Hi-viz clothing review and a giveaway

*** This raffle is now closed***

During my winter run-streak, shorter daylight hours meant there were quite a few times I ran my miles after sunset. I love running at night. Unfortunately, while I wear light colored clothing, and I carry a small flashlight, I am always a bit worried that drivers won't see me.

Fortunately SportsShoes.com sent me a reflective runner's pack to test.

Pros:
I've tried a variety of running belts over the years. I dislike the bouncing and chafing so much that most of my running belts sit in a basket collecting dust.

The reflective runner's pack was an exception to that rule. The thick, adjustable, and slightly stretchy elastic band fit snugly without being too tight.

Plus, with this belt on, I gleamed like a glow stick at a rave.

SportShoes.com writes:

Fluorescent colours react with the sun’s UV rays so that they appear very bright, the effect is stronger in poor daytime light conditions such as drizzle, fog or toward dusk. This means you will easily be spotted by drivers and cyclists and will stay safe.

Reflective materials work best at night when it is dark and there must be a light source, such as car headlights, so that they can bounce it back. Reflective materials can help drivers to see you three seconds sooner at night – which could save your life!

The pack also comes with an ID tag and a tab that could be used to attach a water bottle.


Cons:

The key pocket is big enough for keys, an ID, and maybe a couple of energy gels. No more.

For those of you who run with your cell phone, you'll need to find another carrying case. Trying to fit my Samsung into the pouch was laughable. An older-model flip-phone might fit, but even that seems doubtful.


Giveaway:

Thanks to a shipping and mailroom snafu, I wound up with two of these belts. Since there is only one of me, and I don't plan to wear two belts at once, I have a spare belt to give away to one lucky reader.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The drawing:

Use the Rafflecopter giveaway tool, above, to enter.

Entries close on January 19, 2013. I will draw a winner at random, and will post the results on January 20, 2012. To claim your prize, you must contact me within one week. If I do not receive a response by 11:59pm on January 27, 2013, I will choose another winner (also at random). There is (obviously) no cash redemption value for this prize.

The fine print:
I received a complimentary reflective runner pack, but received no other compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Free 10k entry for one lucky reader

Winner announced: Rachel @Running50States
Congratulations Rachel!

Entries for this raffle are now closed but others may be available.
See Giveaways page for details.
Today might be your lucky day!

What could be better than celebrating Mardi Gras in Louisiana?
There are parades, and beads, and king cakes!
Then add a 10k to the mix. And make your race entry to the 10k free.
That would make it even better, right?

Thanks to the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation, I get to raffle off a complimentary entry to the 2013 Amedisys Mardi Gras Mambo 10k and 1 Mile Fun Run.

The Prize:
One lucky reader will win free entry into the 10k, scheduled for February 16, 2013.
And with a little extra luck, the winner and I will get a chance to meet up before the race, since I'll be running, too.

The Drawing:
You receive an entry into the drawing for each of the following. To enter, log your entries using the Raffle Copter widget below. (We ask for your e-contact info only so that we can contact the winner.)

• Like the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation on Facebook (+1)
• Follow the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation on Twitter (+1)
• Follow this blog on Facebook (+1)
• Follow this blog on Twitter (+1)
• Tweet about the giveaway and tag @RunTraveler and @BRAreaSports in your Tweet (+1)
• Re-post about this giveaway on your blog (include link with your comment) (+1)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries will close on Thursday, October 25th. I will draw a winner at random from the comments below, and will post the results no later than noon on Saturday, October 27th.

The fine print:
I received a complimentary entry for the 10k, but received no other compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I will draw a winner. Prizes will be distributed directly by the staff at BRASF.
Prize is a complimentary race entry, and does not include travel costs. There is no cash redemption value for the prize.
Email address will be used to contact prize winner, and will not be used for spam/marketing purposes.
If you have questions, please contact me at: coffeeb123(at)yahoo(dot)com

One word Wednesday

Mezamashii

Winners!

Thank you to all who participated in the giveaway drawing.

I selected winners using the random number generator at Random.org, and now it's time to announce the winners:

Complimentary entry into the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon goes to:

Rachel @ Run50States
Congrats Rachel - hopefully that will help you in your quest to run a half in each state!

And the sleeves from INKnBURN go to:

MissZippy
I'm sure you'll put those sleeves to good use!

Congratulations ladies!
Send me an email -- coffeeb123 (at) yahoo (dot) com -- with your contact information. I'll pass that along to the good folks at INKnBURN, so they can get your prizes to you.

