Ladies Night {+ Nuun Recipe}

Oh yes it's ladies night and the feeling's right / Oh yes it's ladies night, oh what a night, oh what a night! /Oh yes it's ladies night and the feeling's right / Oh yes it's ladies night, oh what a night / 

I'm pretty sure Kool and the Gang was talking about a night on the town but for me, the big night was at the running store this weekend.

From fashion shows to store discounts, fashion shows to makeup demonstrations, the event is always one I look forward to. I first attended in 2010, and it was where I was encouraged to run the half marathon at Fort4Fitness – my fastest 13.1 up until this month. I met new friends, hung out with old, always growing my relationship with the running community.

But this year, the event was more to me. The coordinator gave me the chance to be a part of the night, mixing up Nuun mocktails and offering samples of my favorite hydration product.

Now, the original plan was to serve cocktails but there's these silly things called liquor laws, which are totally overbearing and ridiculously silly here in Indiana. So we switched to mocktails. And, to be honest, I think folks were just as happy.

I made a Lemon Tea goes to Long Island with {discontinued} Lemon Tea Nuun, 10-calorie ginger ale, apple cider and lemon juice; and a Tri-Berry Daquiri with Tri-Berry Nuun, 10-calorie lemon-lime soda, frozen berries and ice.

The daquiri {or slushy, really} was the run-away hit of the night. It was fruity but not overly sweet and very refreshing. The recipe, too, is versatile enough that one could swap out any fruit-flavored Nuun and a complementary frozen fruit. Not that this would ever happen but if you, say, tried a Nuun flavor and were just "meh" about it, you could easily mix it up in a "daquiri" and still reap the hydration benefits. The key is to make the Nuun double-strength so that the flavor holds up to the soda.

Tri-Berry Nuun-quiri

2 tabs Tri-Berry Nuun
16 ounces water
16 ounces diet or low-calorie lemon-lime soda
12 ounces frozen mixed berries
3 cups ice, or amount to reach desired consistency

Drop Nuun tabs in water and wait 2 minutes or until completely dissolved. Add Nuun and remaining ingredients into a blender and process until slushy consistency is reached. Transfer to a pitcher and serve.

Play It Cool {Three Things Thursday}

1. I wasn't going to open the email I got an email from the organizers Carmel Marathon, the half for which I'm training. I figured it was just a call for registrations –which I should probably do because, you know, it's required – and I didn't need a reminder. But, the word "announces" in the subject line caught my eye. The news was about a new challenge – Sprint to the Finish.

From the email:

Carmel Road Racing Group and AmeriFirst announced today a new challenge to add excitement to the 2016 Marathon and Half Marathon. The AmeriFirst Sprint to the Finish challenge will pay a cash purse to the people who record the biggest difference between their overall pace and their last ½ mile split. The top three male and female will receive $100 - 1st; $75 - 2nd; and $50 - 3rd in each the marathon and half. 

 How the AmeriFirst Sprint to the Finish works: A timing mat will be placed at the ½ mile to go location and will record every runner's pace as they sprint to the finish line. Then, timing and scoring will compare each runners ½ mile finish pace to their overall pace for the entire distance. The top 3 participants with LARGEST difference will win the money! 

Example: Bill runs the marathon in 4:34 (10:30 pace) then sprints the last ½ mile and records a 8:19/mile pace. His difference equals =2:11

OK. How cool is that?

My plan for Carmel is to run a comfortable – I repeat, comfortable – sub-2 half marathon. I don't want to blow up at 6 or puke at the finish just because my ego got better of me. So, I'd like to really stick to that 9:00-9:09 pace for the majority of the race. If my training is any indication, though, I might have a solid kick at the end. A 7-flat kick? I don't know but it will be interesting to see. And the challenge gives me renewed motivation to train to keep my shit together in the beginning and run strong at the end.

2. Nuun announced this week that it has reformulated its electrolyte tabs. The change is part of a bigger movement on Nuun's part to focus on the importance of valuing its principles of living clean and putting the very best ingredients into its products.

One of the biggest changes is the switch in sweeteners from sorbitol to plant-based monk fruit and stevia. There's also avocado oil for clean, plant-based production. As a result, the tabs now have 10 calories instead of 8. But really, what's 2 calories?

 As you may know, I'm a Nuun ambassador, and I truly believe in the product and the company. I think it's exciting to see it grow and adapt – not just because the market demands it because the company feels compelled to do it based on principle.

3. Let's hear it for 100 grand!

For the first time in longer than I'd like to admit, my seven-day step total on FitBit is over 100,000 – and by a good number, too. The 100,000 weekly steps is a benchmark for me, and I feel better about my activity levels when I hit it.

