Moving on ….. The Lansing Marathon

Posted on April 19, 2013 by tootallfritz

As we watch the morning news and see that progress is definitely being made toward apprehending the Boston Bombers, I have no choice but to ~~suck it up~~ move on and refocus on MY running. The Lansing Marathon is this weekend. Sunday. Time to get my head together. Time to run.

What is my goal? To finish. What is my plan? To show up on time. What will I do when it starts to hurt? Cry. What’s my mantra? Don’t hyperventilate. What am I wearing? NOW we have something to talk about!

Along the line of my Blackout for Boston this week, the tragedy, and in respect for the Boston Marathon and it’s amazing history, I’m going all black. Black with a few blue/yellow accents for respect.

Athleta Swagger Skort with Aspaeris Pivot Shorts

Champion Cardio Tank (I didn’t have a black tank!!), Saucony DryLete Arm Warmers (Last Chance sale section) & Zensah Compression Calf Sleeves.

Depending on the weather, I’ll add either running sunglasses or a visor.

Blue/Yellow Accents – DIY decorative scrunchie & messy yellow nails with blue mosaic madness top coat.

Now, I’m ready to run!!! I may not be fast but I ~~probably~~ won’t be last. I may not be smooth but I’ll keep moving. I may not have lost that extra 5 lbs but I’ll be thankful my legs are healthy and able to carry me the 26.2 miles from start to finish. Thankfulness, that’s what will keep me moving. Thankful for the ability to run. Thankful for the desire to run. Thankful for my family members who are safe and healthy. Thankful for friends I’ve made along the way. Thankful to live in a place where most of the time, we live safely, free from the intrusion of crazies who want to destroy our spirit. Thankful. That’s what will propel me thru this 26.2 miles of ~~hell~~ fun in Lansing, Michigan.

If you see me, please say hello. I’d love to meet YOU!!

** Moving On & Ready to Run ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Be a Badass NOT a Victim …..

Posted on April 2, 2013 by tootallfritz

You know me, or maybe people like me who walk around in shirts proclaiming “toughness”. We may not verbally tell you that we are tough or that we are a badass but our shirts, tights, or maybe even our socks will give you a clue.

Photos above: Kari – Running Ricig in the Relax Reflect Badass Tights, me in the 2012 Team Tough Chik TRI kit, & the Sock It to Me Badass socks.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. We don’t really consider ourselves to be “that” tough. We are projecting. We want you to believe that we are tough, even if we don’t necessarily feel it inside. Fake it til you make it, right?

Perception is everything. How others see us has a lot to do with how we carry ourselves. What we say. When we say it. And what we DON’T say will speak volumes. In today’s society, there is no place for weak women. The weak become prey. There are ~~assholes~~ predators lurking in the bushes, on our local trails, in our supermarket parking lots, everywhere really. Don’t be scared but think for a minute about what you want to NON-VERBALLY convey to them? What do you want them to think when they see you?

Be confident. Be a badass.

Bad things happen to good people. It’s not fair. It sucks. Some things are really beyond our control but how we react to a situation can possibly change the outcome.

Be smart. Be tough. Be confident. Be a badass …. even when you don’t feel like one.

I hope that when you see me in my “This is What Tough Looks Like” shirt, you think to yourself, “Hmmm, she’s not so tough; I just saw her crying on the trail during her 20 miler last week! I’m tougher than her!” I hope that makes YOU feel stronger. I hope that makes YOU feel like a badass. I hope that gives YOU a confidence boost. You are definitely tougher than me. You are definitely a badass. Live it. Own it. Project it.

Be confident. Be a badass.

So as your walking around today, I want you to focus on being confident. I want you to look people in the eyes when you pass them. I want you to say hello to perfect strangers. I want you to look tough and feel like a badass walking thru your everyday life. This is important, you need to project a confident air, even when you don’t feel it. So pay attention to yourself because you never know when someone else is watching you and trying to decide 1) if you are paying attention to your surroundings and 2) if you are badass or a victim. If can’t do it for yourself, do it for your daughters because those little eyes are watching EVERYTHING you do, learning your mannerisms, your strengths, your weaknesses, they are learning how to BE from watching you.

