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

Running Shoes or Candy? You Decide!

This is what I feel like telling everyone I come in contact with on Valentine’s Day… you’re welcome for being THAT awesome.. now buy me candy!! (Any will do, but my favorite is Reeses Cups!)

 

 

Saw these fun valentines on the Runner’s World website…  How fun?!  If you came up with a fitness/running/yoga/(workout of your choice) valentine card what would it say? Mine would say
You’re the shoes to my running, the ice to my bath, and the compression to my legs… 
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

 

OK, which one would you choose? Candy OR Running Shoes??

 

 

My Valentine to you all is that I’ll eat all the above chocolate and think of you! ;) (no shame!)

 

Happy Valentine’s Day my Friends!! I hope you have a great day full of love and being spoiled!! (even if it is spoiling yourself!!) ;) I want to thank you all for being so awesome… seriously, you guys are the best!!! So I’m giving you, my valentines, a coupon code for $1 off of my Skinny Yoga Mat Straps!! That makes them $7 total which includes shipping to anywhere in the US (if you’re international please email me for shipping rates)!! I hope you enjoy your valentine’s day!! :)

 

 

And because I love you all so much… I think you should treat yourself to some Tommie Copper! ;)

 

 

OR perhaps a brand new Running Skirt?!

 

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

 

What/who do you love?  
  - In all seriousness, I LOVE my family, you all, the ability to work out, and God and the life he’s blessed me with!

How are you spending your valentine’s day?  
  - Sick and on the couch… was gonna go to the gym, but my head feels like a balloon so you guys gotta share the gym love with me today! ;)

Do you use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to eat all things chocolate?
  - You betcha!! ;)  Who needs an excuse anyways?! ;)

What’s your idea of the BEST Valentine’s Day Gift ever?!

 

Fun Things Going on:
  

Tommie Copper Discount and Weekly Roundup: January 13-19

This is the post that I tell you all about a Tommie Copper Discount and my awesome week of workouts… Just thought I’d refresh you all since I haven’t posted one since June! haha!!

Monday: (GYM)
Walk .6mi in 10min; 5 Sun Salutations; Run 1.5mi in 16:50; 15 lunges each leg; 20 squats; 10 Pushups; 5 Sun Salutations; Run 1mi in 11:40; 10 lunges each leg; 20 squats; 10pushups; Walk .55mi in 10min; Stretch 15min; Legs up the Wall 10min 
Tuesday: Work/Rest
Wednesday: (GYM)
Walk .59mi in 10min; Stretch 5min; Bike 2.69mi in 30min (lvl 4); Plank 1min; Walk .59mi in 10min; 5 Sun Salutations; Stretch 15min; Legs up the Wall 10min
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Work/Rest
Sunday: Rest

Running
Total for Week = 2.5 miles 
Total for Month = unknown (too lazy to add it up right now) 
Total for Year =  also unknown as I’m too lazy

Walking
Total for Week = 4.83 miles
Total for Month = Unknown… I see a pattern here
Total for Year = I promise next week I’ll have totals ;)

Biking
Total for Week = 2.69mi/30min
Total for Month = 2.69mi/30min
Total for Year = 2.69mi/30min

*** @=outside run (refers to pace) in=treadmill run (refers to minutes)

January 2.5 miles                                                       2011 329.45 miles
                                                                                    2012 178.67 miles

 

Fun Things On The Blog are Finally Updated!!

Click the picture to be taken to the page!!

 

 

#RunChat tonight at 10pm EST!

Don’t miss out on the most happening partay in twitterland!!! It starts in about 15 minutes!! Be there or be square!!! ;)

Tommie Copper Discount Ends 1/20

Blog Posts From The Week

Forget Goals for 2014... I Have a DREAM!!!
2014 Valentine's Day Card Swap

Registered Races

TBD

Flips Audio Headphones Review

Recently I was given the opportunity to review an AWESOME product… I thought long and hard about if it would be a good fit with my blog and a good product to tell all you guys about… ok, who am I kidding?!  I really didn’t think that long OR that hard about it because lets face it… FLIPS Audio Headphones are l.e.g.i.t!  For your viewing pleasure here is me enjoying my flips:

So what exactly are FLIPS?  Thanks for asking!  Let me tell you a little about them!  They are HD headphones that you can flip out to become a powerful speaker that lets everyone around you enjoy the music you are listening to.  Remember how I LOVE working out outside??  These are perfect for those times!!  I used to crank my iPod up to full blast and always worried if I was going to blow out the speaker or not… now I don’t have to worry about it anymore!

 

It comes with a great carrying case that the headphones fit into when you fold them up! How cool is that? (I almost used the word “nifty” but refrained because I didn’t want any of you to think I’m old-fashioned and out of touch with the world!) ;)

They Flips come in two different colors:

Here are some details from their website:

I was really impressed with the quality of the Flips Headphones!  The first thing I noticed when I put them on my head was that it seemed to cancel out a lot of the noise going on around me, even with the volume turned down low!  I’m also super impressed by the quality of sound both while using them as headphones AND while using them as speakers!!  This is a super awesome product!! The only con that I could come up with for these is that when I’m wearing my glasses, the headphones smash them up against my ears and my ears become sore… I don’t know if it’s because they’re new and I haven’t gotten them broken in yet or if that’s just how they roll….

