WeekEnd Round-Up 7/25

Great things going on in the blogworld

(If you posted a race report, have a giveaway going on and would like it linked let me please let me know)

Race Reports

Kicking Assphalt
Run the Amazing Day
ROJ Running
Happiness...One Mile At a Time
Finishing Firsts
Canadian Runner in Exile

Raffles, Fundraisers, Virtual Races, etc.

Kat from Adventures in Dietland is bringing back the Awesome By August weight loss/healthy goals challenges which will run July 11th - Aug. 9. So if you have some goals weight or health goals and would like a challenge to help support and encourage you to stay you motivated to reach them check it out.

Amanda at Run to the Finish is hosting a Virtual 5k to celebrate her 30th Birthday Aug. 13th.

Fitness Collaborative is hosting a Hotter than Hades Virtual Half Marathon, at first i was a little freaked about running a half marathon but have no worries you have from July 15-Aug 15 to complete it and all those miles don't have to be in 1 run

Stop by Running Ricig and comment to take part in her virtual timed Mile Challenge. The goal to see how fast you can run just 1 mile, you have the whole month of July to complete it and there is a to be determined prize up for grabs. :)
Carrie over at Family Fitness Food is going to host a "Not" Over the Hill Virtual 5k Aug. 7-13


Giveaways

Miles, Muscles & Mommyhood: GU 7/31
Because I Can: Recycled Giveaway 7/28
Running On My Time: Gotein 7/??
Tall Mom on the Run: Active Bands 8/1

The GU Giveaway Winner is:
Penny from Pink Hat Runner
Congratulations!!!! email me your shipping information to ericarunning@hotmail.com and I will get your prize out to you. :)

Have a Great Week and Happy Running!!!!

Last Chance to Enter

Last Day to Enter to Win some some of my new favorite GU products
check it out here...

Almost Wordless Wednesday

I finished the Running Ricig 'Proof I didn't Peak in High School'Virtual Mile

It's not to late to sign up. :)

Finish Time 10:10

Thanks Kari for hosting

If you haven't entered my GU giveaway yet, there still time check it out here...

Quotable Tuesday

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."
~Confucious

So this past week was definitely not as good as the first week I started training and new eating plan. I had a few scheduling problems and with me bad decisions are like a chain reaction two missed workouts and two to many brownies led me to thinking and what I came up with was even though over the next four weeks my primary goals are:
A. To finish my 10k training plan and
B. To lose 10lbs
my daily my goal has to be making my next decision a good one and what I mean by that is when I wake my goal is not to finish my 10k training but instead to get through my morning workout, then my next goal is to no matter what my current weight it is, eat according to my plan etc. I am hoping this will help me to stay focused and keep me from telling myself stuff like one brownie doesn't matter (which of course turns into three brownies) or I can just do that workout on my rest day (which hardly if ever happens) and I have even added an incentive if I meet my goals I plan on rewarding myself with a Endorphin Warrior 'Strength' training bracelet to go with my 'Focus' bracelet I currently have.

WeekEnd Round-Up 7/18

Found this in my garden this morning.

Great things going on in the blogworld

(If you posted a race report, have a giveaway going on and would like it linked let me please let me know)

Race Reports

Journey in Running
My Dirt Road Anthem
Discom-BOB-ulated Running
Running Moose
Runner...Maybe
ROJ Running
5k Rae
Run Around Sara

Raffles, Fundraisers, Virtual Races, etc.

Kat from Adventures in Dietland is bringing back the Awesome By August weight loss/healthy goals challenges which will run July 11th - Aug. 9. So if you have some goals weight or health goals and would like a challenge to help support and encourage you to stay you motivated to reach them check it out.

Amanda at Run to the Finish is hosting a Virtual 5k to celebrate her 30th Birthday Aug. 13th.

Fitness Collaborative is hosting a Hotter than Hades Virtual Half Marathon, at first i was a little freaked about running a half marathon but have no worries you have from July 15-Aug 15 to complete it and all those miles don't have to be in 1 run

Stop by Running Ricig and comment to take part in her virtual timed Mile Challenge. The goal to see how fast you can run just 1 mile, you have the whole month of July to complete it and there is a to be determined prize up for grabs. :)
Carrie over at Family Fitness Food is going to host a "Not" Over the Hill Virtual 5k Aug. 7-13

Over at Mom's Run this Town they are having a Virtual 5k race series sorry fellas this is just for the ladies. 1 Virtual race every month (June, July, August & Sept) throughout the summer. July Race is the Fuelbelts 'Hydration Hustle' 5k

Giveaways

The Making of a Runner: Popchips 7/25
Mommy Miles: Running Goodie Bag (the contest will close when she hits 50 followers)
Running Moose: Endorphin Warrior 7/21
Bigger Girls Can Run Too: 100th Post Giveaway 7/22
Barefoot Angie Bee: Ifitness Belt 7/24
I Run Because I Can: GU 7/23
Rust Belt Runner: Wrightsock 7/19
The Running Jewess: SPIbelt 7/25

Have a Great Week and Happy Running!!!!

