Family Fan Club Giveaway–Win An SUAR Shirt!

You know when you decide to do something like fix a leaky faucet it seems like a no-brainer? I’ll tighten up this, I’ll replace that, then voila! DONE.

What I’ve realized after 44 long years is that no undertaking is straightforward or easy. There are always unexpected twists and turns, barriers, rules you didn’t know about.

Such was the case when I decided to create and sell Shut Up + Run shirts. I figured creating a logo and slapping it on a shirt would be no big deal. Long story short, the learning curve was much curvier than I expected.

Fortunately, my good friends at Nuf Said Advertising helped with the logo and did an awesome job. Then there was the business of printing the shirts. That’s where Family Fan Club came in. Paul and Kim, the masterminds behind FFC, contacted me after finding my blog. They thought we could work together and they were right.

I’ve appreciated FFC’s reliability, promptness, attention to detail and creative energy. They’ve navigated me through this confusing world of apparel design/printing and helped me understand some tricks of the trade. If you are looking to print shirts for your son’s baseball team, your own blog, or a fundraising cause, Family Fan Club can help out.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been some glitches, but that comes with the territory. I think you test the true nature of someone you do business with when there are issues that need to be addressed. Do they show up and make things right? Do they work with you to solve the problem? If so, that’s who you want to work with. FFC always did this for me.

That said, here is some cool stuff FFC does/offers:

• Logo design (they did the logo for my Burn Out tee in about 5 minutes)
• Printing technique that dyes the fabric. This means no interference with wicking properties of the garment, no cracking, no fading, vibrant colors, unlimited colors
• 100's of designs that can be personalized and customized including cotton t-shirts, decals and water bottles
• FFC prints YOUR custom designs. 
• FFC hosts stores and handles all the fulfillment. Design owner is paid without any hassles! As an example, check out the store page for The Rock On Foundation to benefit Dylan Flinchum who has recently been diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy, a genetic disorder.

FFC would like to give away an item to 2 winners!

If you win, choose any SUAR item you’d like:

Or, any FFC design you’d like (these are my personal favorites):

This one should say “SUAR’s Best Friend” but whatever.

Or, create your very own!

For every “50 likes” on Facebook, FFC will add another winner, so get “liking” and increase your odds!

To Enter:

• Visit Family Fan Club's website and tell me what you like +1 entry
• "Like" Family Fan Club on Facebook HERE + 1 entry
• "Follow" Family Fan Club on twitter HERE  + 1 entry
• Twat, FB or blog about this giveaway +1 entry

Two winners will be selected at random (or several depending on the # of Facebook likes) on Friday, October 28.

Special bonus! For the next two weeks, save $10 when spending $50 (SUAR10) at FFC.

Good luck!

Fine print: Family Fan Club provided the giveaway items in exchange for my review and for hosting the giveaway.

A Little Retreat

Yesterday I went to a women’s retreat in a gorgeous spot in the woods around Boulder. It wasn’t work related or religiously affiliated – just a way to get some good reminders about life.

This day had nothing to do with fitness or running or injuries or race strategies. It’s good to get a break. I go to these things periodically mainly to get a reminder to Lighten Up Francis and to get some perspective. The general themes focused on quieting the mind, letting go of worry/fear, and having self control and discipline.

Meditation cabin on the property

The facilitator asked each of us to think about a belief we had about ourselves. 100% of the women there said they felt “not good enough.” We were asked to challenge this belief. People shared their stories of recent divorce, financial hardships, family issues. Although we each presented with different circumstances, the themes are always the same: we all struggle, we all want to be accepted/connected, we all worry about shit we can’t control, we all get stuck focusing on the negative stuff in our lives or what we don’t have.

I love women. Get a room full of female strangers/vaginas together and they will interact, support one another, and offer compassion, humor and encouragement. Sure, women can be catty, but not in this environment. This was no “Real Housewives of Boulder” (except when I whipped out my $5.19 leopard handbag from Kohls and everyone fell to the floor with envy). 

