Lucy Review and GIVEAWAY!

Thumb holes! What can be said about thumb holes that isn't fabulous??? I love thumb holes! And not only does this shirt from Lucy have thumb holes, but it's just the right shirt for cool or cold running. It's not like a normal dri-fit shirt that you get at a race, it's a little bit thicker, so it's good for a cool run or a COLD run, which is what we in Kentucky are experiencing right now! It's also great because it has a reflective stripe down the back of the shirt so that people can see you if you are running at night! This shirt has quickly become one of my favorite pieces to wear while running. I am one to quickly remove my gloves when running, so this shirt keeps my hands warm but doesn't cover my fingers, which is what bothers me about gloves. The shirt also has mesh insets, is moisture wicking, and has an odor blocking finish! How awesome is that?! Thank you so much to Elizabeth over at Lucy Activewear for letting me try out this shirt. I'm glad I don't have to give it back! :)

Now, onto your favorite part: the giveaway! Lucy also sent me some socks to try out, which I love also! I love short socks and these are short, but they have a padded sole for comfort and a padded heel tab to reduce blisters and chafing. The back of my shoe never touches my body! Love them!

You could be the lucky winner of two pairs of these socks! Two lucky winners will win 2 pairs of the Lucy Training Socks in the pictures below.

How to Enter:

There are several ways to get entries. Leave a comment for each that you do.

1. MANDATORY: Visit the Lucy website HERE and leave a comment telling me what you would love to have!

2. MANDATORY: Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment. If you already are a follower, leave a comment letting me know that you are.

3. MANDATORY: Become a fan of Lucy Activewear on Facebook HERE

4. Post this giveaway to your Facebook page.

5. Post this giveaway to you blog.

Good Luck to all!

This giveaway will end at 11:59 EST on Sunday, January 2nd.

Thoroughbred Classic 5K - Thanksgiving Day!

On Thanksgiving Day, my niece (Gracie) and I ran our first 5K together called the Thoroughbred Classic in Lexington, KY. Actually, my training buddy (Bobbie), also ran with us! :) She's so supportive!

Gracie had been begging me for some time to run a race with me, but I told her we had to do so training before. I had to make her understand that you don't just go out and run a 5K...you have to prepare beforehand. She, like me, thought..."3 miles? That's not so bad!" Well, as we all know, 3 miles is further than you think it is when you aren't already a runner.

So, we began some training together. Gracie plays soccer and softball, so running is something she does on a regular basis, just not for long distances and not for endurance. So, we started out with 1.5 miles, then worked up to 2 miles, then onto 2.5 miles. We never actually completed the 3.1 until the day of the race.

And we're off! The race began! At about 3/4 of a mile, Gracie needed to stop because her chest was hurting from this awful, hacking cough she had been fighting. The great thing about Gracie? Yes, she needed to walk. Yes, she walked. But...she picks a spot to walk to and then she starts running again! She's fabulous! She walked again at about the halfway point and only one other time after that, so I was very proud of her! Especially with the cough she was fighting! :)

This is a picture of us at about the halfway point of the race. We are still smiling, so it can't be that bad! :) After we came around the back side of the barn on the grounds, Gracie said, "Where do you think Jenny and Michael are?" These are our cousins who were running the race as well. I told her they couldn't be that far in front of us and if we tried, we might could pass them, at least one of them. Well, Gracie is the most competitive 9 year old I know, so this was definitely some motivation. She picked up the pace and caught up with and passed Kelly, a friend of the family. And she also caught up with and passed our cousin Jenny! She was fabulous!

When the finish line was in sight, I let her know. This was when she really picked up the pace. Needless to say, she left Bobbie and I in her dust! Look at the picture! Yep! That's me, trying to keep up! She finished 6th place in her age group with a time of 37:12! That's a pretty awesome time for a 9 year old with tiny legs! Can you tell I'm proud!

Thanks for staying with us Bobbie!

Way to go Gracie!

Jessica's Gifts Jewelry Giveaway - GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT!

