High Heels and Pink Shoelaces: My first 1/2 Marathon

High Heels and Pink Shoelaces: My first 1/2 Marathon: Running my first 1/2 marathon. Making the decision to run a 1/2 marathon was a hard one, I knew for me to actually do it I needed to get s...

My first 1/2 Marathon

Running my first 1/2 marathon.

Making the decision to run a 1/2 marathon was a hard one, I knew for me to actually do it I needed to get signed up for one and start training.
When I found out the Biggest Loser was coming to my city with a 1/2 marathon run, I signed up.
I got my son to run this one with me, I felt more at ease knowing I will do it with someone who will hold me accountable.
I trained...... not as well as I should have.
Never did get in a long run the whole time leading up to race day, and I will not do that again.
On race day it was 30 degree's, chance of snow turning to rain, ugh.
Oh' what I would have gave to just see the sun, and feel a little warmth. By the time we started my toes were so cold, they were numb.

It didn't take long to warm up, my gloves came off a few miles into the race and I handed them off to a little girl cheering us on following the route.
About mile 7 I started to get a severe pain in my knee, I was feeling so good with this run until that moment. But I knew I had to run through the pain and just finish, I had family waiting for me and I wanted to make them proud.

Now here is my most memorable moment, at mile 12  I am pushing through the pain half walking when I see my son run towards me, he had already finished and came back to run that last mile with me. He said, you got this.....worry about the pain when you cross the finish line, don't let them see you walk. I ran the best I could across that line, and tears came down my face when then my son told me, he had placed 1st in the 1/2 marathon. He won the race!

 

What a awesome day this was, I could not be more proud of him.
The rain continued to fall, we were freezing so bad we shook while waiting for awards to be announced. But I would do it all over again for a moment like this.
It truly is a once in a lifetime feeling, and I am so Blessed with this family of mine.
I also have to give credit to my husband and my other 2 boys for waiting in the rain through all this to show their support. And for my youngest who volunteered his time to help out with the event, family......we are a Team!

Back to the little girl I handed my pink gloves off to, she was waiting for me at the finish line, congratulated me and wanted to give me my gloves back. I told her to keep them, there yours, and she had a big smile.

If you ever thought about running a 1/2 marathon, I would say do it! I am so happy I did, and I came in 15 minutes sooner than I expected to.
Do you have a moment to share from your first race??
please do.

lunatik athletiks

Lunatik Athletic Compression socks review.

I love when lunatic athletiks sends me their product to review,
because not only is it truly a one of a kind design but also thee
comfiest pair of compression socks to run in.

This is my favorite pair, love the dots and the amazing colors.
So girly!!

And who wouldn't love these, so today and very classy.
But besides all that let me give you some info on them.

What Is Lunatik

Lunatik Athletiks is an athletic apparel company created with the extreme athlete in mind. The dictionary definition itself identifies a "lunatik" as being "wildly or giddily foolish, insane, and is characterized by eccentricity", all of which have also been used to describe particular athletes. Endurance and extreme athletes are often referred to as being crazy, insane or a "lunatik" for enduring the dedication, focus, training, sacrifice, and pain associated with their particular athletic endeavours . Lunatik Athletiks hopes to support these athletes reach their athletik goals and lifelong dreams by providing the highest quality athletic apparel.
Lunatik Athletiks thrives on the passion, focus, and determination of the athletik ethusiast. We are inspired by the athletic culture, the "buzz", the sensational fulfillment associated with athletic and sporting event participation. It is our hope that we can encourage more individuals to participate in any type of sport or activity by providing our athletes with an avenue to express their thrill-seeking, sport crazed identities through our high quality performance gear with extreme funky, functional personailty.
Our graduated compression stockings are manufactured in conformity with ISO 9001, ISO13485, CE, FDA and GMP graded facilities with recognizable quality assurance certificates and seals. The importance and functionality of compression socks have only just been recently discovered in the athletic and sporting world. Compression socks have been used for many years in the medical field to assist and speed recovery.

I Love when I am able to offer these as a giveaway, but I am sorry everyone can not be a winner.
But I am happy to say Lunatik athletic gave me a code to give to you to apply a discount to your  purchase.

