I want to be a Spartan! Giveaway #Aroo {Closed}

This Giveaway has closed.  Check our most recent postings for other great giveaways.

Today, we have a free entry into any open Spartan Race heat in the continental United States.

A few months ago, DisneyGroom had a giveaway for a Spartan Race entry on this blog.  The giveaway was wildly successful and really got me thinking...  Who signs up for these things?

And I did a bit of research.  It isn't just former Army Rangers, as one might think.  There are many people like you and me.  Recreational runners looking for a way to challenge themselves.  Well, the events do certainly provide that.  

Since then - both DisneyGroom and myself have decided to take the plunge ourselves in 2014.  I'm nervous about preparing for something like this... but I've psyched myself up by watching Mulan over and over again.  

Try it.  You will find yourself singing "I'll Make a Man Out of You" and not even realize it.  

Don't believe me?

Yep. That's what I thought.  No one wants to be the "Before", we all want to be the "After".  So how do we get there?

The Spartan Race offers events for a range of abilities, ranging from 3 to 12+ miles.  

There are three event categories: 

• Spartan Sprint (the shortest) 3+Miles, 15+ obstacles 
• Super Spartan (middle distance) 8+ Miles, 20+ obstacles
• Spartan Beast (longest distance) 12+ miles, 25+obstacles

And you might guess correctly, but you won't know what obstacles you will actually encounter until race day itself.   

I've pushed myself quite a bit this year going from Sofa Slug (latin: lazicus Slothicum) to finishing three... wait .. what??? THREE Half Marathons.   But DisneyGroom has continually pushed himself really far, so I want to try and keep up where I can.   

Hey if Mulan can do it, I can at least do my best and try.

So the Florida Spartan Race events aren't until the early spring. This gives us a little more time to physically train and mentally prepare.  

In the meantime, you can catch the Reebok Spartan Race World Championship this weekend.  And see the big kids take on the biggest Spartan Beast of them all.

Now for your chance to win a FREE SPARTAN RACE entry - please review the terms and enter below:

Terms of the Giveaway:

1) Giveaway begins Friday December 6th and ends Thursday December 12 at midnight. Winner will be announced on this blog, and notified on Friday, December 13, 2013.

2) Must be 18 years or older to enter. Must be a U.S. resident. 

3) Sign in through Rafflecopter below to enter. With your first entry, the app will only capture your e-mail or facebook name. This is so we can reach you if you win, in accordance with sweepstakes terms. Your contact info will ONLY be used to contact you if you win.

4) There are additional opportunities for multiple entries.
5) One winner will receive a code valid for one registration to a Spartan Race event in the U.S.

6) The winner will be chosen at random using the rafflecopter app below.

7) In the event the winner does not respond to contact attempts via e-mail or facebook name provided within a one week period, another winner will be selected at random.
8) Void where prohibited.

If you are not the winner of the giveaway, you can still be a Spartan Warrior. Please use this link for 15% off discount at any Spartan Race. See the Spartan Race website to find an event near you.

-DB

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received ONE code only - to host a giveaway. All opinions stated are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Transitioning to Minimal: SKORA Running Shoes Review & Giveaway {Closed}

This Giveaway has closed.  Check our most recent postings for other great giveaways.

It's been just over a year since I started running regularly.  Sure, before that - I did an occasional 5K.  But I knew nothing about proper gear, training plans, nutritional fuel, or even proper shoes!  But now I'm trying to keep up with the big kids - the ones that run half marathons.  And I had to step up my game a bit. I began by looking outside the traditional big name sport shoe makers. Instead I looked at the smaller companies that specialize exclusively in running shoes. 

I've tried out many different shoes this past year. But I was really excited to partner with SKORA Running, a young Portland, Oregan based running shoe company with a unique mission.

SKORA is a new company with new vision and philosophy. This means that we can do things differently and are not in a position of trying to undo all the marketing and design practices that are the foundation of conventional athletic brands and products. 

At SKORA, we look at things differently We believe that running shoes should be built to encourage running performance that is as biomechanically correct as possible, with minimal interference. Our footwear lets people run naturally. Run Real is our philosophy and we stand by it.  

Run Real is more than a statement, it is a way of conducting business. We believe that runners are smarter than most brands give them credit for. We are free-thinking and challenge conventional wisdom. We believe in common sense, rational principles and challenging the status-quo.

I like that SKORA treats their consumer intelligently.  Runners are discriminating, discerning, savvy. We know what we like. And so does SKORA.  And they are smart enough to deliver it.

