Blogging for Rock 'n' Roll including a giveaway entry to #RnRVAN!

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I made an announcement a couple of weeks ago in my blogiversary post about how I've been invited to blog for 2 very cool races this year. One of those races is the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon & Cunningham Seawall 10k. They introduced me on their rock 'n' blog site today:

RACE DETAILS:

Distances:
Half Marathon & 10k

Date:
Sunday October 26, 2014

Location:
Vancouver, BC (Route TBA)

Cost:
Half Marathon: $85 until June 1st & 10k: $45 through July 1st

I'm so stoked that this race series is coming to Vancouver and to be part of the inaugural event is truly an unexpected honor. I mean the Rock n' Roll series is kind of a big deal and to be able to blog for them is a REALLY big deal for me. Last year, I took part in both Rock 'n' Roll Portland and Rock 'n' Roll Seattle and they were some of the most exciting races I attended last year. You just can't beat that kind of entertainment during a race!

A few of my favorite bloggers and friends are also a part of the #RnRVAN Rock 'n' Blog team:

Nicole @ nicolevanzanten.com

Tina @ Fabulosi-T

Nikki @ Slow is the New Fast

Even though I was planning to wait to do this giveaway, I'm so excited I just can't! Also, just in case someone from out of town wins, I want to give them lots of time to plan their amazing trip to Vancouver! The winner will receive a code to redeem an entry into the Half Marathon or the 10k Race which must be redeemed by July 26, 2014.
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To keep track of all the latest Rock 'n' Roll Vancouver news, make sure to like them on FaceBook and follow them @RunRocknRoll on Twitter as well as follow me in my journey towards this exciting event!

Happy Blogiversary Read.Bake.Run.Repeat!

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One year ago today I decided to revive a blog that I had previously used as a tool to raise money for the Nike Women's Half Marathon in 2010.  Over the past year, the blog has grown in popularity and become something I never could have imagined. 

As part of my 1 year blogiversary I decided it was time to finish off my logo/design! When I first had my logo created, I liked it, but it wasn't quite what I had in mind, Amber at Amber Mabe Design created this one for me and she really captured what I was going for.

 

I've been alluding to some big announcements in conjunction with the blogiversary for a while... drumroll please...!

1. My mostly complete 2014 race schedule will be posted on the blog tomorrow! Until, then check out #2 and #3 for some BIG hints.

2. I have been invited to officially rock n' blog for the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon and Cunningham Seawall 10K! Keep an eye on the blog for more information to come and a giveaway for an entry into the event!

3. I will also be blogging for the 50th Anniversary of the Calgary Marathon in June which will be part of my quest for Marathon Maniac status THIS year!

4. After a successful experience doing the 13in2013 challenge, I have decided to join 14in2014!

5. Lastly, to celebrate the blogiversary and a very exciting year ahead, I'm holding a ProCompression giveaway for a pair of marathon socks. Here is my previous review of the socks! They are a recovery must-have.
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  Happy Blogiversary Read.Bake.Run.Repeat.!

 

Running Jewels Review & Giveaway

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If you live in the US, I'd like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

If you live in Canada, happy Thursday!

 

Before I ran the marathon distance, I was already thinking about getting a piece of jewelry to commemorate the big event. I looked around but nothing really caught my eye that was within my budget. Then when I ran the Surrey Marathon in September I met this wonderful lady at the Health and Wellness expo, Cathy the owner and creator of Running Jewels. 

I talked to her a bit about my blog and she expressed interest about doing a review/giveaway. Well I've been wearing this necklace since the beginning of November. I haven't taken it off at all, not to shower or anything.

My skin is very sensitive to jewelry and I easily react to things. I have not had any problems at all with this necklace because it is made from very high quality sterling silver. I love wearing something that represents me as a runner when I'm not actually wearing my running clothes which is um... hardly ever haha.

When you visit the Running Jewels Etsy shop, you can customize each necklace to have the distance/wording and Swarvoski stone of your choice. This a great gift for any runner on your list and at a great price point with necklaces ranging from $23.00-32.00.

The necklace that Cathy has graciously sent me to give away is this one:

Sterling silver 18" necklace with "Run" charm, shoe charm, and 2 Swarvoski stones (ruby & emerald).

