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5 Things Friday: Peachtree Road Race Edition

6/23/2017

We are just a little more than a week away from all the fun and festivities of Peachtree Road Race 2017! To celebrate one of my absolute favorite races of the year, I thought it would be fun to have a 5 Things Friday focused on my favorite parts of the Peachtree Road Race experience.

1. Expo Fun!

I love race expos, duh. The Peachtree Road Race expo is always a huge highlight of the race for me for sure. Between some sweet expo specials, samples of products, and great free photo ops, it is a runner's playground for sure. Remember, if you didn't pay to have your race packet mailed to you, you MUST attend the expo held at Georgia World Congress Center on July 2 or 3rd (or have someone pickup your packet on your behalf). Yours' truly will be volunteering at bib pickup on Sunday, July 2nd, so if you see me, be sure to come say hi!

2. It's America's Birthday! Let's Celebrate!

One of my most absolute favorite days of the year is July 4th! I love celebrating America and who doesn't love fireworks, time with family & friends, and just totally rocking your red, white, and blue!?! The 6.2 mile course of the Peachtree Road Race definitely has a lot of patriotism being shown along the way! From runners to volunteers to spectators, there is a lot of American pride being shown! Be on the look out for some epic patriotic costumes and outfits as well as those waving Old Glory along the way.

3. The Absolute BEST Course Support

High-fives along the way are the best, aren't they!?! As you make your way down the 6.2 mile course, you will be greeted by THOUSANDS of spectators and awesome volunteers along the way. From local business and organizations to friends and family, there is no shortage of cheers, signs, cowbells, and more. Even in the monsoon of 2015, the course support was still absolutely amazing! The Peachtree Road Race is an Atlanta tradition that people want to be a part of regardless if they are lacing up their running shoes or not on July 4th.

My absolute favorite cheer location though is at Shepherd Center. As you come up to "Cardiac Hill" at mile 3.5ish, stay to the right for some of the absolute best motivation, smiles, and high-fives you could ask for - the patients, staff, and family from Shepherd Center line the course and are sure to get you motivated like never before!

4. Celebrating With Friends In Piedmont Park
After rocking 6.2 miles, what could be better than celebrating with your friends and family!?! Gather in Piedmont Park and meet up with fellow runners or spectators for a little bit of relaxing and celebrating! With 60,000+ runners plus spectators and volunteers, it can be challenging to meet-up, make sure to find a designated meeting place prior to race morning.

There are so many different vendors with food and drinks to help refuel afterwards that the options seem to be endless. Be sure to stop by the Publix table and get one of the best sought after post-Peachtree Road Race treats - a fresh Georgia peach! While the food is awesome, my favorite is the Coca-Cola set up that has bins full of just about any Coca-Cola soft drink and PowerAde that you could possibly want. Nothing beats the taste of an ice-cold drink after 6.2 miles on July 4th!

5. The Coveted Peachtree Road Race T-Shirt

One of my absolute favorite things about the Peachtree Road Race each year is the coveted t-shirt. I know, I know, what's the big deal about a shirt? Well, the Peachtree Road Race t-shirt is kept a secret until the first finishers cross the finish line which makes it a fun surprise. Granted, runners from the earlier corrals are typically showing off their new shirts just about the time I get to mile 5, but still, the anticipation of which shirt won the vote is fun along the way. Plus, the shirt is truly a finisher t-shirt. 60,000ish runners will be donning their hard-earned race shirt to 4th of July festivities that afternoon - will you be one of them?

Question of the Day: What is your favorite part of the Peachtree Road Race?

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Hotlanta Half Marathon - June 11, 2017

6/21/2017

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Disclaimer: As a 2017 Hotlanta Half Marathon Ambassador, I received complimentary entry to the race as well as various goodies from race and sponsors. All thoughts are strictly my own.

After completing the Braves Country 5K and getting refueled a bit, I headed over to pick up our race bibs for tomorrow's race. Yep, another back to back race weekend. Next we are lacing up for Hotlanta Half Marathon. After volunteering at packet pickup for a few hours, I headed home to get off my feet a bit, carb up, and get so rest for 13.1 miles through Atlanta in the morning.

This is the 4th year of the Hotlanta Half Marathon. The first two years, the race has been held in mid-August, but last year it moved up to June. Half marathons are pretty rare, actually very rare, in the area during the summer months due to extreme heat. Hotlanta Half Marathon puts runners to the true test of summer heat in Atlanta - hence the name Hotlanta. With some good summer training, proper hydration, and listening to your body, it is a doable challenge for sure.

Once we arrived to the race site, we quickly met up with some friends. Runners had their choice of indoor restrooms at Pemberton Place or porto-potties at the start line. The line was a little long for the restrooms, so we opted for the much shorter porto line instead.

...but first, PUPPIES! One of the race's charity partners, Refuge Rescue, was on hand before the race and they brought some friends along with them.

Before the race started, Chick-Fil-A was on hand with the cow crew. Of course we couldn't pass up a photo opp and I just had to adopt a cow of my own to go along with us today. Chester was about to embark on a 13.1 mile tour of Atlanta. ;-)

The 1500-ish runners headed over to the start line a bit before 7am to get ready to go. Just as last year, I was running today with my friend Chris. I always have fun running with him (he might feel different about running with me...lol) and our goal today was simply finish and have fun.

