Accountability is Key

The last couple of weeks all the FitApproach/Sweat Pink Ambassadors were talking Motivation and Goals and I even wrote a couple posts - one on the blog and one on FitApproach. To keep with that theme, we are now talking about strategies for being successful with those goals and how we are going to stay accountable to them. I'd like to talk about Accountability today...one of those three pieces of your girl-squad along with Motivation and Consistency (if you read the Motivation post it makes total sense...trust me. LOL).

The thing is Accountability is critical to your fitness and health success - especially if you have some big goals that you're trying to accomplish! Can you do it alone? Sure...but why go it alone if you don't have to? There's at least two times recently that accountability played a big part in my fitness. Both times were Saturday mornings that I had scheduled runs with others and both times I know without a doubt that I would have skipped those runs if I hadn't already promised others that I would be there. And then of course I can't discount the #1 accountability piece that I have built into my goals recently: Coach Tiffany. I know that I have to report back to her my results and it automatically makes me want to work just a little harder and not slack off as much as I typically do.

When you share your goals with others that have like-minded goals of their own, they lift you higher than you can lift yourself. And before you think that you have to tell every single person you know about your goals whether they support them or not, you don't. Accountability comes in many different ways:

BLOGGING: yup, I use this space to help keep me accountable. Knowing that I have put some hard and fast goals out there to any readers makes me want to work hard to not let those goals just fall by the wayside. Especially if I come back and provide updates on a regular basis...I certainly don't want to come back and here and be all "I suck". Yeahhhhhh, I really don't wanna do that. LOL

CHALLENGE GROUPS: there's pretty much a different challenge group for everyone's needs. I've been a member of Coach Jenny Hadfield's challenge group on Facebook for the past two years and that group is great for accountability! I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to slack off and I get on there and read all the posts from challengers talking about getting up and working out and it totally makes me want to too! Find a group, let them know your plans even if it is just the day, for the week or long-term - share your goals and then report back on how you're doing!

SOCIAL MEDIA: Will some people on your friends list get sick of hearing all about your workouts? Yes, possibly. But you know what - they can just keep scrolling on through and if they really want to they can even call it exercising if it makes them feel better about it. hahaha The reality is that you will also have a group of people that will cheer you on and keep you motivated towards your goals. And even if absolutely nobody says a thing - YOU KNOW that you said you were going to do x and you broadcast it to the world...so you know you need to do it, right? :-D

FRIENDS & FAMILY: If you have some friends and family that will back your plans, then by all means - include them in assisting you! I told you all a while back how I set up a plan with my husband to earn rewards for exercising. My sister and I, including my Mom for a large portion of time, have been workout accountability partners. We try to get together at least a couple times a week and have run several family workout challenges for points and rewards. And guess what, it WORKS. Because we are competing with each other, and encouraging each other, it makes it so much easier to keep going when we want to quit.

The reality is that when you feel like you have people "depending" on you, you work a little harder.

So find someone - whether it is in real-life or virtually, whether it is a single person or a whole group to share your goals with, your strategy for getting there, and then ask them to keep you accountable to those goals. Set up a PLAN for how often you will report in, how you will report in, and anything else that you need to ensure you will be checking in with your partner on a regular basis. And then be accountable to not just your person, but most of all, be accountable to YOURSELF. Stick with your goals, keep working your plan and you will find success!

Question: Who are you accountable to for your fitness and/or health goals?

#LoveBulu - Bulu Box Review...and Discount Code!

Click the picture to visit www.bulubox.com

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to review a Bulu Box via FitApproach as a Sweat Pink Ambassador*. Bulu Box is a subscription box service that delivers you 4 to 5 samples each month so you can try products out before buying full size versions. Plus you can earn rewards by reviewing the products you sample and earn points towards purchasing the products! Pretty cool, right?

*Even though I was provided a box free of charge, all opinions and thoughts are my own and I have not been compensated in any way for this post. I have been asked by FitApproach to provide an honest review of the Bulu Box and that is what is contained here.

Try Samples, Earn Points, Cash Out towards full-size purchases - it's THAT EASY!

Bulu has different types of products that are tailored to your goals - I received the Succeed at Weight Loss box. Each box includes a product card that discusses the samples that are included and provides purchasing costs if you choose to order the full sized product. Additionally, Bulu makes it really easy because they include all the products for purchase on their own site so you don't have to go searching the web for them! One-stop shopping - BOOM!

Fusion Jerky: Lemon Pepper Artisan Chicken Jerky..."offers a unique, high protein flavor experience made using real chicken and nothing artificial...is gluten-free, minimally processed and 99% fat free!" They also have beef, pork, and turkey varieties too!

What did I think of this? Oh my goodness this stuff was delicious!! I opened it and had a couple small pieces then shared with my kids and husband and we all really liked it. It was moist and so flavorful! I've seen some other chicken jerky out at the store that is basically all smushed into a little bar, so that it looks a little like a fat slim jim and I don't know...that just isn't appealing to me at all. Here, take a look at the actual jerky...

www.fusionjerky.com

Whole pieces of chicken covered in spices. Delicious!!! I made the mistake of setting the bag aside while I finished cooking dinner and I never saw it again. I finally started interrogating the family before my husband fessed up that he took it to work and promptly enjoyed every last little piece, including dumping the scraps at the bottom of the bag into his mouth. AND THEN he asked me to get him some more. So did we enjoy this? Hell yeah!! Would I buy it again? Hell yeah! Would I have purchased it without trying first? Probably not...so I'm really glad this sample was included. SUCCESS!

