More Color = More Fun!

The Color Run is coming back to Sacramento in a big way in 2014! In fact, their whole tour is upgraded with more color, more swag and more fun! This race really is a magical time. I have been able to do the last two races in Sacramento and they have been better each year. I bring new friends and new runners to the sport with The Color Run. It's a fast course and a very easy beginner race.

The Color Run is also known as The Happiest 5k on the Planet! Do you know why? Your only requirement to run the race is to have fun. You can bring your friends, your parents, your kids, your neighbors. There are no restrictions based on time and your one goal is to have a good time. Don't get me wrong, I love competing in races, but sometimes it is nice to just get out there and enjoy my friends company and run through blasts of color together! 

This year The Color Run has branded its tour "The Kaleidoscope Tour." It has amazing new participant gear but still retains it color magic. Want to know what you get with your registration? New t-shirt, headband, wrist band and sling bag! That's a pretty sweet deal! 

Arm candy is big this year and The Color Run has jumped on board. Right now I am wearing my Road ID bracelet, Nike Fuelband and Seahawks bracelet on my wrist. I can't wait to add this bracelet to the mix! Get ready world! 

I'm especially excited about the sling bag because where I live you have to shop with reusable bags and this will be perfect for grocery shopping and spreading my Color Run love after the race. I'm going to get a lot of use out of this bag. Love yoga and gym workouts? It also makes a great bag for carrying your towel and water bottle to class. Plus, you can't lose it because it is such a bright rainbow of color. 

Let's take a look at the t-shirt. The all new design this year is pretty sweet. It is made of super soft fabric and has a tailored fit! Ladies, you know that a tailored fit is important. Even if it's just a t-shirt we still want it to flatter. I've heard it said that it feels like a unicorn hug. Having never hugged a unicorn myself I can't really argue that point now can I. Bring on those unicorn hugs. They sound pretty nice to me. 

2014 is a big year for racing for me and I am making The Color Run a crucial part of it. It will be the fun race I do in between my hunt for PR's and race victories. A perfect race to relax and enjoy the moment. 

Have I convinced you of the fun yet? Or maybe you're coming back for your third or fourth year too? As a special deal for my readers I partnered with The Color Run to offer you a $5 off discount on your race registration. It's not just for the Sacramento race, though I would love for you to come race it with me. This code is good for any race in any city! Score! Register for the race of your choice using this link. The code for $5 off is: COLOR5OFF. Be sure to enter the code at registration as it can't be retro-applied.  

Get ready to make 2014 epic with The Color Run! Cover your phone with a plastic baggie, grab a bandana and get ready to get a little wild! Run, walk, skip or dive your way to the finish. Share the color love with your friends and family and remember to take some sweet photos to commemorate your race day bliss. See you at the race!

Holiday Wish List

The Christmas season is upon us and that means it is time to do some gift giving and receiving. I have put together a list of some of my favorite items to give to the runners and fitness guru's in your life. Most of these are on my wish list, or already in my closet, so they are top performers! 

2013 Holiday Wish List

Petzl Tikka R+ Headlamp $59.96 at Amazon.com

Let's face it, in winter it gets dark, early! A lot of time we can't get a run in before the sun goes down, or perhaps we want to run before work. Either way, it is dark outside. The Petzl Tikka R+ Headlamp will make those dark runs safer for you. The bright light will illuminate your path and keep you visible to oncoming motorists, while the rechargeable battery will keep your light going charge after charge. The light auto adjusts to give you brighter light when you need it and to conserve battery power when you don't.  It gets an A+ from me! 

Nike Luxe Running Tights $120 at Nike.com

These running tights have a stretch, dry-FIT fabric with perforations for breathability, without sacrificing warmth. The contain reflective details that provide 360-degree visibility for dark, winter runs. They also feature a back zip pocket to stash necessities and have a drawstring waist for a personalized and snug fit. 