 

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-Please note that Running Jewels only provided me with the necklaces and is not compensating me for this review in any other way, it is solely based on my own experience with the product.- 

Off to Disney's other coast! (Giveaway Included)

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Time is almost up, we are headed to Walt Disney World tomorrow! I still haven't finished packing or organizing everything and I have mere hours left. I think I'm mostly procrastinating because I feel guilty leaving my 2-year-old at home to go to Walt Disney World... the things you do for running!

Last January we went to Disneyland for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon and this weekend we are headed to the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Disneyworld to complete our Coast to Coast challenge!

Tinkerbell was a lot of fun and I'm very much looking forward to capping off the year with another Disney race. Since then, I have run 14 half marathons, 1 full marathon, and a few other races. It has been a CRAZY year, and I mean that. Running that many races in less than a year is not something I would recommend. I had tons of fun but I am tired. I am really looking forward to running this race, not thinking about my time, just going to have fun and experience all that a Disney race has to offer.

 

I will be running the race and going to Disneyworld with my mother in law (pictured above). This will be her 3rd half marathon. She actually fell during the Tinkerbell Half and dislocated her shoulder, but she still managed to finish the race... faster than me!

When I went to the Tinkerbell expo, I came across this great clothing company called Raw Threads. They have a lot of Disney themed t-shirts as well as several other run-related clothing. I love all of their clothing. Most specifically, I  love their technical fabric, it is very different and much softer than your average technical material. I admit that I have a hard time controlling myself shopping on their website and the expo will be no different, I've got my eye on one of their castle to castle shirts.

I'm wearing one of their shirts in this photo above. Here is my previous review. They have generously offered to giveaway another shirt to a lucky reader on my blog! And because it is the weekend of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, one lucky winner will receive this wine themed t-shirt:

The giveaway will run until next Wednesday at which point a winner will be chosen and will have 48 hours to respond to my notification.

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-Please note that Raw Threads only provided me with the t-shirt and is not compensating me for this review in any other way, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

Happy Halloween/Movember (Giveaway included)!

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All hallows 'eve is finally upon us, after months of trekking past the endless piles of candy in the supermarket (actually months, it has been out since August here...). It is time to head out and collect it with your little ones, and once they have gone to bed, presumably watch scary movies and eat some of it... Don't even pretend like you don't do that!

You may have seen on instagram that my little munchkin is going dressed as a penguin:

 



And in the midst of the Halloween madness, I'm still working on finishing up my running costume for the Disneyworld Wine and Dine Half Marathon next week, here's what I have so far, maybe I should give it a trial run tonight during trick r' treating... (with some cool weather adjustments of course):

Minnie Mouse has yellow shoes, however my current pair of Pegasus are red, so I decided to add some yellow Shwings:

I am also considering yellow compression socks, but have yet to sort that out of course. With only 9 days left before the actual race, and 6 before we leave, I better get my act together! If you have any suggestions for additions to my Minnie Mouse costume, please share away!

To celebrate, what is perhaps my favorite holiday, I have decided to host a giveaway!

Not only is it Halloween today, it is also the beginning of Movember tomorrow. If you don't know about Movember, then you have probably been living under a rock for the last few years to have not noticed the increase of facial hair on men, women, and children alike during the month of November. In an effort to raise money for men's health (prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health), you may notice your coworkers, your spouse, or even yourself getting the urge to grow a mustache... If such is the case, and you are a female and/or a runner like me, I have the perfect solution: Shwings has created a mustache version of their very popular shoe decoration.

Up for grabs in this giveaway are:
1 x pair of mustache lace Shwings for one winner
1 x pair of lightning bolt lace Shwings for another winner

** Please note that I did not coordinate this giveaway with Shwings, thus why there is no product review. I bought them and I like them so I have decided to share them with you!

This giveaway will run until November 6th to make room for another Wine and Dine themed giveaway. It's a busy time of year!

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Running on the Wall Review & Giveaway

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So this is it, by the time this is posted (scheduled for Sunday morning) I should be in the middle of my very first FULL marathon. To celebrate this accomplishment (hopefully!) I'm hosting another giveaway!