Click here for their site,  http://lunatikathletiks.com/about.php
and put in lntk15 to apply your 15% discount

If you have any questions please let me know, or contact lunatikathletiks.

Tell me, what is your favorite pair.

Fabulous Prizes Giveaway!!

It is giveaway time, and you don't want to miss out!

I have been lucky enough to get a couple companies to help me out, and they are two of my very favorites.

The prizes we have to giveaway are 2/ 12 flavor sampler packs from Quest bars. Yummy

Also we have a awesome pair of Lunatik Athletic socks for you to choose from, if you are the winner.

These are the most comfortable, and cool looking socks I have ever ran in. You will not find a better compression sock. And I love the name.

And of course we also have a one of a kind High heels and Pink shoelaces Tank top.

 

Enter here with rafflecopter and I will pick one winner

for each prize, so we will have 4 winners.

This giveaway is to thank you all for being a part of my day,

and letting me come into your lives and talk about what is

very important to me. Good health, nutrition and fitness.

Thank you all

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

RUNNING HILLS

Tips on running up and down hills/

I get a lot of questions on how to take the hills during running, so I did the best thing and I asked my son to help out with this one.
Since he has been a runner from 6th grade through his Sr. year of college, he has a lot more experience with this.

Here is just a bit of what he had to say, but if you have any questions go ahead and ask. Weather it be about hills or just running in general.

I'm not a writer and I don't pretend to be so I'm just going to tell you everything I know about hill running.

This has been one of my favorite things to improve upon over the years so I hope this helps. During races it helps me to pick up the pace a little bit right before an uphill so it doesn't kill my momentum. Also it helps to take short steps and think about lifting your knees up the hill. It's also important to keep moving through the entire hill so you don't slow down at the top and lose all your momentum.

When going downhill, it's more helpful to take longer strides to utilize the downhill, go faster and use less energy all at the same time. If you're in a competitive race, hills are a great opportunity to pass other runners. They take more mental toughness in general, but it is important to stay relaxed and have quick feet especially when you're going uphill.

I should also mention that if you have any injury problems, especially with the knees, it is better to take shorter steps and slow down on the down hills to decrease the distance you're falling each step, which will lessen the pounding your knees take.

Hills are a great way to take racing to the next level and really get an edge over other runners if you can run them efficiently.

 

Brian P. Farley

 

Have an awesome day and keep running~~~

 

Dirty Girl Mud Run Review/

Dirty Girl Mud Run review/

First of all let me tell you, I was so excited to find out I was accepted to be an Ambassador for the Dirty Girl Mud Run.

I ran the Columbus, MN race.....which is not to far out of the Twin Cities, beautiful area, with the race taken place at The Running Aces harness racing horse track.

 

Once I got all the information I needed I put my team together, we were to have more than who showed up, but life steered them in another direction. So we made do with 3 of us, and had an Absolute Blast!!

 

Here we in the front wearing black, dirty but not as dirty as we are going to get.

 

Yes....here we are crawling through Mud.
And it felt good.

At the end of the day we were some very Dirty Girls, and we loved it.
We found our inner strength, we moved beyond our comfort zones, we worked as a team, we became close friends, ( sisters) We will be back, and looking forward to doing this again!!

 

Tell me, doesn't this look like fun to you?

Get your girlfriends, sisters, mom, aunts, anyone together and come experience the fun that the Dirty Girl Mud run puts together.

Click here for a run near you  http://godirtygirl.com/mud-run

And please tell us how much fun you had at you run!

QuestBar review

More yummy delicious flavors from QuestBar/

I received a sample box, a couple of their new flavors, and now they offer pasta!
Yes that's right, guilt free pasta.
Spaghetti or Spinach fettuccine, low calorie, zero fat, and Gluten free. Only 20 calories per serving......for pasta, I know it is unbelievable.

And the bars, they are thee most delicious protein bars I have ever had.....and I have tried many.
And 20 plus grams of protein per bar, along with, or without I should say, no sugar or sugar alcohols, high fiber and gluten free.
So many flavors to choose from.