Nike Shield Flash Jacket $350 at Nike.com

I have wanted a flash jacket since they came out a few years ago. I absolutely love the idea and how visible these jackets make you on the road. This updated version is breathable, water resistant and has hand warmers! I love anything with thumbholes and hand warmers and these are amazing! The fabric pulls down over your hands like a glove. Love the idea and if I could have one thing for Christmas, this would be it. Hint, hint! 

Cashmere Teton Tunic $198 at Athleta

If you are looking for post workout warmth this sweater is for you! It is buttery soft and the long length is great with leggings and for us taller ladies. Out of my wish list this is the one item I have and I wish I could wear it everyday. It is my absolute favorite sweater. It's a bit more expensive than your average sweater, but totally worth it! 

Phd Running Light Socks By Smartwool $17 at Athleta.com

These socks are excellent for winter training. I just wore a pair at the California International Marathon Relay in 20 degree weather and my feet stayed warm and dry. The Merino Wool in these socks keeps your feet dry in even the harshest conditions and the padded footbed provides top of the line comfort. They come in three different sizes so they can properly fit everyone's feet. 

Nike Lunarglide+ 5 Shield $125 at Nike.com

I love the Lunarglide line from Nike. I have run three marathons in them and the new, updated version is even better. The shield provides protection from the elements and keeps wind and rain at bay to keep your feet warm, dry and pounding the pavement. It's springy cushioning provides protection while running and gives you a smooth ride. It also features a reflective technology that lights up when automobile lights hit it. 

These are just a few of my favorite things. I'd love to hear what your gift list is! Share with me in the comments below. Happy Gifting!

Pre CIM Race Report

Tomorrow is the California International Marathon. I am participating in the relay race with the work team I put together. This year we began focusing more on fitness and running at work and what a surprise - I took it upon myself to put together not one, but two teams for the race! In the beginning I wasn't even sure if we would have one team so I was really happy with the fact that non-runners signed up and trained for the race. It really was a great office bonding experience and tomorrow it all comes together. 

I made training plans, sent out emails and coordinated the teams. Tomorrow will be the true test of how well we work together. Hopefully we can find each other at the exchange points! I have faith that this is going to be a great race. This year, my third time running the relay, I will be running through the finish and I am excited about that! Look for me on course! We'll be in the fun shirts pictured below so cheer for us as we run by - or virtually on Twitter and Instagram!

Yesterday - at the packet pick-up and runner expo I had some fun checking out the booths and finding this giant shoe! How many people could sleep in this? It's huge! Is Bigfoot racing tomorrow? In all seriousness, it was great marketing and the shoe definitely drew traffic to their booth. I also saw my Nuun Hood to Coast van driver! Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the CIM Tweet-Up at the San Francisco Marathon booth today, but I am looking forward to meeting my fellow ambassadors soon. 

Are you running or racing this weekend? Perhaps your racing the CIM? If you are give me a shoutout and I'll look for you on course. Good luck and happy running! Remember to layer up - it's going to be a cold one tomorrow, 25 degrees, yikes! 

~Karen

I'm Feeling Lucky and Blessed

I have absolutely nothing to complain about this week. If you read my post yesterday then you know I have had a lot of good things happening in my life lately and especially in my fitness and running journey. Today was the day that Nike announced their lottery winners for the Nike Women's Marathon Random Draw. I was lucky enough to be one of the ladies chosen to run the race. Even more exciting is the fact that all of the ladies who I wanted to reunite with, meet and run with got in as well! There will be a Nike Women's Marathon Ambassador Reunion, even though it is missing a few key members (Nerissa and Renisha), but they will be there in spirit! Training begins next week, so after I settle down and wipe this perma-smile off my face I'll have to nail down my schedule. 

Nike has a very fun app this year so you can access your training plans directly from your phone. I am excited to try that out. Did any of my blog readers register for NWM? If so, did you get into the race? Hope to see you there!