Simple Being Simple Website

Simple Being Simple Diet Supplement: "...features an effective 4-part blend of ingredients such as Green Coffee Bean, African Mango, Acai, and Resveratrol to promote fat burning, appetite suppression and boost metabolism."

What did I think? I will start by saying that I don't really know what a lot of the ingredients in these are or what they are for and I'm pretty much a skeptic when it comes to weight loss supplements. But I figured I could give them a try and see if I noticed any difference. I took one each day with lunch and it did seem to give me a little boost of energy and I didn't feel as wiped out by the afternoon. Would I buy them? Eh, the verdict is out on that one as I am not totally sold on the benefits. But I'm definitely glad I got to try something that I never would have bought all on my own.

RUNA Website

RUNA Tea: "Powered by Guayusa, a native Amazonian tree leaf, provides as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and twice the antioxidants of green tea." I had the Ginger-Citrus flavor in my box, but they do have a variety of flavors like Cinnamon Lemongrass, Traditional, and Mint. I really, really want to try that Cinnamon Lemongrass!!!

What did I think? I enjoyed the tea, it had an earthy flavor but was sweet enough to drink without added sugar. It is USDA Organic and all kinds of good stuff. I was a little worried that the ginger would be overpowering but it really wasn't. Would I have this again? Yeah, I would. I wouldn't say I was doing cartwheels over it (definitely did cartwheels over the Fusion Jerky though!) but if I came across it in the store I would buy it and I will definitely be actively looking to try the Cinnamon Lemongrass flavor if I can.

Movit Energy Gummies Website

Movit Energy Gummies: "...use power-boosting ingredients like guarantee, CoQ10, and folic acid to combat fatigue and help you perform your best!" I got the Citrus flavor pack and took them prior to doing some sprint intervals on the treadmill.

What did I think? I really liked the flavor of these and would totally use them again! I didn't have any stomach issues and it felt like it gave me a good boost of energy. It definitely got me through my workout without feeling like I was going to die...so I totally consider that a success! I typically use GU Chomps or Honey Stinger Energy Chews, so these are right along my alley of preferred energy sources for working out. They were a little chewier than the other two products, so I don't feel like I would like them as a mid-workout snack, but they were perfect for a pre- or post- snack.

Earth's Care Anti-Itch Cream Website

Earth's Care Anti-Itch Cream: "Relieve pain and itching associated with skin irritations such as poison ivy, sunburn, and minor cuts or scrapes...no artificial colors or fragrances and petroleum-free."

What did I think? Well, I didn't have any true cause to use this product in the last week or so, but I did rub a little on to the back of my hand so I could see how it felt. This is a nice, non-greasy lotion that has a natural smell of menthol and camphor without being overpowering. It went on nice and smooth and felt good. I would buy this and use it and would love to try it on a sunburn or bug bite. I guess it's pretty nice that I don't have either right now...but it sure would have been nice to see how it handled some itchy skin! haha

So, overall what did I think of Bulu Box? I really enjoyed the products, I enjoyed the ease of use on the Bulu Box website (and that I can buy any of the products I love right there in one place!) and I love getting samples of products that I wouldn't normally buy without trying first or knowing first-hand from word of mouth of someone I trust their opinion on. I can definitely say that I would buy and use at least several of the items included in my box, and it's pretty obvious that my family absolutely loved the jerky that we sampled! I am actually going to go ahead and do a 3-month subscription so I can get a better feel for the service and then decide if I want to continue it past 3-months.

You want to try the Bulu Box too? I totally recommend giving it a try and you can even get a discount on a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription! Just use code SWEATPINK for 50% off!! Time to #LoveBulu for yourself!

Question: Have you tried any subscription box services? What did you think?

TOTR: Over the Shoulder Boulder Holders

Welcome back for another edition of Tuesdays on the Run hosted by Erika, April, and Patty! Today's topic is Running Bras - those lovely things that support the girls.

As any female runner knows, support for the girls is important - whether you've got ample cleavage to tame or just a little bit, knowing that you can run free without worry of bouncing, rubbing, or other uncomfortable things happening makes it so much easier to enjoy the run!

There are pretty much a ton of different types and styles and brands and level of support when it comes to running bras. Believe me, I've been through quite a few myself! When I first started exercising I didn't need much so I was able to pick up a medium support Danskin from Walmart for about $10-12 which fit right into my budget at the time. Honestly, I had begun many a workout program that never stuck, so I really didn't want to drop a huge chunk of change on a wardrobe that may end up sitting unused. So the cheapie bra was perfect for me...THEN. 

But as I began running more and running longer distances, it quickly became apparent that the cheapie Danskin bra, even though I had transitioned to high impact, was not going to cut it. I ended up getting a lot of painful chafing under the girls and that was absolutely NO fun! It didn't take more than a couple times of that happening to realize it was time to make a change and that you get what you pay for. 

My first, what I consider to be a "REAL" bra was a Saucony Bounce Trouncer and it made me question my entire existence and why I had waited so gosh darn long to get a real honest to goodness sports bra made for running! It was like the heavens opened and the angels sang Hallelujah when I wore that bra!! Sure, it wasn't cheap by any means and the price tag proved it. But it was honestly worth every single penny to never have to worry about bounce or chafing. 

Not a great picture, but click the pic and it will take you to the website where you can look at it in better detail. At about $50 it's an investment for sure, but it is definitely great quality!

