Category Archives: Running

Join my March DietBet Challenge!


diet-bet

If you missed out on my March DietBet, you can join the one that will be starting May 28th! Click here to join.

If you’re interested in a new way to go about losing some weight, DietBet may be perfect for you! Watch the video below or click this link, if you’d like more information on it. Runner’s World actually mentioned it in an article last October.

What I really like is that it’s not based on any one particular food plan. You do what works for you (and is healthy). I also think it’s good because you don’t have focus on a set amount of pounds but a percentage (4% at the end of 4 weeks).

You will be required to share a starting weight and a final weight photo but don’t worry, it’s private and won’t be shared. Also, your weight is kept private by default, unless you choose to share it with the other players.

weigh-in-illustrations

Don’t worry, your pictures and weight are kept private!

I’ve decided to do my own and would love to have you participate with me! After all, the more participants, the more fun and the more you can win!

If you’d like to give it a try, here’s what you do:

1. Join Slow is the New Fast DietBet

2. Set your profile up

3. Submit a starting weight photo a few days before the challenge begins. (Remember – they’ll be kept private!)

4. Find a eating and exercise plan that works for you and start making your way toward your goal of losing 4% of your body weight in 4 weeks!

5. Lose 4% – Claim your share of the pot!

jar

My game begins on Monday, March 18th and the amount you put in the “pot” is $30.

I hope to see you there!

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Race Kred Review/Giveaway


racekredlogo

What better way to celebrate my 3 year Runniversary than to have a giveaway?!

Whether it’s a 5k or an ultra-marathon, when you’ve trained hard for a race and completed it, you want to tell people about it! What better way to do that than to wear it on the shoes that got you across the finish line?

Lane from Race-Kred contacted me and offered to send me a 26.2 charm of my own and then graciously offered to give another one away (winner’s choice) to one lucky Slow is the New Fast reader!  I thought the packaging was smart and allowed you to be able to see right away how your charm will look on your shoes. I found it simple to put on and I think the silver color works great with any color shoes.

SONY DSC

Cute packaging!

26.2 on my shoe

26.2 on my shoe

Here are a few frequently asked questions from the Race-Kred site: 

Q. How big is the Race-Kred shoe swag? Will it feel heavy on my shoe?

Answer: Race-Kred is very small. It weighs 5.5 grams (about the same as 2 dimes) and is 20mm wide and 17mm tall. You won’t be able to feel the bead on your shoe. As you can see from this picture, they are small enough to fit multiple Race-Kreds on one shoe.

 

Q. What is Race-Kred made of?

Answer: Race-Kred is made of 100% Zinc Alloy and it is nickel free. It is finished with antique silver plating.

 

Q. Can I order custom Race-Kred shoe swag for a specific race?

Answer: Custom beads can be ordered with a specific race logo engraved (space permitting). Minimum order quantity is 250. Bulk pricing discounts are also available starting with quantities of 250. Please contact us at info@race-kred.com for more details.

 

Q. Do you wholesale Race-Kred?

Answer:  Yes.  Race-Kred is sold in several running, triathlon and wellness stores.  Please contact us for more information if you are interested in carrying Race-Kred in your stores.  Info@race-kred.com.

 

Q. I don’t see a Race-Kred for my event? (i.e. 3-day walk, 150 Miles, etc)

Answer: Please let us know what other Race-Kred you would like to see available on our site. We are certainly open to adding to our product line. Please contact us at info@race-kred.com.


Are you ready to try to win one? To enter the contest, click the link below to go to Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can’t wait and would like to order one (or more) now, you can check out all of their products here.

The contest ends Friday, February 15th. The winner will be notified via this blog, Facebook and Twitter. They will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

      Good luck!!

As required by the FTC: I received this product for a review. I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

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Filed under Giveaways, Racing, Reviews, Running

It’s my 3rd Runniversary!


3turtles

It’s hard to believe that 3 years ago today, I was on my way to our local paved running trail. I wasn’t dressed in “real” running clothes (thick, cotton socks included), my shoes didn’t fit me properly, and I was only at the beginning of my weight loss journey. I knew nothing of running fuel (GUs, Sport Beans, and Chomps that are eaten during long runs). I had no clue that there were such things as compression socks or fuel belts, and I didn’t own the first sports bra. As I drove there, it didn’t matter that I didn’t have or know about those things. I had a crazy idea in my mind that I was toying with, and the closer that I got to my destination, the more nervous and excited I got. Maybe it was the chill in the air that made me feel extra hopeful and energetic. Maybe it was because I’d been slowly building up to it, and something inside of me just knew it was time.

