Let's Celebrate!

Happy Hump Day!!

Rev3 Anderson was spectacular!

with Coach Shapie

It's been a busy week around these parts. Last weekend I returned from a spectacular couple of days of hanging with my Rev3 peeps down in SC for the Anderson race. I've been to SC before but never this far inland--close to Georgia and Tennessee. It was very rolly and I cannot wait to go back and ride with teammate, Robin!

team

Me with Sean and Holly

quite the view from the race expo/finish line!

I have a ton of really fun stuff coming up for YOU! SO....Let's just get right to it. I'm excited and I cannot wait to share something super duper cool with y'all!

I met a really talented artist in one of my bootcamp classes last year and I found out that she is an artist and creates CUSTOM jewelry. When one of my athletes achieved several distance milestones, she made a beautiful necklace with tags of the distance and a manta and a bead of the athletes birthstone. The necklace is on a rubber cord and looks fabulous!! It came out beautiful and I was super pleased.

Renee is currently creating a very special 140.6 tag to add to my TriBling necklace!! I cannot wait to see it.

Let me introduce you to Old Pool Glassworks and Renee (say ree-knee not ren-ay) and her talents!

Her talents are not limited to jewelry-this is a beautiful mirror frame-
Would love this in my family room!

Renee has so generously offered up her talents and beautiful custom work for ONE lucky MMM reader.
How totally exciting is that??



So you will get to consult with Renee to create a one-of-a-kind custom stamped piece for you!!

If you are local or want to come visit beautiful Biddeford Pool, Maine then plan a trip to her studio and check out her STUDIO SALE this weekend, Oct 25-27th. 

So how can you enter to win?? It's easy!!

You must leave a comment for EACH entry, please. Failure to do so will only lessen your chances of winning since you get ONE entry for each method!

1) Go give Old Pool Glassworks a like on Facebook! 

2) Tell me what your custom stamped piece will say and why.

3) SHARE THE NEWS! One entry per method and one entry per day can be earned. You can leave just one comment with the number of entries for each way you shared. Please leave a new comment each day you share. 

• Tweet about this giveaway
• Instagram about this giveaway
• link on Facebook
• Pin it on Pinterest
• Share on your blog

4) Tell me what you next BIG GOAL is...

5) If you can attend the studio sale OR purchase any Old Port Glassworks piece online, earn 5 additional entries!! 

THE FINE PRINT:

Entries will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, October 31st~all entries will be verified and the winner will be chosen at random from all qualified entries. 

FTC Disclosure: I am not being paid or compensated in any way, shape of form for this blog post. All opinions are mine and this giveaway is simply a way to celebrate today with Old Port Glassworks who is generously donating the gift to celebrate with me! Thank you Old Port Glassworks!! 

38,000 Feet

As we speak, I am almost 38,000 feet in the air, currently over Detroit on my way back from Boulder. I have been in Colorado for the last 5 days for the Rev3 Team Summit.

I left Denver International Airport just as it was starting to snow. I guess the East Coast is getting a snow storm as well and I was thinking that it was possible that my flight would be cancelled. (NoSuchLuck) Another day to play in CO would have been pretty cool. Instead, I hung out in the airport all afternoon with my team mate, Kate, and all was well. We will find out if all is well on the ground in New Hampshire soon enough...

The month of January has been one filled with adventure, new friendships, and bonding experiences like I have never had in my life. I am so blessed that I am able to literally live a dream and live this life that I am living right now.

I could not do this without the love and support of my family and for that I am forever grateful.

So on the heels of an amazing experience in Florida with the FFtFL team and running Ragnar, I just ventured out to Colorado for the Rev3 Team Summit. 

Team Rev3 Summit

WOW>This was amazing. Awesome. Incredible. Exciting. FUN.

Getting to spend several days with the team--old and NEW--was certainly such a different experience than racing or working an event. We got to meet with our sponsors, have some great team building exercises and had a lot of laughs!
_________________________________________________________

While you wait for the entire summary of the Rev3 awesomeness that was the summit, did you know I am doing a little sock giveaway?

Go check it out! Easy to enter!

I'm a Sock Snob-Wanna Win Some?

I am an admitted sock snob.

For years, I would only wear Balega's. 