Running on the Wall is where I bought my first ever medal display from and I love it, see below.

 

As you can see it filled up quite quickly so I needed to find another one! I particularly wanted another one in anticipation of receiving the marathon medal... soon to be revealed! The great people at Running on the Wall sent me another one and included a bib hanger to give away right here on the blog, hooray!

 

Here's my new display set up!

 

All of their products are made with a sturdy recycled wood and several gold hooks are sent along with your package (with pre drilled holes but not screwed in so it doesn't get damaged when shipping). As you can see above, I have definitely tested the weight limits and it has withstood over 25 medals at once. There are all sort of displays with different colors and sayings to fit your style and décor. Feel free to check out their website and have a look! The prices range depending on what you're looking for, but a bib holder is about $30 and the same goes for a medal holder.

 

So up for grabs on this awesome giveaway is the following bib holder valued at $33.99:

Note that there are 2 sets of hooks and corresponding pre-drilled holes for different sized bibs as well as hooks for the bottom to hang some medals! It will look something like this when put together:

The giveaway will run until next Sunday, good luck! Hopefully I will be hanging this beauty up Sunday afternoon:



 



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-Please note that Running on the Wall only provided me with 1 running medal display and is not compensating me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

Injinji Review & Giveaway

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So it's finally Marathon week and this is my 2nd giveaway of 3 to celebrate my 1st FULL marathon taking place in 6 days, whoa!

I was approached recently to try out some Injinji toesocks. I had read about them on other blogs but had never tried them personally. Considering I began having some issues with blisters a couple of months ago mid-marathon training, I was more than willing to try out some new socks!

I was sent 3 different pairs: original weight, medium weight, and light weight. I've found that I prefer the light weight or the original weight, but they are all very comfortable.

They come in several different colors and are available in no-show or mini crew. I've only tried the mini crew so far but plan on ordering some no-show soon. I'm totally in love with these socks, all my blister issues have since ceased.

Injinji carries several different types of socks for running, trails, yoga, and they even have some compression socks which I can't wait to try!

There's no doubt that I will be wearing these on marathon day and for all my future runs! In honor of finding my new favorite socks I'm hosting a giveaway! The winner will have their choice of one pair of running socks ($12-$14) subject to availability. You can check out the options here: http://www.injinji.com/

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-Please note that Injinji only provided me with the socks and is not compensating me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

BAMR Bands Review & Giveaway

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Have you ever read http://www.katieheddleston.com/ well I absolutely LOVE her blog (especially the gluten free recipes) and if you do you've probably heard of BAMR Bands. Katie created the non-slip headbands herself. BAMR stands for Bad Ass Mother Runner, isn't that awesome?

Excerpt from www.katieheddleston.com:
"BAMR bands are 7/8 inch non-slip fitness (and fashion) headbands for a cause. One dollar from every headband goes to the charity, Every Mother Counts - a charity aiming to “end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world. Every Mother Counts informs, engages, and mobilizes new audiences to take action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women worldwide.”"

What's not to love about a great headband that doesn't slip, comes in all sorts of patterns and colors, and helps out a charity?!?

Katie has generously sent me a headband to review and will give the winner of the following giveaway a headband of their choice (open to US & Canada readers)!

I love my green chevron headband and wear it all the time, I've worn it for running but also just for every day use. I like that it's wider than my other headbands but doesn't slide around and holds the little fly-away hairs in.

I've also noticed since I've had the headband since June (Sorry this took me so long Katie!), that it has lasted a lot longer and doesn't stretch or doesn't show sweat and general wear as badly as my other bands. If you're looking for a headband to get you through a run and that will transition to coffee/brunch after, I'd highly recommend these fashionable bands! Here are just a few of my favorite patterns:

If you'd like to win one of these awesome headbands please feel free to the enter the giveaway below. It will be open until this Saturday at noon. The winner will receive 1 headband of their pattern choice, options can be seen here.
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-Please note that www.katieheddleston.com only provided me with a headband and is not compensating me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

Road ID Review & Giveaway

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Regretfully it has been a while since my last post. Sometimes life just gets in the way I suppose. Packing for our big move and studying has really challenged my time management skills. Anyways I've still been managing to get my long runs in which in my mind I are the most important. My shorter weekly runs have suffered but I'm still managing okay. To reward all of you still following my blog during this busy time I've got an awesome review/giveaway to help keep you safe!

