Showing posts with label free stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free stuff. Show all posts

1/14/13

BODYGLIDE Giveaway... And the winners are: ALL of you!

Yes, that is right.  If you commented on the previous post (before today, don't be all sneaky and trying to pull a fast one on us by commenting now) find my e-mail in the "about" tab and give me your mailing info.  Everyone will get at least one of the three types of Bodyglide that we are super excited to give away.






Yahoo!  Hop to it!

12/2/12

Handana WINNERRRRR! Race Day Ready #6

Woohoo!  I am sitting in bed wondering what the heck happened to me today.

The good news:  I ran fifteen miles at a pretty decent pace.  I haven't run longer than 13.1 in over a month.

Fast or slow?  It's all depends on your perspective!


The you-can't-be-serious news:  I am planning on running my first ultra on January 5th.  It's *only* 50k, but it counts as an ultra.  We can look at this in many ways.  It's just about 5 miles more than a marathon.  Only about 5 miles on top of 26.2.  Piece of cake! (that's sarcasm)  It's 18.3% of a marathon added to a marathon.  Yikes.  And it is also about 1/5th of a marathon to run on top of a marathon.  The NJ Trail Series Watchung Winter Races is holding their 5th annual Winter Ultra.  Shhh... Let's not talk about the fact that it is 5 loops.  K?  As long as it's not actively raining or snowing that day, I plan to run this race.  (Sorry, but I'm a big wuss when it comes to cold weather.  And when something cold and wet is falling from the sky, my wussified-ness increases exponentially.)  During training, I plan to learn to deal with the cold air.  I just can't commit to my first 50k in rain or snow.

The bad news:  A shooting stopmedeadinmytracks pain came clear out of no where pretty early in this 15 mile run.  It was in my lower back.  I had to stop because it was that bad.  My imagination proposed the idea of someone having a voodoo doll of me that they just jabbed a pin through.  I had NO IDEA what to do.  I'm not a back problem person.  I just stopped and stood there for a minute then decided to check my range of motion.  I decided that I'd rather finish the run no matter how slow, then give up since the pain seemed to dissipate.  It was never totally gone, but it didn't feel like a dagger in the back after that.  Has this ever happened to you?

Anyway....

So I had the random number generator thingy choose my winner.

DebsDailyLife is our Handana winner!!!!!!!




Deb, please find my e-mail address in the "about" tab on this site and send me your mailing address!

We have another giveaway coming soon, of course.  After all, it's the season of giving!

Anyone have any crazy goals for the 2013 race season?  In addition to the ultra, think I'm shooting for 2 or 3 marathons next year.  I'd like to have 10 done before I the end of 2014.  These darn cute kids (I mean my man-sized teenagers and my sweet 11 year old boy) make it hard to train and travel for races on a whim!  But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way...


10/25/12

Race Day Ready #5 for the ladies- Handful Sports Bra and many many more!

Anyone else been on the quest for the perfect sports bra?  Have you gotten to the point where money is (almost) no object because all you want is a sports bra that fits and functions properly and you don't care how much it costs?

Well, me too.

I am pretty sure I have at least fifteen different sports bras- no actually closer to twenty.  Almost every brand you can imagine.  I am glad to say that I have found ONE that is just right.

This is the perfect bra.
I was incredibly tempted to edit this photo.  But I won't. 
Handful sent me a bra to try.  I was very skeptical.  I am more about comfort, fit and function than I am about fashion when it comes to my running gear.  Many reviews boasted more about how great this bra looks, rather than how great it was to wear during a long sweaty run.  And lets face it, after a marathon, one can only look so uhm... great.  When I'm running, the only aesthetic issues (which equally double as comfort issues) I am concerned with are:

Do I have a wedgie?
Are my shorts riding up?
Is my bra TIGHT enough so that nothing is moving around, but not so tight that I look like I struggled to squeeze into it?

10/14/12

Race Day Ready Giveaway #3- Armpocket

Do you run with:

Music?
Energy gels?
Sport beans?
Candy?
Chapstick?
Saltstick Caps?
Phone?
Snacks?
Money?

Where the heck do you put all this stuff?  And how do you keep it safe from sweat?  And how much effort goes toward fishing this stuff out?  I used to stash money in that little inside pocket of my shorts and I have grossed many a 7eleven cashier out by not only standing in line while my sweat drips down to their freshly mopped floor, but by handing them sopping-with-sweat money.

I have had a few different fuel belts and arm bands to carry things in.  Issues with comfort, sizing, durability, convenience, always arise.  Until we found this:



4/10/12

I don't want my own penis, but.... (Not My Problem #6)

...oh, (ladies, particularly, who are reading) do not act all shocked and appalled by the title of this post.

This is one of those subjects that everyone initially gets weirded out about, but by the end of my rant, I usually get my point across pretty well.

I have had the pleasure of having to use the bathroom on the train. In the subway station. At a mostly closed for the night rest stop. At a not so well kept public park. At a gas station. Oh, and of course I would dare not ever forget the porta johns at races.

