May 29, 2015

Five Race Discounts | #FridayFive

Every once and a while we get a Friday to write anything we want. This week's Friday Five linkup topic is just that, a Free Friday. I decided I would use it to share with you. What am I going to share with you, well this week's topic is


Five Race Discounts

1. Runner's World Half & Festival (Oct 17 - 18)

I start first with a race I am running. Well, a race weekend where I'm #RUNALLTHERACES. I'm sure you've heard of a little thing called Runner's World? A well kept secret in the running community. Well, they hold their own race weekend every year, and if you want to run, you can save $5 off any of the distances (except for trail run). Just use the code BibRavePromo before July 14 and you can save. You can run the 5K, 10K, half marathon, or even run all three like me as part of the Runner's World Hat Trick. Want to bring the kids along? There's a race for them. How about your furry kid? They've got a 1-Mile Dog Run. Don't like the roads? Run their first Altra 3.8 Mile Trail Run. Oh yeah, don't forget all the amazing seminars, pasta dinner with the editors, and Bart Yasso

Go register.

2. Back on My Feet LA - Foothill 5K (July 18, 2015)

Let's jump across the coast for our next savings, the Back on My Feet LA Foothill 5K Challenge. This race has you tackle the San Gabriel foothills, on a course that promises the "spectacular 360 degree views of the San Gabriel Mountains". Sounds awesome to me. And know what else is awesome? Saving 15% with the code BIBRAVE.

Go sign up now.

3. Angel Fire Adventure (July 4, 2015)

How about something brand new? You can join in the inaugural Angel Fire Adventure races in Angel Fire New Mexico. They're offering a full marathon, half marathon and 5K. The pictures on their site look absolutely gorgeous, so it looks like you'll have a beautiful run. So be a trend setter, run the inaugural run, and save 20% with the code AFABIB20 right up until the day before the race.

Go get registered.

4. Terrapin 5K (July 2, 2015)

For my next choice, I'm sharing this race because the code gives you something different. It won't save you money on the race, but it will give you a chance at something more. At the Terrapin 5K in Chicago, if you use the code BibRaveShoes when registering, you will be entered into a drawing for a year of free shoes! Yes, that's right, win lots and lots of shoes. This Grateful Dead centric race is having its final running, so go have a good time on last time, and maybe walk away a big winner.

Go register now.

5. Honolulu Marathon

Last, let's go somewhere tropical. How about a get away to Hawaii? Use the excuse of "it's a race weekend" and go run the Honolulu Marathon. I don't think I really need to tell you why to run this one. I mean, it's in Hawaii, it's the fourth largest marathon in the US, and there is no time limit. Why not sign up and book that trip for a December get away to the beautiful island of Hawaii. You can save 20% off the race with either the code TOMPRO or KRISPRO, your choice.

Go get tan and sign up.

Can't do these?

None of these races fit your schedule or location? Check out my Discounts Page for more savings. All of the codes there currently came from BibRave. I try to keep it up to date as we get more discount codes from the BibRavePro program to share. And speaking of BibRavePro, if you'd like to become one, go check out the application now, and tell them I sent you.


Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, ;Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:









May 25, 2015

Happy Memorial Day | #MagicalMickey

Happy Memorial Day everybody. Memorial Day has always been an important holiday in my family. My dad served in the army and my family is very active with the local VFW. I grew up a lot in that building. Every year, Memorial Day meant playing taps at dawn at every cemetary in our community with a small prayer ceremony, the town parade and larger ceremony followed by a parade back to the VFW fro ice cream, pretzels, soda, and water for all. For that reason, I didn't write a post this week. I will however have the linkup for all those who did already write posts, so we can continue to share throughout the week.

Happy Memorial Day


What are you doing for Memorial Day?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline. Get the InLinkz code


May 22, 2015

Five Favorite Summer Produce | #FridayFive

I love this week's topic. One of my favorite things about spring time is getting lots of fresh produce at a realistic price. That is a price of living the in northeast and winter. This week's Friday Five linkup topic is all about those fruits and veggies. So, with that, this week's topic is


Five Favorite Summer Produce

1. Peppers

Every day (ok, almost) I take a large salad to work as part of my lunch. I enjoy it, most days. The problem I run into is if it's the same salad every day, or if it's too plain. I can only eat lettuce, cheese, and dressing so many times. Enter the peppers. One of my favorite things to add are peppers: red, yellow, orange, I love my sweet peppers. They add a little crisp crunch and great taste. I'll also throw them on sandwiches, grill them up, and just eat them as I cut them.

