Friday Favs

I haven't done one of these posts in a WAY long time so I figured I was due!!!  I love finding fun/awesome things out there and then bringing them to you!!  

Fall...Ok so unless you are in an area that sees Fall in it's glory, then I can only bring this to you in the form of pictures but Fall is here and it's beautiful!  I love being able to scoot out for a quick run during lunch from time to time to that I can really take it all in!

Our Fall...heck who am I kidding...our lives are so busy that I feel like the time passes and we haven't gotten to really take it all in!  I've been trying to get the girls outside for walks and really taking in the beautiful colors!

Wellcoin...My RW roomie Allie introduced me to the app Wellcoin and I have to say I love it just as much as this water bottle she gave me!!!  The app is super easy to use and can be used for so much.

How does it work?  You simply put in any activities/healthy habits (seriously there is tons of stuff that counts) and you get coins.  Each activity is a different value.  Over time you accumulate coins that can then be traded in for various gift cards or products from local vendors.  I have my eye on the Whole Foods gift card but there are other options depending on where you live.

Gone for a Run...When I was contacted by the folks from Gone for a Run to review one of their new Runner Girl Kali Tote, I jumped at the chance!  I love the products that Gone for a Run carry and honestly have been in the market for a new bag for work.  I need to carry notebooks, water bottles, various papers, and from time to time my laptop.

I have to say that not only is this bag super cute, but it also carries everything that I need it to!!  It has a small zip pocket inside for any pens or smaller things I need to bring and sturdy straps.  I love it!! This would make a great gift for the runner in your life!!

Block Island Organics...My face is a very fickle friend...I have stuck with the same products for many many years because of that.  That being said, I was knew about Block Island Organics before and had actually reviewed their sunscreen so I knew that my skin liked what they were including in their sunscreen.  They use all organic ingredients including avocado, olive oil, and chamomile.

I have been using this both in the morning and at night and I have to say that I really love the way that my skin has been feeling...so soft!  Now that we are going into a time of year when it is so dry and the heat is blasting, I'm psyched to have this in my defensive!  A bottle retails for $29.99 for a bottle but you really only need a small amount.  From now until Nov. 5th you can use the code nancyc for 20% off at checkout!  Seriously try this stuff out!!

Name bibs...With a week of talking all things Runner's World, I of course had to include it in my favorites!  One thing that I have always joked about with my running friends is that I had a secret mission to run a race where my name was on the bib!  Well Runner's World pulled through!!!

I have to say they look very nice on the board in my classroom!!!  It's the little things really!!

ShowerPill...If you've ever worked out in the middle of your day or say ran a relay race you know how good it feels to have something to wipe the funk off so you can finish your day!  Lately I have been going on a RUNCH (Lunch run) a few times a week with a coworker and these ShowerPill wipes are a godsend!!

I can head out for a run and not feel super gross when I have to get back to the classroom to work with my students!!  You can score yourself 15% off by using the code WIPEDOWN at checkout!!  Do yourself...and your coworkers a favor and grab yourself a box!!

What are you loving this Friday???

Hug a Hill

I apologize for being MIA and not posting a Motivation Monday!  I supposed I had a little too much fun this weekend with celebrating the mini-chickie and all that Monday came....and went!  Sorry about that!

It has been well documented on this blog that I am not a big fan of hills.  I am not afraid to say that I just plain hate them...and they ruin most good races that I run!  There may or may not have been a condition diagnosed during Ragnar Cape Cod this year that was called hill tourettes.  My BRF continues to ask me to do the same race each year that I have sworn off after doing it one year and realizing that it really does have 17 massive hills.  My nemesis still remains standing tall in New Bedford in front of my closest sub 1:50 half.  Needless to say hills and I have not been friends...

But I'm ready to change that!  After finding out just how hilly PA was...especially the Runner's World Half and Festival courses were...I decided that I was going to try and get better at hills.  In order to do that I picked the hilliest area near my house and decided to incorporate it into all of my long runs.  This is a road that follows parallel to the highway and has been called many names in the past by other runners....the dreaded Service Road...and I have to say that it lives up to the hype!

