fitmob Athleta Gift Card Giveaway

I'm so glad that I'm done with my goal races for the year and can really focus on trying new things and cross training.  I even went to my first Flywheel class today! (More on that later...)  I love the idea of yet another new way to find motivating group fitness classes.  The latest way to find such classes is fitmob.

 The idea behind fitmob is to create a community-based, FUN approach to working out. It enables people to workout both indoors and outdoors within their own neighborhood in a supportive yet challenging environment with others who share the same goals. The classes are fun, unique and use facilities around the local community as a playground. 

Creators Raj Kapoor (co-founder of Snapfish), Paul Twohay (a martial arts champion) and Tony Horton (creator of P90X!) believe that going to the gym and slogging through a weight routine on your own isn’t going to get your motivated to get in shape – instead, it’s all about being inspired. And inspiration often comes from community not from the workout itself.  This really resonates with me, as I'm usually inspired to attend classes to see friends and be part of a group, and my running community inspires me on a daily basis.

They now have 800+ classes each week with 75+ studios and trainers all over the Bay Area and are expanding to Seattle!  To find the class that will motivate you, simply go to fitmob.com or download the app, sign up (no payment required) and simply put in your zip code for work and home. You can then search for classes based on neighborhoods and workout type (strength, cardio, yoga, social, dance and other). With a free 7 day pass, you can attend as many classes as you want in a week. Once your pass is up, you can buy credits and attend classes as often as you want. 

And fitmob is offering a giveaway for an Athleta gift card!  If you'd like to learn more about fitmob and enter to win (which you could put towards an awesomesauce bathing suit - they have THE BEST!), please use the Rafflecopter and comment below - what kind of fitness classes do you enjoy?  The contest ends a noon PST on November 14th, and I'll announce the winner shortly thereafter.  Good luck!






a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hot Chocolate 15K/5K GIVEAWAY! (winner announced)

I've been so lucky to work with the folks at RAM Racing as a Hot Chocolate Ambassador, and I'm super excited to share some of the chocolate love.  In addition to a code you can use for a free travel mug (SEAMUG1), I have a race entry to give away!  My local Seattle race is coming up in March - March 2nd, to be exact, local peeps (here's my race report).  But this race entry is for a Hot Chocolate race anywhere in the country, 5K or 15K!  Go here to get the deets on the following locations:

Atlanta

Chicago

Columbus

Dallas

Denver

Minneapolis

Philadelphia

Phoenix

San Diego

Seattle

St. Louis

Nashville

The hot cocoa and chocolate fondue are truly SO, SO very good, and this year's swag is pretty awesome:

To enter, just leave a comment here and tell me which city you'd love to run for chocolate in and what distance you'd choose: 5K or 15K?  I'll close the comments and choose a winner next Friday, January 17th.  Good luck!

Squeee! Congrats Nicole, you're lucky commenter number 13!!!!

Friday Things, Parenting Gems

Lordy, it's been awhile since I've done a Friday Things post and there's so many things goin' on it's hard to whittle down all the fun stuff I've encountered on the internet over the last couple of weeks.  I've also been overwhelmed and busy getting to know all the new Oiselle Volée (French for flock) members!  So very exciting that we're going from a group of 150 to 250!!  My Twitter is blowing up and I'm so grateful to be a part of the story for another year.  Stay tuned to the Oiselle blog for the full list of the team soon.  Check out this post to meet all of the Haute Volée team (French for High Flyer, what was formerly the 'Elite' team) - exciting stuff.

OK, to narrow things down, I'm going with a parenting theme for Friday Things.  Here are some great tidbits on the internet that have made me smile lately...

via pinterest

I loved this well thought out response that Miranda (Sweet Mother of Blog) gives to the question we often get, "So, do you love being a mom?" via Mamapedia Voices.  You can read her full post here.

That's my son on the right, talking to my daughter on the left.

This Huffington Post Parents blog post, from the always awesome Rants From Mommyland, is not only validating, but makes me hopeful for this 'Sweet Spot' which I can already catch glimpses of in our family.  

