Runalicious T-Shirt Giveaway

Yes, I mentioned some information about Runalicious a few posts back, and the wonderful girls at Runalicious were nice enough to send me a super cute long sleeved "Runalicious" shirt. I love it! The fabric is super soft and comfy, and it fits really good! I asked for a large, because of the length, and it fits just perfect. They have a whole line of women's wear in short sleeved, long sleeved and tank top options.  They also have options for all of your daughters out there.  How cute!!!

Runalicious was also nice enough to send me a t-shirt to giveaway.  It is a gray "Runalicious" t-shirt with pink writing in a size medium. 

Sooo super cute! 

To Enter:

1. Become a follower of my blog, or let me know you already are.

2. Check out the Runalicious website HERE and tell me what you Love!

3. Become a fan of Runalicious on Facebook HERE

4. Post a comment on the Runalicious facebook page letting them know that you found them from my contest

4. Link this giveaway to your blog, your facebook page, twitter etc, etc, etc

This contest will run through next Thursday morning, October 8th.  I will announce the winner later in the day!  Enter away!

XOXO,

Stephanie

20 Solo Miles

Yes, I did run 20 solo miles last Saturday...not only was this the longest run I have EVER ran, but it is also by far the most I have ever ran by myself!
I got up around 5am on Saturday to get ready.  I ate my breakfast slowly and felt really good!  I was excited to get going!  I got all "geared" up and stepped outside.  There was a nice chill in the air!  I started up my Garmin....

Well, attempted to start up my Garmin watch...and the darn thing didn't do ANYTHING!  I had charged it overnight, so I knew it wasn't that...It was like it was frozen!  I started panicking...there was no way I wanted to attempt my longest run, BY MYSELF, and without my watch.  I was looking forward to keeping track of my miles with it, and knowing my exact time. 
I ran back inside and found the manuel.  By this time I was almost in tears...I read the manuel, and it told me if it froze up, to hold these two buttons, and it would turn it off and restart it.  I did it...AND IT WORKED!!!  Thank the lord!!!
So, I stepped back outside, stretched and took off! 
Mile 1-4: It was a beautiful morning and I just took those first 4 miles to enjoy running!  It was neat to run by myself for once, and I was able to really relax, enjoy my surroundings and think!  At mile 4 I stopped to walk, drink some water and down a GU.
Mile 4-8: I was still feeling pretty strong!  I did get passed by a really fast guy running...He flew by me!  Again, nothing to eventful happened!  I continued to enjoy my run.  At mile 8 I stopped to walk again and drank some more water and downed another GU.
Mile 9-13.1: I got to mile 9 and then had to run another mile out before I could turn around (I was running the same route we had ran our 18miler...except now I had to run an additional mile out)  This took me into the parking lot of a middle school and I took a path that led me into a subdivision.  I decided to stay straight on that road, so I wouldn't get lost...except I came to an end in the road and I was only at 9.5 miles so I had to turn right or left.  I made a left and kept going...so hoping I wouldn't get lost.  This subdivision was HILLY and I started to get a little tired.  I finally made it to Mile 10, and turned around.  I decided to walk up one of the BIG hills, and once up it, ran again.  I finally made it out of the subdivision and back on my route home!  Yea...over halfway there!  I finished the 13.1 in approx. 2hrs and 20min.  I felt I was going at a fairly good pace even with taking a few short walking breaks.  At mile 13.1 I walked and drank some gaterade and fueled with some energy jelly beans.
Mile 13.1-16: Right around Mile 14 I came to a McDonalds and ran inside and refilled my water bottles and ran to the bathroom.  I continued at a fairly good pace to 16, but I could feel I was starting to slow down.  This was where mentally it was getting difficult!  At mile 16 I stopped again to walk and told myself I could do this...I only had 4 more miles to go!
Mile 16-20: I started up again and told myself if I could run to 18 that I could walk again before I hit the home stretch.  During these two miles I did stop once to stretch my legs on the side of the road.  They were starting to tighten up a bit, and my back was hurting from the continuous motion of my arms.  After I stretched I ran to right around 18.5.  I did walk again, to drink some water...plus there were a million garage sales going on, and the cars were taking up my shoulder, so I had to walk to get around them.  
The last 1.5 miles, I kicked it in gear.  I was tired, hurting a little bit, and my mental attitude was shot.  I was sooo ready to be done!!!  Those last 5-6 miles was when I soooo wish Beck and Kris would have been there to help push me on!  
I came around the corner, and my dad, my husband and my father-in-law where outside working on a swing set for my son's 2nd b-day.  My dad let out a yell, and they cheered as I ran to the driveway...20 FREAKIN MILES DONE...SOLO BABY!!!!