Be confident. Be a badass.

Badass Mother Runner shirt

In light of the recent attack of one of my run club members on Old Plank Trail in New Lenox, I want to revisit some previously written safety posts. Please take a moment to open the links below and go over the runner safety tips. If you have written a safety post in the past, please link it up in the comments below. Thank you and please be safe.

Six Degrees of Separation …… Virtual Run For Sherry Arnold – February 12, 2012

Safety 1st, 2nd & 3rd – April 19, 2012

** Be a Badass NOT a Victim ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Flip Belt Review & Giveaway…..

Posted on March 20, 2013 by tootallfritz

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I have been seeing a lot of hoopla on the Flip Belt. I was intrigued. However, I have two “fitness” belts already and I don’t love either one of them. I was, therefore, reluctant to purchase another for fear of it being just “ok”. I got lucky and Flip Belt agreed to send me one to try even though I’ll never be as buff or naked as their amazing models below:

They have lots of great colors and I couldn’t decided which one I wanted so I ultimately picked yellow since it looked so good in their ad. Yep, I LOVE a good marketing campaign and definitely missed my calling. I’ll have what she’s having. Just give me what the model is wearing. Yes, PLEASE take the exact outfit off the mannequin at the store cuz that’s what I want too. Smile

If you are feeling a bit more decisive than me, here are the color choices below, plus they have a few limited edition colors on the sidebar of the Flip Belt webpage.

I don’t think I had this thing more than a day and I busted it out of the package. I was really excited to try it. My current belt has one stretchy zip pocket. It has worked well enough because my giant phone (a droid) fits into it; however, I can’t put anything else it in and well during marathon training, I need to carry a lot more than just my phone.

So as I prepared for the first outing with the Flip Belt, in the pouring rain, I loaded it with my car key, an energy gel, my phone and an iPod. At the last minute, I opted to leave the iPod in the car since it was raining cats and dogs and I usually don’t use an iPod while I run anyhow. I was also thanking my lucky stars that during the ordering process, I elected to add a free waterproof phone bag to my order. So I slid my phone into that bag (a plastic bag with a ziplock) and I was ready to run. At least as ready to run as anyone who has 15 miles to put in during a downpour. We did get a brief period when the rain stopped (for about 2 seconds) so I threw off my hat and had Susan snap a photo of me wearing the Flip Belt. Thanks, Susan!!

The belt is a continuous loop which you step into (or pull over your head) and has multiple openings to slide items into the loop. The openings are a bit stretchy so that you can fit a gigantic phone inside, plus lots of other goodies. The entire circumference of the belt serves as a giant holding cell so you can stuff a lot into it, if necessary. The concept of the “flip belt” is that you can flip it into you and seal the openings with your body if you are concerned about something slipping out. I can’t see that happening since the belt is stretchy and snug but if you have that fear, just flip it inward and keep your belongings safe!

I put the belt on, ran and forgot about it. Then I remembered I had it on only because one of the other runners managed to spy it under my jacket saying, “Is that one of those flip belts?”. I was like, oh yeah! At that point, we had ran a good 12 miles and I hadn’t thought about it once. That means, it didn’t bounce. It didn’t slide. It didn’t do anything that bothered me. In my opinion, that is what makes good technical gear, something that benefits me but doesn’t bother me. Something I wear and forget about. I was sold at that very instant. I was excited and sent out a tweet as soon as I got home!

Instagram & Tweet from 3/10/13

Since that day, I’ve worn the flip belt on every outdoor run, including last Saturday’s 20 miler. I slide it on and forget about it. LOVE THAT!! I am also looking forward to using it in races so that I have my phone on me when I need it rather than having to leave it behind in gear check.

If you want to try the flip belt, they have offered one lucky reader their choice of any size/color Flip Belt ($24.99 value). In order to be eligible to win, please comment below and tell me what kind of fitness belt you currently use and more importantly, do you like it? You can then get one bonus entry for liking Flip Belt on Facebook HERE and leaving a separate comment stating that you did so, including your FB name for verification purposes. And you can get a third entry by following them on Twitter HERE.

One winner will be drawn via a random number generator on Monday, March 25th at 9am. Good luck!