My sons do not believe me when I tell them that at the Army Ten Miler in 2005, the porta john I was lucky enough to select after I finished the race was SO FULL that if I failed at "hovering" my butt would've touched a heaping mountain of poop. They pity me because every time I go to a public restroom, I get to decide whether or not the seat is worth sitting on. If both bathrooms are occupied in this house, for me, it is never an option even think about going outside in a discrete area of the back yard.

I have stood in awe (and I will admit, I do have a bit of a staring problem sometimes, my sister says that it's from our cultural background) while watching the sea of men at the start of a race relieving themselves in distant (enough) areas in public while I debated whether or not I could hold it or if a trip to the porta john was worth a late start...

I have meandered about unfamiliar trails with my sons and husband. The ease in which they can select a tree and hide from view to relieve themselves is such a foreign concept to me.

But like I said in the title, I do not want my own penis... I'm perfectly happy with what I have. Really.

However, I will honestly say that I cannot count how many times I have had this fleeting wish cross my mind:

I wish I could pee standing up.

Every female runner must wish this particularly when she's trying not think about how bad she needs to go. All the while she's running past guys who can stop, whip it out, and catch back up to her in seconds. If any female runner denies ever wishing this wish, she must love porta johns. Seriously. There's no reason to embrace the bathroom during a race if you're a woman unless you have some sort of disturbing fetish.

I know this wish has crossed my mind during other scenarios as well:

amusement parks
camping trips
pub crawls (ok, I've never been on any pub crawls, but if I had been, I'm sure this would cross my mind)
concerts


And wouldn't you know it, this wish does not have to be a wish, thanks to the pStyle.




From this angle, my pStyle looks huge!!!





I know I know. This is so unusual,that at first you are kind of freaked out... then when you get past all that, you realize that it's awesome.

The lovely ladies at Jade and Pearl were kind enough to give me one to try and one to give away.

And already, there have been times when I've been out and I wished that I stashed the thing in my purse or the glove box of my car. It works really well. It's doesn't look anything like a pretend penis, in case you are concerned about being accused of penis envy. It's more like a slide for your pee. So if it were to fall out of your purse or get found by a nosy relative, you will experience no humiliation.

As further proof of the fact that I do not want my own penis, I will readily admit that I wish this thing was a little smaller. If it were, I could carry it in a pocket of a fuel belt. Imagine the freedom of urinating at will during a marathon, ladies. I was hoping I could create a custom pocket to tote this thing around in, but I would totally look like a banana smuggler if I tried to stash this thing in a pocket on my shorts, not to mention, if it rubbed against my thigh it might cause chafing... So since I can't tote it, it's living in my gear bag. I have used it before and after training runs. I haven't been in a situation where I needed to use it outside of a porta john, but I'm sure that time will come and I will likely be more grateful than I already am now for the invention of The pStyle.

If you want one, tell me a story about your public bathroom woes. We all have a story, I'm sure. Even if you don't want a pStyle, share your story anyway. (I said that so that people who are too embarrassed to admit they kind of want one will just get over themselves and post a response to this.) Tell me anything- your first porta john line experience, your attempt at being discrete in the woods, or between parked cars... Post anonymously if you need to. I have one pStyle to give away and I'll choose a winner in a week!

You have to admit, this post is fun. Win it just to say you did.



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Click here for the "Winner of I don't want my own penis, but.... (Not My Problem #6)

4/2/12

Winner of Not My Problem #5 (Remington Smooth and Silky)




I am learning that I love hosting giveaways, but I don't love choosing winners. I want everyone who responds to win. I wish I had enough to give to everyone. It's not fair. I would like a pity party please. My life is so horrible.

We decided the winner of the Remington Smooth and Silky is Greg. Your reply reminded me that as a runner, not everything is set in stone- if you don't give up you very well may surprise yourself with an amazing finish time! I need to stop "assigning" myself to my average pace and start hoping and expecting to outdo myself. I follow Just Don't Stop Running and my favorite post of his (which I've shared on facebook twice, I think) is "Do I deserve a night off?" Read it when you feel like slacking off.

Greg, when you start using the Remington Smooth and Silky please share photos of your smooth and silky legs! (Just kidding. I think any woman would love this item as a re-gift.) Contact me with the address you'd like me to mail it to! (There is a contact info tab, see it?)

Thank you all for sharing your stories. I hope that this inspired a never-runner to give running a try!

3/25/12

Not My Problem #5 (because epilating is for masochists, right?)

I had a busy weekend. My family and I spent the weekend nearby NYC so that we could get away for a bit and so that I could run the Allstate Life Insurance NY 13.1.




I finished elated and renewed. It was my slowest half marathon time to date, yet this is by far the most wonderful, memorable, life changing race I have ever run. How can that be, you might be wondering? (if you even really give a _____ about how my race went) I will tell all about it in my race report that I will hopefully write soon.

I am certain that some of you decided that my obsession with the epilator is a bit... unusual. I know many people who say there is no way they would take weeks of hairlessness in exchange for the minutes of torture that are required in using an epilator. And that is fine. I do understand that everyone has a different tolerance level when it comes to discomfort.

So while I still stand by the epilator as THE answer and reason that annoying stubble and hair in undesirable places is NOT MY PROBLEM, I do have an awesome prize to give away to those who are wussing out on trying an epilator.