I also found out that I won the giveaway for a Spartan Race entry from Sara at Words To Run By. The race in Sacramento is the week after the Nike Women's Marathon so I will be training hard the next 17 weeks! Add onto that my training for Hood to Coast and this girl has a very busy summer and fall. I wish the weather were cooler outside. One hundred plus degree days are NOT OK!

Luckily for me I will be well outfitted and geared up thanks to Athleta Roseville, the sponsor's of Hood to Coast, Nike and Mizuno. I just recently got a new RoadID bracelet too. If you haven't heard of RoadID they make inexpensive ID bracelets and products to protect you on the road. I hope I never need it, but in case something happens to me out on a run, the bracelet lets medical staff know who I am and who to contact. I think it's a must have for any runner out there. Check out their website and pick out one that's right for you. 

My Road ID Bracelet 

That's all from me right now, I'm ready to take on the weekend! What races do you all have on the agenda? How do you train in the heat and stay focused during long periods of training? 

Birthday Weekend at the Nike Women's Half Marathon DC!

I can't even begin to put into writing how awesome this race experience was! I am so grateful for everyone who made this race amazing! Thank you to Brandy, Nike Running, Nike Women, Lydia, the volunteers, Ellie Goulding, Robin, the Crews, and everyone I met at the expo! You know how to make a girl feel special and how to put on a race.

The race weekend began with a trip to the expo. One of my pictures from Instagram was featured throughout the event on their live photo stream. It was fun to see everyone's training and race weekend photos. There were so many strong and empowering women there. 

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Friday morning I volunteered at the expo. I was in charge of checking racers in and giving them their race packets, assigning their bibs and answering any questions they might have had. It was a fun experience and really exciting to see how excited everyone was for the race. I also got a fun grey long-sleeve Nike Women's Half Marathon Volunteer shirt! Woohoo!

Friday was also the night of the VIP party at the Nike Georgetown store. Brandy and I went to the event together and had a lot of fun. We took our pictures by the wall of names and met some of the girls from the San Francisco Runway Crew! They are super nice and very inspiring. 

Found my name on the wall!

I was able to find my name on the wall and had to snap a photo to remember. Then we headed into the party. There were refreshments, chocolate covered strawberries, shopping, and Olympians Shalene Flanagan and Joan Benoit Samuelson presenting the Tiffany's necklace finisher's medal! I enjoyed checking out the party and meeting up with some friends and Nike employees I worked with as an ambassador for the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco last year. After the party Brandy and I headed back to the hotel to try and get some rest before more exploring on Saturday.

 Shalene Flanagan and Joan Benoit Samuelson

Saturday morning Brandy and I headed to the expo. We couldn't resist taking some photos in front of the expo tent and really taking the experience in. This banner just happened to be all about my birthday so I had to snap a photo. Thanks Brandy for the great pose idea! Moments like this don't just happen every day and I had to take advantage of every opportunity. After some more photos around the expo we headed inside to check out what Nike had to offer. As always, the expo delivered fun for everyone. 

Throughout the day they had contests and activities and gave away awesome prizes and race gear. I was in the tent at the time they asked everyone to pull out their Nike Running apps and show how many miles they had run with it. I happened to have the most at the time, with a total or 1500 miles and won a hat. They also did a brief interview with me on why I love the Nike Running app. It was a fun experience and a great reward for all my running. They also did some live Nike Training Club sessions where they gave away some NTC towels just for doing the workout with them. This was my favorite. I love the NTC drills and it was great to be able to do them with a group of energetic women. 

Saturday afternoon Brandy and I did some touring around town. We saw the White House, Washington Monument, Treasury, and many other buildings and areas or interest in DC. We must have walked nine miles that day before the race. After taking a lot of photos, we headed to the private Ellie Goulding concert especially for VIP's, Crews, and Nike Running and Nike Training Club Superusers! I  really like Ellie's music and she is even more lovable because she is an amazing runner! The concert was great and very real. 

 Ellie Goulding and I after the concert!