** I Red heart the Flip Belt ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Better Late Than Never…..

Posted on March 12, 2013 by tootallfritz

There are a lot of things that I would LOVE to do with the local running community but the events that I attend are few and far between due to our family/work schedule. Last night, however, was the Running For Kicks St Patrick’s Day Fun Run and hubby managed Mr. Michael, plus the chauffeuring so that I could go enjoy the festivities. And of course, I was late, so missed the group photo and the beginning of the run. All photos stolen from courtesy of Gail.

On a normal, or even slightly chaotic day I would have had plenty of time to get to the event. However, I neglected to anticipate that a gentleman in the parking garage would jam up the pay machine, or that the new valet would not be able to “find” my car. So I spent an extra 20 minutes in the parking garage but still had plenty of time. Then I hit the expressway for the short trip from Chicago to Palos and traffic was at a standstill. Rain. Accidents. It took an hour to travel from 22nd street to 95th street. Not normal. Not enough time. Now, I’m late. I really dislike being late but really, this wasn’t the end of the world. I was just thankful that I wasn’t rushing to get Aby or Michael and that they were covered.

I had plenty of time while sitting in traffic to think about if I should actually go to the event late or just keep on crawling toward home. I decided to go. I know a lot of runners that run at RFK on Monday nights and I hadn’t seen them in a while. I had old shoes in the car to donate to the store for their charity. Hubby had rearranged his schedule so that I could go. And most importantly, I had dusted off my green Team Sparkle skirt & Pro Compression St Patrick’s Day socks, just for the occasion. So I went with the “better late than never” attitude. My solo pic before heading out to find the group:

I was glad that I went. Even though I was late and the group had already started, I headed over to the route they normally run and just started running. I found a few people, socialized a bit, made a few random loops and managed to get in 4.5 miles of hills. Win!

It’s not every day you can run around in a sparkle skirt, so given the chance, TAKE IT! And just maybe, you’ll spot a few other crazies sparkly friends too!

I love these fun events and am thankful to RFK for doing things like this so we can dress up and be crazy without actually putting out $$ on a race. Good times!

(40% off all Pro Compression Shamrock socks & calf sleeves with discount code: SOM3)

** Happy SPARKLY Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Pro Compression Trainer Low Socks Winner

Posted on March 5, 2013 by tootallfritz

I’m still wearing the awesome Pro Compression Trainer Low socks and am happy to be able to share them with someone else! Over the last couple of weeks, since I first tried the Trainer Low socks, I’ve accumulated quite a few. I now have 4 pair of the white, 4 pair of the purple and 2 pair of the pink. Today, I am sporting the pink trainer low’s while I live life, work, sit at my desk and commute back and forth to the city. At least my feet are happy, even if it’s snowing AGAIN.

I was asked by several people in last week’s comments about these socks. They are slightly thicker than the Pro Compression Marathon (tall) socks. The foot bed, particularly the grey area, has a bit of padding that makes them softer. They have a cushioned feel that my Marathon socks do not possess. In fact, when I put the Marathon socks on with my trainers, I need to adjust the laces because they are thinner than my normal running sock. However, I don’t have to make adjustments when I wear the Trainer Low socks. Although they do not feel thick, they are thicker than the Marathon socks. This is good in my world but I wanted to point it out for those of you who asked since I know we all have different preferences.

NOW …… The winner of a free pack of Pro Compression Trainer Low socks is #69, SeeMommyRace!

Congrats, Melanie! Please email me at amanda@tootallfritz.com with your color/size preference and your mailing address. You can reference the size chart below to get the proper fit.

The rest of us can use the $5 off & free shipping discount code to purchase ~~more of~~ the Trainer Low socks. The $5 discount brings each 2 pack of the Trainer Low’s to $20. The code is: TTF Shop HERE.

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Cruel Jokes….

Posted on February 26, 2013 by tootallfritz

So maybe the joke’s on me but there are a few things that just aren’t quite right. I was just starting to nail this training plan and as soon as I started to gain a little confidence, life started throwing some curve balls …. Initially kiddos were sick & needed doc visits, dogs need(ed) vet visits for random reasons, other people got sick, cars (all 3) breakdown, evening obligations. So a few scheduled days off turn into a week of no running. No big deal, right? Wrong. Things still aren’t straightened out and “normal” appears to be far off.