I Just Can't Get Enough GU Review and Giveaway

Oh GU
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach...."



Okay maybe my love of GU isn't as deep and Elizabeth Browning explains but it is pretty close. GU products are the first energy and electrolyte products I used when I started running and 2 1/2 years later it's safe to say we are exclusive and I have the stash of gels to prove it.I've talked about GU on my blog in the past here, here & here, and referenced it in several posts. I just when I thought it couldn't get any better I mean I had found my favorites Lemon Lime Brew and Chocolate Mint Gel and all I needed was an unending supply of that and I would be good. Then GU decided to launch some new products the electrolyte tablets and Chocolate Raspberry Roctane at first I am not going to lie I wasn't really interested the new products I had yet to find a Roctane Gel I liked and in my head nothing could get better than the brew but at the San Diego RnR Expo my husband talked me into trying a couple of their new products 1 Chocolate/Raspberry Roctane and 1 tube of Peach Ice Tea Electrolyte tablets to be exact and I have to say I wanted to kick myself for not trying it out sooner and more for not stocking up at the expo.


The Chocolate Raspberry Roctane was so good and it nice to have a go to Roctane Gel, if you haven't tried it but you like the Chocolate Outrage or Chocolate Mint than I think this will be right up your alley.


The Electrolyte tablets which have actually become something I use daily whether I am working out or not if I am planning for a workout I use a whole tablet in my 20 oz water bottle and supplement the calories with a Gel, but daily I make up two 20 oz water bottles with 1/2 a tablet each to drink throughout the day. I took them with me to the bbq's I attended over the 4th of July weekend and instead of drinking soda like I normally would have I would get a bottle of water and add half a GU Peach Tea electrolyte tablet and drink that. Some things I really like about 'em...
...they dissolve completely with little or no shaking, which though I love the GU Brew I have had issues with trying to get it fully dissolve in ice water.
...each tablet is only 10 calories
...I actually like all 3 flavors
...the compact tube they come in which makes it easy to put in my bag and carry them with me where ever.

And thanks to the wonderful people at OutsidePR who sent me a boat load of samples I was actually able to review the tablets and Roctane through multiple workouts and I am sold which is good and bad, good because there is two more GU products I can see myself using in the future and bad because it is two more products I will have to add to my unending supply list.

Enough about what I think I'm interested in what you think and 1 lucky reader will have a chance to try out and review some GU products for themselves...

WIN IT!!!!
1 I Run Because...I Can reader will have the chance to win this

6 Chocolate Raspberry Roctane Gels
5 Orange Electrolyte Tablets
5 Lemon Lime Electrolyte Tablets
5 Peach Tea Electrolyte Tablets

To Enter: (Leave one comment for each entry)

Mandatory Entry
Tell me if you currently use GU products, If, yes what is your favorite products. If no, what products do you use during your running or workouts?

Extra Entries

~Become a Follower or let me know you already are
~ Friend me on facebook.. or like I Run Because I Can here..
~Follow GU on twitter here...
~Follow GU on facebook here...
~Check out my Build-A-Sign review and leave me a comment on that post letting me know what saying/phrase you would get on a bumper sticker.
~Link back to this contest on your blog, facebook or twitter. (1 entry for each)

Since you can gain entries by commenting on two posts winner will be chosen using the name out of hat method. Contest Ends 7/23. Open to U.S and Canada. Winner will be notified in a post and emailed.

I was provided with samples to facilitate this review, all opinions expressed are my own.

Quotable Tuesday

“It pays to plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.”
~Author Unknown

I so happy that after making a plan and then changing the plan I have found a summer plan that is working for me..

