One month....

That's right folks... ONE MONTH to go before Rock N Roll San Antonio Marathon!!! I know, there is still quite a bit of time to go... but I am already getting the jitters!! My head cold is still here and hopefully on the mend, but I am feeling strong (unless it's all in my head...)

Not this weekend, but on the 23rd I am running the Huntsville 1/2 marathon! My goal for that is to PR and get sub 2 hours. I have been hitting 13.1 in my training runs at sub 2 times. I hear that there are a few hills... but it can't be anything like the ones I did in UT!

I would be lying if I told you that I didn't have a time goal for RnR. I just don't want to set myself up for failure, you know? Then there are whole other factors to consider: weather, hills, what I ate the night before, etc... My first marathon I finished in 5hrs flat. I would love to pull out a 4hr marathon- but that might be a stretch. So, as of right now here are my 3 goals (these may change as we get closer)

1. 4:35-40 (I think this is doable... my last long run was 22 miles and I maintained a 9:35 pace)
2. 4:15 (a stretch for race day... but I could do it)
3. 4:00 (total dream)

okay and if I had a 4th goal that is COMPLETELY stretching it... it would be to qualify for Boston (where I grew up). So that would put me at 3:40:59 I WISH! Maybe for my marathon in January... haha, yeah right!

I do have a question for yal. I always wear my fuel belt when I run 10+ miles so I can have water with me. For races though- I usually don't wear it. My last marathon (first one ever) I just relied on the water stations to get me through and I didn't wear my fuel belt. I felt like it went alright, but there were times where I wanted water and I still had like 2 miles until the next aid station. So, what's your opinion. Do you suck it up and carry water with you (either by belt or bottle) the day of the marathon or do you toss it and rely on the aid stations for water?

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Okay, sorry for the cheesy title... I couldn't resist.

Anyways... on with the winner! The winner out of 42 comments for the Bondi Band + other goodies giveaway is....

#13: track coach and adorable wife said... I love the ponytail hats! Perfect for the cold weather!

Congrats! Thank you for supporting the cause to help end breast cancer! I really appreciate it! Just e-mail me your address at: cscriddle [at] gmail [dot] com

Superwoman Saturday

**Don't forget to enter my Bondi Band giveaway (with extra goodies!!) it ends on Monday 10/11 at 11:59pm**

***Also, Thank you to all who have donated to the cause!! I really appreciate it!! You are all so generous and I am really thankful for all of your support in keeping me motivated!! I am sure my mom would be so excited to see all of this.***



Today was a long run day- wahoo! I have been feeling a little head cold coming on. Let's be honest though, my last marathon was almost the same way. I got sick a month before it and 16 days before the actual marathon I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia- awesome. I got through it though. That's what happens though. We run ourselves into the ground, love it and then we kill our immune systems along with it. Not fair. So, I skipped my 4mi run yesterday to see if I could feel a little better. Then decided to head out a little later than normal today- best idea ever! I told myself "It doesn't matter when you start- just as long as you start!"

Wahoo!! I did it!!

Before I left the house my "arch-nemesis" ran by the house. She saw both me and hubby and gave us the stink eye... what's new. Maybe someday she'll wave back and want to be my running friend?? Maybe it was an omen that was to come during my run... I headed to Terry Hershey Park- my fav place to run that I have found here in Houston. I decided to go west on the trail today. It was great! It lead to some other trails and it was exactly what I needed for distance. Love. It's hard moving to a new place and find different running routes. I loved all my routes back in Utah. So, finding this place has been such a blessing!

This run was pretty great if I do say so myself :-) However, superman would be proud of me... I totally ATE it around mile 2 and flew with arms out, hit the ground hard and had dirt and muck all over me and blood all over my hands. I think this has happened like 3x since I've been living in Houston (all in different places). Awesome. The one person who did see me (some guy) just yelled "Get up!" Thank you? I think he yelled out something else after that but I couldn't understand what he was saying. After I got up and shook off the shock and crap all over me I checked myself out to make sure I was alright and I knew I couldn't fudge this run so I just kept on truckin'.