One of the few saving graces has been the treadmill. It has given me the freedom to squeeze in miles when they would otherwise be lost. Like at 4am on SAT before a roadtrip. I didn’t make all of the planned 18 miles before our departure but I managed 14. Better than nothing.

Today, I even hit the gym at lunch to try to squeeze in a few miles. I took my iPad in order to link up to Netflix since that seems to be the only way I can tolerate the dreadmill. Newsflash, the iPad wouldn’t link up in the middle of our high-rise office building. Not funny.

Fortunately, the dreadmills in our gym have TVs attached so I was able to hang on for a whole 3 miles. And when I say, “hang on” I seriously mean “hang on”. They rearranged the gym since my last visit. The floor of that office suite for some ~~stupid~~ reason isn’t level. There is a carpeted ramp up to the main section where the cardio machines reside. The floor of the main section is also slanted to some degree which was barely noticeable …… until today. The new location of the treadmills must be on a slope. I began running at 1% incline, which should have been imperceptible; however, I felt like I was going to fall off the back. I was running slow and it wasn’t the feeling of “oh crap, this thing is going to throw me off” but it was a feeling like I was going UP a hill and going to fall backward. So I backed it down to 0.5% and then 0.0% and just “hung on” for 30 minutes (3.25 miles). Not funny.

Unfortunately, the recent travels, additional stress load and my lack of motivation to control my food intake has resulted in a few extra #s. That’s a few extra on top of those I had already gained from being injured this summer. It seems that if I’m not running, or even if I am running and just eat whatever I want, I gain weight. Shocker, huh? Yep. But it’s still not funny. So if you were thinking of a moonshine and chocolate “diet” and don’t expect to gain weight, I hate to break it to you but you won’t be laughing either. So not funny.

Oh yeah, and I haven’t been drinking much of this lately.

Not smart. Not funny.

So I’ve pretty much moved my plan for the Lansing Marathon to “finish it” mode. I need to worry not so much about the training and focus on losing those 8 lbs which I am currently carrying. For me to lose weight, I need to hit double workouts and keep the ~~crap~~ bad stuff out of my mouth. Easier said that done. My legs will be trashed. My attitude will be ~~bitchy~~ poor. But I will show up to the startline at 162 or 163 lbs. Not funny but it’s a fact. I refuse to carry an extra 7 or 8 lbs thru 26.2 miles. Don’t worry, I’m not giving up my training, just revising it to add in a few extra things.

On a positive note, in terms of “Run”way Fashion, I scored a few deals from Saucony this week. They are having a super secret sale HERE. I purchased the Ignite Shimmel tank ($22) and am IN LOVE. I went back and got a different color in my size today. It has a shelf bra, thin material, hugs the body but isn’t tight and also has a small zip pocket in the back.

They also have arm warmers for $10 (hyper lime) or $22 (black compression). This is one of brand of arm warmers that never chafes my underarm flab. I usually buy them off the Last Chance section and pay around $15 for them. Thin. Like second skin. No chafing.

And in other marathon news, I’m in a total panic about my shoes. Saucony changed things up in the toe box with the Guide 6’s and the new version isn’t working for me when I go long. They are light weight and super cute but that doesn’t matter ~~when you don’t have toenails~~ if they don’t feel perfect. I like them for shorter runs but not anything over a 10K. So I’ve tried a couple Brooks Running shoes. The Ravenna 3’s and Adrenaline 13s felt good initially and on short runs but are making my pinky toe sore/blistered with longer miles. Apparently I have a weird foot cuz I’ve heard nothing but great things on all of these shoes. 😦

Guide 6 Ravenna 3 Adrenaline 13

So back to basics. I had six pair of the Guide 5s and never blinked an eye. So I found a pair of 5s on clearance at Road Runner Sports. These babies will be here soon. I expect this to be my spring marathon shoe. Crossing fingers!!

