Wednesday #GIVEAWAY Roundup - #WinAllThePrizes

Hi Everyone!  Ready for another great week of giveaways to enter and link up with me and Erica?  I have a couple of things to share with you first.

One, I have this super awesome giveaway going on for the warm hug hoodie by KeepTight Gear.  Helps me deal with the post run chills for sure!

Also, just discovered this new company.  Have you ever wondered what to do with all your race bibs?  Well, Bibs2Bags has come up with a solution and have given me a code to try out their bags and I asked if I could share it with you too!  So use code SDMOM10 for 10% off anything on their site.  (NOT an affiliate link - I get nothing from this.  Just thought it was neat and begged for a code)

Okay with that out of the way, here we go with the Link Up for the RoundUp.  Please keep the rules in mind when you link up and don't forget to mention the hosts in your social media posts.  You can use the button too!  DON'T FORGET TO PUT YOUR GIVEAWAY END DATE IN YOUR DESCRIPTION.

Can't wait to see the giveaways this week and as usual, I will be entering them too so good luck to both of us!

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,

SD Mom

An InLinkz Link-up

Post Run Chills & a #KeepTightGear #GIVEAWAY

Disclaimer: I received products from KeepTight for review & GIVEAWAY purposes.  I was not requested to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own and I have received no monetary compensation for this post.  

Ever since I started running, I have had a problem with post run chills.  Whether it is 100 degrees outside or 35 degrees outside.  More often than not, once I stop sweating, the chills and the shivers take over me.  And I don't get warm unless I have the heater blasting at MAX or I get under a scalding hot shower.

I decided to do a little investigation.  Here are the tips on how to prevent the Post Run Chills from Runner's World (my notes are italicized):

• Get out of the cold and head indoors quickly after a run. Standing around in the cold talking to your running buddies while wet is a sure way to induce the shivers.  (unfortunately, quite a bit of time is spent post run chatting.  How am I going to get my pictures in??)
   
• Change into dry, warm layers post-run, including socks and shoes.  Bring a complete change of clothes, a towel to dry off, and a warm, dry hat. Try to change while your body temperature is still elevated (sweating).  (I am not sure how practical this is.  Not only would I have to lay out my clothes the night before, I would have to lay out an extra change of clothes.  YIKES!  The laundry!)
   
• Drink something warm (tea, soup, broth, etc.) to replenish fluids and help warm from the inside. It’s also a great way to warm your hands.  (How am I going to keep it hot?)
   
• For those that are sensitive or always cold, consider putting a heat wrap on your lower back for the drive home. Like heat warmers in a car, it helps to keep you warm while driving home in a cold car.  (Lucky my car has seat warmers!)
   

But what exactly causes the post run chills?  There is a super scientific explanation here.  Essentially, here is what I think is the reason.  When you run, your body warms up.  When you stop, your sweat starts to cool down.  When that thermostat kicks in, it may go into overdrive in cooling your body down and may end up over regulating.  Get it?  I don't and I don't have an answer to stop this phenomenon because as I stated above, I am NOT bringing a change of clothes!  

So what do I do?  I bring a warm hug!  AKA a KeepTight Iron Fleece Performance Cloak.  

From their website: This next-level action hoodie allows your upper body to remain cool and flowing in the roughest training conditions thanks to its IronFleece™ build (95% Polyester, 5% Elastane). Sleeve thumb-holes allow you to go for those pull-ups and sparring sessions without any unwanted roll-ups.

Key Specs:

-  Custom IronFleece™ fabric built for power and endurance.

-  Contrasting angled seams provide maximum range of motion.

-  Internal headphone grommets.

-  Long sleeves with thumb-holes to prevent unwanted roll-ups.

-  Comfortable, yet fitted to impress.

-  Highly-durable build. Ideal for layering.

But to me, this hoodie is like a warm hug!  This IronFleece stuff feels like someone has wrapped you in a cozy embrace.  It is super warm which is good for thin blooded San Diego girls like me and GREAT for my awesome friends in Maine, MN and everywhere else in between!