Even though there were five corrals, the race had a rolling start. The course was the same as 2015 and 2016 with the start/finish at Pemberton Place. The crowds really thinned out pretty quickly which is always nice. You still had people around you, but you weren't elbowing people.

The first part of the 13.1 mile trek through atlanta was up Centennial Olympic Drive past the SkyWheel, CNN, Georgia Dome, and the new Mercedes Benz Stadium which is almost complete!

Next, you headed towards the capitol building where you passed your first water stations. We had a minimum of at least a water station every other mile. While most runners were carrying fluids, it was nice to have extra fluids along the way if needed.

From here we headed towards Turner Field and did a loop around the area. Miles 3-4 included points of interest including Turner Field, the 1996 Olympic Rings and Georgia State University campus. It is funny that even in your own city how excited you get to see different landmarks as if you were a tourist. Atlanta is a pretty cool city if I may say so, and it totally has its fair share of points of interest.

Mile 5 takes you through some residential areas in Atlanta...some fairly hilly residential areas of Atlanta. Around mile 6 we hit the Atlanta Beltline. If you aren't familiar with the area, the Beltline is a really cool part of town. There are some really awesome and funky shops, restaurants, residences and businesses along the way

We kept making our way through the Beltline. Since Chris and I were both starting to feel the heat, we started to slow down a bit at this point. We took advantage of some of the scenery along the course and just really started to have fun with it. Around mile 7ish we were greeted by one of the most welcomed aid stations of the morning - ice towels! Yes, please and thank you.

After the Atlanta Beltline, we heading towards Piedmont Park. You take about a one mile loop through Piedmont Park, and this went a lot better than when it was flooded during the Hotlanta 2015 monsoon. Chris and I were both feeling pretty good at this point. It was warm, but we were still going pretty good (a bit slower, but good)

Chris and I made a new friend while making our way through Piedmont Park. Friends, meet Michael. This 78 year old ROCKSTAR is an inspiration beyond what I can express. I will just leave you with the fact that he ran 15 marathons last year alone! 15 marathons! Mr. Michael was a joy to spend a few miles with and Chris and I really enjoyed getting to hear some of his words of wisdom and stories.

After making our way up a pretty tough hill exiting Piedmont Park, we were greeted by even more amazing support by RunningNerds, a fabulous group of fellow runners. Thank you so much to this group of supporters for your amazing cheers and ice cold rags to cool us off - we were really in need of these.

Next we made our way towards Georgia Tech then headed back to the finish line for the final two-ish miles.

I could not imagine what today would have been like without the awesome course support along the way from race-designated water stations to running groups such as Run Fam coming out with extra support for us (and even more ice towels). Runners know that summer running can be tough and that is what we choose to sign up for with summer races, but the support of others makes it a lot better to manage. There is no controlling the weather, but when the race director and local community doing extra to make things better for you, it means the world to us.

Credit: True Speed Photo

We finished! Most importantly, we finished safely and had fun. Ok, there might have been times that Chris was ready to wring my neck along the way for too much energy (especially with all of my Chester the Cow pictures), but I am pretty sure both of us are happy that we ended up running this together. It is pretty awesome to run with friends sometimes especially in less than ideal weather conditions because you can help each other along the way as needed.

There were 6 of us in our running group that were crazy enough to tackle 16.2 miles of heat, hills, and humidity this weekend by completing the Braves Country 5K on Saturday and Hotlanta Half Marathon on Sunday. The weekend was deemed the unofficial "Choplanta Challenge" and to celebrate our accomplishments, Danielle and Chris made us additional bling. Check out our commemorative (unofficial) Choplanta Challenge medals!

A little later, Momma K crossed the finish line and we went out for a well deserved lunch. We were in such a hurry to get to food, that we skipped over having a finisher photo taken together at the race, so this will have to do.

Yes, it was hot. That is what I signed up for (even though it was a bit hotter than normal). I absolutely love this race for many reasons - the support, the course (hilly, but beautiful), and let's not forget the awesome bling!

Thank you again to everyone involved in today's race. The measures taken to help ensure runner safety were awesome and very well thought through. From the race director, to volunteers and supporters, to fellow runners, I thank you each for making today possible and enjoyable. See ya in 2018 for year 5 of the Hotlanta Half Marathon

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VibraCool Product Review

6/20/2017

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary VibraCool to try out and review and no other compensation was provided. All thoughts are my own and based on my experience with the product. I am NOT a medical professional by any means - please ALWAYS consult a physician for diagnosis/treatment of injuries.

Over the past few years of running, I have had my fair share of aches and pains (along with a few injuries). As with any sport, runners deal with their fair share of aches and injuries with each of us requiring or preferring different methods of treatment. I personally do not like taking medications for pain - medications have their purposes but for pain I would rather treat the source than mask it.

With all of that said, I was pretty excited when I first heard about VibraCool this Spring, I knew instantly that this was something that I wanted to check out. As someone who has a touch of planter fasciitis symptoms and knee issues, VibraCool sounded like a great tool to help with those aches and pains resulting from running and training.

What Is VibraCool?