By the time I drove up, I’d made up my mind. I was going to try to run the entire way today. I assured myself that I could walk if I needed to, I could stop if I had to, but, I was at least going to try. Today was going to be the day that I did something that I’d never done before. I was excited and I was scared. I had no time in mind. My goal was to finish. I clutched my Ipod in my hand that had my new Nike+ receiver plugged in along with my sensor safely secured in its pouch on my shoelaces. I had no rituals to go through, like I do now. I didn’t know what a PR was, even though I was about to set my first. I hit play on my Ipod and started running.  I was RUNNING! Yes, I had been running before that, but it was running and walking. I knew that I’d shown up  planning on not walking and suddenly, everything seemed different. I was slow but that didn’t matter. (My average pace was 12:08/mile.) I kept telling myself to just keep going and reminded myself that I could stop if I needed to – but I didn’t need to. As the miles ticked away in my ear (there’s a lady that speaks to you in your ear when you use the Nike+ program on the Ipod), I began to feel a sense of overwhelming excitement . I felt like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon!! A million thoughts were rushing through my mind. I was going to be able to say to people, “I’m a runner!” I couldn’t wait to call my husband and my parents! As the final feet of my run ticked away, I was smiling while tears streamed down my face. I had done it!!! There aren’t sufficient words to describe the feelings I felt when I finished that first run. I probably looked as though I’d just won a race or qualified for Boston but it was much more than that. My life had changed and there would be no turning back. There would be setbacks but that’s just how life is. Three years and 1430 miles later, that day is forever a “Red Letter” day for me. It was a day that I was reminded that I could do whatever I set my mind to do. As I drove back home, it never crossed my mind that I’d be getting ready to run my 2nd marathon 3 years later but here I am, 3 weeks away from it. There was no “Slow is the New Fast” blog or Facebook page but because of that run, both of those exist. Those first steps I took set me in motion for things I’d never imagined. I’m so thankful for my family and friends who encouraged and prayed for me when I was first starting out and  keep doing so daily. I know that I’m now a healthier version of me because of the decision I made 3 years ago. I decided that things didn’t have to stay the same. I realized that it was up to me to do something about it because I was tired of sitting on the sidelines of life and watching it go by.

If you’re reading this today and you feel like I did – like you know you need to do something different, why not start today? Take those first steps towards changing your health. It doesn’t mean you have to go run. It may mean that you make the decision to start drinking more water, eat less sugar or start walking 15 minutes a day. Whatever it is, don’t forget to celebrate those positive changes, no matter how small you think they are!  Change isn’t always easy but being unhealthy and feeling bad isn’t easy either. I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s a slow process and it will take determination but it’s worth it in the end.

If you start today, who knows what you might be celebrating a year from now? 🙂

What will you choose to do?

What will you choose to do today?

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Filed under Running, Uncategorized

Sof Sole Giveaway Winner!


Thank you to everyone that took the time to read my Sof Sole review and entered the giveaway. I decided to use Rafflecopter this time and it seemed to be a lot easier!

The winner of the Sof Sole prize package is: Tiffaney Vigness!

Congratulations Tiffaney!! Please contact me via email (gcmjj03 at gmail dot com) or Facebook message with your mailing information and I’ll forward it to Emily over at Sof Sole.

Thank you again to everyone that took the time to participate! Congratulations again, Tiffaney!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

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Sof Sole Prize Package Giveaway


After reading my review on the previous post, do you think you might want to win some Sof Sole goodies of your own? It’s super easy to do! I’m doing things a little differently this time, so please have patience with me while I work the bugs out. 🙂 If you have any problems, please email me or leave a comment and let me know.

Click the link below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be notified via this blog, Facebook and Twitter. 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.

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Sof Sole Review


Socks. Before I became a runner, no brand came to mind when you mentioned that word. I had some pairs of socks that were so old, they had holes in the heels and toes and I really didn’t care. I had thin pairs, thick pairs and lots of pairs that had lost their mates long ago and were matched up with another unfortunate, mateless sock.  When I first began running, I tried wearing those same ones and realized right away that there were two things my feet needed: new shoes and good socks.

So, the search began to find comfy socks that would also keep my feet dry. Since then, I’ve accumulated quite the abundance of running socks. Some worked for me and some….not so much. That being said, the ones that I do like, I wear  A LOT (even on non-running days) and I’m not easy on them.  I was so excited when a representative from Sof Sole contacted me and offered to send me some of their Coolmax Runner Socks and Airr Insoles to try out.

I actually tried the socks out on the first day during a training run and loved them! The first thing I noticed was that they were very soft! They felt snug and fit my foot well and had a little cushion to them but not too much. There was no uncomfortable sewn in parts that rubbed my toes and they kept my feet dry. I have worn them tons since I got them and of course, that means I’ve washed them a lot too and they’ve held up great! I have to say that my other favorite running socks have taken a back seat to these!