Most people think of running as a relatively safe sport, that isn't altogether true especially when running on the roads. A few months ago I was preparing for a race out of town and I considered what could happen if something happened to me out there on course, how would my family know? A lot of races take your health information at the time of registration, but in the event of an emergency how long does it take to access that information? I have asthma and thankfully have it pretty well controlled but what if I had an attack and I couldn't communicate this to the emergency responders? Well I found my answer with Road ID.

 

Road ID carries a range of products meant to keep you safe communicate necessary information in the even that you are unable to. They have everything from wristbands, apparel, reflective products, shoe tags, etc. I approached them wanting to get a wrist ID for myself so that first responders would have my information if necessary. They were more than generous and I was able to get a wrist band for myself and for my son!

Road ID Slim $17.99 each (7 different color choices)

Road ID Slim $17.99 each (7 different color choices) in size XS for toddlers.

There is plenty of room on the wristbands for your name, medical information, and emergency contacts. I even had enough room to put a motivational phrase on mine. You also have the ability to pay for interactive web support which means that a first responder can access comprehensive medical information and you can update it at any time in case of changes. Road ID also provided a list of abbreviations if you are unsure of what to put on your band such as "NKA" which translates to "No Known Allergies".

I found the slim wristband to be comfortable and have had no issues whatsoever with either product. My son enjoys wearing his and though it may not be necessary yet, I like the idea of him having it for when we travel in case we were to get separated or he was to get lost. You can also purchase just the slim band (if you want to have different colors of if your child grows out of it) for $1.99/ea.

 

I think that everyone should consider investing in something like this for your own personal safety and peace of mind. Please visit Road ID to check out the full range of products.

 

The winner of the giveaway will receive a $35 Road ID gift card Ecard code to use for any Road ID product. Good luck, the giveaway will close at 12:00PM (PST) on Friday August 2, 2013.

 

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-Please note that RoadID only provided me with the gift card and is not compensating me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

Pro Compression Review & Giveaway

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Over the past year I've tried so many things to help me in recovery post-run but I don't know that it has ever been more important than with my plans THIS weekend. So to celebrate presumably finishing my last two half's for the 13in2013 challenge this weekend I'm having a giveaway to help you with your recovery and compression needs!

I've tried a few different types of compression socks but I really love ProCompression! In my opinion they have a really nice selection of styles and colors and their sizing works for me. Sizing is really important when it comes to compression wear; if it's too small, you won't be able put them on and if you do happen to squeeze them over your legs they won't be comfortable for very long. If they are too big well then you aren't going to get the benefit of compression therefore defeating the purpose all together. The "Marathon Purple" socks pictured below are $50/pair which is rather reasonable as far as compression gear goes.

I've been walking around in these while cleaning all day!

Anyways, I've tried 3 different brands of compression socks and though I find one other one is OK, the Pro Compression ones are my favorite, the S/M size fits just right for me and I can't wait to get some more colors!

Colors WANTED!: Marathon Orange, Pink Argyle, Baby Blue

The winner of this giveaway will receive one pair of Pro Compression socks in their size and color choice (click on the link to see your options)!

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The giveaway will run until next Thursday at 8:00AM!

Lock Laces Review & Giveaway

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As you may have already read yesterday, I posted about signing up for my first full Marathon and being named an official blogger for the Surrey International World Music Marathon. To celebrate this exciting news and the fact that I will be running my 17th half marathon tomorrow morning I'm throwing a giveaway!

Lock Laces are innovative shoe laces that have a fastening system that prevents your shoelaces from becoming untied (a necessity for runners/triathletes/walkers/or anyone with shoes). The lock is fast to tighten/loosen and they even come with a cord tip clip that protects the lace ends from becoming frayed. They are cut-to-size so they will fit any pair of shoes.

I've worn them for a few races now and have had no issues at all, I worried about them not being tight enough but they're easily adjustable and stay in place. I'm a lock laces convert for sure and will be investing in some other colors soon. I'm sure they're going to be a staple over the next few months of marathon training... I really don't think I need to exert any extra effort tying my shoes...

