Lovely Blog Award and a Winner

Christine from the blog Dream Big Runner and Elle who blogs at Eat Run Sail both tagged me for the Lovely Blog Award.

Simple rules:

1. Thank the person who awarded the award : Thank you Christine and Elle!!!

2. Tell Seven random things about yourself that no one knows....well I don't know about the no one part...I do have some people in my life who do know a lot about me...

3. Pass on the award to 7 blogger pals.

I am starting with the 7 people I will tag for this in random order

1. Sandy Boston Bound Brunette

2. XLMIC Taking it on

3. Kate Super Kate

4. Stefano Black Knight

5. Nelly Nelly on the run

6. Katherine Neon Blonde Runner

7. Corey Schnoodles of fun

Ok now the 7 things about me most people do not know...

1. I do not like shopping..except for books.  That I love to shop for. 

2. I don't like people who lie, are rude or intolerant.

3. Those are my favorite flowers (these came from my backyard)

4.  I left home when I was 18.  Looking back it was not the smartest decision of my life and I hope my sons will not do the same unless it is because they get a scholarship to go there:

5. I think men should not be allowed to wear white pants..including white jeans!

6. I still buy Real CD.  The last one I bought is John Mayer's Born and Raised and I love it.

7.  4 more days until I take a plane to go there...

The winner of the My Memory software is......lucky #9 : SANDY!!!!!

And this one for  my hockey fan pals...BDD and Shawn ...

Mizuno Mezamashii Project!

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.

They picked 600 runners to be the founding members of this project and I am one of them.  I feel very lucky and also honored.  This was not a contest, we did not need to send any type of applications.  We were just chosen.  I love that Mizuno did not pick only elite runners or BQ kind of runners but they also picked  unknown average runners like me.  They don't care that I have yet to run a marathon..all they care about is that I run.  This will sound so cheesy but it makes me feel special and accepted in the huge and diverse running community.

I was contacted via email by Chris (Chris, if you are reading this, thank you again so very much for finding me!)  He asked for my home address and promise this was legit and would be something "good".  I only knew it was a Mizuno project and the rest was a secret.

A few weeks passed and then this showed up

Mizuno believes their shoes can help runners achieve this mezamashii feeling more often, so they sent special invitations to the founding members to receive a free pair of shoes and join their quest for the brilliant run.    

This from the beautiful invitation I received from Mizuno:

‘Instead of spending millions of dollars on advertising to talk about our shoes, we’re putting our money where your feet are — by giving you a free pair.’

Of course I am happy and grateful to receive a free pair of Mizuno shoes!  I think this campaign is very clever. 

I have ran 7 of my 10 half marathons in Mizunos.  First I had Nexus 4 and I changed to the Wave Inspire 7.   I liked them but I did not feel those were THE ones.  The other stability shoe they have is the Nirvana 8, they are expensive shoes and I could not bring myself to spend so much money for running shoes.  So you can guess what pair I requested for this project...the Nirvana 8!   When I called to order them I was told they were out of my size (11) and that they were changing the color (from pink to blue) so I would have to wait until the end of July to get my shoes.  Well I am waiting of course!  End of July will be perfect timing, one month before Hood to Coast!

After selecting my shoes the next step was "Invite the Worthy".  I got to pick someone who would also be receiving a free pair of Mizuno shoes and join me in the quest of the brilliant run! 

I picked a more than worthy runner.  Her running resume is impressive and she also used running to do good for others. But there is more than that.
I picked someone who has been nothing but supportive of my running progression.  She knows I want to run a marathon and she believes in me more than I believe in myself I think.  Because of her and her huge heart I was able to convince Bill to give the OK for a marathon.  Why do I need the OK from my husband for that? Because of that race here.  He said OK because she offered to run (well run for me and I guess trot for her) all 26.2 miles with me. 
Sacrifice time with her family.
Sacrifice a race.   
JUST FOR ME. 
JUST SO I CAN MAKE ONE OF MY DREAM COME TRUE . 

So it was easy for me to pick my "worthy".