I couldn't wait to try a pair!

I was sent the 'Base'.  This model is recommended by the good people of SKORA as a good introductory, transitional shoe.  

Why minimal?:

I feel like there are hundreds of better explanations than mine to this question.  For me, it boils down to the fact that I am not a fast runner, but I am always looking for ways that I can become stronger, lighter, or faster.  Minimal shoes make your legs feel less clunky, less heavy.  Done right, they should feel more like a natural extension of your legs and feet.  Minimalist running will also make your feet, ankles, and legs stronger. Period.  I run mostly trails so I definitely want stronger legs.  Don't you want stronger legs too?


About the shoe design:

They are zero drop - meaning your heel is level with the rest of your foot. (Unlike most running shoes that have slightly lifted heels.)  But there is some cushioning in the soles - so you don't feel unprotected from the ground.

They are a pull on style - think of a diving shoe - with Velcro fasteners across your instep... and get this --- an adjustable Velcro tab on your heels!  

So if you have a narrower or wider heel - you can tighten or loosen to fit.  This is one of those things that you never knew you needed.  But now that I have it, I resent the fact that my other shoes don't!

The shoe can be worn with or without an insole. Personally, I like the insole as it adds an extra bit of cushion.  However, the inside of the shoe is 'finished' and smooth. So if you wanted to go sockless and insole-less, you could do so - very comfortably even.

This model is made a of a mesh-like fabric. Breathable?  Oh yes!  Perfect for warmer weather and warmer climates?  Oh yes!


Fit:

The 'Base' are true to size.  I wear a 7 - 7.5 in dress shoes and an 8 in almost all my other running shoes.  I am comfortably wearing a 7.5 in this shoe. I can even wear thicker socks and have enough room in the toebox to not worry about my toes hitting up front, or getting black toenails.  In other words, a perfect fit. With the Velcro fastenings, your feet will be snug as the proverbial bug in a rug.


Terrain/Running Conditions:

The Base are trail and road ready.  I got in workouts on both surfaces and the shoes performed beautifully. 

Trails: I do favor trails and in the past have had the issue of gravel working into my shoes.  Doesn't happen with the Base.  The area around my ankle fits as snugly as a sock and nothing can get down there.

Rain: No problem.  The fabric is like a sieve and you won't get water pooling inside your shoes. It will run right out.

Sand/Mud: The shoe's mesh won't keep all the sand out, but it won't trap it inside either.  Pop out the insoles and rinse out the mud with a hose.  Good as new.

Snow:  ha ha. I live in Florida, so I didn't try it in the snow.  But if I did, I'd try a different pair of SKORA - like the Form (leather), and wear some wool socks.


The Verdict

• Is it possible to crush on shoes?  Then these are my 'shoe crush'.  These are the Brad Pitt of shoes.  Elegant construction. Sophisticated. Beautifully designed. Tougher that they look. Rugged even.
• I would definitely recommend the Base to a runner looking for a smooth transition toward minimalist shoes.  
• The cushioning will allay your fears about feeling unprotected from the pavement.  
• They are very lightweight - but they are neither the lightest nor the most minimal in the SKORA lineup.  Reach out to SKORA for guidance on selecting the best shoe for you.

NOTE:

When transitioning to minimal running shoes, please do so gradually.  You are waking up new leg muscles.  If you shock them completely and suddenly, they will rebel on you.  I knew that I should start slowly - but I didn't.  I was too excited to just put them on and run.  And... my calves were very angry with me for a few days.  So I had to start over - and I started with walking one week. Then a little jogging for short distances. Then a bit more the next week, and so on.  The transition is best done gradually over the long term.

SKORA offers excellent advice in this blog article:  http://skorarunning.com/blog/transitioning

So you want to try a pair of SKORAs?  I've been allowed to host a giveaway for a free pair.  You don't have to choose the Base, it can be a different model.

Also, if you can't wait for this giveaway to end and you want a pair now.  Check out their site for some excellent Black Friday deals.  25% off!  Or Cyber Monday - the Base will be 2 for 1!  I wonder if Santa will bring me another pair...

Terms of the Giveaway:

1) Giveaway begins Thursday November 28 and ends Thursday December 5 at midnight. Winner will be announced on this blog, and notified on Friday, December 6, 2013.

2) Must be 18 years or older to enter. Must be a U.S. resident. Winner must provide a US mailing address to receive prize.

3) Sign in through Rafflecopter below to enter. With your first entry, the app will only capture your e-mail or facebook name. This is so we can reach you if you win, in accordance with sweepstakes terms. Your contact info will ONLY be used to contact you if you win.