Then I discovered Swiftwick and LOVE 'em. That is all that covers my toes. 

Recently, I was asked about Injinji socks.
I have never worn them. 
I have no opinion about them...so I ask you-
Have YOU tried them?

Do you WANT to try them?
One lucky MMM reader will win some socks from Injinji. All you have to do is visit the Injinji site and tell me ONE thing you learned.

Earn a bonus entry by sharing this post!!

GOOD LUCK

"friends don't let friends wear crappy socks"

A Winner and More Quassy Fun

My life was an absolute chaotic mess of bad news just before the race. 
What a stress fest it was-it was presenting itself physically too!

Our clothes dryer went kaput just days before and I had to go and buy a new one (that was not in the budget!) and then even more good news, the clutch in my husbands truck also went kaput on his way home from work on Thursday. (really?? really!!)

He was staying home with Lola all weekend while I was gone and it was not looking good for me to take my car (which is awesome on gas) down to CT. My training buddy, Marc was coming down to CT with me to volunteer at the race and we could have used his truck but that giant V8 is a gas guzzler for sure!

We had my husband's truck towed to our mechanic and we were told that the truck should be ready on Friday-by the end of the day the latest so I was in the clear to head out Friday morning as planned with my car.
Fun note about this: the problem was actually much bigger than the mechanic thought and ended up having to do more work on the truck all weekend, leaving my husband stuck at home with an active toddler, with no car and massive rain storms that brought in over 7 inches of rain over the weekend itself. This would also end up costing waaaay more than we thought, as well. Great, more $$ gone! 

The Rev 3 Mobile

I arrived at the Quassy on Friday afternoon and the first thing I did was set out on the hunt to find Coach. I quickly discovered that she would not be making it to the race due to medical issues. Now, I was a tad on the devastated side to find out she would not be there--but I know she is no wuss and would have been there if she were able.
Another Fun Note: She had actually emailed me mid-week (twice, actually) about it and to nail down a race plan but I never got those emails. Late Friday night I got notification that she tweeted about my lack of communication. I got all panicky and started back-tracking thru social media and my email accounts to see what I was missing. Ah-hah! there were those two emails I missed...sitting in my dang spam folder. (Hey Yahoo! she's in my addy book so why is this being dumped into my spam folder??) I called her (which I never do!) and we cleared the lines of communication. 


I made my way around the park and sought out my Rev3 Peeps!! Then it was time to get my new blueseventy wetsuit and hit the water for a practice swim!!

with the awesome LJ

 The water was amazing--so warm. Actually, too warm. By the time I got to the first buoy that was set up for the Oly race the next day, I was sweating!! I got in a swim, got a good feel for the wetsuit and it was time to eat! I was famished!!

with the beautiful Jacqui Gordon! we were rockin' our Rev 3 Shimmer suits

It was going to be an early start to the day on Saturday since I was volunteering at the Oly race as a bike marshall on the course. It was time to eat, get some info to Coach and get some rest.
Saturday would prove to be a very long day with lots of action!!

______________________________________________

A big thank you to 1BandID for allowing me to review their product and participate in a giveaway for my readers. I love being able to work with products that I support and use myself so ....


There were 41 valid entries into the contest. 


The winner was chosen by Lola. I asked her to pick a number between 1 and 41. Lola picked the number 26, so the lucky winner of the 1BandID is.....


JEN at COLOR ME HAPPY


Jen, please shoot me an email at jsmall14(at)maine.rr.com and I will make sure you are rockin' a 1BandID lickity-split!!

1BandID-Review & Giveaway

It's been a couple long days of training, working and balancing it all with family obligations and it seems there is little time left for me to play blog on the computer this week.
(though I totally admit to spending as much time as I could stalking my Ironman Texas friends that were racing)

I am happy that the nice weather has arrived in Maine and this allows for more training OUTSIDE. One of the most important things you can do is be prepared for an emergency. Let's face it, when you spend hours and hours outside running and biking it is more of a matter of WHEN it'll happen, not if...

This winter I was lucky enough to meet up with the brains (and good looks) behind a relatively new athlete ID product called 1BandID. 


How is 1BandID different from all the other ID's out there?
Easy...because it's simple.

