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We are giving away a free race entry to the Divas Half Marathon & 5k in San Francisco Bay taking place on June 4. This womens race series takes running to a glamorous level-with a pink tutu, tiara and boa for every participant as well as a champagne toast at the finish line. Elena is running the half marathon and hopes to see you there. Just let us know why you want to “run like a diva”. Enter the giveaway by doing one of the following:

1. Like us on Facebook and comment on this post why you want to “run like a diva”.
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet why you want to “run like a diva”. Tag @embracerunning and @runlikeadiva
3. Email us at feedback@embracerunning.com to let us know why you want to “run like a diva”.

Rules: One winner will be chosen. Contest ends Sunday February 5 at 9 p.m PST, and winner will be announced soon after.

Divas Race Website
 

Disclosure: As a Divas half marathon & 5k series Race Ambassador, I was provided a free entry. Divas half marathon and 5k series is sponsoring this race entry giveaway by providing a unique, single use coupon code for the winner. Winner must register themselves for the race . No travel or accommodations will be provided. Winner will receive registration code at end of contest.

In the last year I’ve become interested in running and meditation. Having recently read the book “Running With the Mind of Meditation” by Sakyong Mipham in which the author draws several parallels between running and meditation piqued my interest even more. Looking for the next step to take in exploring running and meditation, it was serendipitous that I was given the opportunity to experience a new album. Running Deep is an album with guided meditation for runners. As a meditation newbie I was a bit overwhelmed at first but as I continued to listen I quickly became comfortable. The guided meditations are by various artists including two by Danny Dreyer, the co-founder of ChiRunning and ChiWalking. A goal of mine is to attend a Chi Running workshop but it just hasn’t worked out with my calendar just yet so it is nice to be able to listen to two of his meditations on this album. His “Five Senses Running Meditation” is quite unique in that it guides the runner to get in touch with all five senses during a run. In spite of feeling hyper aware of some of my senses while running I had never paid attention to all five of my senses during a run before. This meditation does a good job of talking you through being mindful of the five senses during your run; thinking about “taste” while running will never be the same. While some of the meditations on the album are ideal to listen to while running, others are meant to be listened to when you are not running. One of my favorites is “One With Everything” by Linda Hall. It really captures how I feel about being out in nature and more specifically trail running. It is very positive and compliments the positive self talk that I believe is so important in running and in our every day lives. There is a good variety of guided meditations, so there is something for every interested runner. There is an option to enjoy a free mini-album by providing your name and email address on the website, if you’re not ready to experience the complete album just yet. As for me, I’m hoping to listen to some of the guided meditations more during some of my runs but also continue to benefit from the visualizations that are part of the album. I think it would be good for me to listen to some pre-race as a way to stay relaxed on race day. Give it a listen and let me know how it works for you, both in running and in life.

Running Deep – Guided Meditations For Runners

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, however I did receive a copy of the album to review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

You’ve heard us rave about running Ragnar Trail races and you’ve decided to captain a team? Congratulations, you are going to have a blast. We’ve compiled some tips to help you get ready.

Forming a team: If you don’t have seven running friends (or three if you are doing it as an ultra team) that are willing to join you on this adventure, there are other ways to find teammates. Each Ragnar Trail race has its own event page on Facebook.  People looking to join a team and captains looking to complete their team can go to this page and post their request. Many teams are completed through this page. This year, REI is the official outdoor retail partner for the race series and they are hosting gear up events leading up to the races. This is a great opportunity to connect with runners looking to join a team, with the added benefit that they will most likely be local to your area, making it easier to plan race logistics.

Registration: Collect money from the team up front. You will have to pay for the teams registration fee when you register so be sure to collect right away. Also, once team members have paid they are more committed and less likely to drop from the race. Some captains will not send the official online invitation to teammates until they have paid their portion of the registration. You may need to set a firm deadline with teammates. Also pay attention to price increases to race registration, there is one to mark the end of early registration and one to mark the end of regular registration.

