A Summer Like Nuun Other

In the back of a van, along the back road of Oregon, I learned something. Something valuable. Something to treasure.

The art of mixing Nuun.

During the 30-odd hours I was in the van for Hood to Coast, I am fairly certain that I made at least a half-dozen concoctions with the now retired Banana Nuun - Banana-Orange, Banana-Tropical, Banana ... Uh. Not sure. I know it was definitely not Banana-Kona Cola.

It seems crazy, I know, breaking tabs in half and putting multiple flavors in a bottle. It is. But, it is also fun, interesting and the perfect remedy to the post-long run looniness induced by many miles under the hot sun.

Assuming the role of mixologist is also a great solution if you buy a tube of Nuun and don't necessarily like it. Or, you really like it but half-way through the four-pack you ordered online, you sort of want to chuck tubes at runners passing by just to get rid of it.

Not that I'd ever do that. Not ever. However, I recently found a stash of Watermelon Nuun (which, by the way, is back for summer) and wasn't excited about it as I had been in the past. It's good, yes, but no longer a favorite. (I'm currently partial to Tri-Berry, which I hated for about a year. Weird.) A fellow Nuun ambassador, though, posted about mixing Watermelon with Pink Lemonade and thus a brilliant solution was found. I sipped the combo on my way to meet my running friend on Sunday and for fun on Monday.

The discovery also put me on the mission to see what other creations  I could come up with. Here are my picks that are perfect for summer running - whether it's before, during or after.

Note: All are made with a half tab of each flavor per water bottle. I sometimes enjoy making one flavor more dominant by going with a full tab of it and a half tab of the other.

Arnold with a Twist: Strawberry Lemonade + Lemon Tea

Arnold Classic: Lemonade + Lemon Tea

Citrus Tea: Citrus Fruit + Lemon Tea

Berry Tea: Tri-Berry + Lemon Tea

Cherry Cola: Kona Cola + Cherry Limeade (could also use Nuun Energy variety)

Citrus Punch: Orange + Lemon-Lime

Island Getaway: Orange + Tropical

Left Field: Orange + Fruit Punch

Disclosure: I am a Nuun ambassador and receive a discount on products. However, I wrote this post of my own accord.

Becoming a Warrior: A giveaway

Relentless.

If I inspire to be anything, it is relentless. In training, in racing, in pursuit of life goals, I want to be relentless. And so it was a given that I would pick that word to adorn my Endorphin Warrior bracelet.

The bracelets were part of an amazing swag bag that I received at Nuun headquarters before Hood to Coast. We're talking Oiselle team shirts and jacket, Swiftwick socks, Barlean's fish oil, Naawk sunscreen and a Tiger Tail here. However, the Endorphin Warrior bracelet might have been one of the items I anticipated most as I had always wanted one after seeing them in the blog world.

From the Endorphin Warrior site:

At Endorphin Warrior, our aim is to help you train, perform and live with greater strength of body and mind. We make products with positive and powerful messaging to wear while running, cycling, working out, sweating, racing - or all day long - to help you stay strong-minded and focused...and help you train harder, improve performance, overcome challenges, achieve your goals and live stronger.

I wore the bracelet for every leg of HTC and in that last 4 miles, when I was pushing my hardest, I would glance down and remind myself to be relentless in my pursuit of a strong finish.

The bracelet is comfortable to wear during physical activities - no different than a RoadID. I've worn it nearly every day since HTC, including during the Oak Brook Half Marathon. I love the leather band and the constant reminder to remain fearless and positive (and relentless) in pursuit of my goals. To quote what one of my teammates, who was on the elite team, "What we think is what we become."

And I think I'm going to be relentless.

What will you be? It's a good question to ask since Endorphin Warrior has been kind enough to offer a bracelet to one of my readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Also, the code "HydrateHTC" is good for 15 percent off at Nuun.com through the end of the month.

Three Things Thursday: PNW trip highlights

It seems funny to me that, at this time last week, I was standing in the Oiselle offices star-struck and verklempt (and drinking Starbucks coffee, obv). It seems like a million years ago and like yesterday at the same time but, regardless, hard to believe.

The entire trip to the Pacific Northwest was a whirlwind of excitement, nerves and fun. It would be impossible to share every moment, every giggle, every rumble of the stomach as anxiety ate my insides. I can barely remember them, even, the memories washing in like the tide of the Pacific Ocean, depositing bits of sand onto the shore that is my psyche.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't share a few things with you before wrapping up my Nuun Hood to Coast experiences.

