Heads Up… Spartan Up!! (A Book Preview)

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Spartan Race Media to see if I would like to read a synopsis of Joe De Sena’s new book coming out, “Spartan Up!”  I’ve never run an obstacle course race before.. Let alone a Spartan Race, BUT, um… read?! I LOVE reading!! Of course I said yes!! I received a 20 page synopsis of what to expect in “Spartan Up!” which is being released in 1 month on May 13th!

 

Ok, first things first… If you don’t know who Joe De Sena is, shame on you!! Just kidding… kind of ;) Joe is the founder and driving force behind Spartan Race! More about him from their website:

“An entrepreneur from 8 years old Joe has had a passion for life that moves the ball forward against all odds. Born in Queens NY to a yoga teaching, meditation practicing mother and an Italian father that was an uber-entrepreneur the author learned simple techniques for forging ahead no matter the odds.”

As I started reading the synopsis of “Spartan Up!”, I was immediately drawn in by his style of writing and the stories he told!  One thing Joe said in the synopsis that really stood out to me was “To reach full potential, you need to UNLEARN every important thing modern society has taught you” and that “success is a byproduct of delayed gratification” After reading that, I instantly knew that this was going to be a book that EVERYONE could benefit from, not only those who call themselves Spartans!  How true is it though?  Cheat days… product of wanting instant gratification!  Injuries… also a product of instant gratification (training to much/too hard, too fast because we want to see immediate results).

“Spartan Up!” will test your comfort zone and make you think about things differently!! From their website:

Spartan Up! is more than an insider’s view of the world of obstacle racing

It’s a manual for the Spartan way of life, including:

• Finding the will to succeed: The first half of a race you run with your legs; the second half you run with your mind. Turn your pain into an outboard motor to drive you forward.
• Tossing your cookies: The Cookie Test can teach you how to overcome the need for immediate gratification and help you prosper in the long term.

• Getting Spartan fit: Survival of the Fittest means training outside the gym for strength, endurance and flexibility for your entire body—and don’t forget those burpees!
• Moving mountains: Whether metaphorical mountains or the ones on which Spartans race, what you think of as your limitations can actually be a mere starting point for transformation.

Here’s a little audio snippet of the book to hold you over til you receive your copy! ;)

And an amazing video you HAVE to watch!! If you don’t want to preorder your very own copy after watching this there’s something wrong with you! ;)

Spartan Up – DNA Promo from SpartanRace on Vimeo.

Now the people over at Spartan Race Media have a special offer for you!!  If you preorder the book before May 13th, you can get 20% off if you use the coupon code: SPARTANUP

Otherwise, You can get 15% off of a 2014 Spartan event if you preorder now!! Just click the preorder image below!

* I was promised a first edition of the book when it releases May 13th in exchange for this preview. As always all opinions are my own and I was not paid for a positive review!  100% honesty is my policy and I only share things I think you guys would like as well!! :)

** If you are a company looking for a blogger to host a review/giveaway or to sponsor, please email me at runners.luck@hotmail.com

Another Update :)

Well, my last post was about 2 1/2 weeks ago so I’ll do another quick and easy update to keep you all in the loop! ;)

~At the moment, where I live, we are experiencing a drought… I can’t remember the last summer where the grass was so brown and prickly that I didn’t want to go barefoot!!  This is also the hottest summer we’ve had in quite a while!!

~ As part of the Mezamashii Project, I received a pair of Mizuno Wave Elixir 7’s!  I have not been able to test them out yet, but I’m really excited to take them out for a run hopefully this weekend!

~ I found a recipe on Pinterest for ice cream made out of bananas and peanut butter and decided to give it a try… it was pretty good… and healthy! :)

~ Remember that HUGE test that I had to take that might have postponed my graduation by 6 months???  I PASSED!!!  Which means I get to do an interpreting practicum/internship starting in the fall!!  I’m so excited!!  The first part of the practicum will be observing an interpreter and then I actually get to start interpreting for clients under close supervision!!  yay for field work!! :)

~ I have a meeting tomorrow for said practicum which requires a huge stack of paperwork to fill out

~ I am officially halfway through summer quarter… although, I’d still rather be doing normal summer stuff like swimming, reading, running, biking, picnicking, or knitting… silly schoolwork!  It’s been a stressful couple of weeks!!

