When I began running, completing the distance of a 5k was a huge milestone for me. (Some days it still is!) Never in a million years did I think that I would be preparing to run my first marathon in a little over a week.

What’s funny is that when I would bump into my non-running friends some of them would say, “So I hear you’re running marathons now?”.  My instant thought was, “I am??”. Of course, I knew what they meant  – “I see you posting constantly on Facebook about running so obviously you are one of those maniacs that run like Forrest Gump.” -  but I was quick to correct them. “No, no, no. I don’t run marathons. That’s 26.2 miles…nope, not me.”

~Insert nervous laugh here.~

So… here I am, counting the days down until March 4.

I’m still without the 26.2 under my belt but I have gone as far as 20 and it.was.ugly. I think I didn’t take in enough sodium or something because I was cramping like I’ve never cramped before. In fact, if it had been race day, I couldn’t have gone one step more. My body closed down shop and was finished. Of course, that is haunting me now and I’m desperately trying to figure out how to make sure that it doesn’t happen next weekend. *Btw, if you have any suggestions, please let me know!*

I have tons of respect for the runners that have gone before me: the fast, the slow, the walkers, the ones dressed up in a full mascot costumes. If you’ve done it, I tip my cap to you. What people don’t understand, and I’m talking about non-runners and runners that haven’t experienced long distance running, there is so much more involved in running super-long distances than just throwing on your shoes and going for a run. On my long run days, I start preparing the day before. I eat and drink a certain way and start preparing myself mentally. The day of my long run, it’s on my mind constantly. I practice in my head how far I will go and even imagine myself at the turn around. (I’ve run that trail so many times that I know where most turn around spots are for each distance.)  I pack my SPIbelt like I’m going on a little trip and wear a headlamp on my head. I make sure the older kids (who are watching the little ones) understand that I will be gone “x” amount of hours and I’ll either have something ready for everyone to eat for dinner or I’ll pick up something on the way home. I bring treats with me (Chocolate Zico coconut water, a banana &/or a Cliff Bar) for when I finish my run so I can eat right away. And even if it wasn’t a great run, I leave with a feeling of calmness and accomplishment. It all sounds crazy when I’m typing it out…. and maybe I am a little but I love it!

I’m nervous, excited, worried, hopeful, scared, curious and really, really in awe that some folks can actually run these things in the amount of time I can run a half, lol.

My goal is simple: Just finish.

If I can finish with a smile on my face and that medal around my neck, I will be pleased.

If you have any advice or helpful tips, I’m all ears!! Don’t forget to check out my GU giveaway that’s going on right now!!

Hopefully, you’ve already read my review on the GU sampler pack that I received but if you haven’t you can click here and read it now.

Now here’s your chance to win your very own Performance Energy Sampler from GU!

Here’s how to enter:

1.   Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment to let me know.  Already a follower?  Check in with a comment on this post. (+2 entries)

2.   Become GU’s fan on Facebook. (Let them know I sent you!) Leave your Facebook name on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

3.   Follow GU on Twitter. (Please let them know I sent you.) Leave your Twitter nickname on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

4. Tell me which GU product is your favorite or which one would you like to try? (+2 entries)

Optional/Extra Entries:

1.    Follow me on Twitter.  Leave Twitter nickname in comments on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

2.   Become a fan of Slow is the New Fast’s Facebook page. Leave your Facebook name on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

3.   Spread the word about this giveaway via Twitter or Facebook.  Leave a comment on this post and let me know. (+3 entries for each one)

4.   Announce this giveaway on your own blog, and let me know. (Leave a link to your blog, please!) (+5 entries)

5.   Add me to your blogroll. Leave a comment and let me know. (+2 entries)

That’s it! Giveaway ends on Thursday, March 1st and I will announce the winner on Friday, March 2nd.

Please remember to leave a separate comment for each entry and please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA or Canada. The winner will be notified via email, they will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

If you would like to sponsor a giveaway on my blog (or you know someone that does) please contact me by sending me an email to gcmjjm03@gmail.com.  I will always disclose whether or not the giveaway is sponsored by someone else or if it is one of my very own.

When I first began running, fueling was the last thing on my mind. My biggest concern was running my 3 or 4 miles, sometimes 6 and that was that. I honestly had no clue what was involved when I decided to train for a half marathon! 

The wonderful folks at GU sent me a sampler pack that blew my mind! I had no clue they had so many products! It took me awhile to work my way through the inventory but thanks to half marathon and now full marathon training, it’s safe to say I’ve had a good sampling of everything.

Original GU Gels:

These take a little getting used to and you may have to try a few to find out what taste works for you. The one that tasted the best to me was the Chocolate Outrage. I actually thought that would be the one that I wouldn’t like but one afternoon when I was out on a long run with my husband, he opened it, took a taste (loved it) and insisted I try.  I couldn’t believe how good it tasted!

Here’s what GU says about their Original gels:

Energize:
A shot of fast-acting natural fructose (fruit sugar) goes straight to work building your energy levels back up while the maltodextrin is quickly absorbed and sent to your muscles. Vital electrolytes keep your blood chemistry in line and hydration levels stable. Calcium keeps your muscles humming and caffeine adds an extra kick to your power.

Sustain:
Complex carbs in the form of maltodextrin (70-80% of the complex/simple carbohydrates blend) help you maintain glucose levels over time. Citrates (potassium citrate, sodium citrate and citric acid) help speed the conversion of these carbs into energy molecules and mitigate performance-sapping acid build-up in muscles. Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, valine and isoleucine, serve as another fuel source, aid in recovery and can improve mental performance and reduce fatigue by limiting the central nervous system’s production of serotonin. Histidine, an essential amino acid, acts alongside the citrates as a buffer that helps neutralize lactic acid build-up in muscles.

Recover:
Antioxidant vitamins C & E defend muscles from assault by free radicals. Chamomile works as an anti-inflammatory during and after exercise. Ginger soothes the stomach. Sea salt supplies a host of minerals.

The world’s first energy gel is still the most efficient source of premium fuel available to athletes today. The original idea behind GU was to find the quickest way to deliver an appropriate amount of calories to an athlete during competition without upsetting his or her stomach. Since then, the formula has been tweaked and upgraded to take advantage of feedback from GU’s elite athletes and the latest scientific discoveries. In addition to supplying the body with high-quality calories and electrolytes to keep it going, GU mitigates the energy-sapping effects of lactic-acid build-up, optimizes energy production, aids recovery by replenishing muscle glycogen stores and allows for greater mental focus through delayed onset of fatigue signals from the central nervous system. Yep, that’s all in one packet of GU.

Roctane Ultra Endurance Gels:

These gels have the same texture as the original gels but contains scientifically advanced ingredients for better performance. Which basically means – they are supercharged!

Here’s what GU says about Roctane Gels:

We added more of everything that makes GU Energy Gel the category leader and added a few more things for ultra distance and high intensity efforts resulting in the most efficient, high performance gel you can use in training and racing.

What’s in it?

Each packet (serving) contains 100 calories of easy to digest simple and complex carbohydrates, electrolytes, amino acids and caffeine to fuel extreme endeavors:

• Ideal carbohydrate ratio - Unique ratio of complex and simple carbohydrates are podium-proven to better maintain glucose levels than simple or complex carbs alone
• More key electrolytes - Sodium and potassium properly maintain hydration
• More Branch Chain Amino Acids (Leucine, Valine, Isoleucine) - Shown to serve as a fuel source (when taken with carbohydrates), reduce muscle damage, enhance recovery and delay fatigue – all critical during intense or long efforts
• More Histidine (an Essential Amino Acid) - Acts as a buffer to prevent accumulation of lactic acid in muscles during exercise
• More Caffeine – Proven to stimulate the central nervous system and reduce pain perception leading to prolonged exercise and delayed fatigue
• Ornithine Alpha-Ketaglutarate (OKG) -  formulated to support recovery by helping block the catabolic effects of various hormones that cause muscle trauma

How is it different from GU Energy Gel?

Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel contains more of the ingredients that matter during long or intense activity while still being based on the proven ratio of simple and complex carbohydrates found in GU Energy Gel.

• 3 times more Branched Chain Amino Acids
• 10 times more Histidine
• 1-2 times more caffeine
• 2-3 times more electrolytes
• Ornithine Alpha-Ketaglutarate (OKG)

How do I use it?

Roctane Ultra Endurance Gel can be used alone or in conjunction with other GU Energy and Roctane products.

Chomps:

I love the Chomps! They are like gummies with an attitude! I usually eat more of these than anything else. “Eat” is the keyword here because sometimes I really want to chew on something instead of drink it. They can be a little bit sticky but it doesn’t really bother me. I really like the orange and the watermelon flavors.

Here’s GU’s description of Chomps:

GU Chomps deliver the premium ingredients and performance benefits you’ve come to expect from
GU Energy products:
• Amino acids for added focus, rippin’ energy and speedy recovery.
• Vitamin C + E, those mighty antioxidants that combat tissue breakdown.
• Sodium and potassium to restore electrolyte balance.
• Exclusive blend of complex and simple carbohydrates.

Brew Electrolyte Tablets:

These tablets are easy to use and you can bring them along with you. They have a light flavor, that I liked but if you aren’t used to these type of tablets, you might have to give them a few tries to let your taste adjust. You can use them before, during or after your run.

Here’s GU’s description of their Brew Tablets:

PROPER HYDRATION includes supplementing water with electrolytes DURING activity, but it is not limited ONLY to periods of actual training and racing.

OPTIMAL HYDRATION takes place in the days and weeks before an event or after a hard workout. Use GU Brew Electrolyte Tablets whenever, wherever, and you’ll see a boost in preparation, sustenance, as well as recovery.

SIMPLY, electrolytes improve the efficacy of the hydration process. They are invariably better than water alone and bring your system into balance more quickly by helping you retain more of the liquid you ingest. GU BREW ELECTROLYTE TABLETS are simple, light tasting and natural. Compare to the alternatives.

GU Electrolyte Brew:

This is basically the powdered version of the tablets and it works great too. Just mix it into your half-full water bottle, shake it up, top it off with more water and you’re ready to go!  I really liked the Lemon Lime Flavor.

Here’s what GU says about their GU Brew:

Advanced Hydration
GU Electrolyte Brew is water’s new best friend. The fact is, when you work out you sweat more than just water. So when you drink you gotta have a special Brew with the right amounts of sodium, potassium and carbohydrates to bring your system back into balance. Used consistently, GU Brew will help you perform better and go longer.

Simpler is Better
No gimmicky additives here. GU Brew is as simple as they come – with just a handful of key ingredients. Complex and simple carbs in optimal balance, vital electrolytes at the proper levels for intense exercise, and all-natural flavors. Simple. This means the product is easy on your stomach and will keep you focused on reaching your goals in training and racing.

Great Flavors / Not Too Sweet
If you are looking for a sugar bomb, look elsewhere. Loyal GU athletes rave about the lightly sweet taste of our Electrolyte Brew.

My husband also wrote a short review about his experiences with GU Gels and Chomps:

“I’m currently training for my first full marathon, so finding something quick and easy to consume on the run was a necessity. When Gina got a sampler pack from the GU company, she was gracious enough to share with me so I could give my opinion on the product. Well…my first sampling was Lemon Sublime on a long, tiring run when I was desperately in need of a pick me up; but, what I got was a shock to my system. I really struggled with the consistency and taste.Struggling to shake the feeling that I was eating some horrible toothpaste, I tried to finish it, but was unable to. Luckily, Gina also got some samples of GU Chomps. Now this was a different experience all together. The taste was great(watermelon and peach tea) and it was a little reward that I would give myself as the miles rolled by. I did wish that they were a little less sticky sometimes, when I was trying to fish them out of the packet; however, this was worth the effort when I finally popped them in my mouth!

Not quite ready to write off the GU gels altogether, I finally got up the nerve to try another one day. After hearing from some fellow runners at a 5K that the Chocolate Outrage GU gels were good, I decided to give it a try. Preparing myself for the worst, I ripped the pack open and tried a little…then a little more…and then a lot more! It was like this gel was made by Betty Crocker! I had found MY gel! Since this time, I have also tried the Vanilla Bean and Espresso Love flavors and found them to be great as well. I recently used a couple of packs of GU gels during a half-marathon, and plan on stocking up before I tackle my first full in March.”

Ok, now that you’ve read about all of these great products, how would you like to win a Performance Energy Sampler from GU?

Click here!

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

I’ll answer questions in the order that I received them.

Here is how it works:

1. Post these rules.

2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.

4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Random Things About Me:

1. I LOVE shoes but I have very large feet – size 12 (11 sometimes). I’ve always had trouble finding shoes that fit me because all of the cute shoes don’t usually go up that high in size. Unfortunately, if they do have them, when they are super enlarged, that don’t look that “cute” anymore, lol. I’m always so excited when I find the exact running shoes that I want in my size and don’t have to get the men’s style.

2. I have really curly hair but it only became this way after my last 2 children were born. My hair was wavy before but now it’s out of control!! I don’t really like how it looks on me so I straighten it constantly. Of course, as soon as I sweat or go outside in the humidity, it curls again. Sigh.

3. I broke my arm while out for a run November 1, 2011 and I had to have a metal plate with screws put in it. On November 19, 2011, I ran in a 5k race. It hurt like heck but it was for a good cause to help a very sick lady. My time wasn’t that great but I showed myself that I can do whatever I put my mind to.

Getting a pic with my friend, The Fittest Fat Chick, after the race.

4. I eat ketchup with my scrambled eggs.

5. I chew the same type of gum (Orbit peppermint) every time I run and I freak out just a little a lot if I forget it or have to chew a different flavor.

6. My favorite super hero when I was little was Wonder Woman. I would dress up in my Wonder Woman Underoos with my golden lasso (gold jump rope) and watch her tv show. Ok, I still love Wonder Woman. In fact, I dressed up as her in the Jazz Half Marathon in New Orleans last October!

7. I love Scrabble and finding out about Words with Friends a few weeks ago has been like Christmas for me, lol! I currently have 16 games going on right now with various friends. Is that normal? I hope so.

8. I didn’t go to Disney World for the first time until I was 30 yrs old. I cried when I saw the castle, when we watched the fireworks, when I had my picture made with Mickey and when we had to leave. We’ve gone back twice after that and I still cry, especially when it’s time to leave.

9. I took voice lessons for 8 years and during that time, a little 4 yr old girl and her sisters started taking lessons too. Her name is Lacey Chabert. After she got older she played the little girl in Party of Five, was one of the daughters in Lost in Space, was of the Mean Girls and was in Daddy Day Care. I tweeted her last week and she messaged back and remembered me after all these years. Kinda cool!

10. I’d like to go back to school one day and become a psychologist – even though I might be 70 when I find time to do it, haha. I love to listen to people and try to help them (if they want it). I also love meteorology but I think psychology is better suited for me.

11. I cry at parades. Not just at Disney World. All of them. I don’t know why but I do.  :p

Journey of a Canuck Mom on the Run’s Questions for me:

4.  If you could travel to anyplace right now without worrying about finances or how long you are gone, where would you go? Why? Wow, that’s a really hard question. Since time and finances wouldn’t be an issue…..(U.S) I’d love to go and stay in Florida for a few months and go to our favorite places, like Disney World and Destin but also hit up the other wonderful parts of FL too. Then, I want to go back to Colorado and spend time there. I’d go to California and go to Beverly Hills (to shop) and Hollywood. I’d also go see the Grand Canyon since I’d be on that side of the U.S. (Worldwide) I’d love to go to Ireland, England, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. I’d also like to go to Australia.

6.  What song always makes you happy when you hear it?  Why? It’s a tie. I’ll post the 2 videos and let you decide. There’s a Playtpus Controlling Me & Candace Party

9.  Do you have any pets?  What are they are? Oh yes. We have 3 outside dogs that are all rescues. Two came to our home and we took them in. My husband found the 3rd one, Jake, by the side of the road. He was teeny tiny and barely had any hair. He was starved and was going to die. He called me and I met him at a gas station, took him to the vet and started a rigorous routine of  weekly vet visits, getting shots, dips and getting well. He’s now one of the healthiest, most beautiful dogs I’ve seen. Inside we have 2 kitties – Wubzy (orange tabby) and Jasper (gray tabby) who are like night and day, btw and 1 new puppy, a Maltese named Buddy. (I’ll post a picture or two…or 3…)

Buddy

Wubzy

Jasper

Jake

11. Name someone you would love to meet right now, who is currently living?  Why would you like to meet them? I think I’d like to meet Will Ferrell and ask him about his running and the training he does. Seriously! I’m sure he’d make it funny but I’m really curious. I couldn’t run with him though…he’s faster than me.

Larissa Milano Fitness’ Questions:

1. How long have you been running and what made you start?  It will be 2 years on February 8. I don’t know what made me start. I didn’t start out trying to train myself to run. I started walking to try and improve my health and it was a natural progression.

2. What is the farthest place that you have traveled to? The Portuguese Azores. I lived on the island of Terceira.

3. Favorite race that you have run? The Jazz Half Marathon in New Orleans. (10/29/11)

4. Favorite thing to do on a rainy day? Take a nap.

5. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why? Since Canuck Mom asked me who I’d like to meet that’s alive, I’ll go with who I’d like to meet that’s dead. I think I’d like to meet Albert Einstein. I bet he’d be very interesting to talk to.

6. Do you have any pets? What are they? *See #9 in the questions above*

7. Craziest thing you have ever done? Ran in 2 races with a stress fracture. (Wait, you said craziest, not dumbest, lol)

8. Biggest fear and why? Probably the same fear any mother has and that’s something happening to one of my kids.

9. If you won the lotto would you still keep your current job? If not what would you do? Yes, I would keep my current job (stay at home mom) but I might hire a cook, lol!

10. What was your #1 New Years Resolution? Are you still on track? I didn’t really make a “resolution”. As far as running goes, I have a goal to try to get faster this year. Non-running goals are to try to simplify and be more organized with things at home.

11. One bad habit you want to break? I need to be a more positive thinker and stop worrying so much. Sometimes my biggest obstacles are inside of my head.

Here are 11 questions for you:

1. How many pairs of running shoes do you have and are they all the same brand?

2. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

3. What race/races do you have on your bucket list?

4. Running with an Ipod. Yes or no? Why?

5. What’s your favorite thing to cook?

6. Were you an athlete in high school or did you become one as an adult?

7. Why did you start your blog?(Ex: accountability, encourage others, etc)

8. Do you wear running skirts? If yes, which are your faves?

9. Have you ever had a running injury?

10. What’s your favorite distance to run?

11. Where’s your most relaxing place to be? (It can be a place in your home or somewhere you travel to.)

Now for the list of ladies I’ve tagged:

Pounds to Miles

Climb Run Lift Mom

Running Loving Living

Runn Princess Runn

The Fittest Fat Girl

MCM Mama

Just Keep Running

Blonde Loves to Run

Keeping My Pace

Run 4 It

I Swear My Legs are on Auto-Pilot

After an exciting year of moving up from “new runner” to  finding out who I am and who I’d like to be in the running world, I’m looking toward bigger and better endeavors in 2012.

I’m excited to announce that one of those new adventures is that I’m now officially on Team Tough Chik.

If the name Tough Chik sounds familiar, that’s because they also sell one of a kind running/cycling/triathlon clothes for ladies. I first started following them because I saw some of their shirts reviewed on a blog and thought how I’d love to have some of those super cute  (I mean tough ) looking running shirts. In the picture below, I’m wearing the “I Run” shirt and love it! It’s super cute and very comfy. I also love the Tough Chik logo on the back shoulder! The small print says “This is what tough looks like.” I’m still stalking their page and waiting for their Tough Chik ball cap to be back in stock!!

Team Tough Chik is made up of a group of more than 80 women from 5 different countries! We’re a mixture of running, cycling, swimming get-up-and-go’ers that have the honor of saying we’re the first team of this kind. We aren’t elites that had to follow a strict qualification to be a part of this team but I do think we all possess something special.

Here’s what Angela and Shannon of Tough Chik had to say about what their vision is for our team:

“Our mission is to encourage each other to get out there and have fun!  We see all team members as contributing members, whether you podium or persevere, all that matters is that you are out there doing what YOU love to do. A lot of teams out there focus their attention on attracting only elite athletes, but that’s just not what Tough Chik exclusively represents.  So we threw out the “rules” and decided to design a team for everyone.”

This is all new for me because I was never on the track team or any kind of sports team growing up. I love that we are all different in our abilities but we have the same thing in common which is the love of our sport and being active. We have a page on Facebook where we’ve all been getting to know each other and I’m telling you, I’m in the company of some awesome chicks!

We will be getting our race uniforms in March and I can’t wait! It’s going to be a blast to get to run and represent this group of tough ladies! I’m hoping that we might can even get a few of us together to participate in a race in my region (The South). Until then, I’m really enjoying the support and motivation that we’re getting from our daily posts.

Do you think that you’d like to be a part of Team Tough Chik?  If you would, you’re in luck! The sign up date has been extended until Saturday, January 7th! Click here to read more if you’re interested. If I can do it, so can you!

If you’d like to connect with Tough Chik and keep up with what’s new in their clothing line or read about what’s going on in their world, you can find them on their website here, Facebook and Twitter.

Happy New Year!  Make every day count!

Rod Simmons

If you’re a runner or walker in Mississippi who makes the racing circuit, you’ve probably seen or at least heard of Rod’s Racers. It doesn’t take long to realize that if you need information or pictures of you or a loved one in a local race, Rod Simmons is the person to contact. The best thing about this is that it’s free for you!  A few months ago, I decided to spotlight runners or walkers from Mississippi that are making an impact in our running communities. The first person that came to my mind was Rod. He works hard to not only promote races but also the importance of being healthy and active. I also believe that through Rod’s Racers, he’s brought a sense of camaraderie among the racers. 

We met up with Rod at the Run for the Roses 5k Race in Prentiss back in April of this year. He is an extremely nice person who has an obvious love for this sport that only a runner/walker could understand. When he found out about my blog and Facebook page, he’s promoted it regularly amongst his many followers. Rod was also my right hand man when I began planning my first 5k race as a race director. He also was more than ready to advertise it for me when we were ready to promote it.

Rod was nice enough to stop and snap a picture with Jason and me.

I really appreciate him taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to answer a few questions to help you get to know him and about Rod’s Racers.

1.)Tell us about your family and work. I know April is at a lot of the races taking pictures and I’ve seen her race before too!

April & I have been married for 14 yrs. Our daughter Roslyn is 12. I’ve been nursing at the University Of Ms Medical Center since 1995.

Rod with his wife April and a fellow racer at an event.

2.)How did you get started in running?

I started running in 1990 as a Sophomore at East Flora High School in Flora, Ms. I ran the 2 Mile for the track team that went on to finish the season as state champs that year.

3.)When did you start race walking?

I started race walking in February 2009 after a 19 yr layoff from high school. My doctor gave me 3 months to chang my lifestyle after having repeat high cholesterol.

Rod is also on the Board of Directors for Bike Walk Mississippi. (Click to visit link.)

4.) Race walking looks so difficult! Do you find it to be harder than running?

Race walking can be difficult. You have to be disciplined to be a walker.

5.)What’s your favorite distance?

I love doing 8k or greater.

6.) Do you have a favorite race that you look forward to every year?

I enjoy Run 2 Eat 5k in Hattiesburg, YMCA Cotton Classic in Greenville & 300 Oaks Road Race 10k in Greenwood.

7.)What’s your best and worst racing experience?

Best – When I PR’d in Oct 2009 with a finish time of 32:50.

Worst – Sept 3, 2011. At 1/4 mile into the race, I hit the wall. All of my energy was gone but I still finished 4th overall in the walk.

8.) What’s an average training week for you?

A training week varies based on my work schedule and the weather.

9.) Do you do any cross-training?

I ride a mountain bike, stationary bike, elliptical machine, dumbbells, and strength training.

10.) What is Rod’s Racers and how/when did you decide to form this group?

Rod’s Racers was started a year ago. We promote road races in Mississippi. I want to help promote small races and support the race directors. We are made up of 5 people: My wife April does photos, Tim Irvine and Evelyn Watkins, from Meridian, cover East Mississippi, Frank Barrett, from Laurel, covers South Mississippi and takes photos. I am the founder and cover Central and North Mississippi.

Evelyn Watkins, Tim Irvine and Rod Simmons of Rod's Racer's

Frank Barrett of Rod's Racers

11.)How can runners, walkers or race directors connect with Rod’s Racers?

They can visit in 3 ways: www.rodsracers-ms.net, www.facebook.com/rodsracers and www.twitter.com/rodsracers

12.) What are your goals for Rod’s Racers?

My goal is to create a chapter in each state to promote road races in those states.

13.) Approximately how many races do you/Rod’s Racers attend a year?

30 plus.

14.)If you could give someone advice that’s just starting out running or walking, what would you tell them?

Always consult your doctor before starting out to be sure you’re healthy.

Rod and his team do an outstanding job!  Click the link on his logo below or give him a call if you need him at your next event or would like it promoted!

In the spirit of trying to find my own perfect (and halfway comfortable) costume to run in our half marathon this weekend, I asked for suggestions on my Facebook page. I received lots of great ideas and even had a lot of runners say that they had dressed up in the past for races or were planning to this weekend. 

Here’s some of the funny ones I found when I searched online for running costumes:

After hearing all of those great ideas and seeing so many crazy costumes online, I decided that it would be fun to have a virtual costume contest and let you guys vote for the winner!The person with the most votes will receive his/her choice of a Bondi Band!

No Slip, No Drip

Most of you know my affinity for Bondi Band’s products but if you aren’t familiar, read my review here.

