As a ZOOMA Florida ambassador, I was asked to share with you all why I run. I really put some thought into it and shared my heart in this quick video (while trying not to cry!) I would love it if you would take a look and then share why YOU run in the comments!
Bottom line…frustrated, but still thankful. So appropriate for Thanksgiving week.
QOTD: Why do YOU run? Can you relate to anything I said in the video?
Morning friends! I am headed on out to New Orleans today for the Jazz half marathon! I ran this race in 2010 and really love it, and can’t wait to do it again, even if I am not in the best shape/health, it will still be a blast. New Orleans is an awesome place to race and I love this one not only because it’s smaller and less crowded, but it benefits Children’s Hospital.
Jazz half 2010
Don’t forget about my virtual run this weekend!! If you didn’t tell me you wanted to participate before, that’s ok, you can still join in! All you have to do is run between today and Sunday, and either blog about it and comment here, or post a photo on ZOOMA’s Facebook wall of your run and you will be entered to win PRIZES! Also, either e mail me or leave a comment I would love to know you completed the virtual run and include you (and photo!) in a round up post!
The race will count as my virtual run, I can’t wait to tell you all about it on Monday!
(Also don’t forget if you sign up for ZOOMA Florida and enter code FLAMB4 at checkout you will save 10%!)
I hope you have enjoyed my posts about my Galaxy S3 courtesy of Verizon the past 3 months. I really enjoyed the phone! If you missed any, here is a recap so you can go back and see what they were all about:
Thanks so much to Verizon for this amazing opportunity to be a part of a very cool program, I really enjoyed it!
Don’t forget, It’s domestic violence awareness month, and every time you share a photo into the contest, Verizon will donate $1 to the national dating abuse hotline!
QOTD: What has been your favorite destination race?
Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassador program and have been provided
with a wireless device and three months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the
product.
Good morning friends! I am finally HOME and it feels good. Lots of catching up to do, and my race recap from my half marathon is coming on Wednesday, but for today I want to tell you about something really cool taking place in two weekends.
I have mentioned before that I am a race ambassador for the ZOOMA Florida event. Well, all the ambassadors are going to be hosting in person or virtual runs on the weekend of the 27th! I will be running the Jazz Half that weekend so I can’t host an in person run, but I would love to have YOU participate virtually. Oh you want incentive? Well, ZOOMA will randomly be awarding prizes to participants. All you have to do is post about the run on your blog or post photos of you participating in your hometown on the ZOOMA Facebook page. You can run whatever mileage you are at on your training plan. on either the 27th or 28th of October. So, a lot of you will be running anyway? So why not join in the fun for a chance to win cool stuff!?!? (Don’t forget if you register for ZOOMA FL to enter code FLAMB4 at checkout for a 10% discount!)
Did you say DISCOUNT?!?
Also, I would personally LOVE to know if you plan on participating, so I can give you a shout out when I do a round up post about the virtual run! So, in addition to making sure you post about your participation in the virtual run (link back to here!) or posting photos on ZOOMA’s facebook wall, please please let me know you are participating so I can make sure to remind you (if you want) and include you in my post afterwards. You can leave a comment here, email me at [email protected], or both. I would love to hear from you! So, who’s with me?!? (Note: this is a laid back fun thing, you don’t have to sign up anywhere, just let me know you participated and either blog about it or post a photo to ZOOMA’s Facebook page to be eligible for prizes!)
QOTD: Do you plan to participate? Have you ever done a virtual run?
I mentioned awhile back that I had the honor of being selected as a race ambassador for the ZOOMA Florida race in January. There is a half and 5k option, and the host hotel is the fabulous Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island! ZOOMA is so awesome, that they wanted to do something for YOU, and for charity.
They came up with an awesome idea that for ONE DAY ONLY, if you register with my special discount code, you will get 10% off registration for either of the Florida races, AND, ZOOMA will donate $10 to one of my favorite charities for that one day, which is October 5th, FRIDAY.
So for example, if ten people register using my promo code tomorrow the 5th, not only will they get 10% off registration, but my charity of choice will get $100! How awesome is that?!?!
So, I’m sure you want to know what charity I decided to choose for the promotion.
I thought about choosing a charity nationally known, but decided to do something a little closer to home, Team Gleason/The Gleason Initiative Foundation. This charity may not be as well known, but needs more publicity and help.
Steve Gleason used to play in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, until he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). You may have heard his name or have seen a clip of him blocking a punt at the Saints first home game back in the Superdome after hurricane Katrina.
