"It's Time" - Imagine Dragon

Well, it's not exactly time just yet.......but it's getting close.

16 days kind of "close".

The last 30 days have been incredible.

The training has been intense.
The excitement is killing me.
[super grateful, it's not the other way around]

This is what the training has looked like the last 31 days:

[dailymile]

I did my longest run 31 days ago:

[instagram @runemz ]

Nothing like 8 hours on a treadmill to start your day off right.  The first 6 hours I ran and text a few friends.  My friends are amazing.  Truly.  I received no less than 100 texts while I ran [and two hilarious videos].  Grateful.

Then I watched the first hour of the Today Show. 
The final hour I tried to pick up the pace a little so I would manage to get a final reading that included a "something" .44. 

YES, it is all about the 4's.

My body has felt great throughout this process.  I have never run this many miles in consecutive weeks before.

I know this special delivery from GNC sure helped.  HOLY.  SCORE!!

I love, love, love VEGA.  I swear by this stuff before, during and after my runs.  And the Quest Bars.......ummmmm, yes, please.

The last 24 hour treadmill run I did my highest mileage week was 89 miles.  Most weeks came in around 75-80.

A few things are different this time around:

* More miles
* Vegetarian
* Training on my very own Woodway
* Better fueling
* More foam rolling
* I know what I'm in for

And.  I.  Freaking.  Cannot.  Wait. 

If you would like to donate: [here]

If you would like to buy a shirt: [here]


Thank you so freaking much for all of your support.

Don"t Call It A Comeback.............

................

I've been wanting to do another "one" for nearly two years.

The San Francisco Union Square has called my name.

[Instagram-from last night]

#iwillsaveyouallandnotwriteinhashtag #butyouknowiwanttolikereallyreallybad



On September 13-14th you will find me here.

Running.

On. A. Treadmill. For. 24. Hours. [yes, again]

#outside #underatent #betterfreakingbeonaWoodway #wearingMizunos

To benefit Effect. [link]

So. freaking. excited.

So. freaking. grateful. for. the. opportunity.

Could not do this without my P&P.

I freaking love you MY freaking Pita and Peanut.
#jfr

"X Gon' Give It to Ya" - DMX [procompression winner]

Since it's Peanut's Spring Break this week.......

This is going to be fast.

We've got like 7 libraries she wants to hit up. [who is this child of mine?]

The winner of the ProCompression [magic] socks is

Which is..................

Run with Jess!!

Email me lady! [runemzrun at gmail]

Happy Monday to you ALL!

"Suit & Tie" - JT [socks & shorts] ProCompression giveaway & Motionwear discount

So lately.

My fun has been found here [Instagram]. I freaking love it.

Like LOVE it X 444.

It's my happy place. I pretty sure no one misses my "blogging" [minus my Mom]. I find Instagram to be a mini blog through a photo. It works for me.

However, these two promos brought me back for a quick blog post.

* ProCompression giveaway

and

* Motionwear discount.

I have long been a believer in compression post workout. I am now beginning to enjoy it during as well. I typically stuck with my CEP compression socks.......mostly because they were the first brand I was exposed to. After seeing a promo code on Hungry Runner Girl's blog a while back......I took the PCP. Pro Compression Plunge.

Anddddddddddddddd

I TOO......am a fan.

And I may wear them a lot.

Like a freaking lot.

So ProCompression has offered to giveaway one pair to one of you. Sa-weet.
Here's how you enter:

LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH [4 possible entries]

1. Tell me your big goal for 2013
2. Follow @Procompression on twitter
3. Follow me on Instagram
4. Tweet ..... "Yes, I freaking want to win some @procompression from @runemz and I think they should make these in CAMO." ;)

And just because they rock........

...............here is the promo code for 40% off : BLG13

I also received a pair of Motionwear shorts to try out.

I did one of my recovery runs in them. Zero complaints. Felt great. No rude rubbing or weird seams. #hugewin

[Please ignore the grandma socks.]

They are offering 15% off a $75 order when you use promo code: RUNEMZ

You can find them at
Twitter @motionwear
Instagram @motionwear

Winner will be announced Monday the 25th.

"Gratitude" - Beastie Boys {Phoenix Marathon}

Grateful.

That's me.

I used to be able to sit down to blog and the words would just come.  Lately, I've struggled to put recent events into words. 

"Thank you" - just doesn't seem to cover what I am feeling.

Let me take a step back.  I'll give you a few examples.

* I was blown away when I got to meet [in real life] RAchelle [yes, the CAP on that A is supposed to be there] ;) 

How I would describe her four words:

HUMBLE
Thoughtful
Caring
FREAKINGspeedy

But she went above and beyond the call of any friend last Saturday and ran 18 of my 26.2 mile marathon with me. 

Here is [really] where I do not have the words.  She talked to me from mile 18-25 - calf pain a-blazing.  Telling me story after story.  Stories of triumph.  Stories of pain.  Stories of encouragement.  I have since spent two hours writing this down in my journal.  I know, Emily, it was a freaking race.  Well, no, sorry, it wasn't.  It was a lot more than a race.  In fact, it was barely a race.  I will treasure this day forever.  However, it certainly will not be because I freaking finally got a new PR.

* Grateful for the confidence this race gave me.  I now KNOW I can do a 3:09.  I'll get it.  I held back at the beginning which felt great.  Only to cramp from a muscle pull [incurred 10 days before race day] at mile 15.  Not awesome.  But......still.........grateful


* When Further. Faster. Forever.  highlighted me as their "Athlete of the Week". 