It’s very easy to enter. Email your pictures (nothing offensive, please ) to gcmjjm03@gmail.com or you can post them on my Slow is the Fast Facebook page, just specify that it’s for the costume contest.

All photos will be put into an album on my Facebook page to be viewed and voted on by our fellow runners! Feel free to invite family and friends to contribute to the voting!

Pictures must be submitted by Wednesday, November 2nd, voting begins Friday, November 4th – Wednesday, November 9th and the winner will be announced Friday, November 11th.

Good Luck!!

Thanks so much to everyone that participated in my Nuun review and giveaway!

In order to make it fair (and easier for me, lol) I used RandomPicker to choose the winner.

The person that is the winner of 1 tube of Fruit Punch Nuun is: Melissa Lea!!!

Congratulations, Melissa!! Please email me at gcmjjm03@gmail.com with your mailing address or you can email me on Facebook. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy drinking Nuun!

Thanks again to everyone that participated!!

More giveaways coming up so stay tuned to this blog, Slow is the New Fast on Facebook and my Twitter account! 

Congrats again, Melissa!!

Here’s your chance to get a free tube of Fruit Punch Nuun!

Hopefully, you’ve already read my review of Nuun tablets but if you haven’t, you can click here to read it now.

How to enter:

1.   Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment to let me know.  Already a follower?  Check in with a comment on this post. (+1 entry)

2.   Become Nuun’s fan on their Facebook page.  Leave your Facebook name on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

3.   Follow Nuun on Twitter. ( please let them know Slow is the New Fast sent you). Leave Twitter nickname on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

Optional Entries:

1.    Follow me on Twitter.  Leave Twitter nickname in comments on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

2.   Become a fan of Slow is the New Fast’s Facebook page. Leave your Facebook name on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

3.   Spread the word about this giveaway via Twitter or Facebook.  Leave a comment on this post and let me know. (+3 entries for each one)

Giveaway ends on Friday, October 14 and a winner will be selected Saturday, October 15. 

Remember to please leave a separate comment for each entry and please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The winner will be notified via email, they will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!!

If you would like to sponsor a giveaway on my blog (or you know someone that does) please contact me by sending me an email to gcmjjm03@gmail.com.  I will always disclose whether or not the giveaway is sponsored by someone else or if it is one of my very own.

If you’ve ever been dehydrated or even felt pretty close, it’s not a very good feeling. As a runner that lives in the Deep South (and profuse sweater), I’m always looking for something to help me stay hydrated.

For the longest time, I only drank water, which wasn’t a bad thing but I always wondered if I needed a little something extra. When I started going on my really long runs, I noticed that I was having over the top eye twitching and stomach pains after my runs, which was probably due to dehydration.

After hearing rave reviews about Nuun (pronounced “noon”) from the ladies at anothermotherrunner.com, we decided to pick a tube up (which contains 12 tablets) when we were at a running store in Jackson and give them a try.

Even before tasting them, I was really liking the fact that they were so “user friendly”.  A chronic user of  powdered water taste enhancers, it was nice to not have to struggle with tearing open a small package that may or may not open on the first tear and then making sure the powder didn’t spill on the side of the bottle, table or floor. (Yes, I can be that messy.) Nuun tablets, are just a little larger than a quarter and have an indention down the middle so they break into very easily. You simply drop them into your bottle of water and they quickly dissolve, basically like an Alka Seltzer.

Nuun sent me 4 tubes of flavors that I hadn’t tasted and I must say, I haven’t tried one yet that I didn’t like.

Here’s what the Nuun Web site says about their product:

“What’s in Nuun?

-four essential electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B2

-a nice, refreshing flavor to remind you to keep drinking

-a bit of fizzy stuff to ensure it dissolves quickly without having to mix or shake

-a smidgen of color in the form of riboflavin (vitamin b2) and beet juice depending on the flavor

-a sprinkling of love

What’s not in Nuun?

-no sugar: we didn’t want to upset your gut or overwhelm your taste buds and wanted to give you more control over your calorie intake.

-no scary things (like crazy doses of caffeine) so you can happily drink Nuun morning, day & night.

-no artificial colors – do you need neon green to hydrate? need we say more…?

Why no carbs?

-the one-size-fits-all mentality doesn’t work in our active lives. we simply want to keep you hydrated… allowing you to focus on your gels, bars, bananas or cookies. Anyway, would you pick a sticky drink over a brownie if you had your choice?