Really, it is like coming home. A safe place to be vulnerable and to be myself.

Except for farting. We did a total of 45 minutes of meditation (this nearly killed me. Sitting still and doing nothing is not my forte, but is something I am working on). Anyway, by the third meditation session I was so gassy. It was right after lunch. You could hear everyone’s stomach rumbling and one girl had a coughing fit. I almost farted during her fit knowing it would cover up the sound of flatulence (that could be a song! "The Sound of Flatulence”), but then there is always the smell issue. In the end, I did not fart.

The teacher did say we all needed more self control, so I got an A+ in that area.  I immediately let some loose in the car going home and I haven’t stopped yet. Sweet relief.

Hello my name is Beth! These are not running clothes!

Today was a reminder of so many good lessons. I a diligent student, so I took thorough notes in my favorite fancy and exotic book (Bethany Frankel doesn’t even have one of these):

• Nothing is more important than having peace.  This means letting go of thoughts that don’t serve us and taking time to be still through prayer/meditation. It also means giving up your need to be right all the time.
• Happiness is simply and solely a matter of what you choose to focus on. (Remember the crap vs. the corn?)
• Ask for what you need from people. Don’t be shy. Don’t expect them to read your mind.
• When your mind is judging, controlling, manipulating, etc, don’t feed it. Stop it.
• We all have beliefs about ourselves (i.e., “I’m not good enough,” “I’m only worthwhile if I make a certain amount of money,” etc). It’s helpful to make a list of our beliefs and challenge them. Most of the time (like 95%) they are not true.
• “Letting go is the path to real freedom” – from the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Does any of this makes sense? Do you do it in your daily life? It makes a crap load of sense to me, but I don’t always do it. I am always trying and am at least aware of not doing it. That counts, right?

Happy Monday!

SUAR

PS: The winner of the Saucony Shoe Giveaway is Ashley from Run, Fatty, Run who is cute as can be and not fat at all!  Email me at beth@shutupandrun with which of the two shoes you want, your shoe size and your address. I will need this info TODAY! Congrats!

Saucony Shoe Giveaway

Welcome to the ever evolving world of the running shoe. In April, the day after the Boston Marathon, I hobbled and moaned my way to the science museum where where I saw this:

It’s an exhibit showcasing the running shoe since running was invented. Or at least since there were races and running enthusiasts and people started caring about what they wore on their feet. I’m sure the cavemen had some pretty sweet stability shoes, but no cameras were around back then to document.

My kids kept trying to pull me away from this exhibit to watch some animal giving birth, but I was fascinated!! Like Donny Osmond, the running shoe keeps evolving!

So, on that note….

Saucony is coming out with some new geometry for their latest models.  The Guide 5, Triumph 9 and Hurricane 14  will have a new heel- to-toe offset of 8mm.

What’s the fuss about  8mm anyway? Isn’t this just a gimmick? NO.

This new geometry puts every runner in a more balanced, comfortable and powerful position without reducing cushioning or stability. Also, runners can more easily adjust their stride to a midfoot strike, aligning the lower body to absorb impact. Through extensive testing of different heel to forefoot offsets, Saucony was able to find what they believe is the best geometry for their most popular models. It is a significant development for the running community, as typical running shoes have had 10-12mm drops for the last 20 years.

Hey, heel strikers! We should form a support group. Looks like we could become extinct. Heel Strikers Anonymous (HSA).

Lots more good info in this video if you don’t like to or cannot read:

These shoes will not be in stores until November, but you can get a pair now. Saucony is giving away a pair of either their Guide 5s or their Triumph 9s to one winner. A $130 value!

Guide 5 – Saucony’s most popular shoe just got 1.5 oz. lighter, more flexible, and the 8mm heel-toe offset allows for a lower impact stride without compromising stability or cushion.

Triumph 9 - PowerGrid technology with PowerFoam™ delivers an ultra-cushioned ride that lets you pile on the mileage in a shoe that is lighter and faster than ever before.