2. Corn on the Cob

One of my favorite summer time sides is easily corn on the cob. Sweet, bicolor, white, doesn't matter, I'll eat it all the same. I have to see I really do love some sweet corn. Just a little bit of butter and I'm good to go. Most times we just boil it up, but also great when you can put in the extra time and grill it in the husk. So tasty. We had it just the other night with turkey burgers, and the kiddo absolutely loved it. The left over corn quickly became hers.

3. Pineapple

I really enjoy many fruits. One I love in summer time is some fresh cut pineapple. Nice and juicy, sweet, hard to beat. Though, the one thing I need to still do is some day have real pineapple, fresh someplace tropical like Hawaii. I've been told it can't be beat... and I believe it.

4. Leeks

Leeks is a vegetable we use for one main dish, but it's a goodie. We make Rachael Ray's Leeky Chicken and Couscous fairly regularly while leeks are available. It's a tasty, filling, and healthy dish that also reheats well as leftovers. We usually double the recipe to give us a good bit of extra. I want to find more ways to use leeks, but just haven't really looked into more recipes yet. So If you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments.

5. Strawberries and blueberries

Last, I double up as strawberries and blueberries. I did this because, first, I love them both separately but often have them together. Second, I love them in the summer time, but they're one you can usually get the rest of the year here in VA at a good enough price when on sale. The most common way I use them is for a smoothie in the morning with a little greek yogurt, milk, and granola.

Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, ;Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:

Fairytales and Fitness

Run Jenny Run

Running with Perseverance






May 20, 2015

Mizuno Wave Rider 18 Review | BibRavePro

Disclaimer: I received a Mizuno Wave Rider 18 to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador, tell them I sent you), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I've been spending some quality time with my most recent product from the BibRavePro program. That quality time has come in the form of some quality miles. I got a fantastic product in the mail just in time for spring weather. You can see the unboxing video from when it arrived. Now, I share with you my experience with


Mizuno Wave Rider 18

To say I was really excited for some new shoes would be an understatement. I couldn't wait for them to arrive. I'm also excited to share my experience with you. I've also been trying to expand the type of content I create, so I put together this little teaser / intro for you.


Welcome back from the video. Now, let's take a look at the shoes.

How do they look?

I love the look of the shoe. I got the Turkish Sea-Silver model, which fades from blue in the front to yellow in the back. It's a great, bright model that stands out but isn't over the top (of course, I like over the top too). They also come with black laces with yellow trim. It was something little, but something I found I really liked.


How do they feel?

They felt great. They were so comfy, the first day I had them I wore the to work because I was too excited not to. They're pretty light-weight, some good cushioning but also nice and firm. They're a neutral shoe, and while I'm usually use something with more support, I still found thing very comfortable. The top, tongue and heel are a padded mesh material that breathes well but hugs the foot.


How did they run?

In short, they ran great. Again, I normally use a shoe with more support, so I kept it to shorter distances: 5K or less.  I wanted to give the shoes a good test but didn't want to risk messing with my pronation too much. I have to admit, they felt nice out on the street. My feet were never sore after runs, they kept cool, despite the raise in temperature we've had lately, and they were easy to keep running. I didn't feel any pain in my feet or knees, which is always the goal. In the end, they were a joy to run in.



The Takeaway

So what's the final takeaway? I loved these shoes. They looked great, the felt great, they ran great. What more do you want in a shoe? While I may not use they for long distances since they're neutral, you can be sure to see them get plenty of short hops in, as well as days out and about to show off my good looking trainers.

#BibChat

Another exciting part of the partnership with Mizuno? They're going to be the sponsor of this week's BibChat, with the topic "Every Mile Changes You". They'll even be giving away 3 pairs of Wave Rider 18s. Ask any questions you have here, then be sure to stop on by on Tuesday May 26th at 8:00pm CDT for #bibchat

But wait, there's more. If you're in the Chicago area, there will be a pre-bibchat fun run with Mizuno where you can have the opportunity to try out the shoes. The full details below.