Training: These races are definitely fun but should be taken seriously so don’t forget to train. They are not easy courses, often times start at high elevation (for those of us not living at elevation), have difficult climbs with some challenging terrain. And don’t forget you will almost certainly run one of your loops at night. Aside from running, make sure you are doing some of that running on trails. If possible head out in the dark (in a group is recommended) to get used to running on trails at night and to test out your visibility gear. Whether that be a headlamp, flashlight or both. Most races have a preview run or two where someone familiar with the course (often times the Race Director) will lead a group run weeks prior to the event-take advantage if you are able to. The information for the preview run is usually posted on the events Facebook page.

Campsite Choice: Decide if you want to be close to the exchange. Which means shorter walks and being more in the mix of race, but typically louder than the further sites. Or if you want to be further away from the exchange which means a longer walk but more peace and quiet. The earlier you arrive to the race, the better chance you have of getting the site you want. For some of the races getting there early means Thursday. Check for information for your specific event in regards to the day and time you can arrive to set up your campsite.

Gear: We recommend a folding table. It’s great for setting up a camp kitchen, playing cards, housing a lantern at night so that you can find your campsite, all kinds of stuff. Take a lantern or some type of lighting for the campsite itself. If you have some unique system for lighting your campsite the easier it will be to identify your site in the middle of the night. Don’t forget camping chairs. And of course don’t forget the basics such as sleeping bag, tent, headlamp, cooler with ice, food, drinks. Also bring back up batteries for whatever may need them (lantern, flashlight, headlamp). Depending on which race you are doing, bring rain gear. Some events (Appalachians, Zion) have had notoriously stormy weather the last couple of years, although both races dates have moved this year to warmer months with less chance of storms (we hope). Wipes! Some race venues have showers accessible to runners but if yours doesn’t, be sure to bring wipes. They don’t replace a shower but do help refresh you after your run and keep the stink down to a tolerable level. Though remember everything you bring is something you will have to pack back up after running and little sleep. So don’t get carried away.

Pace File: Create a spreadsheet with runners in order and their general anticipated pace and print it out. It gives everyone an idea of when they will run. I recommend runners always write down on the sheet what time they actually finished running their loop. That way if someone wakes up in the middle of the night, and everyone is either asleep or out running they have some idea of what’s going on and when they will run next.

Miscellaneous: As a Captain make sure to delegate. Don’t do everything or bring everything yourself. Have someone bring the snacks, someone bring the drinks, someone bring the games. Also be sure to communicate with your team, often. Don’t assume they know something, make it clear so there are no assumptions made. Some common ways to disseminate information to teammates include group emails, group texts or a closed facebook group.

Fun: Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the scenery. This is the time to “find your inner wild”.

We’ve reached 200 episodes and want to celebrate with all of our listeners by doing a contest. Inspired by Elena’s ridiculous sock tan line being highlighted at a recent family event, we want to see your best runners tan line (s).

We are giving away an Embrace Running Podcast prize pack which will include an Embrace Running trucker hat, a Nathan bottle or handheld and other running goodies. Just post a picture of your runners tan line as detailed below, keep it G rated please. Enter the giveaway by doing one of the following:

1. Follow us on Instagram and post a picture of your best runners tan line. Tag @embracerunning
2. Like us on Facebook and post a picture of your best runners tan line on our page.
3. Follow us on Twitter and tweet a photo of your best runners tan line. Tag @embracerunning.
4. Email us a photo at feedback@embracerunning.com  of your best runners tan line.

Rules: One winner will be chosen. Contest ends Wednesday June 15 at 9 p.m PST, and winner will be announced soon after.

