Get Fancy and Run With Me

As you can see by my training posts, I am running the ZOOMA Women's Half Marathon in September in fabulous Falmouth, MA!  I think even if I wasn't an ambassador for this race I would still love all things ZOOMA! 

I mean these ladies know how to talk my love language...
SWEET swag...

LOVE my Feetures! socks!!!

Mocktail Party at the Seacrest Resort...

A GORGEOUS seaside course...

 A huge blinged-out medal...

An After-Party on the BEACH...

 Fabulous Ambassadors....oh wait that's me!

A vibe that just takes you in and supports you along the way...

NEW TrainingPeaks access for registered runners...

I mean really the list could just go on!  Now it's your turn to join in the fun!!!

Which one of you will I meet at the start this year???

Use the code NANCY15 to score 10% off!!!

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?

Monday Motivation

I've gotten myself in a place lately where I'm liking my runs...like liking them a little too much...like I need to start throwing the hammer down a little bit more.  On Saturday, I was running around the campus of my alma mater, which is also where I am an adjunct professor.  I was trotting along thinking running in the dark and the rain was plenty to take me out of my comfort zone.  I passed this set of stairs...and up I went...each mile I passed it I sprinted up.  Yes it was hard...God knows my lungs were burning...but when it was all over, I felt awesome!  I need a little more of that in my workouts...getting to the end and feeling unstoppable!

Do you push yourself to your limits or do you fall into the comfortable?

Go out and challenge yourself this week!

Speaking of a challenge.....

That's right you can get 10% off your 2015 ZOOMA race registration for ANY ZOOMA race by using the code NANCY15!!!  Treat yourself by signing up between December 8th-14th!!!  You don't have to be joining me on Cape Cod (even though I would LOVE for you to!) since this works for any ZOOMA race!  Are you joining in the ZOOMA fun? 

Fitness Friday...ZOOMA Training Group

One of the things as a ZOOMA Cape Cod Ambassador that has been awesome to experience is the power of a group....power of determination...the power of women (sorry boys)!  Last year I was so inspired hearing so many of the runners stories about what got them to the starting line in Falmouth and watching them grit it out as I cheered at the water station!  I'm so excited to be actually running it this year (last year there was a good chance I would have gone into labor had I traveled the 13.1 miles) and getting to get the full experience of ZOOMA...i.e. wine and massages at the finish! 

Want to join me?  Don't forget to use the code CCAMB4 when you register for a discount!

One thing that I would LOVE to do but am not able to since I am wearing my Nurse Nancy hat this summer is the training groups run by Bayside Runner in Yarmouth and Plymouth. 

If you live near either of these two locations so yourself a favor and sign up!!  Not only will you have a supportive group to run with two days a week, but you will be able to work with a skilled coach to guide your training to the start line!  You don't even need to be training for the ZOOMA race to participate in the group.  There will be a 10k and a half marathon training group in each location.  The Yarmouth store will be doing their runs on Thursday and Sunday while the Plymouth store runs Tuesday and Saturday.  Kick off is July 1st so get your rear in gear and sign up!!!

Can't you just see yourself lounging here this September basking in your post race glory?!

What's in my gym bag?

Well folks are you in for a treat!!  Today I decided to step out of my comfort zone and bring you my very first vlog!!!  Not only do I feel size ginormous but I was also sweating since it is Africa hot here today...so bear with me and I hope you enjoy!

Want to know what's in there and where to find it?  Check out these links!!

"Running for two" Tank-they have these for all sorts of activities!!

Garmin watch

Train like a Mother book

Under Armour bag

ChicaBand

Bondi Band

Gu (rumor has it they came out with a peanut butter flavor....yum!)

Saucony Kinvara 3

Fuel belt from iFitness

ZOOMA hat...enter to win one!!

Your turn...you don't need to vlog!!

What's in YOUR gym bag??

I'm linking up with Fitness Cheerleader and also Jill with Fitness Friday!!

Fitness Friday....5 Weird Things

On tap for today is a mash-up!  After spending a month with my family, our niece is an expert at mash-ups!  She can start with a song she learned at VBS and finish with something like Dynamite...it really is a talent!

For today's mash-up I am not going to sing, (lucky you although I did sing with Kenny Rogers when I was young), I am going to mash together Fitness Friday hosted by the great Jill Conyers and Day 10 of the Blogger Challenge hosted by the also great Fitness Cheerleader!  Don't forget to visit these ladies and check it all out!