1. Grass is always greener at Green Lake. Thursday morning, after a bit of sleep and pot of coffee, I found myself in Northeast Seattle at the intersection of Green Lake Drive and Ravenna Boulevard. The Ravenna Boulevard, the namesake of my beloved Brooks shoes.

We were there for a shakeout, a short and (for me) arduous 3-mile run. The air was crisp and the lake a welcome change from my dark and familiar neighborhood routes. I ran with two of the Nuun girls, Lauren and our fearless coordinator Megan, at a slow clip as we rounded around the water. It felt harder than I should of but I blamed the travel and focused on the fun ahead - visiting Oiselle.

The Oiselle HQ is small but homey, and I pretty much wanted to find all the things and take them home. I got a little shy and did a major fail in talking to some of the Oiselle all-stars but loved hearing the owner chat about the company's relationship with Every Mother Counts and their team for Hood to Coast, which featured Christy Turlington. Sadly, CT was not there ... not that I would have chatted but ya know.

2. Teamwork. I've joked with a friend or two that the only way I'd have a running group is if they showed up to my house every day at 5:30 a.m. And most people don't want to do that ... so, yeah, I lead a relatively solo life as a runner, joined only occasionally by my three favorite men.

This weekend, it was different. I had people by my side when I was slow and teammates cheering me on when I was fast. I had people to inspire me and people to push me to be better. We're all at different places and paces but for that weekend, we were a team.

The experience was new and exhilarating, and it motivated me more than ever to find a group of women to share my miles.

3. "Do you want to go swimming?" After days of nonstop socializing, the invitation to head to the ocean by a small group of the Nuun crew was hard to resist. The beach, at water's edge, was quiet and the sun was setting in a brilliant show of color. The splash of the guys jumping and diving broke the air as I stared toward the horizon. The water was cool but not as cold as I had anticipated as it lapped over my feet.

"I'll go as far as you'll go," Zoe said as we ditched the Sparkle Athletic skirts and walked toward the surf.

I headed in cautiously at first but reveled in the force of the waves, going a bit further each time. I laughed and smiled, relaxing with each push of the water as the weight of the race washed away.

My heart aches to be back on the beach that night, to feel the way I did then, but I'm so grateful for that memory and all of the others that have deposited themselves into the story of the race.

◊◊◊

In case you missed it: Freshly Squeezed: Running HTC and To my dearest Nuun

This post concludes my #nuunhtc stories. If you have questions, I'd be more than happy to do a Q&A post but wanted to err on the side of brevity and focus (for me) with the recaps.

Freshly squeezed: Running HTC

My hair was braided - twice actually. I was clad in worn-in compression shorts, white tank and golden Sparkle Athletics skirt. A reflective vest hung off my shoulders and, in my hands, I held Knuckle Lights.

Standing on the side of the road, in front of a grocery store of all places, it was time. Time to do what I had come to the Pacific Northwest to do.

Run. Run for Team Lemonade. Run for Nuun.

My stomach was in knots and adrenaline pumped through my veins as I grabbed the slap bracelet from Kristen and set off on Leg 7 of the Hood to Coast relay. With parts of all three Nuun teams at the major exchange and the first runner in my van, I desperately wanted to set off at a good pace and run strong. I wanted to show them that I deserved to be on the team.

But I knew I couldn't go off like a banshee. I was not only running a hard 6.32 miles but had two more legs on little sleep to look forward to, as well.

So I made a deal: Run strong but don't look at the watch. Instead, set my sights on the beautiful Oregon countryside and soak in every ounce possible. When it gets hard, don't be a brat and focus on enjoying it for those who would gladly take your spot.

And that's what I did.

I struggled a bit at times, first with breathing (altitude change?) and then the hills, but when the going got tough, I opened my eyes to all that was around. There were mountains in the distance and vineyards dotting the roads. There were residents sitting in driveways and vans parked to support their runners. There were children playing and a dog that was really a donkey.

With each passing step, I felt stronger and more invigorated and as I rounded the corner to hand off to Karen, I felt like I had conquered the world.

Predicted: 6.32 miles, 56:24, 8:55 pace
Actual: 6.39 miles, 56:24, 8:50 pace

"Are you shitting me?"

