HBBC Challenge 2011 and A (nother) Winner!

The holidays are [rapidly!] approaching – we are already into the second week of November! I don’t know about you, but I am not ready for the holidays at all. And, I don’t really feel like I will be into the holiday spirit this year. To think that Christmas (Yikes! I said Christmas on my blog!) is just over a month away is kind of freaking me out.
I feel like I might be a Scrooge this year….!
The holidays pose several challenges for me year after year, particularly relating to health and fitness. It seems like it is a never-ending stream of parties, get-togethers, socials and other happenings. There is food – and not the healthy kind – and drinks. Sweet treats, rich dips and cheeses, lavish spreads and more choices and dishes than I can handle. I overeat at the holidays and if I don’t gain a few pounds (the average American gains five pounds every holiday season), I certainly do not lose any. I have a problem with self control, I guess.
Not to mention, my running and workouts take a hit too. It seems like around the holidays, everything else comes first. This is not to say that family, work and friends’ parties are not important, but they quickly become the priority and I don’t get out and run – or get out and anything, for that matter. Combine that with all the food and drink and voila – more weight, less run. I can’t do that this holiday season with the Goofy coming up in January! I needto stay on track.
Enter the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge 2011 brought to you by Run to the Finish:
Here is what Amanda at Run to the Finish has to say about the Fourth Annual Challenge:
I love this challenge because it provides added incentive to find time for workouts, find room for veggies and feel good through the holiday season. We’ve all seen the reports that the average American gains and maintains 5lbs every holiday season…that is not the gift that I want to receive or give! Amazingly a lot of people find that with this challenge they end up being MORE active than before because what you measure you change…and suddenly measuring your activity really gets you going!

I did it last year and while I didn’t win any prizes, it was still a lot of fun to track my progress and rack up the points! It definitely helped hold me accountable for eating smart and staying active. And, a little healthy competition keeps us all motivated when the going gets tough. The best part? It’s free and anyone can participate! What are you waiting for? Sign up today! The challenge runs from Nov 19 to Jan 6 so you are covered for all of the major holidays.  
Unfortunately, the original winner of the DivaCup did not respond so I picked a new winner this evening. Let’s hope this one goes better…so, per the Random Number Generator…
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Rachel!
Who said:
Email me please, Rachel, at sara@wordstorunby.com by midnight on Sunday, November 13, 2011 and I will put you in touch with DivaCup to claim your prize! Congratulations!
I hope to see you all at the HBBC Challenge 2011!
Until the next mile marker, 

 

Am I Goofy or What? Week #9 Training Recap

This recap is brought to you by…
My Very Own Blog Button!


Grab it while it’s hot! 

I had a great weekend, and I hope you all did too! I spent a lot of time with friends and family and with a 5K on Saturday (stay tuned for a recap) – I got a good run in. It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend for a change in Central Ohio with crystal clear blue skies, mild temperatures and A LOT of sunshine! Perfect fall running weather.
I also spent some time sharpening my very dull tech skills and created this:
I know it is simple, but it took me forever and I am proud of it. And, my mom is on my mind today so it makes me smile to think she would have liked it.  
Am I Goofy or what?! My Weekly Training Recap: 
  • MON 10/31 – Beggar’s Night Run (So much fun!) 3 miles in 42 minutes; 14:02 pace.
  • WED 11/02 – Run for time; 2.75 miles in 45 minutes. 
  • SAT 11/05 – Rotary Honors Veterans Inaugural 5K; 42:39 total / 13:46 mile  

This coming week, I have some time home from work so I am planning to really kick this Goofy training into high gear starting with some cross training today with my husband!

Until the next mile marker, 



  
In Case You Missed It:

I was super exited to announce the winner of my DivaCup giveaway last week! I haven’t heard anything yet. Please respond to sara@wordstorunby.com by midnight tonight, November 07, 2011 or I will select a new winner tomorrow.

 

Am I Goofy or What? Week #8 Training Recap and A WINNER!!

This recap is brought to you by…
A Very Happy 

Happy Halloween, everyone! I don’t really get into Halloween that much (we don’t even get trick-or-treaters!), but I hope you all are enjoying the festivities. My plans? To get a three mile run in! Here’s to another slow and low (mileage, that is) training week-
Am I Goofy or what?! My Weekly Training Recap:
 
  • WED 10/26 – Ran/Walked for 40 minutes with the husband and the pups, about 3 miles!
  • SAT 10/29 – Ran 4 miles in 53 minutes; 13:09 pace and a 2 mile hike.
And now the moment you have all been waiting for…the winner of my DivaCup Giveaway! Thank you to all the ladies who entered! There were 37 entries total, and the winner was selected via random.org after the entries were ordered from first to last. 

Congratulations to …
  
who said…
Please email me at sara@wordstorunby.com to claim your prize!
Didn’t win this time? Be sure to check out DivaCup and like them on Facebook for specials, giveaways and coupons!
Until the next mile marker, 
 

A GIVEAWAY for the Ladies!

