Chicago Half Marathon in Photos ….

Posted on September 10, 2013 by tootallfritz

I’m finally starting to feel better, the soreness in my quads is dissipating and I’m starting to feel fresh again. I’ll try not to ruin that with speed work tonight! In the mean time, here are some additional photos from Sunday’s Chicago Half Marathon.

Chicago Running Blogger Meetup – the LATE edition, most had already left by the time I arrived ~~cuz I missed my super secret parking area and had to park with the masses~~.

Sara, Eric, Jennifer, Me, Jess

Jess & I looking fresh pre-race. Yes, she might be standing on a curb to try to be tall like me. No, I have no idea why my shirt is flipped up and looking crazy.

The crowd waiting to start the race. If you look REALLY close, you will see TWO start banners. This was bit confusing, we crossed the 5K start banner first (and timing mat), some people started running, some people were confused, and a few of us knew that we still had a ways to go before our real race began. Jess and I were standing close to the 2 hour pacer but felt like we were all the way at the back. It took us 6 minutes to get to that far away start banner.

The crowd thinned considerably when we hit Lake Shore Drive. As one blogger previously mentioned, the “out” part of this race is fun, lively and you can see the fasties coming back at you on this mostly out and back course; however, by the time YOU hit the other side, it seems like the “back” is FOREVER long. It’s boring. And everyone is hot, tired and just wants to be done.

Views are amazing! Photo credit – Derek Taylor (F’N Runner!!!!)

Then things just got hot and ugly on the way back to the finish. Derek managed to catch this keeper on film. No, I didn’t even have enough energy to lift my eyebrow to acknowledge him. Dead on my feet.

Last quarter mile, finishing with Jess. At least she had a smile for the camera! Source – MarathonFoto

Finally, done; Jess and I ~~wrung out our skirts~~ headed to meet up with some run bloggers in the VIP tent. Lindsay, Maggie, Jess, Me & Emily.

Then over to the CARA tent for one more blogger meet up. Karen, Penny, Jeannette, Mike, Melissa (Mike’s wife & my HS gal pal), Me & Jess.

II was so happy to meet so many people. I always look forward to this event because it really draws a lot of amazing runners and bloggers. Can’t wait til next year!

One last set of photos, my Chicago Half history via MarathoFoto: 2007, 2008, 2012 (5K) & 2013. I think we can agree that I just don’t photograph well during a race. I’m not in pain in any of these photos, this just must be how I look when I run.

Running is rarely pretty, no matter how cute the outfit. Smile

Amanda – TooTallFritz

Chicago Half Marathon – 2013

Posted on September 9, 2013 by tootallfritz

Where to start? I’ve ran the Chicago Half Marathon three times now & the Hyundai Hope on Wheels 5K once. My first appearance at the half was 2007, 100ish degrees ~~or so it seemed~~, full sun and MISERABLE. This was my first half marathon and I think I crawled the last half of the race on my hands and knees then called my friend Lisa on the way home and told her that I was going to give my running shoes to the first homeless person I saw cuz I just wouldn’t be needing them anymore! Yeah, not my finest hour.

My second appearance was in 2008, 8 days after my first 70.3 triathlon. It poured rain the entire time. I don’t mean it rained either, I’m being legit by saying that it POURED rain. Organizers even had to reroute the course due to flooding. However, I loved the race. Had a blast. Loved splashing thru the puddles for the entire 13.1 miles. I just kept pulling my hat in tighter, kept trucking along and managed to negative split, which is super rare for me.

My third appearance at this event was for the 5K, last year, shortly after I returned to running after rehabbing my foot. The 5K was good but left me feeling as if I was missing out by not running the half. That brings us to this year, my fourth appearance at the event and my 3rd Chicago Half. This year was all about being social. I’m not race ready. My legs are ~~very, very,~~ very fatigued. I never fully recovered from the 70.3 which I did in the 101 degree temps last weekend but I went to see friends from the area and out-of-towners who came in to run. I was hoping to have enough in my legs to run with my friend Jess and to be able to finish with a smile on my face.

Jess & I in our neon yellow/pink outfits which we put together ~~as an excuse to buy~~ around the Pro Compression sock of the month!

Unfortunately, I screwed up on parking and missed seeing a lot of people pre-race but instead hustled to the start line in an very un-TTF like fashion. The start was crowded. They had 3 corrals but I’m not really sure who made the cut to get into those corrals. Jess and I were back with the masses and let me just say that it’s been a while since I’ve started a race without a corral and it’s just not fun. My apologies to all of you who do it each and every race. Wow, such a mess.

This half had around 14,000 people so not a big race by Chicago standards. The key to running these type of races is to either get out early, hit it hard and run away from the crowds, or settle in and just go with the flow. We were in the “go with the flow” mode as both of us were feeling less than perfect. I really only had one goal for this race and that was to hang close to Jess for as long as possible. I didn’t know if I would be able to with as bad as I felt but that was the goal. Have to have at least one goal, right?

I was super happy when we finally made our way out of Jackson Park and onto Lake Shore Drive (around mile 3.5) because I knew the road was wider and the crowds would thin a bit.