A huge honor for me.  This is an incredible community of athletes run by athletes.  I have "met" some of the kindest people though this group.

People Like . . . .

mcg_christopher who ran 13.44 freaking miles on a treadmill.  THEN.......donated $444 to the Sojourner Center.  The Domestic Violence shelter I ran for 24 hours to raise money for.

grateful.

* And that text I got from my Mom on Friday.  She knew the Doctor told me not to race.  She also knew there wasn't a chance in *&## I'd listen.  So she text me five words.

You. Can. Do. Hard. Things.
#wordtomymutha

What are you grateful for today?

"Sail" - AWOLNATION

January has truly sailed by. [dang...so I guess birthday "month" must end]

I am still loving my awesome cookbook:

I have tried four [of course, four] recipes. ;)

But ummmmm, that 4th one . . . .  let's just say . . . . I don't recommend cooking at night when you are tired and want nothing more than to go to bed so you can do your long run in the morning. 

SOOOOOO tired [and lazy] in fact, that you [think] you turned the oven off [but actually just the convection fan] and you wake up at 4:30 to the smell of fried coconut.  Well, more like coconut charcoal.

[this is after they spent two hours outside]

It. was. not. awesome.

The Pita was not impressed.  Smoke filled the house.  Everything stinks.  Clothes.  Pillows.  My dog.  [so gross]

But by mid morning ..... He/We had found the humor in it.

I like to think of my nutritional plan/way of eating as the p90x of eating.

stomach-confusion.

I'm the worst.

One week I'm craving all things meaty.
The next week I'm fueling on all carbs.
Then it's all muscle milk and quest bars.
Followed by "can you eat your weight in Kale" week.

Anyway.....I've been feeling a lot better. Eating a lot "cleaner" even if that means completely changing what I eat from week to week.

In other random news.........

I meant to answer Michelle's question about:

HOW MANY MILES DID I RUN ON MY TREADMILL IN 2012.

I ran:  4,057.44 miles in total

AND

3,021 on my TREADMILL!!  So, who won Michelle? [let me know!]

*****

ALSO, not sure if you remember the review I did on 3-DSoles.com  - I've been using them ever since and loving them.  If your in the market for new CUSTOM insoles - give them a try. 

They are offering a 15% discount when you use the code: confusing2013
[love that "confusing" part] ;)

*****

Now, for the question the Pita would like me to ask my fellow running/workout friends.........

"Just HOW freaking many workout shorts/skirts does one treadmill runner need?"
[you can replace treadmill with "outside", "trail", "track"....etc.]

I've been binge buying as of late.  Those dang Tuesday morning emails from Lululemon.  Killin' me.  This purple beauty is one of my favs.

How many running/workout shorts do you own?

be. honest.

[I'll answer tonight --- after I see what kind of company I am in here. ;) ]

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!

"I'm Sorry" - Blake Shelton

Yes, I'm sorry, in advance.

This is probably going to be too long.
AND
This is a bit of a RANT.

I've had this post burning in my brain ever since the day after my birthday.

Because.............

That's when the emails started coming.  I deleted a few.  I replied to a few.  Funny how after I sat and wasted my time writing back........ 3 of the 4 emails [magically] came back "undeliverable", "unknown email", " no recipient".  Hmmmmmmmm.

OK.

Let me back up a bit.

As I'm sure 99.99% of you know.

I. love. my. treadmill.

LIKE - I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove my treadmill. Ever since I set foot on one for my 24 hour treadmill run, I was sold.

I've trained on one EXCLUSIVELY for 2.5 years.  It works for ME.

I often get awesome emails from people asking me:

* what brand of treadmill I run on
* what treadmill I had before I bought my Woodway
* what treadmill I would suggest in a certain price point, etc.

[Let me add I LOVE answering questions, especially treadmill questions, I welcome them.]

To which I do my usual reply......

"I had a NordicTrack Elite XT.  I am NOT a fan of the company but the treadmill never did me wrong."

I also get a lot of people asking:

What does Woodway give you for all the plugs you send their way?

Ummmmmmmmm.  Nada.  Zilch. Zippo.  Zero.

I have NO "paids".  No sponsors.  No kickbacks.

I love their product.  I love the company.  I love the employees I have spoken to. 
I plug them because I believe in their product.

Which is WAY more than I can say for NordicTrack.

Now here's where I get a little feisty.

When people email [not comment but email] me and say:

"I'll take your 36 mile run seriously when you do it outside."
"It's easier on a treadmill"
"You could be a really great runner, if you trained outside"

There were two others that followed the same general subject.

So here are my replies, being that most emails bounced back:

"I did do that little 50 mile Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim run at the Grand Canyon [outside, on a trail] which I trained for on. my. treadmill.

Maybe a "great runner" isn't a 3:18 marathoner - but I'm happy with it.
and
I'll take your outside running a little more seriously when YOU run 36 on a treadmill."

Not sure how the Big Time Running Bloggers do it.
SkinnyRunner
HungryRunnerGirl
ShutUp + Run

I bow down to them.  Seriously.

My skin is way too thin.  Crap like this irritates me to no end.

If you hate the treadmill or "dreadmill".....  Sweet.  Great.  Awesome.

I'm not here trying to sway you to run on a moving rubber belt.
If you like the asphalt  - awesome. 
If you like dirt - sweet.

But seriously, to each their own.