To enter, leave a comment for each:

• What shoe do you currently run in?
• Blog, twat, FB about this giveaway
• Follow this here blog if you feel like it
• Which shoe do you want if you win?

If your comments don’t link to a blog where I can find you, leave an email address or no winnings for you. Giveaway ends on Monday 10/23 when a random winner will be chosen (or stuff an envelope of Benjamins in my locker and we’ll see what we can do. JK).

For another chance to win, go enter the contest that Saucony is having on Facebook! Click HERE.

SUAR

Fine print: Saucony provided the item for the giveaway. I paid nothing for it.

PS: The winner of the Pop Chips giveaway is Jessica from I Run, Therefore I Am. Congrats Jessica!

Pop Chips Review and Giveaway

Craving some salt and crunch? Me too.

My post-dinner routine involves the couch, the remote, a glass of chardonnay and something salty. I feel very entitled by the end of the day because I've usually accomplished ten million things and I am due for some self loving. My typical snacks are:

Popcorn with butter and parmesan
Chex mix
Pita chips

I was pretty excited this summer when I was introduced to Pop Chips at the Fitness and Health Bloggers Conference. The Pop Chip is no ordinary chip because guess what? It’s popped, not baked or fried. I can’t pretend to know how one pops a chip, but it happens.

Recently Pop Chips sent me a sample box. They are gone because no one around here has any respect for what is mine and there are no boundaries. Turns out everyone in my house loves Pop Chips, even the one eyed, three legged dog who cannot see them or even walk to the pantry to get them.

What’s so great about the Pop Chip? Taste and crunch. While you could not say these chips are health food, if you are going to eat something chip-like, they are a good choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you need more proof in the form of celebrity endorsement because I am not enough of a celebrity for you, here you go:

I bet Dolvett likes them too.

The main point is, these taste good. If you want a crunchy, low fat snack to go with your wine, I’d recommend these.  They are more expensive than a typical chip (about $2.50 per 3 oz bag), but at my store you can get them on sale for 2/$5.00. My one gripe? They need to come out with a cinnamon sugar Pop Chip! It would be amazing!

Pop Chips wants to give away a month’s supply to one reader (28 bags-assorted). To enter (comment for each):

• “Like” Pop Chips on Facebook and let them know SUAR sent you!
• Tell me what your favorite snack is
• Follow my blog if you don’t already
• Blog, twat, FB about this giveaway.

In your comment you must leave an email address if you do not have a blog link. Otherwise I can’t track you down if you win.

Good luck! A random winner will be chosen on Friday, October 21. Open to U.S. and Canada. No P.O. Boxes.

SUAR

Fine Print: Pop Chips sent me the product free of charge in exchange for my unbiased review. They also provided the giveaway item.

Treadmills Suck, But I Still Want An Answer

The treadmill and I are not friends. It started when I fell off of the damn thing a couple of years ago. After that it was all downhill. In my opinion, the only advantage of a treadmill is that there is always a bathroom nearby so you don’t have to resort to using innocent parking lots or hollowed out trees as your canvas.

This is the actual tree I defiled. If you visit me, I will take you there.

I live in Colorado, no duh. I train outside throughout the winter. You can call me a BAMF if you want. It wouldn't be the first time I’ve been called names that included the "MF.” Fortunately, although we get a fair amount of snow it never sticks around for long and the air so dry that we don’t get layers upon layers of ice forming on the roads. The trails may be a different story, however. I tend to stick to the roads in the winter months. I use my Yak Trax when necessary.

That said, I heard something interesting today in the car.

A secret about me: I LOVE talk radio. I have an XM Radio and listen to it constantly (I drive a lot for work and sometimes I just drive around town to pretend I have somewhere to go). I listen to everything from Dr. Laura to Cocks with Patrick. I would listen to Howard Stern if I had Sirius. I don’t discriminate. 

Anyway, today on Oprah Radio (yes, I am admitting to that as well), Oprah’s fitness guru, Bob Greene, said that you should never run on a “flat” treadmill because that is the equivalent to going downhill on a real road. When the hell am I going to reach the point in my life where I know everything and nothing comes as a surprise? I guess I should have known this, but I didn’t. Did you?