None of this is funny but it’s certainly not the end of the world. I will keep pushing. I will finish the Lansing Marathon. However, I’ll definitely be missing a few toenails on my right foot before I even hit the start. 🙂

** When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Snow, Snow & More Snow….

Posted on February 4, 2013 by tootallfritz

We knew going into the weekend that there was a possibility of snow and I think we were all ramping up mentally to get our miles in regardless of the weather. For me, I ended up with another split run with 9 miles inside on the treadmill and 9 miles outside in the snow. Due to the family’s current schedule, this will probably be how the majority of my long runs will occur as I train for the Lansing Marathon. It’s different but not necessarily bad. My main complaint not that I have any REAL reason to complain is that it takes so much more time. Normally while marathon training, I would be on the trail by 4:30 or 5 am and even a 20 miler would be over before Mick and Aby most people even have breakfast. Now it seems like it sucks up the majority of the day b/c I’m not just knocking the miles out but also doing other things during and between the indoor/outdoor sessions. Its okay, just different.

Treadmill “Run”Way Fashion – Tough Chik Toughie Half Zip which is super light and my new favorite shirt for bumming around the house. It didn’t even make it on the treadmill cuz I didn’t want to get it “dirty”. I actually ran in the Blood, Sweat, Sparkle shirt I picked up on sale from Team Sparkle. I didn’t love this tank. It was a “little” short on me and it didn’t fully cover my bra, plus was just too narrow up top for me. I think it’s going to Aby’s closet. Then the BIG thing, I tried the Redemption Shorts from Skirt Sports. I have been wanting at least one pair of shorts, particularly now that I’m running on the treadmill more. I don’t always feel like wearing compression shorts and I don’t necessarily want to overdress wear a skirt in my dining room “gym” so when I saw that Skirt Sports dropped a line of shorts, I jumped on board to try them out.

First, that’s obviously not my bum (below). I wasn’t that cute and shapely before children and well, things haven’t “improved” since. But I did like how the shorts fit on me (size medium – I wear an 8-10 in pants) and I was even satisfied with how they looked. When I initially got them, I ran around the dining room & kitchen (yes, we make laps thru the house on a frequent basis) and I was like “NO way”. I didn’t think they would work out. They rode up between my thighs. They were shorts, they “felt” like shorts and well, I don’t like shorts. However, I gave them a run on the treadmill. A decent run, 9 miles. And I didn’t hate them.

Once I warmed up, they stayed in place pretty well. I did still have to use the Mission Athletecare Anti-Chafe but overall, they were okay. I really liked how the spankies didn’t move. I didn’t have to adjust them. I just felt good with the way they “sat”. I did have to adjust the legs of the shorts a few times due the chub rub issue but overall, it was minimal and I didn’t have any real chafing. A little redness on the chub but not the normal “burn” that I remember from shorts. So I now own 2 pair of shorts, the multicolored ones I wore above, and the blue pair that the Skirts Sports model is so fabulously showing off. Not sure you’ll see me wearing them on the trail but maybe once I get used to them a bit. If you are a skirt wearer and hesitant to give them a try, my advice would be to try them. One pair. They aren’t cheap at $50 but I do think they are a good quality and the material is light and airy and won’t result in your having a wad of material squished up above the chub. I’m not sure you will love them but I also don’t think you will hate them. I personally won’t convert FROM the skirt but I like my options and these are super cute, which adds bonus points in my world.

The 9 miles on the treadmill in my Redemption Shorts were accompanied by the documentary, “My Run”. I ran for an hour and twenty five minutes at 6.4 mph (9:22) pace. It was a long time on the treadmill but the movie was a difference maker. If you have to run on the dreadmill and have the option of plugging into a Netflix ready device, it will change the game for you. I promise. The dreadmill and I are not friends. We are however, slowly learning to tolerate one another.

I was very anxious to take the last 9 miles outside, even though by the time I got out there it was blowing and snowing pretty good. The actual temp was 18 and the “feels like” temp was 5. It was cold. I struggled thru the snow. I struggled with the cold. My feet hurt. I was slower than slow. I contemplated going back home to the dreadmill. But I really loved the views.

Then Sunday was for fun. I got to go run with friends, as a light snow was falling. It totally made my day. 4.5 miles of running bliss.

Me, Susan & Nicole on the trail!

How were your weekend miles? Did you get out to play in the snow or stay in on the treadmill?