It comes in grey and pink and black and pink.  

This is no thin cheap material.  This is iron tough.  

Since I got it, I haven't stopped wearing it!  I wear it everywhere.  I even wore it to Souplantation the other day.  It is Hug To Go jacket.

The super awesome people at KeepTight are letting one of you win your own Performance Cloak!

You know the drill.  Enter on the Rafflecopter Widget!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest runs 1/27/2015 to 2/2/15 at 11:59 P.M. PST

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited. 1 winner will be selected via the Rafflecopter widget.  Open to Residents of the US 18 years of age or older.  Must have a non P.O. Box mailing address.  Winner must have a valid email address.

Winner will notified via email (if available) and/or blog post, and will have 48 business hours to claim prize.  If original winner does not claim prize within 48 business hours an alternate winner(s) will be selected.
Contestants must enter on the Rafflecopter widget in order to win.
All winning entries will be verified. If a winning entry cannot be verified as completed, a new winner will be drawn.  Winner will be provided the prize directly from KEEPTIGHT.  Substitutions unlikely but may apply.  SD Mom not responsible for failure of sponsor to deliver product.

So do you get the post run chills?  What do you do about them?  

As always, I wish you Happy Feet (and Good Luck!), 
SD Mom

Wednesday #GIVEAWAY Roundup - #WinAllThePrizes (A BIG Change!)

So every Wednesday for the last year or so, I have been bringing you the giveaway Roundup.  Then in 2015, I changed the Roundup to a LinkUp.  And now for the biggest change yet...a brand new co-host, Erica of Erica Finds!

Erica and I became Blends (Blogger Friends) over the last year thanks to the Giveaway Roundup.  You know Erica as the awesome lady who brings you 2-4 Giveaways EVERY SINGLE WEEK!  She rocks and so I asked her to help me make this Giveaway RoundUp LinkUp even bigger!

The rules are the same as always for this LinkUp.  Most important, enter the Giveaway of the person before you and at least a few others in the link up.  Also, PLEASE DON'T FORGET YOUR ENDING DATE IN YOUR LINKUP DESCRIPTION!!!!  If you need a refresher, you can find the rules here.  Please use the new button above!  

Be sure to head over to Erica's page and tell her hello and make her feel welcome in the Giveaway RoundUp LinkUp!  

What are you waiting for?  Go ahead and linkup and / or enter to #WinAllThePrizes!  Don't forget, I am entering all of these too!  So good luck to both of us!

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,
SD Mom

An InLinkz Link-up

Recovery: Ice & Compression with Dr. Cool Wraps - #GIVEAWAY

I am SURE you all have been following along in my Marathon training.  Even if you haven't, my blog stats show that you probably have read the reasons I am running a Marathon.  Well, with training for a Marathon, you get some aches and pains and some of those aches and pains are worse than others.

For me it was my shins.  And everyone told me the same thing.  R.I.C.E.  Rest.  Ice.  Compression.  Elevation.  Well, the rest was never going to work so I tried Ice.

Then I tried Compression with Ice.  And elevation.  These ice packs were just not cutting it.  And then as luck (or Instagram) would have it, my sweet friend Cora told me about Dr. Cool Wraps!

From their website: Dr. Cool is the ONLY product to combine ice and compression in one flexible wrap. Dr. Cool wraps can be used dry as a compression wrap to support and protect various body parts during activities, or frozen to combine cold and compression to reduce swelling and speed recovery mid or post-activity. To use Dr. Cool wraps as a cold compress, simply wet the wrap then roll and freeze it; Coolcore’s patented material will keep the fabric colder, longer. 

BRILLIANT right?!  I have been using my green Dr. Cool Wraps almost every day.  They even sell a little bag you can carry your wrap in and it will keep it cool for up to 8 hours!  So I have taken it to work to use after Runch!

