{Winning Prizes}

I promised that I would share a little something about the special "prizes" that I received in the mail and after all, a girl can’t go breaking any of her promises!

I’m sure that you all know by now that I have found my teeny tiny place within the world of running. I’m not an expert by any means and I don’t consider myself to be anywhere near the best of the best. However, I do enjoy everything that running does for me. There is something that takes over the moment I lace up my shoes. I don’t know if I can quite put it into words. Running gives me a tranquil energy which helps me in more ways than I can even begin to express. Running has given me the ability to strive for new goals in life. It pushes me to do better and to be better. It’s not always easy and sometimes the challenges seem unbearable but, the rewards are totally and complete worth it. The sense of accomplishment that comes from running is something that no one can strip away from you because as a runner, you earn every single step you take; that first mile without stopping, crossing the first 5K line, making it towards the first 5 mile marker or that 10K flag, and then finishing strong at the half marathon event that inspired all of your hard work and dedication. This has been part of my journey so far. As I look back, I can’t help but smile because even though I’ve suffered from sprains and swollen knees, even though I’ve lost a toe nail once or twice, and even though I’ve felt that soreness that pierces deep down into my bones, I can say with everything that I am, that I am a runner!

Jason and I are down to 3 months before we head off to the sunshine state to run in what will probably be the biggest run of our lives. 3 MONTHS!!! I am literally one big ball of mixed emotions. Everything from nervous to excited to scared to ecstatic! As the little runner on our countdown ticker moves closer towards the finish line, I realize that there is SO much that I don’t know!

WELCOME 

TO THE 

WONDERFUL WORLD 

OF 

BLOGGING!

I have found some truly amazing stories. Most of the people that I have found have been truly inspiring. It is incredible how one little thing can simply transform one’s life.  What’s even more amazing is that a lot of people try to reach others by hosting reviews and giveaways and because of these little deals, I have been able to find some pretty neat stuff that just so happens to be on the market these days. I always like to read what other’s have to say about certain things especially if it happens to be a product that I really want to try but I don’t quite know if I should.

Here is the thing about giveaways, you read all about the product, you fall in love with it and think to yourself “gosh I really just HAVE to have that!” You enter hoping to maybe be at least in the top 100, knowing that you will probably land smack down at the very bottom of the list. You never in a million years expect to win because seriously what are the chances, but then guess what? You win! Completely...Utterly...EXCITING and definitely a pretty great way to brighten one’s day, especially after a particular visit to the dentist!

My first prize came from Lift Your Sole. If you have never heard of this company, you should find them online right now because they are AMAZING! I’m not a huge jewelry buff. I don’t like to wear a lot of bling (mostly because I do more damage to myself than actual dazzling). I do however love simplicity and I love things that have deep meaning. Lift Your Sole is small company that creates pieces of jewelry for the runner in all of us. These pieces help women express their passion, their accomplishments, and most of all their strengths, which in my opinion happens to encompass the very being of our souls.

I entered a special giveaway that they were hosting by submitting my answer as to why I felt “runners have more heart”. Well, I ended up being one of the winners and this was my special gift.

I had some choices with my little runner’s heart

Blank

RUN

13.1

26.2

I thought about adding the numbers but I don’t know just yet which run will end up being my favorite. I know that I love to run the 1/2 marathon race (as of right now that is my favorite race to run) but I have yet to complete a full marathon. So, I decided to add the word “RUN” because those three letters inspired the foundation for my answer to the question.

When I set out for my runs, these are the friends that usually go with me.

Sometimes I find new friends to bring and of course, I am always looking around in hopes of discovering new friendships.

My second prize came from Miss Teacher over at Juice Boxes and Crayolas. First of all how can I not follow her adorable little blog? As if the name isn’t cute enough, she also teaches and she’s a runner!! Yup, when I finally grow up and get a job, that’s exactly the trophy I hope to hold!

Miss Teacher likes to host giveaways! I think she might have one going on right now (if my memory serves me correctly). A couple of weeks ago, she hosted a giveaway for Bondi Band. I know I just mentioned something like this a few paragraphs ago but seriously if you haven’t heard of this amazing hair band, you have to check them out. I AM A HUGE FAN!!! 

Bondi Bands are really comfortable to wear, they have the best quotes on them, they help keep your hair in place, and best of all they keep sweat from pouring down your face and from getting in your eyes. 

This is the Bondi Band that I won from Miss Teacher!

Let me explain my situation, I am a Cali girl! I don’t sweat or at least I didn’t until I moved to the south. When I was training for my first half marathon I never had a problem with sweat dripping down my face. I never had a problem with my hair getting in my way or getting completely gross. The perks of living by the beach in Southern California...it’s between 60* and 70* ALL YEAR ROUND!!!

Well, then we got orders to Louisiana! The first time I ran outside, I thought I was going to die!!! Not only did the heat completely kick my behind but, I was completely grossed out by all of the sweat dripping down every part of my body and my hair...we won’t even talk about that!!! It literally looked like I had jumped into a pool when I was done.

I learned some very valuable lessons on my first few runs in the south

It doesn’t matter if you run inside or outside....you are going to sweat!

Cooling down takes a little longer that normal. Don’t think that taking a shower is going to help you stop sweating because it doesn’t!

When sweat gets in your eyes…IT BURNS!!!

~Before My 6 Mile Run~ 

 ~After~

Sweaty...YES (even though it's fall it's still humid and hot outside)

Smelly...probably

However, for 6 miles I didn't have to worry about my hair getting in my face or sweat blurring my vision!

I have since lost my newly acquired Bondi Band to my aspiring 11 year old cross country kid. She decided that it suited her better than me because she is after all a Mall and as we all know, the Mall's do love their chocolate!

P.S Thank you to the wonderful creators over at Lift Your Sole for my beautiful necklace and to Miss Teacher for hosting a great giveaway! I'm a pretty happy girl right now =)