A Virtual Summer with JostRunning

We wrapped up a great summer in August with another virtual race for Em and I with Jost Running.  This past month we "Hit a Homerun" to raise money to send children to Camp Promise, a week long camp for kids with muscular dystrophy and similar neurological disorders. I ran the half marathon and Em was all geared up to run her miles this month but I think she psyched herself out.  I didn't want to push her too hard and make her have a negative association with running (since I'm hoping one day we'll be running buddies) so she biked her miles again this month and did great!  The medals are again not too shabby!  They are so fun and part of me thinks Em does it for the sparkle!!

I am so thankful I was able to partner with Jost Running for this Summer of virtual running!!  I hadn't heard too much about their organization before but I must say they know how to rock the virtual races!!  Yes the medals are awesome but they also make sure they are supporting some really great charities with their earnings!  I'm also thankful Em and I were able to share this Summer pushing ourselves toward a goal each month.  It got us all as a family out and on the road!

In September Jost Running is soaring to support Team for Kids.  Here is a blurb from their website to let you know what Team for Kids is all about.
Team for Kids is a committed group of adult runners from around the world who add meaning to their miles by raising funds for NYRR's Youth and Community Services programs while training for major endurance events. The funds they raise provide free or low-cost health and fitness programs to kids who would otherwise have little or no access to regular physical activity. These programs serve more than 200,000 children each year in more than 800 schools and community centers in New York City, across the nation, and around the world. 
Easy as pie to head on over and sign up for this month's virtual race with Jost Running or any of their upcoming races and do something with your miles!!

We #BeattheHeat with Jost Running

Apparently along with beaching it as much as possible and trying to squeeze out every last drop of sunlight in the summer, I'm also a bad blogger!  I'm still doing my thing and getting my sweat on each day but not always writing about it.  During the school year I am on much more of a schedule and everything else falls into that as well!  To see what my days are looking like this summer follow me on Instagram where I post more often!

One thing that I have been doing this summer...like most summers...is rising early to beat the summer heat!  While this summer so far has not been out of control temp wise, the humidity has been present and accounted for!  Beating the sun helps me to keep my face melting to a minimum!  How appropriate that July's Jost Running Virtual races were named Beat the Heat!  Proceeds went to support Girls on the Run, a great organization that gets young girls out and moving while teaching them so many valuable lessons!  I used my Jamestown Half Marathon as my half marathon virtual as well and was happy to get myself back into the sub 2-hour club!!!  Em joined again for this challenge with her bike in tow and completed the 10k again!  This girl is seriously motivated by the bling!!! 

There is still time to sign up for an August virtual race with Jost Running.  This month's race is to support Camp Promise, a week long camp for kids with muscular dystrophy and similar neurological disorders. 

Em has decided she is running her miles this month and already has one under her belt!  Hit a home run and join us!

Jost Running June

June was a month of virtual racing for the Fancy Nancy family with Jost Running!!  I started the month running the Crank It Up Marathon.  I normally run 30 miles in a week so I used 1 week to reach my 26.2!  If only I could really run a marathon in the time it took me to do 2 10 milers and a 10k...3:48:07!  That would be a major PR for me!!  Either way I finished my marathon and scored myself another MASSIVE medal!!

The real pride this month comes in the form of a mini-me...or 5 year-old Em who when she saw the bling asked if she could do the 10k...well she asked for the medal first and then we came up with a plan of how to earn it!  I said that if she rode her bike the distance of a 10k then she could have the medal!  We split it into 1 mile segments and I pushed Aubs on her bike while Em rode up ahead of us.  Most of the time I was running after Aubs or the scene looked a lot like this...

One day we rode to pick up Aubs from the babysitter...another we covered 2 miles on a bike path near our house while Aubs ran around on the soccer field (you are catching the pattern here...Aubs couldn't just sit and ride!).  As the days ticked by Em was determined to reach her goal.  Yesterday morning we covered mile 5 in our neighborhood...and we finished the day riding in our backyard with Dad and Aubs cheering from the patio!

I figured Aubs deserved a cameo in the collage since she technically did cover the mileage with us!  I am so proud of Em for completing her Crank It Up 10k but even more importantly she is super proud of herself!!!  Her last laps around the yard she was whooping it up!