I look forward to having one of these, its as if I get a guilt free dessert.
Here is a bit more information on this product.

Why do your bars have so few carbs? A: As most people know, if you want to stay healthy, lose fat or build LEAN, fat-free muscle, you must control your carb intake. That's why we've worked so hard to create bars with so few grams of available carbohydrates (almost all of Quest Bar's carbs come from inert fiber which helps keep you full but doesn't skyrocket your insulin levels.)

Q: If low carb food is the key to my success, why do other nutrition bars have so many carbs or sugar alcohols?
A: Because until now, there was no other way to make a bar that tasted good and didn't rot on the shelf. We had to create a process so unique that we protected it by filing a patent. That's why you won't see any other bars like ours on the market. Quest is the first truly low carb bar with no simple carbs or harmful sugar alcohols. A perfect meal in your pocket.


FINALLY, A PROTEIN BAR GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT

The Quest bar was made by us, the Quest team (hi!) because we care about what we eat, and we couldn't find any nutrition bars on the market that we were actually willing to consume. We weren't willing to sacrifice taste, and sadly none of us have the kind of genetics that would let us eat candy and look like fitness models. Soooooo, we made the Quest protein bar. It wasn't easy, but it sure is tasty!
We know that once you taste this nutrition bar you'll agree that no other protein bar on the market even comes close to matching the combination of amazing flavor and perfect nutrition with absolutely no compromises. And it's now easier than ever to try Quest for the first time! You can buy a single bar, a sampler box, or purchase at stores across the United States! And remember, we have an unconditional 100% money back guarantee so there's no reason not to start your Quest today.

I am a dedicated QuestBar customer, and I know you will be too.
here is the link to shop their site.http://www.questproteinbar.com

Let me know what your favorite flavor is, mine is white chocolate Raspberry. Yum!!

Heads Up Bands Review

Love Heads Up Bands/

I was sent a few samples of headbands from the company Heads Up Bands to try out and review.

I am a head band girl, especially since it seems I am always trying to grow out my bangs.......again.
When I received the bands I swear I thought they were the cutest ever, loved the colors and patterns they sent me.

There is one missing because I brought it up to the lake to have when I run up there, it is a pretty pink one.
I am a runner, I play tennis and golf.
So I can tell you these come in pretty handy for my day to day lifestyle, and they stay put during my activity.
They don't slip, and I don't have to fuss while running to keep it in place.

These are perfect for fine hair, thick hair, curly hair, etc.
Here is a little info on the company.


 So what's in a name?  Sometimes everything!  
Heads Up Bands was born from the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. When your hair grows back with all its crazy curl, yes think Mike Brady; these handmade bands were a necessity. Receiving compliments & inquires about these curl
controlling bands it was clear that a negative could be turned into a positive!  
The name Heads Up Bands was chosen because we believe in the following rules; live simply, dream big, be grateful, give love, laugh out loud & always keep your head up to see the good in the world, the promise of discovery & to move forward!

Heads Up Bands will be doing a giveaway soon on my page, so stay tuned you will not want to miss out.
And if you want to find out more, and order your own just click on this link http://headsupbands.com/





 

Handana Review

My Handana review/

I was so excited when I was contacted to try out this product,
the handana.
It was a perfect time for me because I have always used the cotton wristband, which my hubby says looks like I'm bringing back the 70's.

The handana is a must for runners, it is so comfortable and soft.
It wipes away the sweat before it gets in your eyes, and evaporates right into the material.

And I love the colors you have to choose from, this is the one day I went running not wearing pink, but the Handana had me covered.

This is so flexible, I also wear it when playing tennis.
Lately the temperature has been in the high 90's so my Handana has been getting a workout, and it truly works. This will be replacing my wristbands. :)

Here is the story about the creator of this product.

Handana^® was created by Katie Niemeyer as a solution to inefficient cotton sports wristbands she wrapped around her hands to wipe away sweat and nasal drip while running
As a SJS survivor, her eyes were very sensitive, and she found it difficult to focus on training for her first marathon while sweat was dripping into and burning her eyes. Hats, headbands and sweatbands helped, but in the Texas heat, sweat still dripped causing extreme pain and providing an excuse to stop her workouts. With the marathon a few months away, she needed a solution.
That’s when Handana was born. Her idea was to create a high performance, fashionable wristsweatband for running and sports that wraps around your hand allowing you to use both sides of your Handana hand to wipe sweat from your neck or forehand.