It's the only thing I could muster to voice when the alarm rang at 3:22 a.m. and I was told that I needed to start getting ready for Leg 19. While I had tried to sleep in the down time, my body screamed with exhaustion and my mind had retreated to a dark, scary place. I desperately wanted someone to tell me it was all a joke but I was assured that it was time to hit the Honey Bucket and get suited up in the requisite safety gear.

I meandered in slow motion and was certainly in no mood to run when I got to the exchange. My spirits were lifted by the bright, shiny faces of my teammates from Van 1 and I reminded myself of all the times I've gotten up at 5 a.m. when I didn't want to. I just needed to put one foot in front of the other and get the shit over with.

This leg was my hardest of the relay, with challenging inclines and declines, though I don't remember many descents. I just remember hills. And lots of them. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other - relentless forward motion - and not walking. I nodded to the men who passed me and did my best to hold off the women along the way.

As I ran, I had no idea of time, pace or distance. The sky was dark and the route only marked by the flashing lights of other runners. At times, there was a light mist and the Knuckle Lights would catch the droplets falling to the ground. Those were the moments of night-run magic.

More magical? Calling it done and handing off to Karen. After all, there was a travel pillow and gummy bears waiting for me in the van.

Predicted: 5.89 miles, 54:29, 9:15 pace
Actual: 5.9 miles, 58:24, 9:55 pace

I had one plan and one plan only for my final run, Leg 31, of the race: Grind. It. Out. I was going to go out hard and if I blew up, I blew up. It was only 4 miles of mostly downhill, and it was the perfect opportunity to lay it out on the line. I had seen my vanmates KILL IT on their runs, and I was antsy to do the same.

I grabbed the bracelet from Kristen and took off like a bat out of hell. I focused on quick turnover and took advantage of the loss of elevation. My stride opened up, and I found myself picking off runner after runner. "Kill, kill, kill," I noted.

But it was me who nearly died when I managed to spy my first split on the Garmin - 7:52. Holy. Shit. I have not ran a mile that fast since Miles was born. I know I had help from the downhill but considering my tired legs and lack of sleep, I'm going to own it.

The following two miles weren't quite as fast - in the low 8's - but I continued to repeat my "Grind it out" mantra and not give in to running slow.

That is until I hit the last hill. Stupid bitch. It was a good 0.6-mile climb through winding woods that dropped my pace to the mid-9's. I didn't want to give in, though. I had been running strong and I was going to stay strong no matter how hard I had to work. I came up on a runner walking, and I tried to cheer her on through labored breaths. She picked up her pace and I briefly contemplated staying with her but was ready to summit. Relentless forward motion.

The course flattened out and graded down. With one last surge, I was done.

Predicted: 4 miles, 34:02, 8:30 pace
Actual: 4.03 miles, 33:38, 8:20 pace

Final thoughts: Running Hood to Coast was everything and nothing that I imagined. It was more difficult yet easier than I anticipated. I ran strong. I ran mad. I ran my best and felt my worst. I could have done better but gave it all I had. There were lows and there were highs. But of all of it, I am proud.

In case you missed it: A love letter to Nuun

Coming soon: Trip highlights

To my dearest Nuun

When my feet first stepped onto the Delta flight en route to Seattle, I was certain that I couldn't be certain of anything about the journey that lie ahead.

I didn't know whether I'd run well (I did), whether my teammates would like me (I hope) or whether I'd have to sully the Oregon countryside with a Code Brown (I did not). The only thing I felt confident in was that I was in for one heck of a trip.

And what a trip it was.

There was sprinting - and I mean sprinting - from concourse to concourse in the Detroit airport, getting a bit lost in Seattle, visiting the nest and, oh, you know, running 200 miles across Oregon. There was laughing and crying and maybe a bit of cursing. Oops. There were hugs and cheers. There were moments lived and friends made.

And none of it would have been possible without you, Nuun.

From the first breath of PNW air to the last, I was blown away by the warm welcome, hospitality and generosity of the company and the athletes behind it. I could have never dreamed about just how well the team would be treated - not as a group of bloggers to spread the message of Nuun but as people, first, and then runners.

I knew I liked Nuun when I took the trip, those little tablets that power me through tough runs and classes, but I can wholeheartedly say, without a doubt, that I love your company, its mission and the way it embraces the athletic community. I couldn't feel more blessed and honored to have spent five days representing you in the PNW.

And though my socially awkward self might not have been able to express that in person, I hope that you know, from the bottom of my heart, how grateful I am for the experience. More importantly, thank you for believing in us ... and me.

