Winning!

Yesterday, my friend Sara at Words to Run By announced I won her CEP Compression Shorts giveaway!! I was selected randomly by the tool she uses which is even cooler!!! I was so excited I even posted it on FB! Why? Because walking gear is expensive and a free pair of compression shorts (a concept I have not tried yet) is right up my alley. Do you see the word free in there?? I am sure you can understand why I am excited. Did I forget to mention that I NEVER WIN anything?? I'll pick up my new gear at the Saturday MIT workout. Hmmm, how soon should I try them?? I am just pacing on Sunday so I could try them Sunday. Thoughts anyone?

I think this week was made for me! Yesterday, my friend Brian Williams (yes, I am calling him my friend now) did a news story on how good chocolate is for you! I loved that he said "Don't blame me for sudden adult onset acne but........" Did anyone else see this amazing story? I am stocking up! Probably should get an email to my sister with a list of fine Belgium chocolates I need. Hmmm, more Hagel Slag for me! Lisa, if you are reading this, I ate the last of my dark chocolate slags and I think I need more! Chocolate plus workout energy stuff AWESOME! I love the Chocolate Outrage GUs and I am digging the Clif Shots in Chocolate too. They rule! I crave chocolate more than anything else so if it can help with my health.............awesome! I know these reports change all the time but I'll bask in the chocolate goodness for now.

This Labor Day weekend, I'll be pacing the Quarter Marathon for the Emerald City race in Dublin. I am excited to do this race as I was in VA Beach last year so I missed it! We're walking a 16:02 pace so it'll be a nice day. I look forward to having some of my walkers join me! Following the race, there is a free drink at Matt the Miller's Tavern. Woohoo! On Monday, I am doing the Run 4 the Health of It which is a 4 miler in Westerville. Wish me luck - walkers are competitively timed so there's a chance for me to place again!! I am so excited! Look for some race reports next week from me!

Random Thoughts

My heart rate monitor is off. It has to be. I strap it on every time I go to work out and it gives me weird readings for my calorie burn. Today, I walked 7 miles at a 14 minute pace and it says I burned 186 calories. Really? I don't think so. Maybe the underwire in my bra is affecting it or something but I don't know. I've cleaned it, adjusted it and moved it to different spots. My next thought is that we need to change the battery. This is the first season I've actually used a HM while I exercise. I've had them before but couldn't get them to work right with the watch I was using. I am wondering if it is just me. I've been using the 405CX since the spring. Anyone else experience wrong readings? I like to know how many calories I am burning when I work out. I am going to walk a few miles tomorrow without it and see how it does.

Lately I have been struggling with adult acne. I tried Philosophy products and they seemed to work for a while but the last 2 weeks my face has had break out after break out. I ordered the Murad system after seeing a TV infomercial (I know, I know, cheesey) but a friend had also recommended it. The first step is 2 days without any face cleaning. It is funny because I thought my face would get worse without washing it but it didn't. No worse, but no better either. I started the Murad Acne Complex system today and here is my before shot:

They say to take a before shot then another picture after 30 days. My big areas of breakouts have been my chin area and right next to my nose on the right side of my face. Where you see that big zit, there is also a mole. So, blogland, there is my completely naked face. I can already feel a difference today (Steve rolled his eyes when I said that) and I am optimistic. We'll see! I used Aveda for years but it stopped working! Here's to hoping Murad is my new cure! If you believe their website, I should have an improvement in 3 days! I sure hope so because I am tired of looking like I am a 17 year old again! Although I may get carded if I do! :)

Newspaper home delivery - continue or not?

I have been a long time fan of receiving the newspaper at home. The printed word has always held a special interest to me. Opening up the paper in the morning, getting a letter newsprint on your hands - that's what reading the paper is all about.

In this day of email notifications, I was surprised to receive a snail mail letter from our newspaper warning me that my charge didn't go through on my credit card for my monthly subscription. They have my information on their website - why wouldn't they email me or call me? The fact that it was denied does not surprise me because of an issue we had with our Capital One card. That was a fun time. This letter, however, made me start thinking about cancelling our paper. I find that there are days I don't even pick it up to read it anymore. Now with all the Mobile Apps out there, our local newspaper has created a free app! I don't even have to log in as if I am a subscriber. I can read headlines real quick and get an idea of what is going on. I haven't tried to see if there are areas within the app that I'd need to login to get to.

What I like about the Columbus Dispatch home delivery: Sundays, coupons and color comics; Tuesdays, the business section highlights a local restaurant & the local restaurant scene; Thursdays, the Weekender so I don't seem completely clueless about what is going on here in town plus it has a restaurant review or two; and every day I read the comics. Other than that, I know Steve likes the cars section and I think that is Saturday. I remember one Saturday I got mad at him for recycling the paper before I had a chance to read it and then never reading it.

Will I miss these things if I no longer get the delivery of the paper? Maybe but I can always go to the store and pick up a copy. Our recycling bin will have less paper in it and I won't have to drag the plastic sleeves to the store to recycle anymore.

So I ask you, blogland, do you still get your paper delivered to your door? Why would you want to stop? Do you read it cover to cover when you do get it?

GIVEAWAY from Words to Run By

My friend Sara at Words to Run By has a giveaway today for CEP Compression socks! She loved them and you can read her blog about it here. I've never tried Compression socks and I'll be honest, I am not 100% sure what they will do for me but I have tried Compression Shorts and LOVE them! Sara not only has socks to give away, but a pair of their shorts. If I could try anything from their website, it'd be those. I am always looking for ways to feel more sleeker when I am out walking and I know they'd make me faster.

And while you are checking out Sara's page, please go vote for her on the Chocolate Milk's Team Refuel website. You can search for her here by typing in Sara Wyen on the search page. You can vote for her every day until September 15. I know I am!

What's her name?

I went and had the handlebars retaped on my road bike. When I picked her up, I realized for the first time I was giving the bike a gender. I know men do this with cars all the time so I guess why not give the bike a gender?

So I need help! What should I name her? Here is a beauty shot of her: