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!

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

Sailing Away

Every once in awhile I just need to get away. Today it was 108 degrees in Sacramento and I did not want to be outside in that weather. Luckily we got a last minute invite to go sailing in San Francisco! The weather on the San Francisco Bay was just right, low 80's on land and a comfortable 70 on the water. There was a bit of a temperature drop when we rounded the corner along the San Francisco city coastline where I had to bundle up in my new Nike Sweatshirt that I had packed in my new Nike Cheyenne Vapor backpack, but I much preferred that over 108 degree weather. 

I had never been sailing before so I didn't know what to expect. I think this was one of the best places to have my first real sailing experience. I got to see Angel Island, Alcatraz, Oakland, San Francisco and the most beautiful sunset, all from the comfort of a sail boat! I doubt I will be sailing again for a long time, but this was definitely an experience I won't forget for a long while. 

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get my workout in today, but sometimes life happens and things come up. This was not an experience I wanted to miss and that just means I will work even harder tomorrow. I have an early morning #NTC workout scheduled tomorrow and then I am driving to Petaluma for the chance of a lifetime. I get to run with Jason Lester, who is running and biking across the United States with Nike to raise awareness for the "journey for a better world." I am beyond excited. One of my friends is coming with me and we are going to finish off the run with a Nike gear shopping spree at the Petaluma Nike Outlet. Stay tuned for my update tomorrow!