Three Things Thursday: My legs

For three months, I lived in relative oblivion.

I knew how far I'd be running and had done the math about the time between the miles. I had a few recaps of the legs for runner No. 7 (thanks, Jess!) and knew I had some hills. I just didn't know how many.

I'm still deciding if that's good or bad.

1. My first leg, leg No.7 (obvs) is rated hard and is 6.32 miles through the Sandy area. It features rolling hills  on paved shoulder and farm/country roads.

The gods of Mount Hood predict I'll start at approximately 6:04.52 and finish in 56:24, an average pace of 8:55.

2. My second leg, No. 19, is the no joke, bitch cakes leg. Rated very hard, I'll run 5.89 miles of challenging uphills and downhills on paved back country roads.
 

I will be running in the dark, about 4 a.m. - much more my speed - and have an estimated finishing time of 54:29. I guess I'll slow up a bit tackling that situation.

3. Leg 3. The fun one. It's 4 moderately difficult miles of gradual hills on narrow paved back country road.
And one bitch of a hill at the end.

Even more special might be the estimated finishing time 34:02 - an 8:30 pace and a predicted PR for the distance.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit (or a lot) intimidated. I figure I got the endurance in the bag but the speediness over the course of the race is a bit alarming, despite what I alluded to in my marathon post earlier in the week.

But I'm going to give it my all. Wish me luck!

Pack it to me

The bags. They are packed.

And, yes, I officially became a Fort Wayne resident this weekend when Mark bought me the Vera Bradley large duffel tote in Cocoa Moss. It only took nine years.

In the bags are the things that you'll see listed on the numerous relay packing lists created (and copied by) other bloggers - race outfits packed in zip-top bags, two pairs of running shoes, compression socks and Body Glide.

There's also things you won't see - 70 pages of ACE CPT notes, ACE CPT flash cards, Bodypump 87 (the new one!), zinc tablets (since I've been warding off cold/allergies and winning), 3,000 pairs of underwear since we know I don't go commando, the most awesome crop sweats from Old Navy and Colgate Wisps and a tankini for the rooftop pool.

Note: I know I got all brave and bought a bikini this summer. I've even worn it in public. But that was around real people and some of these girls are super human. My excess skin will stay out of public view. Sorry I'm not more confident.

Thanks to a close friend, I also have fuzzy socks to keep my feet warm on the plane, Swedish fish, watermelon Nuun, Salted Caramel Gu a Starbucks gift card. Necessities if you ask me.

The one thing you won't see? A laptop. I learned my lesson last year en route to NYC to be on the "Today Show." Expensive pieces of electronic equipment stay safely stowed in my desk. At home. I have a few posts lined up but won't be blogging live from the PNW. If you want to stalk me while I'm gone, I'll be tweeting (#nuunhtc, #teamlemonade), posting on my Facebook page and sharing far too many photos on Instagram.

Double down and done

With a final "sprint" down the street and past my house, my last double day was finished.

There was 7.3 miles of northeast Indiana hills (read: road bumps) and 4 miles of pushing it with my husband to bring me to 11.3 miles (if you are bad at math) and finish my training for Hood to Coast.

I'd like to say that the ending of two-a-days was bittersweet, that I waxed on about how much I'll miss them as I ran through the park with Mark ... but I'd be lying. My legs felt like lead for the first mile of the second run, and I felt slightly homicidal as my husband pushed the pace, exclaiming "I feel good today."

Good news for my Team Lemonade compatriots and my BFFs who have sworn to bail me out if I ever go to jail, I did not throat-punch him as we ran up a neighborhood hill and land myself behind bars. Nor did I do any real damage when I mislanded on a broken bottle at 6 a.m., causing my ankle to go right and my foot to go left.

Rather, I'm as healthy and as strong as I'm going to get for this experience. I'm part floating in a surreal haze that my flight leaves in just one week and part living in sheer panic. No worries from my previous post that I'm giving myself a stroke about leaving Miles. It's more the former fat girl who spent prime social development time huddled in a corner, picked on and embarrassed. I will spare you the neuroses.

You're welcome.

For all those relay vets out there, what are your tips leading up to the race? Will you fit in my carry-on?

Cost analysis

Whoever said running is cheaper than therapy apparently didn't have insurance.

