Nike Women's Marathon Random Draw Results

For those of you who signed up with Team Get It Girl, you might have already gotten word that our group entry was not accepted.

If you are still interested in running NWM this October you can do a few things.  You can register through Team In Training which will get you in immediately.  This is also a great way to raise money for a good cause. 

In our 'rejection email', Nike also pointed us to second chance in getting in through a Verizon sponsored contest where you have to create a Pinterest board.  The contest is called 'Pin to Win'.  For more information on that you can click here.  

Nike also may OR may not open up a few second chance slots as the race gets closer.  Last year, a few members of Team GIG got in this way.  Don't count on Nike doing this again this year but it can't hurt to stay ready just in case right?  

Team Get It Girl will now move forward with our fitness and running goals.  For those Mamas who are interested in still running in the Fall, we have another race we can do together.  We were so inspired by the energy and enthusiam in anticipating the results of the Nike Draw that it would be a shame to just throw all that energy away.  Some of us have already started training for Nike; why not just switch your goal to a new race?  Also, having a new race to train for can keep you ready should Nike open up slots later on.  

Team Get it Girl will now be running the Mermaid Series Sirena 10 mile run.  This race is on Sunday, November 10th in San Francisco.  This is three weeks after NWM so it actually gives you more time to get ready/train.  I've never ran a Mermaid Series race but I've always wanted to.  They give out the cutest shirts and race medals/pendants.  

all three pictures courtesy of the Mermaid Series FB page

This race is also geared towards women just like how Nike was.  Below is part of their mission statement that is written on their website.

"Mermaid Series is building a welcoming community that inspires women from all backgrounds to uncover and realize their full potential.

Mermaid Series strives to serve as a catalyst for change in women's lives as they set and discover new goals for themselves in fitness and in life. By providing training, support, motivation and eco-friendly events we are committed to the pursuit of our participants healthy lifestyle.

Our events aim to provide an opportunity for a positive change while making each woman regardless of their ability feel welcome."

We at Fitness Mama strive to do this exact same goal and so we are so proud to run this race to support the Mermaid Series mission.  

This race in SF gives you several course options: 5k ($45), 10k ($55), and the Sirena 10 miler ($75).  Each registration will be a different price depending on what you choose.  I strongly encourage you all to go BIG and run the 10 miler!  We have 4.5 months to train.  You can DO this.  

And one last thing...a HUGE selling point for me wanting to do this race is that the course will actually take you up and over the Golden Gate Bridge!!  This will be an amazing experience that not very many people can say they have done in a race.  In fact, NWM's course doesn't go over the bridge.  There are only 2-3 other races that do this I believe.  So take advantage of this opportunity ladies!  

Who's in???!!!  #LetsDoThis #TeamGetItGirl

See Jane Run Race Report and Pictures

I ran about 8 different races in 2012 and See Jane Run was my absolute favorite in every way.  This year, SJR did not disappoint.

But before I get to the race report, I want to just say how proud I am of my sister who ran this race with me.  Just thinking about all of what she has accomplished this past year brings tears to my eyes.  Just a bit of a background...my sister is the one person who inspired me to run in the first place.  In 2007 she ran a marathon.  Back then, I was in complete awe and I didn't quite understand why anyone would want to run 26.2 miles.  But I thought it was amazing how NO ONE can take this accomplishment or feeling away from her.  Back then, I couldn't run around the block without having to walk so I basically felt that my sister had magical powers at that point.  To make a long story short, I eventually started to run myself and my sister supported me, pushed me, guided me with every step of the way.  Whenever I felt like giving up or whenever I felt like I was having a difficult run, I would think of how she did a MARATHON.  If she can do that, I can for sure do 1 more mile.  

When I got to a point when I felt comfortable participating in races, my sister got pregnant with her first child.  Basically, this whole time I've been running, my sister hasn't been able to run with me because she was busy being a brand new mama.  She had my most favorite, most amazing nephew in August 2012.

See Jane Run was the first real race I ran with my sister.  We ran the whole thing together.  And she was AMAZING.  She is nine months postpartum and still breastfeeding.  She is a first time mom.  She is very sleep deprived (you remember how those babies sleep that first year?  Yeah she is now very aware.)  She also works a full time job that requires her to work 50+ hours a week.  How she accomplished running a half marathon at this point is beyond me but I now know that ANYTHING is possible.  If YOU think YOU are too busy to workout or run, please remember this story.  She is my inspiration.  

So for my race report.  :)  Let's start with the expo.  

SJR throws an expo for their bib pick up.  They had several days and times for you to pick up your bib so it was convenient!  The expo was at Oakland's Jack London Square.  

my friend and her sweet daughter.  Fit mama Vivi is pregnant and she did  the SJR 5k walk.  Amazing!  Vivi is also another runner that I've always looked up to; she has been running longer than I have. 

We arrived at a time when it was not crowded so it was really fun to have most of the booths all to ourselves.  And there was no line at bib pick up!  I love when things go so smoothly like this.  

  

my sister and I.  This sign is SO us.  