#BibRavePro

Do you love #bibchat? Do you review races on BibRave.com? Want great perks like this? Then check out the application for becoming a BibRavePro. And when you're filling it out, tell them I sent you.


May 18, 2015

Star Wars Weekends | #MagicalMickey

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

Previously I've written about several of the special events at Walt Disney World: including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This weekend started another special event at Walt Disney, a very geeky weekend. I had the opportunity to attend this back in 2012, and look forward to attending again in the future. For this week, I'll be talking about...


Star Wars Weekends

Every year at Disney's Hollywood Studios you can get a chance to use the Force at Star Wars Weekends. The weekends are full of both the Light Side and the Dark Side. There's so much going on in the park. And the best part? It isn't just one weekend, it's every weekend between May 15 and June 14.


You start Star Wars Weekends by being greeted by Stormtroopers at the Gate. Up on top of the entrance into Hollywood Studios you'll find Imperial Stormtrooper on patrol, watching out for "Rebel Scum". They'll banter with each other and guests entering the park, letting you know Star Wars lies within. They're far from the only characters you'll see. You'll find Boba Fett on patrol, looking for his next bounty, Luke ready to use the force, and Darth Vader who won't like it if you fail him. There are countless characters that will make their appearance, but it is more than just characters you can meet. There are even opportunity to meet the stars from the movies as well as TV series. These will vary on weekends and times, but there are always options. You can check the individual weekends for schedules or see many familiar faces in the Legends of the Force: Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade.


Star Wars Weekends are about more than just meeting some characters and some stars. There are of course two very important categories: food and gear. There are many food offerings special to only Star Wars Weekends. They range from little, such as special Darth Vader chocolate mouse cupcakes, to larger experiences, such as Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast or Jedi Mickey's STAR WARS Dine at Hollywood & Vine.


I did mention gear, didn't I? Yes, I did. Sure, all year round you can get Star Wars merchandise at Tatooine Traders. But that is just a fraction of the gear available out there. Every year, Star Wars Weekends come with special shirts, pins, coins, light sabers... anything you'll need for your little (or big) Jedi. There are so many amazing collectables out there you can't get any other time. They even open a backstage area for Darth's Mall (I love that name). In the past you've been able to get things like your own Star Tours name badges or a 3D printed version of yourself trapped in carbonite. Where else can you find that?

Finally,  this year is featuring a new conclusion to the day's festivities: Symphony in the Stars. It is a new fireworks display, that looks to be "an epic conclusion with a finale celebration". It includes a frenzy of fireworks and Made with Magic effects, sure to a great end to a day of Star Wars.


All in all, the weekend is an amazing time. As I mentioned we took a trip, to go down at the same time as my sister-in-law's marching band, which lucked out to be Star Wars weekend. I really want to go back and take even more time to take it all in. There's so much to do, that I'll probably even write another follow up post or two on some more target activities.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Have you ever attended a Star Wars Weekend?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline. Get the InLinkz code


May 13, 2015

PLUS for Nuun

I wanted to share with you a new product. Recently, as a part of #TeamNuun, I got a chance to attend a Nuuniversity session on Nuun's newest PLUS for Nuun. It was a really informative session, so much so, that I felt the need to share the great information with you.


What is PLUS for Nuun?

PLUS for Nuun fuels you faster. It is a flavorless additive you can use to customize your flavored Nuun. It provides you with an unique blend of performance carbohydrates and electrolytes that hydrate the body quickly and delivers fast energy. It comes in the familiar self-dissolving effervescent tabs you're used to with Nuun. 

The Two C's

It also comes with two key C's: clean and control. PLUS is created from clean ingredients. The use the purist ingredients and pack it in their environmentally friendly container. It's gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO. 

Clean Ingredients + Clean Planet = Clean Athlete. 