Mark and I had stopped by the running store on Friday night to pick up some salted caramel Gu. As I was paying for the packets of insane deliciousness, I spotted a sign promoting 15 percent off apparel with a shoe purchase. Me being me, I not-so-coyly pointed it out to Mark, who rolled his eyes, surely thinking it was my desire for all things bright and shiny motivating that look in my eyes.

Truth be told, though, I did/do need clothes and shoes.

It seems like just yesterday that I switched to the Brooks Ravenna 4 but yesterday was April and nearly 350 miles ago. It's definitely time to consider new shoes, which retail for $110 (about five times more than a standard co-pay), as I came thisclose to my first 30-mile week of this cycle and many recommending two pairs of shoes for a relay like Hood to Coast.

And speaking of HTC, we are lucky enough to have some amazing sponsors beyond Nuun. Like Team Sparkle, which will be supplying skirts of the same name so that everyone in a 200-mile radius will see me coming. I'm ready to don it save for one thing: booty shorts. I currently have a singular pair of compression-like shorts that are three years old and have the elasticity of my 86-year-old grandma's skin (sorry, Grammy)!

I will run three legs, wearing the skirt for probably two, which means two new pairs of shorts. Or one if I'm being cheap. Sadly, I didn't fit into the teensy-tinsy Asics that were on clearance for $10 at 3RR. My favorites were the 4-inch Moving Comfort shorts, which retail for $30 (x2 = $60, three therapy sessions). They made my thighs look like crap but they felt nice and no one will see them anyway.

Oh, and of course, there are all the other costs of running - socks, bras, race entries, travel, Gu ($4.50 for the three I bought Friday, post-session latte) and the vast amount of food to satisfy the rungries.

Not that I'm complaining or looking for a handout (though, Brooks, if you'd like to send me new shoes, I'd gladly accept). Just merely pointing something out. Well, pointing out something that Mark pointed out. And, given my mental state of late, I'd probably go through four pairs of shoes worth of co-pay in therapy before I wore out one pair on the road. Thank goodness for Mark, I'd much rather run angry than lie on a couch and share my feelings.

Hood to Coast: How I'm preparing

Thirty days - that's all that separates me from being pushed out of a van on the side of the road in Sandy, Ore., and being told to run the race of my life.

OK, so maybe my #nuunhtc teammates won't be so violent and anxious when dropping me off for my first leg of Hood to Cost but the reality that the race is nearing is very real.

When I first found out that I had made the team and received Mark's definitive "Go for it," I began to research how to prepare for such a race. How does one train to run 17 miles, some hilly, over the course of 30 hours (or less)? What can you do to prepare your body (and mind) for the toll of running three times in such a short period with little to no sleep? How do you fuel for the race so strangers don't have to see you poop under a bridge?

Well, if my Googling was accurate, you do nothing. It might be a fine approach for some of my teammates who are gifted athletes and run laps around me during a warmup. I truly feel like I need to ready myself and I was disappointed that I found very few tips on how to do so. There were a couple articles that said to split a long run into two shorter runs or to run an evening run and then log miles the next morning. Later, I found a plan via Ragnar but it was long, not very intense and only good if you were training solely for Ragnar, which I'm not. Other stories advised against running doubles unless you were maxed out on mileage and needed to run twice in a day to hit a certain weekly goal.

Frustrated, I did what any sensible runner would do. I said, "Eff this crap. I'll do what I do."

And that is ...

Double down. I am not sure if I've pointed it out specifically but I've been running two-a-days for the better part of the summer. The first run of the day is always the longest and is usually a "quality" run. Before Veterans training commenced, it was a speed-play run but it's now hills. I've also increased the distance of that first run from 4 miles to 6 miles and I'll hit 7 before I fly into SEATAC. As my first leg is 6.32 miles, it's key to me that I have that midweek-long run at or beyond that mileage.

Hills. I feel like I should have been doing these for awhile now but it requires some planning in my relatively flat neighborhood. In theory, I could get up a half-hour earlier and drive a bit to a hillier area but I'm not just there mentally. Rather, I find the hilliest places and try to incorporate them on hill day and into my long run.

Consecutive days. This point is more thanks to Hal Higdon but I feel good knowing that I'm running hard on Saturday and long on Sunday. I've heard from other runners that it builds endurance, which is what I'm going to need.