This doesn’t really apply to me so much since I don’t dig treadmills, but if you use it as a major part of your race training, you might want to think about it. Then again, you probably already knew this.

Sometimes the things I don’t know I find out most people knew a long time ago. Like the fact that the word “asterisk” does not have an “x” in it and that jackalopes are not real.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT?

Yes, three years ago on a trip to Jackson Hole (I said “hole”) we were in a gift shop and there were a plethora of fake/stuffed jackalopes around. I made some comment to Ken about having never seen one in the wild, and he was like, “Don’t f*ck with me. You are kidding me right? You don’t think they really exist do you? Maybe you should start a leprechaun support group.” Uhh, yeah, sure I was just kidding.

There is no way this little guy is fake

Back to the treadmill.   Did I tell you I once saw a jackalope doing a 49% incline on the treadmill? True story.

Do you always run with an incline on the ‘mill to simulate outdoor running?

What’s something you just learned that everyone else already knows?

Weirdest spot you’ve ever crapped?

SUAR

Don’t forget my Champion clothing giveaway. Ends Friday.

Champion Eco Fleece Review & Giveaway (Male & Female Winners!)

Today I am going to spoil you with how SUAR looks (yes, I like to talk in the third person) when she is done running, about to run, recovering from running or basically any other time when she is not going to work or a parent/teacher conference.

U-G-L-Y. she ain’t got no alibi (although her sweats are pretty nice):

Please do not submit these photos to US Weekly to be entered into the the “Stars! Their just like us! They look like shit when no one is around” segment. Because I am not a Star and no one cares anyway.

Oh, yeah, party in my kitchen! Hands in the air now! Midriff exposed! Booyah!

On the surface, these may look like just another pair of comfy sweats. But, look more closely. What do you see?

I will punch you in the face with my blurry fists and bald head. I said look closer!:

If you looked deeply enough you might have seen recycled fibers. That is because these sweats are Champion’s new Eco Fleece line made from 5% recycled plastic water bottle fibers. Basically, if you wear these sweats and go put that cardboard pizza box in the recycling bin, you have done your good deed for the day and can go back to bed.

In all seriousness, when you purchase an Eco-fleece item, you're helping to keep 5 million plastic bottles out of landfills.

These sweats are very cozy. They are roomy and are the perfect go-to outfit after a long, cold run. The inside is even softer than the outside. Snuggle into these babies, sit in front of some football and eat some chips. The roominess allows from some waistline expansion for sure.

I am wearing the Women’s Full Zip Hoodie Jacket in size small, color acai. This retails for $38, but Champion is having a 20% online sale right now, so that makes it about $30.40 to be exact.

I am also wearing the Women’s Open Hem Women’s Sweatpants in size small, color granite. These sell for $28.

I’ve said it before, I like Champion stuff because it is affordable, yet quality. There are tons of awesome running items out there, but who can pay $60 a shot? Champion makes stuff for the everyday athlete who wants to look good but might have to count some pennies along the way.

Want this outfit? Or course you do. It’s comfy and free. I have one to give away for ladies and one for men. The men’s version would be something like this:

To enter (comment for each):

• Tell me what your favorite post-long outfit is – thong with pasties? unitard?
• Like Champion on Facebook
• Blog, twat, FB about this giveaway
• Follow my blog if you don’t already

I will pick a winner through random.org on Friday, October 14.

Good luck!

SUAR

PS: Cheetah slippers not included

Fine print: Champion sent me these items and provided the giveaway items free of charge to me in exchange for my unbiased review and giveaway of their product.

Day In The Life (& Winners)

Life really is made up of the ordinary moments. A cup of hot coffee. A satisfying dump. A syrupy kiss from your kid as they head out the door. Changing the sheets. Putting dinner in the crockpot. Adding finishing touches to a report. Lighting a pumpkin sugar Yankee candle and letting it burn all day, filling the house with sweet aroma and covering up the odor of the satisfying dump.