I look forward to go running with my new Mizuno Nirvana 8 in July!
I will write a review on them later this summer!

Thank you Mizuno Running!

Hockeytown

We pause this running blog for this one post...because well it is mandatory tonight to post something about this historic sport moment!

As you know I am Canadian.
Back home hockey is a religion.  I am not kidding.  We HAVE to love hockey.
And I do.
Growing up we had one TV in the house and on every Saturday night "La Soiree du Hockey" (Hockey Night in Canada)  was what was on.   The Montreal HABS was our team until we had our Quebec Nordiques join the league for several years.

Now that I live here, the home team are the Los Angeles Kings.
I went to see them a couple of times when Luc Robitaille was still playing.

I never thought of LA as a hockey town...I am pretty sure nobody did.
But tonight....tonight it sure is.

History has been made.
I love those kind of sports moments.
Big ones, with facts and first times
First Cup in 44 years.
First 8th seeded team to win the Stanley Cup.

I watched the game tonight with my kids.
Did you hear me scream??!!! :) It was a shower of goals!!!
Guess where my husband was during that game....in a sports bar...
in NEW JERSEY! HA HA!!
I called a few times.....it sounded like dead town there....I dared him to stand up on a chair and shout "Go Kings!" ..but he did not bite....booo hooo!

So Congrats to THE LOS ANGELES KINGS!!!

What a ride!

This guy was a superstar! (Jonathan Quick, Goalie)

Simon Gagne, a French Canadian like me. 

He is actually from my hometown of Sainte-Foy!

 and Luuuuuuuuuuuc!!!!! The great Luc Robitaille (another French Canadian) who is now

The Kings President.

Tomorrow I will go get the kids some Stanley Cup Champ t-shirts....they will be wearing that to arrive in Quebec next week!!! That is going to be funny!!!

Did you enter my Giveaway?  Go HERE!

GIVEAWAY!

Win a FREE photo-scrapbooking digital software!!!

This is a digital scrapbook software. It is very easy to learn how to use it. I installed it on my laptop and started using it right away. With My Memory Suite you will be able to create all kinds of projects using pictures; books, cards, calendars, posters, slide show with music, videos, gifts tags. One of the thing I love about this software is that each page you create can become a jpg file. You can make really nice pages using your pictures and print them as a picture of any size you like on your own printer no need to order through any websites. If you choose to use a website to print your pages that is also something that you can do. You would upload those pages just like you do with your regular pictures. It is VERY EASY. 

You can also have full scrapbook pages printed.  Costco offers this service and other website I found also for very good price.  You can build a big scrapbook with those pages like you would do a regular one but without all the glue and cutting and stickers.

My Memories Suite Scrapbook software comes with templates pages, several different background papers and embellishments. You can change the shape of your pictures, frame them in any color you want, add text to them, add a shadow, special effects, you name it!! You can make a lot of things without having to buy anything extra but if you want to add to what comes with the software you can download more templates or embellishments on the www.MyMemories.com website. There, you will find a lot of fun stuff! They even have a section with FREE downloads! You can find all kinds of monograms and templates for everything; Christmas, Sports, Kids, School, Seasons etc.
Want to see some examples of things I made using this software?
Just look at my blog header! 
Also all the slides on my Hood to Coast video application were made with this software
you can see it here

I also used the software to make my son's "Star of the Week" poster at school:

And to make birthday party invitations:

So who wants a free My Memories Suite Scrapbook software ($40 value) ???

HOW TO WIN:
Mandatory:
1. Be a follower of my blog. One entry.

2. Visit www.MyMemories.com. and tell me what is your favorite digital paper pack. One Entry.
EXTRA entry for:

3. Like MyMemories on Facebook here. 1 entry.

4. Share this Giveaway with your followers, it can be on your blog or twitter and leave me a comment here.  For Twitter include @carotabi in your message so I know you did it. 1 entry for each.

So one lucky person will win a free software and for all the others I have a special coupon to give to you
$10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

This is the coupon code: STMMMS86809


Winner (choosen with random.org) will be announced on June 15!

