Wordless Wednesday (Couch to 5K Edition)

With limited time available tomorrow ... I wanted to share in advance ....

These are some of my favorite quotes/sayings, that

I've shared recently with my clients and

Couch to 5K program participants ....

Do you have a favorite quote

that helped motivate you
when you started running??

Fall 2011 Playlist

It's been awhile since I've posted a playlist. I rarely run with music, because I really enjoy the quiet time and being alone with my thoughts. But, recently I treated myself to an iPod and love it. I love hooking it up to my treadmill and listening to my iTunes through the treadmill's speakers. I also have enjoyed a few shorter runs while using my new fancy, pink wristband. I'm still not converted to running with tunes, but I do like having the option now.

I love hip hop and the energy it gives me on a run. Some of my favorites are highlighted below....

No Sleep 3:11 Wiz Khalifa No Sleep - Single Hip Hop/Rap 11
It Girl 3:12 Jason Derulo It Girl - Single Pop 13
Not Afraid 4:08 Eminem Recovery (Deluxe Edition) Hip Hop/Rap 18
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) 3:51 Katy Perry Teenage Dream Pop 19
Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) 4:22 LMFAO Sorry for Party Rocking (Deluxe Version) Pop 24
Mrs. Officer 4:47 Lil Wayne, Bobby Valentino & Kidd Kidd Tha Carter III Hip Hop/Rap 24
Moment 4 Life 4:39 Nicki Minaj & Drake Pink Friday (Deluxe Version) Hip Hop/Rap 25
Super Bass 3:20 Nicki Minaj Pink Friday (Deluxe Version) Hip Hop/Rap 25
How to Love 4:04 Lil Wayne How to Love - Single Hip Hop/Rap 25
Gucci Gucci 3:07 Kreayshawn Gucci Gucci - Single Hip Hop/Rap 25
Freak-A-Leak Remix 2:36 DJ Smallz Southern Smoke 11: Game Over Hip Hop/Rap 25
Till the World Ends (The Femme Fatale Remix) [feat. Nicki Minaj & Ke$ha] 4:44 Britney Spears Till the World Ends (The Femme Fatale Remix) [feat. Nicki Minaj & Ke$ha] - Single Pop 25
Lighters (feat. Bruno Mars) 5:04 Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel (Deluxe Edition) Hip Hop/Rap 25
Crank That (Soulja Boy) 3:42 Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Souljaboytellem.com Hip Hop/Rap 26
Man Down 4:27 Rihanna Loud Pop 26
Cheers (Drink to That) 4:22 Rihanna Loud Pop 26
Motivation (feat. Lil Wayne) 3:51 Kelly Rowland Motivation (feat. Lil Wayne) - Single R&B/Soul 26
Sure Thing 3:15 Miguel All I Want Is You R&B/Soul 60 27
Dedication to My Ex (Miss That) [feat. Andre 3000 & Lil Wayne] 3:56 Lloyd King of Hearts (Deluxe Version) R&B/Soul 28
Got Money 4:05 Lil Wayne & T-Pain Tha Carter III Hip Hop/Rap 28
Otis (feat. Otis Redding) 2:58 Kanye West & JAY Z Watch the Throne (Deluxe Version) Hip Hop/Rap 28
Run This Town (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West) 4:35 Jay-Z Run This Town (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West) - Single Hip Hop/Rap 28
Hello 4:41 Martin Solveig & Dragonette Hello - Single Dance 29
Racks (feat. Future) 4:46 Y.C. Racks (feat. Future) - Single Hip Hop/Rap 32
6 Foot 7 Foot (feat. Cory Gunz) 4:09 Lil Wayne 6 Foot 7 Foot (feat. Cory Gunz) - Single Hip Hop/Rap 32
On the Floor (feat. Pitbull) 3:51 Jennifer Lopez On the Floor (feat. Pitbull) - Single Pop 32
S&M 4:03 Rihanna Loud Pop 33
Run the World (Girls) [Single Version] 3:56 Beyoncé Run the World (Girls) - Single Pop 33
Who Says 3:15 Selena Gomez & The Scene Who Says - Single Pop 34
I Can Transform Ya (feat. Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz) 3:49 Chris Brown I Can Transform Ya (feat. Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz) - Single R&B/Soul 34
Blow 3:40 Ke$ha Cannibal Pop 35
E.T. (feat. Kanye West) 3:51 Katy Perry E.T. (feat. Kanye West) - Single Pop 36
I Need a Doctor (feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey) 4:44 Dr. Dre I Need a Doctor (feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey) - Single Hip Hop/Rap 39
Down On Me (feat. 50 Cent) 3:48 Jeremih & 50 Cent All About You (Deluxe Edition) R&B/Soul 40
Did It On'em 3:32 Nicki Minaj Pink Friday Hip Hop/Rap 43