Then after I hit 13 miles, I stopped to fill up my water bottles and this guy on a bike stopped and asked if I was training for the Houston marathon. I had to tell him sadly I wasn't- but I was training for the RnR San Antonio one next month. He invited me to join some people for a 10 miler tomorrow and told me my pace was fantastic- why, thank you... haha. I had to decline. I try not to run on Sundays and plus... a close to 22 miler training run shouldn't be followed by a 10 miler with people looking to you to help pace them. I was feeling pretty good about it all. Then my famous "hit the wall @ mile 17" came. I kept thinking- if that guy saw me now- he would take back his invite... hehe. Yeah, it was a bit rough- but I got through it and kept going and finished hard the last mile :-) Yay!

Then some HS boys were honking at me and waving and all of that... I think they'd die if they found out I'm in my mid-late 20's haha... Good run... minus the blood. But that's what we runners do- we go all out with blood and everything else and just leave it all on the road :-)

Oh and this last week I won a giveaway through Jessica's Gifts on FB and I was able to pick out what I wanted and yesterday I got my necklace from Jessica's Gifts and I wore it running today. Love it!!!

One more thing- check out those awesome compression socks. They're a little TOO long for me.. they go above my knees... what can I say- I am 4'11"!! But! I am telling you- if you've never tried them out- they are WONDERFUL after long runs!! I totally feel like my legs recover so much faster and they squeeze them in tight like they need. Is that weird? Please don't mind my kitchen. I had to move my bike to vacuum the living room. Life happens :-)

WINNER & my fav. things GIVEAWAY!

Thank you all so much for supporting me in my dream of ending breast cancer and helping to fundraise for the cause! Well, I guess I should get on with announcing the winner of last week's giveaway! I used random.org to generate the winner!

Out of 21 entries the winner is.....

#14: Natalie from Kickin' it in the Kitchen

Congrats, Natalie!!! Send me an e-mail with your email and shipping address so I can get you your prize at: ( cscriddle at gmail dot com )

Okay, so for those of you who didn't win- don't be too sad just yet! There is another giveaway!

Most of you have probably heard of Bondi Bands. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! They generously offered to donate 5 bondi bands to one of my readers to promote my fundraising. Thank you, Bondi Bands!

I love the last one :)

They are great because they are made out of soft, stretchy and breathable material-they fit virtually every head size comfortably and fashionably. The best part? They don't slide off! I ran my 20 miler with one the other week and it didn't budge once! It was fabulous! Not to mention all of the head bands are really cute and I want them all! I am also eying their wicking ponytailhats!

So, not only will you get 5 amazing bondi bands, but you will also get this cute breast cancer awareness tote bag:

And a few things that I love to fuel up with:

Gu, Sport Beans, Snicker's Marathon Energy Bar, Cliff Bloks and Shot :-)

HOW DO YOU ENTER?

REQUIRED:

1. Go to the Bondi Band site and look around and come back and tell me what you love the most!

Bonus Entries:

1. Become a follower to my blog or let me know you already are in a comment! (+1 entry)

2. Donate any amount to the Marathon for the Cure by going to my donation page here and leave me 2 comments letting me know you did/have already done so :) (+2 entries)

3- Share this Giveaway via Blogger, Facebook, Twitter or tell a friend. Leave a comment for each (+1 entry per comment)

4- Tell me about how Breast Cancer has affected your life or the lives of those you love. Leave a Comment. (+1 entry)

• THANK YOU to everyone who has given to the cause, together we are making a difference!!

• Giveaway will End on Monday, October 11th @ 11:59pm and the Winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 12th

Long run mishap...

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway!! It ends TONIGHT at 11:59pm**

So, I woke up early on Saturday morning with expectations to go run 20-22miles. I got up and I was instantly light headed and felt a serious cold coming on. BOO! I would've just gotten up and got it out of the way- but the last time I ignored the signs of being sick- I ended up with pneumonia just weeks before the SLC marathon this last April. So, I didn't go.

I feel SO guilty!! I toyed with going out today (Sunday), however, I only ever run on a Sunday if I ABSOLUTELY have to. Like, if the only race in the area I am living is only offered on a Sunday. I haven't had to encounter that yet. I will have to do that for the RnR marathon in November and even that I am struggling with. I don't run on Sundays because of my religious beliefs. I believe it is a day of rest and a day of worship. It's a personal choice. I know I haven't talked much about that on this blog, but it is very important to me.

So, I got up this morning (still feeling like I am coming down with something... and with a pain in my inner thigh... ugh) with my husband telling me "if you have to run today, it's okay. I completely understand" Which was nice, however, I just didn't feel right about it, so I didn't go. This makes my running rest days Friday-Sunday! Ah! I promise that I didn't head out to tackle it due to excuses of just not wanting to get it done. Trust me. I had full expectations to get out there and do 22 miles. I even laid out all my gear.

