It's Official...

I am nuts. Phyllis and I met up at 5am Thanksgiving morning for a 6 mile jaunt. Just cause.

I'm addicted and I think I need a 12 step program and no those 12 steps don't need to be out the door or on a treadmill.

Confession:  I ran again on the treadmill this morning. Great little speed workout.

A few things for you today on this Black Friday after Thanksgiving---

Skirt Sports 60% off.

NikeStore.com has a pretty sweet clearance section.

I bought this--

and these---

I'm a size small in case you wanted to pick something up for me.

And don't forget my girls over at Running Chics.

Also! Also! I won a sweet giveaway from SkinnyRunner. I love love love her blog and envy her speedy pace. This chick is one marathon running fool. Anyways, my prize was a gift pack from Click Espresso Protein Drink. Can't wait to further fuel my coffee addiction.

Happy running!

Running Chics

Hello Happy Runner Folks!

I am absolutely honored to be bringing you this review/giveaway today. Thrilled. Over the moon, even. Running Chics is a company I've been stalking for well over 6 months now and the fact that they were generous enough to offer us this chance to test their gear, well it just proves that I have good taste when it comes to my stalking.

Running Chics is a company founded by Andrea Reynolds and Kristen Moreland. Two very busy mothers with a passion for running and the idea of a little running chick. Their design graces all their clothes which happen to be of absolute top quality. I was lucky enough to test out their alo Hoodie. A performance piece that delivers.

My package arrived with a cute tote (which I have already used a dozen times), my review piece, and a sticker.

I had to wait about a week to test out my hoodie. The temps that morning were around 40 degrees so I wore it single, no layering. I didn't overheat and the fabric was super comfortable. The hood didn't pull on me and everything stayed put nicely. No chafing or bunching. I love the color and the design on the back.

I was just really cold in this last picture, I swear I wasn't dancing!

This piece got another test when I wore it with some capris to coach my son's soccer game and run errands. I got a few compliments on it and I was happy to share the source with a couple of fellow moms and athletic types. I've washed it three times now and it doesn't show any wear.

My hoodie is a medium. I think I could wear a small but was ordering big to be on the safe side. I have a pretty big bust, and the fabric is sort of stretchy so it all worked out. This way I will be able to layer when the temps really drop.

The fact that Running Chics is out of Missouri makes them even nearer and dearer to my heart. That is my home state. Lots of good things to come out of Missouri!

Want to win your very own hoodie?

Of course you do.

Visit the Running Chics site and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite piece is.

Become a follower for another entry.

Tweet or blog the giveaway for another one.

Like Running Chics on Facebook for another one.

Please leave a comment for each entry.

Contest runs for one week from today.

Good luck!

New Kicks

I ran 8.1 miles (1:18:36) yesterday in my new Brooks Ghost 3's. It was like running on the backs of sheep, or baby butts, or clouds if you really want to be cliche. Longest run to date and the shoes were awesome.

The really cool thing is that I ordered them from Zappos.com. Apparently when you buy Brooks gear from them right now you get registration into Brooks Run Happy University (nifty little site) and a New Runners Pack from Brooks. I am waiting on mine but it is supposed to include some tech socks, body glide, Gu products and other information. Cool, huh?

The 8 miles were mostly uneventful. I worked on slowing my pace so I didn't burn out too quick and we hit 5 killer hills. We took three walk breaks during the first 3.5 miles but none the last 4.5. Isn't that weird? It is so difficult for me to warm my body up but once I do I feel like I could go forever.

Any suggestions on how to warm up more efficiently?

Yuck Yuck Yuck!

That is how I feel today.

I am totally paying for all that mindless binge eating. My tummy is torn up.

I had no energy on my run this morning. I felt so heavy! Phyllis and I completed 5.5 miles but I just had nothing else in me past that. That is proof positive that you are what you eat. I ate junk, I feel like junk. I've been laying around moaning and groaning all day wishing I could take it all back.

When I got home from my run I was hurting and in a foul mood. But not for long!!! Last week I found out that I won a terrific giveaway from RunMom at Secrets of a Running Mom.

And my brand new RoadID Elite came in the mail today!

Oh happy day! I love getting new running gear, especially after a not so happy run. I am in love with this company and have been wanting a RoadID since I first found out about them.

Thank you RunMom! Thank you RoadID guys!

P.S. Get $1 off your RoadID order by using ThanksAshley786876 as a coupon code within the next thirty days!

How My Day Got Better

Today's run SUCKED!

Honestly. No joke. Major suckage.