How does Nuun help with hydration?

-Nuun’s special formulation of electrolytes helps increase the amount of water that’s absorbed into the blood stream. That means more of the water you drink is actually used to hydrate you instead of being eliminated because the electrolyte balance wasn’t right. Nuun is not energy. We designed Nuun just for hydration. It’s what we do best!

Will Nuun eliminate cramps?

-Not only are cramps painful enough to stop you in your tracks, they’re also completely involuntary. Good news is, yes, Nuun can help alleviate cramps by keeping you hydrated better than water alone. Each sip gives you a consistent mix of water and electrolytes to ensure you stay properly hydrated and cramp-free.

Diabetes and Nuun:

-Many athletes with type 1 diabetes prefer to use Nuun rather than sports drinks containing carbohydrates, because it gives them greater control over the amount of carbohydrate they consume.

T1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder of the pancreas that halts the body’s natural production of the hormone insulin. All athletes need to fuel with carbohydrates while training, but those with diabetes often need to have precise information about how many carbs they consume so they can measure their insulin dose accordingly.

It is difficult to know just how many grams of carbohydrate are in a “gulp” of sports drink. The carb content of solid foods or sports supplements such as gels, blocks, etc., is much easier to gauge. That’s why so many diabetic athletes choose Nuun for fluid and electrolyte replenishment and leave carb replacement to solid foods.

Environmentally friendly:

There are no plastic bottles. Every recyclable Nuun tube is equivalent to 12 bottles.

Is Nuun gluten-free?

Yes, both Nuun and U Natural Hydration are gluten-free so it’s safe for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Drink up, friends.

Is Nuun vegetarian?

Nuun and U Natural Hydration contain no animal derived raw materials. They are enjoyed by vegetarians, omnivores and carnivores alike.

Is Nuun carbonated?

A burping athlete is not a good thing, so no, Nuun is not carbonated. When first dropped into water Nuun fizzes to dissolve, but once it’s finished dissolving it will very quickly become still.

Is Nuun legal to race with?

Many are surprised with their increased performance when drinking Nuun, but no worries, Nuun is totally legal. The only thing Nuun is laced with is sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Can my kids drink Nuun?

Sure, Nuun’s great for hydrating and it’s a great way to get kids to drink more water (instead of sugary sodas!).

Under 8 calories!!”

With that being said, I can tell you that I have had my better (faster) runs after drinking Nuun in my water. I feel like I can breathe better and don’t fatigue as easily. I also drink it after my run and even when I’ve been sick and felt like I needed extra hydration.

Nuun has a very light flavor to it that you might have to taste a few times to get used to. It doesn’t taste bad at all, just not as heavily flavored as other drinks.

My favorites are Lemon-Lime, Strawberry Lemonade and Fruit Punch but they have a much larger selection to choose from.

Nuun's flavor choices.

Our personal collection of Nuun.

My brother recently started trying to run some and I gave him a few Nuun tablets to try. After trying the ones I gave him, he liked them so much that he bought his own. I asked him to write a short review of what his experience has been after using them:

“I am now officially a believer in Nuun. A couple weeks ago, my sister, Gina gave me 4 or 5 tablets to try. I wanted to spread them out on random days so that I could be sure that the effects, or lack of effect of the Nuun,  wasn’t psychological and also was not attributed to a good day or a bad day in the gym. The first one that I tried I felt more energy in the gym and I had a better run on the treadmill. The next time I tried something different when I went, and I did not have the same results. Overall, in my experiment with Nuun, each time I used a Nuun tablet before going to the gym, I experienced more energy throughout my whole workout. Also, it seems that each time I used the Nuun, I was able to breathe easier as I was running. I am new at running, and I am currently training for my first 5k race this fall. Each time I used Nuun before I ran, whether its increased energy that does it, whether it really somehow gives me more oxygen, or whether it is psychological, I find that I get less winded when I run. As of yesterday, I purchased two bottles of Nuun to continue my experimentation. One more thing I should add, the flavors I have tried so far taste really good and give the water a clean crisp taste.

I just wish they were easier to come by, the closest store that sells them is 2 hours away.”

John Wesley Rayburn

Mississippi

Because I like Nuun so much, I decided to give away a tube to one lucky reader!

Want a chance to win a tube of Fruit Punch flavored Nuun?

Click here!

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation. 

All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.