You will definitely want to order a Handana for yourself, here is the link to their website. http://www.myhandana.com/shop/

Have you tried the Handana?

Mom and Son Road Trip

Road trip with my youngest son/

Knowing my son will soon be too busy to take spur of the moment trips, I asked him to join me on a 6 day road trip to South Dakota.
At first he thought.....that's kind of weird , just me and you?
See we always travel as a family, the 3 boys and my husband. So it took him a bit to get used to the idea.

We packed up the car and headed to Mitchell S.D, our first overnight stay. And if you have ever been there you know there
is nothing much to do after you have seen the Corn Palace.

Which is a bit interesting, they change the design every year by using corn kernels. Pretty amazing actually.

We then continued on to Rapid city, but on our way we stopped at a car show with a huge variety of old cars, motorcycles, tractors, bikes and more.
Once we got to Rapid, first thing we did was go to Mount Rushmore. This is my third time being there, but it still amazes me the work that when into this massive architecture.

After Mount Rushmore we went into the city to eat, went down an Alpine slide, which was so much fun.
We also  went to Bear Country, and that included black bear, grizzly's, deer, lynx, and a few other types of animals.

That pretty much ended our day.
On the rest of our trip we went horseback riding, ziplining ,we saw the sculpture of Crazy Horse, still being worked on today.

 

Heading back home we stayed in Wall S.D, you know you can't visit S.D without visiting Wall Drug. It truly is an amazing street, lots of little shops, eateries, and of course the Main Drug store that made it famous.
Right outside of Wall we went to visit 3 missile sites, very interesting and informative.
We headed back home, feeling pretty exhausted, especially being the straight drive home was 9 hours.
And we couldn't pass up a stop at the Minnesota's Largest candy store.

It was an Amazing trip, and I am so glad we did it. These are memories I will cherish forever, and am sure he will also.
It is good to be home, the trip went so fast.
The first thing my son said when we got home was......Mom thank you for this trip. That meant the world to me, and I thanked him for being there with me.

If you have the chance to take a trip with your child do it, they grow up so fast. Peter is 15, he starts drivers Ed this month, he will have a job and more responsibilities soon. And before I know it he's off to college.
We will always have these memories.

Tell me if you have a travel family story, I would love to hear about it.

Esprit de She

Athleta esprit de She giveaway!!

Summer time is race time, and Athleta esprit de She has plenty of races coming up.
I am lucky enough to be an Ambassador for the esprit de She, and I will be running in the July 25th race in Minneapolis MN.

50^th & France, Minnesota

July 25, 2013
Join Athleta Esprit de She for the ultimate ladies night out in one of the city’s most desirable shopping destinations. Held together with Ladies Night Out, hosted by the 50^th & France Business Association, begin the night with a fitness-inspired, "happy hour" 5K run, then salute success with hosted activities and shopping discounts from participating businesses during the night market. It’s a summer evening Minnesota women will not want to miss.

 

Here is the link to check out all there races, and triathlons.

http://www.espritdeshe.com/page/show/661704-home

 

Athleta esprit de She is also letting me giveaway a Gift pack with
a shirt to a lucky winner.
All you need to do to enter is:
1 / Like esprit de She on Facebook
2/ Like @High heels and Pink Shoelaces
3/ Tell me why you would want to win this gift pack

If you signed up to run let me know which race your running, if your running the MPLS I would love to meet up with you at the race.

Good luck winning the awesome gift pack!!

POWERICE GIVEAWAY

Enter here for your chance to win POWERICE.

The good people over at POWERICE gave me the go ahead to offer up a box of this great thirst quencher to you.

I love POWERICE, after a long run or workout this is something I look forward to having.
It is my treat, and only 30 calories, my favorite is the orange but you can choose between orange and Lime.
Here is some information on all its wonderful goodness.

