Reebok SPARTAN RACE - Race Entry Giveaway

The peeps at the Reebok SPARTAN RACE contacted me recently with info about their race series. They don't have a Boise area race, but there are some 6+ driving hours away that I may consider participating in in the near future. But until then, SPARTAN RACE is giving me a free entry to giveaway to one of you!



From the Spartan Race site -

Spartan Race is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life. Our events are all about challenging today’s perception of normal.

Our events challenge the familiar, today’s perception of normal living and getting you out of your comfort zone! At Spartan Race, we do this everyday and it shapes everything we do.

Having experienced many different racing events, we wanted to make adventure racing more accessible to everyone, but do not be fooled by the word ‘accessible’, as our events have a challenge for everyone’s needs.

Spartan Race now introduces a level for everyone beginning with the entry level Spartan Sprint, intermediate level Super Spartan, the advanced Spartan Beast, and the ‘99.9% need not apply’ extreme level Death Race.

Whatever your level, Spartan Race will test your strength, stamina, and sense of humor. 

I really want to do one of these races, and even the BF is curious about joining in a Spartan Race too! And it doesn't hurt that they were voted #1 obstacle race by Outside Magazine.

There are some staples in our repertoire. There are also some venue specific and terrain inspired obstacles.

We will not, however, spell it out for you. As well, you will get no course map to inspect.

There is fire, mud, water, barbed wire, and occasionally Hell on Earth.

There WILL be obstacles to catch you off guard. Curve balls, so to speak.

Get over it.

We’re here to rip you from your comfort zone. If you need a road map for each step of the way, then maybe this race isn’t for you.

What is a Spartan Sprint? 3+ MILES / 15+ OBSTACLES
What is a Super Spartan? 8+ MILES / 20+ OBSTACLES
What is The Spartan Beast? 12+ MILES / 25+ OBSTACLES
What the #$%! is The Death Race?


There are lots of races for this season! Including -
Chicago
Virginia
Wisconsin
Philly
Nebraska

So many races!

 If you would like to enter into the Spartan Race for yourself, use this link for 15% off!

You can connect with Spartan Race through their website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube. 

 To enter the giveaway for a free entry into any US race not yet sold out - enter via Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YMCA Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon

Guess who is the owner of a new, shiny 13 minute half marathon PR?

This girl!

I didn't expect a PR, since I have been slow feeling for a while now. But the running gods smiled and my leggies felt well enough to have pushed myself.

The night before wasn't how I usually plan things. No pre-race pizza dinner for me. I had Taco Bell. And what's funny is that my cast iron gut really didn't have a problem with that. With a 5am wake-up for me, the BF decided to sleep on the couch so he wouldn't disturb me. And I slept awfully well - I may need to make him do this more often. ;-)

From Instagram

Brekky was one cup of coffee, water, and a Chocolate Haze Pocket Fuel. Normally, this is where I whine about not having any desire for eating or drinking anything, but that wasn't an issue on this morning.

The BF got me to the race start 10 minutes before 7am. Thankfully I didn't need to use the porta potties since the lines were SO long. A few minutes slog in perfect weather, I was ready to start. Since the race started 10 minutes late (grumble, grumble) I was chatting with a guy running his 47th state from the east coast. He had Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana left. So that was very cool.

Few minutes before the start

The weather was perfectly cool. I started out slow, because I was not confident in my leggies since they were not happy during my 50K. I almost recorded a vlog with my phone because I was slogging it real slow and easy the first 3 miles.

 

Around mile 3, I was stuck behind a group of 3 girls. All chatting about stuff and I didn't want to listen to them. I heard part of a convo about a miscarriage and who wants to hear about that depressing crap. I heard the heartbeat two days before I spotted. Yeah. Just bum us all out why don't you. So I had to pass them. That is when I started running my miles from 10:xx to 9:30-9:22. I got re-passed by the 3 downer girls so I had to kick it again and stay in front of them.

I took water at all the stops, except one, and took my gel (Vanilla Accel) at mile 5. A little earlier then what I wanted to but wanted to take it sooner rather later. I carried my gel and my phone in my hand the whole time.

The chalk said TANYA D. but who cares. I showed the BF these pics and told him that I have fans and supporters cheering me on in real life and not just virtually. He actually believed me. 

Not many Tanyas out there running races in Boise.

I really felt good until mile 10. That is where my fatigue was starting up. My tummy wasn't too happy with me and I was starting a slight cramp in my left quad. My 9:xx pace was now closer to 11. I took a gatorade at the next water stop and plodded on. Just a few more miles left.

I did this race with Team Beef and all the team members were super nice as we passed each other on the course. At the end I was trying to hang on to 2 others of the team above but I was just fading. I did the last 2 miles in the low 10min/mi pace.

Race bling. Glad it has the potato on it!

At the end, the BF was suppose to bring me my jacket and take me home.  I called and called on my phone and he didn't answer. I was sure he went home after my race start and fell asleep and his phone was on silent and he wasn't gonna pick me up because he was sleeping. I wandered around the crowd, getting more upset that I was cold and who knows what he was doing. So I sat on the ground and cried. After 45 minutes of waiting, I walked bonus miles home - took me 50 minutes. The BF showed up at the house right after I did. That all got worked out but a big grumble on that. But this race was my 9th half marathon and my first after my 50K. My next race will be the See Jane Run half in a few weeks - and FYI - I will be giving away race entries to that!

Did you run and or race this weekend? Will you run See Jane Run with me? Anyone wanna have a bloggie/twit meetup?