Sucking it up. Take today, for example. I got a terrible night's sleep - my heart was racing, I couldn't get comfortable, I had to pee 300 times. The last thing I wanted to do was get up at 5 a.m. and run 6 miles. I briefly considered turning off the alarm at 3:30 but an appearance of Jillian Michaels in a dream and the awareness that I am going to have to run VERY tired during HTC pushed me out of bed. I just considered an extra bit of training.

Recognize! The women who are making up the two blogger teams for Nuun are insanely talented. Intimidatingly so. One of the runners in my van just completed a half Ironman and another is training for one and yet another ran a 1:40 RnR Chicago half in crazy heat. I look at them sometimes and feel like I will have to work 10 times harder to get through the race. Stupid, right? I'm trying to keep myself in check and be mindful that pace doesn't always equal strength, endurance and heart. I was picked for the runner I am, right now, and not the runner I wished I could be.

Of course, after I get myself a game plan, Runner's World just had to publish its own tips in the latest issue of the magazine.

Hydration heroics: A giveaway

I remember my first time quite vividly.

I was in the not-so-posh Motown Inn outside Dearborn, Mich. There were views of railroad tracks, stains on the carpet and a cathode tube television. I was tired, thirsty and knew the booze the front desk clerk had offered procure me wouldn't be the best choice with the Martian Invasion half marathon the next day.

And so I grabbed a tablet of strawberry lemonade nuun out of my purse and plopped it in a bottle of water. I watched it fizz. And fizz. After the requisite two minutes, I took my first drink.

I wish I could tell you that it was love at first taste but whether it was the stale hotel air or the variety, I found myself diluting it to choke it down.

I ran a great race the next day. Really great, actually. It's the closest I've come to an official sub-2 since having Miles. Even still, I found myself mailing off the remaining tablets to Bobbi, vowing that I would never buy it again.

But then I had trouble fueling during my training for the Columbus Marathon and added more classes to my schedule. The need to hydrate properly and eat appropriately became paramount and so I began to eye the nuun tubes in the running store. I longed to like them but was fearful that the experience would be just as bad as it was the first time. 

It wasn't until I received some samples in my Another Mother Runner purchase that I gave it a go. I started slowly, a half tab per bottle. I took small sips and waited for the bite. But it didn't come. The next day I tried a whole tab, cutting it only a bit. Still, the bite didn't come. Three days later, I was at Three Rivers Running Company buying a tube of lemon lime, which is one of my favorite flavors. It's been love ever since.

A little bit about nuun: Nuun Active Hydration is a line of electrolyte enhanced drink tablets designed to keep you optimally hydrated wherever your active lifestyle and athletic endeavors take you. You sweat, Nuun replenishes. Packed with electrolytes, light flavor, no sugars or carbs, and portable, Nuun Active Hydration is the perfect sports drink. The electrolytes found in Nuun will help alleviate cramps, help muscles function, communicate and burn energy efficiently.

Nuun also offers an All Day and U Natural lines, in addition to some pretty sweet accessories - I rocked a nuun tattoo for my Firecracker 4-miler.

And the point of all of this? Well, nuun is being so kin as to offer one reader a 4-pack of nuun in a flavor of his or her choice.

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. If you can't wait for your nuun, don't forget to use the code hydrateHTC as much as you want (through September).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Five for Friday

1. We were in a television doldrum, with the season finale of "Survivor" and having finished "House of Cards" and "Hemlock Grove." So it was with great excitement that I discovered the first season of "Bomb Girls." The show is set in a Canadian munitions factory during World War II and focuses on the bomb girls building the arms for Allied Forces. Not only does the show focus on a time period that I find intensely interesting but it's also well written and has a talented ensemble cast.

2. As a former fat girl and one whose thigh touch, I'm no stranger to chafing. Oh, the summer days when I would chafe just by being me and baby powder was my friend. Nowadays, it's usually when my shorts or a running skirt ride up on a particularly bad or long run. This morning, I had something new. Armpit chafing. I was about 4 miles in when I began to feel that familiar burn along my sports bra. I have no doubts that it's because of the steamy temps -67 degrees and 95% humidity. I guess it's time to start using 2Toms or Body Glide like a beast.

3. It seems that taking Miles for a 3-day weekend to Cincinnati and letting Mark have man time earned me a prize. Schwings! My Hood to Coast teammate Lindsay showed them to me ... well, her Instagram followers. I thought they were super cute, inquired as to where I could procure the accessory that I'm sure will nab me a PR and slyly included them in an email to Mark. He must have felt bad that I was chasing a sugar monster and ordered a lime pair while I was gone.

