Category Archives: Uncategorized

April 11, 2013 · 10:29 PM

Check out the Popsugar Fitness Giveaway!

POPSUGAR Fitness has let me know about a great giveaway they’re having and I wanted to pass it on to you! They’ve launched a new fitness newsletter that features healthy eating tips, quick video workouts and reviews of their favorite workout gear.

Here’s what you can win:

A trip for 2 to New York City

2 Round Trip Airline Tickets

2 Night Hotel Stay

2 Tickets to the next Class Fitsugar Event (With Celebrity Trainer, Anna Kaiser)

plus

A $500 Nike Gift Card!

(This Grand Prize is valued at $3500!!)

They’ve made it really easy to enter. (I already did!) All you need to do is sign up for their POPSUGAR Fitness Newsletter and you’ll be entered to win!

This giveaway ends April 14, 2013 – so don’t miss out!

Good luck!!

*Open to Legal Residents of the 50 United States (Rhode Island excluded). All entrants must be the age of majority in their respective state as of the date of entry.

Shubeez Giveaway!

I’m keeping my Blogiversary celebration going by offering another great giveaway. This one is from Shubeez! Two lucky people will have their chance to win either a 13.1 shoe tag or a 26.2 shoe tag!

Here’s a little bit about Shubeez from their website:

Shubeez are unique collectable shoe tags that attach securley to the laces of any athletic footwear. We all have a cause, a goal, a mission in life: in order to make progress you must begin to taking steps toward your desired result. More than a simple branding/ awareness piece….shubeez is an idea. We believe that everyone has the power to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Whether you are running a road race, supporting a PTO, fundraising for a youth sports team, or getting involved with a non profit, shubeez is a personal shoe tag that says you took action and are part of a community that cares.

Our message is simple. We are a call to action. We believe there is no better way to symbolize your efforts, or your events, than branding the shoe that started your movement. Every morning you must get up and face the day. What you do from there is your choice. Your shubeez is a constant reminder of why you lace-up and a unique symbol that will spark interest/ encourage others to get involved. shubeez- why do YOU lace-up?

To enter, just click the Rafflecopter link below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t want to wait and would like to buy some Shubeez tags of your own, you can go to their site and check out their shop! By the way, I’m a Shubeez Affiliate! When you checkout, please select Slow is the New Fast from their drop down partner menu.

Good Luck!!

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

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.

32 Comments

Filed under Giveaways, Reviews, Running, Uncategorized

Tagged as 13.1 shoe tags, 26.2 shoe tag, 2nd blogiversary, running, shoe tags, shubeez

February 8, 2013 · 2:45 PM

It’s my 3rd Runniversary!

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 today?

15 Comments

Filed under Running, Uncategorized

Tagged as 3rd runniversary, beginning runners, chomps, GU, ipod, Nike+, running, runniversary, slow is the new fast, slow running, sport beans

July 31, 2012 · 11:37 PM

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)

7 Comments

Filed under Family, Running, Uncategorized

Tagged as finding time to run, goodbye july, hot weather, running, treadmill

May 17, 2012 · 6:52 PM

Why my blog has been MIA lately….

You might have noticed that there has been a huge lag in blog writing lately from me. It’s not that I haven’t tried. In fact, I have at least 4 that I’ve been working on and several that I haven’t even had a chance to start on. (One is my marathon recap, another is a giveaway and the list goes on…)

Things are normally busy around here but lately, it’s been in overdrive! The end of school always seems like a time when activities pick up and there are more places we have to be and things to do. Factor in my oldest son graduating from high school on the 19th and my 6 yr old graduating from kindergarten and it gets really crazy. Oh, I didn’t mention that on the 7th my husband came down with pneumonia. He’s actually doing better but is still really weak and can’t run for a while, which is driving him crazy. My 2 yr old also got sick on Tuesday and has had a really high temp, throwing up and sore throat. The doctor said it was a “strep-like” virus which basically means that she’s having the same symptoms of strep throat but there’s not medicine to get rid of it. We’re also trying to get our house ready to possibly sell, which is turning out to be ~~extremely~~ a tad bit stressful as well. I’m also trying to fit my running into the schedule, which has been about 9:30 or 10pm…or later.

So, that’s basically a run down of what’s going on here and why I can’t seem to do a lot of writing. I am trying to make sure my SITNF Facebook page stays current and updated, which is a little bit easier to do than to sit and write a detailed race recap. Although I’m DYING to do that!! I want to tell you about the Crescent City Classic, the Rock and Roll Marathon, a crazy 10k where I got lost on the course and then the Okatoma River Run 5k, which I’d trained like crazy for and tell you what the outcome of that race was…in case you don’t already know, lol. I’m also working on a post about how I nearly didn’t make it to the marathon. I started to include it in my marathon recap but decided that you’d probably rather read a shorter version and go back and read the other part later. I will get it all done eventually but my family and the many things we have going on always comes first.

