Win New nuun Performance

nuun has teamed up with Roll Recovery to bring you everything you need to keep chasing life’s next personal best. You could win 2 pouches of nuun performance and 2 roll recovery r3! Here’s how to win:

1. follow @rollrecovery & @nuunhydration on instagram.
2. like the giveaway post(s).
3. tag the buddy you’d share your winnings with in the comments.
giveaway ends friday, may 12th, 2017 11:59 pm est. good luck!

FREE Smoothie on National Flip-Flop Day 6/16

National Flip Flop Day® is Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s own holiday, every third Friday in June, when they celebrate their customers and kick-off fundraising for Camp Sunshine of Casco, Maine. All customers wearing flip flops will receive a FREE Sunshine Smoothie in the NEW limited edition 16 oz. 20th-anniversary souvenir cup from 2pm-7pm.

Locations

There are nine Oklahoma locations so it’s easy to find a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near you.

Mark your calendars for Friday, June 16th and stop by any Tropical Smoothie Café from 2PM-7PM wearing your flip-flops to score a FREE Sunshine Smoothie! YUM!

Donations Accepted

Tropical Smoothie Cafe will also be accepting donations for Camp Sunshine, a place where children with life-threatening illnesses and their families are invited to make magical memories together, surrounded by professionals dedicated to giving them the emotional and medical support they need.

Keep Racing In May

This weekend is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Many people new to running use this event as a motivator to run their first half marathon, full marathon, or even 5k race. Or even many spectators see the Memorial Marathon and are encouraged to try running for the first time. My hope is that many people will be encouraged to KEEP running. There are many fun events happening around the state next month. Check out some of these races and I encourage you to continue running!

Hungry for a Half Marathon

If the OKC Memorial wasn’t enough for you and you need to run another long distance race, check out the Flowco Half Marathon Saturday, May 6, 2017. This is the ONLY Half Marathon in Bartlesville! Beginning and ending in Johnstone Park, the race will head west along a USATF Certified Half Marathon course with electronic timing by Tatur. This race has really reasonable registration costs and proceeds benefit FLOWCo, a FREE Community Fitness Walk/Run Program open to those in our community ages 12 and up.

Family Friendly Event

If you have young children in your life or just prefer a smaller more quaint arts festival, check out the Norman May Fair. It is hosted at Norman’s historic Andrews Park and will showcase original Craft Work along with family activities, children’s art activities, food trucks and vendors, live entertainment. But of course the most important is a 5k road race on Saturday, May 2017. It’s a great way to run a fun race through Norman and enjoy family activities afterward.

Unique Distance

If you’re tired of always running a 5K race and want to challenge yourself with a new distance, check out Race for Hope 12k/5k in Oklahoma City on Saturday, May 6, 2017. 12k is about 7.5 miles and definitely not a common race distance. Race for Hope is an annual race that raises funds for the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation benefiting children & adults in Oklahoma battling brain tumors.

Relay Racing Fun

Welcome to the re-birth of a nostalgic and history filled event. The Okie Relays was originally launched in 1968. Held annually on the 3rd Saturday in May, it was billed as “the world’s longest four-man relay”. Run on highway 95 starting in Elkhart, KS and ending in Texhoma, TX each team member ran a 10.3 mile leg of the 41.2 mile race. In later years an ultra category was added for those wanting to take on the whole distance to claim the fame of running in three states and across the entire state of Oklahoma. The event has been resurrected and you can gather a team or take on the whole enchilada yourself May 20th, 2017.

Oiselle Née Day Anniversary Sale

What is a Née Day? Well it’s French for happy birthday to Oiselle… and you!

Oiselle is turning ten, and to celebrate, their best styles are on sale. Plus – they are offering up party favors. Get $20 off an order in May, and their Flight Manual in every purchase. Don’t miss this anniversary opportunity – this #Flystyle will fly!

 

Here are a few of my favorite items that are included in this sale.

Muscle Long Sleeve Top

(Originally $76 Now $48)

The material is so smooth, but those shoulder cut outs are to die for!

 

Flyout Short Sleeve

(Originally $58 Now $42)

I’m head over heals for the Flyout material. The flyout material hovers over the body and its power is in complementing your body’s natural cooling process, by moving sweat to the surface where it evaporates away from your skin.

 

 Roga Running Skirt

(Originally $52 Now $38)
The one and only Roga Skirt is back and this time with hidden compression shorts. The result: even more coverage than the original. My Roga Skirt doubles as a running skirt and golf skirt. It’s got great, stretchy fabric and lots of coverage. I never thought I’d like running in a skirt but the Roga Skirt proved me wrong.

