Coca-Cola: America is Your Park

June 14, 2012 by


I love going to the park. Even as an adult, there is just something so fun and energizing about playing in a common place where people from the community can gather. Parks are especially important, as they provide a place for kids to get out and play and be active. Living in a state that always tops the obesity charts, I feel that making improvements to our parks is a very important thing.

Thanks to Coca Cola, this is going to become a reality for four parks around the country! Yes, it’s true! Through the live positively campaign, Coca Cola is allowing you to vote for your favorite park, and you can earn even more points for checking in via a special foursquare link when you visit your favorite park. This is the third year of the successful campaign, so be sure to vote for YOUR favorite park. The America Is Your Park campaign was developed in collaboration with the National Park Foundation, America’s State Parks and the National Recreation and Park Association

You can vote now through July 15th for your favorite local park. I am voting for my favorite, Ft. Maurepas park in Ocean Springs, MS.

This park means a lot to me because it is usually a meeting spot for long runs, and it is right on the beach. It’s in a beautiful area, which is still trying to come back after hurricane Katrina. Bobby and I have even gone for a long run and then had a picnic at the park afterwards. It has a fun playground and a splash pad as well as bathrooms and a covered pavilion, but I would love to see a basketball court or some outdoor metal workout/circuit equipment.

It’s all up to you, folks. If you want your park to win, spread the word! You can share via Facebook and Twitter that you have voted, so you can get everyone you know involved. Last year, there were a total for 13 MILLION votes! I say we try to top that! Remember, any park big or small can win. First prize is a $100,000 grant, 2nd prize is a $50,000 grant, and third prize is a $25,000 grant. One lucky park in the top 25 will be randomly chosen for a $15,000 grant as well. It’s SO EASY to vote, so do it right now!

Ok so to recap, here are the two ways to vote:

o Going online (via computer or smartphone 1 vote each)
o “Checking in” and voting from the park via Foursquare (100 votes each) – Details on the site

QOTD: What park are you voting for? Every vote counts!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Only legal residents of the 50 U.S. (and D.C.) who are at least 13 years old and reside within the U.S. at the time of participation are eligible to vote for a Park. Participate on behalf of a Park by: July 15, 2012. The 3 most popular Parks will be offered a grant and there will be 1 Wild Card drawing at the end of the Contest to award an additional grant. To participate, for Official Rules, and complete details including grant descriptions, visit www.LivePositively.com/parks. Void where prohibited.

Filed Under: family, fitness, health Tagged: , , , , ,

Weekly Recap: June Week 1

June 10, 2012 by

 

Morning. Been a wild weekend at my parents house. Lots of rain, but also lots of fun. Saturday my dad and Bobby went to a home for children who were taken from abusive homes but not yet placed in foster homes, and they brought them lunch. Apparently it’s a special treat for them so I am glad they got to go and bring the kiddos a good meal. Mom and I hung out, went for a 30 minute walk, and just relaxed.

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The week was a bit up and down:

Sunday: rest

Monday: walked 25 minutes

Tuesday: ran 2 miles, stationary bike 10 minutes, weights

Wednesday: one hour yoga class, 20 minutes weights, ran 1 mile

Thursday: rest

Friday: ran 3 miles, weights

Saturday: walk 30 minutes

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running: 6 miles

cross training: X’s 3

yoga: one hour class

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my running was really down this week. I have been having some medical issues that have prevented me from getting in my runs. It’s a little frustrating, but I am trying not to let it get me down. Today starts another week, right?

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My focus for this week is going to be on my running, if other things fall to the side that’s fine but I NEED a good soil week of running (mainly including my long run, which has been missing) I signed up for a half in October and I want to be ready for it!

QOTD: What are you focusing on this week?

Filed Under: fitness, running, Uncategorized Tagged: , ,

RWS Features #27

June 9, 2012 by

 

Happy weekend! I hope you are having a great one. Bobby and I are hanging with the fam this weekend, we have an event to go to tonight which i will tell you more about later. Our other plans include a long run, getting a snowball, church, and just chilling with my parental unit.

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I also want to announce the winner of my Nuun Giveaway! I had 99 entries, and the winning one goes to…Lindsay from Typically Late! Lindsay, shoot an e mail to runningwithsass@gmail.com and I will get you your Nuun!

I also want to introduce you to Janene from One Run at a Time.

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1.) How/Why did you start blogging?

I’ve had a few different blogs over the years, but I started One Run at a Time in August of 2010 as a way to document my running experiences. It’s been great to share my experiences, learn from other bloggers, and flex my writing muscles.

2.) Sum up your blog in a couple sentences

One Run at a Time is running-obsessed, nature-lovin’ and occasionally goofy. Kinda like me.