 

To win your own box from this company enter here.

 

Suki Skin Care

Suki Skin Care review/

I was given the chance to review this product through Vita Cost,
I have always loved skin care and I jumped at the chance to review this product.

I received the Suki Body velvet moisturizing lotion, and Suki face intensive moisturizing cream.

Not knowing what to expect I hesitantly gave them a try.
I am being honest with you when I tell you, this is the best moisturizing product I have ever used.
The body lotion just glides on so silky smooth, and has the most pleasant aroma, nice and light. It is absolutely beautiful.

The face cream is pretty much the same, it is so wonderfully soft and creamy. I have never had my makeup go on so smoothly over my face lotion, I just love the feel of my skin when using this product.
I am sold!!
I just have to give you a bit more information just so you can make up your own mind, and try it for your self.
Velvet moisturizing cream/

deeply hydrating & luxurious, yet greaseless & unbelievably
light to the touch. this sukibody® essential body
moisturizer with fair trade shea butter, high-potency
botanic concentrate™, green tea & chamomile soothe away
bumps, redness, irritation & dryness, leaving skin
luscious, incredibly smooth & softly fragranced with a
wonderful yet light aroma blend.

Intensive moisturizing cream/
multi-tasking, luxurious cream, part of the sukiface®
nourishing regimen for combination to dry & mature types,
utilizes potent antiagers – resveratrol for wrinkles &
brightening, hyaluronic acid for ultra-hydration, collagen
for stimulating slowed production & timerelease vitamin c
peptides for antioxidant & super smoothing benefits. this
potent blend of advanced scientific ingredients provides
the ultimate in tone evening, rather than toxic bleaching
while fighting free radicals, revealing your youthful,
evenly toned, dewy complexion.

suki® essentials, made of high concentrations of the world's finest & most innovative ingredients, are the perfect complement to any skincare regimen for all types of complexions & conditions, featuring top-performing ingredients, clinically-proven to provide your healthiest, most radiant skin.

If you want more info or ready to order click here http://sukiskincare.com/pages/about+suki+our+skin+care+philosophy
And you are on your way to better, healthier skincare.

Try it and let me know what you think.

.

PROMAX, Protien for the people

PROMAX Review.

Yes....I was given another great opportunity to try this product, PROMAX was nice enough to send me a box of healthy goodies to try and review, and give a review on what I think. Unpaid of course.

First of all, I am always excited when a box arrives at my door. Well who isn't?
Second, when I opened it up my first thought was.....YUM.
But of course I still had to try it, but the flavors already got me excited.

I am a runner, for those of you who do not know me.
And I need to grab some protein after my workout, I am one of those people that can't eat much after a workout.
These bars are just perfect for me, and they taste delish!
The vanilla drink is very thirst quenching, mostly I go for water, but this is a nice change if I choose  to not eat right away.

PROMAX just got a new customer, and I will be telling everyone about it.
Here is a bit more info about them/

WE ARE MORE THAN JUST PROTEIN. We care about what goes into people’s bodies, so we pack our bars with replenishing protein, vitamins and minerals, and great-tasting flavors. You won’t find any artificial sweeteners or preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, maltitol or gelatin, and they are gluten-free, kosher and vegetarian. Here at Promax, we are passionate about fit, well-nourished bodies We fuel the DOers who get up every day and make “it” better, whatever “it” is. - See more at: http://www.promaxnutrition.com/about#sthash.QPJM6Db2.dpuf
With a wide range of products, Promax is committed to developing portable nutrition products for active people striving to achieve a healthy and fit lifestyle. Promax Nutrition is committed to supporting the DOer’s and creating Protein for the People.

PROMAX, thank you.
Bobbi

Sneaking quinoa into yummy chocolate chip cookies.

