Log Off Shut Down Go Run Virtual 10K!

Disclaimer: As a Gone For a Run ambassador I was given a complimentary race entry. No other compensation was received. All opinions are mine alone. 

Have you ever participated in a virtual race? What exactly IS a virtual race? It is a race that you run anywhere! Some virtual races can be run at any time while others have a specific date. Most virtual runs have some type of race swag whether it be a shirt or a medal. The plus side is that a virtual race can be run on your own turf at whatever time of day you choose! Pretty sweet right?

GoneForaRun.com has virtual race called "Log Off Shut Down Go Run!" It is a 10K. The virtual race will be held April 24th-April 26th! You can run, walk, or crawl the 6.2 miles on the course of your choice!

The awesome part of this race is the race swag! In your race packet you get a women's athletic tank top or a men's lifestyle tee, a real race bib (no downloads), and a car magnet!

And guess what else? You also will receive a race medal!!! This will be shipped separately from your race packet but will arrive before race day!

If you post your race recap, running photos, picture of your GPS watch or running app showing the time and distance of your race, and any other details about your virtual race to the GoneForaRun Facebook page you will be entered to win raffle prizes!

Raffle prizes include the following best selling GoneForaRun items, all featuring original Log Off Shut Down Go Run artwork:
1) BibFOLIO Plus: All-In-One Race Bib and Medal Display
2) Hooked On Medals Medal Hanger
3) Medal Hook
4) Beach Towel
5) Decorative Throw Pillow

Doesn't this virtual race sound like so much fun? I'm super excited to run this one! Be sure to REGISTER before April 14th so you receive your race packet in time!

And be sure to share your race experience on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #logoffrace!

Happy running!

QOTD: Who is going to join me and run this virtual race?

The Weekly Chase #117!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! I had a blast! Friday afternoon I arrived in New Orleans with my friends. We ran the Crescent City Classic 10K Saturday morning and it was so much fun! I'll have a recap on Wednesday for you!

I got home Saturday afternoon and we headed to my sister-in-law Katie's house to spend the night. We went to church with Andy's parents and family. This is the first time we've all gone to church together on Easter and it was so special!

Then we had lunch at Katie's and an Easter egg hunt with the boys. Later that afternoon we went to my sister Christy's house and the boys hunted eggs with Ella! It was so cute!

This week..it's our Spring Break!!!! We don't have a ton planned but it will be nice to just be home and all be together. It's going to leave me yearning for summer! ;-)

Now it's time for the Weekly Chase! It's a new week and I have new goals to achieve! I hope you will link up your own goals with me too! And feel free to use the badge below in your post too! You can grab the badge HERE! :-)

Here are my goals from last week!

• Goal #1: Run every day! Yep! The streak is still alive! :-)
• Goal #2: Roll, stretch, and ice daily. Yes! My left hip has been pretty tight and achy so I'm focusing a lot on rolling and icing.
• Goal #3: Maintain my weight by logging my calories. Yes! Although I will say that I've had pizza twice this past week...and cookies...and Easter candy! But I still stayed within my calories! :-)
• Goal #4: Pack for my race this weekend. Yes...but I procrastinated and didn't pack until the day I left! 
• Goal #5: Get my April calendar completed for work. Yes! I got it done a day early even!
• Goal #6: Shop for Easter snacks on Wednesday at school. Yes! My class had so much fun at our Easter Egg Hunt!

Here are my goals for this week!

Goal #1: Run every day! I'm looking forward to running in sunlight this week since I don't have to get up early for work! :-)

Goal #2: Roll, stretch, and ice daily. Gotta keep this up. Especially since my next half marathon is in two weeks!

Goal #3: Maintain my weight by logging my calories. I need the Easter candy out of this house!!! Lol!

Goal #4: Plan fun days with my boys for Spring Break. I want to have some fun outings with the boys this week.

That's is for my week! I'm taking it easy and going to enjoy my Spring Break with my boys! I hope you have a great week of meeting your goals too!

QOTD: What goals are you chasing this week?

Fitness Friday...April 3rd Edition!

Happy Good Friday! Let's not forget what today is truly about...that Jesus willingly suffered and died as a sacrifice for our sins.