Jost Running is hosting another virtual race Beat the Heat starting today to benefit Girls on the Run!  Em is ready to start another challenge!  This is a great way to get out and exercise with your kids!  The hubs has been super busy at work so many times our mile was after dinner before he got home.  Get the kids involved and moving!!!

TTT

Considering that I have thought it was Thursday for the past two days...I'm pretty psyched that it actually IS in fact Thursday!  Letting my brain dump today...you're welcome!

To pin or not to pin...I was contacted by a company that is working with KickStarter to develop a product called the Slick Bib.  The video is actually pretty funny when talking about the effects of using safety pins to put your bib on, but I honestly have done just about everything from pricking myself to putting holes in my shirts.  Plus I'm always the one with the crooked bib!  The only drawback of this is that you have to wear the same shirt but I do think it's a cool idea!  Check it out for yourself!


Sleep please...We are all busy and as a working mom, sleep is the first thing sacrificed when I have things I need or want to do like run, hit the gym, catch up with my hubby, do laundry, and of course catch up on Real Housewives (Ramona is legit crazy am I right?).  Because I am a teacher, the summer has traditionally been a time where I can sleep in a little more and "fill my battery" so that I can spend another 9 months waking before the sun.  However, I often times get to the end of the year and reach the point where I am now....fall on my face tired!

I have been having severe eye twitches to the point where my eye just gives up and closes...you think it's trying to tell me something?!  I even posted something on Facebook (you know ask the experts) to see if there was something wrong with my brain but the consensus says....I need more sleep and less stress!  With seniors who have a serious case of senioritis and fires to put out each day, it looks like I'm going to have to focus on the sleep part!  I decided that, at least for next week (let's not get too crazy here) I was going to do my runs in the afternoon which will give me one more hour of sleep.  As I start to gear up again for my next half marathon in July, I want to go into this cycle feeling strong and not run down.  How do you catch up on sleep?

Crank it up...Yesterday I shared with you all about a virtual race I did with Jost Running.  The virtual race for next month is called Crank it Up....and we're throwing down the challenge flag to those of you out there that are ready to crank up your running...or miles you're covering.  The challenge is to sign up for either the half marathon or marathon....and then cover that distance in June!  Break it down over the 30 days...cover the distance any way you can...and earn yourself one of these bad jacksons!

I mean really....I know you're dying to sport a giant record Run DMC style at the beach this summer!!  Yesterday I said that I was doing the 10k but since I'm throwing the challenge to all of you....I'm putting my miles where my mouth is!!!  My only question is....who's coming with me?!

What's Your Brave New Route?

If you've been a reader for here for any time, you know that I just love me a virtual race!  They are super convenient because you can run them whichever day (usually) and wherever you want!  Sometimes you can earn prizes or massive, awesome medals, and other times you can support a worthy cause.  When I discovered Jost Running, I found out that I could do both!  Earn myself a massive medal....

and support great causes!  This month's virtual race at Jost Running supports the ALS Association.  You can register for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or marathon.  I chose the half since I had just run Ragnar and I knew that I would be able to cover the distance no problem.

 The point of this month's race was to seek out new routes and go on an adventure with running.  It may seem weird but since we moved to our new neighborhood 2 years ago, I have not really explored the neighborhood and all it's side streets.  Basically I tried once and got WICKED lost and had to use my GPS just to find my way home!  That was how our neighborhood got it's nickname "The Bermuda Triangle"!  Since then I have focused on the same 2 routes each time I head out the door!  For this run I decided that after my usual jaunt on my one go-to route, I would add in snaking around my neighborhood like Dora the Explorer.  I was surprised by what I found...trails that I earmarked for exploring when I wasn't alone...houses that were awesome...neighborhoods I never knew were there!  I wouldn't say that I am an expert just yet on navigating my neighborhood, but I'm glad that this virtual race forced me to get out of my comfort zone and be "brave"! 

I was also pretty psyched when I looked down and saw that I had covered the 13.1 in 2:01!  I would have thought snaking around my neighborhood and not really focusing on pace would have resulted in a slower pace.  I'll take it and know that I am in a good place for my next half in July! 

There is still time to enter this virtual race yourself...get a sweet medal and support ALS!  Up next for me with Jost Running is The Crank it Up 10k to support the National Young Arts Foundation!  You can again choose the 5k, 10k, half marathon, or marathon.

Who's going to crank up the tunes in June with me?

I was provided a voucher from Jost Running to participate in the race but the opinions expressed are 100% mine!