Giveaway at Mama On The Run!!

Sparkling Herbal Water Review and Giveaway up on the new blog!

http://mamaontherun.com/2010/12/15/sparkling-herbal-water-giveaway/

The 200-Day Challenge....complete?

12 Days Post-Race

Okay, so with the race followed directly by hosting Thanksgiving I am a updating my post race summary finally!

And because your support has meant so much to me, I need to be sure I take you with me on my future adventures. So, if you are wondering if I finished, how I finished, and how many pregnant potty breaks I had to take throughout the course (smile) - head over to MamaOnTheRun.com to read my full race day summary and don't forget to become a blog follower!

See you there!!

It's Almost Time...

4 Days To Go

Holy Smokes! I can't believe the big day is less than half a week away. While I feel like I have spent more time preparing for this big day than my wedding, like most "planned" events in my life, it's definitely turned out to be an unexpected adventure. Getting knocked up and running the half at fifteen weeks pregnant was not a part of the plan. However, what a blessing! So with the first trimester funk interfering with those last few weeks of my training plan, my doctor said she felt most comfortable if I walked the half. However, she supported me trying to at least run some and listening to my body, promising to drink water at every station along the way, and stopping if I felt dizzy or nauseous. She also asked that I at least get 10 miles under my belt before the big day. And yesterday (drum roll, please), I knocked out my 10 miles! Thanks to a good (make that great) friend who volunteered to make the trek with me. We ran/walked the distance and my confidence jumped up about 5,000 notches now that I can erase that mental picture of me being carried off the running route on a stretcher clutching an oxygen mask (knock on wood).

This past weekend was also my little monkey's first birthday party (more pictures and a detailed post coming on the new blog) and it left me reflecting on my original motivation to start this challenge. It was to show him an account of strength and perseverance in his honor and to prove to myself just how important these traits are, as a mother and as a woman. Now, it looks like I will have two blessings to share this story with. If that's not motivation to drag myself through those 13.1 miles, I just don't know what is.

And on a final note, I still have a lingering goal to run a half-marathon as a non-pregnant runner in 2011. So, here's my question to all you fellow half vets...what's your favorite half-marathon and why? I am ready to put my new goal on the calendar right after this Sunday and begin planning the next adventure...after birthing Baby 2, that is (smile).

Bondi Band Winner!

17 Days To Go

Thank you for all entering the Bondi Band giveaway! I can see that many of you are already Bondi Band fanatics like me. If you haven't tried a Bondi Band yet, take my word, you will have no regrets. I even sleep in mine at times (true story).

I am happy to say congratulations to Jennifer York (comment #45) who is the lucky winner according to random.org. Jennifer, I've sent you an email and look forward to hooking you up with two Bondi Band headbands of your choice!

BIG thanks to Bondi Band for allowing me to host this fantastic giveaway!

As for me, I had a reality check visit with the doctor this week, and while I am still completing the Women's Half in seventeen days {gulp}, I have had to come to the realization that my first trimester uber sickness has put a big damper in my training. More on this to come and I will be looking for some advice from my fellow half vets. For now, I just completed a mountain of grading and am hitting the hay. A run is on my schedule for tomorrow morning and I am thanking the rain gods for the cooler temps forecasted for my early trot. More coming shortly!

Bondi Band Giveaway! CLOSED

24 Days To Go

Okay, so just because I am a preggo mess who is feeling like muck, my running is suffering, and I have come to the realization that my time for the half-marathon in 24 days is going to be very poor doesn't mean I can't share my love for some of my favorite running gear that I have found myself attached to through this journey, right?

Yeah, that's what I thought...and that's where Bondi Bands come in. If you don't already know about these run-changing hair accessories , you're missing out! I used to suffer from the headbands that slowly crept further and further back on my head while running until they popped right off somewhere along my path and became a casualty of my training. I used to suffer from sweat beads trickling in my eyes, burning and leaving me for near blind as each pound of the pavement. I used to suffer from the ever-growing pressure headaches that crept up when I wore a headband any longer than twenty minutes causing me to rip off my headband in a dramatic, but necessary, attempt to avoid an all-out migraine (and can you imagine, me dramatic?).

Notice I said "used to?" That's because I was introduced by a fellow runner to Bondi Bands. After I wore a Bondi Band for the first time, I knew I was hooked. These "no slip, no drip" touting bands come in tons of great patterns, colors, and solids. Some even have great little messages on them. I shared on of my favorites (pictured above) earlier on the blog when I wore it in a 5K I ran this past summer. The sweat wicking material is the same that you would look for in any of your running apparel so it made perfect sense to make it an essential material for my hair wear too. Genius. Besides the functionality appeal, I am a sucker for fashion and their colorful styles and patterns can jazz up any mundane running outfit. Another incentive to get out there and run...I'll take it!

