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

Park Forest Running & Pancake Club – Turtle 10 – 2012

Posted on September 4, 2012 by tootallfritz

Wow, what a difference a year makes. Last year I breezed through the Turtle 10, at a killer ~~for me~~ pace, knocking out those hills at the Hickory Creek Junction like we were old friends. The fact that I had ran a 20 miler just 2 days prior didn’t even enter my mind as I flew on the downs and attacked the ups. This year, I knew would be quite different but I wasn’t about to miss one of my favorite events ~~just because I’m out of run shape~~. Here I am last year heading out of Hickory Creek toward Old Plank as I get ready to tackle the last 4 miles (photo source PFRPC). I remember hitting that clock and seeing 46:xx something for my time and thinking, “This is a good day”.

This year, when I hit the same spot as the above photo, I stepped off the course because I had hit my mileage limit. I was not feeling at all serene or in control. I struggled thru the hills and the heat, I walked quite a bit and it took me 55 minutes this year for the same distance. Not great but I’m still glad that I went.

The Park Forest Running and Pancake Club always delivers a first class event at a very low cost, plus they usually throw in some wacky SWAG and FREE PANCAKES to all the participants. The fee for the non-members was a mere $5 for a 10 mile supported event on one of the most beautiful trails in our area. Participant numbers are normally low for this event. I would guestimate possibly 50 or 60 people this year which works well for this trail since it remains open during the event.

Water and Gatorade stations were located at approximately 3 miles, 6 miles & 8 miles. The bathrooms were located at miles 0, 3 & 6. The volunteers were very helpful, friendly and the certified course was marked well to avoid confusion. There is no chip timing or numbers but they did present awards this year and everyone received a finishers medal.

Overall, this is probably the best bang for your buck on the racing scene. I encourage you to join us next year at the Turtle 10 to brave the hills of Hickory Creek. It may not be easy but it will be worth it. The way this course it set up it is easy to do 6 miles if you are not ready for the full 10. Myself, a couple of my fellow Frankfort New Lenox Running Club members, in addition to a few others showed up to support the PFRPC but opted to step off after 6. This race is very informal. So if you are intimated about the racing scene, this is a good one for you because it feels more like a group run than an actual race and many people treat it as such. Very relaxed atmosphere!

Frankfort New Lenox Running Club – Turtle 10 Runners

Top Left: Jenny G, Lynn, Barb, Kim, Me, Jen L, Kevin, Susan & ~~Speedy~~ Kristin

Bottom: Jill, Jen E & Sam

The next race presented by the Park Forest Running & Pancake Club will be the MidWinter Cruise in Park Forest, IL on January 20, 2013. Another great race by this awesome run club. I’ll see you there. If you would like a sneak peak as to what you can expect, read my 2012 MidWinters Cruise race report HERE.

Side note: One of the Mission AthleteCare giveaway items were not claimed. I let the Random Number Generator draw a new number and Cynde Gillispie (#28)has won a Sun Defeated Continuous Spray SPF 30. Please shoot me an email with your address, Cynde, and I’ll ship out your sunscreen!

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz.com ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Mission AthleteCare Giveaway Winners

Posted on August 14, 2012 by tootallfritz

Winner, Winner, Winner! Did you win? I let the random number generator choose 7 winners for the Mission AthleteCare goodies!

We started with the care package above, gave the EnduraCool Towel & an Anti-Chafe Stick away a couple of weeks ago and are still left with 7 items.

The Random Number Generator picked #23, #5, #49, #44, #47, #17 & #59. I distributed the items according to your preferences in the comment section, in the order you were selected. I hope all of you love the Mission products as much as me and my family!

#23 – Yo Momma Runs – Foot Rehab Cream

#5 – Lynn Starr – Sun Defeated SPF 30

#49 – GingerFoxxx – 5 Hour AntiChafe Stick

#44 – Frogger – Foot Rehab Cream

#47 – Amanda Wesson – Sun Defeated SPF 30

#17 – Melissa Chronicles – Kids Continuous Play SPF 70

#59 – Judy Fishbaugh – 5 Hour AntiChafe Stick

Please email me at amanda@tootallfritz.com with your mailing address and I will mail your goodies immediately! Enjoy!

Don’t forget the 20% discount code expires on August 30th! I know I’ll be using it to get more of that 5 Hour AntiChafe Stick, the Muscle Rehab (which I gave away with my Favorite Training Items Giveaway) and ~~a lot~~ more sunscreen. Go to Mission AthleteCare and enter the code: TooTallFritz20

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Mission Athletecare Giveaway

Posted on August 8, 2012 by tootallfritz

As most of you know by now, I’m a huge fan of Mission AthleteCare! Their motto is to Perform, Protect & Rehab.