Weekend interweb roundup

Source: itunes.apple.com
via Jodee on Pinterest 

Outrun Zombies!

Have you ever wondered how to get the gamer in your life off the couch? Download the iPhone app "Zombies, RUN!" and see if that attracts their attention.
Um... yeah. I think I'll stick with hash runs thankyouverymuch, but if this app gets more people up and moving it's a winner in my book.

Public Service Announcement:
This story will make you angry, sick, sad, or some combination of all three... Let it be said that long-distance running should never be punishment for a child.

Silver Linings:
Thankfully, for every story of despicable human behavior, there are at least two good ones.

Source: yfrog.com via Mandee on Pinterest

Good news story #1 - Mom.Swim.Bike.Run took a pretty hard tumble during a race, and just when the day started to look very dark, she received a much-needed visit from the Dinner Fairy.

And 2 through 366 Random Acts of Kindness: One man is performing an act of kindness (big or small) each day in 2012. Day 49 is my favorite so far.

If those stories don't restore your faith in humanity, it's quite possible that nothing will.

Giveaway Goodies:
Time is running out, so get your entries in for a chance to win:

• arm sleeves from INKnBURN
• free entry into the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon

More Giveaway Goodness:
Daily Vitamin F collects giveaway information from around the web, and posts it each week in Total Giveaway Tuesdays. F's giveaway clearinghouse idea is brilliant.
(Let's hope I win the sports wash. Mama needs a clean pair of socks!)

Networking:
Speaking of having a clearinghouse for blogger information...
Once I started a Facebook page for yes, folks. i run like a girl, I realized that while I follow dozens of blogs in my reader, I have no idea what the Facebook pages are for many of them. (Some blogs make their contact/follow option more obvious than others.)

So, I've been finding and adding a few each week, but I'd like to connect with more of you!

So, let's use this post as a clearinghouse for links.
(I might be opening a can of spam here, but we'll see how it goes...)

If you're a regular reader, and have a FB page for your blog, leave a link in the comments for me + other readers to find you.

Two, two giveaways! (and a review)

Yes, you read that right. I have two, TWO giveaways. Ha ha ha ha!

This blog post is brought to you by
Count von Count and the number 2.

The friendly people at INKnBURN provided me with a camisole and shorts to review. They also want to give away a couple of prizes.

The giveaway goodies:
1 - A pair of 4ARMS sleeves
2 - A complementary race entry into the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon (November 17, 2012).

The review:
By now you have probably guessed that I choose my workout clothes for function, not form. I'm trying to win a race, not a fashion show.

But form and function are not always mutually exclusive.
I have to admit, when I opened the package from INKnBURN, I was skeptical. The clothing looks fantastic. Had they sacrificed wearability for cool designs?

The camisole.

I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the clothes on.

The shorts fit perfectly. They are built with a flat waistband - flattering, comfortable, and no ride-up or sagging. Why aren't more athletic shorts built like this? The shorts also meet Miss Zippy's pocket standard - two pockets big enough for an ID, credit card, cash, and/or keys. (Note, there is no zip at the top of the pockets, so keys might not be secure if you start doing cartwheels. Then again, I usually carry my keys in-hand when I do cartwheels run, so this isn't an issue for me.)

My only quibble: the shorts lining is white. I prefer darker colors for my running clothes since light colors can get worn-looking pretty quickly.

The cami is also very comfortable - close-fitting without being too tight, racer-back so the straps can't fall down, and with a built in (ahem) support system. My only critique is that the built-in bra does not provide nearly enough support for my girls. Hence, this will not be a running top for me. But the shirt stays in place during down-dogs and shoulder-stands, so it has already become my new favorite top for yoga and lifting.

I also appreciated all of the important little details in the clothing. The draw-string on the shorts is a snug little loop - which means no dangling ends tangling up other clothes in the wash or accidentally pulled out. (Have you ever had to re-string your running shorts? Major functional flaw corrected in these shorts!)

The cami has a logo sewn into the "support system" that could double as a pocket for cash and a house key. (Ok. Maybe stashing a $20 in your bra is not the classiest of acts, but let's be honest: sometimes a runner's gotta' do what a runner's gotta' do.)

The logo sewn into the cami makes a great
pocket to hide some cash or a house key!

Keep in mind, INKnBURN clothing sizes run small. I requested clothing one size larger than my usual, and they fit perfectly. A smaller size would have been too snug.