 

5 Ways to Deal with a Running Injury

An injury can be a real kick in the pants. Not only can they be painful but they can derail your training and racing plans as well as blow up your current fitness level. I’ve been struggling with an injury for nine months. I finally broke down and went to the doctor to find out that I, in fact, have hamstring tendonitis and a stress fracture in my hip. I have a prescribed 12-week journey with physical therapy. That means, hopefully, by August I’ll be running again… Pain-free… in the summer heat and humidity. I’ve never been more excited for sweaty, vomit inducing runs in all my life.

As I come to terms with this injury, I created a list of ways to help me maintain my sanity. Here are five ways to cope with a running injury.

Pity Party

Allow yourself a moment to grieve and be down in the dumps, but only for a specified period of time. Today I am actually participating in my own pity party and it’s going to be grand. I have fast food, ice cream, sweat pants, and tears on the agenda. Oh, it’s my party so I can most certainly cry if I want to. But here’s the caveat to the pity party. It does have a predetermined end time. I have allowed myself only one day to wallow in the despair of my unfortunate circumstances. Tomorrow I have to put on my big girl panties and get down to the business of making the best of this injury.

via GIPHY

Sleep In

You may be on a workout restriction or you may have a reduced workout plan Whatever the reason allow yourself to get a bit more rest as your body recovers. I may have gone a little too far on this one and have turned off all of my alarms. I better look like Cindy Crawford with all the beauty rest I’ve been getting.

Netflix and Chill

Since there’s no need to wake up early, staying up late to binge watch Netflix is totally okay. I may not be running a marathon, but I sure am killing the  Netflix marathon that has consisted of Girl Boss, Dave Chappelle, and re-watching The Office.

Find a Project

Throw yourself into a project. I hear many runners, myself included, say that they have a lot of pent up energy since they are injured and can’t run. Channel that extra energy into something that will bring you happiness and a sense of accomplishment. This could be painting, taking a class, playing an instrument, or home renovations. My project of choice has been home renovations. We have updated our laundry room and renovated a bathroom. My family is ready for me to start running again so that I’ll stop watching HGTV and our weekends can get back to normal. Here is the before picture of the laundry room. It has the 70s vibe and in a desperate need of a fresh coat of paint. 

And here is the after.

Comeback Plan

Bring to your recovery the same dedication and planning you use with running. Make a recovery and return to running plan. Check off the days as you approach your goal. Do the work. Make sure your training plan is approved by your doctor, physical therapist, coach, or whoever you’re working with on your injury recovery. It’s important to get an expert’s input of your comeback plan so as to not further injure yourself. Starting next week I’ll begin work with my physical therapist to develop my recovery plan. That allows me plenty of time to fully enjoy my pity party and get in a better mood before tackling 12 weeks of PT.

Whatever your injury or reason for taking a break from running, I wish you the best and strong return to running.

 

Also, what better way to deal with a running injury than to win a bunch of cushiony Balega socks. Check out the Balega Giveaway going on now and ending Sunday, April 30th.

find out more about this giveaway

PRO Compression: Buy 1, Get 1 Storewide. Hurry Before It Ends!

You still have time to take advantage of the Buy One Get One storewide sale over at PROCompression.com

With all the running you’ve been doing preparing for spring races, you deserve two pairs of Pro Compression for the price of one to double up on your recovery. Hurry, this offer ends midnight 4/20/2017. You must spend a minimum of $50. Just place items in your cart, use code TAXDAY and press “APPLY” at checkout. Also, free shipping to your US address with $20 minimum purchase.

The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

 

Anatomy for Runners, Run Fast Eat Slow on Sale, and more Kindle books (starting at $1.99)

Amazon has plenty of Kindle books on sale and plenty that are about running. Check out the list of discounted books we found.

Boston Bound: A 7-Year Journey to Overcome Mental Barriers and Qualify for the Boston Marathon

– $4.99
Have you ever wanted something so badly that your own mind became your biggest obstacle? Elizabeth Clor wanted nothing more than to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. Dead set on achieving this goal, she found herself bound up in a vicious cycle of perfectionism and anxiety that thwarted her at every turn, despite making significant gains in her physical abilities over seven years. Boston Bound is the story of how Elizabeth discovered that her own brain was the culprit, and explains the steps she took to completely overhaul her mindset about her running and her life.

Runner’s World The Runner’s Brain: How to Think Smarter to Run Better

– $1.99
As a runner, your biggest asset (or sometimes your greatest enemy) is your brain. What you think and feel on and off the road also has a huge influence over how you perform once you lace up.

