The Color Run is Coming to a City Near You!

You have probably heard of The Color Run. If you haven't then now is your chance to be a part of one of the best races around! The Color Run is in cities across the United States and abroad so you can find a race near you very easily! To find a location click here. I actually had the privilege of participating in my first Color Run last year and I had so much fun! There was a group of five ladies that got together to do the race and we rocked it! 

The thing that is really inviting about The Color Run is that this race is more about the experience than the timed finish. In fact, the race isn't even officially timed! This gives you the chance to enjoy the fun of being blasted with color throughout each kilometer. Take time to dance through the color and get it all over you! You want to look like a rainbow when you finish! Jump, twirl or dive through the color, whatever you prefer, just make sure to have fun!

The Color Run is known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet because it celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality and giving back to the community. The Color Run chooses a local charity to partner with at each event. The Sacramento race is supporting Girls on the Run! Run the happiest race of your life and then stay for the fabulous "Color Festival" at the end of the race! There are only two rules you need to follow to succeed at The Color Run: Wear white at the starting line and finish plastered in color! What are you waiting for? Sign up now! Just for you, my lucky readers, I have an exclusive discount code for any city that is not sold out. Enter code: COLOR5OFF at checkout to receive your discount. 

We all know races are more fun with friends, so why not sign up as a team? Get together at least four friends and you can all register together and you can still use the discount code for an extra $5 off the already discounted group registration, brining the total saved to $10 off! How does a “Color Team” work compared with a solo runner? Pretty simple, you register as a (4 minimum/infinity max) unit rather than as an individual.  You get to pick a groovy custom team name.  You then get to run/walk together and “help” each other get really colored up over the five color kilometers.  There is no “relay” component and team members can finish together as a unit or separately. Sounds fun, right?

I hope by now I have convinced you that this run is going to be the most fun you have ever had racing and you are just itching to sign up. This run is perfect for anyone - 2 year olds to 80 year olds, first time runners to Olympic athletes. If you need further convincing check out the following video. While the discount code works at all races that are not sold out, I recommend you sign up for the Sacramento, CA race happening this weekend. If you do be sure to find me and say hi! 

Have you run The Color Run before? If so what was your favorite part? If you haven't run one yet now is your chance to see what it's all about! 

I Need Your Help to Get to the EspnW Summit

I received an amazing email invitation today from espnW! I received an invite to their fourth annual Women + Sports Summit. This summit brings top women athletes, influencers and industry leaders together to network and learn from each other to advance women's sports initiatives. Not only will top leaders from espnW, the WNBA, and Olympic athletes be there, but also Amy Jo Martin, the co-founder of Digital Royalty (who I have learned a lot of my social media skills from). I would love to meet her here! Since the Summit Registration Fee is a bit out of my price range I thought I would reach out to my readers and see if you would be willing to help! 

I love blogging and sharing my fitness journey with you all and this is the perfect opportunity to share with you an inside look at the espnW Summit. I will be blogging and sharing my experience during the entire event. If you would like to donate to my Summit Fund you can read more about the event and donate at this link: http://gogetfunding.com/project/espnw-women-and-sports-summit. Any amount helps! I really appreciate anything you can do to help, your support means the world to me and you are one of the reasons I was invited to the Summit!

If you have any fundraising ideas I am open to them as well! I have worked hard to work with women in sports, motivate women to push past their barriers and this opportunity would be invaluable to me. Thank you for being such loyal followers! Have you had an opportunity like this before? Do you have any ideas for me? Let me know in the comments below!

~Karen

Motivational Monday: Meet Elizabeth Rehmer!

Inspiring runners can be found all over the world. At each and every race I find that there are runners that have overcome enormous odds to get where they are and who keep working hard everyday to become better runners and better people. When runners share their love of running with others they give back to a community that keeps giving. 

Today's Monday Motivational Runner post is from Elizabeth Rehmer! I met Elizabeth last year through the Nike Women's Marathon! We trained virtually together and then met for a great weekend with Nike Women. Elizabeth is so inspiring to me because she follows here passions and her dreams and keeps motivating others through her daily life. 

Elizabeth is from Livingstone, Montana and is the owner and instructor at her private personal training and Pilates studio where she also does massage. This place sounds like heaven to me! I asked her to share her running and fitness story with me to inspire others! 