And, last but not least, the latest The Fast Life column by my running BFF Lauren Fleshman is hella awesome - they all are.

Before a lovely dinner of burgers and poutine, learning all sorts of crazy amazing things about the life of a professional runner. (Okay, I'm more like a superfan teammate than BFF...)

Also, what's up mailman - I've yet to receive my copy of Runners World!  Rumor has it that Lauren's got another great column in this month's issue, encapsulating the amazing talk she gave at the Eugene Marathon expo that I was so fortunate to hear in person.

Coffee post expo.  Awe, and many of my Ragnar peeps in this photo, too!

OK, on to music; this song has been on my playlist for awhile and I just realized I haven't shared it here: We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke is an awesome song, and it's got the word 'running' right there in the title - perfect.

Happy weekend!


PS - Don't forget to enter the Spartan Race Giveaway - it ends on Tuesday.  Odds are good folks, and I'd love to see some guuurl power entries!

2013 Playlist
Take You Higher by Goodwill and Hook N Sling

Justice and Independence by John Mellencamp

Glowing by Nikki Williams

Easy  by Porter Robinson (and Matt Zo).

I Could be the One by Avicii featuring Nicky Romero

Pair of Dice by Tiesto

Ain't No Stoppin' by Ferry Corsten (featuring Ben Hague)

Come and Get It by Selena Gomez
Apollo by Hardwell featuring Amba Shepherd

This Head I Hold by Electric Guest

Castles in the Sky by Ian Van Dahl

Feel this Moment by Pitbull, featuring Christina Aguilera

Into Your Arms by the Lemonheads

Just Give me a Reason by Pink

I Love It by Icona Pop

Little Secrets Passion Pit

Sovereign Light Cafe by Keane, remixed by Afrojack

Clarity by Zedd

Years by Alesso

Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
She Wolf by David Guetta, featuring Sia
Alive by Krewella
Illmerica by Wolfgang Garnter
Drowning by Armin van Buren
Give Me Your Hand by The Ready Set
Language by Porter Robinson
Cry for You by September
You Are My Diamond by Tiesto - featuring Kianna
Arguru - Deadmau5
We Are by Jus Jack & Oza, featuring Aeone

Spartan Race Giveaway and Discount Code!

Updated - Winner Chosen!

Doing an obstacle race was high on my radar a few years ago when I was really getting into my bootcamp classes.  But, since I became primarily focused on running, the idea sort of fell by the wayside.  Now that I've tried my first trail race, and put the half marathon distance on the back burner for awhile, it would be the perfect time to try one out, if I could get over my fear of slipping and falling... hmmm.

As it happens, the folks at Spartan Race reached out to me with a free race entry to give away and I was pretty bummed to learn that I already have a commitment and wouldn't be able to check out my local Spartan Race which is this weekend.  However, if you would like to take part in a Spartan Race near you, or near somewhere you'd love to travel, I have a free entry to give away.  They even have international races and one in Chicago - this could be your excuse to visit!  

What seems pretty cool about the Spartan Races, is that they have different levels/distances to choose from throughout the year and it’s been voted the #1 obstacle race by Outside Magazine.  Also pretty cool, Joe De Sena, founder of Spartan Race and members of his team are hitting the road and leading free Spartan Workouts across the country.  Go here to find one near you. 

To enter, just leave me a comment below.  I'd love to hear your feedback on obstacle races: tell me if you've never tried one, or if you have - what did you think?  Which race did you do?  A Spartan Race?  I'll choose a winner via random.org next Tuesday, August 6th.  And if you just can't wait to see if you've won, or are signing up for this weekend's race in Washington, click HERE for a discount code for 15% off any Spartan Race!  The code will work one time for any open heat in any 2013-2104 Spartan Race in the continental US.

Oiselle Giveaway WINNER!

Thanks so much to all who entered the big blog anniversary giveaway!  I love that my personal Twitter party has grown quite a bit over the last week and I'm looking forward to commiserating with all of you.  Alas, there can be only one winner - and that person is....

Lisa Ngai!