And now you can take it too. The smart-minded folks at Bondi Band are going to give one of you two headbands of your choice from their website!

Here's all you need to do to enter:

• Check out the Bondi Band website and then comment to this post on what your favorite style is (If you post a comment as anonymous, be sure to leave your email address).

And if you would like to earn bonus entries, do the following (just leave a separate comment for each):

• Become a follower of my new blog MamaOnTheRun.com that is coming in December (or leave a comment if you already are).

• "Like" Bondi Band on Facebook


• Post my giveaway link as your Facebook status, Twitter update, or your blog (just be sure to leave a link to your post in the comment).

Good Luck! Your going to become a Bondi Band fanatic.

The Fine Print: Contest is open to those in the lower 48 states with a valid shipping address. No PO Boxes or APOS. My opinions on this product are my own. I am a customer of Bondi Band and simply love their product. Bondi Band is providing the prize for this giveaway. Winner will be chosen in one week and contacted via email.

Mama On The Run

25 Days To Go

Okay, I have a quick announcement that I want to share. So over the last 175 days, I have come to love the blogging community. The community of runners, most notably mother runners, has been overwhelmingly supportive which I have mentioned throughout several blog posts. Most notably, when I found out I was preggo and a huge wrench was thrown in my training, you guys were amazing. It's for this reason that I just couldn't let go of this new found community and was left wondering what will I do after my 200-day challenge ends? Well, besides becoming a new mommy to a second child, I am also adding a third to my list (don't get crazy, I'm not having twins!). Please allow me to introduce you to MamaOnTheRun.com. The site is still under construction and the grand launch will be in December. I have been working on the design, content, and licensing for the last couple of months and I am happy to finally share it with you. The site will be focused on a lot of the things I talk about here, balancing motherhood and the ambition to stay strong and healthy - but it will also be a lot more comprehensive covering more stories from other mothers, products, reviews, deals, and more. I would also love your feedback and ideas on what you would like to see and discuss. I hope that you will all join me and would be honered if you sign up to follow the blog. Your support, advice, and stories have been so inspirational - I want to continue hearing from you. In the meantime, I'll be here...for 25 more days! Holy cow....25 more days!!!!

Great giveaway coming tomorrow!!

Back In the Saddle...and a Little Rusty

32 Days To Go

I'm here! I have had an unexpected delay in blogging, well, because life has been quite unexpected lately. I am still fighting the sickness that I am learning just goes along with me being preggo for those first few months. It's hard not to dwell (and be resentful) that some people never get sick during pregnancy, or simply just have a headache every now and then. As for me, I am fighting to keep myself hydrated and nourished and also be an adoring mother to my oh-so-deserving little monkey. I have also been truly down about not getting the runs in that are on my schedule. After all, I have to progress from 7 miles to 12 in just a little over a month! I know, I'm being quite the downer, right? I realized this a couple of days ago and decided it was time to calculate the positives. Here's what I came up with.

1. During this sickly period, I have finally lost my last 5 pounds of baby weight!! (No, the irony is not lost on me.)

2. This pregnancy seems to have a schedule (I guess that's convenient). I feel relatively well in the morning - just dehydrated. The sickness begins to roll in around early afternoon and the monster doesn't subside until I go to bed. However, with my last pregnancy, I was sick all day, everyday through the entire first trimester. So, I'm getting a break, right?

3. I get to once again be reminded of what a wonderful Hubs I am blessed with. He is so kind to me when I am sick and has played full-time dad many nights - feeding, bathing, and putting to bed our little angel. He also never complains that the house is dirty, laundry is piling up, or the dishes are stacking (although this eats away at me daily).

4. Of course, it goes without saying - this sick period will pay off immensely. It's all for a greater good (and I can forever remind my children what I went through to give them life - and don't you worry, I will).

I decided to pick back up on my training schedule today - walk or run. I completed four miles pushing the stroller, slowly but surely. Time is of no special concern to me these days - I am just trying to get the miles in. I look forward to that blessed turn in trimesters and hope that I get that "burst" that many pregnant women speak about - and I hope it propels me right through that finish line.

I have a GREAT giveaway coming up featuring one of my favorite brands when it comes to running. Stay tuned!

And most importantly, THANK YOU! Your words of support, wisdom, and encouragement mean more than I can express. I take each very seriously and am so blessed to have your contributions.