Wishing my daughter GOOD LUCK!

I am traveling today with my husband and my 7yr old daughter Cadence. She is competing in the AL state gymnastics meet today. I am soooo very proud of her. She has found her sport of choice and I couldn't be more happy. I love the fact that all 3 of my kids are so active. So I hope when you read this you'll give her a little shout out. You guys rock!

Update and a Turkey Trot, gobble gobble!

Update to Elizabeths story yesterday...They caught the guy thanks to peoples tips. They did arrest him and he is in metro jail tonight. Thank god! 

Elizabeths thought on this, trust me you will want to read this.

Lets talk Turkey Trot.

Remember me telling you I was going to start doing more local 5ks? On Thursday morning Jennifer, Elizabeth, and I drove downtown for the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. I guess it makes me feel a little better about eating that piece of apple pie. HA!

Yes! I should have worn orange or brown. Instead I chose the funeral look, oh well!

We met up with some friends at the start line. These woman are amazing runners and friends. They support each other through everything.

Heather, me, Teresa, Carolyn, Sharon, Jenny, and Jennifer
Rock-N-Body Bootcamp

This is the first year they have had it downtown, usually its at USA college. The college is pretty hilly, so them moving it downtown where it is flat, is OK with me. We lined up at the Start line at 8 am. I lined up in the back, I have not been running short distances in a while so I knew speed was not in my favor. 

Well...

Mile 1, great!

Mile 2, great!

Mile 2.3ish NOT great!

My IT Band decided to start killing me. I took a turn to the right and something pulled. I basically walked the rest of the race. Coming in around 38 minutes. I went straight and got an ice pack. My time was awful but I still had a good time. How could I not with these girls and turkeys?

Gobble Gobble

 Unlike me, Jennifer ran a good race and Elizabeth PR'd by 2 minutes, I'll let her tell you about that.

I will tell you she ran an amazing 22 minute 5k. I can only imagine running that fast.

I did want to show you the awards for the winners.

 They were made by kids at Camp Rap-A-Hope. I love them.

Overall it was a great race and they had plenty of food and beverages at the end of the race. Its always fun to do a local race. I knew a lot of people running this and it was fun to see everyone.

LOOK: Its Jenny and Jenny! Hey Jennyssss!

I hope all of you guys had a great Thanksgiving, I know I did and I ate way too much! 

GOBBLE GOBBLE!

QOTD: Did you run a Turkey day race? Are you planning on a Christmas run? Let me know!

Being safe while running, what steps do you take?

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. 

I cant wait to recap my weekend for you. It was full of adventure.

First though, I wanted to talk to you guys about a very scary thing that happened to a dear blogger friend of mine. Some of you may know Elizabeth with Running for Bling. She is from my town here in Mobile and was here visiting her parents for Thanksgiving. We ran the Turkey Trot on Thursday morning together where she PR'd with a 22 minute 5k.

She rocked that race. 

On Saturday morning, she had a 10 mile run scheduled for training. She went to Cottage Hill Park. It is a VERY runner/walker populated area, with lots of nice neighborhoods surrounding it. Any given day there are hundreds of people out being active. In the years I have been running there by myself, I have never felt uneasy or unsafe. Until now...

At 8 o'clock in the morning at mile 8.2 in broad daylight, Elizabeth was physically and sexually assaulted.

(Read Elizabeth's recap of exactly what happen HERE)

 I have such mixed emotions about this incident. My safe place to run no longer feels safe. I have a 5 miler scheduled tomorrow in the same area she was attacked, do I change that? Do I stay in the small circle inside the park from now on? Do I not run the trails in that area anymore?

I have asked myself these question a lot today. My answer...

 He won't take running away from me either!

Just like Elizabeth, who stood up and told her story to the public. 

I will not let this crazy man make me scared to do what I love in the area I love to do it in. 

Will I be more aware of my surrounding? YES

Will I turn my music down if not off now when I run? YES

Will I run with protection? YES

My husband has always been worried about me training alone. I have never been worried or felt unsafe. However you never know what might happen to you. A couple of the safety items that I will now be running with...

Sabre Jogger Self Defense Spray for Runners

I have ordered The Jogger and will let you guys know how it works out.

ila Dusk Personal Alarm

When you pull the chain it lets out a crazy loud woman's scream. They say that people are more likely to come to a women's scream quicker than an alarm. Makes since to me.

Again I will let you know how it works when I get it.

Some of you guys may think that I am "over reacting" by buying these things. For the low price of $28 if I feel safer and my husband feels better about me being alone running, than so be it!

They did manage to catch the guys picture on video. The neighborhood she was in has neighborhood watch cameras, thank god. It caught the whole thing on camera, so they have a good picture of his face. If any of you are in this area, here is his picture...

If you recognize him, please call the Mobile Police Department at 208-7211, or text to 274637 and include the keyword CRIME 411.

Its becoming a very unsafe world and its not getting any better. I hope that all of you take a little from this story and arm your self with the safety tips from Elizabeth.