When I became an ambassador for Skirt Sports I purchased a Kelly bra and just like with the Bounce Trouncer I was amazed at how awesome the support and fit is without any rubbing or movement whatsoever. I would say that my Kelly bra is definitely comparable in quality with the Saucony, but maybe a little step up. So if the Saucony is a 4.5, the Skirt Sports Kelly bra is a 5. (and just look at that awesome Razz color...yes, please!!)

What I love the most about the Kelly bra is the front adjustable straps that are easy to get the perfect fit on thanks to the velcro, but still holds so securely I never worry if it is going to fail me. The other cool thing is how easy it is to convert from regular straps to criss-cross straps. The Bounce Trouncer has convertible straps too, but honestly it is so hard to do, I never change them and just leave the straps in the traditional U shape. The last really awesome thing about the Kelly bra is that you can purchase "bra bling"! Bra Bling is straps that come in cute, funky patterns that you can easily change on your bra to give you an entirely different look...very cool in my opinion and a girl always loves accessories! And these are for your BRA!?!? Um, hello - BRILLIANT!

So there you have my two favorite bras, and I only have two because who needs to keep looking when you've already found perfection?!? The Kelly comes in at a slightly higher price point at $65, but don't forget you can use SSPQL20 for 20% off! 

And since we are talking about boobies, let me just remind you that the Skirt Sports Virtual Boobie Run is right around the corner, but it's not too late to get registered! Just click the picture below and use the same discount code I just gave you right above for 20% off the registration which includes a $70 voucher to get your very own Skirt Sports bra! They have several different styles, but you could always get my favorite, The Kelly!

* Just a reminder, I am a Skirt Sports Ambassador and was provided the bra of my choice free of charge, but all opinions of that bra are my own and I have not been asked to include any Skirt Sports products in this post. I just happen to really, really love my Kelly bra! 

Question: What do you most look for in a sports/running bra? What's your max price point on a really great sports bra?

SunRype Giveaway Winner!

First off, before we get to the important part, I just want to thank everyone that took the time to enter the giveaway! I'm still fairly new to the giveaway game as this was only my second one EVER!!! And this was really my first one that I contacted my reps and asked for some items to bulk up the prize pack so I could, hopefully, make it worthwhile for my readers. So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support!!!

Second thing, if you didn't win but are interested in trying some SunRype, please email me at kmgrimes26@gmail.com with your shipping address and I will send you out some SunRype love with a few samples. See, so everybody's a winner! *wink*

And please take a moment to visit and Like/Follow SunRype on their social networks - they have a lot of really great contests and coupon offers all the time:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Finally, congratulations to my winner, Ruth C.! I've already contacted Ruth and will be sending out her prize pack this week. Way to go, Ruth - hopefully she enjoys every single flavor!

Let's Talk Goals...

I would say that it has been way too long since I have set actual goals. Sure, I may think to myself that I want to accomplish x, or it would be awesome if I could do y, but I don't actually do anything to make a PLAN to meet those goals. So all they ever are is a wish. And wishes can float away on a stiff breeze; believe me, I know this because all of my wishes float away as soon as the going gets tough. LOL So it's a good thing that our Sweat Pink/Fit Approach blog prompt for this period is "What are your current fitness and healthy living goals? What's your strategy for staying on track with achieving your goals?"

Honestly, if Sweat Pink hadn't prompted this, I wouldn't even be thinking about it. Sad, I know...but perhaps you're in the same boat and need a little kick in the rear to think about your current goals and strategies for staying on track just like I did!! If so, then I definitely encourage you to create a list of your own goals and SHARE IT, because remember how I talked earlier this week about tips for beating the dog days of summer and one of them was to create a plan and write it down and another was to keep your goals in sight? Yup - turns out I could use a little dose of taking my own advice! ;-) So, I for one, am thrilled with this prompt because it's making me really take a good look at my goals in a SMART way.

I talked last week about my racing plans for fall, but I didn't necessarily talk about my goals for fall or how I am going to achieve them. Keep in mind that when setting goals you should be using the SMART method to ensure it is more than a wish.

So let's look at some goals for a moment...

1. My absolute biggest fitness goal right now is to work my plan from Coach Tiffany: S: Do every workout to the best of my ability on that day. M: I'm reporting back to her via our training document, so I'm definitely measuring not just if it got done, but the quality of it as well. A: Through baseline testing Coach Tiffany knows what I'm capable of and is giving me workouts that should be attainable, yet challenging. R: Definitely relevant as I have a jam-packed racing schedule and want to show up at my January half marathon feeling totally prepared and confident. T: January 9 is the deadline, and with a weekly plan being given to me I have mini-goals to accomplish each week that are part of the bigger picture. This is definitely a really good goal for me right now!!

2. My biggest health goal right now is to lose some weight so I can go into my half marathon in January a little lighter: S: Lose 20 pounds by January 9. M: Definitely measurable since there is a number on it and not just "lose some weight". A: Attainable - yes, this is totally attainable. It is just about 20 weeks until my half marathon so if I go with a very conservative 1 pound loss a week, that takes me right to the deadline. R: Relevant yes, because it will help me meet #1 goal above. T: Again, totally time-bound because it has the built in deadline of January 9.