The drawing:
You get an entry into the drawing for each of the following (post a separate note in the comments section for each entry):

• Follow this blog (+1)
• Like INKnBURN on Facebook (+1)
• Like the Griffith Park Trail Half on Facebook (+1)
• Follow this blog on Facebook (+1)
• Re-post about this giveaway on your blog (include link with your comment) (+1)
• Go to the INKnBURN website, figure out which of their designs you like the most, leave a comment about it in the comments section of this post (+1)

Entries close at noon Pacific time on February 25th are now closed. I will draw a winner at random, and will post the results on Sunday (Feb 26th) posted the winners on Sunday, Feb 25. To claim your prize, you must contact me within one week. If I do not receive a response by 11:59pm on Sunday, March 4th, I will choose another winner (also at random). There is (obviously) no cash redemption value for this prize.

The fine print:
I received a complimentary camisole and shorts to review, but received no other compensation for this review. All opinions expressed here are my own. I will draw a winner, and prizes will be distributed directly by the staff at INKnBURN.

Goodies and an (upcoming) giveaway

Yesterday I received a package in the mail. Not a Valentine's gift. Not a pile of bills to pay.
The package contained a shiny, new pair of shorts and a camisole from INKNBURN.

I'm going to try them out later this week, so stay tuned for a review and giveaway!

And the winner is...

Source: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's time to announce the winner of the blogiversary "door prize" giveaway - a copy of The Long Run.

Counting up all entries (including extra credit for re-posting about the giveaway), and using the random number generator from Random.org, the winner of the blogiversary book giveaway is...

*drumroll*

Holly, from The Pioneer Apron!
(This is, perhaps, not a surprise - Holly voted early and often!)

Holly - send me an email or FB message with your mailing address, and I'll get a copy of The Long Run to you.

Thank you all for playing.
Stay tuned for future giveaways!

Last chance for giveaway

There are only a few hours left to enter the blogiversary book giveaway.

I'll send a copy of The Long Run to one lucky reader. Entries must be received by noon Pacific time on Saturday, February 4, 2012. The winner will be announced on Sunday, February 5. For details on how to enter, see the original giveaway post.

If you want to read an excerpt from the book, Runner's World offers a sizeable chunk of the text on their website. Or watch Matt Long's interview on The Daily Show:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Matt Long
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

GOOD LUCK!

Are you feeling lucky?

Hello February!
I ended January with 2 x Tuesday run = 4 morning miles + 3 after work.
If you had told me, years ago, that I'd enjoy running twice a day, I'd probably have keeled over with laughter. I staunchly believed in a full day's recovery between runs. Sometimes two days. I was new then. What did I know?

I'm not sure what happened to change my mind, but now I look forward to two-fer Tuesdays. (My crazy 12-hour-workday teaching schedule might be to blame...)

And, because everything in life somehow balances out, I'll be starting February with the opposite of 2 runs: lots and lots of sitting at a computer.

It has taken me a few weeks to adjust to the feast/famine work schedule, but on the long days I can squeeze in some strength training while my morning coffee brews. Honestly, my weights had been gathering dust in a corner of the living room. I think they're glad I had to get creative about workout time.

So my weird work schedule might not be good for my sleep or my running, but it is great for my biceps and my wallet. Not a bad tradeoff...

On another subject entirely, dear readers... Are you feeling lucky?

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Megan on Pinterest

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway!

Do you ever run twice in a day?
Are you feeling lucky today?

Door prizes! (upcoming blogiversary giveaway)

Has it been a year already?
I tentatively dipped my toe into the blog waters in February 2011, and much like running, I got hooked.

To thank you all for your wonderful comments (this blog thing would be boring without you!), I'm hosting a self-funded giveaway. No corporate sponsors. Just a good, old fashioned door prize, to be announced on Superbowl Sunday, February 5th.

The Prize: The best book I read last year was The Long Run: A New York City Firefighter's Triumphant Comeback from Crash Victim to Elite Athlete, so I will send a copy (your choice of hardcover, paperback, or Kindle edition) to one lucky reader.*

How to Enter: You get an entry into the door prize drawing for each of the following (post a separate note in the comments section for each entry):

• Follow using Google's "connect" feature -- see the "let's run (subscribe)" link in the sidebar (+1)
• Follow on Facebook (+1)
• Re-post about this giveaway on your blog (+2)

*Entries close at noon Pacific time on February 4th. I will draw a door prize winner at random, and will post the results on Superbowl Sunday (Feb 5th). To claim your prize, you must contact me within one week. If I do not receive a response by 11:59pm on Sunday, Feb 12th, I will choose another winner (also at random). There is (obviously) no cash redemption value for this prize.