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Today officially starts our Spring Break! And...I leave for New Orleans today so I can run the Crescent City Classic 10K tomorrow! I'm not planning to PR this race. My goal is to have fun with friends! :-)

This week was crazy busy with it being the last week before Spring Break! Tuesday was election day. We were voting for new taxes to support our school system. I voted!

Hayden takes an art class on Tuesdays too. He decided he wanted to paint one of the pictures we took of the Golden Gate Bridge when we were in San Francisco this past summer. I think he is doing an amazing job so far and can't wait to see it when he is finished!

On Wednesday it was my class Easter Egg Hunt and visit with the Easter Bunny! My students were so excited all day! It was the cutest thing ever! And I just LOVE all the colors of Easter!

And just LOOK at these cute Mickey and Minnie Mouse eggs! LOVE them!

Thursday afternoon we went to my sister's new house! Yes...she moved out of her apartment and into a cute little house! She's not as close to me as she was before but it's still only about 15 minutes away. Andy put together Ella's crib for her and my sister treated us with dinner! :-)

Now it's time for Fitness Friday! My runs have been good this week. I'm still dealing with a tight hip. I'm hoping it will eventually work itself out. I've been rolling and stretching like crazy!

• Friday- #plankaday 1:05, 1.57 mile run in 12:45 average pace 8:14

• Saturday- Azalea Trail Run 10K in 52:30 average pace 8:28

• Sunday- 3.11 mile run in 26:05 average pace 8:24

• Monday- #plankaday 1:30, 1.66 mile run in 13:24 average pace 8:04

• Tuesday- #plankaday 1:05, 1.58 mile run in 13:20 average pace 8:27

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:15, 1.57 mile run in 12:56 average pace 8:14

• Thursday- #plankaday 1:05, 1.57 mile run in 13:04 average pace 8:19

Other than the tightness in my hip, the running has been great this week! It's weird because some runs the hip doesn't bother me at all...and some it does. I'm watching it though and if it gets worse I will be heading to the doctor. 

For those of you who are interested...I'm hosting another DietBet! This one starts on April 13th. It will be perfect timing to lose some weight for swim suit season! All you have to do is bet $25 to lose 4% in 4 weeks! If you lose the 4% then you win part of the pot! It's a win win situation! Join my game today! http://www.dietbetter.com/roadrunnergirl 

And be sure to follow along with me and the other Crescent City Classic bloggers this weekend as we run one of the best races in New Orleans! 

Also..don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a race entry to the Biggest Loser RunWalk race in Mobile, AL! :-)

Have a great weekend and a very Happy Easter!!!

QOTD: What was your best run or workout this week?

The Biggest Loser RunWalk Mobile Race Entry Giveaway!

Do you like to watch the television show "The Biggest Loser?" I sure do! It is so inspiring seeing all the contestants and how hard they work to lose all that weight! I LOVE that The Biggest Loser also has races! Their RunWalk races consist of 5K's to half marathons! And they encourage any one to participate!

I've been able to run in two Biggest Loser RunWalk Half Marathons! I ran one in Panama City Beach, FL and one local to me in Mobile, AL!

Well the one in Mobile is coming back this year! The race is on Sunday April 19th at 7:30 AM! There is a 5K and a half marathon! I am so excited to run the half marathon again!

All finishers will receive the following:

• The Biggest Loser Finisher's Medal
• Commemorative Biggest Loser RunWalk shirt
• Drawstring Backpack
• Chip-Timed Race for Runners and Those Tracking Personal Goals
• Free Downloadable Race Photos
• Award Divisions for Runners and Walkers
• Celebrity appearances by former contestants from "The Biggest Loser"
• Hydration Stations with Water/Sports Drinks Along the Course & Food at the Finish Line
• Last but not Least, a Truly Inspirational and Unforgettable Experience

My favorite things from this race:

FREE PHOTOS!!! Yes! I LOVE when races have free photos! (And I'm super excited that this time I will be much skinnier in my photos lol) 

MEET AND GREETS WITH FORMER CONTESTANTS! I LOVE meeting the former contestants and talking to them! Dan and Jackie Evans (season 5), Gina McDonald (season 14) and JJ O'Malley (season 16) are all going to be in Mobile! :-)

Don't you want to run this race with me? You can register for $65 until April 15th! You can also enter my giveaway below for a chance to win a free entry! :-) Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary race entry and one to giveaway. No other compensation was provided and all opinions in the post are mine and mine alone!