Of course, I wouldn’t trade these busy times for anything (I would like a little more time in the day though! Maybe 26 hours?). Even when the days seems long, I know these moments are fleeting in the grand scheme of things. It seems like yesterday that Tyler was Zach’s age….now he’s graduating and going to college. My 14 yr old will be in high school next year and Zach will be a 1st grader. Those nights, which are usually most nights, when I’m hanging off of the bed on my side and Jason is propping his head on the night stand because Zach and Zoe have gotten in the bed with us, can be exhausting but I know that one day the night time visits will be over. It’s those little things that are so important. They are the things that now seem to be just the normal part of the day (or night) but in the blink of an eye, it will seem like so very long ago. As you can tell, I’m on quite the emotional roller coaster, lol. You always know your kids are growing up but it’s the milestones that can really hit hard.

I hope all the moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday! Mine was great. Tyler had his graduate recognition and then later that day had his Baccalaureate ceremony. That evening, the kids and Jason gave me my Mother’s Day gifts which included a pair of Nike Free Run 3.0 shoes in bright pink!

Here’s a picture from my Mother’s Day that says it all. This was not staged, by the way, lol! It’s how most of our attempts at group pictures turn out.

8 Comments

Filed under Family, Running, Uncategorized

Tagged as blogging, family, kids

March 26, 2012 · 1:52 AM

Skirt Sports Winner!!!

Thank you to everyone that has continued to help me celebrate my 1st Blogiversary by entering my giveaways!!

The lucky winner of my Skirt Sports giveaway is…..Joy Scott!! Congratulations, Joy!

Because I have so many entries in my giveaways, I always use Random Picker.

Joy, please contact me at either gcmjjm03 at gmail dot com or via Facebook or Twitter with your mailing information and I’ll pass it along to Katie at Skirt Sports!

Thank you again to Joy and everyone else that entered my giveaway!

Don’t forget that I have another super giveaway going on now which is a signed copy of Train Like a Mother!!!

Congratulations again, Joy!!

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

March 13, 2012 · 12:52 AM

Cute Running Shirts Run Lucky Shirt Winner!

Thanks to all of the ladies that entered to win this great shirt from Cute Running Shirts! I truly appreciate Liz giving me the opportunity to to share their wonderful products with you.

To make sure the results of the giveaway are chosen at random, I used Random Picker.

The winner of the Run Lucky shirt is: Sherry Rini!!

Congratulations, Sherry! Please email me (gcmjjm03 at gmail dot com) with your information. I’ll forward it to Liz and she’ll get that shirt mailed out to you!

Thank you again to everyone that entered and don’t forget that I’ve got many more coming up this month to celebrate my 1 year blogiversary! I’m doing these giveaways to thank YOU! It’s because of you that I keep writing this blog so it only feels right to give back to you during this time.

Congratulations again, Sherry!

2 Comments

Filed under Giveaways, Reviews, Uncategorized

Tagged as cute running shirts, cuterunningshirts reviews, cuterunningshirts.com, run lucky shirt, shamrock running shirt, shamrock shirts

March 2, 2012 · 2:24 PM

SPIBand Giveaway!

This giveaway has now ended. Thank you for entering!

If you haven’t had a chance to read my review on SPIbelt’s new SPIBands, please take a moment to read it here.

Now here’s a chance for you to win your own!

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

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

4. Please go over to SPIBelt and check out their SPIBands. Tell me which one you would pick. (+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 Friday, March 9, 2012. I will announce a winner on Saturday, March 10.

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. 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@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.

77 Comments

Filed under Giveaways, Reviews, Running, Uncategorized

Tagged as run, spiband, spiband giveaway, spiband review, spiband running, SPIbelt

March 2, 2012 · 12:30 AM

The GU Performance Energy Sampler Winner is….

Thank you so, so much to everyone that participated in my GU giveaway!! I’m so excited that there were so many entries from people that love GU‘s products!

Because there were so many participants, I used RandomPicker to choose the winner.

The lucky person that has won the GU Performance Energy Sampler is: Pam!

Congratulations, Pam!! Please email me (gcmjjm03@gmail.com) with your mailing address and I will forward your information to the folks over at GU!!

Don’t forget, I’ve got another review/giveaway coming up very soon! Keep watching my blog, Twitter and Facebook pages!

Thank you again to everyone that took the time to enter.

Congrats again, Pam!

1 Comment

Filed under Giveaways, Reviews, Uncategorized

Tagged as GU giveaway winner, gu review

February 24, 2012 · 11:19 PM

Respecting the Marathon

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 Clif 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.