I snapped a few photos early on and ironically, someone snapped a photo of me in the process. I always like seeing what’s on the “other side” of the camera so here is an example. I’m attempting to take a photo of the lakefront while running. Derek, a fellow F’N runner (gold shirt), somehow managed to spot me in ~~my neon outfit~~ the crowd and simultaneously snapped a photo of me! Love this! Thank you, Derek!

The crowds did start to thin and I was temporarily distracted watching for my fast friends heading toward the finish as we cruised thru the miles. Jess and I were “together” but not really together. There wasn’t any chatter or cheering each other on, we were putting all of our energy into the run and both of us were struggling. I was trying to pay attention to where she was in an effort to try to keep ~~our neon outfits in the same zip code~~ a decent pace rather than just falling off to a walk. My legs were shot and that’s not being pessimistic, just fact. I was also trying to focus on the positive aspects of the weather: a nice breeze and cloud cover. However, the humidity started taking its toll early and I was hitting every aid station for drinking water PLUS dumping water on my head and chest. I was completely soaked by mile 5 or 6. And still hot. And still thirsty. I was also slightly alarmed by how badly the runners on the other side of “The Drive” looked. The runners who were fast and almost finished. They looked like death and not the smooth fast machines which I normally see at this race. That certainly was a call to me to pay attention to my hydration since I would be out there much longer than those fasties who were already headed toward the finish.

Once I hit the turnaround, I tried to briefly pick it up but that lasted all of a 1/2 mile before I wilted even further and just settled into whatever pace I could manage. I just kept focusing on the finish and kept myself moving with the mantra, “pump your arms and your legs will follow”. I said that over and over and over to myself between miles 9 and 12. Once I hit 12, I refocused on finding Jess so that we could run in together. Not sure that she cared but I wanted to be with ~~my neon run twin~~ her at the finish. I was chuckling internally as we cruised thru that last mile, weaving around person after person. Even the short 1/4 mile shoot to the finish was crowded and it was somewhat difficult to stay “together”. However, we did manage to finish together, side by side, and even had the exact same finish time so it was a successful mission in my book!

The completion of the 2013 Chicago Half in conjunction with my finish at the earlier 13.1 Chicago qualified me for the Windy City Challenge medal!

This is really a great race. Yes, it’s big. Yes, it’s crowded. However, the view of the lake, the city and being able to see the rest of the runners both in front and behind you, is really cool. The support from aid stations is incredible. The volunteers are lively, call out your name, encourage you, and have endless supplies of water & gatorade. Lots of potties too! Lots of medical support. Lots of spectators. Some on course entertainment. Pizza, beer & a band at the finish.

If you are into swag, the shirt was super cool this year. It was the ever popular Helium brand, gender specific in a bright orange color with the Chicago Half logo. Bonus – it actually fits & I’m wearing it right now. LOVE it and am dreaming of cooler temps where I can actually wear long sleeves for running!

See you next year!

** Run Chicago ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Who won??? Whooha Gear Giveaway Winner!

Posted on September 6, 2013 by tootallfritz

I really love giveaways. Of course, I want each and everyone of you to win and you certainly are all “winners” in my book but alas, I have ONE Whooha Gear prize which is up for grabs. I used randomnumbergenerator.com to do the deed ~~so I don’t cheat~~. The result:

#30 – Theo and Jenn Koebler

Theo/Jenn – Please email me at amanda@tootallfritz.com and let me know which item (and size) off the Whooha Gear website you would like. We’ll get that out to you ASAP! Congrats!!!

For the rest of us, let’s go shopping HERE!! The 10% discount code: INSPIRE is active and available for us to use!! Yay for discount codes, thanks Whooha!!

Side note – The neon orange “Regret Nothing” tee is up on the website now. It’s one of my favs and if you like it too, you can get that one HERE. I’m a large (and wear a large in Nike) if you need some sizing guidelines.

Have a great weekend, run strong and happy! If your heading to the Chicago Half on Sunday, look for me and say hey!

** Regret Nothing ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Whooha Gear GIVEAWAY!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by tootallfritz

I had a crappy weekend. First off, there was the bad race at Great Illini where the temps soared over 100 degrees ~~and my bike tires and shoes stuck in the tar~~. Apparently nobody received the memo that heat/humidity is my kryptonite. Second, I was struck with a full blown allergy attack that left my face swollen and haggard looking. SO, let’s get things back on the happy track and do a giveaway!!! WhooooHoooooo!!! Or should I say, WhoooooooHaaaaaaa!

Whooha Gear has been one of my favorite retailers over the last couple of years. I have multiple pieces from them ranging from butter soft tees to a loose fitting hoodie that I wear everywhere. Good stuff (you can see my last post on Whooha Gear HERE). Whooha is a small women owned company offering products for other women athletes with the intent to help inspire other women. That’s a winning philosophy in my book!

WHOOHA = Women Having Optimistic Objectives & Healthy Attitudes

I have two items from the new 2013 line and I have several more things on my “wish list”. I picked up the “Regret Nothing” tee (Play Hard, Take Chances, Keep Smilin) at the Zooma Chicago expo. I haven’t seen this orange one online yet but they have it and if you want to call them, I bet they will get you one!!

