pretty hard to not go off too fast. I kept reminding myself to run my own race every time I wanted to go to fast because someone had passed me.  I really wanted to stay with Sarah, another girl on Team Beef, but she went out pretty fast so I let her go and kept reminding myself I had miles to catch her and to run my own race.  I didn't have my iPod on for the first couple miles.  I listened to my breathing.  It was steady and even and I felt pretty good.

Miles 4, 5, 6
splits 7:21, 7:39, 7:27
Still feeling good, starting to think about picking up the pace.  I saw a lot of people I knew along the route cheering for me and that I must say felt really great and made me so happy.  I thought about all the encouraging comments my fellow bloggers had left me this last week and turned my music on at the start of the 5th mile.  I also ate some chomps during the 5th mile.

Miles 7, 8, 9
splits 7:07, 7:30, 7:30
Mile 7 was pretty fast but it had a pretty good downhill and we went past where the 10k racers were lined up, which really gave me a boost.  After that I felt like I was fighting to hold on to my pace a little, but I also knew I had a PR in the bag if I could just hold on to anything faster than 8 minute miles.

Miles 10, 11, 12, 13, and .1
splits 7:13, 7:14, 7:14, 7:10 and 1:04
Here I remembered what Britt commented on my blog. I read it this morning as I was headed out the door.  She wrote "Best of luck to you girl! I know that there is a sub 1:40 in those legs. Run your heart out and have fun, enjoy being fast!"  AND that song came on my iPod.  You know that one that had been in my head for over 2 hours.  Yep the Dog Days Are Over.  I was determined that the song had been stuck in my head for a good reason and not a bad.  I picked up the pace, passed some more people and kept the energy up with a couple more chomps.  I felt amazing.  My legs were getting tired, but my breathing was good. My mantras for the last four miles became "Go hard or go home" and "Enjoy being fast"

  I crossed the finish line and saw my Garmin time of 1:36:51  I nearly cried.  It was a nearly four minute PR.  Official time is 1:37:06, I think the difference if from running through a tunnel and my Garmin paused, so I am going with official time.  Not sure which mile it was in, somewhere in the first half.  Comes out to about 7:22
I was 2nd in my age group, 9 overall female and 28th out of 380 half marathon finishers.  Very happy with how I did.

The medal they gave out even looks pretty good with my racing shoes!

 The finishers shirt! Not a great picture of it, but it is a Brooks technical shirt.  Sadly it is unisex not female.  I like it otherwise.

The kids were ecstatic to get to do their own race today too.  Little Princess ran her little heart out and I am pretty sure she tied for first.  Little Cowboy ran as hard as he could too in his cowboy boots and was right in the front too.  I was just so proud of them for giving it their all and being fast like their momma!

PS. if you haven't voted for me for Team Refuel HERE , could you please?  You can vote once a day until October 15th.   THANKS  :)

Gearing Up!

I picked up my race packet yesterday, no big surprise that there wasn't a big expo or much swag, but I did get to meet Jeff Galloway!  But the bad bad blogger girl that I am I did not get a picture of me with him. Someday I will learn to be a better blogger! I thought about going back later when I realized what I had done, but I had things I had to get done.  No shirts at packet pickup instead you get it when you cross the finish line.  Little mixed on that but it is what it is.  I intend to finish and get the shirt!

We got a mp of the course, some Hammer Gel in Huckleberry flavor, some gloves, a bag with reflective stripes and our race number.  But we did also get 20% off clothing purchases at the local running store.  I may have invested in some cold weather running tights.  It is too warm to wear them now but winter is coming! 

I am going to be wearing my black Lululemon Run Speed skirt that I love so much, Garmin is charging as I write this.  My ipod is ready to go and I am going to use the playlist I used at the last half marathon I did. I haven't picked out a tank yet, still deciding!

They have record numbers at in the race this year.  There are over 450 in the half marathon, last year there was 412ish.  So that is awesome all the more people to aspire to pass, hopefully not be passed by  :)  I know 450 doesn't seem like  a lot to some of you, but for races around here that is HUGE!


And your daily reminder to please send a vote my way HERE and would love to be a part of Team Refuel!  You can vote once a day per computer.  Just type in my name and that is me in the bright yellow shirt with red hair..hard to miss  :)  Thank you so much to everyone who takes a minute out of their busy lives to vote.
  I love you all!

How do you feel about not getting your shirt until you get across the finish line?

Half Marathon Strategy, Votes Wanted, Aspaeris Winner!! oh and a blog hop!

The first half marathon I ran I went out with pretty aggressive 7:20 splits for the first three miles.  My goal for the race was to finish close to 1:40, so the pace was ahead of schedule, but I had a hard time not starting out like a gazelle and why not,   I felt good, it was still fairly cool out and I was so excited to do my first half marathon.  I wanted to rock it.   6 miles into it I was struggling along with the rolling hills in the 75 degree and rapidly warming heat with 8:30 splits.  I had skipped the first water station that was three miles in and brought no energy gel with me.  I stopped and gulped the water great fully at the half way point and walked a little for the first time. I was being passed left and right. By the time I finished I averaged 8:47 splits, had walked some every mile and was very discouraged. .  I was hot, dehydrated. miserable and pretty sure I was never going to run a half marathon again EVER!  Why would I?  I was hating the run from even before the half way point. My time was 1:55:35.  Not a bad time I know, just not what I was expecting and I felt defeated mentally and physically.

Of course I did sign up again a week later for another half marathon in two months.  Why wouldn't I?  I needed redemption.  I needed to prove to myself I could do it.  I could run a smarter race and have a much better time.  I was not going to let one bad race ruin the distance for me. If so many other people loved doing it, surely there must be more to it than I had experienced.