Anecdote: When the Schwings arrived yesterday, Mark asked me if they would make it on the blog. I said maybe.

4. The running gods finally shined down upon my race desert and blessed me with a Fourth of July 4-mile race that doesn't require an hour drive. I've been itching to race a shorter distance to gauge what paces I should hit for my Veterans Marathon training. Most of the races are on Saturdays during BODYPUMP but this one is on Thursday. The course begins at a park with hills and, factoring in the heat, I'm not sure it will be  a great effort but it would be great if I could beat the 32:31 I had at the Fort4Fitness 4-miler in September.

5. It's with great pleasure that I share with you that I was invited to become a nuun ambassador as part of my relationship with the company for Hood to Coast. While I can't say that it was love at first sight with that cute, little tablet, it has become a valuable part of my fueling and hydration routine not just for running but teaching group fitness as well. So, of course, I said yes!

In case I haven't shared it here, nuun is offering the readers of the Hood to Coast teammates a 15 percent discount through September - nuunHTC. And keep your eyes peeled for a little somethin' somethin' later in the month.

Three Things Thursday: Get into gear

I have sunshine. I have raindrops on roses. But, dangit, I could use some puppies and rainbows. There's just something about this day, this week, that makes me yearn for a little boost.

And a fast-forward button.

And a mute button.

And a humidity control button.

But, alas, despite my whining, there are good things abound.

1. Just as the mercury inched up this week, a big ole box from Nathan Performance Gear arrived. Presents for me!

As part of my ambassadorship, I had the opportunity to select five items - count them, FIVE - to use and abuse. I solicited advice on Facebook and went with some of your favorites - a handheld, hydration belt, hydration pack, reflective vest and booster belt. My previous handheld, also a Nathan, is smelly and the elastic is not so elastic anymore and I've been antsy pantsy to try a belt. Needless to say, I'm pretty amped to put all of it to work..

2. While we are on the topic of hydration, nuun loves you almost as much as I do and wants you to be full of electrolytes this summer. You can use the code "hydrateHTC" to receive 15 percent off any order now through September.

Right now, they have a pretty sweet deal, too - a free watermelon bottle with a 4-pack purchase. I'm holding out for a lemonade bottle. Gotta stick with my team.

3. I am taking a step forward in my project, "Make Shit Happen 2013." It's not anything earth shattering but I am reluctant to share just yet. Call me superstitious, if you will. I'm realizing, though, that as I take on more things that I need to take on more sports bras. Well, buy them. If I was just running four days a week, I'd be good to go but I'm up to eight or nine workout sessions a week - all of which require a fresh bra - and I'll need three decent ones for Hood to Coast.

Yeah, that's about it on that one.

How's your day going? Feel free to share humorous insights but I will reject all offers of puppies because my OCD dog will not stop licking the floor. And it's annoying.

Three Things Thursday: What's next

I've been in a funk. A horrible, no good, yell at people for no reason funk since the race on Saturday

I can attribute my mood, in part, to my lackluster performance but I know some of it is because I'm in such an odd holding pattern. I'm registered for my second full marathon, Veterans, on Nov. 9, and I have Hood to Coast to look forward, too. However, neither event requires an immediate start to training -- other than to not sit on my butt for the next eight weeks.

And so what's a mother runner to do?

1. Part of me seriously considered trying to find a redemption half in late May or early June but despite my best efforts (and those of some supportive gals), I couldn't find one that fit my schedule and didn't require overnight travel. There's the Sunburst races in South Bend and a random half in Kokomo that I'm not sure is chip timed. Sunburst would be the better option but is pricy for trying to correct a mistake, and the Kokomo course (out and back on a country road) and it's 400-runner max make me want to pull off my black toe nails.

Rather, I've set my sights on the Fort4Fitness half in September. I saw a FB post that if I volunteered at the spring cycle event, I would earn an entry to the fall race. It's smack dab in the midst of full training but the course holds my previous PR and one that I'm very familiar with. I'm not going into with it a specific goal but to test my fitness for Veterans. And to have fun. Plus, it's really a great local race that I've done for the past three years.

2. With all of those races going on, I'm weighing the benefits of having a coach or some kind of custom plan. It's not really in the budget but part of me wonders if it's what might get me over this hump. I also grew a pair and reached out to the running club, which sometimes feels a bit exclusive, to see whether there's a group that does regular speed work. I'm thinking the camaraderie and support could be beneficial.