I have to admit, the only jewelry I wear is a watch and my wedding set. The problem is, I've seen all of this cute running jewelry and really wanted to try out a necklace. Jessica, from Jessica's Gifts, was nice enough to send me two necklaces. I was able to choose one to keep and use the other as a giveaway. They are absolutely adorable and I honestly had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to keep for myself. But, after lots of thought, I chose the one that says "Love to ride". I am a runner and a cyclist, but running is what I do most. I chose the bike necklace because I have so much running stuff, I thought I should keep the bike necklace to remind me that running isn't the only endurance sport I love! :)

My necklace is absolutely adorable! I love the hand stamped jewelry and the ball chain.

Visit Jessica's website HERE and see all the cute jewelry she has to offer!

This is a picture of the necklace I will be giving away. It is just like mine, except that it says "love to run". Gentlemen...this is the perfect giveaway for you to enter if you have a loved one who is a runner.

Ways to enter (leave a comment for each entry):

1. MANDATORY: Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me you are a follower; or leave a comment telling me you already are a follower.

2. MANDATORY: Visit Jessica's website HERE and leave a comment telling me what your dream item would be.

3. MANDATORY: Like Jessica's Gifts on Facebook HERE .

4. Post this giveaway on your Facebook.

5. Post this giveaway on your blog.

This giveaway will end on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Good Luck!

If you win, please send your mailing address ASAP to sheridunlee@bellsouth.net so that I can get it mailed out in time for the holidays! :)

YURBUDS Review and Giveaway

Okay, I have to admit that I must be a natural blonde. (I'm really not, but we'll pretend that I am. This way, I don't feel silly for wearing my Yurbuds the wrong way.)

Honestly, the first few times I wore them, I thought that I must have been sent the wrong size. They felt funny and they felt like they didn't fit. And I'd only heard great things about Yurbuds, so I decided to wear them several times before I wrote my review.

Well, after wearing them for about 3 weeks, I realized there was a more efficient way of positioning them on the earbuds and in my ears. Once I fooled with them and found the position in which they were comfortable and didn't fall out, they were golden!

Since finding the comfort zone, I can't say enough good things about my Yurbuds. They stay in my ears, they don't fall out, and my ears don't hurt after wearing them for a long run. The best part, I can hear my music much better since they go further down in your ear than regular earbuds. I can hear my music so well that my running buddy, Bobbie, has to hear me say "HUH?' way too often. So, after a few blonde moments, I have to say that my Yurbuds are one of my favorite pieces of running gear. Being a music teacher, I have to always have some kind of music playing, so Yurbuds make the music that much better!

So, onto the REALLY good part. Adam over at Yurbuds sent me my pair and sent a coupon code for another pair to giveaway.

Entry possibilities (leave a comment for each):

1. MANDATORY: Visit the Yurbuds website HERE and tell me which pair you would choose if you won.

2. MANDATORY: Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me or leave a comment if you already are a follower. I'm only TEN away from 100!

3. MANDATORY: Like Yurbuds on Facebook HERE

4. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page.

5. Post this giveaway on your blog.

The giveaway will end on Friday, December 10 @ 11:59 p.m. EST.

Good Luck!

Nathan Speed 2 Review and Giveaway - GREAT FOR LONG RUNS!

The wonderful folks over at Nathan Sports - website - were gracious enough to send me a Speed 2 belt to review and another to giveaway!

I've always been skeptical of any type of hydration belt, just because of the fact that I assumed that it would weigh me down while running. So, the first time I tried it out, I wore it on a short 4 mile run. Guess what? It didn't bother me at all! Actually, I absolutely loved it! It didn't weight me down and it was very handy to have 20 ounces of water right there at my fingertips.

But, this didn't sell me on the long run. A 4 miler, sure. But what about longer distances? Would it bother me then? So, this past weekend, I took it along for a 7 miler. And...wait for it...WOW! Next to my running buddy, the belt is now my favorite piece of running gear! And I think it might be her favorite too! She drank from one bottle as I drank from the other.