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

15 Miles …. in the Snow

Posted on January 28, 2013 by tootallfritz

Week 13 of Lansing Marathon training closed out with a 15 miler. Actually, if we are going to be honest, it should have been 17 miles but I knew I was by no means ready for that so I improvised! As with all things in life, sometimes its more important to ~~cover your ass~~ improvise than it is to actually follow directions. The last three weeks have been slow due to Ragnar recovery, the flu and my bum foot. 15 miles was plenty.

As it is, my weekends tend to bear the brunt of any training and life schedule so by the time the weekend hits, I’m trying to make up for whatever I couldn’t fit into the normal work week. This week was no different, Friday night I hit the treadmill for a short speedier run, then did some core/strengthening work that the doc ordered. I was also trying to break in a new pair of Brooks Ravenna 3s that showed up on my door step last week.

Then Saturday was long run day; however, hubby had to work in the morning so the run was broken up into 3 segments. 5 miles on the treadmill ~~while screaming at the kiddos~~ at the designated training pace (9:15ish). Then hubby arrived home, I dried off and changed clothes to immediately head outside. I had 5 miles on deck with a buddy, we were close to my training pace of 9:15 but I was starting to die out cuz I apparently wasn’t fueled properly so lagged the last mile. I returned to my car to refuel only to realize I didn’t have any of my normal fuel, the AdvoCare Rehydrate Gel. I dug into my bag of tricks to find an alternate fueling option, then took off on my own for the last 5. By this time, I pretty much felt like crap. The 5 on the treadmill felt okay but I could tell I was dragging a little cuz it certainly wasn’t as easy as last week, the middle 5 felt tough on the snow covered path. Not a lot of snow but enough to screw up my already damaged foot strike.

And well, let’s just not talk about the last 5 or the fact that the alternate fueling option caused digestive distress which resulted in my having to abandon the trail in search for a bathroom. By the time I returned to my car, everything hurt including my pride. However, nothing could take away the fact that I still covered 15 miles, in the dead of winter, when I would have rather been huddled on the couch ~~drinking beer~~ cuddling my babies.

So it may not have been a marathon training win but it was still in the done column.

“Run”Way Fashion for a snowy day with temps in the low 20s: Athleta Reflective Relay Tights (in Tall), Under Armour Mock compression base layer, Brooks Infiniti Hybrid Windshirt (on sale for $62), regular socks with Brooks Ravenna 3s, lightweight Manzella Sprint Gloves & Athleta Base Miles headband.

As the temps decrease and the wind picks up, then I add more layers (pants over tights and tech shirts over base layer, possibly tall compression socks, hat in addition to headband) but this type of gear will get your thru most cold winter runs. Winter isn’t the time to skimp on good gear. You don’t need a lot, just a few key pieces, then wash them by hand & hang to dry for tomorrow!

Happy running, regardless of the mileage, don’t be afraid to get out and hit the trail even when the conditions aren’t perfect. Just take it easy so you don’t slip and if its icy instead of snowy, hit the streets or stay inside. Don’t mess with the ice or you’ll regret it ~~for months~~.

** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Ragnar FL Keys …… In Photos

Posted on January 16, 2013 by tootallfritz

2013 Ragnar – Florida Keys – Part III – END

This will be my last Ragnar FL Keys post. I stalled a bit, waiting for everyone to upload their photos, plus work & life, then the stomach flu. Good times. But the last things I wanted to leave with you about Ragnar were some of the images. The good times, tough times, and the beauty all wrapped up on one final post

The Course Map – Miami, FL to the southernmost tip of the US, Keywest, FL

The Start:

So much of the race was cloaked in darkeness and pics were difficult. Or if we did get pics, the photo just shows reflective gear.

The times we weren’t cloaked in darkness, we were riding or waiting in the van. Oh wait, it’s still dark in this one too! Teammate and fellow Team Tough Chik member, Toni & myself.

But there were stolen moments of peace and tranquility just steps away.

New “In Real Life” friendships forged with fellow Team Tough Chik members that are spread throughout the US and world. Photo on the right has 4 Tough Chiks: Myself in my team gear, Kristi (in green), Kim (bottom in yellow) and Toni (in grey).