Most athletes and runners use heart rate monitors, GPS devices or watches while out doing their thing.
The 1BandID attaches right to your wrist worn personal timing/gps/hrm device like a Garmin, or watch!
Just put it on and forget about it. It will always be there with you. Nor worrying about putting one more thing on before heading out the door!!

I cannot tell you how many times I've head out the door without my "other" ID bracelet and not bothered to go back home to put it on. Most of us do wear a personal watch/gps/timing device while training so I found this option very appealing.

I wore the 1BandID on my Garmin (my preferred method of wear since this is what I use 99% of the time).

I wore it on my Polar HRM.

I even wore it on my Timex swimming.



It did not come off, it did not irritate me and I did not even know it was there (except when the pretty pink color caught my eye!)

Don't wear a watch/GPS/heart rate monitor? It can even be attached to a variety of other things like sneakers, bike shoes or aerobars (yes, I put it on my aerobars!!) to provide first responders the critical information they need about you in the event of an accident or emergency.


From the 1BandID website:

Peace of Mind

• 1BandID gives first responders critical information if you’re unconscious or unable to speak and cannot communicate. Unlike a locked phone, a tucked away drivers license or code that requires logging into a database somewhere, 1BandID’s crystal clear laser-engraved information is right there and easy to read.

I have enough to think about with training-
executing the workout as written by my Coach
make sure all my nutrition is prepped and ready to go
set up my transition if needed that day
plus all the extra equipment we triathletes use
With my 1BandID, I do not need to worry about one more thing.
and THAT, my friends is the #1 reason that I have really enjoyed my 1BandID.
It gives me peace of mind that in the event that I cannot speak for myself, the little pink band on my Garmin will be well seen by emergency personnel and it is always there-no forgetting.
The fact that it comes in pink was a plus.
Plus, when I check my awesome splits, I am reminded about my manta:

BELIEVE...Be Fearless.

I love my 1BandID so much that I want you to have one too. 
And so does Joe at 1BandID who graciously agreed to participate in my giveaway (thank you, Joe!)

So how to enter?? (one comment for each entry)

Mandatory Entry: 

1) Go visit the 1BandID website and tell me-
-what is something interesting you learned about the 1BandID?
-what C O L O R will you get if you win
-what kind of motivation word/quote will you have on your band?

Bonus Entries: 

2) Go show 1BandID some love on Twitter by following them.

3) Tweet about this contest!! Include @MilesMusclesMom and @1BandID in your tweet!! You can earn ONE ENTRY per day for each tweet!! Just come here and leave me a comment that you tweeted.
I'll even make it easy for you-here is a sample tweet you can use

@MilesMusclesMom & @1BandID Have peace of mind while out training & simplify ur day-enter to WIN your own 1BandID at http://bit.ly/L98tcI

4) You know you like 'em right? For a 4th entry give 1BandID a like on Facebook!

5) Share the link to this contest with your friends on Facebook or blog!
Same as above, one entry per share per day-make sure you let me know :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you want to go LIKE this picture of Lola so she can win me a medal hanger I would be forever grateful to you (but can't grant you a bonus entry!! lol)
You have to like the picture in their album.
There might be a random separate prize for anyone who likes it though...just sayin.

Lola would really, really like to win!!
:)








THE FINE PRINT:
Contest Details- I will accept entries until midnight on June 3rd, the day I race Quassy. I will pick a winner from all eligible entries once I am able to move or walk upright again. 
Your comment here is your entry, failure to follow directions and leave a comment for each entry will only reduce your chances of winning so please, do leave individual comments. 
If the winning method of entry is found to be invalid, a new will be selected from all other entries. 


Disclosure- The 1BandID was provided to me at no charge and all opinions expressed here are my own. I really do love this ID and I was not compensated in any way for saying that Joe was good looking or for anything else I said or did for this blog review. 

Chrissie Wellington-A Life Without Limits {2 chances to WIN & CHAT with her!)

I rarely mention this but 
4x Ironman World Champion, Chrissie Wellington and I are BFF's.
ok, BFF might be a slight exaggeration BUT I did meet her last year at a Make-A-Wish Foundation event, I got my finishers medal from her at Timberman AND she tweeted pics of us hanging out. 
Oh, she also wrote on my Facebook page...
Do I really need to drag out ALL of the pictures of us again?? :)


The amazingly tough Chrissie has taken this year off from racing Ironman to pursue other interests, which include promoting her new book, A Life Without Limits.

