Three Things Thursday

1. I went to the chiropractor on Tuesday, and had my neck adjusted. I thought I was GOING TO DIE, it hurt so much. But then, a few hours later, the hurt cleared up, and then it wasn't so bad. Yesterday, it was a little stiff - I can't look left or right very well, and no looking up at all, but at least I'm not in pain. Went back last night for some more adjusting and massaging, and was even able to sleep in bed last night.

Improving, but still no running. I'm having some doubts about Eugene being all magic and unicorns....

source

2. Have you signed up for the Team Gab Virtual Race yet?? Link HERE. Giveaways provided by Nuun, Aspaeris, PRO Compression, Allied Medal Hangers, and Team Sparkle - and, of course, you're helping a GREAT cause.

Not interested in running, biking, swimming, or general sweatiness, I'll still happily take your donation HERE :).

In addition to these great prizes, this year all participants (both in real life and virtually) will receive MEDALS. I know, that's exciting, right??

So, listen, I am NOT a crafty person. I don't even really like pinterest. But The H dutifully followed me around multiple craft stores last weekend while I wandered aimlessly hoping to find what I needed (made exponentially harder when you don't understand the context of the item and where to find it in the store), and then proceeded to buy all of this item I could find in the Irvine/Tustin area. Sorry if you're looking for this thing, I have them all on my dining room table.

But I think the medals will be the cutest ever, and I'm so excited to share them.

Source

3. Something I can share RIGHT NOW? These amazing bibs, designed by Deidre at Oh Well Whatever.

Download link HERE. Cutest EVER, right?

Team Gab Virtual Race - SoCal Edition

 

Details!

On Saturday, March 9th, I'll be hosting a picnic preceded by a fun-run through Mason Regional Park in Irvine.

"Registration" donation:
5k - $10
10k - $15
Half Marathon - $25
Marathon - $40

Donations can be made online HERE, or in person via check (payable to PCRF) or cash.

Included with your donation:

• Your choice of a marked, 1 mile loop in the park (a la the Operation Jack Richard Leary 6 Hour Challenge from October 2011), or I will provide a map of local routes if you prefer to set out on your own (hills, trails, fairly flat bike path - all available).
•  Water, Nuun, GU, and other fuel will be available at the staging area.
• "Race" bibs, and medals for everyone.
• Staging area will be ready by 8am.

I dare you to find a funner bib picture.

Delicious food provided at the finish area post-run.

There are plenty of bathrooms in the park, and a playground if you'd like to bring your kids to play.

This is an OPEN INVITATION! Please RSVP so I have an accurate head count :)

Link HERE to the evite - share it!

Not in SoCal on March 9th, or can't make it? Join us virtually! CLICK HERE.


Do I need a disclaimer here? This is not an actual, timed race. Just some people, hanging out at the park, and some running. I'm not a professional.

Team Gab Second Annual Virtual Race!!

Can you call something "annual" if it's in its second year?



I am SO excited for this year's virtual race, you guys.

I'm doing things a little differently than last year, and I hope the changes are good ones.

If you're new here, Gabby, the cute kidlet in that picture up there, is my 6 year old daughter. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I run for to raise funds for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, in hopes of a better treatment, better cure for kids in the future.

If you're in SoCal, I'd love to see you on May 4th for the Bike tour, or May 5th at the Reaching for the Cure Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K. I'd really, REALLY love to see you join the VIP training group and be part of the fundraising team - click HERE for info on the VIP program (or email me!).

You can click on the "Team Gab" tab up top to read more about her diagnosis, what her treatment has been like, and where we are now.

Team Gab Virtual Race Details!

DONATION LINK HERE

Registration 
Begins February 1-March 9.

Date
You can run your Virtual Race any time, any where!
However, I will be running my race on March 9th, the date of Gabby's last chemo treatment, and I'd love for you to join me - virtually for my internet friends, and maybe for real, in person if you're local! - on March 9th to celebrate her end of treatment.

CLICK HERE for SoCal "Race" Details!

Events, Donations, and Giveaway Entries
STEP 1 - Click HERE to make your donation to PCRF.

5K = $10 donation = 1 entry
10K = $15 donation = 2 entries
Half Marathon = $25 donation = 5 entries
Marathon = $40 donation = 10 entries

Want to donate more than the above? That's awesome, and you rock. I'll throw in 5 extra entries if you donate beyond the amount of your registration. For example, say you want to run the 5k option, and donate $17 - you'll receive 1 entry for the 5k donation, and another 5 entries for the donation beyond the registration = total of 6 entries. 

After you've made your donation, please comment on this post, and if you'd really like to make things easier, tell me how many entries you qualified for (otherwise I'll have to match up donations to names) (which I will, but it'll be awesome if you just tell me).


Bib, Race Reports, and Pictures
A bib will be posted mid-February, for you to print at home, if you'd like.
Once your race has been run, email me (hmgiraffy @ the gmail) with a link to your race report, and note that I may use your pictures in a report round up :D


What do YOU get?
This year, in addition to warm and fuzzy feelings for donating to an excellent cause, you will also get a hand-drawn medal (designs courtesy of the 6 year old).

You'll also have a chance to win some excellent things from these generous sponsors. I only sought out donations from companies that I personally use and love.

Nuun has donated 2 gift packs (each containing a pint glass, a water bottle, and a 4-pack). Nuun is a lifesaver for me - I'm a salty sweater, and I drink this stuff like mad during marathon training.

A medal display hanger from Allied Medal. I have two of these (you can see one in action here) and they are GREAT. They'll also customize hangers, if you can't find what you need!)

1 pair of Magic Pants from Aspaeris. I wear these for long runs, and recovery, and I swear they are like a hug for you bottom. Magic.