There’s finally a movie about the Barkley Marathons! Yes, you read that right. If you’ve heard of Barkley Marathons you’ve heard it’s not like any other race. It’s an ultra race of 100ish miles out in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. There is no race website or information on ultrasignup to read about the race or register for it. Just finding out the applicaton/registration process is a feat of its own. With a finisher rate of only about 1%, only 12 different people have finished the race since its debut. It definitely piques the interest of many runners, even those of you who never want to attempt it. So when a movie about the elusive and arguably the most difficult ultra came out it was something we had to see. The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young is a documentary about the 2012 edition of the race. We don’t want to give out too many details but this movie is totally worth it. It provides a glimpse as to what the race is like, including the eccentric race director Laz and even gives the origin of the name of the race. As eye opening and mind blowing as the movie is about the race, it affirmed our thoughts that we have absolutely no interest (nor are we anywhere near capable) of doing this race. Although we wouldn’t mind being at the famous yellow gate as participants come through and head out for more or bow as Taps is played. It’s a race like no other. Equal parts inspiring, entertaning and terrifying, the film does a really good job of capturing and conveying the race experience. If you are at all interested in Barkley Marathons, watch this movie. 
The dvd can be purchased online or you can buy or rent the digital version as well through various platforms (itunes, amazon, google play, vudu).

The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young

The Biggest Loser RunWalk Race Series is a nationwide series of races inspired by the same name television show that we have all become familiar with. Having been a loyal watcher, it seemed like a natural extension of the show when the race series was first announced. It’s a non-intimidating way to get people off the couch, moving, and part of a fitness event. 
The races are basically split into two categories, Premier Races and Off-Road Challenges. Premier races consist of 5k and half marathon distance option and are at destination locations such as Las Vegas, Seattle and Chicago. The Off-Road Challenges are designed by Spartan Race. Ranging from 3-5 miles and incorporates trails, obstacles and mud these races are definitely a different type of challenge. Always up for the challenge of trying a different type of race I have signed up for the Off-Road Challenge in San Francisco which will take place at AT&T park on July 18. Sign up and join me, we can even do the race together (although you might find yoruself helping me through some of the obstacles).

Great news for all of you is that I have a discount code to share for 20% off registration to any of the 2015 The Biggest Loser RunWalk races! Race registration gets you a finishers medal, event shirt and appearances by former The Biggest Loser contestants. Premier races also include free downloadable race photos and a drawstring backpack. That’s a pretty good deal. The discount code is EMBRACE. I also have two race entries to giveaway to two lucky people. See below for giveaway details. 

We are giving away 2 (two) free entries to the race of your choice. Just tell us which race you would run if you won. Enter the giveaway by doing one of the following (or do all three for a maximum of three entries):

1. Leave a comment below with which race you would do if you won.
2. Leave a comment on facebook  with which race you would do if you won.
3. Follow us on twitter and tweet @embracerunning which race you would do if you won and include the hashtag #biggestloserRW

Rules: Two winners will be chosen at random. Contest ends Tuesday, July 7th at 3 p.m PST, and winner will be announced soon after.

Disclosure: The Biggest Loser RunWalk Series is sponsoring this race entry giveaway by providing a unique, single use coupon code for the winners. Winners must register themselves for the race . No travel or accommodations will be provided. Winner will receive registration code at end of contest.

As you probably already know by now, it rained on Marathon Monday. And it was great. Having started running in 2005 I never imagined at that time that I would one day be running the Boston Marathon, but eleven marathons later, it was happening. I had made a few attempts to run a BQ time and in the fall of 2013 I made my time by over 4 minutes in Chicago. I was thrilled that I had my BQ time but knew it wasn’t guaranteed that I would get in. In September of 2014 I registered and a couple weeks later got the notification that I was in. To make things even more exciting I decided to register for the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge, which consists of running the Boston Marathon on Monday, then Big Sur Marathon six days later.
Fast forward to April of 2015, training was pretty much done, time for the taper and the pre race anxiety that usually goes along with it.  In the week or so leading up to the race I kept checking the weather forecast and it was going to be cold and windy. A few days before rain was added to the day. Great. I was hoping to have better weather than that on race day but regardless I was going to have a good time. I wasn’t going to let the weather ruin my experience. And after the stormaggedon (that’s a word right?) at CIM in 2012 I knew I would be able to handle what mother nature threw at me (as long as it didn’t snow-I wouldn’t know how to deal with that).
Flying in on a redeye Friday night and arriving Saturday morning was a bit rough but I knew I would have two nights to rest and recover before race day. After grabbing a quick bite to eat it was time to hit the expo. The expo was big and well organized with lots of volunteers helping direct everyone in the right direction. Bib pick up was first, then shirt/bag pick up, then downstairs to the main expo. There was a huge area that housed the official merchandise by Adidas and yes, I did go a little crazy and bought some gear. The main expo area had various booths-many familiar to runners and some not so familiar. Some were hosting notable runners including Scott Jurek and Christopher McDougall at Clif Bar, Michael Wardian at Hoka One One and Kathrine Switzer at Skirt Sports. I spent a couple hours checking everything out, said hi to those at the Feetures! and Big Sur Marathon booths then it was time to check out the town for the first time. Walking down Boylston and Newbury the Boston Marathon feeling was palpable. You could see it written on signs in business windows, people walking around with race gear (from current and past years), yellow flowers in blue covered pots with the words “Boston Strong” lining storefronts. The finish area was set up and the street was closed to cars so there were a lot of people taking pictures near the finish line, myself included. The excitement continued.