About the book-

In 2007, Chrissie Wellington shocked the triathlon world by winning the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. As a newcomer to the sport and a complete unknown to the press, Chrissie's win shook up the sport. A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS is the story of her rise to the top, a journey that has taken her around the world, from a childhood in England, to the mountains of Nepal, to the oceans of New Zealand, and the trails of Argentina, and first across the finish line.


Wellington's first-hand, inspiring story includes all the incredible challenges she has faced-- from anorexia to near-drowning to training with a controversial coach. But to Wellington, the drama of the sports also presents an opportunity to use sports to improve people's lives.


A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS reveals the heart behind Wellington's success, along with the diet, training and motivational techniques that keep her going through one of the world's most grueling events.


I have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this book to come out and found out through her publisher, Center Street, that she would be coming to Boston this month to  do a book signing event!! So I decided to wait until the book signing to get my copy. I have been watching the Center Street website waiting for them to release the location but nothing. So I tweeted them wondering when the info would be posted. They tweeted me back.

NO GO FOR ME :(  BOSTON stop cancelled.
But, all is not lost. 




On Saturday, May 12th (so this Saturday) THE Chrissie Wellington will be doing a live Q&A with GOTRIBal on their Facebook page! Not only can you dish with my BFF, Chrissie

You will also have a chance to win an autographed copy of the book! 
This event will take place at 2pm PST (5pm EST) on the GOTRIbal Wall (not their event page) and ALL are welcome to attend (this means you too, fellas!) 

ALSO (yes!! there is more)

Go check out Iron Texas Mommy's blog! She is also giving away a copy of the book (this contest ends May 11th at midnight CST so hurry!!)

I'll leave you with one of the happiest moments I have experienced, finishing my first 70.3 and getting a hug & my medal from one of my biggest inspirations~Chrissie!!

THR33 Things Thursday

ONE: Feelin' Craptastic  

Since the weekend, I have been feeling a head cold creeping on...I would feel "kind of crappy" but it never really got worse. Yesterday, I was feeling quite fabulous, got out for a great run in some crazy winds. No biggie...then about 1:30pm yesterday I felt it attack. Literally attack me...and my entire head and neck.

My ears felt full. My throat was sore. My nose got all stuffed up. This incredible sinus headache took hold.

BAM!

Just like that...sick. I don't have time for sick.

I HAD to work last night and by the time my last appointment was there, I was feeling chills and my body was hurting. Went home and got right into bed. I was freezing!! 3 giant, thick, fuzzy blankets on me and I think I finally warmed up. I did not sleep well since my back and neck were just SORE. I could only breathe through my mouth so I kept waking up, drinking water. 

I have a TT swim on the plan today-just tried to get ready for it and when I felt dizzy just putting stuff into my swim bag, I decided maybe I should not be trying to swim--or drive with Lola in the car---for that matter. Looks like today is a rest day.
Sadly, I do not feel relief knowing today has been declared a rest day.
I feel like a failure. I have NO CONTROL of this and that is utterly frustrating to me.

Ok....totally done whining now.

TWO: VEGGIES

So, Coach Awesome totally sent a "warning" email regarding this recovery week-

You are extremely susceptible to illness this week. I just want to warn you, you will be on a tightrope so do all that you can to remain healthy and use hand sanitizer.  Extra rest, extra lemons, and extra kale are all extremely good ideas. 

(she's so freaking smart)

Now, I have been been doing lots of thinking the last couple weeks about food and nutrition. I am always a supporter of eating clean and have been considering adding more vegetable based meals to my current repitoire. I don't have any intention of going meatless but I don't see any harm in cutting back a bit on the meats and trying something "different". I am getting kind of bored eating the same things over and over-I love veggies, so why not, right? I even had a Meatless Monday this week. 

Seeing that I am making more veggie based meals and incorporating more spinach and kale into my everyday eats, Hubby expressed concern about me going VEGAN (not sure why he thinks this or why he'd care but....) I assured him that I do not have any intention of going vegan at this time however, expect to see even more veggies. He would be content if we only ever ate pork tenderloin and grilled potatoes. 