This is precisely why I like to do my “day in the life” posts. Not because my life is so exciting. It is not. But, because these posts represent the every day wonderfulness of a life full of the small, exquisite details. All of them imperfect and perfect at the same time, if you know what I mean.

My day started at 1:30 a.m. when, for no apparent reason (except maybe the two glasses of wine from the night before), I could not sleep. I finally gave up and went downstairs to read this book for a bit:

I crawled back into bed by 3:30 a.m. and heard Ken’s reassuring question, “Are you okay?” No matter what time of night or early morning I get up for lack of sleep, Ken always checks in with me that way. I love him just a bit.

Back to sleep and startled by the alarm at 5:45 a.m. Time to get Sam off to basketball practice. I shower, dress, put the coffee on and wake up child #2, who suffers very, very much in the morning. I rub her back, coaxing her out of her warm covers. She scowls, but asks me to stay with her a bit longer.

I head out for a work appointment, enjoying my car ride. Yes, I drew those lines on my forehead with a Sharpie before I left home:

And some construction, which makes me cuss.

Afterwards, I head into Boulder, but not before taking in one of the best views around:

You all really should move here. Really.

I stopped at Whole Foods for some over-priced healthy crap. I made a pit stop and was reminded of how PC Whole Foods and Boulder really are. Or maybe they just don’t want women whipping out tits by the salad bar.

I did not turn left because I am not at the moment lactating. I was tempted, however, to visit with the women who were lactating and reminisce about when my boobs were big and leaked all the time and were a food source for another human being.

But instead I grabbed one of these and a breakfast blend coffee:

The almond croissant. You have not lived until you have had the almond croissant. When I lived in Paris (yeah, I am so worldly) I would go to the corner Patisserie every morning for a warm croissant au amande. I’m pretty sure they are filled with liquid meth or crack. There is actually a recipe to make your own but I’m not stupid enough to try. I’ll leave that up to a real cook like Eat, Live, Run.

Home again to work, write, get kids and start dinner (home made pizza with a a little help from Whole Foods – their pizza dough is really good and cheap).

But, something is missing! No running, no workout at all today. I am tapering for the Denver Half on Sunday. Which is funny, because I’m not sure how you taper from training that never existed in the first place, but I’m doing it.

I’d love to read about your day in the life. Consider yourself TAGGED. Everyone who does it is entered to win a Shut Up + Run tech shirt (only small or medium available) or a Shut Up + Run visor. I’ll pick a winner based on creativity! The only rules are that you must include a few pictures and it has to be little, everyday stuff. So if you work as a heart transplant doctor or you do “Last Chance Workouts” at the Ranch, no need to enter.

Let me know with a comment if you’re playing along. Posts need to be up by Tuesday, October 11.

What was your favorite small detail of your day?

Ever hang out in a lactation room?

SUAR

The winners of the Marathon Bar prize packs are:

#8: Josiah from the Incredibly Shrinking Man
#44: Marlene from Mission to Another Marathon
#113: Becky C. from Becky’s Blog
#118: Melissa from Double Jogger Diaries
#303: PJ from PJ Runs

Email me at beth@shutupandrun.net with your mailing address!

Team Marathon With A Sweet Giveaway x 5!

On Sunday I will run the Denver Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon as an honorary member of Team Marathon. This means I get to run while eating bars non-stop while wearing one of these shirts:

Option #1

Option #2

Of course I’m kidding about eating bars not-stop while running. That would lead to crappy, smelly results that no one around me would want to witness.

Denver will either be 90 degrees and I’ll do option #1, or snowing and 30 degrees in which case I’ll choose option #2. There is a saying around here that annoys the hell out of me, but it is true, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.” Around here we can drop 40 degrees in no time, so it gets a bit nipply. 

One saying I DO like is the motto of Team Marathon:

“Life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

You may be wondering what Team Marathon is all about and how you can get involved. Team Marathon has 200 ambassadors nationwide. These individuals all “have passion and enthusiasm for living a healthy, well-rounded life and are involved in activities ranging from running, to cycling, to triathlon and other endurance sports.” Just like you and me, right?