Second, PLUS for Nuun gives you the control to add exactly how much YOU need, when YOU need it. You have complete control. It gives you modularity and precision. With the tablet, you add how much you need. Nuun put together a great chart, recommending how much intake you may need, based on your length of exercise per hour plus other carbohydrates you should consume. The important thing is they know you need a diversity of carbohydrates. They add a diversity of carbohydrates in their product as well as recommend additional carbs you should take in from other sources. This chart is direct from their site, and meant to be a starting point and adjusted for your personal needs.


Proven Faster

Nuun conducted a small scale, clinical study to test the performance for PLUS for Nuun. They found proven performance increase. They found an increase in both time to fatigue and in speed. They also found a decrease in max heart rate as well as a decreased rate of perceived effort. Lastly, they also found an increase fluid retention. I'd expect nothing less from my favorite hydration company.


Want to learn more?

Want to know more about PLUS for Nuun? You can go to the official product page on the Nuun website. There's a great opportunity to learn on Thursday May 14th at 4pm PDT (7pm EDT), where you can participate in #nuunchat on twitter with @nuunhydration to talk about long training and racing and to answer any questions about PLUS for Nuun. Can't make the chat? Then ask any questions you have right here. If I don't have an answer, I know the people who have them.

Now, with all honesty, I have not gotten my chance to try PLUS for Nuun yet (check out fellow #TeamNuun Lisa Runs for Cupcakes review), but I'm ready to. Are you ready to try PLUS for Nuun too? Then go order it now.


May 11, 2015

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin | #MagicalMickey

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

I decided I wanted to start sharing about some of my favorite attractions. That list is not exactly small, but lucky for me, we're here every week. Now, this is by no means an ordered list of favorite rides. It is an unordered list of rides I love, though ones I love more will of course be in the early groupings. For this first week, I'll be talking about...


Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

I'm starting with a ride I always enjoy. In fact, it's one we've been known to loop on more than one occasion in the late night extra hours or during the evening parade. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is a combination of a dark ride and shooting gallery using the Omnimover system. Each car features a control joystick and two laser pistols.



You play the role of a recruit to Star Command, thrown into the fray to combat the Evil Emperor Zurg. You need to help Buzz stop Zurg from stealing the crystallic fusion cells from the Little Green Men. You get a briefing from an Audio-Animatronic Buzz Lightyear figure in the queue area before you're on your way. This is actually a cool piece of tech, because the body is audio-animatronic but the face is a projection using computer animation.

The ride features several rooms with stationary and moving targets. You have the ability to turn your car side-to-side when taking aim. One key here to know is not all targets are created equal. In fact, some are worth much more points. Now, I'm not going to share those targets here, because, I just can't share my own advantage. You'll need these if you ever want to earn the ranking of Galactic Hero for maxing out the score. I also can verify that this is however possible, as I've managed it on one occasion.

Galactic Hero... that's right!

Are you a fan of the Space Ranger Spin?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline. Get the InLinkz code


May 7, 2015

Jeff Galloway Training and Motivation Tips #6 - Five Tips to Get Faster

I'm happy to let you know I already have another set of tips from Jeff Galloway, as part of the Jeff Galloway Blogger Program. I'm very excited to be a part of this program, to share (and learn) some motivation and training tips from a runner I hold in high regard. I'm happy to share with you the latest tips from Jeff, helping you get you energized and clear your mind to get the most out of day.


Five Tips to Get Faster

By Olympian Jeff Galloway

Longer Long Runs

Increasing the length of the longest long run has produced the greatest amount of improvement that I've seen among my coaching clients.  Several surveys have shown more than 13 minutes of time improvement when runners increase their longest long run from 20 miles to 26 miles before a marathon.  Comparable time improvements are experienced in 10K runners and half marathoners when they increase their long runs above race distance as noted in my YEAR ROUND PLAN book that covers all the distances.  Long runs must be at least 2 min/mi slower than current ability, with liberal walk breaks.  The slower the pace, the quicker the recovery.  I suggest doing the long runs every 2-3 weeks.

Speed Repetitions—increasing the number

My runners have improved by an average of over 6 minutes in a marathon (3+ minutes in a half marathon) by increasing the number of speed repetitions to 14 x 1 mile for the marathon, and 14 x 800 meter for the half marathon.  I recommend that each of these be run 30 sec/mi faster than goal pace.  The recovery interval is a 5 min walk between miles and a 3 minute walk between 800's.  These workouts prepare one to maintain or pick up pace at the end of the goal race, instead of slowing down.  See GALLOWAY TRAINING PROGRAMS & HALF MARATHON books for details (www.RunInjuryFree.com).