Day 10's question is 

What are 5 weird things that you like?

I'm not sure if these are super weird but I am going to pick 5 weird fitness related things I like!  Enjoy!
1.  Sweating a lot....Now this is only fitness related.  Yesterday when I was sweating my face off I was not too happy.  Pealing off my workout clothes after a run or class is awesome!  When I was working out at a gym with my trainer, sometimes I would weigh myself before and after a class of TRX or some other equally sweat inducing class to see how much I sweated! 

2.  Eating chocolate before I run...Not too weird I know but not the best fuel either.  I eat a normal breakfast usually but chocolate always seems to sneak into my mouth.  Tricky chocolate!
3.  Sore, shaky muscles....I feel cheated after a workout with weights if I don't feel like jello!  Even better is that sore, I'm going to walk weird for a day, feeling you have the next day!  Definitely not the injured hurting...just the "I worked my hiney off" hurting!

4.  Pretending I'm way more badass than I really am....This happens to me on a run or in a spin class.  I feel like it helps me to do better....I crank up my music, get my swagger on, and go.  Let's review though...gangster I am not but whatever gets me through a workout!!

5.  Get excited for days when I can workout all day long....Ok maybe this is more a dream than weird!  I do get excited for days when I can get in a morning and afternoon workout...like an all day sweatfest! 

 Ok so I'll leave you with one shameless plug....If you're running in this weekend's Falmouth Road Race, stop by the expo today after 5.  I'll be there at the ZOOMA tent with Brooke and Brae...they will be there all weekend so stop by and say hi!

Monday Motivation

Watching the Olympic Games just these past few days have been so inspiring!  These athletes have zeroed in on what they want and have done whatever it takes to get them there!  So often we know what we want but when it comes to the "doing whatever it takes" part of the deal, we let fear or doubt creep in. 

Know what you want......then do whatever it takes!

You WILL get there!!!

Next Olympic Track Star....Fancy Nancy

As readers of this blog you have probably gathered that I love a challenge.....like put it in front of me and I can't help but try for it!  I have lost count as to how many virtual races I have run and challenges I have done but I love them all!!  Now add to that my obsession over the Olympics and you have me...Fancy Nancy the Olympic Track Star (wanna be)!  When I was younger I used to think I would go to the Olympics as a gymnast.  In my high school's class profecy I was on the Olympic Softball Team.  There are days now when I am out running that I imagine it is for the gold.  While I am not certain if I will ever be sporting one of these in my lifetime...

I will be cheering loudly for America next week and taking part in the Virtual Games hosted by the awesomely motivating Jess over at Run with Jess!

Because while I may feel at times that I can hang with these ladies.....

...doing this challenge virtually is more my speed right now!!!  How about you?  Have you signed up to compete in the Virtual Games with Jess?  Head on over and check it out!!

Guess Where ZOOMA Will Pop up Next!

Remember when I posted about the ZOOMA Cape Cod race and so many of you commented about how you would love to run it....if only it was closer to where you are?  Huh? Huh?  Well it is a good thing I remembered for you!!! 

On Thursday ZOOMA is announcing a NEW location!!!  Fun, Friends, and Running in a new place!!!  Where could it be???

Think you know?  Want to take your chances at winning a killer swag bag and guess?  Head on over to the ZOOMA blog and enter your guess today....wait why are you still reading?  Go there and guess!!!

Almost Wordless Wednesday....ZOOMA Cape Cod Kick-off

Last night, I was able to head into Boston to City Sports and attend the ZOOMA Cape Cod Race kick-off party!  Honestly this was the easiest I have ever gotten into the city before so I knew it was going to be a great night....and I was right!  I was able to meet ZOOMA's other half, Brooke, as well as two other ambassadors Bethany and Lisa.  The awesome folks from Muscle Milk were there giving out samples to everyone, a treat for those who ran with the City Sports Tuesday night running group.  There were also massages for the runners and guests and 20% off in the store all night!  It was an awesome night and got everyone excited about the race!!  It was also a great way for me to finally catch up with a good friend Michelle who lives just a few blocks away!  Check out the scenes from the night!

Ambassadors and one of our leaders! Michelle, Bethany, Me, Samantha, Jess and Brooke

I know what you're thinking...."How can I get a piece of that fun?"...Well head on over to register and don't forget to use the coupon code CCAMB4 to get your discount!