My Trademark

Again.....
I get these from the race pics.   It has now become a classic for me I guess.
I did raise my arms up in victory right before the top left one was taken...
Where is that picture Mr Photographer??

Ran on the machine all week.
Not my favorite kind of running but better than no running at all.

Mon 5 miles
Tue 4 miles
Wed see below
Thu: 4 miles
Friday: 5 miles

Headed outside tomorrow and Sunday.  It is supposed to be REALLY hot so 6-8 miles max.

National Running Day was a rest day.  But I did some different kind of running.
It is the "mom running" kind of running.
I ran after my kids at the Los Angeles Zoo!!!
That has to count for something!!!

Next Post: GIVEAWAY!!!

Runner-Blogger-Friends

I am still recovering from the Fontana Half Marathon.  (Race Recap is here).  Downhill running can be fun and helps with pace but it makes us pay for it for days after!

The race was Saturday and Sunday I did not run.  I wanted to but I had to clean my house for an appraisal we had Monday.  (We are not moving just refinancing to save some precious dollars).  Monday and Tuesday I ran at the gym and it was not easy.  I did 5 miles Monday and 4 yesterday.

Monday, as I was getting ready to hop on the treadmill someone tapped me on the shoulder.  I turned around and I found this gal standing behind me!  Sandy! Finally we met.  We live in the same town.  We run the same races.  She is on the pictures my husband took at races and I am on hers.   We crossed each other on the running path in our town on Christmas Eve but it was from far and we did not stop to chat so really we had never met.  We missed each other last week at the gym..yes we belong to the same gym also.  So now finally we had a chance to chat and run at the same time.  That was the best treadmill run ever.  I had planned to do 3 miles and thought I would not even make it to 3 because I was in pain from my half marathon but just like magic I made it to 5 without hardly noticing the miles going up.  She is so nice and I am so happy we finally met.  I feel like I have known her for a long time.  She is a marathoner and the name of her blog is Boston Bound Brunette so you can guess what she is chasing..:)  I wish she could be there running on the treadmill next to me every time I go run at the gym!!  Her husband was also at the gym and he took a picture of us (in matching shorts)!

Again, I look like a giant!

Saturday I met Andrea (who blogs here  The MF Dre ) at the race and she met my kids and told them that she works at Disney XD.  My boys thought that was VERY cool of course.  Well now they think she is THE coolest gal they have met.   We went to the LA Zoo today and when we got home there was a huge box on the porch.

How fun to get this..they could not wait to open it....

 A sweet note from their new pal Andrea!! ("On Disney paper mom!")

And lots of great stuff!!!!

They were VERY happy!!!!!

This is for you Andrea!

Thank you so much!

It felt like Christmas in June in our house!!

Fontana Half Marathon Race Recap

Yesterday I ran my 10th Half Marathon at the Fontana Days Run.  I loved that race.  I highly recommend it.
It was super well organized, the volunteers were awesome, everyone was really nice and supportive.  The Fontana Police was also great,  helping on the course and every officer I saw said something encouraging to the runners.

They offered race day packet pick up but I decided to go Friday afternoon and save me some trouble on the morning of the race.  It could not have been easier.  I got my bib, shirt and goodie bag.  Took me less than 10 minutes.  The shirt is a black tech shirt.  They let me change my original Med to a small, that was nice.  In the goodie back was a sticker and a pin from the race with some bars and other samples.  Sticker and pin = very nice touch I thought.

After that we headed to a birthday party at the park and I was wearing flip flops...not very smart the day before a race....and I twisted my left ankle....of course I did....so I was a little worried.  I iced it as soon as I got home and I put on my running shoes to get some support and hoped for the best.