Here’s what Sof Sole‘s website says about their Coolmax Runner Socks:

Coolmax®Runner

Key Features:

  • Deep heel pocket minimizes movement and friction
  • Banded instep for secure fit and arch comfort
  • Nonbinding top provides comfort
  • Half cushion sole for protection

They are available in  sizes XS (5-7), Small (7-9) and Medium (9-10.5). If you’re like me and wear a larger shoe size, they’ve got you covered! When I emailed her and told her that I wear a 12 in running shoes, she said that she could send me a men’s size 10 and they’d be exactly the same. The Coolmax Runner socks are available in white and are low cut. You can get a 3 pack for $9.99. I hope you try them and enjoy them as much as I have! Click here to view their complete line of socks. 

The next item I was eager to try out was their Airr Insoles.

I’ve never used insoles that you can buy separately and put in your shoes, so I was curious to see how they would work and feel. I put them in a pair of my Nike LunarFly running shoes to test them out. I ran on the treadmill with them, wore them out and about for errands and even raced in them on Halloween night. I could definitely feel a difference in the support and overall comfort. I’m even thinking about switching them out and putting them into my Pegasus 28s and trying them on a long run. 

Here’s what the Sof Sole website says about them:

Airr® Insole

The Sof Sole® Airr® Insole is the first insole to combine an air cushioning system with moisture control technology. The Airr features an encapsulated air chamber for enhanced cushioning and a Coolmax® top cover to keep your foot dry and cool. Simply put, the Sof Sole Airr is the best performance insole available.

The Sof Sole® Airr® utilizes the most cutting-edge technologies in order to:

  • Ease the stress on joints during high-impact exercises
  • Manage moisture and ensure breathability and comfort
  • Provide shock absorption and support for even the most strenuous activities

If you’re looking for better shock absorption, comfort and breathability, I’d definitely give them a try. They are priced at $24.99 and you can find them at Finish Line, Sports Authority, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Famous Footwear and Olympia. They also have many other types of insoles available. You can click here to browse through them all.

I want to thank Sof Sole again for providing me with these great items to try out! Would you like to win some Sof Sole products? Click here for details!

As required by the FTC: I received this product for a review. I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

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Go Sport ID Winner


Thanks to everyone that participated in my Go Sport ID giveaway! I loved getting to read what your personal mantras are – so motivating! This giveaway had a record number of entries and I was really excited about that – Except when it was time to enter all of your names in manually, lol!  To ensure that the winner is truly chosen at random, I use a site called RandomPicker.

Ok, I’ve stalled long enough!

The winner of the Go Sport ID Gift card worth $25 is: Jo-Ann Coles!!

Congratulations, Jo-Ann!! Please private message me via my Facebook page or email me at gcmjjm03 at gmail dot com with your mailing information and I’ll get your gift card in the mail to you.

Thank you again to everyone that took the time to read my review and enter the contest. I’ll have more coming up soon!

Congrats again, Jo-Ann!

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Go Sport ID Giveaway!


Ok, so here’s your chance to win your very own Go Sport ID!  The winner will receive a Go Sport ID gift certificate worth $25. (Thanks again to Justin and Kase for making this possible!)

Here’s how to enter:

1. Head over to Go Sport ID’s Facebook page, like them and let them know I sent you. Leave your Facebook name on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

2. If you have Twitter, stop by their Twitter page and follow them. (Please let them know I sent you!) Leave your Twitter nickname on this post’s comments section. (+2 entries)

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

Optional/Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter. Leave your Twitter nickname in the comments section. (+2 entries)

2. 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)

3. Tell me what your personal mantra is that you would like to put on your Go Sport ID or tell me which style you like the best. (+3 entries)

4. 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. (+1 entry)

Giveaway ends on Friday, September 21, 2012. A winner will be picked on Saturday, September 22nd. 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 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.

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Go Sport ID Review


If you ask most runners what their most important piece of equipment is, they’d probably say their shoes or their watch. Those are definitely important to me too but I firmly believe that something that might help ensure our safety is something we should never take for granted.

I was so excited when Justin and Kase from Go Sport ID gave me a chance to pick out and personalize my very own! I chose the ID style Inspire because I thought it looked stylish and would be roomy enough for my information. 