The day before the race I joined Bart Yasso and about one hundred other people on one of his shakeout runs. Bart is such a great guy to talk to that I try to join his shakeout runs whenever I have the chance. It was an easy three-ish miles from a hotel in Boston down along the Charles River and back. It was perfect to just get the legs moving and ready for the next day.
The night before the race I finally decided what to wear, it looked like it was going to definitely rain and it was going to be cold and windy. Aside from my typical race clothing, I was going to take a poncho for the rain, at the very least to keep dry before the race, a plastic garbage bag just in case, a towel to sit on while waiting at athletes village, arm warmers and gloves-either of which could be discarded during the race if need be. I didn’t plan to utilize gear check since it was a bit of a walk from the finish line so I was counting on the race poncho to keep me warm enough post race. 
On race day I got up at a comfortable hour, which is rare for race day but allowed due to the late start for the Boston Marathon. Having laid out my things the night before I didn’t have much to do on race day. I ate a banana and honey stinger waffle, grabbed my gear and headed out the hotel. It was a short walk to the T, took the green line to Park Street and saw the race shuttles just as I exited the station. It was chilly so I grabbed for my gloves but I didn’t have them, I had left them in the hotel, crap. Oh well, I pulled down my long sleeve throwaway and covered my hands that way. There were plenty of race shuttles so I just picked a line and after a bib check I was on a school bus making my way to Hopkington. The drive seemed long, although I don’t remember ever taking a race day shuttle and thinking “that was a quick ride”. As we were driving I noticed people on the sidewalk waving to us, smiling and giving us thumbs up. Then when we were on the Massachussets turnpike people in their cars were doing the same thing. THIS was the Boston Marathon experience. The feeling of being part of something larger, something great, something more than a race. Midway through the ride it started to rain-here we go. Arriving at the Athletes Village in Hopkington our bibs were checked again. Then it was a free for all in an open high school field. Portapotties lined every side. Seeing the long lines I got in line right away and was glad I did because I ended up waiting forty minutes to use one. But it wasn’t raining anymore-yay! There was Gatorade, fruit, bagels, water and cliff products available. I took a quick picture with the Hopkington sign and then looked for an empty space inside a tent until it was go time. I noticed there was a tent for clothing donations and while there were people leaving clothing there I noticed some going there to get clothing. Hmmm…my legs were cold and I hadn’t brought sweats so I went over to the booth and picked out some donated sweats and put them on, they felt great. Thank you to whoever “donated” some blue sweats with a hole in the left knee! Sitting in the tent I was glad I brought my towel to sit on. I ate half a banana, drank some water and got ready for the race. There were constant announcements about which wave should be heading to the start, with red wave first, then white, then it was my turn. I left my towel and garbage bag and started walking over. A few more bib checks and then it was time to discard the sweats and really donate them. Once in the starting corral and just a couple of minutes before my wave start it started to rain, glad to have my poncho still with me.
It was a quick and relatively quiet countdown to start the blue wave and within about a minute I was passing the timing mat. Spectators were already lining the course, rain be damned. It was going to be a great race. 
Before the race I made the decision that I was going to have a great time, no matter what, I was going to enjoy the race. I really didn’t want to set a time goal because I didn’t want that to affect how I felt about the race but I was hoping to finish in 3:45-4:00, I thought this was possible for me without pushing too hard which was important since I had Big Sur six days later.
I had been warned that the first five miles of the race were mostly downhill and therefore fast and to not get carried away here or start off too fast. Great advice was to let people pass me, don’t be in a rush, let them pass. I did my best to let that happen and ran by effort and feel. It felt easy and comfortable, perfect. Although I probably still went out a bit faster than I should have. Then something odd began to happen. Having run over a hundred races I have never been pushed, shoved or elbowed more than at this race. And it wasn’t because it was so crowded that people didn’t have room to pass. Instead of going into the empty space next to me or in front of me, people who wanted to pass wanted to run through me. The first couple of times it happened I though it was just a few isolated runners but over the first mile or so it happened so many times that I knew it was more than that. I was pretty disappointed by this but after several seconds of thinking about it I decided that if that is how people wanted to race then they could go ahead and do that, I wasn’t going to race that way and I wasn’t going to let them ruin my race. Forget them. I was quickly snapped back to the excitement by the cheers of the spectators-people by a bar with beers in each hand (this proved to be a theme throughout the race) but nonetheless genuinely excited for us and letting us know. I got several high-fives. And did I mention it was pretty much downhill? It was great. Unfortunately my bladder was a bit full-darn it I was going to have to make a stop at some point in the race. I discarded my throwaway at about mile two but kept my poncho a bit longer since it was still raining and it was doing a fairly good job of keeping me dry. Aid stations started at mile two and were about every mile. Gatorade was always first, followed by water, right side first, then left side. It was nice to have this consistently throughout the entire race so you could plan your fluid intake the rest of the race. The volunteers did an amazing job. 