How Did You Get into Running?

I have been running since I was 9 (I am 36). I began running with my Pops and I just kept at it for cross training for other athletics.  I love both group runs and running solo.  Running is my moving meditation and I simply enjoy it.  I have always been careful to maintain this perspective and not turn running into a chore.  I feel fortunate that my body can handle it and I don't take that for granted.  

What is Your Favorite Memory from Running?

I have soooo many great running memories, however one of the best was running the Boston Marathon. Also, after running my first full marathon where I was chatting with a marathon maniac, he told my husband at the finish that he better be prepared because I was a lifer marathoner!!  I had even told him I only wanted to run one to see if I could.  At the finish he laughed and said, "we'll see!"  Needless to say he was right!

How Do You Use Blogging and Social Media to Influence Your Running?

I love social media for that extra push when you need some motivation.  Also, if you ever have a question there is someone to ask.  I find it a really positive, supportive community.  

Do You Run For a Cause? How Does This Influence Your Approach To Running?

I have an ongoing site where I raise money, "Cancer can Suck it!" http://www.crowdrise.com/turtlegirl00/fundraiser/elizabethrehmer. I have lost several people near and dear to me to cancer and have several others close to me currently seeking treatment.  At times I felt so helpless and figured this was a way I could help.  If I am having a tough time on a run or lacking in motivation, I will think of those that can't and it usually helps.

What Advice Do You Have For New Runners?

For those new to running, simply take it slow and do your strength training and stretch!  I firmly believe one should get in shape to run, not run to get in shape.  It is an amazing outlet mentally and has so many fantastic physical benefits as long as you listen to your body.  And some days still simply suck, but its the day after that, that is usually AMAZING!! :)  So keep at it!

Elizabeth is an incredibly inspiring runner. To follow her journey check out her blog at: sewrunningcrazy.blogspot.com. Elizabeth is also incredibly talented at sewing and shares her projects in her posts, so be sure to stop by her blog and say hi!

Have a question for Elizabeth? Post it in the comments below! For extra motivation be sure to follow her on her social sites:

Follow on Twitter: @turtlegirl00

Follow on Instagram: @turtlegirl00 

Esprit de She Palo Alto and Giveaway!

Inspiration. Motivation. Celebration. The Esprit de She Palo Alto race is coming up very soon! I am getting very excited for this fun 5k race in the Bay Area! On August 1st, I will run with like-minded women for health and fitness. The race will be held at the Baylands Nature Preserve and will be the last event there before the park closes to undergo two years of renovations. This event is different because it's a Thursday evening race and there are activities going on all day and the following week to celebrate your accomplishments! Check out this video below of the Esprit de She event in Houston, TX for a taste of what the Palo Alto event will be like. 

Ladies at the Houston Esprit de She Race

I am excited to head into the city to enjoy this fun race with friends. With packet pick-up on race day that makes it easy to just head to the event early, get my bib and get ready to race. All participants receive a custom designed, tri-blend lifestyle tank and a functional race bag to use for many years after the race! Yay for race swag! The tank looks really cute!

The race starts at 6:15 in the evening and there will be a post race rendezvous and night market following the fun. Also on site will be a bubbly bar, beauty bar, tasty tapas, music and local vendors before and after the race. If you haven't signed up for the race there is still time! You can sign up at EspritdeShe.com. What are you waiting for? Join me at this fun race! 

The following week there will be various other activities for race finishers. On August 2nd, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. there will be A Toast to You at the Athleta store in Town and Country Village. You can come to this and celebrate with friends and family at this event featuring mini-massages and cool refreshments. Can't make it on the 2nd? Come to the second celebration on August 8th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Seriously ladies, run this race and you'll keep partying and celebrating for the following week!

Athleta Sun Visor  Giveaway!

Since the race is put on by Lifetime Fitness and Athleta, and I am an ambassador for the event, I have a special giveaway for my lucky readers! You can have the chance to win this awesome running visor and gift pack from Athleta and Esprit de She just by entering my giveaway below! What are you waiting for? Enter to win and then head on over to Espritdeshe.com and sign up for the race! See you in Palo Alto ladies! (Sorry guys, this is an all women's race!)