This is why I call her Little Diva ...

This is why I call her Little Diva ...

"Mr. Know It All", by Kelly Clarkson

Table for Three, Please

I recently took on another day at work, so that I can take Little Diva and Little Dude to school on the days they are with me and so that I can support the kids just a little bit more comfortably on my own. This was a very tough decision for me, but a very necessary decision for both reasons. I had a tough time discussing this with the kids, since they enjoy "Mommy Day" so much. I've already given up my kids fifty percent of the time I previously had them ... and now I was given up more time. They were sad with the change in our schedule and our routine, but both were very understanding of our life changes. I told them both that it simply makes the time that the three of us have together even that much more special.

I rarely take my kids out to a restaurant, because: 1) sometimes the stress of the situation isn't worth it, and 2) we are on a pretty tight budget these days. Our outtings usually consist of free family-friendly events, using using coupons, or packing picnics and our own snacks.

But last week, I decided to venture out with the kids on my own and take them out for lunch. There was a festival going in Wisconsin Dells and I figured that the free window shopping, parade and free candy offset the cost of lunch. And, after tossing our stroller in the garabage earlier in the week because of Little Dude's ability to now hold hands and walk responsibly (like he's Line Leader at school) through crowds, gave me a little bit of confidence to tackle a sit down meal with them. After going over our option in the Marathon Mommy Minivan, they decided to go to a local mexican joint ... obviously because of the free chips and salsa.

After VERY slow service (so much so that Little Diva kept asking why the waitress still hadn't taken our drink order, and encouraged me to go get the hostess), we survived a nice meal together filled with chips and salsa, coloring, taking some posed photos, and sharing a few out-of-the-blue "I love you's" (which are the absolute BEST!) ... we survived ... and enjoyed it ... and I look forward to taking them out on my own again, when we budget for it.


We then headed out on foot and walked along the new Riverwalk, which the kids really loved. We got some great photos, a nice family walk in, and found some nice picnic spots that we can enjoy sometime next summer.

After spectating the parade, doing some window shopping and digging through my purse for as many quarters as I could find to plug the cheap riding toys at the Outlet Mall, we headed home. I realized on our drive home, that as many times as the kids saw something that they wanted, and I said that they couldn't get any special treats or prizes today, they never threw a fit, never begged and never asked why. They know. It is the quality time spent together that makes it special. Not the THINGS. The experience of doing things together, as our new family of three ... him, her and me.

Given Brand Pocket Review & Giveaway

A couple of months ago, I was contacted by Andrew from Given Brand (HERE). I had never heard of the Given products until I received his email. It's so much fun to learn about new, fantastic products through my blog. And, this is definitely one of them.

About Given Brand Pockets:

A multi use pocket that is made from high-performance, moisture-wicking fabric, giving the athlete a cool lightweight pocket to hold running gels, sodium tablets, energy bars, keys, ID cards, phones, etc.

I believe with most of the items mentioned above, but I feel that most phones/iPods (since I'm not use to running with that sort of thing) would be difficult to carry and would cause bounce, as well as energy bars. But, carrying some light weight items would be PERFECT in these pockets.

I usually run with my handheld water bottle on almost all of my runs right now. Even if I don't need to necessarily be hydrating. My bottle has a pocket for my keys, etc, and living by myself now and doing most of my "desitination running" and training out of my vehicle, I almost always need somewhere to place a car key or house key when I'm out on a run. I love that the Given Brand pocket gives me another option, when I don't want to carry a bulky water bottle with me.
... and it's cute, too!


