Category Archives: Team Tough Chik

Tough Chik Ball Cap Winner!


Thank you to everyone that entered my Tough Chik Ball Cap giveaway! One of my favorite parts of this particular giveaway was reading your responses about what makes you a Tough Chik. We are all tough in one way or the other and I think it’s important to realize that even though our toughness might show up at different times, we have all have what it takes to be a Tough Chik!

In order to make my drawing truly random, I used Random Picker to choose my winner.

The winner of her very own Tough Chik Ball Cap is – The Running Teacher!

Congratulations!! Please contact me with your mailing information and I’ll forward it to Shannon at Tough Chik!

Thanks again to everyone that entered and if you’d still like to get your own Tough Chik gear, you can check out their website by clicking here.

Congratulations again, to The Running Teacher! Be sure and check out her FB page and her blog too!


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Filed under Giveaways, Team Tough Chik

Tough Chik Ball Cap Giveaway!


To continue my giveaways, Shannon at Tough Chik is giving me the opportunity to give away my favorite hat!! When I first saw it on the Tough Chik site, I fell in love with it. At that time, they were out of stock (understandably so!) but as soon as they were back in stock, I ordered mine. I wear it all the time. It’s comfy, it’s cute and it’s got a little attitude on the back. 😉

Here’s the Tough Chik store’s description:Tough Chik now has an answer to a bad hair day!  We all have them, so why not look cute with the Tough Chik ball cap?  The graphite colored hat features the Tough Chik logo in pink embroidery across the front and the back reads “this is what tough looks like”.
100% brushed cotton twill with 6-panels, unstructured construction. Self-fabric closure with brass buckle and grommet tuck-in.  One size fits most.

My Tough Chik hat came with me to the Rock n Roll Marathon in New Orleans.

It also got to meet Olympic great, Frank Shorter!

Here’s what you need to do to enter to win your own Tough Chik hat:

1. Become a fan of Tough Chik on Facebook and let them know I sent you. Leave a comment here with your FB name. (+2 entries)

2. Become of Slow is the New Fast on Facebook and comment here. If you’re already a fan, just let me know. (+2)

3. Follow my blog. (+2)

4. Tell me what  makes you a Tough Chik. (+3)

Optional entries:

1. Follow Tough Chik on Twitter. (+2)

2. Follow me on Twitter. (+2)

3. Announce this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter. (+3)

4. Blog about this giveaway and link back here. (+5)

That’s it! This giveaway will end on Tuesday, April 17th and I will announce the winner on Wednesday, April 18th.

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 and/or announcement on this blog, Facebook or 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 at gmail dot 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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Filed under Giveaways, Reviews, Team Tough Chik

11 Random things about me x2 (Because I was tagged by some awesome Team Touch Chik bloggers)


I haven’t been on Team Tough Chik long but I’m already finding out what great ladies they are! We have our own page that we talk about our sports we love, ask questions, get tons of encouragement and in the process, we’re having lots fun getting to know each other. I was honored to be picked by 2 of my teammates in as many days to write 11 random things about me, then answer 11 questions that she has for me and then write my own questions and pick some chicks to do the same for me! Journey of a Canuck Mom on the Run was the first to tag me and then Larissa Milano Fitness.

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:

1.  Did you have a childhood nickname?  What was it? Yes. Gina-poo haha
2.  What is the weirdest thing you have ever done while driving? Oh wow. Driving plowing into a police car at a red light during a snow/ice storm in Wyoming. He was so nice and knew that I couldn’t have stopped. (I was freaking out!) He told me that the important thing was that we were both ok and that a car can be fixed.
3.  Do you have any strange phobias? What are they? Yes. I don’t like honeycombed shaped things. It makes me nauseated. I don’t like spiders either but at least they don’t make me want to throw up!
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. 🙂
5.  What was the last movie you saw in the theater?  A Dolphin’s Tale with my sweet 6 yr old son. (He wants to be a dolphin trainer when he grows up.)

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
7.  If you had to move to another state right now, where would you move and why? Probably Florida….or Tennessee. I think I have a decision making problem, lol.  Why would I pick these places? I think they are beautiful places and I love the people there.
8.  Salty or sweet?  What is your favorite? Salty. My favorite would be almonds with sea salt or popcorn…the really unhealthy good kind at the movies.
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


10.  Snow or rain?  Pick your poison. To run or sleep or relax in? Rain. To enjoy? Snow. Hmmm…rain wins, I think.
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


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Filed under Blogging, Family, Running, Team Tough Chik, Uncategorized

Team Tough Chik


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!

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Filed under Racing, Running, Team Tough Chik