Giveaways/Raffles for Donators

So, I have been out running in the heat some more, but that isn't what I want to talk about today.  I'm excited for my next steps with my Marine Corps Marathon Fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

While donating and helping the homeless does good things for your karma, as well as making you feel better - I wanted to be able to give a more physical joy to you as well!  So I have begun picking things up that I can give away to those that donate and share my blog!  While this portion of it isn't ready to be "officially" announced - it's getting there..

I will give you a glimpse of some of the things I have ordered:

1) Cell Phone External Battery charger - Lets face it.  There are many runners that use their phones for tracking their run.  There are many people who use their cellphones non-stop. 

Its time for #Junathon - Day 1, 2 and 3...

Well, I'm not off to a good start on the blogging portion, now am I?  Here I am, according to the "Rules" of Junathon - supposed to exercise and blog every day, yet I am already combining my blog-postings into one, instead of three!

That's ok though, because this weekend was awesome enough that NOT blogging simply has to be forgiven.    Coinciding with Junathon - my wife and I are doing an "almost no bad food" month.  (It would be a NO bad food month, but our anniversary is this month.. There is no way we aren't celebrating that!  9 years of marriage and no murder-charges? YES!)  So, in order to start this off right - we headed out to the Anne Arundel Farmers market.  I love farmer's markets.  The people selling things they grew/made, the people buying the local items.. Fresh Air.. Fresh Produce.. Whats not to love?

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Photo from the Anne Arundel Farmer's Market Facebook page.[/caption]

In fact, it is partially in thanks to that wonderful market that my day's food looks like:

Slip Sliding Shoe Laces.

It seems I should have taken the advice I gave to David Lawrence over at the The Quinquagenarian Runner (I totally had to cut and paste the title of his blog..)  back on the 1st....

Last Night I headed out, and the bottom of my feet were tight/sore.  I thought I would go with my Kinvara's under the theory that the slight rise to the heel would give my Plantar Fascia a bit of a break. Those darn shoe laces would NOT stay tied.. In the course of a relatively short run, I had to retie each one twice!  That is totally not-cool!  After the last time, I was thinking about how the shoe laces had less texture than my Altras, which meant less that helped to hold them in place.  It seems I do need to replace those - so why not with lock-laces?  Heck, I can pick up two sets and give one away! :)  (If you haven't been on my Facebook page, I am looking for suggestions for giveaways!  My birthday is coming up and it seems like a perfect time to give away a bunch of presents!  If anyone that works for a running-related company, such as road-id, ifitness, etc. - I'd love to have donations!)

Well, as you may (or may not) be aware,

It's a GREAT day!!!!!!

ok, So lots of fantastic things happening in the last 24 hours.  First one was ---- I WON!!!!  I am one of those people with abysmal luck.. I enter contests but never expect to win. I pay for a raffle ticket because I like the cause, not because I hope to win. I sign up for a few contests online here and there - mostly so that  the bloggers know they have one more reader.. But this morning? I WON!!!!

Over on Detroit Runner's blog (you should stop by and read - he is training for the detroit marathon)- he had a contest for an ifitness belt for free (donated by ifitness.)  It helps you carry your phone, wallet, fuel, what ever else you stick on it to keep with you in a non-chafing way.  I am a big fan of not chaffng.

[caption id="attachment_808" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Screen Shot of the ifitness website product page. (http://www.ifitnessinc.com/products.htm)"][/caption]

I have fired off an email to Jeff over at Detroit Runner - After it arrives and I get to test it out - I will post a review here!

Another great thing? THE KIDS STARTED SCHOOL AGAIN!!!  I don't think I need to elaborate on THAT one...

100th POST!!!!!!!!! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS????? THE WINNER IS ANNOUNCED!!!!!!!!

[caption id="attachment_469" align="alignleft" width="311" caption="And the Winner is.............."][/caption]

So.. This is the Famous and Muchly - Anticipated 100th post!!!!  You know what that means?

Its time to review all of my old posts!!!