Azalea Trail Run 10K Recap!

This race is one of my favorite local races. I love it so much that this was my sixth year in a row running it! It is always fun running down the streets of Mobile under the canopy of the oak trees and with the azaleas in bloom! It's the perfect way to celebrate that springtime is here!

Usually the weather for this race is warm. The temps are usually in the 60's and a lot of times it is humid. But this year...it was chilly at start time! The temps were in the low 40's. So I had to rethink my tank top that I had planned to wear. I knew the tank top would be fine while I was running. But I was worried about before and after. I was so miserably cold at Seaside in a tank top before and after the race and I really didn't want to be that cold again. So I decided to wear a long sleeve shirt under my tank.

Like in the years past, I met friends early so we could all carpool to the race. We got there about an hour and 15 minutes before start time. That gave us plenty of time to head inside the civic center to use the restroom. And take pictures!

It's tradition at this race that Paige and I get this pose in!

I also ran into my blogging friend Regina in the civic center! I was so happy to see her! It has been so long! She looked fabulous like always! I even got to see her for a second after finishing as well!

Finally it was time to head to the start line!

We met our Sole2Soul Sisters at the start line for a group picture and prayer!

Then we headed to line up at the start. There aren't any corrals at this race. You just line up at suggested pace times. But I couldn't find any pace signs so we all just lined up wherever. And before long...it was go time!

It was super crowded at the start! Because of no corrals there were slow runners at the front of the line. There were even race walkers at the front! And they seem to all be on the left hand side. I passed so many people in the beginning. But it was hard passing them. It was so congested.

Then I saw a race walker right in front of me. I went around her....and she stepped on the back of my shoe...and MY SHOE CAME OFF!!!! In the middle of the street! I panicked! There were so many people running and I had no idea how I was going to get my shoe! Luckily a nice man stopped and grabbed it and threw it at me. I stepped to the side and quickly put it back on (thank goodness for Lock Laces) and then I was back running again. Crazy!!!

I hadn't been running long and I heard someone to my left say my name. I knew instantly that it was Jenny!!! We've been following each other on Instagram for a while now and have wanted to meet each other. She lives in my town and it seems like we have so much in common...including the same running pace! She saw my shoe came off and realized it was me!

I'm so glad I was able to catch up to her and that she called out my name! And that was it...instant friends! We ended up running the rest of the race together! We talked and talked and talked and the miles just flew by! We were having soooo much fun!

Thanks to Fleet Feet Sports in Mobile for taking these pictures! :-) You can see how much fun we were having!

Before I knew it, Jenny said we were almost done. We were at mile 5.6! I couldn't believe it! The race was almost over and it felt like we had just started!

We could see the finish line up ahead. And then I saw my amazing photographer friend Tim up ahead taking pictures! He took a great shot of me and Jenny! Thanks so much Tim!

The finish line came quick! It was pretty congested though because the 5K runners were coming in at the same time. Jenny and I finished side by side and with huge smiles on our faces! We looked at our watches...we had both PRed!!!!!! My official time was 52:30...a 2 minute PR for me!

Of course, we had to get a picture of the two of us together after the race too!

We found Jenny's husband (who was super nice as well) and talked some more. Then I found Susanne (who I rode with)! Tim saw us again and took another picture! Thanks again Tim!

After some chocolate donuts (YUM) we headed towards the civic center. The fun thing about this race is that the expo is still open so you can still shop around if you want. We wanted some of the red beans and rice and cheese grits that they were serving though. So we headed that way.

Too soon, it was time to say goodbye to Jenny. I am sooo glad we found each other on the race course! I truly believe God allowed my shoe to come off so that we would meet! :-) I loved getting to know her better during the race! Hopefully we will meet up again!

Susanne took one last picture of me celebrating my PR!

This was such a fun race! I can't believe how fast it flew by! And...of course I will be running it again next year! :-)

QOTD: Have you ever lost a shoe in the middle of a race? What is the craziest thing that's happened to you during a race?