In My Element - Giveaway!!

You may remember when I posted about EarndIt, the site that gives you rewards points based on your workouts using Garmin Connect, Nike+, and a variety of other sources.

Well, I quickly earned enough points to trade them in for some Element Bars. My points got me a BOGO offer on a box of bars.

The neat thing about Element Bars is that while you can easily purchase a variety pack of bars they've created, you can also create your own!

Not only do you get to choose your base bar and all your additional ingredients, you also get to name your bar. As you add ingredients, Element shows you the calories and nutritional breakdown and will warn you if you've added ingredients they don't recommend as compatible.

What went into my creation? I chose the "Endurance" line and started with the Nutty Chew base. Then I added some additional whey protein, brown rice syrup, pumpkin spice, pumpkin seeds, and some glucosamine chondroitin. I call it "Pumpkin Power". Jason didn't care for it but I think it's quite yummy.

For my free box I chose a variety pack that consists of Cranberry Crunch, Cherry Charge, Blueberry Repair, and Bananas A Whey. Jason LOVES the Cherry Charge. In fact, when I told him I was going to do a giveaway he was a little sad that he wouldn't get to eat all 5 Cherry Charges himself.



So, just what is this giveaway? If you win, you will get:

1 each of the Pumpkin Power, Cranberry Crunch, Cherry Charge, Blueberry Repair and Bananas A Whey

A certificate from Element Bars for one FREE box of 12 custom bars

How do you enter?

1. Go to Element Bars
2. Leave me a comment telling me what you would put in your custom bar

It's that simple!

The winner will be chosen at random on March 1st.

And, even if you don't win the bars, anyone who comments with their ingredient choices will get a discount coupon that they can use to order their creation!

You can also use this link to order a variety pack for 20% off and FREE shipping.

So, tell me, what energy bar would put you in your element?

Note: I'm doing this giveaway because I really liked the Element Bars I purchased with my own money. Element Bars did not pay me or bribe me or cajole me in any way.

Ultimate Runner Winners!

So, I know I said I was going to post the winners of the Ultimate Runner book giveaway on Thursday but I got a little caught up in the since then. What have I been caught up with?



Holly is visiting me in Chicago!

Yesterday she cheered for me as I ran the Chase Corporate Challenge (race report to come later) and today we toured the city.

However, as a blog guest star, I had her choose the three winners of the giveaway.



And those winners are....

TMB @ Racing With Babes

Holly @ The Balance Broad

and

Maribeth

Ladies, I will be contacting you shortly for your mailing addresses!

Thanks to everyone who entered and stay tuned for some exciting posts after this weekend.

Ultimate Giveaway!

Remember my review of The Ultimate Runner? I know some of you said you were interested in checking it out. Well, here's your chance!

Amy and Tom at Runners' Lounge have graciously given me 3 copies of the book to give away to my loyal blog readers.

Want to win one?

Here's how:

For one entry, leave me a comment recommending a book (either running or non-running related).

For a second entry, post about the giveaway in your blog (and leave me a link in the comments).

And if you really, REALLY want to win, you can get a third entry by joining the Runners' Lounge (or letting me know if you are already a member) or following their blog and letting me know in a comment which one you do.

The giveaway will be open until May 27th. Winners will be chosen by random. And three different people will win, I promise! Good luck!

Frozen Solid / PLUS! Giveaway Winner

Photo from http://www.jconner.net/blog/

Solid chocolate lungs would definitely been an improvement over the frozen solid lungs I had after my long run on Saturday afternoon. I did 8.5 miles outside where the air temperature was hovering around 28^oF. I've certainly run in colder, but for some reason Saturday's run left me coughing and hacking for most of the rest of the afternoon.

I wore a tank top, two long sleeved tech shirts, tights, shorts and mittens. I got a little warm but never warm enough to push up my sleeves or take off my mittens. Because I never rolled up my sleeves, I couldn't see my Garmin for the entire run. Since I was pretty much running blind it was a good exercise in trying to pace myself. I have to say, I think I did pretty well. Not perfect and, of course, some of the times are thrown off my waiting for stop lights, but overall I was fairly consistent. During mile 8, however, I hit some sort of strange disconnect where my legs were moving but I wasn't even aware of it. It felt GREAT! Now, if I could just figure out how to harness that feeling for the entire run.

The sidewalks were mostly clear although there were a few icy spots where I had to tread lightly or veer off into the street. I saw lots of people out walking their dogs but I only saw one other runner. That may have been because I ran in the afternoon instead of in the morning. Why the afternoon? Because earlier in the day I hit the gym for 45 minutes of strength training! So, yes, 45 minutes of weights and an 8.5 mile run in the same day. Pretty awesome.

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But enough about that. On to what you're really here for. To find out if you won the Infinity Scarf Giveaway! We're pretty low tech over at Eri-thon industries so instead of using an online random number generator I just drew names out of a hat.

This hat, to be precise:




See? There are all your names (if you linked to my post in your blog and told me about it your name is in there twice, I promise!).




So which lucky person had their name drawn? Well, the winner is: Kelly!! Turns out, her birthday was also last week so this is sort of a belated birthday gift as well. Kelly, I'll be in touch!

Thanks for everyone for commenting!