I finished right around 3hrs. 40min.  I was happy with my time...I think I wouldn't have stopped quite as much had Kris and Beck been there, but I was still happy to have done it!
Since then, I actually haven't been nearly as tired or sore as I was from my 18 miles...which is a good thing!
I ran another 5 miles on Tuesday, and last night did a Body Combat class.  I'm feeling good!!!

Only a few more weeks until Chicago....

XOXO,
Stephanie 

Stay Tuned.....

Just wanted to let you know that I will be gone from bloggy world until probaby Monday.  I have an out-of-town conference for work...a leadership conference....to go to Thursday and Friday, and then Saturday is my.......
20 Mile Solo Run!

So, stay tuned until next week to hear my recap...I'm sure it will be a doozy!

Until then...run on!!!
XOXO,
Stephanie

My Birthday...or Belated Birthday!!

Yep, this past Saturday was my birthday!!  I turned the big-ole 29!  I have been sick (sore throat, stuffy nose etc) since my 18 mile run, so I was hoping I would feel better by Saturday.  Of course my mom and husband have been pushing me to go to the doctor, but stubborn me just doesn't want to go (even though I work in a hospital and my doctor's office is 2 floors down from where my office is...crazy I know!!)
Anyways, Saturday morning I was scheduled to run a 10 mile run with Beck and Kris.  We were going to meet at 6am to get it in, before the birthday celebration began!
I woke up at 4:45am on Saturday morning and looked at the weather channel...90% chance of rain between 6-8am.  I just didn't know what to do...Did I chance running outside, in the rain with the chance of getting sicker, or do I suck it up and run my 10 miles on the treadmill...Well, I opted for the treadmill!
So, I laid back down in bed until 6:15am (the gym doesn't open until 7am on Saturdays, and I did not want to run on my treadmill in the boring basement)  So, I got up at 6:15, got dressed, ate my whole wheat bagel thin with a little butter and some peanut butter, drank my cup of coffee and some water, and headed to the gym.
Got there right at 7am, and got my two bottles of water, my GU and some fueling jelly beans, and hopped on the treadmill in the media room at Gold's Gym. (If anyone isn't familiar with the media run at Gold's, it is basically a movie theater with treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes in it.  They play different movies throughout the week, and is a great place to go if your worried about people watching you, or if you just need the distraction of a movie to get you through your workout)  So, I hopped on the treadmill and did a warm up walk.  "Liar, Liar" was playing on the screen, so I got to see the very end of it when Jim Carrey is fighting his case, while not being able to lie.
I then began my 10 mile run.  I decided to run 4 miles, and then walk for a few while I did a GU, and then run for another 4 miles, and walk to fuel, and then finish up with only 2 miles to go.
The first 4 miles were OK...I was feeling a little yucky (with the sore throat), but pushed through it.  They did go by really slow.  I was the only one in the media room, so I just watched the movie.
The next 3.5 miles were better (the reason it was 3.5, is that the treadmill shut down on me, and I had to restart it and finish up the last 2.5 miles) 
The last 2.5 miles were really good!  I felt great, was excited that my run was almost over, and that I had my b-day to celebrate that day!  At this point, I had watched all of "Liar, liar", plus the beginning again...a few other people had joined me as well.
I can tell you...anytime I run inside on a treadmill, I sweat like crazy!  I was drenched when I was done.  My shirt was completely soaking, and my hat was all a darker red than it had started out at.  I did feel amazing though!
The rest of the day was spent with family and friends.  We went to a winery...had way to much wine...danced my butt off, and then headed to a piano bar that night where I was on stage...not once, not twice, but 3 times!!!  So fun!
Needless to say, yesterday was spent at home resting and spending time with my little one!

I can tell you this...It was awesome getting my run done Saturday morning..made the rest of the weekend that much sweeter!!!

Here are some pics from the birthday fun!

XOXO,
Stephanie

Runalicious Baby...Plus Your Winner!

First off, I want to thank everyone for such awesome support and encouragement on my 18 mile run!  Yes, it was a good one, but I know there will be more runs that aren't as good, and I will keep your nice comments in the back of my mind when I have to push through those tough runs!
Also, one person mentioned that they are new to training, and was going to use some of my tips in their training.  How cool is that!!!  Thank you to all who follow...It is awesome to have sooo many bloggy friends!!