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NTC Has Come to Nike San Francisco

I'm so excited for this post because I finally got to attend a Nike Training Club class in San Francisco on Tuesday night! I keep hearing how amazing all these classes are and even though I live two hours away, I knew sometime I would cave and make the drive! I finally got my chance and I took full advantage! 

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in the Fog.

I started the drive in the afternoon, and after a quick stop at a Costco and the Nike Outlet in Petaluma, I was on my way. It only took me about two hours to get to San Francisco so I was happy I seemed to have missed all the traffic. The toll booth I had to go through seemed to be down for some reason so I should be expecting my charge in the mail soon. Gotta love the toll roads! I arrived at Nike's Temporary Store in San Francisco just outside of Union Square about 30 minutes before NTC began. They are renovating their current store and I can't wait to see what they have done to the place. Their old layout was amazing, so I can only imagine what the upgrade might be. The temporary store is nice, but it was quite small. I looked around at the new products and amazingly didn't purchase anything! So surprising for me! 

While I was perusing the store Joselynne Boschen stopped me and said she recognized me from my Instagram feed! I really can't tell you how much this meant to me. It's really exciting to be recognized by a Nike Elite Trainer. She is one of my role models and I hope that I can be a Nike Trainer someday soon as well. She flew up from her LA studio, Alpha Venice, to teach us all NTC and let me tell you, I have been sore for two days! It always hits harder on the second day. Before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you how the workout went down!

Check-in Table for NTC

I was one of the first people to check in for NTC and got to pick up my tank top, NTC towel and water. Unfortunately they only had size large left in the tanks, but I'm using that as an excuse to come back again, to get a smaller size! I waited for a bit as people began to file in to the store and check-in as well. I got to meet one of the Nike Running College Brand Ambassadors, Samantha, and she was so nice! Nike, you chose a great ambassador! She's training for the Nike Women's Full Marathon so I'm excited to meet up with her again during NWM weekend, if not sooner! She introduced me to some of her friends and of course we took some photos!

Samantha and I at NTC!

After the photo session we headed out of the store and up a block to a large cement platform. Here, our amazing trainer, Joselynne, was waiting to kick our booties! There were easily over 100 people in attendance and the place was packed! We were asked to make sure we didn't block the entrances to the nearby stores. I was amazed at how many people came out and inspired. I really had to push myself and the friendly competition took everything up a notch.

Joselynn Demoing A Drill!

For those of you who don't know about NTC it is a class developed by Nike trainers based on continual movement and it is no joke! Even during demonstrations we were to keep moving. We started class with a light warmup and then the fun (torture?) began. We did burpees, planks, squats, plyos, mountain climbers, jumping jacks, ab work, partner drills and more. I was sweating up a storm and my muscles were shaking by the time the workout was over. For our final drill we all gathered in a circle and did 10 mountain climbers each, holding a plank while waiting for our group to finish. This was a new drill for me. It was hard, but fun to cheer on the others in the circle.

We finished the workout with some light stretching, which I always need more of and then I snapped a quick picture with Joselynne and Samantha! After all, I can't miss out on this photo opportunity! I'm not sure who is teaching the NTC class next week, but you really don't want to miss this! I would love to be an NTC Trainer and that is on my goal list. With NTC classes close to me now, I could see myself getting certified and leading out in SF. It would be a dream come true! NTC trainers are tough and really inspire those around them.

Me, Joselynne and Samantha After Our Sweat Session!

I also toured the store and tried to find someone who could help me plan a visit and NTC class from Leah Kim, Nike's Global Yoga Ambassador and NTC yoga workout creator. I really hope that I can one day take a class from her. She has really inspired me to do more yoga and I hope to see her in a store in Nor Cal soon! An NTC Yoga session from Leah Kim would be just what San Francisco needs to help rejuvenate after a long workout.

Nike Flyknit Display

The Nike SF store had a lot of fun displays and one of them was the Flyknit case. Inside showcases the drawings, knit and final shoe product. It's interesting to see the design process. Fascinating stuff that really makes me appreciate what designers do.

Run Club and NTC Wall at the Store

Nike San Francisco is really catering to the local athlete and making them train stronger. I find it inspiring that they are offering free classes and run clubs, just like the Athleta stores do. With the Nike Women's Marathon coming up in a few months I can really see them wanting to help athletes train, stay injury free and win! 