As a lot of you know already, when I run, I’m usually alone and a lot of times I may not finish my run until it starts to get dark, especially if it’s a long run and it’s during the winter months. When I go, I make sure I’m wearing bright colors, have my phone, mace and that I’m wearing my Go Sport ID. Now, I’m not saying that wearing this will keep me from falling down, getting mugged or injured but I am saying that it can help someone get in touch with my husband a lot faster instead of looking through my phone – assuming that it would be still working or still in my possession.

Another thing that I absolutely love about about the Go Sport ID band is that you can put your very own mantra on there. Whatever it is that you repeat to yourself to get you through that tough run or push you to the limit and set a PR – that’s what you can put on your stainless steel plate underneath your name. I can’t tell you  how many times I’ve glanced down and looked at mine – just to remind myself that I can do it!

Peace of mind

Motivation!

Along with the customizable plates, you can pick the color band you’d like to have or if you can’t decide on a color, you can order all 8 colors in a bundle pack (which is what I did). 

Here are a few pictures of me wearing my Go Sport ID at different races. Love being able to match them with my outfits!

Sporting my green band on my Go Sport ID at a St.Patrick’s Day race.

Wearing my orange band for my first marathon. Don’t mind the gear overload on my waist -ha!

Getting ready to run the Crescent City Classic and wearing my purple Go Sport ID band.

I love having the rainbow of colors to choose from!

Go Sport ID has a variety of styles to choose from to help you be safe, alert others to any medical issues, allergies, emergency contact info and also relay an inspiring message to yourself.

If you like the idea of safety, motivation and style all rolled up in one, then you can win one here!

If you just can’t wait and want one now, click here and order a Go Sport ID and get free shipping!

Don’t forget to connect with Go Sport ID via their Facebook and Twitter pages too!

As required by the FTC: I received this product for a review. I received no monetary compensation. 
All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

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Filed under Giveaways, Reviews, Running

Goodbye July!


My mama always told me to never wish my life away but I can say that I’ll be glad to see July in the rear view mirror. It has been a horrible month! Not just for me but for lots of people that I know. Obviously, I know that a day is a day and that just because tomorrow is August doesn’t mean that the weather will be automatically cooler (especially here in MS) or that anyone’s troubles will be any less but it does kind of feel like we can hit the reset button. Don’t get me wrong, there have been good days and fun times too but overall, it was a stinky month, lol!

Speaking of reset buttons, I definitely need to hit it when it comes to my training. I know the saying that floats around Pinterest and Facebook that goes something like, “If you want it you’ll make time, if you don’t you’ll make excuses…” Hmmm, I guess I don’t? But I do, I really do. Lately, it’s just been hard to get my running done and some days hard to want to do it. Honestly, I have been feeling drained lately – mentally and physically. Trying to sell a house (which is more work than I ever imagined on our part) and buy a house before school starts has been one of the most stressful things I’ve ever experienced. I’m also dealing with Zoe not wanting to go to sleep at night. She’s the type of child that wants someone with her while she goes to sleep and so is Zach. Problem is that neither one has been particularly sleepy when bedtime rolls around and Zoe has taken it to the next level. By the time she’s either asleep or Jason has gotten Zach to sleep, it’s easily 10 or 11 at night. So that’s when I’ve been running, when I do run, which isn’t often. I think you’ve heard this story before on a previous post of mine, lol.

I don’t think you’ve heard me complain about this yet, so here goes: I haven’t been on a run outside since May 5th. MAY 5th – and I LOVE running outside! I like to feel the actual wind blowing on my face instead of the occasional stale “breeze” from the treadmill fan. I am grateful that I have a good treadmill to run on but I’d be really excited if I didn’t have to use it quite so much and could get back outside again. Sorry for the little rant but I do miss it.

With August, school comes and even though that keeps us busy, it also means a better schedule for everyone, including me. I’m looking forward to maybe getting outside and running during actual daytime hours again.

Half marathon training is going to start soon so I have got to get my booty back on a normal training schedule. If not for the sake of being able to finish a half a good half marathon time then for the sake of my sanity and everyone else’s around me, lol!

Oh and guess what? I didn’t run again tonight. I really wanted to but since I couldn’t, I’ve decided that maybe I should not run again until next month. Yep, I think that’s what I’m going to do. 😉

I know this post has been a little off the wall and silly but sometimes you just have to stop being frustrated and laugh a little. Truthfully, my life is really, really great. I’m so thankful for every single day that I’ve been given. Sometimes it helps me to vent a little on here because then I see how small my “problems” are once they stop swirling around in my head.

I’m sure there will be plenty of highs and lows next month and I doubt it will be any cooler but I am hopeful that there will be more highs than lows and that even if it’s just 5 degrees, maybe it’ll be cooler too.  And maybe, just maybe, I’ll get back into my running groove again. :)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

New International Version (NIV)

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