I looked at all the things I did wrong

• went out way too fastA slow early pace conserves greater stores of glycogen, whereas fast early pace depletes glycogen supplies at a horrendous rate-a critical concern in any race over 5K. The rapid glycogen burn results in a large increase in lactic acid-translating into a much slower pace.
  Jeff Galloway, in his book Galloway's Book on Running, claims that for every second you run too fast in the first 3 miles, you'll run as much as 10 seconds slower per mile at the end in a 10K. Presumably, in an extended event like the half marathon, the slow down will be more dramatic than this.
  Thus, a moderate early (even) pace or negative split race minimizes the threat of glycogen depletion and reduces your chances of premature exhaustion-your energy is economically burnt during the entire race. 
• did not hydrate well for the heat or at all.  It is recommended that runners consume about 6-8 oz of water for every 20 minutes of running
• No gels:  some people say you don't need them for a half marathon, but I find them beneficial if not physically then mentally.  I like to use Shot bloks or chomps. I find they go down better than gels for me.  I like water to wash them down, so I find wearing a hydration belt is helpful. 

I revised my strategy based on research I did. 

• HYDRATE at EVERY water station
• Bring some energy gel, take at miles 5 and 9
• Do not go out like a gazelle
• Try to get a negative split (first half slightly slower than the last half)

It also helped that it was 42 degrees.  I averaged 7:47 splits for a time of 1:41:07.  A nearly 14 minute PR.  AH redemption tasted sweet.  Suddenly I loved the distance.  I had felt great the whole way through. The slower start meant that a lot of people were ahead of me, but I steadily picked of women and was only passed the whole time by one other girl.  That felt awesome.

Sunday I have my fourth half marathon and you can bet I am excited about it!  It is the race that got my picture in Runner's World in July.  Do you see me in the blue shirt and hat on the right behind the sunflowers?

I applied for a Team Refuel grant and you can help me by voting for me HERE.  The voting period lasts a month and will run to October 15th.  So I will be begging for you all to send votes my way as you can vote once a day!  I encourage all of you to apply for the grants also.  I think they will have three more rounds of handing out the grants.  They can be for an individual or a team.   You would all make me so happy if you sent a vote my way! 

Finally linking up with Fitness Friday Blog hop over at Life..As I see It.  Click here to check it out

And the moment you have all been waiting for (could this post get any longer?)  the lucky winner of their very own Aspaeris pivot shorts is...

could this be you?  Dog not included..

Plug in the numbers...hit enter

 Winner is

Christina is awesome, you can check her out here.  Besides being super cute she has a fun blog and has had some really great giveaways lately..  None of which I have won, but I won't hold that against her. :) Congrats Christina  (she also has a really awesome name)(I am really a Christina on my birth certificate but I don't know that I have ever gone by that name)

Tell me you favorite, best, craziest whatever racing strategy  for a half marathon.  If you have not ran one just tell me your favorite, best strategy for racing in general!

Begging and Thanks in Advance!

I wasn't going to post again today but then Elle  told me she VOTED for me on Team Refuel today!  So I had to write another post to BEG for votes.  Hopefully you don't get too tired of me asking  :) because I might be begging asking you for votes.  I would feel a lot worse about begging but I have voted for a lot of people for things like Circle of Moms and the last round of Team Refuel so I don't feel too bad. I really would appreciate all the votes I can get though.  There will be three more grant periods and I encourage you all to apply for one of the next three rounds. I would definitely send votes your way :) The voting period runs from the 15th of this month until the 15th of next month.

Here is how you can vote go to  http://www.refuelwithchocolatemilk.com/grants/vote/            search for Christy  or just find the above picture of me, and click on me and then click on the VOTE button.  You can vote once a day per computer.    Each month they will sponsor 5 individual athletes and 5 athletic groups.  Individuals win a $250 grant.  Plus they become a member of Team Refuel and get a little prize pack with some cool training gear. 

Three Things for Thursday

1.First of all ~ Happy birthday today to my sweetheart! ~ I love birthdays. Not only is it a special day to celebrate someone, BUT I get to eat cake!  Win win situation as far as I am concerned!  Rance wants Better then Sex Cake (not sure what he is trying to tell me with that :)  I found a great recipe for it HERE  so that will be my afternoon project. 

Happy Birthday!

2. Yesterday I took the kids to Candy Town because Cade wants a Candyland cake for his birthday.  I made made his sister one for her birthday once and the kids thought it was pretty cool

 I love Candy Town! Bin after bin of all that sweet sugary goodness!  Yum!

 Here is the cake I made last time, it is the pink version on Candyland, not very precise but the kids LOVED it and I would have to say so did I. I had to taste test the candy before I could put it on. 

 3. I woke up this morning with a frog in my throat type of voice.  Not good.  I feel okay otherwise but with a half marathon in three days this is NOT want I want to be going on.  My kids have both had a cold, and my sister and her kids, so I kind of expected something to come along I was just really hoping it would wait until AFTER the half marathon.  My sister had a it bad in the sinuses  :(  Hoping this stays mild and just goes away.  I have been amping up on the Vitamin C.  Think maybe I will have chicken soup for lunch and try to get to bed early tonight.

Any great advice for running a half marathon with a cold?  Any great medication advice?   Trying not to worry about it too much at this point but I just really want to rock this half marathon. 

Also going to be working on my playlist any great suggestions? I don't listen to the radio a whole lot so I never know about new songs when they come out until I randomly hear them somewhere.  The radio in my car is fritzing out and so I keep it on one station (country) but I don't race to country. 

One more day left to enter my Aspaeris pivot short giveaway! Trust me these are awesome shorts!