Friday Favorites

WHOOP WHOOP! It's Friday and I'm STOKED! Not only does that mean it's almost the weekend (and depending on when you read this it may already in fact BE the weekend), but it also means the hubby and I are going to get chips and salsa tonight! We missed out last week because we had a wedding to go to on Friday night, but we can't go two weeks in a row without our favorite Mexican food ;) But enough about all the deliciousness (because it's making me hungry and I still have a few hours before I get to actually taste it), it's time to share my list of what I've been digging lately!

Running For Others

If you've been around my neck of the woods for a while you will probably remember I was an ambassador for the Los Angeles Marathon and Conqur Endurance (the company who puts on the LA Marathon, along with other races). Well, our ambassador guru, Ryan, left Conqur last year and moved him and his family to Texas to start working with World Vision. As if that isn't cool enough, he is doing something even more amazing! He is going to run the Comrades Marathon in South Africa... but not just for him... he is going to run the 54 mile ultramarathon (the world's largest and oldest ultra) with a goal to get 54 World Vision children sponsored! It would be AWESOME if you would consider sponsoring a child (the hubby and I are currently praying about it ourselves), but the bare minimum you should follow along on Ryan's journey! You can find his blog and all of his social media contact info here: https://www.comrades2019.com. GO RYAN GO! 

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#5KHeroes: Run for Mental Health

And my awesome friends with amazing causes just keep coming! If you remember, when I was training for the Chicago Marathon, I worked with a running coach - Run Your Race Pacing. The experience was great (one I'd totally recommend to anyone who asks) and the people are wonderful! RYR just kicked off a fan-freakin'-tastic challenge and I wanted to share it with you. In a nutshell, they want to challenge people to run or walk a 5K a day for 30 days all while keeping track of the days and posting as often as possible with hashtag #5KHero. The message being that we are united in an effort to show empathy, care and love for those dealing with mental health challenges of any kind (but specifically depression, anxiety, addiction and suicide ideation). They are encouraging everyone who participates to tag three additional people to join the challenge. The people you tag do not need to struggle with mental health issues, but it is your way of announcing your support of the cause, as well as acting as a lifeline to others. If you tag a friend, in essence you are saying that you are letting them know directly that you are here for them. If they ever need anyone they can to call, text or come see you.

Source - #5KHeroes: Run For Mental Health Facebook Page

Hannah Gadsby's Nanette Special

I saw a friend comment about this Netflix Special on her IG stories so asked the hubby if he wanted to watch it with me. The only thing I knew about it was Krissy endorsed it and it was a comedy special. Well, let me just stop you right there and let you know that although Hannah Gadsby is a comedian, this special is serious. Yes, she tells some jokes, yes, she makes folks laugh, but man is it hard hitting on some very humorless topics. And topics we should be discussing. Like the tagline states - "Behind every joke, there is a story." If you have a free hour I HIGHLY recommend watching this.

#Dirt2Strip

You all KNOW I am always down for some crazy running adventures, so when I saw the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon was the day before the Rock 'N' Roll Las Vegas Half the wheels started spinning... What if we ran that in the morning, flew to Vegas for the RNRLV 5K that night, then ran the RNRLV Half the following day?! I mean, we had done something similar with #SD2LV a couple years back, so why not?! I chatted with some friends and they were in, so we booked our flights and hotels, registered for the races, and now are telling the world in case they want to join in. Wanna run with us?!

What are you loving lately?

#RunHappy Inspiration

When Brooks reached out to the Run Happy Ambassador team at the beginning of July and offered to outfit one of our running inspirations head-to-toe I was STOKED! Who wouldn't want to bless someone else with free gear?! But then I got a little nervous... I mean, the running community ROCKS MY SOCKS, so how would I narrow it down to just one?! 

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There's Kelly {who empowers the female running community to find their strength}, Allison {who is fighting to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder her daughter Emma has been battling since she was about a year old}, Andrea {who just KILLED her first 500K - yup, you read that right - where she finished 3rd OA, 2nd Female and in 4:14:40:59}, Gelcys {who runs while battling fibromyalgia, scoliosis, severe chronic migraines, brain disease and seizures} and a plethora of others. Shoot, those are just a few of the runners I know personally and quickly popped into my head!

Left to Right: Kelly {@kellykkroberts}, Allison {@afoley09}, Andrea {@runcoachkrun}, Gelcys {@runner_unleashed}

And although these runners are all absolutely amazing in their own ways (not to mention these women are fan-freakin'-tastic human beings, not just awesome runners), once I thought about it for a second longer I knew exactly who to pick.

THE HUBBY

I get it... You may be asking yourself, "Why would she choose her husband?!". He doesn't run crazy fast or crazy far or have a big social media following or have some inspirational story... Well, the fact is simple, he runs because he loves me and sees what a passion running is in my life. If that doesn't spell L-O-V-E (and inspirational), I don't know what does.