 

3.)What do you wish to accomplish/achieve by blogging?
I love writing and I love documenting my memories, so my blog began as a selfish endeavor. But I’m also an educator at heart, and over the past year+ I’ve realized that thanks to my work in outdoor recreation, I have some unique expertise to add to the healthy living world, and I’m excited to share my experiences with others.

4.)What is your biggest healthy living accomplishment?

I don’t talk about weight on the blog, but I’ve maintained a pretty sizable weight loss since early 2011. While it’s great to be at a healthy, more comfortable weight, my biggest accomplishment has nothing to do with the numbers – it was that I discovered something I love and without “dieting.” I launched myself into a entirely new life, and I’ve never felt better. Now, it’s second nature and I can’t imagine living any other way. To me, that’s so much more important than any number on the scale.

Thanks so much for sharing! Be sure to follow One Run at a Time on Twitter: @onerunatatime

QOTD: Do you now consider healthy living second nature? Or is it difficult for you?

Filed Under: fitness, Guest Post, Uncategorized Tagged: , , ,

RWS Features #25

May 26, 2012 by

 

Yay for a three day weekend! Memorial Day totally snuck up on me! The month I take a vacation in always seems so short…where did May go? I hope you all have fun weekend plans. Since we have literally been going the past four weekend, we are staying home and being low key. Cleaning, yard work, BBQ, church, date night, and hopefully some good workouts.

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Speaking of workouts, today I want to introduce you to the pure 2 raw twins Lori and Michelle (as if they need an introduction!) I have had the pleasure of meeting these sweet girls, and I can attest they are just as nice in real life as they are on their awesome blog. Can we say bakery?!?

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1. Why did you start blogging?

We started blogging as a way for us to track our own health and fitness progress. We wanted to help others that might be suffering from food allergies or digestive issues like we did.  We share about what we learn, any new products we have tried and are loving, and just overall health and fitness topics. Our blog was also a way for us to help promote our bakery – Twin Cakes Bakery.

2. Describe your blog:

Pure2raw has changed a lot of the two years.  It is now a place where we share everything from recipes, to health topics (like adult acne), to fitness, and even photography. Pure2raw is a fun, positive, sometimes serious, and honest place where we love being able to connect with others.  On pure2raw we hope to inspire others to move, to sweat, and have fun while doing it.

3. What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?

We hope to accomplish with our blog is helping out as many people as we can. Whether that is inspiring them to try a new food, like raw chocolate cheesecake, or encouraging them to challenge themselves and do something outside of their comfort zone. We encourage others to have an open mind and do not be afraid of trying something new, be willing to make mistakes, and most importantly learn something new about themselves! We hope with our daily posts we can help others live their life to the fullest.

4. What is your greatest healthy living accomplishment?

Our biggest healthy living accomplishment was running two full marathons and a few half marathons. We never thought of ourselves as runners and never would have imagined us running marathons. It was a fun goals we had plus it was good sister bonding experience. Currently we do not run, but do enjoy other healthy living accomplishments through doing challenges like holding plank!

Thanks so much girls! Everyone please be sure to follow these lovely ladies on Twitter: @pure2raw and go to their blog and say hello!

QOTD: What is a hobby that you have developed over the past 5 years you never thought you would do?

Be sure to join the Under Armour What’s Beautiful challenge and enter to win a $500 gift card from Under Armour!

Filed Under: fitness, Guest Post, running, Uncategorized Tagged: , , ,

What’s Beautiful

May 10, 2012 by

Under Armour: What’s Beautiful . . . You!

When you decide on a goal for yourself, do you follow through with it? What makes it worth attaining, and what helps you along the way? What if I told you that you could have support, accountability, and possibly win really cool prizes, like being one of the faces of Under Armour? Motivation enough for me!

Under Armour has just launched their What’s Beautiful campaign. This thing is big. REALLY big. It’s pretty awesome too. All you have to do is sign up online (free!) and announce a goal. It can be any goal from running your first mile to completing an Ironman or losing five pounds.

This will last for nine weeks, and at the end of it, Under Armour is choosing a handful of women to basically be the faces of the brand. REAL woman, reaching real goals.

I love it. I believe true beauty lies within. In your drive and determination to reach for the stars. In your hopes and dreams, to be the best version of yourself that you can be. Are you what’s beautiful? YES!

Have I already signed up? Heck yes! So what is my goal you ask? My goal is to run a 27:00 5k. It will actually have to be a training run and not an actual 5k because racing season is pretty much over here. I know it will be hard, but I also know with the help and accountability of the campaign I can do it.

This goal is important to me because last year my 5k personal record was a 27:18. It was on a hilly and hot course, and I was so close to hitting that sub 28:00 mark I had coveted for so long. This year, due to a lot of half marathons and a stress fracture, I only ran one 5k and I was not in the best shape to do so. I don’t want another year to go by before I reach my goal, I want to do it now!