If you are near the Bay Area be sure to stop by the Nike store to see about taking a class. Nowhere is too far to come for this. I drove two hours, one way, to get there. Who can top that? I challenge you to take a live NTC class and you'll see the difference. Can't make a class? Download the free app today to take your training to a whole new level.

Have you ever been to an NTC class? Tell me in the comments below what you thought! 

Nuun Review and Giveaway

I'm taking a break from my motivational Monday series to allow a few of my inspirational runners time to answer all my questions and to offer you an amazing giveaway! Today marks the 39 day countdown to running Hood to Coast with Nuun Hydration and a team of bloggers that love running! I think it's the perfect time to share with you why I love Nuun products and why I am so excited to run with them and join the Nuun team for HTC 2013.

Nuun products are great for replacing lost electrolytes without the sugar of Gatorade. The bottle is small enough to carry in your purse or keep in your car so you can always be prepared. All it takes is a bottle of water and one tablet to make the perfect sports drink. My favorite type of Nuun is their active hydration line. I am training for Hood to Coast, my third Marathon in October at the Nike Women's Marathon and my first Spartan Beast race. With all these tough workouts, I need to make sure I'm eating right and getting proper hydration. That's where Nuun comes in. Here is what I love about the Nuun Active Hydration line: 

• Packed with electrolytes, light flavor, no sugars or carbs, and portable, Nuun Active Hydration is the perfect sports drink.
• The electrolytes found in Nuun will help alleviate cramps, help muscles function, communicate and burn energy efficiently.
• Nuun Active Hydration comes in 14 flavors: Banana, Orange, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Kona Cola, Lemon Tea, Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical, Citrus Fruit, Cherry Limeade, Watermelon, and Lemonade.

My favorite flavor of Nuun is Tri-Berry. I really can't say that I have ever found a flavor I don't like. When I need a little extra kick I grad the Cherry Limeade because it has some added caffeine. Nuun hydration tabs can also be found in an all day version that is a great substitute for soda. 

I love Nuun because it helps power my workouts. With the heat in California, summer training can get harsh and Nuun helps me avoid dangerous dehydration is these tough conditions and it tastes great! If you haven't tried it, then today is your lucky day. You could win a 4-pack of Nuun to try! 

In honor of my upcoming Hood to Coast race, Nuun and I have partnered to offer you a chance to win a 4-pack of Nuun hydration! All you have to do is enter in the rafflecopter giveaway below. If you don't win, or are like me and just can't get enough Nuun, then use the code: hydrateHTC at checkout on their website and receive 15% off your order! That's simple enough, right? Good luck!

~Happy Hydrating!

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Monday Featured Runner - Elle Linton!

Happy Monday all! Today I have an amazing athlete, runner, and trainer to share with you. Her name is Elle Linton. I have yet to meet her in person, but based on our Twitter chats, her trainer greatness, (she's a certified Nike Training Club instructor) and all around fun personality, I can't wait to someday travel to London and take a class from her!

Elle is a personal trainer by profession and blogs from her home in London, UK at keepitsimpElle.blogspot.com. She loves to inspire others through her fitness journey and is always up for a challenge! I asked her a few questions about her running journey and she was kind enough to share her story with me. Elle has been running for six adult years, but many more childhood years, so she has plenty of experience and some great advice to share. 

How did you get into running? Can you share your running history?

I began running at about aged 9 or 10. I remember winning sports days at school, and being chosen to represent our school and country at 100m, 110m hurdles, long jump and triple jump. As I got older though, I suffered badly with anaemia and dropped out of sport altogether around the age of 13. I then started training again when I continued my studies at aged 16 but only really got into it after University. At that time too, I only ever ran on a treadmill for years before I found a love for running outdoors! I ran my first 5km race 4 years ago. For me, this distance was a long way as my body had only ever trained to run 100m! I then ran a 10km race, and without any training ran a half marathon last year! I finished the half marathon in 2 hours 27 minutes which I am very proud of. After that I decided I needed to take a step back and train properly for a 10km so that has been my goal for 2013. I wanted to complete a 10km race in under an hour, which I successfully did in April 2013 - now I'm aiming to scrape some time off each race I complete! I have my next race in July 2013 - The British 10km.