VibraCool® is FDA cleared for temporary relief of aches and injuries on contact and is clinically proven effective. We combine two physiologic methods, high frequency vibration and ice, to relieve pain. VibraCool technology pairs a concave, palm sized unit with specially designed ice packs that attach securely to the back. Place VibraCool directly where it hurts, adding effectiveness to medical or sports training icing and relieving joint pain, general aches and injuries.

Research shows that high frequency vibration can help healing, and putting cold on pain is as old as ice itself. The innovative combination is curved to fit on running injuries or carpal tunnel pain, and can be secured with a Velcro strap (included) around aching knees, elbows, ankles or wrists.

(SOURCE: VibraCool)

I have a well stocked freezer of ice packs - you name the size and type, I have it. I also have one of those machines you see at running and health expos that vibrates/pulsates on your muscles, you know the one I am talking about. Well, VibraCool combines the best of both worlds giving me both cold therapy along with vibration massage. The cold from the VibraCool helps with pain, inflammation, blood flow and muscle stiffness which the vibration promoted blood flow for removing lactic acid, cytokines, and injured tissue while increasing the cold therapy benefits of reducing pain and helping stiff muscles.

What comes with VibraCool®?

VibraCool® vibration unit
Velcro™ strap
Two blue gel freeze packs
Two AAA batteries (replaceable)
Instruction booklet

The blue gel freeze packs are reusable and guaranteed for 100 uses (some people report them lasting for years). The soft, lined white side is less cold while the blue side is colder. The freeze pack slides under the vibration unit with an elastic strap (if using without the strap unit) or placed directly between the skin and the VibraCool® unit if using the strap.

Uses for VibraCool®

The number of applications that you can use VibraCool for are probably countless. No matter if you are an athlete with areas that need treated after your training session or from an injury or if you need to give a loved one a little TLC from an random injury or general aches, there is an application for VibraCool to help those issues.

VibraCool® combines both massaging and ice therapy and is great for a variety of applications from aches to injuries to athletic training. How exactly does it work? "VibraCool™ overwhelms the pain nerves with neutral sensations of cold and vibration, with a strap that keeps the unit in place even with activity" (source: VibraCool).

Despite the countless applications, there are a few areas of treatment that VibraCool really prides itself on being able to assist with. Here are the top five uses for your VibraCool along with some tips from VibraCool to get the most benefit from your treatment.

Physical Therapy
The anti-inflammatory effects of ice and high frequency low amplitude vibration work together to relieve pain and keep muscles moving. Simply attach VibraCool® with the hands free strap (included) to the extremity. Use vibration alone for 10 minutes immediately prior to workouts to relieve delayed onset muscle soreness. Use ice and vibration together once to twice daily as prescribed by your physical therapist for decrease of pain, muscle recovery, or during therapy to reduce pain.

Injuries
Using cool to make an injury feel better is as old as ice itself. Instead of icing alone, add high frequency vibration to massage better blood flow near your injury. For overuse injuries, one study showed pain relief was improved more with 20 minute twice daily use compared to 10 minute increments. Each ice pack lasts 10 minutes when fully froze.

Arthritis
Overuse injuries and arthritis in joints are treated using the ice pack and vibration. Simply take the ice wings from the freezer, attach to the back of the VibraCool® unit, activate vibration and leave in place 10 - 20 minutes.

Training Recovery
Prior to exercise, wake up the muscles with high frequency vibration alone. After exercise, instead of just icing extremities, add vibration and ice together by using the VibraCool® unit.

Planter Fasciitis
Place the ice pack ON TOP of VibraCool® rather than through the attachment band, then activate as usual. One study found that twice a day use for 10-20 minutes decreased pain by half, increasing pain free days. Pain relief was proportional to duration of use. For additional relief, do stretching exercises of the calf and foot with VibraCool® in place.

(source: VibraCool)

If you have followed my adventures the past few weeks, you might already know that I have a pretty cranky knee with some tightness in my IT Band following a few races back in May. While I didn't have an "injury" per se, using my VibraCool helped with the symptoms that I was having. After coming home from the gym, I am able to strap the VibraCool to my knee as I relax a bit in the evening. Since you only wear the device for about 10 minutes, it is easy to work into my schedule. The velcro strap allows me to be mobile while using the VibraCool unit as well. This allowed me to not only to treat my knee, but I could move about the house or do some light exercises.

Running all the miles that I run, it is safe to say that my feet take a beating. While I have never formally been diagnosed with Planter Fasciitis, I have some symptoms in terms of aches in the foot and heel area. Applying the VibraCool to the bottom of my foot for about 10 minutes twice a day has helped soothe the pain that I have been experiencing recently in my foot. Even on days that I am not suffering from any pain or discomfort, I still enjoy using the VibraCool as it provides me with a nice cool mini massage in my foot. Yes it tickled slightly at first, but once I got used to it, it felt great using and I actually look forward to using it. Am I pain free? No, but the pain has decreased drastically since using VibraCool.

I am so glad that VibraCool came into my life a few months ago. After juggling between cold therapy and other at home massage techniques, it is awesome to have a product that combines the best of both worlds to my recovery and treatment routine. In an ideal world, I would never have any aches, pains, or injuries, but since that isn't realistic, I am pumped to have my VibraCool unit ready to go. VibraCool is great for non-running injuries/pain such as tennis elbow, calf strains, wrist soreness and more, so it will definitely be a staple in my house.