Then last week, I received this baby in the mail right before heading out to the ~~disastrous~~ Great Illini 70.3. The Swim, Bike, Run Heartbeat tee:

I’ve never been much of a t-shirt person but these don’t feel like traditional tees. They are soft, form fitting but not super tight and they move with me. I’m not only comfortable in them but love the message and designs. I have basically been wearing them around the clock ~~which is why I don’t have a photo of me in the orange tee cuz it’s always headed to the wash~~ when I’m not working or exercising.

Do you want to win a Whooha shirt or hoodie? Whooha has generously agreed to give one winner their pick from the website. Yes, anything. You pick what you like and what fits your style! Go look around HERE and leave me a comment below telling me what you will pick if you win. If you would like a second entry into the giveaway, go like the Whooha Facebook page and leave a comment below telling me you did so and please provide your FB name for verification purposes.

One winner will be drawn on Friday, September 6th at 9am. GOOD LUCK!

And if you can’t wait to win, then please shop HERE using the discount code: INSPIRE for 10% off your order.

Don’t forget to “Play Hard, Take Chances & Keep Smilin”!

Amanda – TooTallFritz

SLS3 Compression Socks Winner & CrossFit Day 12

Posted on August 6, 2013 by tootallfritz

Today is the day! The Random Number Generator picked the winner of the SLS3 Pink Butterfly Compression socks!! Who says #13 isn’t lucky? Today is your day #13, Lisa Jones!!! WhoooHoooo! Congrats, girlie!

Lisa, please send your mailing address to amanda@tootallfritz.com and I’ll send you these, except clean new ones. Smile

Everyone else, please shop SLS3 HERE and feel free to use the 15% off discount code: TRI15 for anything in their store, which includes a variety of compression products including socks & TRI clothing, plus a full line of TRI products/suits/gear. My newest love!

CrossFit Day 12!

WhoooHooo! Okay, maybe only a half of a WhooHooo today cuz I probably won’t be able to lift my arms by lunch.

Today started with an amazing quote on the white board:

“Avoid the temptation to compare yourself to others who have completely different lives and set of goals”. Julie Foucher

Thank you, Ms. Foucher. Good reminder.

The WOD for today consisted of 4 rounds of the following with one minute at each station: Kettlebell Deadlifts (26#), Butterfly Abmat Sit-ups (with a weighted ball), Step Ups (24” Box), Ring Rows & a continuous parking lot RUN. My form was corrected on the KB deadlifts, Step-Ups & Ring Rows. Yes, I was still sleeping so I’m glad that J was watching to make sure I didn’t hurt myself. I think. Yes, definitely happy.

Rest for 1 minute, then repeat for a total of 4 rounds. Not too bad.

Then we finished out with Death By Push-Ups. Sounds miserable, right? Yep, totally miserable. One minute per round, go as many rounds as possible. First round started with 5 push-ups. Do the 5, then rest til the minute ends. Then 6 push-up in the next minute. Then 7, etc. I completed 10 rounds, so finished the round with 15 push-ups in one minute, then basically caved because my arms were so shaky. I didn’t even attempt the next round of 16. So in all, I did 105 push-ups. Looks better to put it that way. Smile

Our group of 5am F’N CrossFitters rockin’ out the push-ups! Love these guys & gals!!!

** Yes, My Arms Are Still Shaking ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

SLS3 Compression Socks Review & Giveaway

Posted on July 30, 2013 by tootallfritz

If you know me, or have been reading for awhile, you already know that I love, Love, LOVE compression. I wear compression multiple times a week for workouts, recovery and {gasp} fashion. I’ve said it before, I think compression is a game changer. It helps “normal” people perform better in endurance activities because we are able to recover faster. Game changer. For people like me who don’t have a full time masseuse & chiropractor & trainer on hand to take care of my everyday aches and pains this is important. It’s a game changer for me personally. So when SLS TRI contacted me about possibly doing a review on their compression socks, it made me think. Did I want to or not? I’m pretty brand loyal and 99% of my compression socks are from one company. I like that company, plus they have helped and supported me in the past. What to do? I clicked on the SLS TRI website to browse around before I responded. I was shocked to see that they had a full line of not only compression socks but also compression TRI wear. I’ve been wanting to try a pair of compression TRI shorts for a long time so I figured I would start with the socks and venture out from there.

SLS TRI sent me these awesome compression socks:

If we go on looks alone, apparently we have a BIG winner! These are the cutest compression socks ever! They even have decorative butterflies!

But we can’t go on looks alone because that doesn’t help us us physically feel better. I first wore them to CrossFit. I wear compression socks (and compression shorts) to CrossFit almost every time I go, which is 2x a week. Why? Because CrossFit has a way of just kicking my ass stressing my muscles. The only time I didn’t wear compression, I showed up to a 1/2 Murph WOD and was sore for a week. OUCH. Lesson learned. The compression socks worked great for Crossfit. On first wear, I was particularly happy that they were long enough to cover my entire calf, up to my knee. This is an issue with some brands. I ordered from the sizing chart specifications below and was very happy with the fit which put me in a size M/L.