I placed in my age group last year, but didn’t reach my goal of a sub 28:00 5k

I plan to reach my goal by doing the following:

1.) Run 3-4 times per week, with at least one speed workout on the treadmill

2.) Lift weights for a stronger, healthier (injury-free) body

3.) Practice yoga at least once a week to help keep my body limber and flexible

4.) Cross train at least once a week to keep my body guessing and to be overall more healthy

Here at Running With Sass, you know I value fitness and health as well as looking cute while getting fit. Under Armour has an amazing line up of apparel that can help you look great while training for your goal. Personally, I am loving the idea of the slash capri, the Armour bra, and the charge RC storm running shoe. These products look super cute and I am sure they would help me on my way to my goal.

So you want in on this awesome project? Have a goal in mind? Go sign up on the Under Armour website and get going! If you aren’t sure what goal you want to achieve, go to the website and search through some of the other participants’ profiles for some good ideas. Create your own profile, and start the challenge today and show the world you are beautiful!

Not to mention, you can win some of this awesome free gear for yourself! See the rules below for a chance to win a $500 Under Armour gift card. Be sure to leave a comment telling me which of the Under Armour products you want to try! There will be three separate sweepstakes, so come back later for even more chances to win!

SWEEPSTAKES/GIVEAWAY RULES

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique terms in your tweet message: “#whatsbeautiful” “#sweepstakes”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post. To comply with FTC Guidelines (see http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm), entrants’ blog posts must disclose that they are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post.

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/10-5/21

Be sure to visit the Under Armour page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Filed Under: motivation, running, Uncategorized Tagged: , , , ,

RWS Features #22

April 28, 2012 by

 

Happy weekend! We are busy this weekend taking care of some business obligations in my hometown area. I feel like I am on the go so much lately, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon, but that’s ok. Today I want to introduce to to Rachel.

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Rachel blogs at Running Backwards in High Heels and knows how to rock out a running skirts skirt! (I also love her sassy hair color!) Not to mention she has amazing fashion sense, and the cutest kids! Be sure to go check out the awesome photographs on her blog, this is definitely one to add to your reader!

1.) How/Why did you start blogging? I originally started blogging as a journal for what our family was up to- my oldest was starting to talk and I was pregnant with our second girl. It was a way to show pictures and keep family up to date, that didn’t live close. It’s evolved over the years as our family has grown.

2.) Sum up your blog in a couple sentences: Running Backwards in High Heels is a hodge podge of what I do– constantly on the go. It highlights crafts, family times, those redheaded princesses, running, photography, fashion, and college football.

3.)What do you wish to accomplish/achieve by blogging? I just want to share my story. Hopefully it motivates some, makes others laugh, all while staying real to who I am. And I am always over sharing.

4.)What is your biggest healthy living accomplishment? I think that is a tie between running a half marathon and losing 35 lbs after baby #2 was born.

Thanks so much for sharing Rachel! You can also follow her on twitter @runinhighheels

QOTD: Are you always on the go or do you try to stay put as much as you can?

Filed Under: fitness, Guest Post, running, Running Skirts, Uncategorized Tagged: , , ,

Altitude

April 23, 2012 by

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Hey guys! I am having a great time in Disney, so I have turned the blogging reigns over to some willing participants for the next couple of days. I hope you enjoy, and show them the same support you all show me. Today’s post comes from Courtney. Be sure to check out her blog!

I remember what it was like when I traveled from my town outside of Houston, Texas to Colorado for softball tournaments. The warm-up run would begin and I am wondering, “What is wrong with me?” Sometimes I would even feel queasy, even flu-like symptoms. As the old saying goes if I knew then what I know now things would be completely different.

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For most athletes, weekend warriors, etc. a change in altitude will never be a problem. However for those that altitude will be an issue – here are some ideas to help you train for your event:

1. Compete within 24 hours of arrival to altitude

2. Train at 1,500 to 3,00 m above sea level for at least two weeks before the event

3. Live at a high altitude and train at a low altitude

a. There is controversy on this method. It is also for those more elite athletes or those who are not just weekend warrior

b. It is said that it increases your red blood cell mass by EPO which means you will have an increase in VO2max – which everyone wants

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Generally at altitude endurance performance decreases and for sprinters and interval training performance increases. This would explain my unusual feelings as I tried to do the old warm-up run around the field before pre-game rituals. When it comes to altitude changes and performance not only do you have to be prepared you also need to know your body!

QOTD: Have you ever struggled with altitude issues? Any stories?

Filed Under: fitness, Guest Post, tips, Uncategorized Tagged: , ,

Friday Favorites: Random Bits of Health News

April 20, 2012 by

 

In the past couple weeks I have been contacted by a few different companies letting me know about different products and events going on. Instead of mentioning them in their own posts, I thought I would combine them all as a Friday Favorite for you all to check out.