You hit the crest of one hill only to spy the crest of the next!  It tests your lungs and leg endurance like nothing I've done before!  However for the past 5 weeks I have headed out from my house....ran some hills en-route to the Service Road...and then spent 2-3 miles rolling up and down and back again to my house.  I've left a lot of sweat, swears, and tears on that friggin road and I'll keep doing it until I have conquered that thing!!  I wouldn't say that I am a fan of hills still....but I may or may not have looked forward to Sunday's trek on the roller coaster!

Are you a hill fan?  How do you get better on hills?

Someone Pinch Me!

I had one of those moments the other day.  The one where you get an email and even as you are reading it you think either someone is totally messing with you (which is why I texted Dani to check) or they must have meant to send it to another person!  Well no one was messing with me and they really DID mean to send it to me...me....lilfancynancy...mom of 2...me!  On October 15-18th I am heading down to Bethlehem, PA for the Runner's World Half Marathon and Festival! 

The coolest part is that I am heading down as a RW Influencer!!!  This means I get to go to RW headquarters and meet all the fabulous people there along with amazing fellow bloggers!!!  I can't even right now!!!

And of course running ALL the races!!!  I mean really it's Runner's World...why not?!  There is a 3.8 mile trail run on Friday, a 5k and 10k on Saturday, and then the festival wraps up with a half marathon on Sunday.  You can run one of the races, do a Hat Trick(5k, 10k, and half), or the Five and Dime (5k and 10k). 

Plus you know I brought enough to share with the class!!!  If you are as excited as I am and want to join in on the fun use the code bloglittlefancynancy at checkout and save yourself some dinero!! Use the code  for $3.50 off the 5k, $4 off the 10k, $7.50 off the Five and Dime  (5k and 10k), $9.50 off the Half Marathon, and $17 off the Hat Trick (5k, 10k, and half).  Register here!

What race/races you pick to run?  Are you coming?

What to Get a Runner...Part 1

It's that time of year again when you are out to find the "just right" gift for that fabulous runner in your life...perhaps that fabulous runner is you!  These next few Fridays I am going to highlight a few gifts each time as ideas for you to give that very person!  Let's just call it my version of the 12 days of Christmas!

The gift of....an injury free year!  Runners all know that to get better/faster you need to put in the work.  What runners aren't always good at is that cross training/stretching part!  Why not give your runner a month's subscription to GaiamTV, an online resource for all things yoga!

They have some really great videos...even ones geared toward runners!  The added bonus is that they can do it anywhere they want...hotel room, friend's house, or in their own home (if they're like me and don't want anyone to see just how NOT bendy they are)!  A month's subscription is only $9.95.  Help them be on their way to staying injury free!

The gift of...happy feet!  From the moment I was introduced to Feetures socks through ZOOMA I was in love!

They come in a huge assortment of awesome colors (men too!) and are honestly the most comfortable socks I have ever owned!  The bonus is that they keep my feet blister free no matter what the conditions are!  I love them so much I even made it to their website with a few friends of mine!!  Lol!  I've never shared this on here before but I just LOVE it and get all giggly when I watch it!

You can order Feetures online or find them in your local running store!

The gift of...A RACE!  Yes runners love their races and what better gift than to give them a race entry!  You local 5k all the way up to a destination race like....say...a ZOOMA race near you!!!  There are 5 fabulous locations to treat that running lady in your life!  Be sure to save yourself a little coin and use the code NANCY15!

The gift of...sage advice and laughs!  Some of my favorite running books have come from the two amazing ladies that make up Another Mother Runner! 

Their books Run Like a Mother and Train Like a Mother are still sitting pretty on my night stand dog eared and highlighted!  Well these fabulous ladies are doing it again and releasing their third book soon!

You can preorder it on Amazon today!  While you're at it you can order their previous two books for that mother runner in your life!!!

Stay tuned next week when I talk more about what gear to gift your favorite runner in your life!!!
What's on your running gift list?