After the show I got to meet Ellie Goulding as a special treat from Nike Women and Nike Running! She was super sweet and down to earth. Thanks Nike for letting me meet this amazing artist and runner. After the concert we headed to get some supper and then went to bed to prepare for our early morning race!

Sunday morning Brandy and I woke up around 5:30. We got ready, ate, put our race bibs, corral bracelets and running gear on and headed to the race! We walked about a half mile to the race from our hotel and then headed to our race corrals. I was fairly close to the front and could see the Capital from the start line. After waiting for about a half hour we did a quick warm-up with Deanna Jefferson, a Nike Training Club instructor, had a quick wave from Shalene and Joanie and then Jay Blahnik did a final countdown and started the race! 

 Running by the Capitol. Photo by Nike

The race course was absolutely beautiful. The temperature was in the 60's and the sun was shining brightly. I could not resist snapping some photos as I ran. It's harder to do than you would think. We ran by so many landmarks, across bridges, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Capital. Each one was amazing. The race had great water stops, fueling stations and the crowd support was incredible. The last few miles the streets were lined with spectators cheering on their friends, family and strangers. They definitely helped to push me to the finish. I crossed the line in 1:55:03. I was happy with my time, especially considering the course. 

After I crossed that finish line I was so happy! I had made it and in under two hours. I picked up my Tiffany's Finisher Medal, grabbed my Finisher's shirt, snacks and then headed to take a few photos at the photo booth. The girls behind me in line were kind enough to snap a few photos for me because Brandy was still racing. After the photos I went to the stretching tent to give my muscles some recovery and sipped on some Jamba Juice smoothies! They have never tasted so good. Yum!

After the race Brandy and I went back to our hotel to change and then headed out for some more sightseeing. The day started to turn a bit cloudy and we were even rained on for about 30 minutes. We treated ourselves to ice cream and a little shopping. Then we went to see some more sights. We walked all around, almost ten more miles after the race. We took photos around the reflection pool and many other monuments. 

This is a really powerful photo to me. It really shows how much the times have changed. Women are an integral part of our country and know how to work as a team. This race was a testament to the strength and power of women from across the country and around the world. I met so many strong and inspiring women, I could not have asked for a better weekend. 

One of my favorite pictures. Reflecting at the Lincoln Memorial.

Turning 26 was an amazing experience. If all my birthdays are this fun in the future I can't wait to see what is yet to come. This race was one for the record books and I can't wait to take over San Francisco on October 20, 2013! Until then, follow my training journey here and if you did the Nike Women's Half Marathon or any other race this weekend, let me know how it went in the comments below! 

I'm getting faster!

We got to meet Sam Querrey! 

These last few weeks have been crazy and I have one more week to go. Between training for the Nike Women's Marathon, working for the Sacramento Capitals World TeamTennis, coaching basketball and working full time I haven't had a spare moment to myself. Remarkably, I have been able to stay somewhat sane and even was able to run my tempo run at a 7:30 minute mile pace! Progress!

This last weekend was extremely eventful. I played some tennis and went on a great nine mile run on Saturday morning. I met a 93 year old man on my run and he stopped me at around mile four. He wanted to congratulate me on running and told me to keep doing it and I would live to 93 like him. He did a little hop in the air and heel tap to show me how agile he was. Then he mentioned that he walks ten miles a day! I think he has found the secret to staying active...don't ever stop to begin with. 

My long run went really well. I was able to keep up a steady pace of 8:43 per mile and felt strong. I was glad to be home when I hit those last few miles. My legs were starting to get a bit tired. Then on Saturday afternoon we headed out for our backpacking trip. The hike was tortuous, straight up climbing up boulders for a few miles and my legs were screaming at me to take a rest. I resisted the urge to stop and kept telling myself this is great marathon training. When we finally got to the top of Horsetail Falls we were surrounded by pristine lakes fed by rushing water, it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I couldn't resist doing a bit of yoga there! 

This is one of my most active weekends to date. How was your weekend and what did you do to stay active?