3. My biggest wellness goal right now is to get a solid routine in place so I am in a better place to handle life's little bumps and detours: S: This one is a little less specific, but I'm going to go with it anyways because it is something that needs to happen. We had a lot of changes around our house with kids in school and people in jobs, and babies on the way, so getting a routine is critical. M: I'm going to need to dive into this goal a little deeper and give myself specific steps toward achieving the larger goal; such as have all big items on the calendar by Sunday of each week; do my grocery shopping by 3:00 PM each Saturday, etc. A: Again, a little harder, but I think it is attainable. R: Definitely relevant as if I'm on a routine I am much more sane and if I'm not sane I'm going to really stumble on goals #1 and #2. T: Eh, this one is tougher, but if I set some mini-goals like I mentioned in M then it will become time bound. I am hopeful that by the beginning of September I will have a fairly solid working routine and then I can assess how it is working throughout September and make tweaks if needed. I'll be headed back to school in late October so it is absolutely CRITICAL that the routine is highly functioning when that happens so I don't just keel over and die.

Question: What's one of your current health, fitness or wellness goals? How are you going to ensure you stay on track to meeting it?

Hodgepodge, Potpourri, Call it What You Will...

I have such a variety of information I want to share with you guys so I'm just going to kinda do a little brain dump this morning.

Motivation...That Fickle Friend
I wrote a post for the FitApproach team the other day discussing motivation and how she can be such a fickle friend always disappearing when you need her most. But when you couple her with your "girl squad" of Consistency and Accountability that Motivation will want to hang around a lot more often. You can check it out in its entirety by clicking the link or picture above.

SunRype Prize Pack Giveaway
Don't forget that you still have time to enter the SunRype Prize Pack giveaway that is going through this Sunday, August 23rd! Lots of great 100% fruit snacks, a visor and a tote bag are up for grabs...don't miss out on your chance to #tastethesun!

Skirt Sports Virtual Boobie Run
Join Skirt Sports for a Virtual Run that is all about the "girls"! You can run it anytime really, but the actual date is September 12, 2015. You can choose to run 8k (just under 5 miles) or 8 miles - you choose the route, you get your girlfriends together, and you run for a great cause! Plus, with your registration you get a voucher for $70 to purchase a new bra so your girls are supported for every run and activity. And here's the really awesome part - you can use SSPQL20 for 20% off of the registration! Registration is normally $60, but with the discount it is only $48 AND you get the $70 voucher...so really, you are MAKING money by registering for this race!!! (And yes, I use that justification with my husband on a regular basis...LOL). Post your pics to social media using the hashtag #REALwomenmove and #skirtsports and share the love for the ta-ta's! Don't forget that when you use the #REALwomenmove hashtag you are also helping new runners get started through the Skirt Sports Kick Start program so that's like a HUGE bonus to using that hashtag. It's a win-win!!


Are there too many races?
I read the article (click the link to read) recently in the print version of Running Times and found it very interesting. It appears that more and more cities are starting to look at limiting the number of races that they issue permits for because they could potentially have a race every weekend or multiple races on a single weekend especially in areas that are considered "active" such as Denver Colorado. On the one hand I love that there are so many options available and that running is experiencing such a boom! On the other hand, I do understand the frustration of people living in these areas with streets getting shut down, or you have that other trend of races getting cancelled last minute because companies go under or because they didn't meet their registration quota.

Question: What do you think? Are there too many races in your opinion?

TOTR: My Running Heroes!

Welcome back for another edition of Tuesdays on the Run hosted by Erika, April, and Patty! Today's topic is Runners Who Inspire Me.

When thinking about runners that inspire me I can't help but think about elites like Kara Goucher, Shalane Flanagan, Lauren Fleshman and more. I also can't help but think about runners that may not be as well known to the average everyday person, but are well known in their field like Nicole DeBoom, Dimity McDowell and Sara Bowen Shea from Another Mother Runner, and more. And there are those that led the way so that women could participate in sports today like Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon that I wrote a post about earlier this year. I also think about all the great people I know through various groups such as my Skirt Sports sistahs, Coach Jenny Hadfield's Challenge Group, Sweat Pink Ambassadors, and more.

In other words, inspiring runners are in abundance and can be found just about anywhere I look!

But, I have to say that the runners that TRULY inspire me are the underdog runners. The ones that don't fit the "running mold". The ones that are 80 and still running. The ones that don't find running to be the easiest thing but keep going out there and pushing just a little bit harder.

I'm sure you've seen them at races. They are usually at the very back and sometimes they are crossing the finish line long after the majority of people have gone home.

Rick and Dick Hoyt

Jimmy Jenson that was the first runner with Down Syndrome to cross the finish line of the NYC Marathon in 2013.

The blind runners and their partners like Scotty Smiley and his race partner and brother-in-law, Andy Cooper.

These are the runners that amaze and inspire me! I can find inspiration in so many places, but I truly do root for the underdog! Running isn't easy for me and I'm not a natural athlete. But anytime I want to complain about my pace or my abilities or pull a woe is me moment, I don't have to look far to find someone that is not just fighting through their own lazy brain syndrome (like I am 90% of the time) but is fighting through insurmountable odds to accomplish a dream.

Why yes, my excuse is invalid. It most definitely is. But thankfully, the inspiration I get from all these amazing runners that are my running heroes, is usually enough to get past whatever invalid excuses I have!

Question: Who are your running (or other life) heroes? Who provides you with the inspiration you need to keep going through tough situations?

Don't forget to stop by any of the hosts pages to visit the other posts about inspirational runners!

Tips for Getting Back on Track to Beat the Dog Days of Summer

So did you know that the period of "dog days of summer" is early July to early September? Did you also know that it goes back to Roman times and refers to the sultry period of time that Sirius was rising in conjunction with the Sun? You see, Sirius is also known as "the Dog Star"...so there you go...Dog Days of Summer! Voila!