Lisa, shoot me an email: agibson60657 at yahoo dot com with your size and shipping info!

Oiselle Giveaway! (winner announced)

Thank you all for your kind tweets and comments on yesterday's post - you're all just validating the awesomeness of the internet!  So, in honor of the blog anniversary, it's time to host a most fitting giveaway.  Oiselle has graciously offered to giveaway one Start Line Tee (if you've not tried the famous 50/50 tees, now is the time) AND a Green Lake Hoodie to one lucky winner!

Photo from Amazon

Photo from Oiselle

To enter, in honor of the tee, tell me in the comments below - what is the furthest distance you've raced?  And I'll throw in a few more extra entries for this giveaway; please leave a comment for each one for a total of four possible entries per person:

• Follow me on Twitter so that I can get to know you :)
• Follow Oiselle on Twitter so that you can be in the know on fabulous deals and other giveaways!
• Tweet this giveaway (ex: I'd love to win a @Oiselle hoodie and tee from @mrshallberg!)

I'll announce the winner (using random.org) on Wednesday, April 3rd.

Good Luck!

This Giveaway is Closed - Hopefully I'll do another Oiselle one soon!

Endorphin Warrior Bracelet - Winner!

 

 

 

Thanks to all who entered!  And the winner is:

 

 

 

Congrats Tracy!  Email me at: agibson60657 at yahoo dot com with your selection, size and shipping info.

 

If you didn't win, fear not, I'll be doing another one next week to celebrate the anniversary of my blog and (to give you a hint at the giveaway goods) my Oiselle anniversary...

 





Endorphin Warrior Training Bracelet Review & Giveaway!

Yay!  My first giveaway!  I was so excited to get a training bracelet from Endorphin Warrior to review, since seeing all the Nuun Hood to Coast teams sporting them and having giveaways on their blogs over the summer.  I'd already picked out the 'STRENGTH' bracelet for an imaginary shopping spree months ago.

One of my go-to mantras for when things get tough in a race is: You Are Stronger Than You Think.  I love the idea of having something to remind me as I look down at it during a tough run.  I've yet to sport it in a race, but I did take it out yesterday on my first real tempo run MONTHS. 

after a mile warm up, my 3 mile tempo went rather well and I was hitting my old tempo paces by the LAST mile - huzzah!

Aaaaaaand, I really haven't taken it off since.  The sweat dries instantly and I've also drenched it while doing dishes (I mean, that's how I spend at least 40% of my day, easily) and it's held up nicely - just let it dry out overnight. 

Post tempo workout

I'm not the kind of gal to wear jewelry when I work out, other than my wedding rings and my watch.  But the Endorphin Warrior bracelet is so comfortable it truly feels like I'm wearing nothing at all.  It's been a long time since I've worn any kind of leather jewelry...

Yep, I wore my leather, beaded, adjustable necklace for my HS graduation picture.  And a spiral perm - didn't EVERYONE?

... and I'm really loving the leather now!  It's a nice neutral that goes well with other bracelets I wear, and layers easily.

Not only is it a great talisman for running, but for mothers of young children: I've looked down at it often whilst doing homework, or other hard hitting negotiations with my five year old, and I'm reminded to be strong and persevere.  Maybe I'll get a 'persevere' bracelet, too...

If you'd like to get your hands on one of them, Endorphin Warrior has offered to giveaway one bracelet of your choice!

To win:

• Go to their website, check out the goods and leave a comment here telling me which bracelet you'd choose.
• Bonus entry: since I love Twitter, tweet a link to this giveaway and include Endorphin Warrior's and my Twitter handles (I want to win an @EndorphnWarrior bracelet from  @mrshallberg) and comment here letting me know that you did :)

I'll pick a winner using random.org on Tuesday March 19th.  Good luck!

Also, during the month of March, Endorphin Warrior is giving away a FREE Dog Tag/Key Ring to anyone who places an order on their website.  They are also donating $1 from each order during March to support a local youth running club for lower-income kids.  More info here: https://www.endorphinwarrior.com/Articles.asp?ID=284