Improve Running Form

Most runners I've monitored have improved several minutes in a marathon by fine-tuning their running form.  As the mechanics become smoother and within one's limits, there is a significant reduction in aches, pains and injuries.  The two best ways to improve form are water running and cadence drills.

  • water running uses the same basic motion as when running on land, using a flotation device so that the feet don't touch the bottom of the pool.  When done for at least 15 minutes, once a week, the legs find a more efficient path through the water—eliminating extraneous motion.
  • The cadence drill is done for 30 seconds, counting the number of times the foot touches the ground.  This drill is detailed in most of my books.  I've found the key to improving speed on the mechanical side is quicker turnover.

Race in Shorter Events

Dropping down a standard distance or two can improve your mechanics for running faster and your ability to handle a higher level of oxygen debt.  On non-long-run weekends, during a half marathon program, try some 5K or 10K races.  When training for a marathon, race at the 10K or half marathon distance.  At first, the faster pace of the shorter distance may seem awkward.  But after several short races, you will adapt—especially if you do some speed training for the shorter/faster event.  These performance improvements can translate into faster times in the longer distances.  My book 5K/10K details the training and the racing strategies for these events.

Hill Training

The only way I've found to build strength for running is to run hill repeats.  On a moderate grade hill, start at a jog and pick up the turnover rate of the feet and legs as you go up the hill, shortening your stride.  Walk down the hill for recovery.  Don't sprint, and follow the other hill training guidelines in my books and at www.RunInjuryFree.com.  The strength from hill training will allow you to perform better in speed sessions which will help you improve in your goal race.  You'll also run faster on hilly courses, during your races.


Olympian Jeff Galloway has coached over a million runners to their goals through his clinics, wonderful retreats, training programs, books and e-coaching.  Sign up for his free newsletter at www.JeffGalloway.com.

How do you work on your speed?

Save NOW and register for the Jeff Galloway 13.1 and Barb's 5K.
Listen and share this great podcast "Jeff Galloway's Tips For Beginner Runners" with Mark Kennedy from Healthynomics!  From how Jeff got running to breathing while you run; it's all here!

May 4, 2015

Disney Parks Vacation Planning DVD | #MagicalMickey

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

This week's Magical Mickey post is something useful before a trip to Disney. It's also useful when just dreaming about one. It's can also be useful just because This week I'll be talking about...


Disney Parks Vacation Planing DVD

The vacation planning DVD is promotional DVD about the parks that you can order for free to send to your house. It's a great little DVD showing what the Disney resorts have to offer when it comes to the parks, rides, food, hotels, or even recreation. It will give you a run down of all of your options and even seasonal offerings at the park. The Walt Disney World DVD offers up information about how MagicBands work and the FastPass+ experience. It's a perfect little video before planning your trip.

It doesn't stop there. Sometimes, do you just want to see what the others have to offer? Order the DVD. You can get a free DVD from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, the Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club. Interested in seeing what the Disney cruises have to offer even knowing your feet won't be leaving dry land any time soon? Order your free DVD and learn all about Castaway Cay.

We have a large stack of old planning DVDs at home from over the years. They receive periodic updates, so don't be afraid to order an updated one as well. Or, as we may have done in the past, order one to see if  it has been updated. I have to say I'm a little disappointed the current one still doesn't have anything real about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Time for the update!

What else are they good for? Well I mentioned the just because. My daughter falls into that category. When you book a Disney trip, you automatically get one of these with your materials, so you can watch and get excited for your trip. While my daughter knows nothing about an upcoming trip, she does love "her Disney DVD". She constantly asks to watch it, so it's been confined to our bedroom DVD player, so she can only watch it on special situations where she ends up being allowed in our bed to watch something. She is slowly learning all about the parks. Upon mentioning Dumbo the other day she responded with "Yeah! That's in Storybook Circus!" Of course, she then started to tell me about all the books there are to read there, so we're getting there. She can explain to you about how magic bands work. She'll explain to you that "you put them up to the Mickey head an 'den they light up." She found her love early.