I had my first energy gel at around mile five. I didn’t feel like I needed it but didn’t want to fall behind on fueling. The next several miles were pretty flat with just a few small rolling hills. The spectators continued and were now offering bananas, oranges and dry paper towels to wipe your face, I accepted all three. The miles were ticking away quickly and I was trying to soak in as much as possible and yes, it was still raining. You could hear them well before you could see them. The wonderful people cheering at the Wellesley Scream Tunnel were unreal. I knew they would be loud but wow! In true tradition many were offering kisses, others gave high-fives, but all were cheering us on as loudly as possible. In the weeks leading up to the race they took requests for race signs that they would make and have displayed on race day. I had one made and was really excited to see it. Unfortunately with all of the rain most of the signs were washed out and unrecognizable. One pristine sign that was untouched by the rain read “this sign is laminated”, it gave me a good laugh.
A few more miles and one more energy gel at mile 14 and then it was the start of the Newton hills. A few rolling hills but nothing like I had expected. The Clif shot station was at about mile 17 and again the volunteers did a great job here. I grabbed one for later and kept moving and just a few steps later saw Mark for the first time on course. We weren’t sure he would make to the course at all but I was so excited to see him out there. Next was the students from Boston College. They were actually louder than those at Wellesley and were offering lots of encouragement and lots of high fives. I had a great high five streak here of at least thirty people if not more and it only ended because one high five was so hard that it actually made my entire hand sting, I figured it was best to pull away from the high fives for a little while. 
I was trying to prepare for Heartbreak Hill before seeing the Boston College kids, although for some reason I thought Heartbreak Hill was at about mile 22. My plan was to have another gel while I was going up Heartbreak since I would be moving slower and so less likely for me to have GI distress from it. There was a hill right after I pulled away from the Boston College crowd and I thought, okay, after this one is probably Heartbreak and that is when I’ll have my gel and then the rest of the course is mostly downhill. The hill I was climbing was longer than I expected but when I got to the top there was an arch off to the side with a sign that let us know we had just reached the top of Heartbreak Hill. Wait, what? That was Heartbreak? It wasn’t as bad as its reputation led me to believe and I didn’t have my gel. All I could do was laugh. Of all incorrect course information I could have had, this was actually good news. I had ran up Heartbreak without even knowing it. Awesome! Oh but after a few dry miles the rain was back. But who cared, I had just passed Heartbreak! I did have my third gel soon after and then got to see Mark again at around mile 22.5. Even with all of the spectators out cheering for everyone it’s really great to have someone there specifically for you, it’s really energizing and I was greatful I was able to see him twice on course.
From then on it was mostly downhill with just a few overpasses. I did start feeling a bit tired and slowed down a bit at this point. I wasn’t hitting the wall or having any mental issues, just felt a little tired and remembering Big Sur was in six days I decided to conserve some energy and enjoy the last few miles. My full bladder finally forced me to make a quick pitstop. Then it was back on to the rest of the course which continued to be lined with cheering (sometimes drunk) spectators, and lots more high fives. I don’t know when I turned onto Hereford Street but knew that it wasn’t far to the finish line. I looked at my watch and saw that it would be close but I could finish in under 4:00. Turning left on Boylston the crowd was erupting. I was going to give whatever I had left. I could hear the announcer and when I was about .05 miles or so away from the finish line he called out for a moment of silence to remember the bombings of 2013. It was eerie because that means if I had ran the race in 2013 I would have been pretty close to the finish line when the first bomb went off.  A lot to take in just a few steps away from the finish line. After a few seconds of silence the crowd was back to cheering, even louder than before and cheered me through the finish line. I came in just under 4:00 at 3:59:29. I was tired but in very high spirits. I had accomplished my goal-I ran the Boston Marathon and had a great time. I had enjoyed every part of the race!