4) There are additional opportunities for multiple entries.

5) One winner will receive one pair of Skora running shoes.

6) The winner will be chosen at random using the rafflecopter app below.

7) In the event the winner does not respond to contact attempts via e-mail or facebook name provided within a one week period, another winner will be selected at random.
8) Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure of Material Connection: No financial compensation was received. I received one pair of SKORA running shoes in exchange for this review and promotional giveaway. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will be good for our readers. All opinions stated on this blog are our own. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Day 3: runDisney Jingle Jungle 5K and a Bling-tastic SPORTHOOKS Giveaway! {Closed}

This Giveaway has closed.  Check our most recent postings for other great giveaways.

The Jingle Jungle 5K in 2012 was our first runDisney event, and it was the first 5K DisneyGroom and I ever ran together.  This fun run takes place during runDisney's Wine and Dine Half weekend in November.  Like the other runDisney 5K fun runs - there is no chip timing, and you do not receive an official finishing time.  Because of the non-competitive nature of these runs, they are an ideal first event for a new runner.

If you are considering a runDisney event and are intimidated by the 10K and 1/2 marathon distances, and their pacing requirements - let me put your mind at ease.  The runDisney 5Ks are the way to go. All paces welcome.  Walk, Run, Jog, Roll.  You will enjoy them no matter how fast or slow you go.



This year we were lucky enough to come back and run at the 2013 Jingle Jungle 5K.

They did make some slight changes to the course from last year.  We were looking forward to the petting zoo area, but they did not have the animals out this year.  However there were plenty of character stops and we saw several friends on the course - so we did have an excellent time.

The fun got started when we first arrived.

With SNOW!!! (courtesy of Disney Magic)

With a slight chill in the air, the 'snow', and the growing excitement of the crowd - we just knew it would be a great morning!

We got to our corral and found some friends.  Chatting, posing for photos, discussing our race plans, and enjoying all the various costumes made the time fly by.  

Before we knew it, it was time to start.

With a flash of fireworks and Mickey waving us by, we went through the arches and began to run.

The first mile begins with a loop around the parking area.  And then we approach Animal Kingdom.

Immediately the characters begin.

Jungle Book's Baloo

We head into Africa and find Rafiki.

Terk from Tarzan

Moving towards Asia - we see the irrepressible duo: Chip and Dale

And then exiting the park, we find my best pal, Donald!!!

My husband takes the FSU Noles - Florida Gators rivalry too far - and decides to wrestle his nemesis at the 3 mile marker.

And with that, we approach the end of the 5K.

So DG and I love anniversaries - and since this was our one year anniversary running Disney, we had to do something special with our 'anniversary' medal.

And what could be more perfect than a new medal hanger?

This is what our first year of running Disney looks like.

We've got our 2012 Jingle Jungle, 2013 Family 5K (WDW Marathon), 2013 Princess Half Marathon, 2013 Tower of Terror 10 Miler (just me for this one), and the latest - the 2013 Jingle Jungle 5K.

The sixth hook contains our runDisney collector pins.

I just adore this medal hanger.  Here is a close up of the castle logo.

The very cool SportHooks people have allowed us to do a giveaway for our readers.  

For a chance to win your very own SportHooks medal hanger, just enter with the rafflecopter below.  They've got so many designs to choose from, it was a tough decision.  But this "Once Upon a Run" was our favorite.

Terms of the Giveaway:

1) Giveaway begins Thursday November 22 and ends Wednesday November 27 at midnight. Winner will be announced on this blog, and notified on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013.

2) Must be 18 years or older to enter. Must be a U.S. resident. Winner must provide a US mailing address to receive prize.

3) Sign in through Rafflecopter below to enter. With your first entry, the app will only capture your e-mail or facebook name. This is so we can reach you if you win, in accordance with sweepstakes terms. Your contact info will ONLY be used to contact you if you win.

4) There are additional opportunities for multiple entries.

5) One winner will receive a SportHooks medal hanger of his/her choice.

6) The winner will be chosen at random using the rafflecopter app below.

7) In the event the winner does not respond to contact attempts via e-mail or facebook name provided within a one week period, another winner will be selected at random.
8) Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: No financial compensation was received. We received one medal hanger from SportHooks in exchange for this review and promotional giveaway. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will be good for our readers. All opinions stated on this blog are our own. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

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Day 2: 2013 Wine Dine Half Expo and our extended runDisney family

We began our runDisney adventures one year ago at the 2012 Wine and Dine weekend.   So even though we hadn't planned on coming this weekend, when we got into the official runDisney meetup (hope you read our last post!) - and then I found a really great hotel deal - we were thrilled when the trip just came together.  