Later this week, look for an interview I did with Richard Kalasky, a Team Marathon member, who went from overweight couch potato (325 lbs!) to a 185 lb stud who does triathlons and marathons. Hugely inspirational!

Aside from all of that healthy, balanced living, the team members have something else in common: they love Marathon Bars. I mean, who wouldn’t? If you haven’t had a MB, you might want to try one. They are a tasty treat, packed full of protein and vitamins. I know this because Team Marathon sent me a couple to try. And, yes, I ate them all in one sitting:

My favorite is the Protein Bar. This sucker is BIG and carries a whopping 21 grams of protein. I am so delicate I usually just eat half at a time, but it is a satisfying snack after a long workout.

There are also a couple of other varieties, equally as yummy:

The Energy Bar:

And the new Smart Stuff bar for you healthier types who want whole grains, fewer calories and some fiber (fart).

The giveaway!

Want to try some? Marathon Bar is giving away prize packs of three boxes (assorted) to each of five winners!

To enter:

• “Like” Marathon Bars on Facebook + 1 entry
• Blog, twat, FB about this giveaway + 1 entry
• Tell me your favorite pre or post training snack and why + 1 entry
• Follow my blog if you don’t already + 1 entry

Five winners will be chosen by random.org on October 7.

Simple as PIE!! Mmmmm…pie.

SUAR

Fine print: Per FTC guidelines, Marathon Bar provided me with my bar samples and shirts. They also provided the prizes for this giveaway.

Anne Franklin Designs Necklace Giveaway!

Anne of Anne Franklin Designs has got to be one of the most clever entrepreneurs around. She decided to take Scrabble tiles and to repurpose them into necklace charms and key chains. The colorful designs are sealed with a  shiny resin finish and offset by a colorful four-strand combination of ribbon and cord or a ball chain necklace. 

Anne has just started a new “Keep Calm” series. Here are just a few examples. You’ll have to check out her Facebook page or her website for the rest.

Keep Calm, Run On

Keep Calm, Drink Beer

Keep Calm, Ride On

You know which one I like best, right? It’s a toss up between the beer and the run, but I’ll take the RUN.

Anne keeps her prices reasonable. Part of her mission was to create personalized items that were affordable.  Her necklaces are only $15 ($20 for a special order). Shipping is $3.

Want one of the “keep calm” beauties she makes?

Here’s how to enter (comment for each):

1. Go to the Anne Franklin Design FB Page (this has more photos than the website), and let me know what you’d get from the “calm” line +1 entry
2. Write about this giveaway on your blog, FB, Twat, etc. +1 entry
3. “Like” Anne Franklin Designs on FB + 1 entry
4. Follow my blog or let me know if you do already + 1 entry

This giveaway will end on 9/26.

Good luck,

SUAR

The fine print:

• Per FTC guidelines: Anne Franklin Designs provided the giveaway item.
• Contest  open to both US and Canadian residents!
• The winner will be chosen at random by Random.org

YMX by Yellowman Running Shirt Review & Giveaway

So many running apparel items look the same. The designs start to run together. YMX by Yellowman deviates from the norm and brings us some colorful, playful patterns that are lightweight and performance material.

I already own a couple of Yellowman things, like the one pictured here (purchased through the Athleta site – they sell several Yellowman items):

Jersey with arm warmers

YMX by Yellowman sent me a running shirt with arm warmers to review. It is the Tribal Sea Running Tee.

Without warmers:

With arm warmers:

I wore this shirt on a very early morning that started out cool (58 degrees) and climbed up in temps by the end. I wore the arm warmers for about half of the workout, then just tucked them into the pocket in the back of the shirt when it got hot.