How do you train? Are you a part of a running group? Do you prefer running with a group or alone?

I have a run coach who provides me with a weekly training schedule so most of my training is done on my own. I do like to attend run clubs though, as I find I always run faster in groups as in events! I don't have a preference, but running with others is great for motivation. Also, being accountable to a run coach means that I drag myself out and complete my runs as it's no fun reporting to your coach that you missed a run for no good reason! I also regularly teach classes as a Personal Trainer and attend many different classes including Yoga, Body Pump, Pole Fitness...you name it...I'll have / will try it! 

What is your favorite memory from running? 

I ran a 5km race with a friend a few years back; she was pacing me to come in under 30 minutes. I remember getting close to the end of the race, begging her if I could walk for a few seconds. her response was NO! you need to run faster now! No walking!!! ...I continued to run and made it to the finish line in 27 minutes which was my PB at that time! It shows that sometimes you need to keep that voice in your head quiet that is telling you to slow down...

What advice do you have for new runners? 

I'd advise new runners to keep running...through the bad runs, the okay runs until they reach the good runs! ...Also, don't underestimate the importance of a warm up, cool down (stretching) and other classes such as Yoga and Pilates which can help to make you a stronger runner. 

How do you use your blog/social media to influence your running? 

I write up my run training on my blog mainly as a way of keeping a record. I include everything, the ups and downs so that other runners know they are not alone when they wake up and don't feel like going out! Twitter is also great for all the run chat to inspire me and then it's great when you get encouragement from others just when you need it!

How do you fit running in with your daily schedule, work, etc…? 

I like to run first thing in the morning so I know I have completed what I need to for the day and no excuses can get in the way. 

Elle has this advice for you:

You need to find your own niche...your own distance and what suits your lifestyle. Enjoy the stories and progress that others share but remember to only ever judge your progress on you! We are all individual, and we should train that way :)

You can follow Elle on Twitter: @X_eLle_S and Instagram: @ellelinton

I was really inspired by reading Elle's story and I love getting new training advice from her blog! She has helped me step out of my comfort zone and try new fitness classes. Have any questions for me or Elle? Leave them in the comments below!

Happy Training!

Iron Girl Half Marathon in My Sights!

I am looking for a winter race and the Santa Rosa, Athleta Iron Girl Half Marathon looks like a really fun race. I love that it's sponsored by Athleta and is a raced focused on women. As the Athleta Roseville sponsored athlete, I really feel like this is a race I could really promote and get behind. I would love to run it with the amazing women from my Run Club!

Check out the amazing amenities at this race:

"Amenities at the Athleta Iron Girl events include: a post-race Breakfast Café, shirts sized for women, personalized race bibs with participant name, custom medals for all finishers, Iron Girl jewelry age group awards from Milestones Sports Jewelry, professional timing, free training programs, local pre-race clinics, event webinars, social media live Q&A sessions with the race team, post-race giveaways and much more. 

Iron Girl empowers women to discover their personal best, embrace strength and celebrate accomplishment in a supportive community of women that will cheer them on. The event is about women with all the touches and amenities developed with women in mind. Whether this is your first or 100th event, there is a place for you at Iron Girl."

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Iron Girl series, so the races are sure to be a blast! I have two races in October, the Nike Women's Marathon in SF (which is also the 10 year anniversary) and the Reebok Spartan Beast 12 mile race, so I'll be plenty busy with training! I might as well add on a shorter, fun race.

Have you raced an Iron Girl event before? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below!

PRO Compression Review and Giveaway!

The weekend is here and that means extra time to workout! At least, that is what my weekend plans are. I have two scheduled runs, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. I'll be leading Run Club at the Athleta, Roseville Galleria store and I hope to see you Sacramento area runners there Sunday morning! The first Sacramento Capitals World TeamTennis match is Sunday as well, so if anyone is up for some great professional tennis matches in the Sacramento area you should really check them out!

I've been trying out some new products lately and one of my new favorite things are PRO Compression socks! I know, so many runners speak their praises, I can't believe it has taken me this long to test out a pair. I was surprised at just how much I like them! I was sent a black pair to test out and now I want to buy some neon ones for racing. It never hurts to have some extra color on the road. 

