2019 Wrap Up and Beyond

I'm not going to mince words. 2019 was a lot. Like A LOT. And not just for running, but overall just... well, just a lot. But hey, let's focus on the running for now...
Holy Year of Achievements!! I pulled the following list of awesomeness off:

• A TON of new PRs
  
• New 5K PR - 24:15
• New 8K PR - 40:05
• New 10K PR - 50:37
• New 15K PR - 
• New Half PR - 1:56
• Ran 19 races (placed in 5 of them)
• Ran a Marathon (my first)
• Ran a Ragnar Relay (my first)
• Placed in a Charlotte Race (my first time, 2nd Division)
• Placed Overall in a Race (3rd Overall Female)
• Hit my Milage Goal (and then some)
• Ran 1000 Miles in the Year (1st goal)
• Ran 1200 Miles in the Year (stretch goal)
• Ran 1400 Miles in the Year (even further stretch goal)

• Finally did an unassisted Pull Up and Chin Up
• Became a BibRave Pro Team Captain

Rocking my new BibRave logo gear

And those stats do not even come close to covering how much fun I had this year. I joined a new run club, met so many amazing new runner friends, embraced trail running, ran on a different continent (!), hit just under 200 Burn Boot Camps and so so much more.

Wow! No wonder I'm tired! 

So what does 2020 hold for me? Well, I've got a few crazy ideas planned that I will cover in future posts, let's just say that I had toyed with the idea of having a nice calm year going forward, but then quickly that idea faded as I learned of some really cool races, challenges and just adventures in general. I'll just leave it at, my race calendar is already starting to fill out and I don't plan on slowing down just quite yet. 

In fact, my first race of the New Year is the first DAY of the New Year! I'll be running a very tough and very technical Trail 20K on New Years Day. I did the course preview on Saturday with a few friends and let's just say, please wish me luck. I am going to need it. But if I can stay out of my own head (which is proving to be a bit more of a challenge than I expected for this one) then it will all be worth it. The post-race meal is PHENOMENAL! It's a traditional Southern Lucky New Year's Meal of BBQ, black eyed peas, greens and cornbread. Plus Legal Remedy beer! 

In addition, for the beginning part of 2020, I am participating in the 465 Virtual Challenge, an awesome challenge to help you stay motivated for the New Year. 

Basically how it works is you commit to run, walk, swim, bike, skip, crawl, whatever... for 53 miles between Jan. 1 and Feb. 29. And since it is a virtual challenge, you have the convenience of completing it anytime, anywhere! Why 53? It represents the 53 miles that make up the I-465 loop that circles Indianapolis, IN. 

There are 2 options to register if you want to join me. Basic and Premium. The main difference between the 2 is that the Premium comes with a super soft finisher shirt and a medal. Here are the exact deets:


PREMIUM

• 465 Challenger Super Soft Finisher Shirt
• 465 Race Car Slider Finisher Medal*
• Super Cool Bumper Sticker
• Training Program
• Motivational Emails
• Virtual Bib
• Certificate of Completion

BASIC

• Super Cool Bumper Sticker
• Training Program
• Motivational Emails
• Virtual Bib
• Certificate of Completion

The best part is that you can also kind of do the challenge in your own way to make it even more motivating. Challenge yourself to finish the 53 miles a by a certain date. See how many loops you can do. Do all 53 miles just running, or just swimming maybe. It's really up to you! 

To join, register here: https://www.465challenge.com/ And to sweeten the deal, I've got a discount code for you! Get 10% off either registration with code: BIBRAVE You can register anytime between now and Feb. 29, but heads up, only the first 1000 Premium 

I hope you all have also had a wonderful 2019. Let me know some of your accomplishments in the comments below. Doesn't have to be running, anything you are proud of, just let me know! And thank you for following along on this journey with me. I just know that 2020 is going to kick some serious ass!

Win a Magical Racecation from AfterShokz

Win a Magical Racecation from AfterShokz

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Aftershokz Aeropex to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Can you believe that it is just over a week away from 2020!?!??! 

2020! That it is like the freaking future, I swear! It's one of those dates from futuristic SciFi shows. Like I remember when I was a kid in the 80s that 2020 seemed so distant, like we'd have flying cars and jet packs and world peace. Well, here it is. And we may not have those things, I can promise you that 2020 is going to be an amazing year!

And guess what? Aftershokz is going to make someone's 2020 even more amazing by giving away a magical prize package as a part of their Run, Sip & Savor Sweepstakes.  

And when I say this is a Magical Prize Package, I mean MAGICAL!!

Here's what it includes:

GRAND PRIZE (Value of $3,800)

RACE ENTRY

(2) Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K 2020 entries

AIRFARE + HOTEL

Round-trip airfare and 2-night hotel accommodations for two at the Walt Disney World® Resort

(2) one-day theme park tickets with Park Hopper® option to Walt Disney World® Resort

Provided by AfterShokz

Plus this amazing Prize Bundle: 

• From AFTERSHOKZ:  (1) Aeropex Endurance Bundle

• From OTTERBOX (1) Adventure Pack including a Symmetry Phone Case, Amplify Glass, 20,000 mAh Power Pack, 36 oz Tumbler, 20oz Tumbler, and Hydration Lid

• From NATHAN (1) Trailmix 12L Pack and SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Flask

• From KT TAPE (1) Performance Recovery Bundle including KT Performance+ Blister Prevention Tape, KT Performance+ Blister Treatment Patch, KT Performance+ Chafe Safe Gel Stick, KT Recovery+ Ice/Heat Wrap System, KT Recovery+ Timed release Pain Relief Gel, KT Tape Pro, KT Tape Extreme, and KT Tape Wide

The sweepstakes is only open until 11:59 pm on January 2, 2020, Follow this link to enter: bit.ly/2QSVXYr

And as far as Aftershokz go, if you've not tried them before, they are freaking amazing. They are my absolute favorite piece of gear, the one item I use for EVERY single run I do. Instead of sticking in your ear or covering it, these headphones use bone conduction to channel your tunes straight into your brain. 

