Scooby Doo Run Virtual Race

I received entry into the Scooby Doo Virtual Race Series as part of being a BibRave Pro (ambassador). Check out BibRave.com to read and write race reviews.



What's better than a fun Virtual Race that involves favorite childhood cartoon characters? Running it with your pups!

The Scooby Doo Run Virtual Race Series has 2 great races this Fall for their first ever event!



Memphis and Nugget are currently in training and they are ready to toe the line of their first ever race!



The leashes are poised and ready, the water bottle is set to go.

We will be breaking it up into segments, because Nugget is a spoiled little princess and will only do about 2 miles at a time.




We will run the Doo Good 5k in 2 segments and then in October we will do the Scoobtober 10k in 3 segments, ending on October 30th. (there is also a 5k option for October) We might have to do that last run in costume! Hmmm...

Oh, and the swag!

Scooby Doo Virtual Run Series Challenge includes includes:

• Official Doo Good 5K Race Shirt
• Doo Good Virtual 5K Finisher Medal
• Official Scoobtober Backpack
• Scoobtober Virtual Run Finisher Medal
• Digital Finisher Certificate
• Commemorative Series Challenge Medal

Four-legged friends are welcome too!  The Virtual Run Series Challenge add on for dogs includes:

• Doo God Dog Bandana
• Doo Good Virtual 5K Doggie Medal/Tag
• Scoobtober Run Dog Bandana
• Scoobtober Virtual Run Doggie Medal/Tag

Want to join us? Use the discount code BIBRAVE for 10% off!

Sisterhood of the Traveling.... Skirt?

If you've known me for more than about 5 minutes, or follow me on Instagram, you know that I'm addicted to Skirt Sports! It's pretty much all that I wear!



One of my fellow ambassadors asked where everyone's skirts have traveled to, and it got me thinking....

Where have my skirts been?



They've been to the beach in NC. I did one of my training runs there during a Girls Weekend. I'm wearing the Happy Girl skirt and a Trucker Hat.



They ran down a mountain in Colorado.... after a trip to the actual Skirt Sports Store! My usual Trucker and Happy Girl, plus a brandy new tank from the store!



They've been to Disney, running countless race weekends. This pic is from Star Wars weekend, the 10k. I'm wearing the Happy Girl and Darlena is wearing the Lioness Skirt. So cute!



They've been to New Orleans. I was injured and couldn't run, so I volunteered at the Red Dress water stop. It was crazy fun! My Happy Girl skirt was so comfy all day and those pockets were a dream!



They kept me warm....ish... in Georgia. Yes. GEORGIA! There was freezing rain, which I was not prepared for. My Toasty Tights were home in my closet, I missed them! The super cute Pocketopia Capris were comfy!



They went to the Smoky Mountains for a weekend away with the hubs!



They went to Myrtle Beach to run the Myrtle Beach Mini.



They traveled to Chicago, to run the marathon.



They traveled to Georgia in hotter weather, for the PeachTree Road Race. That black Happy Girl skirt was one of my first! They were from my "avoid bright patterns" phase, which I have obviously been cured of!



They cruised to Grand Cayman to play with turtles! I am wearing one of my other fave skirts, the Jaguar, and my Trucker hat!



They traveled back to Jersey for a last minute 5k....



And they went to Morganton NC for a trail retreat with Mirna Valerio! That tank is one of my faves, no longer available, though!



Nashville was a fun, but crazy hot, trip! Have you notice that maybe I wear the Happy Girl quite a lot?



And I'll never forget NYC! The Lotta Breeze Capri was perfect for the cooler temps!



Where has your skirt been?

Practicing Gratitude at Weight Watchers

Two weeks ago, I decided enough was enough and joined Weight Watchers again, making a 6 month commitment. No backing out this time and no phoning it in!



After a rough weekend with less than stellar food choices, I went to a meeting. Monday is my usual day, although I haven't been back on a Monday since I started back!

My first week back I lost 1.6 and this week I lost .8 so I'm super happy with my progress so far. I am aiming for a pound a week, and I am on track.

After a crazy weekend and a rough morning this meeting was just what I needed.



Gratitude. The handout this week suggested that you find 3 things a day that you are grateful for.

Today I am grateful...



That I won the drawing at my meeting!



I am grateful for my running club!