But I also happen to know that the dog days of summer are that period of time that it is just so freaking dang hot it is hard to find the motivation to do anything outside of either sitting in a nice cold pool, or finding an air conditioned spot! I also happen to know, and learned it best last year while training for my early September marathon, that it is the period of time that is hardest to train in! Because doing a training run at 5:30 in the morning on a Saturday and it is still 72 degrees before the sun is even up is just ridiculous. Right?? Or waiting until the sun goes down at 8:00 PM and going outside and it is still mid-80's is even more ridiculous!

So what happens a lot during the summer is we R E L A X instead of pushing hard on our training. Mother Nature dictates it. But, guess what? Fall racing season waits for no one...so it is extra critical that as the dog days of summer wane that a plan is in place to get right back on track and start working towards crushing those fall races! So here's my plan for putting the dog days of summer behind me and making this Autumn my best yet!

Don't Totally Slack Over the Summer
Sure, I have had to make tweaks and adjustments to work out over the summer, but because I haven't just sat around doing nothing it is going to be at least a little easier for me to really push during the early Autumn months. I hit the treadmill, I woke up at the butt crack of dawn even on Saturdays, I resisted the urge to eat ice cream for every meal. Over the summer is a fantastic time to work on some cross-training like swimming or cycling too! Granted, you won't be able to push as hard as you may normally push, but if you keeping moving in some fashion more often than not it is going to keep your fitness level up and allow you to jump right back into heavier training as it cools down.

Enlist Help
I have several different ways that I'm enlisting help. 1) I hired Coach Tiffany to be my running coach. 2) I registered for a late October half marathon with some co-workers. 3) I have my reward plan in place and am working hard to earn those bonuses! I know that with a little help I can get back to the level of intensity I was at before summer laziness settled in. Just this weekend a small group of us from work that are doing the half marathon got together to run a portion of the course. I took it easy and walked it since I had been working hard on the time trials/baseline testing for Coach Tiffany all week, but starting Monday I don't get to slack anymore as Coach Tiffany will be providing the plan! But I will honestly say that if I hadn't been meeting my co-workers for that run, I would have sat on the couch instead. Yuuuupppp, having that training run scheduled turned out to be a brilliant thing because I'm so glad I got up and moved!

Refresh Your Wardrobe
I don't know about you, but there is nothing that motivates me to want to work out more than having new workout clothes or running shoes! Just getting a package in the mail makes me want to put the item on and go run or workout RIGHT THEN! Luckily, most athletic companies are releasing new fall styles on clothes and shoes now - including my absolute favorite, Skirt Sports! (Disclaimer: I'm a Skirt Sports ambassador but all opinions are my own and I am not compensated for them.)

Make a Plan and Write It Down
I know this is a pretty basic tip, but you know what? It WORKS. I have always found it to be tried and true that when I take time to create a plan on a weekly basis, my success rate for executing that plan increases exponentially. It's real. It doesn't have to be fancy and you don't have to do anything more than writing a few words of your intentions for each day of the week in order for it to be beneficial to you. When you have a date with yourself, you tend to keep it. I like to spend at least a few minutes on Sunday of each week reviewing my plan in my Believe journal so I have fresh in my mind what I need to do each day and know what it's going to take to make it happen. A little bit of a longer run on Tuesday? I better make sure I get up the first time the alarm goes off and not hit snooze. Barre DVD on Wednesday? I need to make sure the DVD is on my desk and ready to go so I'm not searching for it while I'm half asleep and un-caffeinated. You get the idea...

Just a few of my favorite things! Minnesota Vikings pen, Believe journal, and Starbucks mug!

Keep Your Goals in Sight
Write your goal race on your calendar, put it in your phone, download a countdown app, use some highlighters or stickers or glitter - whatever it takes to keep that goal in front of you! I am using at least a couple of those - I have it on my calendar at home (the one that is posted to the fridge so the entire family knows what's happening and when) and I have a countdown app on my phone, and I have it in my Believe journal. The point is, keeping your goals in sight will remind you why you started, especially when it is hot, you're tired, and you have a bad case of the don't wannas.

So the takeaway is that just because we are in the dog days of summer it doesn't mean you can't start getting back on track NOW so you can totally CRUSH those fall goals! By enlisting help, keeping your goals in sight, making a plan, and keeping active to some degree, you will not only arrive to the start line, you'll arrive feeling confident in the work you put in while everybody else was still lounging in the pool! And if you're looking for the perfect fall wardrobe at Skirt Sports, don't forget to use SSPQL20 for 20% off! (That is also good for race registrations too, such as the Virtual Boobie Run that is taking place the weekend of September 11-13!)

Question: How do you beat the dog days of summer?

Taste the Sun - SunRype Prize Pack Giveaway!

It should be no surprise that I absolutely love SunRype fruit products! When I was selected in early 2014 to be a SunRype Ambassador through the Active Ambassadors program I was super stoked to share my love for the product and brand with others!

As it says on the SunRype website, their products are made with only fruit, and sometimes some veggies. But that is it. They are 100% fruit. Plain and simple. I love that I can eat them and have zero guilt about it. I also love that they are so portable. I can throw them in my purse, a bag, my hydration vest...you get the idea, I can throw them anywhere and have a fabulous snack anytime, anywhere. Looking over the FAQ page you can pretty much get any question you may have about their products answered. Such as: Do their products have preservatives. Answer: No! How about artificial flavors or colors? Nope. And what about animal-sourced products? That would also be no!

Great for taking on the Trail! 2 1/2 servings of fruits & veggies in that single bar!