Alarm went beeeep beeeep BEEEEP!!!! at 4 am.   I went to the race alone and Bill and the kids left much later to come support me.  Every runner had to take a bus to get to the start, no exception.  The first bus was at 5 am and the last one was 6:20 am.   Start of the race was 7:30 am.  I left my house around 5 am.  I had no problem finding a parking spot and I did not have to wait for the bus.  I got to the top of the canyon around 6:15 am and I waited for the start.  I was nervous so I used the porta potty 3 times...I just kept going at the back of the line. :)
In the lines I spotted Andrea, who is an alternate on the NUUN Hood to Coast team.  Her blog is  The MF Dre , check it out!  It was really nice to meet her in person.  What a nice gal she is!   I wished her a good race and I went to line up for the start.  I went towards to back because it was all downhill and I was a little nervous about that.

The race started right on time, no ceremony just the horn and we were off.  The sun was already shinning on us, that was not good for me who struggles in the heat.  Even if the temperature did not reach 80 during the race, to me it felt hot running in the sun like that. 

It was steep at the beginning.  First step I felt a pain in my groin that never went away.  Each step hurt on the left side.  I have felt that pain for a week now it is not super sharp but it is there.  I iced every night.  It is still hurting today. :( Anyway back to the race.  I tried to not think about the pain and told myself "You waited the whole year for this race now suck it up!" Took me a few minutes to get used to going downhill and I was checking my watch a lot..I did not want to go out too fast only to crash at mile 6 or something so I held back.  Looking back I think I was way too cautious.  Next year I will not do that.  I really liked the course.  Going down the canyon it was really nice, no cars just the nature, I loved that part the best.  This was like that for 6 miles and all going down, after that the big downhill part of the course is done.  At mile 7 I thought I saw Bill and the boys and I started waving like a crazy person and as I got closer I realized it was not them....oooopsy.  Next mile he would be there. That is 15 fway behind me, and the van for race.  They did have a vehicle on the course like they said they would.  I did see many runners taking walking breaks and I saw ZERO runner being pulled off the course for walking. 

They had plenty of water at each station with volunteers at all the stations.  Several stations had water in cups or runners could actually grab a water bottle and take it with them.  I took water at every station even if I had my hand held bottle.  I dumped a cup on my head at each station because I got hot very fast in that sun.  I took salt sticks 3 times during the race.  I hate 2 bites of waffle stinger...that is all my stomach could handle :(  I had to stop once for bathroom..  I had asked Bill to have a fresh bottle of water for me ready and I am so happy he was there at mile 8 to give it to me.  Gave me a boost to see the kids.  I was getting tired.  I chatted with 2 runners for a couple miles, that was nice.  One was at half marathon #21 and the other was running her first one.  Mile 1o: the mother of all side ache.  REALLY???? Mile 10! I was furious.  I cussed in French.  I tried changing my breathing, slowing down, nothing worked.  It was so painful.  I had no choice but to walk.  CRAP CRAP CRAP.  I was so mad.  I kept saying "Come on!" and I would try to run again..and it would still hurt.  It took a whole mile of that to get better.  Enough to run again anyway.   I did struggle until the end.  Once again no strong finish.  I had dreams about finishing strong jumping over the finish line...well still a fail on that.  One day I will finish jumping for joy.  But  yesterday I finished like I did 90% of my races...DRY HEAVING....booo hooo.  This was before the dry heaves started.

Looks like I am OK....but 2 sec after that last picture was taken, I had bad dry heaves...and a guy came to my rescue and brought me to a chair...all that in front of Bill and the boys.  Bill was not too happy but I was OK , I sat for a couple minutes only. 

I ran into Andrea who had a great race and a PR! 

  They had bags with fruit and a bar and water for everyone.  Again really organized.

They also had free massages!

And also free instant picture!

Photographer said to give the thumbs up and he snap the picture too fast! :)

So even though I did have a few difficulties I loved that race and I will do it again for sure. 

What? Her time? It was this much:

My first time under 2:20. 
2:19:42
1 min 45 sec PR.
I am happy but I did think I would do better than that.
But I am happy. 
My first half was 01-23-11 and my time was 2:42:xx so 23 minutes improvement between 1 and 10..that is not bad.

Today my legs hurt.  Downhill hurts.  But I loved it. 
I feel lucky that I get to do this, you know be at the start of a race and be at the finish also.
Sorry this was long.
Thank you for reading!