Now, I was recently introduced to a new company...with T.H.E coolest name...Runalicious
I just had to check them out HERE.  They have a line of women's apparel that is "casual, stylish and yes, a bit flaunting!" 
Here is what Nicole and Marcia have to say about how Runalicious came about:
"Runalicious was born from two women who decided to start running together.  Mile after mile, minute after minute, hour after hour, you learn a lot about another person.  Where we were once just friends, we quickly became great friends, best friends, and each others support systems."
The goal at Runalicious is to help women and young girls show the world around them that they are  passionate and proud about running.
I can tell you, I checked out their site, and their items are really cute!  You have to check it out HERE!

Now, on to the winner of my "Picture Perfect Giveaway"....I want to thank Rachel for hosting such an awesome giveaway!  Whoever wins just has to blog about what they receive from Rachel when they get it.  I can't wait to see what Rachel creates for them!

So...on to the winner....I had 77 entries into the giveaway, and using Random.org, it chose.....

#26: Andrea @ Wife, Mother, Runner

Yea to Andrea...Please send me your email address to: stephanie_walter0409@hotmail.com  I will pass it on to Rachel so you can work with her on designing your frame.  To all of my other followers out there, please check out Rachel's designs HERE, and order something...for yourself, your running friend, as a housewarming gift, or for the holidays. 

I hope everyone has a great "running" day!
XOXO
Stephanie

18 Mile Success

Yes, my 18 mile run on Saturday was a HUGE success, plus a huge pick-me-up from the struggles I have been having!!
On Friday night my friend Becki, her husband Ryan and daughter Libby came and stayed with us.  Our husbands were going to tile our sunroom, plus for the first time, we were going to run in my neck of the woods!  I was super excited, and had picked out a 18 mile route that I couldn't wait to show them.
Me and Beck ate a good Mexican meal on Friday...a huge taco salad for me, and we drank tons and tons of water!
We went to bed around 10pm so that we could get a good nights sleep for our run the next morning.
I got up around 4:45am on Saturday, got ready and met Beck downstairs in the kitchen.  We both ate a banana and I had a whole wheat bagel thin with a little spray butter, and some peanut butter!  I also drank a cup of coffee, and some water.
Kris got to my house around 5:20am, and we all "suited up"...fuel belts filled with water and gatorade, GU, Garmin watch, Road ID and I-Pod.
When we stepped outside it was a crisp 55 degrees, and we were all freezin our little booties off, but after we got going, it warmed up!!!  We started out and decided to stop every 4 miles to walk, fuel and get a drink. 
Mile 1-4: Went really good and fast!  We talked, and I got to show them some of the local sites around me...where my son goes to daycare, where my son goes to the pediatrician etc. 
At mile 4 we stopped and walked for a short time...I decided to go back to my "roots" and try GU again. (I had used GU the whole time prior to marathon training, and since then have been trying a lot of different things...that I don't think were working)  I did a GU at mile 4, as did Beck, and Kris took a few swigs of her GU-tini!
Mile 5-9: The next 4 miles were a slight incline for part of the way, and lead us in to the next town.  At 6.5 we were running by a McDonald's, and Beck needed a potty break, so we all stopped.  I filled up my water bottle.
Then we headed back off and finished our 9 miles in great time.  We had about a 10:15 pace going...which we all felt good about.  At mile 9 I drank some water and did another GU.
The girls kept asking me how I felt, and I would tell them a quick..."good"....at mile 9, I said..."not to ginx myself, but I fell really good!"
We then turned around to run back....(I actually really enjoy out and backs.  The out makes me feel like that is the distance I need to complete...and the back makes me fell like that is the distance I need to get back to my house/car/etc.)
Mile 9-13: Again, a pretty good period...nothing much happened...Beck broke away from us a little, but not too far, and I held a good pace with Kris.  We again stopped to fuel at mile 13.  I drank some gaterade and water.
Mile 13-16: We decided to run 3 miles and fuel, and then only have 2 more miles to go before we were done.  The next 3 miles got a little tougher...my legs were getting tired, and then wind was blowing towards us, so it slowed me down a bit.  At mile 16 I was happy to walk and drink some water and I downed my last GU.  We then only had 2 miles to go....
Mile 16-18: When we started up again, they took off, and for some reason I couldn't get going, and they got ahead of me.  With the wind blowing at me, and my tired legs, I dropped down and was going around a 11:00 min/mile pace.  I just told myself that I didn't want to walk, that I could keep going, and it didn't matter that I was doing this alone...I could finish!!!
After about .5 mile I turned onto another road where the wind was blowing so hard, and I was able to pick up the pace.  I kept Beck and Kris in eye sight most of the time.
With only 1/2 a mile to go, I turned into my subdivision, and knew that I was going to finish this thing with great time!!!  I ran into my cul-de-sac with Beck and Kris cheering me on, and finished 18 miles in 3hrs 11min.  This was the same exact time I had run/walked my 16 miler in a couple of weeks ago.
I was super excited!!!  I had ran further than I had ever ran before, and had a great time (even with a few walking breaks)...Beck and Kris finished only 3 minutes ahead of me.