1.) Odwalla kid smoothies. I love when companies make healthy options specifically for kids lunchboxes, so I was thrilled when Odwalla let me know about this new product! These smoothies are a great source of vitamin C, and are natural, 100% juice. and gluten free.

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2.) Virtual marathon relay. Check out the website to join in a fun virtual marathon relay! It’s free to enter, and is a total of 52 miles. There are all kinds of prizes you and your team could win as well.  Don’t know someone who would want to join you? There is an option to find a team mate online as well.

3.)Fitness and Health Bloggers conference. You can still register for this awesome conference in Colorado this summer! I may or may not have something to share with you soon about this. Colorado seems like an awesome place for a fitness and health conference, and it is going to be held at a beautiful new facility with some great speakers!

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4.) Saucony Find Your Strong project. Strong can be found in every runner.  Personal.  Powerful.  Insanely motivating.  We find strong in others.  We find it in ourselves, and when we share it, we all get stronger. Check out the video to learn more. You could win some great prizes!

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You may recognize this beautiful lady in the photo above!

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Today I am busy doing some work before I go out of town with my mom and her sisters next week. Oh, I didn’t mention? I am going to Disney for a quick trip! So excited! Also, thanks for all you’re kind words on my name in Woman’s World magazine article! Yall are the best.

QOTD: What are YOU loving this Friday?

Filed Under: fitness, running, Uncategorized Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Weekly Recap: April Week 1

April 8, 2012 by

 

Happy Easter! I hope everyone has a beautiful day. Easter is so important to me and to my family, it’s about so much more than bunnies and chocolate to us. Jesus who died on the cross for our sins is risen from the dead, and it is a joyful holiday indeed! Today, we are off to church and then lunch by ourselves at our house. Not a lot planned for today, just some relaxing and spending time at home just us and the pups. Fine by me!

The past couple years we have gone to my parents house and had a big Easter lunch.

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This week was much better than last week in terms of exercising. After my lackluster week, I really wanted to do well this week, and while I am still not where I want to be, it is definitely an improvement over last week!

Sunday: 10 mile run with Bobby (ssoo hot and miserable!)

Monday: chest, tri’s, abs

Tuesday: 4 mile run (39 minutes) bi’s, back, legs

Wednesday: 1 hour 15 minutes yoga class

Thursday: 3 mile easy run (32 minutes), chest, tri’s, abs, legs

Friday: rest

Saturday:  6 mile run (one hour) yard work 1 hour

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miles run: 23

yoga: 1 class

weights: x’s 3

cross training: yard work!

My half marathon is a week from tomorrow and I am getting nervous about the heat. We shall see! Off to enjoy the day. I may have some photos of us dying eggs to show you this week. Have a great day!

QOTD: What are you doing for Easter?

Filed Under: family, fitness, running, Uncategorized Tagged: , , , , ,

RWS Features #19

April 7, 2012 by

 

Happy Weekend! I hope it’s off to a good start. I am excited because Bobby is off Monday so we have three whole days. (I secretly have a plan to get a lot of yard work and housework done since we have extra time. ssshhh).

This morning Bobby and I are out completing out final long run before our half marathon next weekend, and then we are off to honey baked ham to pick up Easter food. We started a new little tradition of our own…We like lots of different foods on the holidays, but on Thanksgiving we were alone, and we are alone this weekend…so we started getting food from honey baked ham because let’s be real, I am not going to cook a whole giant meal for just us two…and the store has these perfectly sized meals that will get us through the weekend but not have waste, AND won’t require a million hours of cooking. I will just whip up a couple extra sides to go with everything and walah!

Today I want to share about Amanda and her blog, There are Two Sides.

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Amanda’s blog is about running, SHOPPING, and healthy living. This girl is hilarious, and her blog is full of fun and great photos. She recently set a new half marathon PR, be sure to go over and congratulate her!

1.) How/Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in January 2008. I wanted a way to write more and a blog just seemed like the perfect vocal outlet for myself.

2.) Sum up your blog in a couple sentences:

There Are Two Sides is dedicated to running slowly, eating healthy on occasion and a lot of shopping.  I know that I will never be a fast runner with having had 4 knee operations and asthma, but I get out there and do it no matter what!

3.)What do you wish to accomplish/achieve by blogging?

End goal?  I would love to be a famous slow running blogger!  But I’m happy with readers and comments at this stage!

4.)What is your biggest healthy living accomplishment?

Running 15 races, including three half marathons, last year (my very first year running)

Thanks girl! Be sure to follow Amanda on Twitter @thereare2sides and Facebook.

QOTD: Is there something you have had to overcome in your healthy living journey? (Surgery? injury? weight loss?) Share!

Filed Under: fitness, Guest Post, running, Uncategorized Tagged: , , ,