The coolest part about these wraps is the fact I can stand and ice at the same time.  This means I can work at my stand up desk or cook dinner while icing and compressing!  I know I have been doing everything and anything to fix my shins but I have to say I KNOW these wraps have played a huge part!

They come in really fun colors and 3 different sizes.  I have the mediums.  They have small for wrists etc and large for backs.  The mediums work for knees and YUP, shins!

I liked the ones I bought so much, I wanted you all to try them too.  They have a 15% off sale right now on their website but they are letting me giveaway 2 wraps of your choice in any color of your choice.

Enter on the Rafflecopter Widget!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest runs 1/20/2015 to 1/26/15 at 11:59 P.M. PST

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited. 1 winner will be selected via the Rafflecopter widget.  Open to Residents of the US & Canada 18 years of age or older.  Must have a non P.O. Box mailing address.  Winner must have a valid email address.

Winner will notified via email (if available) and/or blog post, and will have 48 business hours to claim prize.  If original winner does not claim prize within 48 business hours an alternate winner(s) will be selected.
Contestants must enter on the Rafflecopter widget in order to win.
All winning entries will be verified. If a winning entry cannot be verified as completed, a new winner will be drawn.  Winner will be provided the prize directly from Dr. Cool Wraps.  Substitutions unlikely but may apply.  SD Mom not responsible for failure of sponsor to deliver product.

So which color would you pick?  Which size?  I was not compensated for this post in anyway and bought my own wraps.  I love these that much!  Good Luck!

And as always, I wish you Happy Feet,
SD Mom

YES! Marathon For Me! 5 Reasons I am Opting IN!

Once upon a time, there was this article.  This article was not very nice and didn't make people feel very good inside.  In fact, it made people doubt weeks, months of training and ask themselves if they should even be running.

So, this blog post will be the nice feel good antidote to that not very nice article because this is about Running and Runners.  And if there is anything I can say about this running community I have grown to love, it is that they are the nicest and most welcoming people I have ever met.  Except for maybe the author of THE article.

1.  Oprah: Completion v. Competition

Source

I would like to start out by saying this article about Oprah appeared in Runner's World, the same publication behind Zelle and THAT article.  But let's look at the above sentiment...I think Oprah is fantastic for bringing running (and READING for that matter) to the masses.  She had women everywhere looking at each other thinking, "Oprah Did It, So Can I!"  

So this idea that somehow completing a Marathon without *GASP* winning or at Olympic record speed is not good enough is crap!  How is completing 26.2 miles not the most amazing thing in the world?  Or at least one of the most?  Seriously people...if I said, your nearest grocery store is 26.2 miles away, wouldn't you grumble about it?  Completion is HUGE!  

For me, I want to run a marathon to prove to myself that I CAN and I WILL complete a MARATHON.  I don't care if I am the fastest or the slowest.  My only goal is to cross the finish line on my own two feet and that to me is WINNING!

2.  The Me-Me-Me Show

Source

Yes.  I LOVE taking pictures of my workouts.  I like taking pictures of my beautiful city and my Garmin and my shoes and my Spandits and my visors and my OrangeMud pack and my beautiful BRFs and my socks and the sunrise and the sunset.  And you know what?  Most of you do too!  And you know why?  Because it makes it real.  Because it allows you to think, just like with Oprah, "If Smitha can do it, I CAN too!"  

And you know why else?  For me!  I want to document every second of this sport that has given me new life.  I want to look back at these pictures and say, "Hey!  I did 18.3 miles that day!"  Or that was my very first Runch.  These pictures are like my scrapbook to a better me and why not share it with the world?  Perhaps someone will look at them and say, "Maybe I can run a 5K!"  

And to call me a Hobby Marathoner is a slap in the face.  I have two beautiful children, a wonderful husband, an amazing professional full time (outside the home) career but I make time.  I work my ass off every week to fit my runs in.  I am proud of my marathon training!  It is a part of me and my identity!