As I mentioned earlier, I am NOT a medical professional by any means. The above information is based on information directly from VibraCool and my own personal experience using the VibraCool. I am not making any medical claims in the above post and I strictly shared my own results in my opinion and not with a medical diagnosis. Please ALWAYS consult a physician for diagnosis/treatment of injuries.

VibraCool GIVEAWAY!

I have shared all of the great things that I enjoyed about my VibraCool, now I want to hook up one lucky reader with a VibraCool unit of their own thanks to the team at VibraCool! Enter via the below Rafflecopter between now and June 25, 2017 at 9pm EST for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries will be accepted until 9pm EST on Sunday, June 25, 2017. Winner will be selected on the morning of Monday, June 26th, 2017 via Rafflecopter and will be contacted via the email address associated with their Rafflecopter account . The winner will have 24 hours to claim the prize or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected. Prize packs will be mailed directly by VibraCool pending confirmation of winning.

Sorry, this giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.

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Braves Country 5K - June 10, 2017

6/19/2017

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This past weekend was the Braves Country 5K hosted by Atlanta Track Club. There is a 5K, 1 Mile, and a 50 meter dash included in the morning's events. Momma K, Papa J, and I ran this race last year, and as with all Atlanta Track Club events, we had a great time, so we came back again in 2017. Momma K and I were running and Papa J came to cheer us on.

With SunTrust Park becoming the new home of the Atlanta Braves a few months ago, the race location move from Turner Field this year. This is pretty much a whole new location for me. I have not attended a game at the new stadium nor I have really explored the area much (except for a few miles of a half marathon a few years ago). While I know exactly where the stadium is, I was not exactly sure on how parking or traffic would be, so we got there pretty early....like 90 minutes before the race early.

Since we got to the race site crazy early, we had plenty of time to head over to bib & shirt pickup, meet up with friends, and head to the restrooms (yay for indoor restrooms in the stadium!) before race time.

We headed over to the corrals shortly before the race started. The race started at 7:30am with corral A followed by corrals B, C, and D with about 2-3 minutes between each wave. Thanks to the volunteers, Atlanta Track Club staff, fellow runners, and an awesome DJ, the energy was pumpin' as we waited to start. I have missed my run squad so much! There were quite a number of us at the Braves Country 5K and a good number of us running Hotlanta Half Marathon tomorrow as well, so we were wanting to conserve some energy for tomorrow. We kind of broke up in little groups and took on the 5K together for a nice leisurely 5K. I ran with Chris, Danielle, and my friend's daughter Abigail.

OH MY HILLS! That is all I have to say about today's course. The first mile or so was pretty calm with a decent amount of gradual downhill. The other two miles though were a lot of uphill portions over and over with some being quite steep. I am glad today was about having fun with my run squad and not pushing myself, because I honestly don't know how much I could have pushed on those hills. I mean, Atlanta is quite hilly, but this was one of the hilliest 5K courses I have ran in the Atlanta area.

Oh, did I fail to mention where the finish line for the Braves Country 5K is??? Yep, inside of SunTrust Park on the warning track! You enter SunTrust Park around mile 3 before running in the outfield and crossing the finish line. How awesome is that!?!?!

Running the final .1 mile inside of the stadium is an absolute adrenaline rush. Even as a Pirates fan (sorry y'all), rushing on the field is just amazing to say the least! It is definitely different terrain running on the warning track versus pavement.

...and like THAT the first finish line of SunTrust Park has been crossed.

With Hotlanta Half Marathon coming up tomorrow morning, this was a great "warm up" for what we can expect tomorrow. After cooling off and catching my breath a bit, I headed up into the stands and waiting for friends to come through the finish area. I absolutely love getting to run into running friends after a race and today was no exception. Everyone was pretty giddy about finishing inside of the stadium but also trying to handle the heat & humidity of the morning.

Thank you again to both Atlanta Track Club and the Atlanta Braves for hosting a wonderful morning of fun. It was an honor to cross the first finish line of SunTrust Park. I can't wait to head to SunTrust Park again in 2018 for even more fun.

As a bonus with your race registration you also received a ticket to a Atlanta Braves game that evening which is a great perk for the runners (additional tickets could be purchased for family/friends). Game options included that evening's game (with pre-game festivities for runners/volunteers) or a choice of 2 future games.

Are you interested in joining in on the fun of future Atlanta Track Club events? There are a number of races happening in the upcoming weeks around metro-Atlanta including the Atlanta's Finest 5K on August 19.

Interested in becoming a member of the Atlanta Track Club? Learn more about member benefits and become a member here. You can also register to become a member at the Peachtree Road Race expo July 2nd and 3rd.

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Gone For a Run's Run With Me Virtual 5K

6/16/2017

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary entry to the Run With Me Virtual 5K from Gone For a Run as a member of their 2017 Virtual Race Team. As always, all thoughts are strictly my own.

Summer is in full force in Georgia (and probably a lot of the country)! Summer months tend to be slower months for runners because the heat can really take a toll on your body and it is just plain YUCKY out there in the heat and humidity.