~ I have been able to do some “light” ahem… reading before bed this summer… tehe… did I say light? ;)

~ Saturday July 14th was my 25th birthday :)  My hubby brought me home some roses, a funny card, a thing for my car so I can listen to my ipod, and A STICK!!  That thing has become my legs’ best friend!! lol

So, that’s been my crazy past couple of weeks… what have you all been up to?  What are you currently training for?  What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer, and have you done it this summer?

Winner of the signed “Runner’s Field Manual” Book

The giveaway ended yesterday (9/5) so today (9/6) I entered everyone into the random number generator :)  I think this is the first time I’ve actually ever announced a winner
the day after the giveaway ended lol…

Anyways… drum roll please…

THE WINNER IS….

CONGRATS STEPHANIE!! And thanks for following my blog! :)

Please email me as soon as possible with your address… runners.luck@hotmail.com

If I don’t hear from you in 3 days I will have to choose a new winner…

 

Don’t be disappointed if you didn’t win… be on the lookout for another
giveaway on my blog in the next few days!! :)

The Runner’s Field Manual Book Giveaway!!!

I figured since it’s finals week and I wont be blogging very much due to studying and what not,
I would have a giveaway!  :)

ETA: Mark Remy found my giveaway and offered to sign the book SO… you will now be receiving “The Runner’s Field Manual” signed by the author if you win! :)

I bought “The Runner’s Field Manual: A tactical (and Practical) Survival Guide)” a while ago, read it and loved it.  It combines humor with a few good guidelines for runners to follow… one of my favorites:

“Large picture windows and glass storefronts allow a passing runner a rare chance to glance over and check himself out while he’s running. (A row of parked cars offers the same thing, but only from the chest up.) If a fellow runner sees you doing this and taunts you, just say that you’re only ‘checking your form,’ and quickly change the subject. Just watch where you’re going – nothing ruins your form faster than running full speed into a lamppost or mailbox”

haha! I’ve totally checked myself out in a window before!  What?! haven’t you?! lol

Here is what Google Product has to say about the book written by Mark Remy and the editors of Runner’s World:

Hot on the heels of 2009’s popular The Runner’s Rule Book comes another indispensable guide from Runner’s WorldMore Boy Scout field guide than Emily Post’s Etiquette, The Runner’s Handbook covers everything from first aid (popping blisters) to navigation (sans GPS) to identifying other species that the roving runner might encounter on the road and much more information that readers will find useful and entertaining, including:-navigating the water stop-mating habits: when runner’s date, marry, and reproduce-how to cross the street (it’s harder than you think)-race waivers: why you’re better off not reading the fine printVeteran runners will nod in recognition at the Handbook’s many lessons, warnings, and instructional asides; newcomers to the sport will appreciate the insider info. Full of charts, illustrations, and more than a few laughs, The Runner’s Handbook is the perfect reference manual for anyone who loves to run—or wants to learn how.

 

Here’s how to enter (Leave a separate comment for each entry):

Mandatory
     - Be/Become a follower of my blog! It’s easy… just hit the follow button on the right hand
       sidebar!

Optional
     - Blog about this giveaway or post a link on your blog’s sidebar

     - Follow me on twitter HERE

     - Tweet the following (you can just copy and paste into twitter): 
Check out the @Runnersworld book #giveaway @superwoman4002 is having on her blog #runchat http://tinyurl.com/3habaq6

     - Tell me what the best running advice is that you could give me (funny or serious)

 

Giveaway ends on September 5th! I bought this book on my own and was not paid for my opinions or hosting this giveaway in any way.

Random Things on Thursday

Well, I was tagged by Quinton, Q, The Guy who loves Jersey Shore, or the Sick Wuss (whatever you want to call him is probably ok*) over at Q on the Move.  I guess this means that I need to come up with 10 random things about me and then tag a few other people…

1.  I’m 23 and sleep with a teddy bear… my boyfriend got it for me for Valentines Day before we were actually dating and I was crushing on him majorly!  The bear’s name is Charles Peter II.