I am grateful to be running injury free!

What are you grateful for today?

7 Year Runniversary!

7 years ago today I started running using the Couch to 5k app. It wasn't pretty and sometimes it was not fun. I stuck with it, though, and ran the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure that Fall.

Since then I have run 222 races! I love that number! 60 of those were half marathons and 4 were full marathons!

I thought about looking up some pics from favorite races, but Facebook Memories came to the rescue with these little gems, all posted on this day in the past.









The last 2 are from Biggest Loser Erie, which is still my fastest ever half marathon, 5 minutes faster than my previous PR.

Love it!

How many years have you been running? Do you still remember that first day?

Being Kind to Yourself, Marathon Training Edition

Last weekend was my longest run to date for this marathon training plan. My running club was taking a field trip and we had 3 routes to do. One was a 5k, one was 5 miles, and one was 8 miles. My plan was to attempt 16, but settle for 14 if I wasn't feeling it.



Warm up lap done, and on to the first 5 miles. I had a group of 3, and we were running a roughly 16 minute mile. Once we reached the meet up point for each loop, one went home, one went to run 2 on his own, and the other came with me for the 5k loop.



This was a trail loop, we got lost, but I somehow made it into a 3 mile run, so we had 8 total. She was done and I was on my own. I decided to do an out and back for 4 more miles and then I would figure out my next move from there.



I don't know what happened, but by the 11th mile I was just done. I walked the 12th mile and then sat in my car and cried.



I wasn't seeing that I had completed 12 miles. All I saw was that I didn't do 14. I beat myself up the whole way home.

How am I going to do MCM if I cannot even do 14 miles?
What haven't I been training harder?
I don't do enough cross training.
Everyone else did 16, why didn't I do my 14?



Ugh.
I drove home and went to record my run in my journal.



See those pink numbers? That's my charity training plan mileage. The 16 is what my running club plans for the fasties who run 50 miles a week.

Yup.

I beat myself up. I cried. For nothing. I actually did exactly what I was supposed to do.

Even so, what if I was just having an off day? It happens all the time. Did beating myself up change anything? Nope.

We need to be kinder to ourselves, y'all. Life is too short to cry over a bad run!

Have you ever beat yourself up over a bad workout?

Facing My Fears 2018 August Edition

Way back in January, I decided that I was going to do something every month that scared me. Some of them are truly terrifying to me and some of them are things that intimidate me.

Zip lining started off terrifying and ended up being exhilarating. Aerial yoga was a little scary, a lot of fun, but really hard on my healing foot so I only went once.





I've done some scary things that weren't on the list as well, like traveling to Asheville NC to spend the week with 20 strangers at the Slow AF Trail Retreat with Mirna Valerio. And met some of the most amazing women ever, who I know will be lifelong friends.



I tried exercise classes that intimadated me, like Pure Barre and Spin.





When I was first making the list and not really sure how to fill all 11 months left in the year, a friend suggested the Mile High Bridge at Grandfather Mountain.



While I'm not exactly afraid of heights, I do have a healthy fear of falling from them, if that makes any sense, and this bridge definitely made me equal parts nervous and excited.



I dragged the hubs along with me and called it a date day, and we drove the 2+ hours through the Blue Ridge Parkway to get there. So.gorgeous.



The temp actually dropped 20 degrees as we drove up the mountain!



The hubs informed me that he would not be going across the bridge, as he is hugely afraid of heights, but as we approached he decided to give it a try.



As we stood there, counting the number of people on the bridge, (maximum of 40 at a time, people!) We could hear the bridge twanging and creaking. It was a little disconcerting, I'm not gonna lie.



The mile high section is about 2/3 of the way across. The view was amazing, but that twang!



The only twang I wanna hear is in a country song, thank you very much!



Of course, once we made it across, we had to wander about for a little while...



And then go back.... you know, across the terrifying bridge...





I had a pit in my stomach the whole time, but it was so worth it! The hubs even had a good time, and was a good sport about getting a jump shot pic afterwards.



3rd try was the charm!
I'm still in shock that he went across with me, my fear facing abilities must be rubbing off on him!
Next month I participate in my first triathlon. I'm not super fond of swimming, so once I get that out of the way, the bicycling and running will be a breeze!

Have you ever faced a fear?