Virtual races are a great way to go get your miles in with a fun little twist. Face it, you are more likely to get your miles in on a Saturday morning if you know there is some bling waiting for you when you are done, right? However, it might not be possible to go to a race every weekend - lack of babysitter, no races in the area, frigid winter, etc. Well, virtual races are perfect for your "race free" weekends! Even better is that virtual races allow you to run/walk your race however you want to - indoor or outdoors, trail or pavement, night or day, etc.

In the next few weeks, I will be earning some bling while getting our family miles in together with Gone For A Run's Run With Me Virtual 5K.

Want to get in on the fun? Here's the deets.

1. Register at Gone for a Run for the Run With Me Virtual 5K. Registration for this run is open and available for $34 which includes an ADORABLE race shirt, REAL race bib (no printing a bib) and medal that has a removable charm to share with your pup! Oh! How about that $34 includes shipping! That's right - $34 total - no additional fees or shipping.

2. Pick Your Swag. - I love some great race swag, but the themed swag for the Run With Me Virtual 5K is crazy adorable. Included in your registration, you get your choice of a women's cut or unisex cut shirt. At registration you have the opportunity to purchase additional swag such as magnets, hat, running leashes and more if you want a little extra swag arriving on your doorstep.

3. Run, Walk, Skip, Hop, or Whatever for 3.1 Miles! - It doesn't matter how you get it done, just get out there and get moving. Log 3.1 miles via road, treadmill, trail, or however you choose from June 22-26.

4. CELEBRATE! You earned your bling, so rock that medal. Seriously, how adorable is this medal! Measuring at 3.5" tall packed full of color and glitter, this medal is one to be proud of for sure!

5. Share Your Awesomeness - Once you are done, hop over to social media and share your accomplishment. Share your race, photos and/or recap on the Gone For A Run Facebook page at facebook.com/GoneForaRunVirtualRaceSeries. Don't forget to cheer on your fellow virtual runners as well!

Need even more reason to run? By taking part in the Run With Me Virtual 5K you will also be supporting an amazing charity. A portion of your entry will be donated to the Animal Help & Wellness Foundation which is a non-profit that focuses on rescuing abused dogs and dogs from the meat trade throughout Asia. Read more about their inspiring work at their website
www.animalhopeandwellness.org. (Source: Gone For A Run)

Ready to Register? Head over to Gone for A Run to register today!

Want to connect with Gone For A Run and other Run with Me 5K Runners?
Gone For A Run on Facebook
Gone For A Run on Twitter
Gone For A Run on Instagram

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River Run for Hope 5K - June 3, 2017

6/15/2017

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Last year I ran the River Run for Hope and loved the race, so of course when June rolled around I knew instantly where I would be this morning. Last year I ran the 10K, but this year I opted for the 5K instead. Thankfully I registered for the 5K because the few days leading up to the race (and even race morning), I had been battling a nasty cold. I knew that I could get through the 5K even if I had to walk it, then I could rest the remainder of the day.

This was my second year running the River Run for Hope. Momma K and I have ran several races that utilize a lot of the course as well. There aren't a lot of large parking lots near by, so the race gave various options of lots to use and what times each lot will reopen due to runners on course in your final race instructions. Knowing that parking close by is fairly limited, we arrived to the race pretty early which gave us plenty of time to get settled, pick up our shirts and bibs, and use the restroom before heading to the start.

River Run For Hope hosts both a 10K and 5K distance at the race. In order to help keep crowding down, they start the 10K first with the 5K starting 15 minutes later. The first 1.5ish miles are the same until the 5K hits the turn around to head back while the 10K keeps heading out. This allows for the 10K runners to get out past the turn around before the lead 5Kers catch up.

The course runs mostly either near or along the Chattahoochee River. Typically this makes for a very lovely backdrop on the run, but it was so crazy humid that there was a thick fog covering the river.

Race courses around the Chattahoochee River in Roswell tend to be some of the flattest courses around metro-Atlanta. The course features a few gentle rolling hills with only one "bigger" hill that you go up around mile 3 and coming right back down at the turn around (this hill is avoided in the 5K). There is also a stretch of about 1/2 mile of the 10K that is on a gravel road, but it isn't bad at all (and that is coming from a girl who doesn't do trails).

While a lot of runners in the South tend to focus more on cross training or even take summer months off due to the heat/humidity, I still go out and get it done. I take different precautions such slowing down my pace, wearing light clothing, extra hydration, etc.

Despite being under the weather and difficulty breathing most of the last mile due to congestion, I ended up just about 30 seconds off of my PR! WHAAAAA!?!?!

I waited for Momma K to finish and got to catch a few of my friends finishing the race as well including Anna who CRUSHED the 10K!

The post race area featured a few different local vendors, awards ceremony, and some snacks. Seriously race directors and vendors, if you want to win my heart (and probably those of many of the runners), I will give you two words - ICE POPS! After becoming a giant ball of sweat, there is nothing better than cooling off with a frozen treat at the finish line.

This was a great and well organized race for sure. The course offered a generous cutoff time for the 10K of 1:45 which allowed for 1:30 for the 5K, so it is a great race for those that are blazing fast or need a little extra time on the course than what some races allow. This course is one of my favorites around the area, so anytime I have the opportunity to run here, I definitely try to do so.

Question of the Day: How do you handle summer running? Do you take it indoors? Stick to cross training? Alter your running schedule?