3.  "Nothing to Prove"

Source

Wrong!  For every single person who has always believed in me, I have to prove them right.  And for every single person who thought this would be a passing fad, I have to prove them wrong.  The Marathon is a beast and I want to conquer it.  Mentally and Physically, it will be one of the toughest challenges I will face and I want to prove it to MYSELF that I CAN and I WILL.  Every second of self doubt I have had throughout this training will be silenced once and for all after crossing that finish line.  So say what you will mean article, I have everything to prove!

4.  Knees and Heart

Source

Why are we still even talking about this?  Of course running is good for your heart.  It is cardio right?  I am no doctor and I am no scientist but I do know the effects it has had on me.  Both mentally and physically.  I feel that at the ripe old age of 37, I am in the best shape of my life.  No doubt.  Mentally, I am calmer and more centered.  Physically, I have muscles in places you wouldn't believe.  That's not to say I never have soreness or pain.  We know that's not true but it could be worse.  

A large observational study involving data from more than 55,000 adults found that runners had a significantly reduced risk of death from all causes and from cardiovascular events compared to non-runners.

And as far as the knees, your guess is as good as mine.  This article says no, it may even be beneficial.  

5.  The Joys of Moderation

Source

What does this even mean?  The author of the article seemed to imply that because she wants to run for a long time, she isn't going to run now.  Say what?  Wouldn't you want to run now when you are in the peak of fitness to ensure you can cross that finish line?  Why wait?  Things change.  Life changes.  Seize the Day and all of that!

It was my intention to check running a Marathon off my Bucket List before I turned 40 but I took an honest look at myself and said, "I am as ready as I will ever be!"  So I decided to pull the trigger 3 years early.  Who knows?  Maybe the Marathon is the moderation.  Maybe I have an Ultra in my future.  What would you say to me then?

If you train smart and run smart now, you can run for many many years and many many more miles!

So my five reasons for deciding to run a Marathon are Completion, The Me Me Me Show (Inspiration and Record Keeping), Everything to Prove, for my Knees & my Heart and to Seize the Day!

So there you have it.  5 reasons why I am running the Marathon inspired by THAT article.  I welcome the dialogue.  Why would you or wouldn't you run a marathon?  

Whatever you choose to do, as always, I wish you Happy Feet,

SD Mom

Wednesday #GIVEAWAY Roundup - #WinAllThePrizes

I am so excited with the success of the Wednesday GIVEAWAY Roundup as a LinkUp!  Hope you all got lots of entries and had lots of GIVEAWAYS to enter!  If you want a refresher on the rules to participate in the Link Up, you can read them here.

The only thing I urge you to do is PLEASE enter in the ending date of your GIVEAWAY.  And I would love for you to share and use this button if you are linking up!

As always, I am entering all of these GIVEAWAYS too and so good luck to both of us!  Again, I would love your feedback on this!  Do you like the new format?  What would you change?

And again, I wish you Happy Feet,
SD Mom

An InLinkz Link-up

Gorton's #RealisticResolution #GIVEAWAY

Disclaimer: I received products from Gorton's for review & GIVEAWAY purposes.  I was not requested to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own and I have received no monetary compensation for this post.  

New Year New You!  It's now January 13th and how many times have you heard that?  We all want to be healthy but actually putting the work in to get there is hard.

That's why Gortons has partnered up with Spark People and come up with a Realistic Resolution challenge for all of you to participate in.   

I have had a chance to try out some of Gorton's products and I am quite pleased.

 In fact, the skillet crisp Tilapia was a HUGE hit with my kids too!

So easy to pair up with some brown rice and roasted broccoli for a delicious dinner even the kids LOVED!

I also tried out the shrimp scampi. I wanted a little bit of a more grown up flavor so I added the shrimp to some red wild rice and made a sort of risotto served on a bed of spinach. 

Oh and the chili flakes. Haha!  Got to have those!

Not bad right?  120 calories. A little high on the sodium but hey, I need a ton of salt all the time!