And in case you're wondering if they can possibly taste good seeing how they are actually good for you - that would be a resounding YES!! These are seriously delicious! The FruitSource bars are thicker and a nice chewy texture without being overpowering. It's basically a bar of fruit that has been mashed together. And the 100% Fruit Strip is more like a typical fruit rollup. Perfect for the little ones or if you are looking for a lighter snack.

So now that I've sold you on this deliciousness, let's get down to the real deal!! You can find these at most local grocery stores in the produce section; not in the fruit snack aisle. You can also purchase them in bulk on Amazon. BUT here's your chance to WIN a SunRype prize pack!! Here's what you can win:

• 1 SunRype Tote Bag (this thing is AWESOME! It has two small internal pockets for cell phone or lipstick and a larger side pocket)
• 1 SunRype Visor by Headsweats (this is the kind with the nice wide elastic headband and a black under-visor to reduce glare - it's also machine washable!)
• 5 SunRype bars of each flavor (45 bars total!)
• 100% Fruit Strip Flavors: Strawberry Watermelon, Wildberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana*
• FruitSource Flavors: Strawberry, Blueberry Pomegranate, Mango Strawberry*, Mango Mangosteen

* Fruit & Veggie bars

Some fine print for this prize: The giveaway is sponsored by The Pursuit of a Quality Life with products that have been provided to me free of charge.  I am an Active Ambassador for SunRype and have not been provided compensation by either company to promote the brand; this giveaway is not affiliated with SunRype or Active Ambassadors in any way.  All opinions and thoughts are my own.

One winner will be randomly selected and notified via email. Winner will have 7 days to claim their prize and if unclaimed another winner will be selected and notified. Email addresses and personal information provided will not be shared in any way, shape, or form and is for contact and verification purposes only. The giveaway will run from August 13 to midnight on August 23. Winner will be selected and notified on Monday, August 24, 2015.

Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget and Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Liebster Award - Getting to Know Me...

I was nominated for a Liebster Award by Jen over at Thirty-Three and Counting and I will admit that even though I really enjoy blogging, I am pretty clueless about most blogging related things. I'm kind of stumbling around in the dark most of the time banging into dressers or knicking my shins on coffee tables when it comes to my time in the blog world. Most of the time I just feel like a total sham because I couldn't even tell you what SEO is or why I should care and I don't have posts titled "7 Reasons to ____ fill in the blank with whatever". But like I said above - I really enjoy it so I just keep stumblin' along. And every once in awhile, I learn something new. Like how I learned what a Liebster Award is and what it means when Jen "nominated" me!!

So since I was clueless, I was glad that Jen had some Liebster Award guidelines on her post. Here's what the rundown is:

1) This is an internet only award that is given to bloggers by other bloggers

2) It is pretty much a virtual chain letter, it should be passed on to other bloggers

3) It is typically given to new bloggers with less than 1,000 followers

4) There are variations of the rules, but it pretty much comes down to doing a Q&A about yourself and your blog and then nominate others and let them know that you have nominated them.

Well, I definitely qualify for #3 up there...no question about that one! hahaha But seriously, I'm just so thankful for you guys that take the time to read my ramblings - it is never unappreciated!! So here's your chance to learn a little more about me! Let's get to it, shall we?

How did you decide on the name of your blog?
I have talked a few times on this little old space about how I choose one little word each year to represent my intentions - kind of a full-year mantra. The second year I did this in 2011 I selected the word Quality so I decided at that time to incorporate it in my blog title, thus, The Pursuit of a Quality Life was born! I did change it later to Putt-Putt Runner in my attempt to focus my "brand" (which in itself is totally laughable, BTW), but ended up going back to my original title earlier this year because in reality - whether I'm running or going to school or hanging with the family, what I'm doing is pursuing that quality life. It still holds true today so that's my blog's name and that's what it will remain!

Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
The blogging community is really astounding, in my humble opinion. Where else can you read what the average, and sometimes the not so average, people think on a regular basis? I love that through blogging I can read that I'm not the only person that struggles with finding motivation, or wants to eat all the cake all the time, or that I'm not the only person that is trying to find quality in the mundane. There is inspiration everywhere and I'm just thrilled to have a place that I can do brain dumps on a regular basis.

What is it that you love most about blogging?
I really love having a creative outlet and I love that blogging gets me outside of my comfort zone. Because even though I love sharing with people live and in person, sharing in this outlet is definitely a push for me and makes me stretch my little wings.

What is your favorite food?
Oh goodness - there are so many!! I guess if there was one thing I would never want to go too long without it is cereal. I just love it.

What is your favorite thing to drink? (alcoholic or not)
Honestly, I know it is boring, but my favorite thing is water. BUT don't let that fool you because I'm a certified Java Junkie!! Granted, I try to limit my indulgence in it because I happen to like it with a good amount of creamer and could probably drink a good portion of my daily calories if I drank as much coffee as I wanted to. So it's usually only 2 cups a day, max.

What is an item you can’t live without?
There probably isn't any one thing that I couldn't live without, but I would definitely feel adrift without a few things like my treadmill, my Garmin, my phone and/or computer, books and music.

What are eleven random facts about yourself?
1. My twins were in show business from 1 month old to 2 years old when we decided to "retire" them from "acting".

2. I'm a total klutz.

3. I've been to New York once for an amazingly spontaneous trip with my husband that was inspired by his desire to have a "New York Dog" while watching an episode of Law & Order. We spent a weekend there and did the Empire State Building, a carriage ride through Central Park, a Broadway showing of Beauty & the Beast, the Statue of Liberty, a ride through Times Square, a New York slice of pizza, and a ride on the subway. All from Friday night at 8:00 PM to Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. It was a whirlwind that I will never forget!