For those of you who don't know what compressions socks are, here is a quick description, curtesy of PRO Compression:  

"PRO Compression socks are designed specifically to deliver both maximum comfort and speedy recovery times. The science is complex, but benefits such as improved blood flow, stability and comfort are universally understood.  The moment you put these socks on your feet and incorporate them into your game, you will feel and understand the difference. 

PRO Compression socks are noticeable tight and require more effort to put on than standard socks in your drawer. But it's that extra effort and much-needed compression that make all the difference. Be patient and your feet will thank you."

PRO Compression socks are made in the USA, so you know where they come from and that you are supporting our labor force. Since the manufacturing occurs right here in the US, PRO Compression can monitor the quality of each and every product and design.

I immediately felt better after putting these on. It was as if they were hugging my calves. I wore them all day after a long run. They are great for recovery. I did not want to take them off before bed. I have also heard these socks are great for wearing on airplanes and help reduce swelling during travel. I really wish I had a pair before my trip to DC. Next time I will be prepared.

I wore these PRO Compression socks on a three mile treadmill run and felt like they were neutralizing the jarring effect of the treadmill. They only thing I would say is that they can get hot on longer runs. I'm used to wearing ankle socks when I run so this was a bit of a change. In the cold weather, these would be great for support and for keeping my legs warm. 

Have you tried compression socks before? Do you wear them during training or for recovery? If you haven't tried PRO Compression socks yet, today is your lucky day, because you can win a pair! Or maybe you have a few pairs at home but want to expand your collection. Be sure to enter my giveaway below and the lovely folks at PRO Compression will send you a brand new pair if you win! If you just can't wait you can enter the promotion code: PCBLG for 40% off your purchase and free shipping in the US at the PRO Compression website. 

Happy Training and Good Luck!

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Happy Fourth of July

Happy 4th of July! I hope you have a great day. I have heard of so many fun races going on today, I can't believe I'm not signed up for one. Oh well, I'll plan on participating next year. Today I am going to get my run on in the cool air conditioning of the gym on the treadmill. We have a pool party, barbecue and fireworks display to attend, so the rest of the evening is going to be busy!

I just wanted to check and and wish you all a great day. It's truly a blessing that we get to celebrate our freedom and I plan on doing just that! If you haven't yet, head on over to espnW's Instagram or Twitter and submit your red, white and blue photo in their 98 Days To Shine photo contest for a chance to win some amazing prizes, like the awesome "W is for winners" shirt I am sporting in this picture. Good luck! 

Find your amazing today!

Mizuno Wave Sayonara Review

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Mizuno.

These last few weeks I have been testing out the Mizuno Wave Sayonara running shoe. As an ambassador for FitFluential I occasionally have the opportunity to try out new products and I was recently sent a pair of the entirely new Mizuno Wave Sayonara shoe releasing on July 5th. I have been running in my Nike Lunarglide's and Nike Free Run's so I was interested to see how these compare. They arrived about two weeks ago and I have been testing them out on runs ever since. 

Just out of the box!

The Mizuno Wave Sayonara comes in two colors. The blue color is for the men and the pretty pink color for the women. Yes, you may have noticed that my pair is the men's version. Unfortunately, for a girl I have very large feet and Mizuno did not have these produced in a women's size 11.5, while they do make my size in other shoe styles. They offered to send me the men's version and I have to say the bright blue color has grown on me. It's not as girly as the pink and purple, but I have already received quite a few compliments on them at the gym. Do you see the pretty pink ones below? How cute are they? I'm not normally a pink person, but oh how I want these! Maybe they will make them in my size soon? Pretty please Mizuno!

Fun Pink and Purple Women's Wave Sayonara

I started out my testing by wearing the shoes around the house. The first thing I noticed was how light the shoe is. The men's version is only 8.1oz and the women's version is 7.1oz (though weight may vary based on size). These shoes are Mizuno's lightest everyday training shoe yet. The second thing I noticed was how low to the ground these shoes are. This makes the shoes more responsive and I can see myself using these on shorter, faster runs and track workouts. Say goodbye to slow and hello to a speedy ride! 

The sole was really interesting to me. It's a G3 sole that is lightweight and offers superior traction. I did notice that the shoes seemed to be gripping the ground more than my current runners. The rubber sole also allows the shoe to be very flexible. The design on the bottom of the shoe is super fun too! Almost like a piece of artwork. Wouldn't you agree?