We all know how good of a protein/ grain quinoa is, and I am always trying to find ways to put it into my foods.
Its pretty easy to add it to meatloaf, black bean meatballs and such.
But now I am trying to add to desserts.
just in case you don't know the benefits of this grain here it is/
Quality Protein/
There are so many quinoa health benefits that I don’t know where to start!  Quinoa is recognized most often for its high quality of protein.  A single cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein, which is more that most grains.  With so many people trending towards “Meatless Mondays” and even becoming vegetarians, there is no doubt that the protein content is partially responsible for the increase in popularity.  What makes the protein in quinoa so special is that it is considered “complete”.   What this means is that all of the amino acids that we need for health are in quinoa.  This is extremely rare in the plant world!  Of special note is that quinoa is a rich source of lysine, which is the amino acid that our bodies need for cellular repair.
Low-Glycemic Carbohydrates
The carbohydrate content of quinoa is low on the GI scale, meaning they are the “good” slow burning carbohydrates.  This makes is a great alternative for both diabetics and those who are trying to watch their diet.
All the Benefits of Whole Grains
It’s no secret that there are many health benefits of adding whole grains to your diet.  With quinoa, you get all the benefits of whole grains plus the protein!  The fact that grains have been shown to reduce your risk of developing type two diabetes makes it a great food for those who are at risk of developing diabetes.  Additionally, those with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol can also benefit by adding whole grains into their diet.  Whole grains may even protect against obesity and premature death.
Rich in Vitamins, Minerals and Phytonutrients
Quinoa offers the body an abundant source of vitamins and minerals.  The magnesium content is believed to be able to help fight off cardiovascular disease. Quinoa is also a great source of calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese, tryptophan, copper and vitamin E.  A single cup of quinoa has a 5 grams of fiber meaning you can get a significant portion of your daily requirements of fiber in just one meal.
 And now for the recipe/

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup margarine, soften

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup cooked Quinoa

Heat oven to 375. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, sugar, and margarine; beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; blend well. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and Quinoa. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.

Now the true taste test came from my 15 year old son, he said they
taste just like a regular chocolate chip cookie, but the texture is just a bit different. You will feel the texture of the grain, but I feel it is very subtle.

If you give these a try let me know how you like them, and how they go over with family.

Next up: Quinoa Black bean meatballs.

Have a beautiful day, and always remember to live life to the fullest.

Bobbi

The District Review

The District Co./ Restaurant review

Eau Claire just welcomed in a new Restaurant, and believe me it is not just any old restaurant.
This is a unique one of a kind business, the owners make you feel so comfortable and welcomed. Great feeling!
I went to check this place out because I heard they had a healthy menu, and served locally grown food. Wow what a plus!
The sandwiches are so fresh and delicious, they won me over.

So many sandwiches and salads to choose from, along with dressings, chips and beverages.


If you like spicy, my son had these spicy  chips and they were not kidding when they say hot.

You will find many items in here you have not seen before, and some you have not seen since childhood.

Feeling thirsty, they got you covered. The hard part is choosing what to drink.

 

Check this place out, you will not be disappointed, you will receive free WIFI, and if you forgot your laptop they provide Ipads on the counter tops.

If you have a canine buddy, they are also welcome.

The District Co. also has outdoor seating, and now that we are finally welcoming in some warm weather you can sit out and enjoy fresh air and a fabulous meal.

 

Once a month The Distict will be holding a Shark Tank to promote area inventions and ideas, they will have entertainment, along with displaying area art, and of course the local food.

224 N Dewey Street, downtown Eau Claire WI

Love this place, I will be back!

Don't miss out on Thee place to be.

Have a beautiful day, and always enjoy Life!

Bobbi


 
 

Get it in a Smoothie

Get it all in a smoothie.

Do you have a hard time eating kale, or spinach, chia seeds, or any other veggie or fruit??
Put it in a smoothie!

My favorite go to nutritious meal is a smoothie, and I will tell you what I put in it.

After a great workout I look forward to this, and I do not get tired of it. It is close to being a dessert, yum!

1 handful of kale
1 handful of spinach
1/2 banana
1 kiwi
blueberries
strawberries
2 Tablespoons of chia seeds
2 splashes of almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. (optional)


Put in blender and blend until smooth

There are so many fruits and veggies you can put into a smoothie,
the options are endless.

Tell me what you put into your smoothie.

Next blog I will share with you what I juice.

Have a healthy day~~~

Bobbi