4. I'm a huge Stephen King fan and have been ever since I read Pet Semetary when I was 11 while visiting my Dad for the summer. Maybe a tad early to begin reading ol' Uncle Stevie, but I turned out okay, right? RIGHT????

5. I've only been to three concerts in my life (yes, that is rather pathetic!) and they include The Monkees (not my choice, but I took my much younger sister-in-law for her 15th birthday since she LOVED them), and Depeche Mode twice.

6. I'm a huge Depeche Mode fan. Ever since I bought the Catching Up With... album while visiting my Dad for the summer during the break between 6th and 7th grade. I must have listened to that
cassette tape a bajillion times. The other cassette tape I bought that summer was Howard Jones and it got a lot of use, but nowhere near as much as Depeche!

7. I have a really odd aversion to wooden spoons or popsicle sticks. Even thinking about them now makes my mouth feel all funky and weird.

8. I've lived in Southern California my entire life including the majority of it in the same town where I am now.

9. My first job outside of a paper route or babysitting was when I was 13 and was working at a record store (under the table because I was under the working age limit). My best friend and I had just left cheerleading tryout rehearsals and stopped by a new music store - Music Stop - along the way home. The main thing I remember from that visit was that the owner, Dave, couldn't stop saying how smelly we were...I think he may have even made us leave we stunk so badly! And to think, he still offered me a job right there on the spot, stinky and all. LOL Dave, would even let me come in and open the store on the weekends all by myself. He must have either had a whole lot of faith in my abilities or he just really didn't want to wake up early on the weekends. HA! One of the biggest highlights of that job was getting an advance copy of the Oingo Boingo Dead Man's Party album. I listened to that tape so much by the time Dead Man's Party was a HUGE hit and getting all that radio airplay I was so sick of it. (BTW - Oingo Boingo was my #2 fave band and I'm totally devastated that I never got to see them at their Halloween concert before they disbanded...if they ever do a reunion show I will move heaven and earth to be there!!)

10. I very rarely remember my dreams.

11. My first "real" kiss was with a lifeguard at the high school pool where I would hang out during the summers. He was already in high school and I was in between 7th and 8th grade, so he was older and I was quite smitten, but right about the same time he finally kissed me my BFF ran by screaming something out and I laughed...while he was kissing me. He never kissed me again. :-( But that's probably okay because, I mean, Speedos...enough said.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Anywhere in the world would probably mean on the coast of Italy (even though I've never been, I can only imagine!) but I do talk about wanting to retire to Montana someday. Don't ask me why, it just seems like a nice place to live away from all the hustle and bustle that is California.

If you could meet anyone from history (alive or dead) who?
I would love to meet Kathrine Switzer, Nicole DeBoom, and Bono (because I had a dream that was really vivid about hanging out with him once and he seemed like a really cool guy...hahaha). I would also love to meet Walt Disney, Jesus, Stephen King, Dave or Martin from Depeche, Ryan Tedder,

David Beckham, Gordan Ramsey, and Coco Chanel...among others and in no particular order.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?
If there is any doubt to the answer of this question, then welcome, new blog reader!!! For everybody else that has been here for any length of time, I think it's safe to say that running is the correct response here. But hiking is a close second!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I pretty much see myself in not too different of a place than I am now as I'm pretty happy and content with my life. I will still be running and loving on my family and pursuing a quality life!




Okay, so I'm supposed to nominate some other blogs, so here goes, in no particular order as I love them all:

Luisa at Running is Democratic
Angelina at Run. Chew. Sparkle
Kris at Turning 40 and All That Jazz
Amanda at Unapologetically You (can I just add that I love, love, love the name of her blog!!)
Kim at Barking Mad About Running

I know the concept is that the people I nominate have less than 1,000 followers, but remember how I said that I'm fairly blog clueless? Well, I don't really know how to check how many followers these folks have, so if I nominated you and you have 1000+ followers, please forgive my oversight! LOL

Alright, there you have it...ya'll know way more about me than you could possibly want to know! Be sure to come back tomorrow for my SunRype giveaway!!

ToTR: Fall Racing Schedule

Today is another awesome Tuesdays on the Run topic - Fall Racing Schedule! The lovely gals behind the ToTR linkup are: MCM Mama Runs, Run the Great Wide Somewhere, and My No-Guilt Life. Don't forget to stop by one of their pages to check out the other posts for today's topic.

Before I jump into today's topic though, I first need to share some pictures with you of Joshua's first day of school!

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let's talk Fall Racing Schedule. I actually have a really great schedule shaping up and I'm excited about every single race! Let's take a look...

Register for the race using my Ambassador Discount Code SSPQL20 for 20% off registration! 

First up on the schedule is a virtual race on September 12 - The Skirt Sports Boobie Run. This race is all about the TaTa's and when you register, instead of a shirt you'll never wear or a medal that you'll hang on the rack (hahaha - that could be a really bad pun right there) that gathers dust, you get a $70 Skirt Sports gift certificate to pick out the right bra for you! Personally, I love the Kelly Bra and I know they have a variety of styles to meet the needs of everyone between A - DD. AND you get to enjoy a virtual run or walk of either 8k or 8 miles because, you get it, the 8 on its side is like the TaTa's. Very clever, Skirt Sports...very clever.