Material/Performance: Very lightweight, comfortable and silky fabric. 88% Polyester 12% Spandex. The fabric is Madkool – a patented product that is supposed to help regulate your body temperature and provides 30+ SPF.  Lighter than typical running shirts, the fabric is thin, in a good way. It wicks the sweat just like a typical performance shirt, but I’ve never had a shirt with such thin and silky fabric.

The arm warmers are the same material as the shirt. While they provide some protection from the wind, they would not give you much protection from cold temps.

Design: Funky, unique, attention-getting. Arrow of paradise.

Price: $69.99 for shirt and an additional $32 for the arm warmers. Ouch. Great quality shirt, but this is steep for a running shirt and I don’t know many people who spend over $50 on a running shirt (but I could be wrong). As for the arm warmers, such a fun addition to the shirt, but with how thin they are, I personally do not think they are worth the price.

Overall: Very comfortable performance running shirt with a splash of style! While the thinness of the fabric is perfect for the summer months, it will likely not provide much warmth as it gets cooler. Would be a great layering piece, however.

Want one? YMX by Yellowman has one of these running shirts with arm warmers to give away.

To enter:

• Check out the YMX by Yellowman site and tell me what you like +1 entry
• Tell me what the top priority is for you when shopping for running apparel. Design? Performance? Price? Style? Brand name? +1 entry
• FB, twat, blog about this giveaway + 1 entry

Giveaway ends Friday. Open to US only.

SUAR

Fine Print
**YMX by Yellowman provided me with a running shirt as well as the one for the giveaway. I paid nothing for them.
**Winner will be chosen by Random.org on Friday September 5.

Get a New Plan, Stan

The minute I finished my half ironman, my motivation went into the toilet. There is something about my Type-A, uptight, over-achieving personality that likes to have a plan. Give me a plan and a goal and watch the hell out. But, once I reach that goal and have checked off the last “to-do” on the plan, I’m like that show I never watched but a lot of people liked - “LOST.”

I’ve still been trying to do some sort of workout be it swimming, biking, running or yoga everyday. Running has taken a back seat because my ass hurts, but the other disciplines are alive and well.

Funny how when you get up everyday at 5:00 a.m. to workout you get very used to and it seems like no big deal. Funny how when you work out for 2+ hours per day you get used to it and it seems like no big deal. Funny how when you get out of this routine for just a week or two, suddenly getting up at 5:00 a.m. seems very painful, as do long workouts. Easy come, easy go.

The other issue with early waking is it is darker later in the morning. When it is dark my body likes to be where it should be: in bed.

So, when the alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. today for my cycling group, I was kind of pissed.

Tired? Why? Emma saw a spider in her bed two days ago and has been refusing to go to sleep. She has been sleeping on top of her covers and needing some reassurance. In the parenting world, a child needing reassurance means that the parent becomes sleep deprived.  When she first saw the spider and asked me to look for it, I did a Dumb Ass Parent Action (DAPA) and told her I could not find it. Ken looked at me like “WTF?” and reminded me I should have lied and said I found it so the drama could be put to rest. BAD, DUMB PARENT!

So, I was tired. So what? A workout is a workout and should NEVER be missed unless the worker-outer is vomiting or has profuse diarrhea or has a trache or something extreme going on.

I thought this would be a stinky morning and I would tire easily. Nope. My energy was off the charts. I felt so damn good. It might have been adrenaline, it might have been taking it easy for the week, it might have been thoughts of a spider in a bed somewhere, or it might have been my new, fancy jersey with matching arm warmers (review/giveaway coming soon). Funny thing is, I thought it was a jersey, but it is actually a running shirt. My bad. I never said I was smart:

Whatever the case, I was reminded that for me there is no better feeling than getting up early, sweating, working hard and getting it done. I was so jacked this morning it was a drug. So, when you debate your workout, remember that euphoric post workout feeling. Make a decision and follow through. Keep at it and who knows what can happen.

Iron Girl I’m coming for you sister!

After you complete a race you’ve been training for do you lose motivation? Do you need a plan/goal to keep your head in the game?

Would you have lied to your kid about the spider?

Do you like where the arrow on my “jersey” is pointing?

SUAR