First Review: Run Around USA & Giveaway!

A little while back, I mentioned to you guys that I had been given a free membership to Run Around USA. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I wanted to post my first update because I finally reached an achievement! I've also had some time to use their website now and have enjoyed it so far!

The email contained interesting facts and links related to Donegal.

I've been enjoying using RAUSA. At first, I was a little frustrated because I kept forgetting to upload run data. I don't use Strava so for me to document my mileage, I have to take a screenshot of my Garmin information and upload it. I kept forgetting to do that because I was uploading via the computer.

But once I got the app, things got much easier. I love to track my runs, and I'm surprised by how much I'm liking this additional and unique tracker...I'm not just looking at mileage, but distance, too. It's giving me a concrete image of how far I've run.

Here is the manual entry on the computer.

Here's the upload view on the app. It's very easy!

Now, I'm not familiar with Pennsylvania, so that's one thing that frustrates me a little about this journey. It's hard to "get" how far I've run when I'm in such unfamiliar territory. I think it would be cool to start locally and see how far out of Florida I could get!

My map and monthly progress is all available on the app, too, as well as a simplified list of all my runs.

Having taken a week off running before A1A, my progress has obviously lagged.

I will say that for a low-mileage runner like me (these days), it obviously takes longer to reach milestone cities. That can be a little frustrating. I like the realism of the map - you can't fudge the numbers and get credit for running across the country if you haven't! - and I love learning about the cities I'm "passing through", so I wish my journey had started somewhere closer to some big, exciting places so that I'd know I'd hit at least one before the year is over. At this rate, I'm not sure if I'll ever make it to New York!

But, like I said, over all I'm surprised by how much I've been enjoying this. It's a very different way to track mileage than I've done before, and it's fun!

So, this week RAUSA offered me a free entry to share with my readers to support the #whatifirunwithyou initiative in raising awareness and support for mental health. If you think you'd enjoy tracking your miles via a virtual journey across the US (or Australia or Europe!), enter the giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, and spread the word! The giveaway closes on Friday ( because all members who enter in February are being given the chance to enter old runs from January (instead of just starting your year late). I wanted to give whoever wins time to enter those past runs before February ends!

Which states/countries/continents have you run in?

ABK

"Spartan Fit!" & Giveaway

Today I'm linking up for TOTR with Erika at MCM Mama Runs!

Alright guys, you know I'm not really an OCR type of runner. I think people that run them are freaking amazing, but I'm so worried about getting injured for road races that I've never taken the leap to try one. Montana is my go-to expert on the subject and Janelle ran Tough Mudder this past year; they seriously impress me.
Recently, Spartan Race reached out to me about Joe DeSena's new book, Spartan Fit!, which is his sequel to his NYT bestseller Spartan Up! If you haven't heard of Joe DeSena and you're looking for inspiration and no-excuses motivation, his is the voice you want in your head.

Obviously I'm a big reader and I love books that make me want to get up do more; that's why I'm excited to get my hands on a copy of Spartan Fit!

I'm especially excited to test out the 31-day workout plan and the full-body workouts. Since beginning to work more on cross-training, I've been constantly looking for new at-home workouts - especially at-home workouts that don't require tons of equipment!

Click here to read the first chapter.

Who knows...maybe this year of short distances will prove to be the best time for me to finally try out Spartan. I find it so impressive, and it would be something new and awesome to add to my repertoire. What's next after marathons? Ultras and OCR, right?

Spartan has generously given me a free entry to any continental-US Spartan race (open heat), and I'm going to share it with one lucky winner. Just enter to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway I'll post the winner this time next week. And if you feel like you need to sign up for a race right now, you can use the code SPARTANBLOGGER to get 10% off any race.

Good luck!
Have you ever done a Spartan Race before?
What's your favorite kind of motivational reading? I love a good underdog story, especially a true one.

ABK

Pilates for Dummies

In the summer of 2007, I returned from studying in Scotland having gained a once-in-a-lifetime experience and fifteen pounds. I immediately started going to my parents' gym to lose the weight, but I wasn't yet a runner, so on days when the drive to the gym seemed too onerous, I needed an at-home workout to turn to.

Enter Pilates for Dummies, a borderline corny DVD I got from the sale rack at Barnes & Noble. I think it cost me a whopping $8. 

I always suspected Tracey Thompson is also a body-builder...check out those guns!

I did this DVD about five days a week, along with lifting weights and doing the elliptical at the gym, until school started again in August, and I was in the best shape of my life. This summer, I was trying to branch out with my cross-training and active rest days, and thought...why not try it again?

Luckily, Elizabeth was willing to join me for some laughs. She rode her bike over, we pushed aside some furniture, and we got to work!

"Body rockers" before the song was annoying/cool/existed.

Preparing to do some releves - I swear, Pilates is yoga + ballet, and T25 is Pilates + agility training.

The first half of the DVD is warmup and standing pilates, and then it moves into floor positions. The best part about this video is that it's just corny enough to make you feel silly, but it's not all-out 80s corny.

"Dead bugs".

 Matt took some video of us "rolling like a ball", but unfortunately it's not long enough to actually post. We were cracking up at the tips to avoid getting stuck in that particular position.

 

The next day, I had some minimal soreness in my quads from all the squat-type exercises in the video; then I ran four miles over the bridge, to make sure the soreness really set in.

I had forgotten how much I love this video, and how easy it is to fit into my schedule. I'm thinking I'm going to explore B&N for some more sales this summer!

Don't forget, if you want to enter to win a Bondi Band (like the one I'm wearing in these pictures), the giveaway ends tonight at midnight!

Do you use workout videos at home?

What is your favorite corny workout video?   

ABK

Bondi Band Review & Giveaway

Alright everyone, get ready for something really exciting! I am finally doing my first ever giveaway, and I couldn't be more thrilled that it's for an accessory I seriously love.

My Ragnar Bondi Band!

Bondi Bands are slip-free headbands that keep your hair in place and keep sweat from getting in your eyes. I first tried Bondi Bands when I was running Ragnar, and I've been sold ever since. 

For one thing, I have a freakishly small head, so the fact that these headbands stay put without the help of any bobby pins is pretty amazing. For another, Bondi Bands run at about $10 a pop, which is really fairly priced, especially when you look at how expensive similar products can be.

I like that I can pull Bondi Bands over my ears if it's cold out. That's one multi-tasking headband, people!

Pros:

• One size fits all...for real. No need for bobby pins to tame those extra flyaways.
• Comfortable to wear.
•  Non-slip, won't pull hair or pinch your scalp.
• Inexpensive but not cheap.
• They come in a variety of colors and styles.

Cons:

• Certain styles of the bands can run a little wide. I fix this by folding the top and bottom under; no big deal! 

I folded the top and bottom under here, and was good to go!

So what do I have to give away? I have two Bondi Bands for one lucky winner! You can choose two from any of the three pictured below!

"Mirror Mirror", "Neon Pink", and "Marathon Girl"

But wait, there's more! If you're really excited to get your hands on a Bondi Band this month, you can use the code SWEATPINK at checkout to receive 10% off any non-sale and non-custom items.The coupon code is good through June 28.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! And don't forget to follow and check back June 7...that's when I'll announce the winner!

ABK