I also had a chance to check out some of the recipes in the Spark People cookbook and made the Confetti Edamame Salad with my daughter over the weekend. 

Those are her little hands adding the yellow pepper to the edamame. Here is the finished product. 

Would make a great side dish to any fish creation!  So, for my first GIVEAWAY OF THE YEAR, I am giving you a chance to win some Gortons and Spark People prizes too!

One (1) lucky winner will receive a package including 2 full-value product coupons, an insulated tote, the SparkPeople cookbook, the Spark book and the SparkPeople Boot Camp DVD.  Enter on the Rafflecopter widget.  

You can also:
a. Download a coupon for $.75 off any (1) grilled item.
b. Sign up for the 30-Day Realistic Resolution Challenge with SparkPeople
c. Enter the Gorton’s Eat Smarter Sweepstakes to enter for a chance to win up to $5000!
d. Like/Follow Gorton's on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and reach out to them using hashtag #RealisticResolution

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest runs 1/13/2015 to 1/19/15 at 11:59 P.M. PST

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited. 1 winner will be selected via the Rafflecopter widget.  Open to Residents of the US 18 years of age or older.  Must have a non P.O. Box mailing address.  Winner must have a valid email address.

Winner will notified via email (if available) and/or blog post, and will have 48 business hours to claim prize.  If original winner does not claim prize within 48 business hours an alternate winner(s) will be selected.
Contestants must enter on the Rafflecopter widget in order to win.
All winning entries will be verified. If a winning entry cannot be verified as completed, a new winner will be drawn.  Winner will be provided the prize directly from Gorton's Seafood.  Substitutions unlikely but may apply.  SD Mom not responsible for failure of sponsor to deliver product.

Good luck and if you win the $5000 Grand Prize, buy me something!  Ha ha!  Do you like seafood?  What is your favorite kind?

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,
SD Mom

#Carlsbad5000 KickOff Party Recap!

If you haven't heard by now, I did 18.3 miles on my long run on Saturday. I don't even like to drive that far but as always, my awesome BRFs Jamye, Jenn & Thia made the time fly!

Quick note about how I fueled during the run: At 5:30 a.m., I had my Vega Pre Workout. Then we started running at 6:00 a.m.  About 45 mins in, I had 2 Clif Shot Bloks. At 9 miles, I had half a Honey Stinger waffle. Best stuff ever by the way. Then every 20 mins or so I had another shot blok. The whole time I had Skratch in one bottle and water in the other. I had to get more water at 15 miles.  So during the 18 miles, I consumed close to 60 ounces of water. I sweat a lot!

After the run, sweet Jamye agreed to accompany me to the Carlsbad 5000 KickOff event at Pizza Port in Bressi Ranch.  This was my first event as an official Rock N Blog Member 2015!  Carlsbad 5000 is billed as the fastest 5K in the world. You also have the all day 20K option where you run four 5ks in a row.  

30th Anniversary of this race. Good time to get on Board!

The event started out with a fun run. I think it was a 5K but I refused as did Jamye. No. More. Miles!

Jamye and I enjoyed a tasty Pizza Port Chronic Amber instead to celebrate our mileage accomplishment. 

 There was a fun raffle with lots of prizes and I had a blast hanging out Jamye, chatting with Mick from Movin Shoes and catching up with Leslie!

I got to meet the even more beautiful AFTER a run than BEFORE a run Nicole from Fitness Fatale. 

I was able to demolish this sad pizza with a little help from Jamye!

Thank you Competitor Group, Rock n Roll Series, Movin Shoes and Pizza Port for a fun event. With free beer!  That rocks!  They even had a whole section reserved for us!

So, have you ever done this race?  Will you do it this year to celebrate the 30th Anniversary with me?  

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,

SD Mom

Ultimate Fitness #GIVEAWAY - Undiscovered Kitchen & ActiveWear USA

Let me start out by saying that I love this campaign.  Who doesn't love the idea of a New Year New You?  When Undiscovered Kitchen reached out to me to help her promote this GIVEAWAY, I jumped at the chance.  Of course, I want to #DiscoverYOU.  