These pockets are one size fits all.

These pockets are intended to be worn on the forearm or bicep, depending on the size of your arm and how snut you want it to fit. I moved the pocket around on my runs and experienced no bounce and little movement with either placement. I found it a bit more comfortable on my forearm. I'm not a runner that runs with music or an iPod wrapped around my bicep, so having something placed there was foreign to me. I'm use to having gizmos and gadgets on my wrist and forearm, so this felt natural and more comfortable to me.

If you carry only disposable products in your product, I love the fact that the pocket/pouch isn't going to feel awkward being empty. It fits just snug enough to your body and acts as another dri-wicking accessory! You're not going to be annoyed having this empty pocket on your forearm for another 5-6 miles! Awesome.

The fabric was super comfortable and soft. I didn't experience any chaffing from the pocket either.

At under $15, these are a great, affordable investment for every runner out there ... including the newbie. They are also super small and lightweight and perfect for throwing in your gym bag.

Pockets are available in pink, yellow, aqua, maroon, black and khaki. They also are selling some cute 13.1 pockets!

******************************

One lucky winner will win a

Given Brand
Arm Pocket
(color of their choice!)

PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY!!!

1 – Become a follower of my blog or already are?! LEAVE ME A COMMENT

2 – Follow Running Diva Mom on Facebook HERE. LEAVE ME A COMMENT

3 – Visit the Given Brand website HERE and tell me what you think is fabulous. LEAVE ME A COMMENT

4 – Become a fan of Given Brand on Facebook HERE (and let them know Running Diva Mom sent you!). LEAVE ME A COMMENT

5 – Post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook or Twitter account. LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR EACH.

Enter now though Thursday, Sept 29.
Winner will be announced on Friday, Sept 30.

[If you would like YOUR product or website featured on Running Diva Mom, please email me at ( runningdivamom at yahoo dot com ) ]

Wordless Wednesday

August 2011 Running Ramblings

August was a fantastic month full of great weather, running friends, coaching clients and half marathons! I ran several doubles and triples this month, to get the miles in and mix things up on solo runs and with others. With 128 miles under my belt this month, it was my second highest mileage month for the year so far.

I raced the Madison Mini Marathon (and experienced my first race delay at the start line) and the Peapod Half Madness 13.1 the following week.

Registration opened up for the Couch to 5K Ladies Edition training group that I will be coaching this fall through the local rec program ... it filled up in two hours ... and there are several people on the waiting list. I'm so happy that so many women want to do such good things for THEMSELVES! I can't wait to meet these twelve ladies in two weeks and start them on their journey. I also have four clients that I've been coaching over the summer for 5ks this fall, and have another that I will be helping her increase her pace in the half marathon.

We just had a photo shoot for the local running club (HERE) that I'm starting up. I'm hoping to make it easier for other runners to connect in the area. I'm also going to host a "playdate run" once a week so stay-at-home moms can connect and get their children involved in their exercise. Little Dude and I and that Little Red Car will be having some fun out on the trails.

With all of the running I'm doing ... and focusing on the half marathon distance ... I haven't made the time to focus on 20 mile training runs for the October 29 Haunted Hustle fall marathon. This week I finally decided to ask to switch events and do the half marathon instead. I'm realizing that I do have limits. I'm still accomplishing a lot this year, and am getting a ton of miles under my belt. But, they are not confidence-building twenty mile training runs to prepare me for the 26.2 mile distance this year. It's also not looking likely that I'm going to reach my 1,500 mileage goal for the year ... but I will come close.

But, I'm having TONS of FUN
running in the process.
And, still smilin' about it! :)

August: 128.0 miles
July: 100.7 miles
June: 105.6 miles
May: 131.2 miles
April: 100.1 miles
March: 107.9 miles
February: 71.6 miles
January: 110.7 miles

Total Miles for 2011: 855.7
Miles Needed to reach 1,500 Mileage Goal: 644.3
Longest Runs: 13.1 mi (3 times), 20 mi