Now, don't get me wrong, after running for almost five years (holy crapoly, where has the time gone?!), he has found a love an enjoyment of running for himself (especially after being introduced to the trails), but the fact still remains that he started (and if we are completely honest, continues) mainly because of his love for me.

Okay, okay, so enough gushing (for now), let's get to the main event... THE GEAR! So I let the hubby select the items he was digging from the Fall 2018 line (I wanted to make sure he would wear everything, rather than me surprising him and then him not being jazzed with my selects - but I think I would have picked a very similar outfit I had free-rein).

• Ghost Short Sleeve Shirt - Brooks lightest-weight, sweat-wicking shirt. It's fast drying, light and airy, and has a comfortable design. Seeing as we live in SoCal where we can run in short sleeves for the majority of the year, having a great tee is perfect. The hubby loves the breathability (especially with the humidity we've got now).
• Go-To 7" Short - Unrestricted and unrestricted running shorts. These have a lightweight feel, secure storage and are fast drying. The hubby's favorite color is green so I was not surprised when he put these on his list. {PS He was originally thinking 5" but I'm glad he went with 7" because that might have been too much thigh ;)}
• Adrenaline GTS 18 - The updated model has a new, modern design with a smooth ride and the trusted support runners have come to love from these shoes. The hubby has never run in Brooks before but is excited to try out the perfect balance of cushion and support. He is definitely ready to #RunHappy!
• Booster Pom Beanie - I know, I know, I just commented on how we live in SoCal and we have great weather 90% of the time, but the hubby rocks beanies more often than your average bear. In fact, I would say he wears one (more for fashion and to tame his mane than because he is legitimately cold) at least once a week. 

The hubby was pumped to head out and pound the pavement in his new gear (and I was a "mean wife" and made him wait until I could be there to snap a few pictures ;)). Although these pieces came from the 2018 Fall line, they're perfect for these warm weather runs (well, minus the beanie, but the hubby will still rock it when he isn't running, despite the heat).

And now that we've seen the clothes, let's get back to gushing on the hubby for a moment ;) Remember when I mentioned he's been running for almost 5 years?! Well, he just recently started seeing himself as a runner - craziness, right?! Since beginning his running "career" he's tackled 11 half marathons, two full marathons and ran the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim! He's currently training for his third full marathon this Fall! Can you say ROCKSTAR?! Sorry ladies, he's taken, but if you're interested in outfitting a runner who inspires you, your running partner or even yourself, keep Brooks in mind ;)

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Who inspires you to keep chugging along when the going gets tough?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Race Discount Codes

I totally realize race registrations can be pricey, so when a race offers me a discount code to pass along to my friends, family and followers, I want to make sure you have easy access to it (because the more you save, the more races you can run, right?! #runnerslogic). Below are some of the current personal discount codes I have. Feel free to leave any other codes you know in the post comments so your fellow runners can take advantage of them. (PS The first list is ordered alphabetically by race name, the second list is ordered chronologically by race date. I wanted to make it as simple as possible. I also hyperlinked the race so you can find all the necessary information and easily register.)

Alphabetical (by race name)

America's Finest City Half Marathon

San Diego, CA
August 19th, 2018
Code: CARLEESFINEST {$10 off half marathon registration}

Avalon 50/50 Benefit Run

Catalina Island, CA
January 19th, 2019
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off 50K or 50-Mile registration}

Catalina Island Half Marathon

Catalina Island, CA
November 17th, 2019
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Marathon, 10K or 5K registration}

Catalina Island Marathon

Catalina Island, CA
March 19th, 2019
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Marathon or 10K registration}

Griffith Park Trail Run

Los Angeles, CA
November 10th, 2018
Code: CARGP {$10 off 30K, Half Marathon or 10K registration}

Mesa-PHX Marathon

Phoenix, AZ
February 9th, 2019
Code: WERUNSOCIAL10 {$10 off Marathon or Half Marathon registration}

Orange County Lexus LaceUp Races*

Irvine, CA
September 8th, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K or Kids' Race registration}

Palos Verdes Lexus LaceUp Races*

Palos Verdes, CA
November 17th, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Half Marathon, 10K or 5K registration}

Riverside Lexus LaceUp Races*

Riverside, CA
December 2nd, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Half Marathon, 5K or Kids' Race registration}

Rock 'N' Roll Series

Various Locations & Dates
Code: RNRRNB2018 {$15 off Marathon or Half Marathon US and Canada registration - some exclusions apply}

Ventura Marathon*

Ventura, CA
October 20th-21st, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K or Kids' Race registration}

Chronological (by race date)