And to Elizabeth, love ya girl, and cant wait to some see ya!

HAPPY RUNNING!

QOTD: Have you ever felt unsafe while you ran? 

What do you do to protect yourself while you run?

Busy couple days...

My holiday started out with turkey dinner at my sisters on Thursday. Than dinner at my parents yesterday.
Now we are headed to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl, ROLL TIDE!
I will be back to posting on Monday, have a great weekend...

Happy Thanksgiving

New Orleans Color Run Recap with Swiftwick

THE COLOR RUN

NEW ORLEANS

So what can make the happiest 5k in the world even more happier?

Add Swiftwick socks and you've got a day of pure happiness.

What would be more fun than take 20 of your friends and put them in the worlds most comfortable socks and go run a 5k while people throw powder paint on you?

Well that's exactly what I did...

Look how fabulous they look in their Swiftwick Aspire 12 compression socks...

If you haven't heard about The Color Run series yet, let me tell you about it.

Basically the dress code is white, white, and more white

As a matter of fact it was 13,000 people in nothing but white. (Diddy would have been proud)

The point of this non timed run is to get as colored as possible at the 5 color stations along the 3.1 mile course. So we all lined up at the start line for the time of our lives...

It was a beautiful day in New Orleans, the weather was perfect and the atmosphere was amazing. This race is set up for everyone of all ages and at all levels of fitness to do. No one actually races it, it is more about who can look the most like an oompa loompa when they cross the finish line.

My friend Sara, HEY GIRL HEY!

When they say its the happiest 5k around they weren't kidding...

Gina looking "superfly"

After the race there was a huge dance party. Our resident dancer was showing everyone how it was done. Love ya, Jennifer!

There was also a few tents set up at the race...

Skechers...

Womans Half Marathon/10k 

(They are offering all of you guys $30 off registration with the code 0to26point2)

December 9th in Baton Rouge 

Come RUNPINK with me, Gina, Mindy, Heather, Jennifer, and Melanie!

REGISTER HERE

There were a ton of picture opportunities...

Overall we had a blast and we definitely would do it again. They are coming back to New Orleans in February for the Mardi Gras Color Run. I am definitely thinking about adding it to my fun races for next year. If you want to sign up for The Color Run, check HERE for a city near you.

I personally want to thank the people over at Swiftwick socks for helping us take over The Color Run. Everyone loved the socks and the shirts. We cant wait to do it again. 

Check out Swiftwick socks. It is the only sock I will wear. They are AMAZING!

We took a ton of pictures so I thought I would make a slideshow for you guys if you want to look at it...

swiftwick - how to create a free slideshow

Don't forget that the Womans Half Marathon/10k is giving all of you guys $30 off your registration to their race with the code 0to26point2.

 I would LOVE for you to come run with me and my Swiftwick.

QOTD: Have you ran a "fun" run before?

*I was not compensated for this post, however we were supplied with shirts and socks for the race. Opinions are all mine and no one elses.

Woman's Half Marathon/10k, Come Run with Me!

Hey guys! I hope you all had a great weekend.

I was at The Color Run in New Orleans, then my daughter had a gymnastics meet in Hattiesburg.

It was a busy but awesome weekend.

But first I have some awesome news for you guys.

While I was at The Color Run, the Woman's Half Marathon/10k had a booth set up.

After meeting the wonderful guys from the Gulf Coast Event Group, they have offered all of you guys a great discount for their inaugural race in Baton Rouge on December 9th.

 

(*note; it starts with a zero)
 

That's $30 off of your registration. You cant beat that!

I will be running this race with a few of my best girlfriends. I would love for all of you to run it with me:)

 

 I also 5 have spots to give 5 of you gals for

50% off

The first 5 people to email me at [email protected] get half off their registration. GOOD LUCK!

 

I know you guys are looking forward to my Swiftwick/Color Run recap. I will have it up tomorrow for you guys. Until then here is a slideshow for you...

 

 

 



swiftwick - free slideshow maker

I would love to run with all of girls, so sign up today.

REGISTER HERE



I think we have some Mezamashii Winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered. I wish I could give everyone an invite.

 

Congratulations to the 10 Mezamashii Project winners...

 (You have 48 hours to email me at [email protected] with your first and last name and email address. You will then receive a Mizuno Mezamashii invite in your email with a code to log in and order your shoes.)

 

Remember the bonus @Swiftwick? The super cool people over at Swiftwick are offering 10 MORE people a pair of Aspire socks. These are the only socks my husband and I will wear. You will LOVE them...

The 10 winners of the Swiftwick Aspires are...

 (You have 48 hours to email me at [email protected] with your first and last name, shoe size, and email address.)

Congrats to all the winners. Remember you have 48 hours to contact me or other winners will be picked!

 

* I was not compensated for this post. I chose to give away my 10 invitations . All opinions are of my own and no one else. I did receive 2 pairs of Mizuno running shoes free of charge!