I just hope that these 3 rest days will do more help than harm to my training. I am not expecting a BQ any time soon so hopefully everything will just work out.

Get ready- new giveaway starting tomorrow with winners for this last TBA! Get excited for tomorrow!!

Marathon for the Cure GIVEAWAY!

Some of you have donated to Marathon for the Cure and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer (Thank you!!). There is research being done now that could find the CURE! And women are getting mammograms who would not be able to afford the test otherwise. I am PROUD to be a member of Team Marathon running Rock N Roll San Antonio for the Cure in memory of my sweet mom, Carolyn.

In honor of her, I wanted to have a piece of jewelry as my first giveaway. My mom loved jewelry. It never had to be fancy or anything like that, but she loved having special things to wear. She would pull out her necklaces and show them to me when I was really little and I would watch her put earrings on in the morning and wish I could wear them :-)

A friend of mine who has a REALLY cute Etsy shop, "The Dangle Shoppe" offered to donate one of her pieces to one of my readers for this giveaway.


Her description: "I call it “Milk chocolate and caramel wire knot bracelet”. The wire is a non-tarnish bronze finish. The side beads are just gold colored glass. It can fit a wrist up to 9 ¼” around. For smaller wrists, they can use a hole farther up the bracelet and let the end dangle.


Milk chocolate?? Yes please! Go to her site and look around. She has a lot of great pieces. I won't lie- I really LOVE the pink drop bracelet and all of the earrings! Want!!

To the guys, I know this probably isn't your "style" ;-) but I am sure there is a lovely lady who you may know that deserves this, right?

HOW DO YOU ENTER?

REQUIRED:

1. Go to The Dangle Shoppe's Etsy Page and look around and come back and tell me what your favorite piece is!

Bonus Entries:

1. Become a follower to my blog or let me know you already are in a comment! Who's going to be lucky 14?? ;) Plus- you'll want to know if you won, right??

2. Donate any amount to the Marathon for the Cure by going to my donation page here and leave me a comment letting me know you did. Leave a comment still if you already have donated :-)

3- Share this Giveaway via Blogger, Facebook, Twitter or tell a friend. Leave a comment for each

4- Tell me about how Breast Cancer has affected your life or the lives of those you love. Leave a Comment.

• THANK YOU to everyone who has given to the cause, together we are making a difference!!

• Giveaway will End on Sunday, October 3rd and the Winner will be announced on October 4th

Terry Hershey Park 20 miler

***Just so you know- I will be starting a giveaway tomorrow! It's my first ever on this blog and I am SO excited!!! There will also be more to come so just keep your eyes out for it all!***

So, holy moly! I discovered an AMAZING park yesterday! I have been googling places to run in the area and this one came up. It's about 25mins away but it was so worth it! It was absolutely amazing! It was a paved trail and there was an 8mile out and back trail one way and then a few miles going the other way. Perfect for long runs!

My only complaint: their map. I probably spent like 20-15 mins looking at the maps along the way. I just would get to these forks and not know which way to go. The maps didn't show forks- it just showed where the trail as a whole was supposed to go. So, I just had to sort've follow the other runners and bikers hoping they were going where I wanted to.

Oh man- lots of hills too! My mantra throughout the whole thing: "it's just a hill, get over it!" It actually worked!! I will be spending a lot of time here I think. I am so excited! It was beautiful too. Other great thing: lots of amenities! Restrooms along the way in a few places and lots of water fountains and showers! So cool! I'll give it an A+ :-) I just wish I knew it existed! It's perfect!

My first 10 miles were dedicated to Alex. You can learn about her here. It was so fitting because the Lupus foundation was having an event through out the park. There were pictures around the trail of people who had suffered from cancer and it really just hit close to home for thinking about my mom and thinking about Alex. I won't lie- I might've shed a tear. Heh, I let all the other runners think it was sweat :-) Then the rest of it- I just kept thinking about my mom and when I got to mile 18 I was back at my car and I was just like- if mom could get through it you can go one more mile out and back! So that's what I did! I struggled and stopped to fill up my h20 bottles and it was so stinking hot- but I finished strong.

So, tomorrow be on the lookout for my first ever giveaway! I am really excited about it! It'll be to help jump start my fundraising for the Marathon for the Cure (Susan G Komen).