Seriously, gentleman, I’m more than thrilled to have you on this journey with me [read: I hope you don’t go away after this post!], but this giveaway is for the Divas in my life. I’m giving you the heads up now, I am about to talk about that time of the month.
As women, we all have to deal with our menstrual cycles. If you’re like me, you probably hate it. I get cramps, a backache, headaches, stomach issues and nausea, not to mention irritable, crabby, emotional and sometimes downright mean [mostly to my husband who is actually pretty understanding; I’m sorry, honey]. As athletes, getting your period can pretty much ruin any training plans you might have had for that particular week – especially for me.
I literally dread working out and running on my period. Not just because I am already uncomfortable with things I can’t control, but because I can’t find a pliable solution to the issue to make it any less painful. Pads are messy, uncomfortable, bulky, leaky, feel like a diaper and cause massive chaffing if I even so much think about sweating. Tampons? I have never really had success with those. They don’t seem to fit well with my body and I can feel them when I am moving. Not to mention, my flow is usually heavy enough that I end up wearing a pad anyway. So, over the years, I went strictly to wearing pads, but I’m uncomfortable no matter what I do. Just getting up and going to work is a chore because I am afraid of leaking or having to change my pad every half hour. Exercise? Running in public? You can pretty much forget about it for one week out of the month. I go into hibernation mode and I will – sometimes even gladly – sacrifice my training plan to stay in bed where less horrible things are bound to happen. I have “period” pants, “period” underwear and “period” pajamas. P.S. Am I the only one who does that? Because if so, please don’t tell me!
Through all of this and as running became a regular part of my life I started to think, “There hasto be a better way.” After a new runner asked me what I did while training on my period, which nearly resulted in tears on my end, I started asking other girls in my group what they did.
Enter the DivaCup. What’s that, right? That’s what I said, at least. The DivaCup is a non-absorbent menstrual cup that simply collects menstrual flow. Clean. Convenient. Reusable. Perfect for the active woman. I’m never going back.
Now before you freak out on me with That’s gross or I could never do that or I don’t want that stuff inside of me! hear me out. I was surprised with what I found. 
The idea of a menstrual cup is not new – it was actually developed in the 1930’s – but in 2003, the DivaCup Team developed a modern redesign, made from soft, top-quality silicone, to meet the needs of women today. The DivaCup is latex free and is made from top quality silicone, a material that has been used in healthcare applications for over 50 years. No chlorine, dyes, colorings or additives of any kind are used and it is BPA free. The soft, flexible material and design makes it so you can’t even feel it when you are wearing it. Not to mention, most pads and tampons are full of surfactants, adhesives and additives – do we really want that stuff inside of us?  
The DivaCup comes in two sizes. Model 1 is for women under 30 years old who have never delivered vaginally or by caesarean section and Model 2 is for women over 30 years old and/or for women who have delivered vaginally or by caesarean section. You can find out the specifics here. I have a Model 1, and I trimmed down the stem so it fits my body better.
  
The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours before emptying, washing (with the DivaWash or a scent-free, all natural soap) and reinserting for use for another 12 hours. It can be used for light or moderate flows and is emptied more often to accommodate heavy flows. It is perfect for overnight use. I empty mine twice a day, and it has never been full, leaked, got on my fingers or spilled due to the cup-like design.
I’ve had my DivaCup for about four months now and I love it. However, after I first received it, I was not too sure it would work for me. It does take some practice learning how to insert it. Because it sits lowin the vaginal canal, it is not inserted like a tampon, yet, if you have ever worn a tampon, your natural tendency is to insert it that way. It should be inserted as if you are pushing it straight back towards your tail bone, not up like a tampon. If The DivaCup is uncomfortable or leaking, then it is not positioned properly. For the first month, I was thinking tampon and this just does not work – it is very uncomfortable. Once I figured it out, the DivaCup is super-easy to insert and take out and I don’t have any problems now, but it did take me a few months so if you try this product, don’t give up right away! The DivaCup Team was very helpful in personally answering my questions and I found a wealth of information on the FAQs Page. The customer service was second to none! 
The. DivaCup. Is. Amazing. I save time, money, hassle and stress when I wear it. I boil it for ten minutes after my cycle and store it in the little cotton bag until next time. I don’t think about it any more than that. I don’t feel it at all when I am running, which is what originally attracted me to it. I can run for miles and not even notice where a pad would become extremely uncomfortable. I have worn Khakis, skirts, and shorts without worrying since I got the DivaCup – no more “period” days! Plus, for $32 – $40 (you can purchase it here) it saves what I personally would spend on menstrual products and creates less waste for the environment. It’s reusable for about a year so you don’t have to continually buy pads and/or tampons. Multiply that over a lifetime and the cost covers itself in money saved.  
Would you like to win your own DivaCup to try? The DivaCup Team has graciously offered a DivaCup of their size to one lucky follower! Here’s how to enter: 
  • To win, you must be a follower of my blog. Leave me a comment telling me that you are and also what about the DivaCup appeals to you. 

Extra entries:

  • Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a comment telling me that you did.  Make sure to tweet to @wordstorunby and @DivaCup so I know you did it!
  • Share this giveaway on your Blog or Facebook and let me know in a comment that you did.
  • Follow me @wordstorunby on Twitter and leave me a comment telling me that you do.
  • Follow @DivaCup on Twitter and leave me a comment that you do.
  • Like DivaCup on Facebook to stay up to date on specials, coupons and other giveaways! 

Good luck! You have until next Sunday, October 30th, 2011 to enter and I will randomly choose a winner shortly after. 

Until the next mile marker, 



Please note, the DivaCup was given to me by the DivaCup Team to review after I contacted them inquiring about their product. I was not paid to review this product nor was my opinion solicited by them. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.