3. I'm going to try to keep a decent base, especially in the long run department, to help make full training more seamless. The next two weeks will be easy and then I'll try to get in some double digit runs.

Bonus: Photos from Saturday's race.

The worst of the worst was posted on my Facebook page. Sharing it once was enough.

Coming tomorrow: My bestie is saving you all from my spew and wrote a recap of her first half marathon.

Lucky No. 7

They say when life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade. But what happens when life hands you nuun and the opportunity of a lifetime?

Well, you still make lemonade. Duh.

Nuun decided to name the Hood to Coast teams this year after its summer flavors, which are totes delish by the way, and I'll be representing on Team Lemonade. Probably because I can be a bit sour at times. Or because I'm bright and refreshing. Or because I look really good in yellow. Or because they did a random team generator thingy in a top secret lab.

Anyway, my cohorts in this sweaty journey will be:

Van 1
Leslie of Triathlete Treats
Lisa of Lisa Runs for Cupcakes
Jolene of Journey of a Canuck Mom on the Run
Andrea of the MF Dre
Kristen of Defy Your Limitations

Van 2
Me of this blog
Karen of Reasons to Play
Jesica of rUnladylike
Jenny of We Wander and Ponder
Holly of Leaps of Faith

I'm runner No. 7, which means I'll be the first runner in Van 2 and I'll be taking on 16.21 miles of rolling hills, long inclines and some sweet declines. And then some more inclines. I do remember requesting this spot, which ranks No. 8 in terms of mileage and fifth for difficulty, so I'm not allowed to bitch about the hills come August.

At least not publicly. (And note: I just typed pubicly but probably because Mark hasn't made me coffee yet.)

To get acquainted with Team Watermelon, check out the blogs of these lovely ladies: Mallory of Run Eat Run Eat; Kara of Welcome to Karadise; Hannah of Fit Girl. Happy Girl.; Sarah of Run Far Girl; Catey of Random Thoughts from the Zoo; Meghan of Shoe Stories; Megan of Meg Runner Girl; Lisa of RunWiki; Lindsay of Twisted Running; and Devon of Dev on Running.

Three Things Thursday: Another year

Geez - I can't get anything past you guys.

As the kind comments deduced, it was me turning 32 yesterday. Thirty-friggin-two. It's like the most unexciting number on the planet.

But, as it turned out, the day was the most exciting birthday I've had since I hugged trees along Court Street in Bowling Green, Ohio.

1. Even though Wednesday is typically a rest day, I knew I wanted to start the day with a run. There's just something about starting a new year on the right foot - literally. I opted to do the 6-mile negative split run on the schedule and set out in the dark of a temperate but humid morning. My legs were tired from a big week and were happy to take the first couple miles slow. I trucked along an unflooded part of the greenway that runs along a busy street. Head lights illuminated the quiet path and I fell into a slow rhythm with my steps, breath and thoughts. I spent many of the miles reflecting on that, year after year, I manage to start each one healthier and strong than the one before. It's an incredible gift to know that one is truly getting better with age.

2. Speaking of incredible gifts, my husband really outdid himself this year.

Mark usually requests a specific wish list from which he rarely deviates but he (and Miles) picked out this beautiful ensemble from the Loft. I'm really trying to adult-ify my wardrobe (aka not spend all my money on running gear) and, with a cute sweater, his selection will be perfect for the office.

The boys were also very amenable to my request for frozen yogurt. I'm remained sweetener-free the past three weeks with the exception of Clif Shot Bloks but couldn't resist the free cup from Menchie's. Miles was more than happy to share with me, and it was nice to get out on the big day.

3. The most surprising even of the day, though, came at lunch when I saw a text from my BFF.

I made the nuun Hood to Coast teams!

Hood to Coast is dubbed the mother of all relays, spanning nearly 200 miles from Mount Hood to Seaside, Ore. I am still in a state of shock and utter amazement that I was selected and get to participate. I wouldn't have applied if I didn't think I had a sliver of a chance but the women selected are amazing athletes, and I feel humbled and honored to be among them. The opportunity is fulfilling so many wishes and dreams - participating in a relay, visiting the Pacific Northwest and continuing to foster relationships with female runners - that I feel almost undeserving.

I look forward to meeting all of the women - check them out here - and running the event of a lifetime.

Don't forget to enter the birthday giveaway here - two awesome prizes!