They were very breathable and I didn’t get overheated, even though I sweat like a pig the “box” can get a little steamy at times. The socks compressed well without being overly tight and they didn’t slip, slide or fall down. Win! Oh, and they looked cute and I got multiple compliments. Since they passed the CrossFit test, next up was the run test. I must admit that I opted out of wearing them on the day that it was 98 degrees. Although, I am definitely getting used to wearing compression knee socks on warm days, I’m not crazy that brave. I actually waited for the run test until last week when the temps dropped back into the 70s and it was a real joy to wear them. When I try something different, I don’t want to know that I’m wearing anything new. If I can “feel” something different then that “something” usually doesn’t reappear in my lineup. I was very happy at the end of my 4 miler, in reasonably warm conditions, when I realized that I hadn’t noticed them at all during the run. Love that! I plan to wear them again this weekend on my 15 miler. I have since worn these socks to work for recovery after the Ironman 70.3 Racine race last week. I’ve also purchased the other two colors (purple and azure blue) and started wearing those too (the blue ones to CrossFit this morn!). Yep, I like them a lot!

Want to try them? I have a pair for you too! I have one pair of the pink butterfly compression socks, size S/M for you to win!!! This is a $54.90 value! In order to be entered into the drawing, please go to Facebook and like the SLS TRI Facebook page. I’ll give you a second entry to the drawing if you also take a minute to write a note on their wall telling them that you want to win a FREE pair of compression socks from the TooTallFritz giveaway! Don’t forget to comment below, telling me that you “liked” them on FB and if you wrote on their wall. Winner will be chosen via a random number generator on Tuesday, August 6th at 9am. Good luck! If you are too excited to wait for the giveaway, I certainly understand. You can shop HERE using the 15% off discount code: TRI15 for anything in the SLS TRI store. I personally am going to try the Compression TRI Race Shorts next!!

** Compression Works ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Courthouse Classic 5K – 2013

Posted on June 20, 2013 by tootallfritz

Every year we head to the lake for Father’s Day and also participate in the Courthouse Classic in LaGrange, IN. The race is always the day before Father’s Day, on a Saturday and benefits the Lakeland Cross Country teams. Good race. Good cause. Good family fun.

One of the sponsors for this race, if you don’t remember from last year’s report, is a local grocery store so our goodie bag always contains groceries and usable items. Then they specifically pack Aby’s for a “kid” and give her school supplies, candy and activity books.

My SWAG bag, Aby’s SWAG bag & the cool tee for the 2013 race.

This race is cheap too, which is especially nice if you are taking the entire family. The 5K run/walk pre-registration cost was $14 and the 1 mile fun run (kids only) was $9. Win!!

This was Aby’s third year running this event. I like running the same event annually because it’s about the only way to compare your fitness ~~or lack there of~~ over time. And while I am getting slower, Aby is getting faster ~~without even training~~, which is super exciting.

Aby’s Courthouse Classic 5K history in time & photos: 2011 (age 9) – 33:19, 2012 – 30:37 & 2013 – 25:09

If I’m being honest, I wasn’t all hip on returning to run this year ~~and registered only after Aby begged~~. I didn’t run last year (the 2012 race) because of a torn tendon (which happened on June 2, 2012). I’m okay now but still not running fast and I’ve been having a hamstring “issue” that seems to dislike any sort of uphill/incline or long/open stride. In short, I honestly can’t run fast, even when I try. In fact, it’s been so long since I’ve ran fast that I wish I could just erase those “fast” times out of my brain to eliminate my constant disappointment. I’m trying to focus on the fact that 1) I can run and 2) running makes me happy. Does running faster make me happier? Yes. But only a little. I just want to run and I want to be able to do it with Aby while she still wants to actually do it with me. So I registered for this race even though I knew ~~it would be a disaster~~ I wouldn’t be fast and I wouldn’t be able to perform up to my own expectations.

To complicate the situation, I’m TRI training and Friday is my long bike day. And while I felt good on the 55 mile bike ride Friday ….

My legs were “slightly” fatigued when I hit the start line on SAT morning. Oh well, it’s not always about me and we were here to get Aby ~~off her ass~~ running and ready to start training for Cross Country season. And thankfully my friend Adella came along so that I had a ~~shoulder to cry on~~ friend in misery.

We all three stand on the start line together, somewhat near the front. The gun goes off. Aby takes off. We follow. My little girl has one mission in life, to beat her momma at any and all foot races. Good news, I just need to stay close and she runs. If I get close enough to pass then she surges to get further ahead of me. It’s a game of cat & mouse. We play it for about a mile. We hit the mile mark, which has a volunteer reading splits: 7:45. I think at this point I may have laughed. I was pushing it, not dogging it, pushing it and starting to fade. I, of course, think back to split times from “years gone by” when they started with a 6 instead of a 7 but that’s been a while now so I push it out of my head. I keep pushing and keep fading. My legs feel like bricks. My quads burn. My hamstrings ….. well you don’t really want to know what they were saying. Good bye, Aby. Good bye, Adella. Good bye, Noble County Runner, Jim!