Get yours today!

Do you have a copy of the latest Disney Planning DVD? What are you waiting for?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline. Get the InLinkz code


May 1, 2015

Five Race Day Necessities | #FridayFive

I'm going to start you off with a quick math proof. Don't worry, it's Friday, so you won't need to break out the old graphing calculation.
Friday = Weekend.
Weekend + Spring = Racetime
∴ Friday = Racetime Q.E.D.
This week's Friday Five linkup topic is five things about race day. I decided to look at things you need for race day, i.m.h.o., and then offer what I use or a suggestion. So, with that, this week's topic is


Five Race Day Necessities

1. Fuel - Honey Stinger Waffle

Pre race fuel is very important. I've tired with s lot of different things, but haven't really found my "thing". I usually end up with some toast with peanut butter when I get up and then a Clif bar closer to race time. However, at the RnR DC expo, I tried something that is simple fantastic. Enter Honey Stinger Waffles. They taste great and pack a lot of goodness into a small, flat surface. Lately I've found myself always eating one those just before my run. I can also see myself using them as a long run mid-run snack. Something to break up all the GU at least. I bought some right after trying, but will soon be running low and needing more. Luckily, I have some friends who happen to also be Honey Stinger Hive Team members *cough* Smitha *cough* so hopefully they can hook me up with a discount code to get more.

2. Hydration - Nuun to Drink, Orange Mud to Carry

You need to be hydrated race. Simple fact. Not just when you are running but before as well. What to hydrate with, for me, is a no brainer, Nuun (check out the all new nuun.com). I mean, I'm always singing it's praises, I run for Team Nuun, I love the stuff. It's just a matter of choosing a flavor for that day. Next, you need somewhere to put the fantastic drink in. That's where it's more wishful thinking / planning. Orange Mud sells some fantastic hydration packs, including the HydraQuiver, the HydraQuiver Double Barrel, and the HydraQuiver Vest Pack 2. All look fantastic, which is why I plan to invest in one for my Runner's World Hat Trick training (join me and save $5 with the code BIBRAVEPROMO) as well as my eventual marathon and Dopey training. It's just a matter of the single or doubling down. If you're considering one like me, consider dropping by my friend Jeremy's site, he happens to be a Orange Mud Ambassador and may have a code for 10% off. Just sayin'.

3. Kit - Sport Kilt

You need to have the right gear to run in. One of my latest additions to my gear and outfit that I love is the Sport Kilt. I like to say "Real men run in kilts." Their website likes to say "A Man in a Kilt is a Man and a Half". Both work well. I have to be completely honest, they are SO comfortable to run in. Ladies, you're not left out either. Neither are the wee little ones. Kilts for the whole family! And yes, that's me wearing my kid and a kilt, post-race.

Since we're talking gear, probably the most important part out there are your shoes. So in case you missed it yesterday, I recently received some shoes from BibRave and Mizuno to try out and review as a part of the BibRave Pro ambassador program. Interested? Learn more.

Why not check out the unboxing preview of my shoes?

4. Mantra - "No Excuses"

Fourth on the list is not a physical item for the list, but something I feel you should really carry with you on runs. Mantras are a little phrase you say that helps you through your run. It can help focus your brain, help you visualize further down the run, or just distract your brain from the physical part of the run. I have several that I've made a part of my daily routine to review them in the morning, so when I'm on a run, they're second nature.  A mantra can be anything. Most of mine are to help focus me, such as "You are strong enough" and "You've trained for this. You've run this. You've got this". What are your mantras?

5. Post Race Beer - Anything Cold

The last race day necessity is for after the race is finished. You cross that line, maybe get your bling, hydrate a little, fuel a little, and then it's time for the reward. Nothing is as rewarding (to me) as a nice, cold, earned beer after finishing a race. A smorgasbord of delicious food a close second of course.

It's the end of the post, let's celebrate it too with a beer!

Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, ;Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:

HoHo Runs - Race Day P's

MCM Mama - Five Race Day Rituals

Mama Running for God - My Five Favorite Things about Race Day