Perform – Enhance performance during competition!
Protect – Combat elements before competition!
Rehab – Restore body after competition!

Those are things which I can really get behind, particularly when their products are formulated to not only to work for you NOW but also in the future by being paraben free. If you are not familiar with the paraben issue, my friend Bridgett has broken it down into laymen’s terms HERE and uses ScienceDaily as a reference. If I understand it correctly, many scientists are concerned about parabens causing health issues including breast cancer. More information and ~~scientific~~ detailed reports on the Eves-Best & Livestrong websites. The paraben issue is enough of a concern to make me pay attention to the ingredients in products I buy and be thankful when I come across paraben free items. I’d personally rather be safe now than sorry later.

I have randomly written about Mission AthleteCare products multiple times in the past as I stumble across a new favorite and I have even given way items out of my personal stash for the Favorite Training Items Giveaway. More recently, I talked about the Mission Athletecare EduraCool Towel which Aby and I are still fighting over. You can read that post HERE. I actually read a review on it from another blogger yesterday who didn’t think it was that “cool” but then she also mentioned she lived in a no humidity area. Our towel, that we use in the Midwest, is awesome, stays cool for hours and we find it very refreshing. The fact that it is reusable, washable and big enough ~~to fight over~~ is just a bonus!

I am also in love with the 5 Hour AntiChafe Stick which I am now using exclusively to combat the infamous chub rub. This product is smoother than some of its competitors, goes on very easily, does not crumble and stays on for hours under very ~~nasty~~ hot and sweaty conditions. The sticks is $9.99 and I have 2 for the giveaway! I use it for running, triathlon and keep one in my purse for skirt/short days.

The Foot Rehab Cream is a new product to me. It has a light peppermint scent that I love, tingles slightly upon application and helps the feet repair from those long/frequent training runs. This is also a good product if you are in sandals all day, every day and your feet take a beating. The kids and I love this one and hubby is thankful that it’s not nearly as ~~stinky~~ aromatic as the Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot lotion that ~~he always complains about~~ we used before we received this. The Foot Rehab is $9.99 and I have 2 to giveaway.

We also just recently ventured into the Mission Athletecare Suncare line. We use so much sunscreen that I should buy stock. Skin Cancer runs in my family so we use it liberally, we frequently reapply, then reapply again. We are constantly outside, at the pool or on the lake and go thru as much as a large spray can of sunscreen (or more!) a day. However, I keep buying different brands because I can’t find one that we like. My biggest complaint is that the sunscreen burns our eyes and is greasy and/or sticky. For a family that runs & plays hard, sunscreen burning the eyes is just not an option but I haven’t been able to get around this problem. One of the Mission ads, below, specifically identifies the problems with sunscreens “stinging eyes, clogging pores, leaving hands greasy” but I was still a little skeptical.

We tried both the Kids Continuous Play SPF 70 and the Sun Defeated SPF 30 which both retail for $9.99 per can. The kids loved this stuff and there was no saving it for a “special” occasion because every time they got called in for sunscreen, Aby would demand that I use the Mission because it didn’t burn her eyes. Ummm….Okay. She didn’t know anything about what it should or shouldn’t do but knew that’s the brand she wanted. That’s as good of an endorsement as I can possibly give so after we use up our current stock of randoms, it will be all Mission sunscreen for us. The applicator worked well, didn’t spray too hard and the spray dried immediately without leaving a sticky film. This was a big win for us! I have 2 cans of Sun Defeated SPF 30 and 1 can of the Kids Continuous Play SPF 70 to give away. This totals 7 items available to win!

So let’s get some winners! I will pick 7 winners via a random number generator on Tuesday, August 14th at 9am. In order to be entered in the giveaway, please do one or all of the following then make one comment below to let me know what you did.

“Like” Mission Athletecare on Facebook HERE – 1 entry
Write on Mission’s Facebook wall that TooTallFritz.com sent you for the giveaway – 1 entry
“Follow” Mission Athletecare on Twitter HERE – 1 entry
Tweet, Facebook or blog about the giveaway – 2 entries for each share
Comment below and specify which product you would most like to try (this will help me distribute the goodies!) – 1 entry

In all there is a possibility of 10 entries. Good luck and please share the giveaway to throw some love Mission’s way for being so generous!

If you want to try a few Mission AthleteCare products use the 20% off coupon code: TooTallFritz20 I won’t make any $, you will just save some! Coupon code good thru August 30, 2012.

** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Mission AthleteCare Discount Code

Posted on July 25, 2012 by tootallfritz

I just wanted to let you all know that Mission AthleteCare just sent a 20% discount code which is good thru August 30th! The coupon code is: TooTallFritz20

If you want to purchase any products, feel free to use that code on their website HERE. I don’t make any $$ but you will save 20%.

I’ll be talking more about Mission AthleteCare in the future and giving away more of their awesome, paraben free goodies but for those of you who want/need a few things now, this will save you a little bit.

** Happy Savings ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Mixing Things Up & Giveaway Winner

Posted on July 25, 2012 by tootallfritz

I have just reached the point in rehab where I am able to run a little bit at a time. Yesterday was 2 miles in the dark at a conservative 9:19 pace. A two mile run, although quite an accomplishment, and testament to the effectiveness of my rehab, still does not constitute a full workout. So I’ve been doing a lot of random things to fight the boredom and keep moving. Yesterday included the 2 mile run, then a 30 minute StairMaster session. Today began with a 9.5 mile ride on the trainer and tonight I will do my weekly swim workout. I just try to focus and keep moving while utilizing workout DVDs, various pieces of equipment like the elliptical & StairMaster and I ride my bike both inside and out. While riding on the trainer is not fun, think running on the treadmill ~~mindless and super boring~~, it certainly has it’s benefits. The trainer gives me freedom to ride in the dark, when I’m with the kids and when the weather is less than ideal, like this morning during the thunderstorm! I admit, I feel empowered by the fact that I can ride my bike even when it’s not an option to take it outside.

My bike set up is below. I move the bike on and off the trainer all the time, by myself. So if you are looking for an indoor riding option ~~while the kids are napping, playing or watching a movie~~, there is no need to spend extra money on a spin bike, just purchase a trainer and use the bike you already own. I bought this fluid trainer years ago via an online sale at Performance Bike. I think it was $139 circa 2006. Just an idea to keep things moving even when the weather is bad! And this is way cheaper than a treadmill!

Now, the giveaway winner! Last night around 8pm, I read Aby all of yesterday’s comments on “keeping cool” and let her choose the winner. She had a tough time deciding between two but finally decided that Susan D’s suggestion to freeze her underwear was the best, most creative and funniest suggestion! She and her brother then promptly ran to their rooms for a pair of clean undies to put in the freezer. Thanks, Susan…..I really appreciate your “suggestion”.

Aby’s second choice was Brian P’s idea to hit every ice cream joint on the south side. Aby loves ice cream more than almost anything and she had a very rough time awarding Susan the win when it ousted Brian’s ice cream suggestion. Since Mission AthleteCare has been so generous with the goodie pack:

I decided to award Brian a prize too. Susan D wins the EnduraCool Towel & Brian P wins a 5 hour Anti-Chafe Stick. Please send your mailing addresses to amanda@tootallfritz.com and I’ll get your prizes out ASAP!

The 5 hour Anti-Chafe Stick is one more anti-chafe product in the Mission AthleteCare line. I had previously tried the Anti-Chafe Cream and compared it with Body Glide and was not impressed. The Anti-Chafe Cream works well for bra strap rubbing but did not perform well with the chub rub that I experience in the inner thigh area. It’s an issue for me and I keep Body Glide in my purse and use it constantly when I wear skirts or shorts. So I’m a big Body Glide fan for both life and running/triathlon. When the Anti-Chafe Stick arrived, I assumed that it wouldn’t be able to compete with Body Glide but I was wrong. It actually goes on much smoother than Body Glide and works just as well, if not better. So just in the “application” aspect, I now put the Mission AthleteCare Anti-Chafe Stick ahead of Body Glide. This is big in my world and I’m happy they sent me some to try because I probably wouldn’t have bought any since the cream wasn’t my favorite. Thanks, Mission Athlete! Brian, I hope you like this product as much as I do! Enjoy; I know your feet and body are taking a beating during marathon training in the heat and hopefully this will help prevent blisters on your feet and soothe any other hotspot/chafing areas you get while on the run.

What is your favorite anti-chafe product?

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Middle of the Road….. & Quick Giveaway

Posted on July 24, 2012 by tootallfritz

The great thing about living in the ~~middle of nowhere~~ country is that at 4am, traffic is non-existent and it’s just me and the ~~coyotes~~ open road. Since I am bouncing back from the torn tendon in my foot, I am slightly cautious about footing. This morning, I took the flattest/smoothest section and ran down the middle of the road with my Knuckle Lights shining a bright path in the darkness. Here is the road I ran this morning but in the light, at 5:45 am. Still not “too” busy.I know all of you have been battling the heat and humidity for marathon training while I have been rehabbing my injury. Inside. In an air conditioned, zero humidity environment. Today was my first hot run and let’s just say, I need to adjust quickly. It was 83 degrees at 4:30 am with a feels like temp of 87. It was not only warm but very humid as the rainstorms were still miles away. I only ran 2 miles, at a very relaxed 9:19 pace but it was stifling.