THR33: WIAW 

What I ate Wednesday (literally) in pictures:

Breakfast:

Old Fashioned Oats with blueberries, 2 egg whites and almond milk.
I topped the oats with a small drizzle of honey for a dash of sweetness. I used Wyman's of Maine frozen wild blueberries to make the oatmeal and added fresh blueberries.

We LOVE blueberries.

Post Run Snack:

Blueberry & Spinach smoothie

My GIANT sized bag of Wyman's Maine blueberries

fresh, organic baby spinach

Blueberries, Spinach, Almond milk, Greek yogurt and a small scoop of protein powder

Added a tablespoon of chia 

Afternoon Snack:

A cup of Earl Grey tea and fresh pineapple

More tea:

Coach's secret brew with the addition of green tea x 10

On the GO!
Off to work so I needed something easy and quick!

 A slice of whole wheat bread with Justin's almond butter, a giant jug of water and Coconut water

Eating while driving and yes, taking pictures.

DANGER!!!

By the time I was at work, I was feeling pretty awful. I had a big iced tea at work and refilled my water jug.

As soon as I got home, I filled a bowl with some leftover Navajo Stew, some steamed broccoli and topped it with some avocado.

Did you enter my Tough Chik giveaway ??

Week #1 Winner & Week #2 Giveaway {Tough Chik love}

Thanks for all who entered my 400 Follower Celebration

and a big, happy welcome to the new followers!!

There were 66 entries for the first giveaway! Who won? Read on to find out!!

I am excited to announce the awesome WEEK 2 giveaway!!

If you have been reading my blog for a while, the you know that I am a Tough Chik through and through.

Tough Chik and Team Tough Chik have exploded in 2011! I am so happy to have been able to be a part of the excitement watching the brand grow and then see the team come to fruition.

Tough Chik was with me (literally) for every single race of 2011.

From the first race of the season

The Nor'Easter Reverse Triathlon-

 to the final run of the season

The Nor'Easter Reverse Triathlon-

with honorary Tough Chik Dude, Marc

and everything inbetween!!

Tough Chik was with me through every mile of my first 70.3-Timberman!

 

I think Shannon summed it up very well in her blog post about how EPIC 2011 was for Tough Chik~

I know that Rev3 has her muscles for the 2012 season, but Tough Chik has her heart!

While I do love my Rev 3 Team so, so much and I am ecstatically happy to be rocking the R this year, Tough Chik will always be very, very special to me and have a place in my heart.

So what would a celebration be without giving away some Tough Chik awesomeness??

First, let's announce the winner of the week one giveway.
Who's gonna get a big ole bag of SWEETNESS from me??

Random.org picked entry #61

Congrats to Suz and Alan from Cows and Lasers and Everything in Between
(coolest blog name EVER!!!)

The winning comment?
I honestly enjoy everything about your blog do more of the same is perfect! Sorry I'm so behind on reading. Have a great weekend

Please email me (jsmall14(at)maine(dot)rr(dot)com) and I'll get you hooked up with your goodie bag of yummy stuff like Gimme Vitamin packed chocolate, GU, CarbBOOM! and much more!!

Thanks for being a follower!!

So you wanna win some Tough Chik love too??
One lucky reader will win a Tough Chik visor like the one I rocked all year long~

How do you enter?
Easy-you must be a follower of this blog. If you are not already, just click that little FOLLOW button on the right side of the page>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mandatory Entry:

• Leave me a comment telling me how you are going to be TOUGH in 2012??

BONUS ENTRIES:
please leave one comment for each entry

• Like Tough Chik on Facebook and leave her a note telling her how awesome Tough Chiks are!!
• Follow the Tough Chik blog
• Follow Tough Chik on Twitter
• Share the Tough Chik love-spread the word about this giveaway on your blog, on Facebook, Twitter, email, write it on the bathroom wall...one entry per method of sharing per day.

This contest is open to followers of Miles, Muscles & Mommyhood. Contest starts on Monday, 1/16/2012 and entries will be closed at midnight on Saturday, 1/21/2012. A random winner will be selected from all eligible entries and the winner will be announced shortly after. 

Disclosure: I am not compensated in any way for lovin' Tough Chik and the prize for this contest is donated by Shannon, the head of the Tough Chik empire.