Magic always seems to happen for us where Disney is concerned.  

Friday

The day before 'race day' we went to the Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports.  It was bigger than Tower of Terror, but smaller than Princess and Marathon weekend expos.  The packet pickup was housed in a separate building in the complex.  This allowed for the Jostens Center to comfortably accommodate the vendors and a separate speakers area.  

Unlike other big race weekends, I never saw any bottlenecks or long lines just to get into the building.  There were a lot of people - but nothing felt crowded, if that makes sense.   In fact, I saw no waiting in line at all for race shirt pickup and even the runDisney merchandise booth ran smoothly.  The event staff really listened to the runners and made some tweaks.  It worked!

We found our friend, Elizabeth, a castmember, runner, and new blogger, volunteering at packet pickup. Love her! One of the sweetest young ladies I've ever met.

We also ran into Jim Stone and his family.  If the name sounds familiar, I mention him often on our facebook page.  He and his wife, Pat, have a running club, RunWithTheMouse.com.  Because they get bibs directly from runDisney, they are often able to get runners into races that are sold out on active.com.   They are super nice, they run, and they are big Disney nerds. Thumbs up on all counts.

After bib pickup and a bit of shopping, we met up with Erin of For the Love of Disney Running. She is such a sweetheart and a huge Disney nerd.  The kind I aspire to be someday.  She was hosting a lunch for her blog and facebook followers. We all got some food and chatted.  We also got to hang out with the adorable Patty of Margaritas, Miles, and the Mouse.  Everywhere we were surrounded by infectious smiles, and enthusiasm to spare.  Erin had door prizes for her attendees and when the names went into the hat, I said I bet DisneyGroom will get the girliest prize.  Sure enough, his name was picked.  She put it back in the hat, and he was picked AGAIN!.  

My handsome DisneyGroom won.... SPARKLE!  A Sparkle Athletic item of his choice.  

credit: Erin Williams

credit: Erin Williams

I won a beautiful hand-numbered limited edition print from Lasting Memories. Erin really got some amazing prizes for her meetups!  She has pixie dust running through her veins. I'm sure of it.

We went down to the Sparkle Athletic booth to claim my... errr... I mean DisneyGroom's sparkly prize.  At the last minute, he sacrificed his prize for me. And I picked up another Tiara Visor. yay!

Kelly of According to Kelly, me, and Erin of For the Love of Disney Running

No expo visit is complete without stopping by to chat with Jeff Galloway.  DisneyGroom attended one of Jeff's retreat weekends earlier this year - and the two guys immediately began chatting away like old friends.  

After the expo, we headed to the Polynesian to catch up with some friends from the Run Disney So I Can Eat Disney group.  These are the Bacon Challenge people - if you haven't already heard of them - please check them out.

Then, we stopped by the Team #runDisney Dole Whip meetup, also at the Polynesian.  We chatted with a few folks before heading to dinner with the Magic Milers group.  They hosted a pizza buffet set at Splitsville in Downtown Disney.  It was out on the balcony and the views were fantastic.

One of the best things about race weekends is catching up with friends. And we've made so many - at the races themselves and through social media. The runDisney weekends go by so quickly - but we manage to squeeze in so much fun by sharing it with our fellow runners.

We did some shopping at Downtown Disney and then called it a night early, in anticipation of that 4:30am wakeup.

my Wake Up! app

I hope these types of posts interest you, dear reader.  Throughout the year we do product reviews/giveaways and race recaps in just one post.

But a runDisney race weekend is truly special. Each and every day is full of magic. 

It is all the people I've mentioned, and the countless others I didn't, that make it even more special.  We look forward to seeing these familiar faces just as much as the races themselves.  As I go back and reread this, it seems like it is shout out after shout out - but our extended runDisney family means a lot to us.  It is one of the things that makes the Disney races so unique - the loyalty of the runners, so you get to see them again and again, a few times every year.

Stay tuned for my Day 3 recap featuring our race and a BLING-Tastic Giveaway!

-DisneyBride

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Day 1: runDisney Wine Dine Half MeetUp recap and our Giveaway Winners!

What was the hottest ticket in town at the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, besides the Half itself?  The official runDisney meetup!

My Pink Minnie skirt was a big hit. It is available from Rock City Skirts. Love her stuff!