Aby, my soon to be 11 year old, has been running in the heat all summer. She has raced several 5Ks, is running 2x a week at Cross Country Camp and basically suffering thru the miserable heat & humidity just like all of you. She may be young but has figured out a few great ways to stay cool while running.

1) She freezes her water bottles and takes them to Cross Country Camp frozen so that they will still be cold when she needs them. In fact, we just picked up this Nathan Thermal QuickShot Handheld for her at the Sports Authority booth of the Rock N Roll expo. We paid $11 but Running Warehouse looks about the cheapest online for $16.95. ~~I hope she’ll let me borrow this sometime.~~

2) She also found a 180s Quantum Cooling headband ($15 online, $12 expo) that is activated by sweat and/or water to continuously cool her head. It also has a slot for ponytails, which made her squeal with delight.

3) She has also ~~stolen~~ borrowed my new Mission Athletecare EnduraCool Towel. The towel that Mission just sent me last week. The towel that I only have used one time. The towel that stayed cool for hours, even hanging on the chair to dry. The towel that I should have had on my run this morning. The towel that is hidden away in her Cross Country bag. I’m going to get this one back ~~unlike my gps watch which she has commandeered. Is it over-the-top to give a gps watch as a birthday present to an 11 year old?~~

I hope all of you have also figured out a few unconventional ways to keep cool during these sweltering summer runs! In case you haven’t I’m going to do a fast giveaway to get one EnduraCool Towel into somebody’s hands in time for this weekend’s long run. So if you want an EnduraCool Towel, then put on your creative hat! This needs to stay PG because I’m going to let Aby pick the winner at 8pm tonight (winner to be announced tomorrow morning).

Please make a suggestion for Aby (age 11 – 6th grade) of a crazy/funny way to stay cool this summer. Ideas can relate to being “on the run”, cooling off post run, or dealing with the heat in “real life”. In order to respect the laws of creativity, it does not have to be something which is actually feasible or even something which we could implement. We just want to make her giggle. Think/Create an idea & comment below! Good luck!

Info on EnduraCool Towel from Mission’s Website:

Mission’s™ Enduracool™ is made from a proprietary performance fabric that instantly cools when wet with water or sweat, wrung out and snapped in the air to activate the sustained cooling properties. Use during or after competition to provide sustained cooling on your neck, head or other hot zones.

How It Works: A revolution in cooling, this performance fabric absorbs and retains sweat and water, circulating the molecules while regulating the rate of evaporation to ensure an instant cooling effect against the skin for hours, without feeling wet.

Towel Dimensions: 12.25″ x 33″

** Stay Cool ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Favorite Training Items Winner!

Posted on July 3, 2012 by tootallfritz

Without any further ado, the winner of the Favorite Training Items Giveaway is #130:

Lauren7

Congratulations, Lauren! Please email me at amanda@tootallfritz.com and send your mailing address. Your goodies are packed up and ready; as soon as I know where to send them they will be on the way!

Lauren’s favorite item in the giveaway was the AdvoCare Shaker bottle! What was your favorite? I have a list below of where you can find the giveaway items if you want to track them down.

The gel toe protectors are available at Walgreens & CVS in the foot care aisle. You just need to trim them down to fit your toe!

The Mission Athletecare items are available online or at CVS stores (in Illinois, not sure about other states).

The Personal Saver is available along with the Wrist Saver & Cycle Saver online. Use the TTF code and get $1.50 off!

AdvoCare products are available online in my AdvoCare Store or thru any other AdvoCare distributor. I know several other distributors so if you don’t want to go thru me or my store, let me know and I can give you a list of other distributors. If you have any AdvoCare questions, please contact me, I’m happy to help!

Thanks for participating in the giveaway! Stay tuned, there will be another one coming up shortly!

** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Favorite Training Items Giveaway

Posted on June 26, 2012 by tootallfritz

This giveaway is from me to you as a way to say THANK YOU for your continued support. Thank you for “liking” me on Facebook. Thank you for “following” me on Twitter. Thank you for following this blog. If you aren’t a blogger then you may not understand how important it is to actually click on the follow button, or “like” me on Facebook but it is actually really important. Each time I send out a request for a giveaway or a sponsor they come right here to look at my numbers to determine if it is worth their time to be part of this venture. So thanks for helping!