What do I want to accomplish this year?  I don't think I need a new me, maybe just an improved version of me.  I already wrote out my goals for 2015.  You can read them here.  I was interviewed and profiled for this campaign and you can check out this awesome page all about me!  Crazy right?  You know I love GIVEAWAYS and I wanted to share this one with you along with some of my favorite bloggers across the Nation.  

See my giant head on the best West Coast?  This is an Ultimate Fitness Shopping Spree & Giveaway to help you get a jumpstart on 2015! Enter to win $500 worth of fresh fitness gear from ActivewearUSA and $150 worth of energy packed fitness foods made by artisans around the country! Meet all of the NEW YEAR NEW YOU! partners here.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:

• $500 ACTIVEWEARUSA SHOPPING SPREE
• Cognitea 3 Pack
• Enerchi Bites (3) Apple Cinnamon, Coconut Oatmeal Raisin & Cocoa Date
• Perfect Fuel Chocolate Bites Pouch
• 13oz Bag of ProCakes Protein Pancake & Baking Mix
• 12 Chili Pep & Chocolate-Coconut Simple Squares Bars
• Sprout Nourishment Carob & Pomegranate Energy Squares & Plant Power Bars
• 3 TastyMakes Snack Bags

A little bit more about ActiveWearUSA: ActivewearUSA offers the largest selection of women’s high performance, stylish activewear, footwear and accessories perfect for Yoga, Fitness, Workouts, Zumba, Nia, Pilates, Kick Boxing and for when you just need to look and feel great! Activewear is not only focused on providing high quality gear, they’re also committed to a social mission to increase community involvement by sponsoring women’s fitness-focused groups all over the country. ActivewearUSA was founded by Avi Woolman, a wife, mom, fitness enthusiast, and entrepreneur who’s goal it is to inspire women to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Avi personally selects and uses all of the brands sold on ActivewearUSA – She refuses to offer anything that she doesn’t use herself while practicing Yoga, running or working out. Follow Avi on Sweaty Nation and Follow ActivewearUSA on Twitter/Facebook.

You can learn about all the other products and the sponsors of this GIVEAWAY here.  

So enter to win all of this awesome fitness loot valued at over $650!  You can enter here.  So, what are you going to do in 2015 to make this a New Year New You?  #DiscoverYOU

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,
SD Mom

Friday Fascinations - Reese's Spreads!

Welcome to my first Friday Fascinations of 2015!  And what better thing to tell you about than Reese's Spreads.  This is Reese's answer to that hazelnut chocolate concoction.  You know what it is ... I won't say it!  But let's be serious?!  Aren't peanuts better than hazelnuts?  Unless it is flavoring your coffee?

Yes folks!  This box contains Reese's Spreads.  They are available nationwide at food, drug and convenience stores and retail for MSRP $3.89 a jar.  Please note for the record, I am not in any way shape or form claiming this to be healthy.  This is a decadent treat.  So even though I think it would be delicious with apples or a banana, if you are going to go bad, go bad all the way.

Why not mix it with Costco's Vanilla ice cream?  (best mass market vanilla in my opinion, by the way!)  Good Grief but this stuff is amazing!  

It tastes exactly like it looks!  Like a melted down Reese's PB Cup but with more chocolate.  Okay one more picture...I am sorry but you need to go get this and have a tablespoon of it whenever you need a little decadent naughty treat ... or on a Tuesday.

Here is an up close spoonful:

Okay no more!  I think I went into a sugar crash just writing this post.  This is definitely a must try!  I imagine it on frozen banana slices or with pretzels or with ... ?

I received Reese's Spreads complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Tweet: Check out this review of @ReesesPBCups #ReesesSpreads @Influenster OH MY YUM! http://ctt.ec/eUd4Z+

Have you tried this before?  What would you pair it with?

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,
SD Mom