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StrideBox June 2017

6/14/2017

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Disclaimer: A HUGE thanks to the team at StrideBox for allowing me to review their subscription box service. While I did receive a box to review, no other compensation was received. As always, I keep it real and all thoughts are strictly my own.

Fitness and health products can be very tricky at times to find out what works best for you. Rather than going and dropping serious cash on products that you quickly find out that you can't stomach or don't work well for you, StrideBox lets you try various products each month before you decide to purchase large quantity packages of new products.

While every product might not be the best fit for you, you can typically find a friend that might want to try it out instead. The best part about StrideBox is that it is just $15/month and you can cancel your subscription any time if you find that you aren't enjoying your box.

Each month when I receive my StrideBox, I am honestly like a kid on Christmas morning. I absolutely cannot wait to rip into my box and see what kind of goodies await me.

One of the cool features of StrideBox is that each box comes with a "Stride Guide" inside. This guide gives you a breakdown of the products as well as information such as when to use the products in your workout/run and the retail price. To be honest, I typically ignore the "Stride Guide" until I am done unload the box so I don't ruin the surprise.

It is time to dig into this month's StrideBox and check out the goods!

Endurance Tap Energy Gel Alternative

A lot of energy gels out there are packed full of crazy ingredients that you cannot pronounce and artificial sugars added into them. Endurance Tap energy gels are made with real food and just three ingredients: Canadian maple syrup, sea salt and ginger. That's it! If digestive issues come up for you with gels/fuel it might be because of hit your stomach like a brick on the run. Endurance Tap gels are easier on the stomach because of a thinner syrup consistency and the ginger which is is a digestive aid.

Unlike a lot of runners, I am not a gel girl by any means. There is something about the texture that gets me and I just can't do it, so I have to resort to alternative means of fuel on my long runs, so this is a sample that I will be passing along to a friend for them to try out.

Gorilly Goods Organic Snacks

I love a great snack, so I was excited to see Gorilly Goods in this month's StrideBox. Gorilly Goods arr Organic, Gluten Free, Raw and Vegan snacks made with ingredients such as bananas, nuts, sea salt, and raisins. I received the Trail pack in my StrideBox and cannot wait to try it out. The Trail is a blend of Organic Cashews, Organic Pecans, Organic Almonds, Organic Raisins, Organic Coconut, Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Goji Berries, Organic Pineapple, and Sea Salt. I am always looking for good and healthy on the go snacks, so this is something perfect to try out!

Kakookies Energy Cookie

Did someone say COOKIES!??! Kakookies Energy Cookies are a recovery snack, fuel before a workout, or on the go snack that are also a guiltless treat. Kakookies are made with simple Superfood Ingredients. They are also Vegan and Gluten-Friendly, however please know that they are made in a facility with shared equipment that use wheat, dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, and soy.

I get to try the dark chocolate cranberry from my StrideBox, however the other Kakookie flavors sound just as tasty including Almond Cranberry, Boundary Waters Blueberry, Cashew Blondie, and Dark Chocolate Cranberry.

Kramp Krusher Energy Gummies

I already mentioned that I am not a gel-lover. Instead, I fuel myself mid-run with chews or non-traditional sources such as gummy bears or hard candy. Kramp Krusher isn't your typical energy chew - rather than just provide energy Kramp Krusher solves energy depletion, electrolyte loss, & muscle cramping during your run. They are also fast absorbing for easier digestion (no belly issues). I love tangy and citrus flavors, so I am pretty pumped to try out the Salty Limon Kramp Krushers on my next training run.

Spring ElectoRide Drink

Spring ElectroRide is a 100% natural electrolyte and energy sports drink mix. Unlike a lot of other electrolyte mixes, ElectroRide is an all natural liquid mix to dissolve in approximately 16-18oz of water.

I have my favorite electrolyte replacement hydration, so I am not too inclined to really switch things up. Typically when I find electrolyte mixes in my StrideBox I pass them along to friends who might be interested in the product.

StrideBox Mesh Gear Stuff Sack

We often hear the saying about running being a free sport or how it is "cheaper than therapy" - well, those people have never seen how much STUFF I have in my running bag. From gadgets, charging cords, headphones, extra socks, and more, my bag is exploding with random stuff. I love organizational items, so I was pretty excited to see this Mesh Gear Stuff Sack in this month's StrideBox. This drawstring sack is perfect for keeping those gadgets all in one place or even putting my sweating post-run clothes into if I change clothes before running errands after my run.

One final thing included my StrideBox was a card with a recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup "Ice Cream" from Eat Spin Run Repeat and a interval workout from A Foodie Stays Fit. This was definitely a nice little bonus to check out.

As I mentioned earlier, not every sample is going to be something that directly fits your life and likes. However, I really like the concept behind subscription boxes because you can try new things that you might not have known about before. StrideBox does a great job providing various products for pre-run, during, and post-run needs. The products included are definitely geared towards runners and other athletes and are a great fit for you and your fitness goals.

Question of the Day: Have you ever tried a subscription box? What kind of products would you like to see in an upcoming StrideBox?