Although, I didn’t remember this course being so hilly (a few small inclines in reality!) from years previous, I did remember the finish to be downhill. By the time I reach this downhill, Aby and Adella were waiting for me ~~and probably wondering if I DNF’d~~. I finished my slowest Courthouse Classic 5K to date: 25:51. Hmmmm, I should probably be disappointed but I’m going to revel in the fact that Aby ~~didn’t steal the car and leave me~~ did well, that Adella hung tight with her to try to push her when I couldn’t and that I ran and finished another race that last year I couldn’t even have walked. So it’s a win in my book and I’ll keep chasing down my little girl. I doubt I’ll catch her but I’ll keep trying if for no other reason than to make her surge ahead and run faster, even if for just a minute. Goooooo, Aby!!

When results came in, Aby won her age group. Adella took 3rd in “our” age group and I finished in the 4th spot. In unprecedented fashion, the race officials gave out a 4th place award for age groups this year. I’ve ran a lot of races and never seen age groups go 4 deep. Thank you!! It was nice to be able to take a pic with the girls and us all have some “bling” to show for our run. Me, Aby & Adella below.

“Run”way Fashion: Team Tough Chik run singlets (this is what tough looks like) and RunningSkirts snow leopard skirts.

Yep, I’ll be back for the 2014 Courthouse Classic. Come try to beat me. I might be faster. I might be slower. Who knows what another year will bring, but I’ll be there. It’s a tradition for us.

** Run the Courthouse Classic ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Charity Raffle for RMHC

Posted on June 5, 2013 by tootallfritz

This week starts the kickoff of the Chicago Marathon training season! Everyone is excited. Everyone is ready. Everyone is planning ahead to make the 2013 race the best one yet. Those of us who have chosen to run for charity are also strategizing as to how to make our fundraising campaign as successful as possible for our charities. My charity is the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Yes, we still have entries available on our team if you didn’t get one of those coveted lottery spots!! Go here to become a 2013 team member for RMHC.

I have chosen to run for RMHC for many reasons but most importantly because I want to help the kids and families not only of Chicago and the US but around the world. The RMHC mission speaks to me by helping out the kids and families of injured, disabled & terminally ill children stay together. They focus on normalcy and helping the family to feel connected, offering creature comforts, fun and a home base that is less like a hospital and more like a home. They provide a place to stay, meals and support these families regardless of their financial status. They focus on keeping families together during times of crisis. That I like. That I support. That is something I would want for my family.

So without further ado, I’ll start introducing the raffle prizes. I am still collecting raffle items so email me if you would like to donate something! Currently we have just under 30 items with prizes ranging from $6 up to $189. I’ve been ~~hoarding~~ saving and stashing things away for this all year, so I hope that we can really put some $$ away for RMHC. My goal is to raise $5000 this week. You will receive 1 entry into the raffle for every $10 donated to RMHC via my fundraising page HERE. If you see a prize that you REALLY want, then please make a comment below and if your name is drawn then I will do my best to accommodate your request.

PRIZES

1) Pro Compression Marathon Socks – $50 Value. Your choice of color & size. These are my go to socks for compression. They are long enough for my long legs and come in a variety of colors and sizes.

2) Aspaeris Pivot Shorts – $65 value. Your choice of color & size in the Gen2 style. These are the only compression shorts I wear. I love them. I like both generations for various reasons but the hot pink Gen2 shorts really makes a statement as they are working at keep me together.

3) Tough Chik $25 Gift Card – You get to chose what you want from the Tough Chik store! Lots of amazing things from cycling, running, TRI gear to casual tees. My new favorite, which just dropped yesterday, is the “Tougher Than I Look Tank” which is priced at $28. However, YOU can pick anything you like with this gift card!

4) Venus de Miles Illinois FREE ride entry + Tee (medium) + Water bottle – $189 value. Join myself, the other Venus de Miles Ambassadors and ladies from all over the tri-state area as we cruise Lake Forest in style on July 28th. This ride offers a 25 & 61 mile option. It’s totally free for YOU and the mandatory fundraising requirement will be waived. The ride includes fully stocked rest stops every 12-15 miles, on course support, breakfast & activities pre-ride, and a big ladies style bash after the event. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this event. Check out the website or read more about the 2013 event HERE or my 2012 experience HERE.

5) Bastille Day 5K/8K FREE entry – $37-$42 value. Run one of the best races in town on Thursday, July 11th for free! This race claims to be “Bringin’ Happy Hour Back” so I have massive expectations for fun, Fun, FUN! The race is in Lincoln Park offering a 5K or 8K option followed by a block party. Join me to celebrates the French Independence Day and we will show Lincoln Park what HAPPY HOUR is all about! Whoooooooop!!

6) Women Rock Chicago Calendar & Headband (x2) – Value is “priceless”. I scored two MEN of Women Rock Chicago calendars which have been signed by Mr. April & Mr. July! You are welcome!!! These calendars are filled with fun and hot men. Each calendar comes with a Women Rock Chicago headband. Two winners here, try not to fight but I know you want these!!