I've been using Aftershokz Airs for 2 and half years now and love them. Just recently, they released the new Aeropex and they somehow made an amazing product even more amazing. The Aeropex are lighter, have enhanced audio, sweat and waterproof and use a magnetic charging system. I've used my Aeropex a few times now and they are also more comfortable, especially under a hat or headband which can be an issue in the colder months. 

For a great deal on Aftershockz, check out: https://bibrave.aftershokz.com/ and get $50 any wireless bundle. 

And do make sure you enter the Run, Sip and Savor Sweepstakes. And if you are the lucky winner, make sure you remember who told you about it! The prize package has Wine & Dine entries and park passes for 2. And I have my own Mouse Ears already! Just saying!! 

Flipping Out Over Being Cold with Turtle Gloves

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves Lightweight Flip Mittens to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Look, I'm just going to come right out and say it - This time of the year really sucks for the outdoor runner part of me. I am a girl who loves her weather warm, sunny and well above the temperature most runners prefer. I just hate, hate HATE being cold!!! (No really, I've said it before: https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-winter-running-blahs.html)

Smiling, but actually, cold AF!

But Lissa, don't you live in SC? Isn't it like 40-50 degrees most mornings? 

Yes, but you've got to understand, my preferred running temperature is above 80 degrees. Madness, I know, but hey, if we were all the same, the world would be boring, right? 

So what's a cold-natured girl to do? Why layer up of course. 

I've got all kinds of cold weather gear - wool hats, lined leggings, base layers, thick socks, gloves - you'd think I lived in the Arctic from the looks of my running gear drawer these days. 

But... I will even be the first to admit that sometimes, just sometimes, I tend to get carried away in the layering. Because of this, I love me some items that can transition as needed, like my Turtle Gloves Flip Mittens. 

I've had a pair of Midweight Turtle Gloves for awhile now and they are amazing. Just recently, Turtle Gloves developed a new, lighter weight Flip Mitten designed for Spring/Fall and that are more water repellent and wind resistant than the midweight version, which make them even better for seasons like Spring and Fall that may be a bit rainier and windy. 

So how do they work? I'll let Turtle Gloves tell you themselves: 

CURIOUSLY ENGINEERED – TURTLe-FLIP® Patented Functionality.Wear on left or right hand – Low-bulk flip-over design – No buttons, magnets or hook & loop – No cumbersome mitten piece to get in the way – Thumb piece naturally folds into place in Fingerless Gloves mode – Simply curl fingers and flip elastic trim piece over all fingers and thumb together – Fold over or under to adjust length of finger exposure – From fingerless mode; tuck in thumb and slide to wrist, pull up full length for arm warmer or fold twice neatly into cuff or roll as desired – From Fingerless Gloves mode, use similar flipping method to turn back into mittens - from https://turtlegloves.com/product/running-mittens-lightweight/

Basically, they go from being full mittens, to fingerless gloves with a quick flip. So when I start out my run and am cold AF, I can have them in full mitten mode. Then a few miles in when (if) I warm up, I can flip them easily into fingerless mode without even breaking stride. And, when I start to get chilly, I can can flip them back just as easily. And I do, near constantly. Flip/Filp/Flip - easy peasy. Perfect for a girl like me who's temperature sensitive.

Interested in trying them out for yourself? You can order online at the Turtle Gloves website: https://turtlegloves.com/ and for a limited time, you can save 15% off your order with discount code TURTLEGLOVESBR. I recently used it in fact to order a pair as a Christmas gift for someone (but don't tell!)

Best of the Bay City Guide

Disclaimer: I am promoting the Best of the Bay City Guide as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Travelling for a race in an unfamiliar city can be a bit daunting, especially if it is somewhere you've never been before and don't know anyone locally. How do you know which places are worth the visit, and which places are flat out tourist traps?

Well for anyone travelling to the 2020 San Francisco Half Marathon, things got just a bit easier. The Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon put together a guide featuring their Best of the Bay picks so you’ll know exactly where to satisfy your sweet tooth and where to shake-out those race day nerves. From breweries to tea gardens, this guide has all of your weekend planning covered!

Get the low down on things such as:

• Best Pre-Race Dinners
• Where to Run
• Best Post-Race Brunch
• Best Post-Race Drinks
• Best Coffee and Sweets
• Best Places to Stay
• Best Running Stores
• Most Insta-Worthy Locations
• Favorite Things to Do in San Francisco

Check out the Pinterest Board here: https://www.pinterest.com/BibRaveGuides/best-of-the-bay-san-francisco-city-guide/

And interactive Google Maps page here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=12_o5qhAjz0rnBukWKtHFNpXMwAqfoYEJ&ll=37.81170941982896%2C-122.5136152578392&z=11

And if you haven't yet registered for the San Francisco Half Marathon Weekend, you can register here with discount code “KPSFBIBRAVE” good for $5 off the 5k, 10k and half marathon: https://www.getfitkpsf.com/race/