Lock Laces retail for $7.99/each and come in a variety of colors, they also have multipacks available for purchase on their site.

But if you just enter my giveaway here you might not need to go buy any, I've got TWO sets up for grabs: one orange, and one black!

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-Please note that Lock Laces sent me only the product and is not compensating me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

KT Tape Review & Giveaway

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I first saw KT Tape back when I did the Tinkerbell Half Marathon . Unfortunately at that expo I really didn't have the time to stop and get taped by them, I wish I had though because then I would have discovered how much I LOVE it!

As you may know I occasionally experience problems with Runner's Knee especially on my longer runs. I reached out to KT Tape to see if they'd give me a chance to try their product. I was so grateful that they sent me 2 whole rolls of KT Tape Pro!

I received the tape just in time for my back-to-back long run weekend. I was so excited to try it as I needed to take advantage of every recovery method possible for 17km on Saturday and then 24km on Sunday! I believe KT Tape and compression socks saved me that weekend, I'm not sure my knee would have survived...

When I first opened the box my biggest concern was being able to put the tape on in the right way so that it would support my knee and provide stability. However I need not worry because their directions are totally awesome, they even have videos with further description as well as printable instructions for each ailment.
Here is the Runner's Knee video:

Mine doesn't look quite as nice as the video but I definitely feel the support.

Contrasting tape for my back to back weekend!

Taping for BMO Vancouver International Half Marathon tomorrow!

It's not just for your knee, KT Tape Pro provides relief, support, and stability for a variety of issues, you can check that out here. At $19.99 for 20 Pro Strips it may seem on the expensive side but the convenience and value in the product makes it worth it in my opinion. I now have 4 rolls of KT Tape so I can match all my different running outfits!

Tomorrow's race is a pink day thus the pink KT Tape. I will have a review coming up, but I'll give you a hint; so far race weekend has been pretty A-MAZING including a lunch with Bart Yasso, so cool! You'll have to wait for the details because I need sleep before Half Marathon #14 tomorrow!

So to tie you over in the meantime here is my KT Tape giveaway:

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-Please note that KT Tape sent me only the product and is not compensating me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product- 

Work It Out Wednesday

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Hill Repeats/Run:
It didn't happen. I had an unsuccessful 5k run yesterday because I'm still having ankle pain from Sunday's race, nothing serious but I'm afraid... The fear of injury is very real for me right now, I have too many half marathons this year to take time off due to an injury. So for now it's best to err on the side of caution. So if I'm feeling good I'll attempt a run tomorrow and postpone my 9 hill repeats till next week! 

Training Session:
This was great as usual, I always feel pretty awesome after. My arms are going to be sore since we mainly focused on shoulders, arms, and some abs to avoid causing any further problems for my ankle. Unfortunately though I've gotten a lot out of the gym I'm currently at and my trainer, I have to look for something else, mainly because I want something where there's an option of child-minding. Then I can work out during the day and save my evenings for time with the family or a run. I would also be less dependent on the hubby being home from work! I'm thinking about trying Cross-Fit... thoughts?

Other Fun Things:
The blog got a makeover! Wanna find out more check out my earlier post. There's also a new BuluBox giveaway that you can enter here!

Think you'll never win? NONSENSE. I just won a giveaway from Slow is the New Fast for the first time today!

There's a new feature coming to the blog! Mom Monday's will start next Monday and to celebrate, YES there will be another giveaway and I'm so excited about this one because it has made a huge difference in my life as a Mom.

Diet Bet v2.0 starts on Sunday. Eek I'm a little nervous... (Didn't hear about v1.0, check it out here.) Wanna jump on the DietBet bandwagon, join me, Read.Write.Run.Mom, & Beast Mode on the Run in this DietBet. Read more on Friday!

Think I've gone giveaway crazy? Well maybe a little, but I'm overwhelmed by all the amazing companies out there willing to support my blog and I can't wait to share the love!

Bulu Box Product Review & Giveaway

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So the blog got a makeover! I hope you love it, because I sure do :)

To celebrate I have another product review and giveaway to share!