7) AdvoCare prize pack – $32 Value. One AdvoCare blender bottle, 3 packets of Spark (mango strawberry), 3 packets of Post Workout Recovery Drink (chocolate), 3 pouches of Rehydrate Gel (lemon), & 3 packets of Rehydrate drink (mango pineapple). AdvoCare is my go to for nutrition and sports performance products. I don’t shop around. This is what I trust. This is what I use. These products are safe, tested, legal, plus focus on giving us what we need for our bodies without all the “extra” additives ~~and sugar~~.

8) Punkeelove Headbands (3 bands – 1 winner) – $44 Value. I love sparkly headbands that DO NOT slip. These are the only ones that I buy. I’ve tumbled and rolled down the lakefront path (no joke!) and these stay in my hair. They don’t flip off the back of my head while I run either cuz who wants to pay big $$ for a cute sparkly headband then lose it in a race on the first wear. Not me. This prize pack includes a purple, black & pink band. What more could a girl possibly need? Oh and they are adjustable so you can share them with the little divas at home too!

9) Mission Athletecare prize pack – $17 value. I am including two of my favorite Mission Athletecare products. They are my go to for sunscreen, anti-chafe, lip balm, muscle care & foot cream. I really like this stuff. CVS carries some products and then I get the rest online. This prize pack includes an Anti-Chafe stick & a 50 SPF Kids Continuous Play Sunscreen. I use the kid sunscreen all the time so this is what I had in the cabinet and this is what’s in my purse right now.

10) Road Runners Sports 2 Bottle Belt (size medium) – $29.99 value. This is my favorite water belt. It doesn’t move. It holds 14 oz of water at one time, plus has small pouch for keys, phone, or gels. Fuel Belt branded bottles. Road Runner Sports designed belt.

11) Team Tough Chik visor – $18 value but you can’t get it unless your ON THE TEAM and I probably won’t let you win it unless you are on the team or promise to sign up next year!! This is a Headsweats brand visor with a velcro adjustment strap.

12) Flip Belt – Black (size large) – $24.99 value. It’s been soooo hard for me to save this and not use it. I have a yellow and pink one that I wear constantly. I run in them, race in them and sometimes wear one if I’m out with the kids and don’t have pockets. Great belt that fits a ton of stuff but doesn’t bounce or move around.

13) CytoSport prize pack – Muscle Milk Light (Cytosport product) is a headlining sponsor of the Zooma Women’s Series. I have a prize pack from our sponsor which includes several of their Muscle Milk & CytoMax products. Prize pack includes: 2 Muscle Milk snack bars, 1 Muscle Milk Light (chocolate) ready to drink, 1 Muscle Milk Light (peach) ready to drink, 1 CytoMax ready to drink, 5 CytoMax mix packages, 2 packages of CytoMax Energy Drops & 1 CytoMax water bottle.

14) Tough Chik Boston Tough Boston Strong performance wicking tee by Alo (x2 – both size medium) – $22 value each. Get one of these tees while they are HOT! They sold out immediately on the first printing. They run small so these mediums fit like a small. Two winners here. Each winner will get a tee & a Tough Chik sticker!

15) Lock Laces – $7.99 value. Yellow lock laces. Great for running, triathlon or little ones who can’t keep their shoes tied!

16) BioFreeze prize pack – $31.50 value. Number one topical pain reliever for athletes!! This prize pack includes a full size pain relieving gel and a full size can of 360 spray.

17) Handana – $18 value. The Handana is all the rage! Used by runners, cyclists and fitness enthusiasts everywhere, this is your answer to gracefully wiping away snot & sweat during a workout. It may seem a little “out there” but it’s a practical solution to a problem that we all share. Second photo from the Amazon website.

18) Team Tough Chik sponsor prize pack (x3 – three winners). One of the benefits of being on Team Tough Chik is the backing of our amazing group of sponsors. We aren’t just paying for cool clothes & access to an amazing network of women but also cool prizes and discounts from our sponsors. A few of our sponsors are in this prize pack below: Nuun – 1 full size tube of fruit punch nuun & 1 nuun water bottle, Cliff Bars – 1 Cliff Bar & 1 Cliff Builder bar, BodyGlide – 1 “For Her” product, Reflect Sports H2O swim shampoo sample & a John Wayne Cancer Foundation 30 spf sunscreen sample.

19) ibungee Speed Laces – $6 value (x2 – two winners). Neon Green & Yellow. The ibungee speed lace system claims to be the #1 seller for speed laces. They are great for running, triathlon & the little ones in your family. Installation is easy, just make sure you get them long enough! There are 38” laces so long enough to cut to your specific needs. Two winners here.

20) Adidas Sport Headbands – 5 headbands (black, pink & white) – $9.99 value. I haven’t tried these yet, a friend gave them on to me because she knew that I liked headbands but since I was collecting for this, I just tossed them in the pot. They look cute!!