Next up is the first physical (AKA non-virtual) race of the fall season on October 3 - Hometown Heroes Honor Run. This race benefits the Riverside Police Officers Association and the money they raise goes to an injured officer or his family. The first year the profits went to help an officer that was injured during the Christopher Dorner rampage and he actually ran the race last year! So it goes to a great cause and I'm always happy to support this race. Another great benefit is that this one is the first in the Riverside Challenge race series. I'll be running the 5k again this year, and this race is the one that holds my current 5k PR. I'm not expecting a PR this year though.

October 25 is my third half marathon of 2015 and my 6th half marathon overall for the Temecula Half Marathon. I'm doing this one with a group of people from work. Several of us will be doing the half, but even more will be participating in the 5k, along with my daughter Michelle doing her second 5k race. This race will be mostly for fun and the camaraderie of participating with my daughter and co-workers.

Next up is the Mission Inn Run on November 8 - This is the second in the Run Riverside Challenge and I've done the 10k race the past several years, but am going to do the 5k this time out. Since I'm not familiar with the 5k course, I'll also be doing this one for fun and just to get a baseline of where I'm at after a few months of training with my running coach (still so bizarre to say that!), Tiffany.

The following weekend on November 15 I'll be running the Surfers Point 10k in Ventura with my running pal, Sally. This is the real reason I'm only doing the 5k at the Mission Inn the week before. I am hoping that I can nail a 10k PR at this race since it is flat, near the beach so the weather should be good, and I'll be with my speedier friend Sally. If she paces me I think I can pull off a PR.

And technically, that is my Fall Racing Schedule! I do have a half marathon in January (the third in the Run Riverside Challenge), but I don't consider that to be part of the fall season. So I'll reserve talking about that one until a different day. :-) I'm really surprised that my fall racing schedule came together so nicely and as I mentioned previously, I'm excited for all of them!

Question: What is on your fall schedule whether it is racing or other activities?

Weekend Shenanigans...

First things first...I hired a running coach!! I am going with Tiffany Henness of Thoroughly Thriving. She's RRCA Certified and I have followed her on her blog for a long time and appreciate that she is what she calls an "adult onset runner" (same as me!), has dealt with some injuries that kept her from running (same as me!), and has a strong focus on faith (same as me!). I had a great conversation with her on Thursday afternoon and decided to take the plunge and give it a try. I will definitely be blogging my progress as we go. I'm expecting to get my first assignments to gauge my current levels out of the way over this week and then it is full steam ahead! We will be working on building a good base so that when it comes time to implement training for my goal race (that's going to be the Citrus Heritage Half Marathon in January 2016) we are ready to do what needs to be done in order for me to meet my primary goal of showing up at the starting line feeling prepared. And a shiny new PR wouldn't hurt either. *wink*

Friday Sunrise

The rest of my weekend was a total blur of activity. It being the last 3-day weekend for me I had hoped that I would get to do something fun to wrap it up in style, so if you call a whole bunch of errands and busy stuff fun then I guess my goal was accomplished. HA! Friday morning I headed out to the mall with my hubby in tow because it was finally time to get him a new wardrobe. He's lost about 40 pounds in the past several months (I think he just decided to lose weight and it fell off overnight...the brat) and he was swimming in his clothes. He's just like most typical men and 1) can't stand the mall; and 2) can't stand shopping so I was expecting it to be a "fun" morning. But he lucked out when he got a wife that knows how to shop because we handled it LIKE A BOSS!! He stayed in the dressing room and I played personal shopper. I think we were probably in and out in about 1 hour and saved a ridiculous amount of money thanks to my coupon skills. And he didn't complain once about it taking too long or being tired, so I consider it a total success.

Hard to believe he's already a Kindergartner!

Later that night we got to go to Joshua's school for his Open House. We got to see his little classroom and meet his teacher. We're all so excited about his first day of school!! During the presentation the teacher was talking about the skills the kids will be focusing on during the year and they will learn their name (he already knows his), they will learn to count to 20 (he can count to 100), all their colors (he knows them), their alphabet (he knows them), and a list of 10 high frequency words (he doesn't know these yet). He's a little smarty-pants, so the challenge is going to be keeping him from getting bored. After that we headed to Chili's for a little end-of-summer celebration dinner.

You think he has chair lounging down to an art form yet?? LOL

Saturday morning I was up bright and early to do a SunRype product sampling for the Galloway Training group in Murrieta (about 30 minutes from me). Part of my responsibilities as an Ambassador is to share the SunRype love with other people, so this was a perfect opportunity to head out and give a group of runners the perfect post-run fuel! They loved it and it was a great morning - a little cool and overcast. There also happened to be a training group from the local running store there so they also got to share in the SunRype goodness! And later this week you all will get a chance to with a fun little giveaway. That should be released on Wednesday, so don't forget to come back then and find out how you can also Taste the Sun!

My table all set and ready to go!

What was left at the end of the sampling! 

And then of course there was this:

We are a football family, so having NFL football back on for preseason just feels so good! It's like seeing an old friend...and it just so happens that the Steelers are the hubby's team and the Vikings are mine! Nothing like a good old-fashioned showdown to start the pre-season off right.

There was also lots of little errands and tasks in there that I won't bore you to death with! What I will confess to though is a serious lack of working out over the weekend. Oops...it seems the battle of the lazy brain is still shifted to the other side and I'm not winning it yet. But I anticipate that this coming week will get me on a more serious schedule and with the help of Coach Tiffany I won't be able to slack off much longer.

What was the highlight of your weekend?