Even though he was diagnosed with this awful disease, he chose to make the best out of his life. He and his wife decided to have a baby, and then they started Team Gleason, a charity with a mission to show that patients can not only live but thrive after this diagnosis. In doing so, he hopes to inspire others to do the same, and have meaning and purpose in their life. The photo below is from a Saints game last year. Steve had to hold on to Drew to walk out onto the field and lead the crowd in the pre game chant, but he was determined.
He spent much of his career visiting patients at the New Orleans Children’s Hospital, and Gleason, known for his long locks hanging out of this helmet, regularly donated his hair to “Locks for Love”, which provides hair for wigs for children with cancer.
The mission of The Gleason Initiative Foundation is to:
1. Help provide individuals with muscular diseases or injuries with leading edge technology, equipment and services; (so they can live as normal a life as possible)
2. Raise public awareness toward amyotrophic lateral sclerosis “ALS” by providing and documenting extraordinary life adventures for individuals with muscular diseases or injuries.
He has done such things as send people with ALS to the Superbowl, he has taken them skydiving, and climbing Mt. Rainier among providing high tech equipment so they can function even after losing muscle control . He believes the diagnosis is not the end and encourages others with ALS to live life to the fullest.
Please help his foundation and mission by registering for the Florida ZOOMA race on October 5th, and $10 of your registration will be donated to Team Gleason for ALS. Below is a GREAT video on Steve if you would like to learn more about him. If you want to get to the “meat” of the video and just hear about his mission and determination, (have a tissue handy) skip to the 5:20 mark on the video.
So please, consider running the ZOOMA Florida race in January, and register TOMORROW, October 5th using my special promo code at checkout:
FLAMB4
Want to learn more about the race itself? Check out this post I wrote with all the details. Want even more incentive? Anyone that registers for ZOOMA Florida before 11/4 will get a training care package mailed to them. The training care package will be full of necessary and fun goodies to set you up for success!
Ready to register? Go to the registration page and enter in the promo FLAMB4 to save 10% and give $10 to Team Gleason, on October 5th ONLY. So today, just think about it, set an alarm on your phone, whatever you need to do to remind yourself to enter TOMORROW, and I will see you in Florida!
Thanks for your support!
QOTD: What is your favorite charity to support?
Awhile back, I heard that the ZOOMA race series was going to be unveiling a new race location. I pretty much stalked their website, hoping that it would be somewhere in the south. I was surprised when my wish came true, and the newest race was announced for Amelia Island, Florida, and would be hosted at the Ritz Carlton!
Here is some info about the race:
You’ll be welcomed to the ZOOMA weekend with a Fitness Expo at the host hotel. Take in the oceanfront sunset as you drink a cocktail (or mocktail if you prefer) at a sponsored happy hour before your post-race meal on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, awaken early to run a flat and scenic half marathon or 5K. After the finish line, celebrate your accomplishment with friends at a fun After-Party Expo on the oceanfront lawn at The Ritz-Carlton. Enjoy your adrenaline- and wine-fueled buzz with live music, massage, shopping, recovery yoga, and lots of empowering girls’ weekend energy.
Race cap: 2,500
Average Race Day Temperature:
High 63°F
Low 44°F
I really wanted to run this race, so kept checking back for updates and information. Then, recently, I found out I was to be named a ZOOMA race ambassador for the Florida 2013 race! What does this mean? I will be running the race, and spreading the good news to you all encouraging you to sign up and join me at the beach. I really hope to see some of you there, and if you have any questions at all about the event, please feel free to contact me.
Never heard of ZOOMA? Let me fill you in!
“Imagine a powerful sea of women on the move–encouraging fellow runners, creating unforgettable moments, and celebrating personal running triumphs. Picture a post-race party and expo all wrapped up in one memorable “after-party expo” where these strong goal-oriented women come together for well-deserved celebration. This is the Muscle Milk Light ZOOMA Women’s Race Series.”
I love it! I can’t wait to share more with you about this and be a part of it all. It is going to be a great time, with wonderful sponsors and gorgeous scenery. Please consider signing up, and be sure to follow them on Twitter for updates!
QOTD: Have you ever run a race geared towards women? Or a race at the beach? Spill!
———————————–
I cannot let today pass without acknowledging the date on the calendar. I still remember exactly where I was when I found out about the attacks. We must never become complacent and forget about what happened that day, and never forget the families who still suffer every day missing their loved ones. I will be saying a special prayer for those families today and hope you will, too.
Hi! I am Heather Montgomery, formerly known as Running With Sass®, a 32 year old living in Tampa, Florida with my husband and 3.5 year old daughter. I’m just a regular girl who likes to run, travel, go to Disney World, and eat junk food.
Thank you for visiting my blog! Feel free to contact me, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at [email protected]
Please, no guest post requests. 🙂
Purchase My eBook in Paperback!