I took the shoes out on about five different runs, with the longest run being three miles. I can see putting these shoes into my rotation and using them for speed sessions and tempo runs. The shoes are firm enough to support my knees and feet, yet flexible enough to not feel heavy during speed work, a problem I have had in the past. 

Headed out on a three mile run through town.

The release of the Wave Sayonara fits in well with a new project Mizuno has started promoting. Their Mezamashii running project is described below:  

"The Mezamashii Run Project is an effort by Mizuno to help create a more euphoric running experience — a more "brilliant" run — for more runners everywhere. The word "mezamashii" means "eye-opening" or "brilliant" in Japanese — it's a word that captures the euphoric feeling of a brilliant run."  

Basically, it means transforming yourself and the world through running. Learning from your runs, growing from your runs and sharing that feeling with the world around you. Make that world a better place. I personally have experienced so many freeing moments on my runs and consider myself a member of Mezamashii. Running gives me an outlet, it gets me out of the house and allows me to have time to either be alone with my thoughts or to relax and hang out with my friends by sharing the same passion. For some inspiration from other Mezamashii runners, check out the video below.

If you're looking for a light shoe with superior cushioning and a fun design, you can find that in the Mizuno Wave Sayonara. These shoes release July 5, 2013 and retail for $119.99. With so many upcoming fall races now is the time to invest in a great training shoe and you can't go wrong with the Wave Sayonara. Will you join me in finding Mezamashii running?

Motivational Monday - Meet Brandy Corrales!

For the second installment of motivational Monday I am introducing you to Brandy Corrales! I first started chatting with Brandy while training for the Nike Women's Marathon in 2012. She was following our ambassador journey and we started to connect through running. 

This past April, I had the pleasure of running with her at the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC! She was even more amazing in person and inspiring. We ran all over DC together, toured the area and became fast friends. Since then she has been an inspiring and motivating force in the fitness world. I asked her to share her journey with me. I hope it inspires you as it has me!

How did you get into running? Can you share your running history?

I've always flirted with running for weight loss, but finally became passionate about it when I was asked to run the 9/11 Heroes 5K. I ran a 5k four years prior and that was a disaster. This time around I somewhat trained and set a goal, then nailed it. I was on a runner's high and immediately looked for a 10K and signed up. 

How do you train? Are you a part of a running group? Do you prefer running with a group or alone?

I train 5-6 days a week. My schedule is usually 3-4 days of running and 2-3 days of cross-training (weights, swimming, Nike Training Club app and yoga). I would love to be part of a group, so I could push myself even further. Right now it's just me and my treadmill/trails. Since my husband's schedule takes him away for periods at a time it's hard to attend group runs in my area. 

What is your favorite memory from running?

Being invited to the Nike Women's Inaugural Half Marathon in DC by Nike Running. I had such an amazing time meeting you, seeing my running idol, Olympian Shalane Flanagan literally inches away from me (still regret not asking to take a photo with her), and meeting women who I'm a big fan of from the twitter community.

What race is your favorite? Why?

As of right now the Nike Women's Inaugural Half Marathon DC is my favorite because of all the events and sightseeing I got to do. I ran a horrible race which I suffered a bad injury but the memories of the weekend surpassed my finishing time. 

How do you use your blog/social media to influence your running?

I really need to get serious and start an official blog because I have so many thoughts and information to share. Twitter has been a huge influence in my life and running. The community of runners on there has become my extended family. They are always willing to give you advice or words of encouragement to keep you going. I couldn't have done half the things I've been able to without them. 

How do you fit running in with your daily schedule?

It's a necessity, I'm a stay at home mom and I need my sanity. I usually workout when my youngest is napping or when my husband walks through the door, it's go time for me.  

Do you have any favorite running gear we should know about?

Nike dri-fit tanks or running tees. I love that it pulls the sweat away from your body keeping you dry.

Brandy is going to start training for her first full marathon and I can't wait to follow her journey. She says running a marathon is scary and exciting at the same time. I couldn't agree more! It is totally worth it though! I loved meeting her at the Nike Women's Marathon in DC and hope we get to share many more races in our future!

If you want to follow Brandy for running tips and to cheer her on in her training you can find her on Twitter: @OSUlovingirl