Since June kicks off training for the Chicago Marathon, I thought it would be a good time to concentrate on a few of my favorite go to items for training. Even if you are not a marathoner, you can still benefit from this goodie bag! Promise! Let’s knock this out right now: Yes, this goodie bag contains some AdvoCare products. Yes, I’m an AdvoCare distributor. Yes, I think AdvoCare has the best products for nutrition, energy & recovery. Yes, if you click on one of these links and purchase something, I will profit.

CONTENTS OF GOODIE BAG FOR GIVEAWAY ($75 Value):

Personal Saver Pepper Spray – Safety First, Second & Third…..right?!?! I have several of these. I prefer the Wrist Saverbut also have a Personal Saver like this to attach to my water belt or onto my skirt for immediate access while running. I had a coupon code, not sure if it’s still active but if you purchase one, try the code: TTF for $1.50 off.
Toe Protectors (2 protectors) – I use these for EVERYrun. I loose my toe nails regardless of the type or size of shoe I wear. It’s just my thing and I’ve mentioned it previously. Therefore, I always wear a gel toe protector on my second & third toe (right foot) and then use more if my other toe nails are sore. These REALLY help! You can find them at Walgreens or CVS in the foot care aisle.
AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink (3 packets) – I drink this before every long run. I roll out of bed, drink this first, then go about my routine. This not only helps me wake up but also gets the bodily functions moving BEFORE I hit the trail for my long run. Sugar free, caffeine equivalent of 1 cup of coffee, 21 vitamins, minerals, nutrients. 45 calories. My favorite flavor in the Mango Strawberry!
AdvoCare Rehydrate Drink (3 packets) – I keep these packets in my purse, in my gym bag and Aby carries them in her track/cross country bag. We dump this in a bottle of water for an on the go rehydrate product with a 1:1 ratio of sodium to potassium and only 40 calories. My favorite flavor in the Mango Pineapple(Do you see a mango theme here?)
AdvoCare Rehydrate Gel (3 pouches) – I use these gels during long runs and long bike rides. They are easy to carry and the gel is thinner than some of the leading brands. The lemon flavor actually tastes good and I don’t cringe when it hits my mouth. I must say that after years of using various products for refueling “on the run”, this is my favorite by far. I’m VERY happy with this product! Potassium, sodium & 21 grams carbs wrapped up in 80 calories.
AdvoCare Post Workout Recovery Drink (3 packets) – I use this after every long run, long bike, and some random workouts that leave me zapped. No exception. I never use any other recovery product, ever. This is the product that sold me on AdvoCare. It works. It takes the guess work out of recovery and what you need to eat to repair and recover. I always knew that I needed a 4:1 carb to protein ratio for recovery but I’m not big on counting. I just drink this on my ride home and then eat normal food the rest of the day. I don’t need to worry about refrigerating it, just leave it in my shaker in the car and drink when I finish my run or bike. It takes the thinking out of my recovery.
AdvoCare Shaker/Blender Bottle – I mix everything in this. If you use protein powders or any drink powders then you already know that chunks happen but this breaks up most of the chunks for a smoother drink content. I keep one in my workout bag, one in my desk at work, one at the lake, two at home. I almost always have one.
Mission Athletecare Pomegranate Lip Balm with SPF +15 – This is by far my favorite lip balm for running, biking, workouts, life. It’s the perfect consistency and stays on for a very long time. It comes in lots of flavors but I prefer the pomegranate & mint. It’s also Paraben Free and after reading Bridgett’s Beauty Blog, I’ve learned this a really big deal……although I can’t say I remember why. 🙂 You can buy certain Mission Athletecare items at CVS (in Illinois) but they are usually stuck in a corner somewhere, so you may have to ask where they are located.
Mission Athletecare Max Muscle Rehab– Roll on gel for muscle soreness. Feels good but since the scent vanishes quickly, everyone else doesn’t have to know you trashed your quads on the hills.
Mission Athletecare AntiFriction Cream (2 sample packs) – I have used several Mission products in the anti-friction & anti-chafing line. I like them, particularly for my feet and where my shoes (sandals too!) rub.

I have a ton of favorite products but these are things I use on a regular basis. The total of this Goodie Bag is $75. If you would like to enter the giveaway, please do one or all of the following and make a comment below as to what you have done: Make a comment below as to which of these products you are most excited to try (+1), Follow this blog (+2), Follow TooTallFritz on Facebook (+2), Follow @TooTallFritz on Twitter (+2), Share the giveaway via FB, Twitter, your blog, etc. (+2 for each share).

The giveaway runs from now until 9am CST on July 3rd. One winner will be selected via a random number generator. Good luck and spread the word!

** Happy Winning ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

TooTallFritz

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

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