Lots of bridges, water & palms swaying in the gentle breeze.

One shot of me running in the daylight. Please notice my red Aspaeris Pivot Shorts peaking out from my skirt.

Ragnar Keys_ me hand off

And finally, the finish. By the beach. 200 miles ran. Whatever pace we could manage. Done.

My girl Angela & I at the finish. She’s the reason I went all the way to FL for this adventure. Love you, Ang!

Thanks to our amazing sponsors!

Aspaeris Pivot Shorts – I heard a million times that the team didn’t think they could have done it without you. Almost everyone acknowledge that you held us together when we didn’t have a lot left in the tank. We ran hard, ran extra miles, gave everything we had and you held us together. Thank you!

ShowerPill – What to say? I have never been so gross and nasty for such a long period in my entire life. After each run, I used a ShowerPill wipe immediately upon finishing to try to wipe away some of the nastiness. Each time, I was happy and soooooo very thankful that you came on board with us. I’ll spare you the nasty photos of the wipes in use cuz they are really nasty but leave you with the knowledge that everyone on the team was thankful for your product! Dear readers, I leave you with a not so subliminal notion that you probably want to go get some of these, right now. Shop HERE:

Family Fan Club – I’m a major fan! They totally hooked us up with shirts and window decals. They made our job so much easier because we only needed to add a few things to our windows and we were ready to run. Lots of vans had fancy art work, etc. that was all washed off during a down pour. Not us. Our decals never moved. They were super easy to apply and then they peeled off easy & clean! Plus my favorite part is that they didn’t obstruct our vision from inside the van. Win, Win!!!

This is the end of my Ragnar FL Keys “saga”. It was an amazing journey with an amazing team!

I look forward to hearing YOUR Ragnar stories in the future.

** Happy Relay Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Run YOUR Way….

Posted on December 27, 2012 by tootallfritz

I leave for Ragnar FL Keys in 7 days!!! One of our sponsors, Family Fan Club has created way more than 7 things for me in the last year.

I first became familiar with them thru their sponsorship of our Ragnar Chicago ultra team, You Just Got Chicked. My teammate & friend, Run with Jess designed a kickaxx shirt and Family Fan Club did everything else.

Shirts:

Chick 3

Headbands

Decals for our van. Shirts for a friend’s Ragnar Chicago Team. The experience was so good, I decided to let them do a quote for our running club. We wanted something that would “pop”, make us recognizable since we were new but growing at an ~~alarming~~ fast rate. We wanted to create a brand that everyone would identify as our running club. So we stuck with the gold because ~~you can see it a mile away~~ it pops. The FNRC brand was born with the help of Jeni H’s awesome designs skills and Family Fan Club chasing down anything and everything GOLD, which is really not an easy task.

Shirts (long sleeve, sleeveless, short sleeve, gender specific, hoodies):

Hats & Visors:

Christmas Ornaments:

iPhone Case:

I can only hope that the FNRC did Family Fan Club proud this year. We wore our colors and FNRC gear everywhere and collected a “few” awards too.

I also utilized them for shirts a few friends wanted made with the “Go Live” theme. It reminds me of the “go big or go home” slogan. Go Live …. if you are going to show up, then be ready to play, run or do WHATEVER at your best.

And last but not least, Family Fan Club is hooking up my newest Ragnar team with shirts, designed by the fabulous Jeni H and decals for our Ragnar vans.

If you want to run YOUR way, whatever way that is, in whatever design you can create, then call Family Fan Club and they can hook you up. This is definitely a “you dream it” …… they can make it type company. Prices are good too. Reasonable and they will work with large groups to get you the best price available. I’m a big “fan” of Family Fan Club!

Thanks for all the support this year, Family Fan Club!

** Run YOUR Way** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

TooTallFritz

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

Category Archives: “Run”Way Fashion

Moving on ….. The Lansing Marathon

Be a Badass NOT a Victim …..

Flip Belt Review & Giveaway…..

Better Late Than Never…..

Pro Compression Trainer Low Socks Winner

Cruel Jokes….

Snow, Snow & More Snow….

15 Miles …. in the Snow

Ragnar FL Keys …… In Photos

Run YOUR Way….

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