The most exciting part, though, might be that I am annihilating Mark.

I bought Mark a FitBit for Christmas because he's always wanting to try out my fitness gadgets. If I were nicer, I'd let him but he always jacks with my stats and I don't like that. Because, I am a brat. So I decided he could have his own.

While I'm being honest, I have to admit that I thought with the amount of miles I log that I would beat him on the friends board. WRONG. Seriously, so wrong. And I haven't had the best attitude about it. It's gotten better as I work through the 12 stages of grief but it is still frustrating.

Thanks to half marathon training and subbing seniors classes, though, I'm winning.

I mean taking more steps.

Stocking Stuffers for Runners {+ Awesome Giveaway}

"Are we doing stockings this year?" Mark asked.

I was putting the finishing touches on the mantle, my favorite thing to decorate for the holidays. There was a reindeer basket overflowing with fragrant potpurri and a string of frosted cranberries that ran along the length. Two silver snowflakes held knitted stockings and, from the arm of a snowman, hung a third stocking. They were empty — for now — a fact confirmed by a curious Miles.

"Yes. Of course we are," I said as I toyed with the cranberries.

I should admit that, for me, stocking stuffers are easy. I buy Mark copious amounts of Reese's trees and a sample size cologne. Miles gets a Tootsie Roll bank (family tradition) and an ornament. All it takes is one trip to Target.

For Mark, it means another round of presents — not that either of us mind, though maybe I shouldn't speak for him. I like to receive gifts, he likes to give them and all it really takes is a trip to my favorite running store. As I told him this year, he wouldn't even have to browse — he just had to talk to my favorite girls and they could do it for him.

But for those looking to get stocking stuffers for their favorite runners, here are my top picks.

Note: I don't want to see any eye rolling — below will be one of the raddest Healthy Strides giveaways ever. 

Pro Compression socks. Where fashion meets function, these socks are a staple in my running wardrobe. I wear the trainers for everyday runs and workouts, and the marathon socks come out for long runs and recovery. When it's cold, the tall socks double as a way to keep my lower extremities warm and my feet dry. And they are cute.

So, so, so cute.

Remember that you can save 40 percent on marathon socks and sleeves with the code BLG14. And the trainers are such a good — deal $25 for two pairs, which means the recipient will be doubly as happy or you can keep one for yourself. I won't tell.

Nuun. Even though training might be winding down for a lot of people, Nuun is never out of season. I drink my favorite (non-caffeinated) flavors year-round, whether I'm running on the treadmill, teaching a class or just trying to keep myself hydrated. And, at the office, I'm drinking Nuun All-Day. It has zero sugar, less than 8 calories per tab, and an all-natural blend of 17 vitamins and minerals. It comes in 4 flavors: Grapefruit Orange, Tangerine Lime, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Grape Raspberry. A tube of Nuun — or four — will easily fit in a stocking.

NAAWK. Tell me this: Have you ever actually used an entire tube of lip balm before losing it? Yeah. Me neither. If I don't lose it, someone either takes it or it gets washed in my pants. It's why I bought six — yes, six — tubes of my favorite lip balm, NAAWK, before the season started. I keep one in my car, one in my purse, one in my desk and one in my gym bag. I also have spares around the house for when Mark's "lips hurt real bad." (Name that movie quote!) Why NAAWK? "NAAWK is a lifestyle driven brand that meets the needs of an active, outdoor enthusiast. NAAWK sun care products are specifically designed with this environment in mind, offering the best skin and sun care products available," the website reads. And, for me, I just think they are awesome.

Road ID. Safety — there's no better gift than that. A Road ID bracelet is a $20 insurance policy in the event that something happens when your runner is out on the road. Pick out a new style or give a gift card and you'll give yourself peace of mind.

Now ... for the details on the giveaway.

• There will be three winners.
• Winner No. 1 will receive a pair of Pro Compression marathon socks or sleeves and a $30 gift card to Road ID.
• Winner No. 2 will receive a mixed four-pack of Nuun All-Day and a $20 Road ID gift card.
• Winner No. 3 will receive a gift pack from NAAWK, including continuous spray sun screen, travel-size hand and body lotion, zinc stick and lip balm; and a $20 Road ID gift card. 
• Winners will be selected by a random generator. The first name selected will receive the Pro Compression prize, the second name will receive the Nuun and the third will receive the Naawk. 
• Pro Compression, Nuun and NAAWK are providing prizes for this giveaway, and the Road ID gifts were ordered by me with referral credits. I was not compensated for this post. 

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