Bulu Box is a monthly subscription program that provides vitamin, supplement, and weight loss products. 

Bulu Box did offer me the opportunity to become a brand ambassador but I respectfully declined their invitation, it is important to me to retain the integrity of my blog and that all my product reviews are based solely on my own experience and that there is no bias over the review. So here's what I got:

1. Dream Water: "Has natural ingredients that can improve sleep quality if consumed 20-40 minutes before bed." I LOVE this, I always have trouble getting to sleep, anything that could improve that is a bonus for me.

2. QSpeed CoQ10 100mg: "Delicious, natural orange flavored, sugar free, fast melt tablet formulated with CoQ10." I haven't tried this one but I look forward to doing it before my next long run!

3. Prolab Quick Fire (Pre workout amplifier): "Each dose fuels your body with a surge of nitric-oxide-induced blood flow, supplying nutrients to fuel muscle contractions and promote vascularity."

4. Redd Remedies atEASE PM: "Anxiety and nervous tension are some main causes of restlessness, atEase has a blend of natural ingredients that help you relax naturally..." 

5. AeroShot Energy: "...an air-based shot of energy delivering a unique powdered blend of B vitamins plus 100mg of caffeine that starts working right away..." Love energy shots before a run!

6. iTrain Download | Workout $50 gift card: "Jam-pack your MP3 player with workouts from the premier source for downloadable fitness programs featuring the best music and top celebrity trainer voice-overs." Can't wait to use this one, and $50 is a lot!

They have different lengths of subscriptions but they all basically amount to $10/month unless you sign up for 12 months and then you save $10. They also have a reward points program. At this time they only ship to the US (but you can still enter the giveaway if you're from Canada). 

All in all it seems like a great service if you're looking to try different supplements. They even included a little fitness booklet with some different exercises.

I had a great experience with their customer service and box arrived in no time at all!

-Please note that Bulu Box sent me only the product and is not paying me for this review, it is solely based on my own experience with the product-

Here is the giveaway: 

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RunnerBox Review & Giveaway

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I've been contacting several companies over the last little while about doing product reviews and possibly a giveaway, RunnerBox is one of the companies that responded right away! I have to say if there all multiple companies out there offering similar product, I would choose one product over the other based on customer service and RunnerBox has excellent and efficient customer service!

The RunnerBox has a great website that can be found here. They have a couple of different options:
1) A compact RunnerBox to be shipped monthly for $10.00
or
2) A regular RunnerBox subscription shipped bi-monthly (ever other month) for $20.00
or
3) A 6-month RunnerBox subscription charged in 3 installments of $20.00
or
4) A RunnerBox GIFT BOX a one time shipment for the cost of $20.00
or
5) A gluten-free RunnerBox GIFT BOX a one time shipment for the cost of $20.00

All of these seem very affordable to me for the amount of stuff in the box. It would be a great gift for your fellow running/fitness friends. They also make TriBoxes specialized for triathletes.
Typically RunnerBox ships mainly to the United States because of the increased shipping cost to Canada. There is a flat $5 rate for shipping anywhere in the US.  RunnerBox is not currently set up on the website to take Canadian addresses, (it has to be set up specially for international shipping)  but if anyone from Canada would like to order RunnerBox they can order by emailing Staci @ s.dietzel@therunnerbox.com - she will set that up for you!  All Canadian shipping rates are now $19.95 for boxes.  They ship USPS.

Now for what's in the box I received (every month is a different set of stuff so if you happen to win the giveaway it may not be exactly as pictured):