A set of BIC Bands. BIC Bands is an amazing company - $1 from every sale is donated to charity. I love these bands - they tame my hair like no other, and they're the only band that stays put on my weird head.

TWO winners can select a pair of compression socks from PRO Compression. I LOVE PRO Compression - they're my favorite sock, and they have a fabulous selection of colors (I own the neon yellow, orange, baby blue, and black).

Race legs and a sparkle skirt from Team Sparkle. I wear my Team Sparkle gear in almost every race - most recently, you can see my red, black, and turquoise skirts in action during Goofy Challenge and Tink Half the following weekend. That's 52.6 miles of SPARKLE.


How the prize drawings will work:
Instead of the normal, boring weekly drawings, I'm hand picking a couple finalists in some specific categories (including, but not limited to, best dressed {duh}, funniest, most creative use of the word amok, the report Gabby points at, or whatever else I find interesting when I'm putting the reports together). Once the finalists are selected, I'll put their reports up for a vote. Make sure you submit your link to me by March 10th to be considered for the voting!

The remainder of the prizes will be selected via random.org using the number of entries as calculated above. Race closes March 10th, and drawing will be done that week.

I hope that makes sense, if it doesn't, please ask, because honestly, it's been a long day and I may be confused :D.

Bottom line: Some winners selected by vote, some via random, if you're sending a report for voting consideration, do so by March 10th. Every participant will receive a medal designed and colored by Gabby. Please donate, if you can. 


As always, I truly, beyond words, appreciate your support of this cause.

“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”

1. As you may have heard, Aspaeris is super awesome, and sponsoring our SoCal Ragnar Teams, So Much Cooler Online. Here's a fancy press release about our ultra ladies.
Aspaeris is ALSO offering a 50% discount on all compression shorts until the end of the month! Use code "cooleronline" at checkout, and you'll snag these fancy pants for only $30 (+ shipping). That is a STEAL. As a sponsored athlete (hahahahhaaaa, I will totally never get to use that again, so I'm going to take full advantage), I'll be wearing some of these during one of my Ragnar legs; but I think I'll order an extra pair as well.

2. I know I've mentioned this, but I'm going to keep mentioning it until I die, or until the end of February, because I think it rocks and I don't want you to forget, and who DOESN'T need headbands?? BIC Bands is donating a portion of their January and February sales to Team Gab and PCRF.

GO, SHOP, be banded!

3. The Team Gab IRL Virtual Run will be this Saturday at Mason Regional Park in Irvine. If you're in SoCal, you're invited to join us! If you're planning on coming, please don't forget to email me so I bring the appropriate amount of delicious things for you!

Mmm. Cake.

Running starts at noon. I will send out an email Friday with the exact location in the park.


4. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who has donated, commented, blogged, tweeted, smoke signaled Team Gab. We are right now at $2209 raised for pediatric cancer research! Team Gab is only $686 behind first place...

Donation link HERE.

So, it's Monday. I'm working. I have a headache.

BUT, I had a rad long run yesterday, so I suppose all is well with the world.

Let's do this numbered style today, so I can pretend I won't forget things.

1. Have you registered for the Team Gab Virtual Race?!

We have great prizes from Tommie Copper, Team Sparkle, iFitness, Tough Chik, Gu... Tons. TONS. And you're supporting a great cause - who doesn't want to help out pediatric cancer research, right?

2. Right, so Carlsbad is coming up Sunday! Runners, the weather looks GREAT! Chance of showers, nice and cool..... Great for spectators, not so much though. I'm not sure I'm tough enough to stand and watch runners in the rain. Yikes.

3. Sweaty things that happened last week...
Tuesday: 5 miles easy, 1 mile comfortably fast @ 9:43, total 6 mi 1:04:47, 10:47 avg.
Thursday: Tempo. Blah. 1 mile warm up, 2 @ 10:20, 2 @ 10:00, cool down. What ACTUALLY happened... 10:23, 10:19, 9:54, 9:25. Hm.
Saturday: 25.8 miles on the stationary bike while watching the trials.
Sunday: 12 miles easy, 2:17:48, 11:27 pace. If you're keeping track, that's ohhhh.... 13 seconds off my PR pace. And it was EASY. Last 10K avg 10:38 pace, and last mile was sub 10. There was clearly more left. That's nice.

4. Sweaty things happening this week....
Tuesday: 6 miles easy, maybe hills
Thursday: 1600's, bah.
Friday: 3 miles easy.
Sunday: 9 miles; last 2 at half goal pace.

5. There was a chick on the treadmill at the gym Saturday while I was on the bike. And at first, I was in awe - she had the speed jacked up to 10, and looked GOOD. And then I realized why. She kept standing on the edges of the treadmill letting it run. At first, I thought maybe she was doing some weird interval stuff, but... nope. Not any type of consistent timing between intervals.

At first it was just 30 seconds here and there... then it was a minute or two, while texting... then 5 minutes to take a call.... then she straight stepped outside to take a call and left it running.

So bizarre. How do you know how much you actually ran!? Why would you do that?!

People are weird.

6. L, Becka's sister, suggested this to me for my next medal hanger, and it's RAD. Thanks, L, I LOVE IT!

And, thanks Allied Medal Hangers - it's perfect!!! Oh, and, if you enter the Team Gab Virtual Race... you could win one. IJS.

I think my next purchase is going to be a Disney-specific hanger....

7. I broke down and got a Garmin. The 205. Used, from eBay. Well, "used". It seems to be brand new, and had 2 runs on it, both starting at like an 8 min pace, and quickly turning into a 25 min pace. Guess it didn't work out for them so well. Sorry 'bout your luck.

I wonder if the hair was extra?

8. I AM FAMISHED.