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Mizuno Wave Sky Review

6/12/2017

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Disclaimer: I was given the opportunity to review the Mizuno Wave Sky through a campaign with Fitfluential and Mizuno. I was provided with a complimentary pair of Mizuno Wave Sky to demo and was provided monetary compensation in exchange for my time. As always, I will keep it real and provide my honest feedback of the product.

One of the first words of advice that any new runner gets is the value of a good shoe. This same advice is valid no matter what your level of experience is. We each have our own particular shoe needs based on our gait (running form). I am mainly a neutral shoe runner which are designed for runners with a neutral footstrike (no pronation). I have been a fan of Mizuno for a few years and have loved watching the brand expand and develop over the years. I have ran in the Wave Catalyst at times where I have needed a little extra support but I have the most experience with the Wave Rider.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to check out the newest addition to the Mizuno family, the Wave Sky. The Wave Sky is a neutral shoe in the Mizuno lineup and prides itself on being a premium neutral shoe with an extra plush and smooth ride to the shoe. The Wave Sky is replacing the Wave Enigma which I haven't really had experience with except having them as casual shoes at one point, so I was excited to check out what the Wave Sky was all about.

Since I got the Wave Sky just when they were released, I hadn't seen them in person prior to them arriving on my doorstep. I quickly ripped into the box to check them out. My first reaction was WELL DONE Mizuno, well done. I know you can't judge a shoe base d on its appearance, but WOW! These were some sharp looking shoes. I don't like dull running shoes and love bright and colorful shoes on my feet. The design and colors were just up my alley!

Yes they look snazzy, but how do they feel and perform? When I slipped the Wave Sky on my feet my first the amount of cushion to them. I hate to sound cliche, but they seriously felt like little clouds under my feet. Over the years I have put on many running shoes, and I don't recall ever having this much cushion in a shoe. My beloved Wave Riders have some cushion to them (especially the Wave Rider 20s), but they are a more firmer feeling with cushion. If that makes sense.

With all that 'squish' under my feet, I was a little apprehensive how well my feet would feel supported in them. I love a great neutral shoe, so they aren't exactly designed to offer that extra support that a stability shoe would have to help with pronation.

I took the Wave Sk y out for a few test runs over the first week or so that I had them. I wore them to training at the gym which involved a HIIT workout incorporating some sprints during the workout and after. I also did some speedwork drills in them to get a good feel for the speed that I might get out of them.

I was highly impressed with the first few miles that I took my Wave Sky on. The cushion under my feet not only help keep my feet and legs feeling fresh, I almost felt like I had a little spring under my step in my stride. They weren't too heavy feeling (9.3 oz), had a good amount of support to them throughout the shoe (but not overly supportive), and had a nice amount of flexibility to them (not too stiff feeling).

After logging some training miles in the Wave Sky, it was time to take them to the races. Since I didn't have any long runs on tap, I got to run a few 5Ks in the Wave Sky. They weren't only a great training shoe, they were great to race in. In their first outing I earned a 2nd place age group placement followed by a few of my fastest 5Ks ever. Yes, my overall training is a part of this, but this showed me that the Wave Sky isn't just a great training shoe, it is a great race day shoe for me.

As with any new running shoe that you are trying, I recommend getting fitted at a local running store or at least trying them on in person first. While I wear the same size running across the board despite brand or model, I found that the Wave Sky ran a little small than my other Mizunos. I received a size 8 in the Wave Sky which fit me, but felt just a little small. I don't know if I necessarily need to size up to 8.5 as they still felt good, but it is something to consider when purchasing.

To say that I am really enjoying the Mizuno Wave Sky is pretty obvious. I have adored my Wave Riders, but I feel like I have found something great in the Wave Sky. They are everything that I have loved about the Mizuno family over the years but with a little extra added to them.

Thank you again to Mizuno and FitFluential to have the opportunity to try out the latest and greatest (in my opinion) shoe in the Mizuno line. My summer and fall races are really going to be great with these under my feet along the way. To check out the Mizuno Wave Sky and learn more about them, head over to the product page here.

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My Top 5 Summer Races

6/9/2017

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There are so many awesome races heading my way this summer. Yes, they are hot, but man are they fun! In fact, some of my favorite races each year are in the summer. While they might not be my fastest races, they are absolutely some of the funnest. It is hard to narrow down my top 5, but in chronological order, here are the five summer races that I am crazy excited to run in the upcoming months.

Gettin' Hot In The Summer: Hotlanta Half Marathon (June 10)

Since summer can be a scorcher in Atlanta, half marathons are few and far between in the area. Well, Hotlanta Half Marathon offers runners wishing to battle the summer heat a great time and some pretty sweet bling in return for taking on the summer heat. This race is heading into its 4th year on June 11th and has been a favorite race of mine the past three years (despite the monsoon of 2015). The course takes you through various parts of Atlanta including Turner Field, the Atlanta Belt Line, Piedmont Park, and finishes at Centennial Olympic Park.

An Atlanta Tradition: Peachtree Road Race (July 4)

July 4th is one of my favorite days of the year! I love everything about the holiday - fireworks, friends & family, and just celebrating the United State of America and our freedom and those who protect us. What better way to kick off the holiday than with a 6.2 mile party with 60,000 of your closest friends (and thousands of awesome volunteers and spectators) at the world's largest 10K!?!