This picture was taken a couple years ago

2.  I have broken a total of 5 bones, all sports related! My 4 front teeth, yes they’re fake now (basketball), My toe (playing barefoot sand soccer, yeah… smart), A bone in the top of my foot (basketball), My collarbone (basketball), My finger (flag football)… yes, basketball was good to me 4th grade through college!

3.  I have major issues with my body… I think my butt is too big and I have never found a pair of jeans that fit like I want them to… If I get them to fit my waist they’re too small in the butt, If I get them to fit my butt they are WAY too big in the waist… you get the picture…

4.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Frank Sinatra music but REALLY LOVE Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly movies!**

5.  I have worked part time job #1 for 6 1/2 years and part time job #2 for 5 years… they took me through college DEBT FREE! (with the occasional side jobs like babysitting and assistant basketball coach etc…)

6.  When I was in Jr High, my orthodontist took an x-ray of my hand and told me I’d be 6 feet tall or taller… I made it to about 5’9” and was disappointed because I wanted to be taller.. I’m still tall for a girl.

7.  I have a twin… I’m 4 minutes older…we don’t look alike, and we don’t have a secret language.  I’m about 4 inches taller than her and have curly hair.

 This is the most recent picture I have of us

8.  I LOVE to knit and crochet!  My boyfriend likes to tease me and tell me I’m an old woman.  I have a blog that I started when I started teaching myself how to knit and crochet… BLOG HERE

     

I crocheted Charizard for my boyfriend and knitted a piano tote for my mom for last Christmas.

9.  I want a flex friendly body!! I get jealous when I see women with big, cut biceps!  Starting next week I’m going to start a more weight friendly workout plan!  (keep me to my word k?!)  We’re not talking HUGE biceps… but bigger than my skinny arms now.

10.  In high school, I was on the dance team and on the dance/kick squad for marching band… I dont see how I made either because I am VERY uncoordinated and very clutzy!  I end up with bruises on my thighs and arms from running into things and I trip over lines in the sidewalk a lot.

                                  

Wow… Senior year (2005)

People I tag are:

          1.  Tressa @ Track Coach &Adorable Wife (Coach, feel free to do it too!)
          2.  Rae @ 5k Rae (I’ll get you the info about the shorts sometime this weekend!)
          3. Pam @ Thirty Schmirty (Thanks for the kind comments on my blog!)

Now, go forth and create random lists!

Sorry for not naming everyone… You all are awesome, I just picked a random 3! So feel free to make random lists about yourself even if you weren’t named! :)

*******HEALTH UPDATE*******

I had my follow up cardiologist appointment today.  It went really well!  He came in and said he had looked at the results more in depth since my echo-stress test and my heart was really healthy!  Exact words:  “You are in really good shape!  Honestly, we rarely have anybody that goes as long as you did in that test!”  (ok…I may have added the exclamation points) but… that made me feel good that my heart was in such good shape!  He said I could run 30 miles this Saturday if I wanted to! haha! 

He said that he thinks it’s just a muscle sprain that caused all of these problems and that he would recommend taking Aleve not only when my chest starts to ache but he would go ahead and take a couple before my race on Saturday.  Does anyone have any opinions about this? 
*******************************

I also went shopping today as you can see in the picture! My grandma got me a gift card for my birthday (I think she forgot I was born in July)… it was to Kohls.  I usually don’t shop at kohls, but I did find the cute running shorts there!

 

I couldn’t pass up the Under Armour fleece at Dunhams!  It’s so soft and comfy… it’s like a hug when I put it on!  I also picked up the only running book they had in our local Borders… “Born to Run”  I figured I could read it in the car tomorrow on the 6 1/2 hour trek to Nashville. 

That’s right… I’M LEAVING TOMORROW MORNING!!!  That means 1 day and like 11 hours til my race!!  I’m so excited I could cry, puke, hug someone, smile, laugh… judging by those actions, I would say you can tell I’m pretty nervous too lol.  We’re going straight to the Expo and then heading to the hotel and dinner after that… So, with that, I bid thee adieu!  I have to finish packing!

Don’t forget to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!!  I know I said you had til today to enter, but really… you have til tomorrow night by the time I get to the hotel for the night! 

 

* Q is actually a pretty cool dude… his comments usually leave me feeling motivated and like I can do anything… AND he thinks my 3D glasses are hot

**If you don’t know who these people are, please go google it or something!