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Saturday's Stats

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 626 ft Location: Forest Park, IL Elev. Gain: +0 ft Date: 01/16/10 Up/Downhill: [+52/-52] Time: 01:32 PM Difficulty: 3.0 / 5.0   Weather: Overcast with Haze   28 F temp; 81% humidity   28 F heat index; winds SW 6 Performance Distance: 8.52 miles Time: 1:22:06 Speed: 6.2 mph Pace: 9' 38 /mi Calories: 1010 Map   Elevation (ft)   Pace (min/mile)   Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 9' 33 -0' 05 6.3 +0.1 +3 ft 2 11' 44 +2' 06 5.1 -1.1 +6 ft 3 9' 31 -0' 07 6.3 +0.1 0 ft 4 9' 22 -0' 16 6.4 +0.2 -6 ft 5 9' 47 +0' 09 6.1 -0.1 +7 ft 6 9' 40 +0' 02 6.2 -0.0 0 ft 7 10' 36 +0' 58 5.7 -0.6 0 ft 8 9' 18 -0' 20 6.5 +0.2 -9 ft end 9' 52 +0' 14 6.1 -0.1 0 ft Versus average of 9' 38 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

New Age Group Ahoy! Plus a GIVEAWAY!!

Monday night was my last run in the 25-29 age group. Why? Because today (Tuesday) I turn 30! At running group on Monday night our intrepid leader asked if anyone had any announcements. "It's my birthday!" one guy yelled.

"Are you moving into a new age group?" another person asked.

"No," he said.

"But I will be tomorrow!" I exclaimed.

Funny how other runners don't ask how old you'll be, just if you'll be changing age groups.

How did I celebrate 30? Other than dinner, movie and dessert with friends this past weekend?

Well, Monday night I ran a great 5+ miles. I also had a book club meeting (The Shadow of the Wind....I highly recommend it) immediately after running so I decided to run fast in order to make it back on time. It was a little bit of a struggle at first and the last half mile was tough, but overall I did well (9:04 average pace). And that's with only two days of running in the past two weeks!

I also got some great running related gifts. A friend of mine made me an entire CD full of songs with the word "run" in the title.


Click to see larger

Isn't she creative?? Many of these I've never heard so it will be fun to listen to!

Kim got me a book I've had on my to-read list for awhile:



Have any of you read it?

Finally, I got a $30 gift card to Fleet Feet from some friends of mine. They said they knew what THEY wanted when they ran, but they didn't know what I wanted. This way I can pick it out myself.

And tonight I gave myself the gift of going to the gym. 30 minutes on the elliptical followed by an hour of strength training. Pretty nice gift to myself, huh?

So now I have a gift for you. At the end of last year I hinted that I might have something to give away. Well, I do. It isn't running related per se. But I suppose you could use it post-run to warm up.

What is it?

An Infinity Scarf!

What's an infinity scarf? It's essentially a tube of fabric that you can loop multiple different ways for many different looks. I bought myself one but, strangely, two came in the package. Since I don't need two of the exact same scarf, I'm giving one away to one lucky reader.

Just so you have a better idea of what you're getting, here I am (post-gym, so sorry about the lack of hair and make-up) modeling mine. The one I'm giving away is the exact same color and style.

A sample of ways to wear it







Don't worry, it comes with a little card explaining some of the different ways to wear it. It's also super-light weight so even looping it numerous times doesn't make it bulky and annoying.

How do you win?

For one entry all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me Happy Birthday or telling me one running or non-running related thing you'd like for your next birthday.

For a second entry just blog about and link to this giveaway post in a blog entry of your own. Please leave me a comment telling me you've done so.

Then the random number generator (or pieces of paper in a hat) will take care of the rest.

I'll draw names on Sunday, January 17th. So, get to commenting if you want to win!

Welcome to My World

First of all, I'd like to say hello and welcome and thanks for coming to those of you who clicked over from one of the various blogs I've started commenting on. Wherever you came from, I'm so glad you're here!

I admit, I LOVE comments (although, don't we all? I mean, why else do we put our thoughts out there in a public forum??). So, please, I hope that all of you who found me one way or another keep reading and commenting.

Keeping that in mind, I thought I'd pimp out my audience participation post. Jedi Dad asked if he got extra credit for audience participation. Well, I can't promise extra credit, but I can promise something!

For everyone who asks a question and references my audience participation post, I will send you a little something from my neck of the woods:



Don't like Lemonheads? How about an assortment:



Why would I send you Lemondheads (or Orangeheads or Grapeheads or any of their other friends)? Because I live across the street from the factory that makes them! When you receive your candy you can open up the box, take a big whiff, and imagine what it's like to go for a run with me in my neighborhood. Because, yes, it frequently smells of lemon, grape, or orange candy around here. Thankfully, I like those smells.

So, hit me up with a question, and I'll make sure you get your candy. Although, you should probably email me your address, too. I'll probably post answers to the questions this weekend, so let's say you have until the end of the day Saturday to get your participation points.

Tomorrow I'll post about tonight's 4 mile run and possibly my love of bandannas. Last night's Pilates and elliptical workout wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Except we did side planks! I love side planks. Although, it appears I'm the only one in the class that does since everyone else groaned and complained during our set of six (three each side). Wimps.