While the lottery for entry (and guaranteed entry for Atlanta Track Club members) was held in March, you can still get in on the fun by being a volunteer! Over 3,500 volunteers are needed in order to make race day a success, so be sure to check out volunteer opportunities today!

Returning to the Windy City: Rock 'n' Roll Chicago (July 15-16)

As a 2017 Rock 'n' Roll Series Global Tour Pass holder, my goal for the year is to earn my 2017 Roadie Heavy Medal for running 5 different Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon (or longer) this calendar year. I already hit up New Orleans earlier this year which was AMAZING. Now it is time to head back to the Windy City for another 16.2 mile tour of Chicago! I absolutely LOVED my first trip to Chicago last year and I didn't get to take in as much of the city as I wanted to, so I am heading back in July!

Running For A Great Cause: Heroes In Recovery 6K (July 22)

One of the most touching races of 2015 and 2016 for me was the Heroes in Recovery 6K. The race benefits Foundations Recovery Network which is a drug and alcohol treatment provider with four rehab centers in the U.S. The goal of the race and organization is to break the stigma associated with addiction, inspire others, and create awareness and support for those needing treatment. A lot of the race participants are those recovering from addiction and their family and friends. The amount of genuine support coming from not only the volunteers but fellow runners was simply amazing and one of the most impactful races that I have ran.

There are race locations in various cities across the country, so I highly encourage you to check this one out. Whether you or someone you know in recovery or didn't seek help in time, the things that this organization and community are doing is simply awesome.

22.4 Miles of Magic and Fun: Disneyland 1/2 Marathon (September 1-3)

In 2013 I took on my first Dumbo Double Dare Challenge (now called Disneyland Double Dare Challenge) at the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. Ever since then, this has become one of the absolute highlights of my summer each year. Once again, Momma K and I are heading out west over Labor Day weekend to take on the Disneyland 5K, 10K, and half marathon to complete our Coast to Coast challenge and my 5th Double Dare Challenge. From races, to bling, to rides, to friends, and of course that Disneyland food, this is certainly one magical weekend! I feel totally behind on my costume planning, but cannot be more excited for 22.4 magical miles! I mean, it is Disneyland after all!

Question of the Day: What races are you most looking forward to this summer?

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Eatsmart™ Precision Pro Digital Food Thermometer Review

6/8/2017

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Disclaimer: As a part of being a FitFluential Ambassador, I receive various opportunities to try and review fitness/running products. I received a complimentary EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Food Thermometer in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received for this review. All thoughts are strictly my own based on my experience.

Summer is in full swing which means fun in the sun and hopefully some great bar-b-que times ahead! One of our favorite family traditions in the summer is cooking out on the grill on Sunday evenings. There are so many great food choices to use your grill for from chicken to burgers to steaks to kabobs and more.

Bar-b-ques are fun (and tasty), but nothing can put a damper on a party or dinner like undercooked meat. I have to brag that Papa J is quite a griller, but you need to check the temps on your meat for various reasons including getting it cooked to perfection and also getting it cooked to a temperature that is safe and avoid food borne illness.

I was recently given the opportunity to try out the EatSmart Precision PRO Digital Food Thermometer and I knew that Papa J would LOVE the chance to help try it out at our recent grill session.

You can check out all of the details and specs of the Precision PRO Food Thermometer on the EatSmart website. There are a number of different features that stood out to me when I first checked out the Precision PRO Food Thermometer.

EatSmart InstaRead Technology: Measurements in 10 seconds or less!
Easy to read LCD display with illuminated blue backlight
Hold Feature: Lock in temperature for safe reading
Cover features built in meat temperature guide and the snap-off top can be used as an extended handle

Originally we were suppose to cookout for Memorial Day, but storms rained out our grilling. Then the following weekend was a battle of the summer-colds which had all of us under the weather, so we FINALLY able to grill out last night.

Thanks to the temperature guide on the cap, Papa J knew that the optimal temperature he was aiming for was 160, but due to how meat cooks internally a bit more after taking off of the grill by another 10 degrees, anything above 150 would be good for a medium-well steak.

When Papa J checked the internal temperature of the steaks, he simply inserted the Precision Pro Food Thermometer into the piece for a few seconds and the temperature read on the illuminated LCD screen.

With its "hold" feature, you are able to hold the reading on the display so you can remove it from the meat and read it if you are working with multiple pieces of meat or are at awkward angles that make it difficult to read. Another cool feature is that the sleeve is able to snap onto the top end to lengthen the thermometer if you need a little extra "reach".

After getting dinner to a safe and ideal temperature, it was time to take the steak off of the grill and head inside to see what we had. It was the faintest bit more cooked than medium-well, but I attribute that to fact that I made Papa J stand there for a minute or so after it was done while I snapped the pictures.

The Precision Pro Digital Food Thermometer was super simple to use. Most importantly, it was accurate to make grill nights even more successful for our family. There's no more guessing on when the meat on the grill is done - we can now safely and knowingly cook our dinners to the optimal internal temperature all summer long.

To learn more about EatSmart products including the Precision Pro Digital Food Thermometer, head over to their website www.eatsmartproducts.com. You can also check EatSmart on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatSmartProducts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EatSmartScales
Instagram: http://instagram.com/eatsmartproducts
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/eatsmartscale

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