1. A nice pair of RunnerBox gloves, I love these type of gloves they are easy to pull on/off while running and you can tuck them in your belt and they also machine wash very well.
2. Chocolate Muscle Milk Light - this is similar to chocolate milk however it contains no actual milk and is a protein based nutrition shake, great for post-run!
3. Chocolate Agave Slo-Burn Energy - Organic and 100% agave sweetened, a healthier option for an energy boost during your run
4. Bonk Breaker PB&J Energy Bar- Great pre/post run snack!
5. 2 x CocoaVia Supplements (Unsweetened Dark Chocolate, Cran-Raspberry) - contains cocoa flavanols that are scientifically proven to help support healthy circulation. These are conveniently packaged so you can travel with them and mix with your bottle of water or cup of coffee.
6. Picky Bars Lauren's Mega Nuts Peanut Butter Booyah! - This bar is delicious and I will definitely be adding them to my pre - race breakfast!
7. Shower Pill Athletic Body Wipes - Great idea to slip in your checked bags for after a race!
8. Jelly Belly Extreme Sport Beans - I already use sport beans when i race and I love them, looking forward to the caffeine boost from the "extreme" version.
9. SiMbi Bracelet & Hair Tie - I see these everywhere and I love them, when you wear your hair tie on your wrist all day like I do it's nice to have it look like a bracelet, much more appealing and a great alternative to your average elastic.
10. SportLegs Dietary Supplement - These are meant to be taken before and after exercise to prevent lactic acid buildup in legs and soreness, these are also gluten-free.
11. Honey Stinger Pomegranate Passion Energy Chews - I love the flavor of these and will be adding them to my bag of goodies for racing!

Overall my experience with RunnerBox has been extremely positive and other than the shipping cost to Canada I love everything about it. The thing about all the different products out there for running, it's often impossible and expensive to try them all, RunnerBox is the perfect solution. You get to try ONE of something before committing to a whole box! Also, I know I would definitely look forward to picking up the mail knowing all those goodies were on the way every other month. With just this one box I already have a few things I know I will buy more of including the SiMbi Bracelet/Hair Tie, Picky Bars, and the Honey Stingers!

-please note that RunnerBox sent me only the product and is not paying me for this review, it is purely based on my own experience with the product-

Now here's the GIVEAWAY! Don't forget it's mandatory to leave blog post comment! Once the giveaway has ended I will announce the winner and they will have 48 hours to contact me with their information so I can have RunnerBox ship you a box. Good Luck!


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LEAVING on a jetplane!

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If you're looking for a race report on the Golden Ears Half Marathon, you won't find one, I had to make a really tough decision on Sunday, you can read about that here.  My good friend, Nikki completed the race and had a great time.

WE are down to less than 48 hours to get all my stuff together and get on that plane to New York City!

Here's the thing, I'm still sick :(. I feel like today it might be finally turning around but it really is a slow process. With all the running I've done over the past year I haven't really been getting sick very often, I'm going to be honest, I forgot what it was like and it totally sucks.

I've done my best to rest and take it easy and not think about the race so I can get healthy but I've run out of time -- I've got errands, packing, laundry and maybe just maybe, a run tomorrow?!

I can't believe that quite possibly the biggest race of the year is just a few days away. Thank you everyone for your support on twitter/the blog over the last few days while I've been dealing with this setback.

This will probably be the last post before I leave since there's no packing done. I hope to update throughout the trip, I'll have my iPad so I'll have some basic blog functionality. 

Stay tuned for the Giveaway winner announcement tomorrow!!!

Knuckle Lights Review & Giveaway

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I've been searching for something new to light the way when I run so I contacted Knuckle Lights and they sent me some of their product to review, so here it is:

-please note that Knuckle Lights sent me this product with no bias over this review, it is purely based on my own experience with the product-

Price:
$39.99/ for one set (2 Knuckle Lights)

Product Description:
According to their website it is the first and only light designed to be worn on your hands. Each light puts out 45 lumens. They have adjustable straps and 3 light settings (High, Low, & Blinking).

Product Performance:
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel running with something on my hands as I tried one of the handheld water bottles once and I hated running with it. However, I really enjoyed wearing the Knuckle Lights. They weren't heavy and I appreciated that I didn't have to reach up to adjust my light position like I normally would have to with a headlamp. If I wanted to look ahead or at something on the ground I literally just moved the position of my hand, so simple. As a runner, I definitely think I could get away with just the Knuckle Lights, normally I would wear a headlamp and a light on my fuel belt but I didn't wear those tonight. Knuckle Lights are VERY bright, there was no question that it made a difference seeing the area in front of me and I was definitely recognizable to cars and other people. I also liked how I was able to adjust the Knuckle Lights to different spots on my hand and it was pretty much comfortable in every position.