I was born and raised in Alameda where this race took place.  My mom still lives there so I slept over her house the night before.  I'm so glad I did this as I'm always running a little frantically in the mornings but this time, I was able to wake up and take my time because my mom lives so close to the start line.  My brother in law was able to drop us off within a block of the start line (Thanks B!).  Thank goodness too because there was ZERO parking when we arrived 45 minutes before the race was to begin.  

the organizers led a warm up/stretches right before the start.  This, paired with heart pounding music, pumped everyone up.

Unfortunately, race day landed on The Hottest Day of The Year.  We live in the bay and Alameda rarely gets too hot.  Well it happened.  It got too hot.  REAL fast.  We started off well, we paced ourselves, knowing how hard it would get later when it would get even hotter.  There were pacers at this race and we kept up with the 2:05 and then the 2:10 pacer for a long time.  This is our typical pace so we felt really good.  

Then we hit a wall when we got to the heart of Bay Farm Island...the business park.  Tall, boring buildings blocking any sign of wind.  No neighbors to cheer you on.  And then there was the heat.  It was difficult.  We slowed down at this point.  

Raiders headquarters.  Touchdown RRRRRrrraiders!  Sorry I'm a Raiders fan.  Had to let that out.

When we reached mile 6, there was an aid station with Gu and gatorade.  It also happened to be across the street from Raiders headquarters.  #GoRaiders  All of this combined gave us a second wind and before you knew it, we were out by the beach/waterfront again and the cool ocean breeze was definitely welcomed.  

Beautiful views of SF and the Bay Bridge

We slowed down a bit during the last two miles.  Leg cramps, the heat, not being hydrated enough caught up to us.  We were so thankful for these good samaritans supporting everyone on the course.  

she passed out pretzels and water.  this wasn't an official aid station but so thankful she was there.

There was this little girl holding out a water hose for everyone to run through.  I ran through there and got pretty soaked.  It felt so good.  Sadly, it was so hot that I was completely dry a half mile later!

Despite  being in pain, my sister ran the last half mile like a champ.  I kept pleading with her to slow down because I didn't want her injuring herself but I should've known better.  She is a runner through and through.  They never quit. 

We got our awesome medals, champagne glasses and See's CHOCOLATE at the end.  #happygirl

There were only two things I wanted to note that I wasn't too happy with.  What happened to Luna Bar Alley!??  Last year Luna Bar sponsored an aid station complete with live DJ, 20 cheerleaders with blue wigs, and tons of luna bars.  It was definitely a big party of an aid station.  I missed that because Luna wasn't at this race.  The other thing I noted was that there was no Zico's left when I crossed the finished line.  I look forward to my icy cold Zico after each race.  But I heard they ran out an hour and a half before I even got to finish.  

BUT even after those minor hiccups, SJR is still one of the most organized races I've been a part of.  Everyone is also so supportive and the camaraderie here is so great compared to every race I can remember running. 

They also gave out one of the coolest race medals I've ever seen.  This just might be my favorite.   

Weekly Running Posts

Hi guys!  It's Christina.

Once a week, we hope to write a post all about running.  Past race reports, training, running gear, ups and downs with the running, etc.  I've been running for about a year and a half and I feel like there is still plenty of room for improvement.  I feel like I've conditioned my body to run long distances but am I FAST?  Hell no.  My pace is really slow and I'd like to work to improve this somehow one day.

So my next running event is the See Jane Run Half Marathon.  I've done this race once before (last year) and it was a wonderful experience.  I would totally recommend this race to everyone.  From the online registration to the post race finish line bash, everything just goes so smoothly.  This is a women's run; women from all levels of fitness participate and are all so supportive of each other.  If you've never done a race before, this is the most perfect one to try out first.  I have no doubt you will be inspired to keep going to even more race events.

The course is an easier one in that it is completely flat.  The race is in Alameda (an island) so a lot of the course is along the water.  Hello, cool ocean breeze!  Last year the day of the race was sunny and clear and so we were fortunate enough to get that million dollar view of San Francisco towards the end of the course.    The view is stunning.

Me on the course last year.  Right behind me is the beach!  

Training for See Jane Run is not going as well as I would like.  The kids' schedules are so hectic right now that it is really challenging for me to find time to get out there and run.  Right now, I'm running maybe 2-3 times a week and then try (key word: try.  As in, it doesn't always happen! oops.) to fit a long run in on the weekends.  The race is on June 8th.  I'll let you guys know how it goes.  

I wanted to quickly talk about this Nike Run.  It's another race geared towards women.  This is the race where you get that gorgeous Tiffany necklace as your medal.  Team GIG is going to enter as a group.  Let me know in the comments if you guys are interested in getting into this race with Team GIG!  There are so many that want to get into this race that Nike does it by a lottery system.  If our team gets chosen in the lottery, then we ALL get in and we can run the race together.  Wouldn't that be awesome?!  I'll update you guys on when the registration opens.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook to stay in the loop.  For now, some pictures from last year's race....

Taken at the start line.  It was still dark when we lined up and we waited for the race to start as the sun rose.

SF is known for its hills.  And there are definitely some on the course!

Christelyn did the full.  I did the half.