It was a bit of a walk through the finish area to get some water, then the race medal, then pictures, and finally the poncho. It was much needed at this point because the temperature hadn’t changed much since the start (still in the 40’s) and we were all completely drenched from the rain. The poncho helped with the warmth a bit but it was thinner and significantly less warm than expected. I made sure I kept walking to avoid cramping and to keep my body temperature up as much as possible. There was a Gatorade recovery protein drink that we were handed having been already opened by volunteers which was great as my hands were so cold I’m pretty sure I would have struggled to do that on my own. A few more food items and then it was time to make my way out of the finishers area. Since I hadn’t checked any gear I didn’t need to continue on to Boston Commons. Instead I found Mark at our designated meeting place and after a few pictures headed to the T. I was shivering and couldn’t stop until we were underground.
My race experience met all of my expectations. The support from everyone was great and the volunteers were amazing. The spectators are the best I have ever experienced at any race and really help make the race experience. I ran up Heartbreak Hill without even knowing it. I had a blast. It was a great race, and a once in a lifetime experience, rain and all.

See Jane Run is a running store and race organization that really embraces women (and men) of all ages, sizes, fitness levels. They truly celebrate us all getting out there and being active. Although focused on womens’ fitness, men are welcomed into all of their events and no one is made to feel out of place.  They have three race locations this year: SF Bay Area in Alameda, CA on June 21; Seattle, WA on July 12; and Pleasanton, CA on September 27. Their events in Alameda and Seattle include a half marathon, 5k and kids race. Their event in Pleasanton includes a Triathlon and Duathlon. I have run their SF Bay Area half marathon twice and had a great time on a flat fast course. The start near Washington Park in Alameda provides a great venue for pre-race activities such as a warm up and dancing-yes dancing. Running close to the water for the majority of the race for both the 5k and half marathon gives runners views of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge. It’s a great course for a PR. With the finish line just a few steps from the shore it’s a perfect place to celebrate and provides a beautiful backdrop for post race pictures. Of course, there is chocolate and champagne at the finish, as there is with all See Jane Run races. This race is in June so there is still plenty of time to train. Next on their calendar is there race in Seattle in July. With the start and finish at Gas Works Park, runners get to run along Lake Union. The last event of their 2015 race season is the See Jane Run Duathlon and Triathlon in September. I’m very familiar with the location of this race-Shadow Cliffs Regional Park in Pleasanton, CA and I will be at this race! The triathlon consists of a 400yd swim, 11.1mile bike, 3mile run. Since my swimming is subpar I figured it was better for all involved if I stayed out of the water so I will be doing the Duathlon- 1mile run, 11.1mile bike, 3mile run. Come join me!  They will be expanding their races to several new cities in 2016 so stay tuned for that. I’m fortunate to have been selected to be a See Jane Run Ambassador for its 2015 races. Great news for all of you is that I have a discount code to share for 25% off registration to any of their 2015 races! Race entry includes a race shirt, finishers medal, post race champagne (for those 21+) and of course, chocolate. That’s a pretty good deal. The discount code is SJRAMB246. This code can also be used for 10% off purchases in any of their stores and their online store.  I also have a race entry to giveway to one lucky person. See below for giveaway details. 