I am super pumped that I got to review these (for free) because they retail for $120!  Compared to Dr. Dre Beats Headphones at $399… that’s a good deal!!  They also have a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee!

What makes it an even better deal is that Flips Audio is offering my readers $10 off of the Flip Headphones and FREE Rush shipping upgrade when you use this code at checkout:  FA0010INT
*Only good if you purchase them through the Flips Audio Website HERE and only valid through July 16, 2013. This Offer is unlimited in quantity and cannot be combined with any other offers*

 

*I was given the Flip Audio Headphones to review for free, but all opinions stated in this review are my own

 

________________________________________________________________

 

Bestowed Box Review & Giveaway

Before I tell you all about Bestowed… the Reebok Spartan Race Entry winner is….

Congratulations!  I will be emailing you shortly with your prize! :)

_____________________________________________________

Now… on to Bestowed!! It seems like every time you head to the grocery store, there’s a new healthy food on the shelf that you’ve never heard of before!  Well, Bestowed gives you the opportunity to discover healthy food you’ll love! That’s why when they contacted me to do a review I immediately replied! :)

Bestowed is the creation of nationally recognized nutritionist and author Heather Bauer and is the answer to all those that have ever stood in the health food section of their local grocery store and said to themselves..."which one of these is really the best??"

Each month, Heather and her team of health and diet experts carefully curate 5 product samples that have caught their attention. Items like nutrition bars, snacks, breakfast cereals, and supplements are just a few of the categories considered. (Source)

When I received my Bestowed Box I was so excited to see what samples where in it… such mystery and anticipation I couldn’t contain myself!!  By the way, every box comes with a paper that explains each sample and has tips on how to use it.

My box came with:

• Teechia Super Seed Cereal
• Good Eating Salads book
• Sun Cups Dark Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups
• Navitas Coconut Water Powder
• Way Better Snacks Sweet Chili Tortilla chips
• Larabar Uber
• Everyday Califorinia EVOO

A couple of my favorite samples from this box were the Way Better Snacks Sweet Chili Chips, the Teechia Super Seed Cereal, and the Good Eating Salads book!  I have a couple of the salad recipes dog-eared already because let’s face it… my salads tend to be the same thing over and over again! 

The best part about Bestowed is that it contains different samples each month and you can join and subscribe to Bestowed HERE for $19/month or $209/year!  I think that’s a great deal and I LOVE the concept of Bestowed! 

The BESTEST part is that Bestowed is giving my readers $5 off if you use the following discount promo code:  5OFFBESTOWED01

And the ABSOLUTE bestest is that they are offering one of my readers the chance to win a 1-month subscription to Bestowed (1 box).  Right now they can only ship in the US so to enter you need to be a US resident.  To enter, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

* Giveaway Rules:    ~ Giveaway will run from 5/29/13 through 6/8/13
                               ~ A winner will be chosen through Rafflecopter and will be notified via email by 6/10/13
                               ~ The winner must respond 72 hours after they are notified or winnings will be forfeited 
                               ~ Must be 18 years of age or older to enter or meet requirements of your state
                               ~ Must be a resident within the US
                               ~ I was given a free Bestowed Box for my review; I was not paid and all opinions are my own

My Memories Suite Giveaway Winner

Hey guys, Sorry for the delay!  I had just started blogging a little bit again and then school started back up and I started my Practicum/Internship so I’ve been trying to get my school/internship/homework/work/hubby time all worked out!  ;)  Once everything settles back down a little bit I hope to make room in my schedule to blog a few times a week… maybe set aside an hour 2-3 days a week to blog/read blogs! :)  I sure do miss you all!

Anyways… The winner of the My Memories Suite Giveaway (as chosen by random.org) is……

Comment #12!!!!

Congratulations Amy Lauren!! :)  I’ll email you sometime this week and I’ll also be forwarding your email address on to the people over at MyMemories!! :) Can’t wait to see what you do with it!!  :)

For those of you who didn’t win, remember you can use my coupon code at My Memories Suite to get $10 dollars off AND a $10 Dollar credit for add-ons! :)  Just click the image below and copy and paste my coupon code!!

USE THIS COUPON CODE (just copy and paste!): 

STMMMS59610

Three Things Thursday

1. I wanted to share a coupon with everyone… If you are thinking about buying a Road ID use this Road ID coupon code for $1 off!  

ThanksZaneta861385

It expires December 9th so use it for all those Road ID Christmas Gifts you’re going to buy ;)

2.  I joined the 2010 Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge over at Run to the Finish…  it’s a really fun way to stay determined over the holidays and reach some goals too :)  PLUS, there are some fun prizes so go check it out!  Click on the button to go to the challenge page.

3.  I have a race this Saturday… The United Way 5k… It’s chip timed so I’m kind of excited… AND it’s in my hometown! :)  I’m going to try to push myself as hard as I can to try to get my sub 25… but If I fail, I know that I have 1 (maybe 2) more 5ks after this to meet my goal before the end of the year!! :D

Happy Veterans Day!! Thank you to those of you who have served for our country!!  Also, to those of you who have the day off… enjoy!  I am heading to work!  Have a great day!