One year ago, the 2012 Wine and Dine Weekend was our first runDisney race weekend.  Weeks prior, as the excitement was building, we heard about the "official meet ups".  This is a social media meetup put on by the Sports Events and Marketing teams.  For the past year, we've watched as bloggers and tweeters excitedly covered the meetups. Thus far, there have been official meetups for most race weekends except Expedition Everest and Tower of Terror - perhaps because they are smaller races.  They are free to attend, and they are massively popular events.  But the window to get in is very short, as it fills up in a matter of minutes, due to limiting the size of attendees.

Well, this time - we once again sent in our emails as soon as we saw the blog post and crossed our fingers.  Then later that day, our jaws dropped when we saw our names on the list!  There were 100 attendees and due to the larger than usual pool, we got in.

We were on Cloud 9 for days leading up to Wine and Dine weekend.  More than usual, if you can believe it.

The evening of the meetup finally arrived.  And we were there as they were setting up the check in table.

runDisney event staff setting up to check us in

The Walt Disney World runDisney meetups generally take place at EPCOT. And so there we were.  What made this really interesting is that this was to be the first ever Night Time Meetup! 

Here we are - looking dorky and super excited! ha ha

We got our bracelets to identify us as meetup attendees, a one day park hopper that served as our entry into the park, two fastpasses to Test Track, and our coveted runDisney event shirts (event-specific for the first time - in a wine color with the Wine & Dine running shoe/wine glass logo).

Check in began at 7pm and the event did not begin until 8:45pm, so we had just enough time to head to Test Track and sample a few of the delights from the Food and Wine Festival.

We found the group at our specially designated "Illuminations" viewing area.  We mingled, found old friends, and met new ones while we waited for the fireworks and light show to begin. I'd never actually watched Illuminations all the way through - so this was a real treat - with the primo location.

See if you can spot both DisneyGroom and myself.  It's like Where's Waldo? runDisney edition!

Erin of For the Love of Disney Running blog snapped this pic of us.

After the fireworks,  the group headed to the America Pavilion to hear the speaker's panel.

Faron Kelley and Darrell Fry kicked off the event.

The Dynamic Duo of runDisney: Tara Gidus and Jeff Galloway discussed nutrition and training, focusing on nightime races such as the Wine and Dine Half Marathon.

Next up there was a  talk from a sommelier and two chefs to discuss many of the tasty treats waiting for us at the Food and Wine festival.  The focus was on vegan wine and food - and we got to sample those later that evening.

Then we heard from the New Balance Running team.  

We even got a few teasers about the 2014 runDisney running shoe.  Check out this video for more info.

(DisneyGroom might be getting a pair of the new Sorceror Mickey shoes for his birthday. Shhhhh, don't tell him. ) 

After the speakers panel, we had some snacks and wine and got ready for our run around the world.

But not before DisneyGroom's shoes and socks got their own private photoshoot!  This photographer liked the way the runDisney New Balance shoes looked with his "Groom" socks. 

We split up into a Run-Walk-Run group led by Jeff Galloway and a separate run only group.  The run was one and a half laps around the World Showcase.  A really neat thing about this was having the park all to ourselves. All the guests and most castmembers were gone by this time: 11:30pm!

From there, we all got together for a group photo.  For a tough "Where's Waldo? runDisney edition" challenge - see if you can spot us in this one.

One of the coolest things that evening was getting to chat with fellow bloggers. There were so many names I recognized from runDisney social media.

Here we are with the lovely and very inspiring Kimberly from Maker Mother Marathon Runner blog.

We chatted a bit with super cool runner, Linzie of the See Sharp Run blog.  Hey, these two handsome guys are wearing matching shoes!

Finally the evening was capped off with a midnight champagne toast at Spaceship Earth. Yes, you read that right. Midnight.  It was a perfect ending to a magical evening.

And here is my Prince, handing me champagne! Cheers!  Here's to an awesome Wine and Dine Half weekend!  Recaps from the rest of the weekend still to come!

...........................................................................

Also we want to announce the winners of our X Race Wear Giveaway.

Our male winner is Clinton M.

Our female winner is Abby B.

Clinton and Abby will each receive an item of their choice.  Thanks to everyone that entered, but don't be too bummed if you didn't win.  Use our special code:  DISNEY13 for 20% off your purchase through 1/1/2014.

Check back on the blog this week for our Wine and Dine recaps and another giveaway. We promise this one will be bling-tastic!

Until then...

Run Happy!

-DisneyBride

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