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:
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!
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?
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!)
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!!
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.
In the FitApproach/Sweat Pink world we are all talking about our favorite on-the-go snacks these days! Everyone has them...you know, the ones that you grab when you're in a pinch and need something quick or something portable. So let's see what some of my favorite on-the-go snacks are.
Mixed Nuts
I'm like a little squirrel because I just love nuts. It's weird that so many of my kids can't stand them, but it works for me because nobody eats my stash!! These days I've been throwing together my own mix of almonds, pecans, and walnuts. I keep them in the refrigerator and then portion out 5-6 small tupperware cups for the week and just grab one and throw it in my bag for whenever I need a snack. I've actually eaten them while standing in lines or even just sitting at my desk. So portable, yet they satisfy that need for crunch.
SunRype Fruit Products
Yes, I'm an ambassador through the Active Network for SunRype, and yes, I'm provided product at no cost to me for my own use and for sharing with others. BUT, seriously, I would not have chosen to be an ambassador for 2014 and 2015 if I didn't believe in the product. And I absolutely 100% believe in SunRype fruit products. They are absolutely delicious and I can eat them with zero guilt because they have nothing but naturally occurring fruit sugars in them. Zero additives, Zero preservatives, and Zero added sugar. Nothing but fruity goodness. I would buy them all on my own and will long after I'm no longer an ambassador. And bonus - they are soooooooooooo easy to just grab and throw in my purse or bag as they travel nicely and they are super refreshing especially out on a hiking trail.
If you don't already Like SunRype USA on Facebook or Instagram, do so now as they have lots of great contests and promotions!!
Luna Protein Bars
These aren't as portable or easy to carry as SunRype or mixed nuts, but they are so friggin' good!!! I just love them as I really feel like I'm getting a "treat" when I have one. I really like throwing one in my hydration vest pocket when I head out for a hike as it keeps it from getting all melty and it's the perfect protein boost to keep me from feeling totally famished. My favorite flavors are the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and the Mint Chocolate Chip. But, honestly, they are all delicious...except for coconut. Coconut is never delicious.*
*that's my opinion and one that will never be changed. So, there.
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
I have to say that I'm really picky about the ripeness of my bananas, but when they are just the perfect yellow, maybe still a little bit green, and definitely before any brown spots appear, they are amazing!! I love that they come in their own packaging and are easy to just grab and eat anywhere. Need a snack while driving in the car? Eat a banana. Need a snack pre-race? Eat a banana. Need a snack post-race? Eat a banana. They are just so easy. And who doesn't like to sing a little Gwen Stefani Hollaback Girl while eating their banana????
Side Note: I find it so terribly sad that Gwen and Gavin Rossdale are splitting after 13 years. I seriously thought those two would be together to the end. So many marriages have become disposable and it's just heartbreaking.
Alright, there's some of my top on-the-go snacks. So tell me - what is your top snack for when you're on the run? I'm always looking for new favorites!
I have so much good stuff to share I am practically bursting at the seams! So let's just do a little bullet action here because, well, I just love lists and what's a better way of organizing them than bullets? Yeah, I knew you'd agree... :-)
I'm already on Week 6 of my latest half marathon training plan! It's going so quickly...this is for the Avocado Half Marathon that will be at the end of May. It looks to be a very challenging course and end of May with the weather we are having so far may mean a very hot race. I can't say my training has been spectacular on the long runs, but I'm confident that with some plan tweaking I will be ready for it as much as possible. But I definitely can't skip or shorten any more from here on out!
Speaking of weather - we apparently decided to skip Winter altogether here and jump right into late spring, early summer. We've already had multiple 90 degree days and I'm even out running in t-shirts and shorts at 4:00 AM!! Crazy, I know...but I'm not complaining (yet). I just hope it isn't indicative of an overbearingly hot summer. *fingers crossed* I mean, take a look at this picture from just last week:
I'm sorry...try not to be jealous.
One of my daughters who has always kind of flirted with the idea of running, but has never committed to it has actually begun!!! We've been doing the Couch to 5k plan and she's already on Week 2 Day 2 tomorrow morning. I actually didn't make her (relative term...I'm not "making" her do it period, but I didn't go out of my way to get her up and moving...LOL) do it a couple of days and she got upset with me - so that was my first indication that she's truly serious about it. She's hoping to run her first 5k right around her 21st birthday in mid-May which also coincides with her completing the 9 week program. I'm so proud of her and can't wait until we can run a race together!
And kind of separate but along with that, my hubby has been taking walks with me in the evenings in the hope of being able to run with me someday. He does have some physical limitations that make it more difficult, but he's trying and that's totally awesome! It's going to take awhile to build up to it, but we all know, a journey of a million miles starts with one step. We have already gotten him his first new running outfit of shorts, shirt and shoes. I'm so proud of him too and can't wait until we can possibly participate in a race together!
I haven't made an official announcement on the ol' blog, but I was officially invited back to be a member of Team SunRype for 2015! I'm so excited to continue representing this brand and feel like this year will be even better as I know what to expect now.
And I've saved the absolute best for last: I took what felt like a really ridiculous long-shot when I filled out the Ambassador Application for Skirt Sports. Since submitting it several weeks ago I've expected to see the "Thank you for applying, but..." message pretty much every day. So when I saw the email from the Ambassador Coordinator I didn't even look at the subject line and jumped right in to the actual message so I could just read "Thank you for applying, but..." when lo and behold imagine my surprise when it actually said "Dear Skirt Sports Ambassador," I mean, like WHOA!!!! I'm truly amazed that I've been selected to represent what is a really awesome brand. This company was formed by triathlete Nicole DeBoom because one day as she was out running around town she caught her reflection in the mirror and thought "I look like a boy". She wanted to feel like her pretty, fierce, and feminine self when she was out running so she went ahead and created her very own running skirt prototype. Three days after wearing her first running skirt during a triathlon she created her company. Since then they have done so much to create programs, clothes and a mentality of Real Women, Real Bodies, and Real Inspiration. Like, seriously, what's not to love about that?!?!?
Oh wait, there's MORE!! Okay, so then you throw in a partnership with none other than Katherine Switzer - as in the Katherine Switzer that was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, as in the Katherine Switzer that almost got attacked and drug off of the race course by Jock Semple, the then race director. YEAH, THAT KATHERINE SWITZER!! They have created an entire line of clothes and a race around 261 - Katherine's bib number in that race.
Background image from katherineswitzer.com
And what this means for you guys is that over the coming year I'm going to have some awesome giveaways (!!!) and discounts (!!!) for you so that you can also experience some absolutely amazing Skirt Sports products! I know, it's too good to be true, right?!? I feel like life is just full of so much good stuff and I'm super excited to share it with you guys! I'm thrilled that two different companies that are so different, yet both have such high quality products, have entrusted little ol' me to share their goodness and mission with others! More to come...