Conclusion:
All in all these are a great product and I will be using them again. They would be great for pretty much any runner or walker. I will even take mine out to walk the dog.

GIVEAWAY:
Enter to win one set of two Knuckle Lights (batteries included):

Note: You MUST like Knuckle Lights on FaceBook AND LEAVE A BLOG POST COMMENT for your entry to be valid!a Rafflecopter giveawayA big thank you to Knuckle Lights for their support and for providing me with this product to review and giveaway, good luck everyone! Make sure to pay attention to the blog & twitter, once I announce the winner you have 48 hours to respond to me with your mailing address, if at that point there is no response another winner will be chosen.

It was announced on Twitter shortly after the giveaway ended but the winner of this Giveaway is: Pavement Runner
Congratulations!

New York! New York!

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"Start spreading the news
I am leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York New York!" - Frank Sinatra

Okay so I'm not leaving today, I'm leaving in 7 but I can barely contain my excitement! In honor of our impending trip I decided to do a post purely about New York and our trip. I was thinking about how to lay this post out and I've decided to follow the 5 W's, did you learn that in school? Well, when I was in Grade 3 that's how our teacher taught us to do book reports, this isn't relevant at all but anyways...

The first "W" is Who?
Who is going to New York? Why me and my sister of course. Now my sister is in reality my "Step" Sister but for mostly my entire life, as long as I can remember anyways, I've called her my Sister so I never use the "Step" word. Besides, if there was every anyone in this world meant to be MY sister, Shandess is that person. When we were children our parents used to dress us the same so much that people thought we were blood-related more than that, they thought we were twins?!? I'm not sure how they got that though since we are two years apart.

Myself & Shandess circa 1993

 Griffin, Me making some strange face, & Shandess October 2012

The next "W" is What?

What are we going to be doing? EVERYTHING! I have never been to New York and neither has Shandess so I want to see everything! I am a total tourist, I want to take pictures on the Brooklyn Bridge, I want to eat a slice of pizza, and I want to go to the top of the Empire State Building! We have decided to take a bus tour on one of those awesome double decker buses. It will be epic. Shandess happens to be an amazing photographer so even better than experiencing all that we will have some great photos to remember this trip. We will be there for the famous NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade, did you know that New York has the LARGEST St. Patty's Day parade in the world? Pretty crazy! Do you think we should dress like this?

The next "W" is When?

Well we leave next week!!! 7 days and counting :)

The next "W" is Why?

Because I am running the New York City Half Marathon on March 17th!

The next "W" is Where?

Well I think that's clear, but if you didn't catch on we are going to NEW YORK CITY!

"And you bet baby
If I can make it there
You know, I'm gonna make it just about anywhere
Come on, come through
New York, New York, New York" -Frank Sinatra

The Giveaway

My GIVEAWAY is going to take place in less than 24 hours! Don't want to miss it? Follow my blog here: http://bit.ly/WxjtJQ

(Hint: It will give you a jump-start on entering the giveaway)

Care to take a guess at what's in this box?

Friday News: What's that about a GIVEAWAY?

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It has been an up/down week for me, my runs have gone well but the last couple days it has been POURING rain. I don't mean like normal Vancouver pouring rain, I mean stand outside for two seconds and you are completely drenched. It's not the most exciting weather to go for a run in or to take a 15-month old to the park. I managed to go spinning tonight and do a workout including my new exercises from the chiropractor:

These exercises are surprisingly difficult for me, I wasn't expecting that. But I suppose they should be hard since they are meant to make my right hip stronger so that I can support my lower back better and reduce soreness/pain. I'm hoping that this among many of the things I've been doing will help me improve my speed and prevent injuries while running.

Something else happened this week (a definite UP!), someone told me I inspire them. What? Me? I sort of looked around to see if they were talking to someone else. How could little old me inspire anyone? This amazed me, total motivation to keep going and keep getting stronger, it reminded me of this which I saw on Pinterest:

The blog has certainly grown over the last few months, so it's almost time for a little celebration!!! There will be a product review and wait for it... A GIVEAWAY! That's all I'm going to say for now, but stay tuned and be sure to look at the right hand side of the blog and click "join this site" or "follow by email" so you don't miss out on this Giveaway, it's going to be awesome!