Workouts:
When I wake up in the morning I do the Insanity DVD which are 40 min. workouts 6x a week
and in the evening I work on the running part of my 1ok training which is 3x a week, the good part about doing the Insanity workout during my 10k training is that it fills in as my cross training and stretching days the 10k plan calls for.

total miles this week: 7.5
total days of exercise: 6
number of 2 a days (running & Insanity): 3


My Eating Habits
After doing The Clean program for only a week, I could have done it up to 30 days but the diet was so strict that I wasn't getting enough carbs or sugar to have the energy I needed to complete my workouts, but regardless I am so glad I did it and have adapted my diet around that so I do a juice in the morning for breakfast (usually some combination of spinach, frozen fruit, Omega Swirl & almond milk), my biggest meal is lunch where I pretty much eat what I want I try to watch the portion size and limit the amount of red meat I eat, then dinner is another juice and a small portion of what ever meat and vegetable is on the menu.
~I have also been soda free for about two weeks and limit coffee to twice a week which has allowed me to up my water or water & GU electrolyte tablets (they are only 10 calories a tablet) intake to at least 40oz a day.

So I must say I am really happy that last week went so well and proud of myself for sticking to the schedule, but I don't want this to be all about me so I want to hear some bragging from you. How is your plan for summer workouts going? What went well for you last week? What did you do that made you feel proud of yourself? (it doesn't have to be running related.)

WeekEnd Round-Up 7/11

Great things going on in the blogworld

(If you posted a race report, have a giveaway going on and would like it linked let me please let me know)

Race Reports

Running to Health
Run Around Sara (sorry I missed posting last week)
Pain, Pride and Perserverance
Finishing Firsts
Tall Mom on the Run
She Runs
Bigger Girls Can Run


Raffles, Fundraisers, Virtual Races, etc.

Kat from Adventures in Dietland is bringing back the Awesome By August weight loss/healthy goals challenges which will run July 11th - Aug. 9. So if you have some goals weight or health goals and would like a challenge to help support and encourage you to stay you motivated to reach them check it out.

Amanda at Run to the Finish is hosting a Virtual 5k to celebrate her 30th Birthday Aug. 13th.

Fitness Collaborative is hosting a Hotter than Hades Virtual Half Marathon, at first i was a little freaked about running a half marathon but have no worries you have from July 15-Aug 15 to complete it and all those miles don't have to be in 1 run

Stop by Running Ricig and comment to take part in her virtual timed Mile Challenge. The goal to see how fast you can run just 1 mile, you have the whole month of July to complete it and there is a to be determined prize up for grabs. :)
Carrie over at Family Fitness Food is going to host a "Not" Over the Hill Virtual 5k Aug. 7-13

Over at Mom's Run this Town they are having a Virtual 5k race series sorry fellas this is just for the ladies. 1 Virtual race every month (June, July, August & Sept) throughout the summer. July Race is the Fuelbelts 'Hydration Hustle' 5k

Giveaways

Tall Mom on the Run: $100 Brooks Giftcard 7/18
Racing with Babes: $100 Brooks giftcard 7/18
Endurance Isn't Only Physical: Brooks T7 Racers 7/18
If I can't convince you..: $100 Brooks giftcard 7/18
Detroit Runner..: Elektroplate 7/23
Shut Up and Run!: $50 Active Bands 7/11
Pink Hat Runner: RazzyRoo Sporty Headbands 7/16
Early Morning Run: Oiselle Tee 7/13
Run from the Heart: Ryders 7/18
Mile Posts: Speed Laces 7/22
Barefoot Angie Bee: Sony Walkman 7/16
Run with Jess: Family Fan Club $30 Giftcard 7/14
Journey in Running: Gelbot 7/18


The winners of my Because It's Good for You Giveaway are

#2 Cherloo from Granola Loving CherBear and #13 Annette at (Running) in the Right Direction

Congratulations, please email me your shipping addresses to ericarunning@hotmail.com so I can get your prizes out to you.

Have a Great Week and Happy Running!!!!

Just 1 More Day To Enter!!!!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter my giveaway here... So don't miss out and do me a favor a spread the word. :)

Quotable Tuesday

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”
~Jim Rohn

This quotes is now one of my favorites so the goal this week is to experience the pain of discipline, who's with me? :) Also I have a couple new additions to my board first my 13.1 sticker from Kelly over at Secrets of a Running Mom , I even kept the great note she sent along with it for a little extra motivation and front and center my 10k training plan of which day one is complete :)


And while your here be sure and check out my giveaway, it ends Friday :)

WeekEnd Round-Up July 4th

Happy 4th of July

Great things going on in the blogworld

(If you posted a race report, have a giveaway going on and would like it linked let me please let me know)

Race Reports

Because I Can...
Miles to Run
The Faster Bunny
My Running Tales
Pain, Pride and Perserverance
Discom-BOB-ulated Running
Running on Words

Raffles, Fundraisers, Virtual Races, etc.