Remington sent me a BOX FULL of goodies. My husband has a few products made by Remington, so I know that they are great. (mostly because he's too much of a thorough and frugal shopper to waste his money on junk that doesn't last) You are looking at a Remington Smooth and Silky Rechargeable Shaver with Aloe Vera and Replacement Foils. (front of one box, back of another in case you aren't a super genius. ha.) This is their top-of-the-line wet/dry shaver. I am giddy with excitement that I am worthy of giving this away!

What will you give me in exchange??? Hmmm.... I'm still savoring the amazing experiences I had during the half marathon I ran this weekend. I love a good race story. So give me your best one. Become a follower (on facebook too, if you are on facebook... see the button there on the side? Click it!) and tell me about your most memorable race. Distance doesn't matter. If you have yet to run a race, tell me about your most memorable run. Go ahead and ramble on and on, it's ok. Your words inspire many. This is a womens' electric shaver, but I will NEVER exclude men from giveaways. I would bet this works just as well as the men's electric shaver. (and if any of you guys out there are like the man I live with, everything is fair game anyway) We will choose a winner in a week.

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Click here for the "Winner of Not My Problem #5 (Remington Smooth and Silky)

3/22/12

Winner of Not My Problem #4 (Emjoi Micro Pedi)

I am so bummed that I only have one Emjoi Micro Pedi to give away.




Choosing a winner was so difficult, that I kind of wussed out. I had to ask a completely unbiased person who is not familiar with this blog or my usual readers/fellow bloggers to choose a winner for me.

This week's winner is MouseRN as chosen by the person I chose to choose for me, in spite of the fact that she mentioned Zumba. (Do not take my Zumba disdain personally.) MouseRN, please contact me (there's a contact info tab right up there) and give me the address I can mail your Emjoi Micro Pedi to. I do really like this thing and I hope you do too.

I really enjoyed reading everyone's reasons for running (and other activities you are all passionate about. You certainly inspired me.

3/13/12

Not My Problem #4 (hey hey another giveaway!!!)

I stopped getting pedicures. I often assess my feet and wonder if I could walk in to my former usual pedicure spot and not be completely uncomfortable with someone seeing the state of my feet.

All right. I'll admit that they're not THAT bad. Anymore. But they were when I only had 8.5 toenails. During the height of my pedicure days, I never took notice of how toenail-less feet were handled during a pedicure. Now I KNOW that I couldn't possibly be the only person walking in there who was lacking toenails, but I really didn't want to have to explain myself or ask questions. (There is usually a nice language barrier to heap on top of all the awkward small talk that I suffer through during a pedicure so that is enough to seal my decision to boycott pedicures while lacking toenails...)

As I said, they aren't that bad. And rather than rambling onandonandon, I am just going to tell you why creepy looking runner girl feet are not my problem anymore. Three weeks ago, after I posted the Emjoi Epilator giveaway, the awesomely awesome amazing people at Emjoi decided to send me another product! They sent the Emjoi Micro Pedi- actually they sent two of them and insisted that I try one and give another away here!




I have callouses (not scary grandma bunion creepy callouses) on parts of my feet from running and NEVER wearing shoes unless I absolutely have to. This Micro Pedi thing is like a callous eraser. It smooths a callous away in seconds. Yes, it's magical. It's great for cracked/dry heels too. My husband ripped this out of the box and used it before I did. We now have feet that are lazy slacker couch potato soft!

Soooo.... Here we go again? Do you want one?

This time I only have one to give away. So give me something. Become a follower if you aren't already, and tell me why you run in the first place. What made you get up and say "I'm going to do this" and more significantly, what keeps you going especially when it sucks? If you don't run, I guess you can tell me about whatever you do that keeps you active instead. But for the love of all that is sacred, do not mention Zumba. (If you are a diehard Zumbaic, forgive me.)

I will pick a winner in a week. Please make sure that you check back to see if you won!



Free Sweepstakes

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Contest Alley


Click here for the "Winner of Not My Problem #4 (Emjoi Micro Pedi)

2/28/12

Winners of Not My Problem #2 (Emjoi Epilator)



I'm all excited to give away these Emjoi Epilators.

I read and re-read all the quotes. And I kind of feel like some people have lost the definition of "inspirational" in this world of sarcasm and passive guilt. I don't feel too inspired by guilt or sarcasm.

I hope I don't sound like a dick.

Anyway, my winners are Prickett Puppies and Ebiz.

Both of your quotes actually inspired me and in no way made me feel inferior or lazy or craptastic when I applied them to my life. Thank you. Happy epilating! I kind of would like to know how your first attempt goes! (Maybe you can blog about it???)

I will e-mail you tomorrow. (It's past my bedtime.) If you'd like to beat me to the punch and hook me up with your address, you can find my e-mail address when you click on the contact info tab.


If you didn't win this time don't be a sore loser. And have no fear. There are more giveaways coming. More awesome stuff like this.

2/7/12

Giveaways! I promise....

I have a bunch of stuff that various awesome amazing generous companies sent me to give away on this blog. I am going to post these give aways soon! I promise.

Stay... uhm... tuned...