America's Finest City Half Marathon

San Diego, CA
August 19th, 2018
Code: CARLEESFINEST {$10 off half marathon registration}

Orange County Lexus LaceUp Races*

Irvine, CA
September 8th, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K or Kids' Race registration}

Ventura Marathon*

Ventura, CA
October 20th-21st, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K or Kids' Race registration}

Griffith Park Trail Run

Los Angeles, CA
November 10th, 2018
Code: CARGP {$10 off 30K, Half Marathon or 10K registration}

Palos Verdes Lexus LaceUp Races*

Palos Verdes, CA
November 17th, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Half Marathon, 10K or 5K registration}

Riverside Lexus LaceUp Races*

Riverside, CA
December 2nd, 2018
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Half Marathon, 5K or Kids' Race registration}

Avalon 50/50 Benefit Run

Catalina Islanda, CA
January 19th, 2019
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off 50K or 50-Mile registration}

Mesa-PHX Marathon

Phoenix, AZ
February 9th, 2019
Code: WERUNSOCIAL10 {$10 off Marathon or Half Marathon registration}

Catalina Island Marathon

Catalina Island, CA
March 19th, 2019
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Marathon or 10K registration}

Catalina Island Half Marathon

Catalina Island, CA
November 17th, 2019
Code: CARLEE10 {10% off Marathon, 10K or 5K registration}

*Complete transparency - I receive a 10% commission on the Lexus LaceUp Running Series if you use my discount code

I currently have the majority of these races (plus some additional local races) on my calendar, so hopefully you not only use these discount codes to save yourself some cash-ola, but hopefully I see you out on the courses! YAY RUNNING!

Is there a race or race series you'd like to see a discount code for?

Workout Recap - Week 28

Sunday, July 8th – 8 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Monday, July 9th – November Project Bridge 5K, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Tuesday, July 10th – 6.2 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Wednesday, July 11th – 4 mile run with the hubby, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Thursday, July 12th – 1 mile warm-up, 4 x hills, 1.44 mile cool-down, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Friday, July 13th – 18 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Saturday, July 14th – Rest Day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

I'm still trying to juggle my "new" training plan for the Ventura Marathon and the fact that I have the San Francisco Marathon in two weeks (albeit I won't be running the SFM for a PR, but I still need some distance and hill training in my routine before then), which is why my week is off compared to my official calendar, but hopefully it'll work out in the end!

How were your workouts this past week?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday the 13th! Sorry I've been MIA this week but two friends of ours are getting married today so we've been helping with all of the wedding extravaganzas and blogging has taken a back seat. I promise I'll be back to your regularly scheduled programs soon! Anywho, I couldn't let a Friday come around and not share some of my favorites, so here goes!

Jason Mraz - Have It All

I love Jason Mraz and his new song, Have It All, makes me smile. He always seems to know exactly what to say to spread love and joy. We need more songs (and people) like this in the world! I mean, really, do we need more songs about getting drunk or failed relationships?! I'll say it... we have plenty, let's get some positive vibes coming through the radio waves! I realize not all of life is rainbows and unicorns, but a good deal of it is... and if we do our darnedest to focus on the positive then we tend to see more of it around us!

The Great Cut

Because I have donated my hair to Children With Hair Loss in the past, I am on their email list to received periodic updates. I saw in this recent email that The Longhairs are having an event in March that I am STOKED about. I normally try to donate my hair every 18-24 months so was getting the itch to chop it again, but with this upcoming event I think I can hold off till March. I mean, not only will they donate the hair to CWHL, but there's a possibility to be a part of a World Record! If you will be in the San Diego area and have at least 8 inches of hair to donate, consider The Great Cut.

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Macklemore featuring Kesha - Good Old Days

I'll be honest, there isn't much that Macklemore does that I don't like, but this song has been on the radio a bit lately and I am digging it. Maybe it's because lately I have been realizing more and more how fleeting time is and how often we look back and realize that those activities we were doing (what felt like yesterday) are now memories, but this song strikes a chord with me. And having a VW van in the video doesn't hurt the parallel in our life either ;)

The Staircase

When the hubby was at a work event a couple weeks back someone mentioned the series on Netflix called The Staircase. They told him it was similar to the Making a Murdered series so Ryan was excited to get into it. There were 13 episodes (plus a couple quick extras) and we ended up finishing it last night. I wouldn't say I was as invested in it as Making a Murderer, but it still had us sucked in. Obviously you have to realize the people putting the documentary together are coming at it from one side and pushing their agenda, but even still, it's crazy to think how unjust our justice system can be. Sometimes it makes you want to shake your head, other times it makes you want to scream. Once you watch it, I'd love to hear your take. No spoiler alerts from me, but I'm still trying to decide which way I'd lean on whether he did it or not.

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What are you loving lately?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?