We stretched and talked about the run, and how it was a really good run for us all!  We all felt really good about it! 
I was super sore the rest of the day...and really worn out, but I was on a runner's high...I can tell you....I.NEEDED.THAT.RUN!  I hope that run will push me through my solo 20 miler in a couple of weeks, and through the finish line at Chicago!


Thank you for all of the encouraging words prior to my 18 mile run, and for all of my followers!  You help me out more than you will ever know!!!  (don't forget my giveaway HERE...It ends tomorrow!)


XOXO,
Stephanie

Happy 90210 Day!

Yes, you heard me right...Happy 9-02-10 Day!  I heard this on the radio this morning and was super excited!  I loved 90210 when I was younger (always wanted to be Kelly) and now I love the new updated 90210 on TV.  I think it is so cool that the date matches!!  I'm a dork...I know.

Anyways, last night I met my sister at the gym for Body Combat and had a GREAT workout!  This morning I got up at 4am to get in a 5 mile run, and just couldn't get movin.  My body was super tired!!!  I have worked out the last 3 days, and for some reason this 4th day (early in the morning) my body was telling me NO!  I ended up getting in close to 3 miles (run/walk combo) and I did some abs.  I sooo hope I can kick this 18 mile run's butt this weekend.  Super scared!

Hope you have a great 90210 day, and please don't forget to enter into my contest going on HERE!

XOXO,
Stephanie

Picture Perfect Giveaway!

Yes, another fun giveaway brought to us by The Peek-A-Bootique.  Rachel is the owner of this wonderful blog and company and is just sooo wonderful to work with!  She has great customer service, and is so detail-oriented on making sure she is making something that you will love!
She was nice enough to make me a beautiful 4x6 picture frame customized for my Chicago Marathon coming up in October.  Here is a picture of her work:

Let me tell you this...the picture does not do it justice!  The picture frame is gorgeous!  It is a HUGE frame with a 4x6 opening.  It has Chicago Marathon hand painted on it, along with 10-10-10.  And the best part is, Rachel sells 4x6 frames for only $18.

I can't wait to get a memorable picture from Chi-Town to put in it.  I am also thinking about having ones made up to give to my two friends who are running with me.  Wouldn't that be a fun gift!?!?

Rachel at The Peek-A-Bootique (she came up with the name, because she was called "Boo" for many years by family and friends) offers many hand painted, personalized gifts & decor.  You can check them out HERE.

Look at this super cute canvas and matching bow holder.

Or this wonderful teacher sign...perfect for back-to-school.

And here are a few other options I could just die for...sooo freakin cute!!!

And let me tell you, that most of these are made to match children's bedding to a tee!  You have to check out Rachel's blog HERE to see exactly how cute these items will go with the coordinating bedding!  How creative!

So, how does this pertain to you...well, Rachel has sooo generously offered to give one of my followers a FREE customized 4x6 picture frame.  You can have it made up for a specific race, or your blog name, or your kids names, or etc, etc, etc.  Rachel will work with you on making it one-of-a-kind just for little ole' YOU!

So, how do you enter...well, here are the rules:
1. Go to Rachel's blog HERE and become a follower. (1 entry)
2. Become a follower of my blog, or let me know you already are. (1 entry)
3. Let me know what you would want your frame to say if you won. (1 entry)
4. Become a fan of The Peek-A-Bootique HERE on facebook. (1 entry)
5. Post this giveaway on your blog, facebook, twitter etc, etc, etc. (1 entry for each)

So, enter away...This contest will run through next Wednesday September 8th.  I will announce the winner on Thursday!

XOXO,

Stephanie

I Won!!!

Just wanted to update everyone really quick...thanks for the great support on the etsy contest I entered.  I found out today....that I won!!!  Sooo fun!
Because I won, I get to recieve my 3 items!  I just can't wait!

I just wanted to let everyone out there, that possibly hesitates to enter a contest, thinking "It won't be me...I never win anything"  that you can and do win on blogs!  I know people that play the lottery every single day, and never win, or call and call and call into radio stations to try to win concert tickets etc, and never win, but I can tell you....if you enter into fellow bloggers giveaways, you have such a good chance of winning!!!
I just entered the etsy contest yesterday, with already over 120 entries, and I still won!!!  So, next time you see a fun giveaway, take a little bit of time, and enter...you just never know!!!

I can't wait to receive my items, and do a review on them....soon to come!

XOXO,
Stephanie