21) GU prize pack – 14 GU gels, $24 value. GU is undeniably the most popular “on the go” fueling option. We have 11 regular gels: 2 TRI Berry, 3 Strawberry Banana, 1 Mandarin Orange, 2 Espresso Love, & 3 Peanut Butter. Then the prize pack is topped off with 3 of the coveted Roctane Gels in the Chocolate Raspberry flavor. You’re workout will definitely get a boost with these!

Wow! That’s it! If we don’t get any other prizes, then I will draw 26 winners next week on Thursday, June 13th at 9am via a random number generator. This is one instance where you can win more than one prize. Please share this with your friends, blog readers, run club members & anyone who might be interested. The idea behind this is to do the best we can for Ronald McDonald House Charities and in the process help as many families as possible. My personal goal is to raise $5,000 thru this raffle ~~and then not talk about it again~~. Please help spread the word! Each $10 donation (increment) to my fundraising page = 1 entry into the raffle. No donation is too small, now go help me spread the word and GOOD LUCK!

** Raising $$ For the Kids ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

CUTE Summer Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis Support

Posted on May 24, 2013 by tootallfritz

Yes, I know it’s currently FREEZING in Chicago but Mother Nature can’t take away the fact that summer is coming! The warm temps have been playing peekaboo with us for the last month and I have been starting to think about my feet more and more. While most people equate summer with flip flop season ~~unless they are a marathoner who currently doesn’t have many toenails~~ some of us have foot issues that don’t mesh well with the Reef & Roxie movement. Therefore, we need to be more concerned about what we slide into this summer!

I want you to know that just because your feet aren’t perfect, this does NOT mean that you need to settle for something less than stylish for your summer footwear. I went thru this last year with my Plantar Fasciitis while shopping at a “specialty” shoe store. Needless to say, I didn’t care for any of the ~~grandma~~ “retro” styles and the sales lady told me that I was going to have to forget about style and think more about my feet. WRONG! Let get real, life is too damn short to walk around in ugly shoes!

So whether you are running a marathon, sightseeing, or heading the beach, please know that there are shoes available for your feet that fit, help keep your aches & pains in check and LOOK GOOD! A few of my favorite functional & supportive sandals are below. I know, you want to thank me. You’re welcome. And yes, this list is years in the making.

Birkenstocks – Not just for hippies anymore! When I was in college, these things were all the rage but I was less than impressed. However, they have come a long way in the last 15-20 years! My favs are the Gizeh style, which comes in 20+ colors ranging from $89.95 to $120. Before you freak out about those prices, try to remember that you have a foot issue happening and you need to protect your feet. Support and protection costs $$. Sorry, it was hard for me too but I don’t like to be in pain sooooo I ponied up the cash for good sandals. Pool Patent Gizeh’s below for $89.95.

I have an older model (Papillio Gizehs in black/silver) that I’ve worn now for a couple of years. They have held up well, look cute and are my go to when I want something a little “nicer”.

My everyday flip flop & boating shoe is from Merrill, the old Lilac Thong which is available only at discount retailers now. Several color choices, comfortable & they offer stability. I didn’t like the braided piece so I cut mine off. I have these in black & brown ~~cuz I’m just that exciting~~. Currently they retail between $56 & $80. I paid $80 for mine from Merrill last year. The current Merrill sandal styles are out now and available HERE. Much better quality than what you will find in most “flip-flop” styles.

If flip flops aren’t your thing, or maybe you plan to get a little down & dirty in your summertime footwear, Keen offers several nice options. The Venice is a great shoe for multi-terrain wear. It retails at $95 and is good in the water, in the mud or just wearing around town. They have a lot of underfoot support including arch support, and a metatarsal ridge, which offers support UNDER your toes. Plus they come in a lot of cool colors. WINNING! Thanks, Keen!

If you need something with a little more protection or if you plan to hit the trail hard this summer, then Keen knocked it out of the park with this Arroyo II. This hybrid waterproof hiking sandal is the best of best, plus you can add your own insole if orthotics rule your world like they do mine. You won’t find these in a bunch of fancy colors, this shoe is more about function than fashion. However, if you’ve been on the trail as of late you already know that these are way cuter than those clunky hiking boots! The Arroyo II is gonna set you back about $100 but they are heavy duty with big lugs and they come ready made to tear up your local trail.

A few newbies that just found their way to my closet, ~~please don’t tell hubby yet,~~ are the Keen Bali & the Keen Kona Flip. Both are a little more reasonably pricee at $65 & $50 respectively. However, don’t let that lesser price tag fool you, these babies still offer lots of protection to the foot, arch and the plantar fascia. They are adorable and come in a variety of colors, offer good traction for the pool deck, dock or boat. No worries if your little ~~monsters~~ kiddos are dripping water everywhere, you won’t end up getting wet til ~~they send a giant splash your way~~ you’re ready.

I hope this helps and gives you some ideas on alternative summer footwear! Don’t let some ~~nasty bitch~~ sales lady talk you into buying something ugly in the name of foot health! You have options!

If you’ve also been on the search for years to find summertime footwear that’s GOOD for your feet, please let us know about the good ones!