The Speed 2 was a good choice for me because I am a water dropper. Before a long run, I always go out and drop water at the halfway point. I didn't want a belt that weighted me down too much, so I didn't think I would like one with 4 bottles. So, I still drop halfway water and have the belt for thirst issues along the way. Not to mention, it has a fabulous pocket for energy gels, chews, cell phone, car keys, whatever your pleasure! So, to the people over at Nathan, THANK YOU! I absolutely love it!

Now, onto the giveaway! Nathan also sent me a second Speed 2 to give away. It is a SMALL, which is a waist size of 26-32".

Entry possibilities:

1. MANDATORY: Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment. If you already are a follower, leave a comment telling me so.

2. MANDATORY: Visit the Nathan Sports website HERE and tell me what your dream product is.

3. MANDATORY: Like Nathan Sports on Facebook - HERE

4. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page.

5. Post this giveaway on your blog.

This giveaway will end on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 11:59 EST. GOOD LUCK!

Don't forget to enter my 2011 Training Log Giveaway. The last day is Sunday! CLICK HERE!

Training Log 2011 Review and Giveaway!

I was recently given the opportunity to review the Training Log 2011. I am a runner who likes to keep track of what I do, and I would rather do it on paper than online. So, I googled running logs/journals and came across this log that has been around for 28 years. Phil was nice enough to send me two logs - one to review and one to give away. Since it is a log for 2011, I obviously haven't actually used it yet, but I have studied it quite a bit. As for the many things I love about this log: 1. It is predated for the 2011 running year. You don't have to write in the dates; they are already there for you. 2. Unlike the one I'm using right now, it has a place to record the pace of each run, not just the total time. 3. The best part? IT HAS A RACE SECTION FOR EACH WEEK! In the race section, you can record the name of the race, your time, your place in gender, age group, and overall. I love that!

All in all, this log is going to be something I love. It's so very simple, but not at the same time!

Now...onto the giveaway!

Ways to get entries:

1. Mandatory: Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me you already are or have become a new follower. New followers...WELCOME!

2. Visit the Training Log 2011 website HERE and leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about the log.

3. Leave a comment telling me how you keep track of your training right now.

4. Leave a comment telling me the next thing you are training for.

This giveaway will end on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

GOOD LUCK!

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL! Among other things...

Just a few things for a wonderful Wednesday...

1. Have I told you how much I love football, mainly Pittsburgh Steelers football? Well, I absolutely adore them. Monday night, my hubby and I were fortunate enough to be able to go to Monday Night Football in Cincinnati to watch the Bengals play the Steelers. Well, he was watching the Bengals. I was watching the Steelers. We were 10 rows from the field! It was absolutely amazing. My husband keeps chanting, "Who dey! Who dey! Who dey think gonna beat them Bengals?" And I keep chanting back, "Pittsburgh! Pittsburgh! Pittsburgh done went and beat them Bengals!" GO STEELERS! It was a close call, but Pittsburgh won 27-21. And it literally was a nail biter right down to the end. For this thought, I leave you with a picture of the hair of my fave, Troy Polamalu. This is how close we were!

2. I ran four miles with Bobbie and Katrina tonight. I haven't had much time for anything lately it seems, and it felt so good to get out there and run. I ran six on Saturday and hadn't run since due to a very hectic schedule. Hopefully after this week, that will wind down quite a bit. I miss my running tremendously when I don't have time to do it on a regular basis. I try to get in some bike rides when I can't run, but sometimes that gets put on the back burner also. I am a much easier person to deal with when I don't have to go without my runs, so let's pray that my schedule kinks go away soon!

3. How do you really know when you are ready to train for a full? It's been on my mind a lot lately and I just don't know. Bobbie and I were talking about it tonight on our run and she said, "I would like to one day, but I'm not ready right now." So, the question is, how do you know when you're ready? Because...are you ever really ready until you do the training? Who can honestly just go out and tackle 26.2 on any given day? Any thoughts?

Thanks for listening to my ramblings! We're on the down slope to Friday! ENJOY!