I waited until noon to run on the treadmill. Errands and doc appointments kept me from getting it done at 7am as usual. And as usual, a middle of the day run was terrible for me. I made it 1.75 miles before calling it quits. I had no energy. I had not eaten in almost 5 hours, my legs were lead. I hopped off and did some quick SparkPeople videos. Specifically the Butt Ball Workout, 6 Minute Upper Body Ball Workout, and the 15 Minute Abs Workout.

Once that was done I made myself a sandwich and had some super yummy dark chocolate with espresso beans and felt much better. I think I just needed some food!

About 2pm my doorbell rang. Mr. FedEx man had dropped a package at my front door and to my delight it was my long awaited FREE pair of Asics! A while back I won a gift certificate from Run Like A Mother and my shoes finally came.

Look at these beauties! So clean and shiny. It was totally time for a new pair cause I think I had about 400+ miles on my old pair. They will now be my running around town when I'm not actually running shoes. I can't wait to take these new Asics out for a run. It was a great little pick me up to get these right after a really sucky run day.

On a side note, I bought some chia seeds and some quinoa today. Recipes and suggestions please!

Confession #3 AND #4

Confession #3: I obsess over numbers.

There I said it. Go ahead and scold me. But...I want to know exactly how far I ran in exactly what amount of time and I'm cranky if I don't.

I use a Garmin Forerunner 50 with foot pod as my only tech gadget. Definitely not top of the line as far as running companions go but it does the job. Or so I thought. When I got my Garmin I read the manual front to back and specifically read that it should not need to be calibrated to measure accurate distance. So I went with it and was running around 10-9:45 minute miles. A few more months and I could do a 9:30-9:15 minute mile. All was going well until I started to doubt my times. So I took it to the local high school track and calibrated it to the inside lane. After one loop around it showed that I had ran .35 miles. A whole 10th of a mile over what it should have been. So I dialed it down, adjusted the number and kept on running. After the calibration, my miles were coming in around 10 minutes or even sometimes 11 minutes. I just knew I couldn't have been running that slow. It felt so much faster. And then I would read here on the Internetz about these speed demons doing 6:30 miles and lord I felt slow.

Yesterday, I did a long run for me. By the time I was done, 40 minutes and 30 seconds later, my Garmin said I had only gone 3.85 miles. I was totally let down. Not even a 10 minute mile. How could that be, I really was booking it in my opinion. I hopped in the truck and decided to drive it. Exactly. As close to the sidewalk as I could. 4.3 miles later I was confused. Could there be that much of a difference? What do you think? Trust my truck or my Garmin? I think a recalibration is in my Garmin's future.

Confession #4: I ate 6 mini chocolate doughnuts for breakfast.

I entered it in my food journal on SparkPeople and am just going to deal with a not so healthy decision. I have stellar eating planned for the rest of the day and I'm not going to let the guilt get too me.

Let's Talk Ta-Tas

I was born or blessed or cursed with a quite large set of boobies. One minute I love them, the next can't stand 'em. But it doesn't really matter whether I like my breasts or not, they are there and not going anywhere.


So when I jumped on the exercise bandwagon they were one of the first things on my mind. Quite literally in fact, because exercising without fully supported tatas hurts. Bad. Very bad. Not to mention, it is kind of embarrassing. No one wants to see that kind of mess moving about. And I actually read last night that the average breasts moves up and down a full 8 inches if you are running. Yikes!


When I got serious enough about running that the two sports bra method wasn't cutting it, I did some research. And I landed at Enell. The reviews alone sold me, even if the price was a little scary. As luck would have it, I got on the trusty old standby, E-Bay, and located some factory seconds. I was able to score two white Enell bras in my size for $70. One bra on their website runs $64. I was prepared for these factory seconds to have flaws, but I was pleasantly disappointed. There was some small discoloration on one and the other one I could never find a thing wrong with. Enell's standards must be very strict for what they will sell. Their product is exceptional and their customer service is outstanding.


Now, let me just say...these aren't pretty bras. You won't be wearing one of these babies without a shirt. They also come up pretty far in the front and have wide straps. I've found a few sleeveless shirts I can wear with them but most running tanks are out, including racerbacks.

What they lack in appearance they more than make up for in function. My ladies have never been more supported and every bit of backache I used to experience during a run is gone. Enell did not pay me for this little spiel. Enell has no idea who I am. I just absolutely love this bra! I want any woman who thinks her breasts are too large to exercise to know that there is a solution.

Do you have a favorite sports bra? Please share in comments so that readers of all sizes have access to our most favorite and most personal piece of running gear.