** Keep Your Feet Healthy, Happy & Look Cute Doing It ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Run River City Marathon Relay

Posted on May 20, 2013 by tootallfritz

This year Peoria brought us their first annual Run River City marathon weekend. The fun filled weekend offered a marathon, 4 person marathon relay, 25K, 5K and kids marathon. While I normally don’t like to travel for races ~~because it’s a PITA for my family~~, Peoria is the hometown of my friend & fellow Team Tough Chik teammate Run With Jess, so it was quickly decided that a trip to Peoria was in order.

Almost instantaneously, we decided that our event of choice was the marathon relay. We had one goal: To Have Fun. Since we were looking for fun, plus both Jess and I were already members of a 200+ all ladies team, we started looking to fill the remaining two relay spots with Team Tough Chik members. I mean, the uniform is already in place why not utilize our team members, right? In under 24 hours, Carmen of She Runs Everywhere and Shannon, the “Original” Tough Chik (and creator of the Tough Chik clothing line and Team Tough Chik) were on board for the first ever Team Tough Chik marathon relay. Pre-race photo: Me, Carmen, Jess & Shannon.

We rolled into the River City in waves, grabbed our packets at an outdoor “expo”, which very small, and then quickly checked out the swag. The swag bag included a gender specific new balance shirt, bib and a few advertisements. No worries on my end, we paid $35 each for the relay. I come to run, not go home with a bunch of stuff ~~that I’ll never use~~.

Then a bit of sightseeing! I love a small town where you can walk around and check things out! Riverfront Park & one of the many bridges connecting Peoria to the “real world”.

But really, we came to run and were super excited to get started on Sunday morning. The event kicked off with a super elite field of wheel chair racers at 6:55 am, quickly followed by the marathon, relayers and 25K runners.

Temps were warm and humid at the start with a little cloud cover but the sun quickly burnt off the clouds and took the times all the way up to 89 degrees by the finish.

Leg one kicked off at the start by Katie, who was a last minute sub for Carmen due to injury. The girl smoked those first 6 miles and hauled axx into the first exchange to handoff to me.

I was off for 7 miles of fun. Initially thru the flats of the riverfront area of Peoria, then quickly up and out of town via a monstrous hill on Main Street. Although I’m a notoriously poor uphill runner, I did keep moving. Other runners gave into walking/clawing their way up and then the stronger hill runners passed me up as if I were standing still. Here I am still looking fresh as I get ready to tackle “the hill” and you may also notice that my pink FlipBelt came in super handy once again as I stuffed the blue relay baton thru it to free up my hands!

The 7 miles didn’t exactly fly by ~~as I had expected~~ because the heat soaked to my being quickly around mile 3. I could feel my fingers swelling and my face start tingling. I was finding it super hard to acclimate to the first hot race of the year so I just tried to focus on moving forward and being thankful that I was relaying rather than running the 25K or marathon. I heard lots of complaints while I ran about the lack of mile maker, clocks, bathrooms, and runners wanting the water stops to be more frequent due to the heat. Each water station was placed anywhere from 0.5 to 2 miles apart. They seemed random and it was difficult to anticipate their locations. The website listed them here:

NUTRITION

Water stops will be at miles 2, 4, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 8, 10, 11, 12.5, 14.5, 1.5, 16, 18, 18.5, 20, 21, 22.5, 24.5, 25, 25.75

Honey Stinger gels will be at miles 11 and 21

Gatorade will be at miles 4, 6, 8, 12.5, 16, 18.5, 22.5

I must say that I was super happy to see Shannon awaiting my arrival at the second exchange! I was totally melted by this point and she looked fresh, happy and ready to run her 5.5 miles of hills.

Shannon’s California conditioning was exactly what we needed for the toughest leg of the event. She was used to the weather and the hills and BOOM, smashed her leg. Thanks, Shannon!!! Before we knew it, she was coming in to hand off to Jess who totally rocked the last 7.7 miles all the way back DOWN to the riverfront. Yes, I’m totally jealous of that big downhill she got to run!

Team Tough Chik running to the finish!!

So much fun. Sub 4 hour finish (3 hours 56 minutes). We placed 4th out of the 50 “all women” relay teams and 22nd of out of all 123 relay teams. And in case you were wondering, “This is What Tough Looks Like”:

Great time. I’d definitely do another marathon relay. Thanks to Jess for busting her butt trying to figure out the mangled course directions for driving to the relay exchanges. Thanks to Dave, Jess’ hubby, for helping us on course, doing some of the driving, and taking all of these amazing photos. Thanks to Carmen for being such a good sport, despite her injury, hanging with us during the race and finding us a last minute replacement! Lastly, thanks to Shannon, the “Original” Tough Chik for ~~making us cool running clothes~~ coming all the way from California to run with us. Much love to all of you!

Overall I loved Run River City and recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap, scenic, tough, hilly marathon. Good bang for the buck. And if you’re in it for the bling, well you won’t be disappointed!

**Run River City ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com **

TooTallFritz

Running Toward: Health, Wellness & PEACE …………………………………….. Running From: Insanity, Screaming Children, Housework & a Big Ass

Category Archives: “Run”Way Fashion

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Charity Raffle for RMHC

CUTE Summer Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis Support

Run River City Marathon Relay

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