The first one was where I introduced my blog, who I was.... It was before I know it was going to be about running........... JUST KIDDING!!!

I think we all know why we are reading this - you all want to know - WHO WON THE FREE ROAD ID????????????  Well, with out any further delay - the winner is -

Chris Thater Race Report... JUST KIDDING!!!

So, this last weekend was the Chris Thater Memorial Races.  Now practically speaking this is mostly a bunch of bicycle races (with a motorcycle as the "pace-car."  I love watching the motorcycle "lead the pack.") but on sunday at 10 am - is the Chris Thater Memorial 5k.  I like this race a lot - as it is about 1/2 a mile from my house, and the course actually goes within 500 feet of my house.  I have been VERY nervous about running it - considering my recurring calf pain.  Sunday morning rolled around and I took stock of the situation.  My calf was still sore in one spot (about the size of the tip of my finger).  After weighing the pro's and cons - I decided to pass on it.  Then on the Face Book page - "everything is cancelled for today."  This was further followed up with:
As an endnote to this morning's 2011 Chris Thater Memorial Race cancellation, the decision to cancel Sunday's race and music events was made early Sunday morning by a group of city, county, emergency services, and race officials based on the latest National Weather Service predictions for Hurricane Irene's impact on the area. Safety was the determining factor. The events will not be rescheduled, but we hope to see you all again next year.

I would have liked to have run it - I really like the course, the race is always fast, and the crowd is incredible.  But I do feel vindicated in my choice to NOT run it.  Though, I have to admit - I do now wonder if I will be getting a refund :)

Bad Run! Bad Run! NO COOKIE FOR YOU!

[caption id="attachment_735" align="alignright" width="213" caption="The cause of my Alcohol-Induced-lllness."][/caption]

So, as you my readers may already know - I was a complete slacker last week and did not run like I should have.  This trend continued on sunday when - due to my alcohol-induced-illness (combined with countless family visits), my long-run did not happen.  However, since i am such a conscientious runner (with an over-active sense of guilt), I felt I should make up my long run last night.  Luckily - we have a the Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half-Marathon course that was mapped out and certified right in town AND it goes right by my house.  How perfect is that?

So after my wife got home from work, off I went with my trusty water bottle!  I was a little frustrated as my Droid X doesn't seem to have a functional GPS anymore.  I'm not sure if it is a hardware error, or something with a recent update to the Maps/Navigation. 

[caption id="attachment_734" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Map of the Bridge Run Half Marathon Course"][/caption]

  For this run - I was using a pre-mapped course so while I wouldn't have my splits (Frustrating), I would at least know exactly how far I went! 

I took it nice and slow, with no worry about how fast/far I was going.  (This was very easy to do as I didn't have a phone with GPS to give me splits or let me know what my pace was.) 

Running in the Wee hours of the morning

[caption id="attachment_613" align="alignleft" width="190" caption="I have had this image for a while - just waiting for the day my lazy butt got out of bed so I could run in the Morning!"][/caption]

I posted last week that I have begun weight training. The unfortunate scheduling aspect of working & lifting is that the timing only works if I get my lazy butt up and run in the morning. (This will mean getting up at ~4 am on some of the long Wednesday runs closer to the marathon.)

Now, understand. I hate getting out of bed. No - seriously. The best part of the day is the laying there with no concerns, cuddled up in the warm blankets, often with a warm kitty purring like a motor next to me. Sometimes one of the kids (and sometimes both thing 1 and thing 2 come in) will come cuddle up with dear-old-dad as well. So, you can see why I have problems leaving this Nirvana I face every morning.

Well, this morning I did indeed, leave this wonderful cuddly feeling. Maybe it was driven by the memory of lifting yesterday - encouraging me to get up and run so that I can lift tomorrow. Maybe it is due to the fact that I started watching may calories again - making me more aware of caloric burn. Or Just maybe, It is me growing a little more responsible (ok, ok.. I admit this one is unlikely.. Stop laughing and pick yourself up off the floor. I'll wait.)