We are giving away 1 free entry to the race of your choice. Just tell us which race you would run if you won (SF Bay Area, Seattle or Pleasanton). Enter the giveaway by doing one of the following (or do all three for a maximum of three entries):

1. Leave a comment below with which race you would do if you won.
2. Leave a comment on facebook  with which race you would do if you won.
3. Follow us on twitter and tweet @embracerunning which race you would do if you won and include the hashtag #seejanerun

Rules: One winner will be chosen at random. Contest ends Sunday, March 15th at 1 p.m PST, and winner will be announced soon after.

See Jane Run Races
See Jane Run Store

Disclosure: As a See Jane Run Race Ambassador, I was provided a free entry. See Jane Run is sponsoring this race entry giveaway by providing a unique, single use coupon code for the winner. Winner must register themselves for the race . No travel or accommodations will be provided. Winner will receive registration code at end of contest.

Trails in Motion Film Festival is a compilation of short films related to trail running. The film tour started off in South Africa and is now in its third edition. We were fortunate to be there for its first US showing of 2015. There are nine films that range from three minutes to 56 minutes in duration. With the featured film “Finding Traction” being the longest. This particular film features the great ultrarunner Nikki Kimball as she goes for an FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the 273 mile Long Trail in Vermont. Nikki Kimball is a long time endurance athlete and very successful ultrarunner, having won Western States Endurance Run three times and most recently winning the 150 mile Marathon de Sables in 2014. The film follows Nikki as she prepares for this endeavor and through her ups and downs while out on the trail. Aside from going for an FKT on American’s oldest trail, she also had the goal of raising awareness of trail running and other outdoor activities with this venture. With this goal in mind she partnered with Girls on the Run in Vermont and She Can! in Montana to raise money for the work these groups do with children and young adults in exploring nature and participating in endurance sports. The film captured our attention right from the beginning and kept us enthralled the entire time.
The films are international, coming from countries such as Japan, Mexico and New Zealand.  They take viewers to places we may have heard of but have not been able to experience in person such as southern Patagonia in the film “Around Patagonia” featuring Jason Schlarb and Jeremy Wolfe. One of the goals of the film festival is to bring people together from around the globe to enjoy the sport of trail running and I think they are doing a good job at accomplishing that goal. “Triple Corona” gives us a peek into the toughest mountain trail running circuit in Mexico that is ‘only for savages’. It’s a challenging trilogy of races over difficult terrain and accompanied by some amazing views.
One of the films “Why We Run” really makes you think. It makes you think about running, about trail running, about life. It features biologist and ultrarunner Bernd Heinrich who has written a book by the same title, although originally it was titled “Racing the Antelope”. The book deals with our primal drive to win and how that relates to humans being a running species. The 15 minute film includes insights from Bernd about what running has meant to him and the role it continues to play in his life.
After watching the first couple of films I was ready to go out on the trails and run and I’m sure others felt the same. However I don’t recommend leaving early as you will miss out on some great films. With the film tour being international there are opportunites for many people to catch a viewing. I recommend checking their website for a showing near you.

Trails in Motion

This week, we talk about the new medal for Ragnar Trail races. Our race plans for 2015 are coming together. Under Armour has acquired MyFitnessPal and Endomondo. The “dangers” of running too much. Gorillas running in Austin. The cost of a running shoe per mile. And our week in training.

Supposed Dangers of Running Too Much 
Austin Gorilla Run 
Under Armour Buys MyFitnessPal and Endomondo

Save $50 off Ragnar Trail Tahoe with code TT15MCOSTA

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