Fitness Collaborative is hosting a Hotter than Hades Virtual Half Marathon, at first i was a little freaked about running a half marathon but have no worries you have from July 15-Aug 15 to complete it and all those miles don't have to be in 1 run

You can stop by Let's Move Mama to join in her Independence Day 5k. You have from now until July 11th to take part.

Stop by Running Ricig and comment to take part in her virtual timed Mile Challenge. The goal to see how fast you can run just 1 mile, you have the whole month of July to complete it and there is a to be determined prize up for grabs. :)

Carrie over at Family Fitness Food is going to host a "Not" Over the Hill Virtual 5k Aug. 7-13

Over at Mom's Run this Town they are having a Virtual 5k race series sorry fellas this is just for the ladies. 1 Virtual race every month (June, July, August & Sept) throughout the summer. .

Giveaways

Pumpkin to Princess: SPIbelt 7/7
Run to the Finish: Head to Toe Feel Good Giveaway 7/21
I Run Because...I Can: Because It's Good For You/Because You like Me Giveaway 7/8
Mommy Miles: BondiBand 7/9
Run, Courtney, Run: Road ID 7/7

Have a Great Week and Happy Running!!!!

Because It's Good For You and Because You Like Me Giveaway

Okay now that I have played catch up and bombarded you with reviews I think it's about time for a giveaway. There will be two winners, thanks to Barleans, Herb Pharm and Build-A-Sign (you can click on the links to read my reviews)up for grabs is:

Prize #1:

because it's good for you
1 bottle of Orange Cream Total Omega Swirl
2 bottles of each Super Echinacea & Athlete's Power Tonic
and because you like me
1 I Run Because...I Can bumper sticker


Prize #2


because it's good for you
1 bottle of each Mango Peach Omega Swirl Fish Oil and Blackberry Omega Swirl Flax Oil
2 bottles of each Super Echinacea & Athlete's Power Tonic
and because you like me
1 Run Because...I Can bumper sticker


So there you have it so how to enter..

To Enter (leave one comment for each):

~Become a follower of this blog, or let me know you already are
~Like I Run Because...I Can on facebook here..
~Like Build-A-Sign on facebook here...
~Like Herb Pharm on facebook here..
~Like Barlean's on Facebook here...
~Follow Barlean's on twitter here...
~Link to the giveaway on your blog or facebook (1 entry for each)
~Check out my Build-A-Sign review then come back on let me know what you would want a race sign to read

Winner will be chosen randomly. Contest Ends 7/9 11:59pm. Open to U.S residents only. Winner will be announced in a post (and emailed).

Build-A-Sign Review

When I first approached to do a review for Build-A-Sign I was a little hesitant and took awhile to make up my mind, not because their not a great company I mean their have been quite a few times in my life I have thought I just need a big sign (yard sales, birthday parties, every time I think about selling my husbands xbox...just kidding, maybe) but because the thought of having to pick a design & layout you know build a sign made me nervous I am not the most creative brush in the box but I am so happy I did decide to jump on the opportunity to do a review and luckily the wonderful people at Build-A-Sign where happy and still willing to work with me. I am so thankful to Megan at Build-A-Sign I must have emailed her half a dozen times asking for her opinion, links to examples from other bloggers, what can I say I have commitment issues but I was so excited when I received the final product
The wonderful people at Build-A-Sign gave me the opportunity to design a sign and some very lovely bumper stickers that I will be sharing with you wonderful people in the near future. :) The design process was surprisingly super easy, even for someone like me who usually call upon my 13 yr. old to crop pictures, find my tool bars when I make them disappear and simple computer stuff like that.

I was so proud of how fabulous my sign was which read "GO Erica Your legs will forgive you eventually" and even more excited when I saw my husband smiling and holding the sign when I came around the corner between miles 7 & 8. Even though I found at later that my husband didn't even see me come up so that big 'ol smile wasn't necessarily for ,this picture has been my wallpaper since the race. After the race one of my daughters told me "A woman ran by and yelled thank you because her name was Erica too" . So that was kind of neat. :)

(pay no attention to the 23% battery life my phone lives at 20-30%)

Build-A-Sign covers all your signage needs magnets, bumper stickers, banners, signs, of course and more..no really the have a more tab on their homepage you can visit them online at:

www.buildasign.com
You can also find them on facebook here...

I received products from Build-A-Sign to facilitate this review