Runner’s World The Runner’s Brain shows you how to unlock and capture the miraculous potential of the body’s most mysterious and intriguing organ and rewire your mind for a lifetime of athletic success. The book is based on cutting-edge brain science and sports psychology that author Dr. Jeff Brown uses every day in his private practice and as part of the medical team of several major road races including the Boston Marathon.

Full of fascinating insights from runners of all abilities–including champion marathoner Meb Keflezighi and other greats–the book includes trustworthy information that’s been proven to work both in the lab and on the road.

Anatomy for Runners: Unlocking Your Athletic Potential for Health, Speed, and Injury Prevention

– $1.99

Author Jay Dicharry was tired of getting the same treatments from doctors that didn’t heal his joint and muscle pain from running, so he decided to combine different fields of clinical care, biomechanical analysis, and coaching to help you avoid common injuries and become the best runner you can be.

Along with clear and thorough explanations of how running influences the body, and how the body influences your running, this book answers many of the common questions that athletes have: Do runners need to stretch? What is the best way to run? What causes injuries? Which shoes are best for running? Is running barefoot beneficial?

The mobility and stability tests will assess your form, and the corrective exercises, along with step-by-step photos, will improve your core and overall performance, so that you can train and run with confidence, knowing how to avoid injuries!

 

Run Fast. Eat Slow.: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes – $2.99
Meb For Mortals: How to Run, Think, and Eat like a Champion Marathoner – $1.99
First Ladies of Running: 22 Inspiring Profiles of the Rebels, Rule Breakers, and Visionaries Who Changed the Sport Forever – $1.99
The Runner’s World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training: Winning Strategies, Inpiring Stories, and the Ultimate Training Tools – $1.99

The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

 

What Inspires My Running and Balega Giveaway

Boston Marathon Inspires Me

Six years ago, I sat in my living room, my clothes tight and pinching at my still sharply tender c-section scar and I watched some 0f the world’s fittest athletes compete in the Boston Marathon. I longed for the ability to run longer than a 5K. I had always been a recreational runner picking up a few miles here and there. But watching Des (Davila) Linden place second and Kara Goucher fifth with a time of 2:24:52 only five months after giving birth, I felt like a baseball lover seeing Babe Ruth. My love for running was ignited by these two women. I was determined to be more than just an occasional runner.

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Inspires Me

This year was no different. There is something magical about the Boston Marathon. Each year in April my love of running is renewed. Luckily, living in Oklahoma I get an entire month of feeling amorous towards running because following the Boston Marathon is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. There are so many reasons to love the Memorial but one of my favorite reasons is that so many Oklahomans of varied abilities are dedicated to training for and participating in the race. You can drive around any town or neighborhood and find folks out running.

Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Balega Inspires Me

Just like the Boston Marathon and OKC Memorial, there have been instances along the way that have kept me running when inspiration runs thin. I received my first pair of Balega socks as a Christmas gift over three years ago. I had never had such a well-made pair of socks before. Before Balega, my socks would often fall down into my shoe, get bunched up, and cause blisters. But not my anymore. I wear my Balega socks for all occasions. A run, a quick trip to the grocery store, and I even wear them with my trendy fall booties.  They continue to be the ONLY socks I run in. I’ve even paid it forward and gifted many Balega socks to friends and loved ones for Christmas and birthdays. Each person I introduced to Balega has commented on the softness and cushion of the sock and they get hooked.

 

Giveaway

I want to get you hooked on Balega socks too.  To celebrate the Boston Marathon and the Oklahoma City Memorial marathon, RunOklahoma is partnering with Balega International to host a giveaway. This giveaway is fitting because it opens, Patriots Day (Boston Marathon day) and entries close on April 30th (OKC Memorial). My hope is that these races inspire you to run and that these amazing socks help you reach your running goals.

 


find out more about this giveaway

Boston Marathon Watch Party at OK Runner

Monday, April 17th is Patriots Day, also affectionately referred to “as the most wonderful time of the year”! That’s right, the Boston Marathon is happening in three days and this year’s race is sure to be an interesting one.

Two-time Olympian Desiree Linden, who came within two seconds of winning Boston in 2011, says her more aggressive training in this block has set her up to contend. Jordan Hasay is making her marathon debut this year and has two successful half marathons under her belt.

Galen Rupp, who earned bronze at the Olympic marathon in August, is scheduled to run Boston for the first time. Rupp is a polarizing figure but regardless how you feel about him, he is always interesting to watch. Fellow 2016 Olympic marathoners Jared Ward and Meb Keflezighi are also competing in Boston, as well as four-time U.S. Olympian Abdi Abdirahman.

Also, OK Runner’s very own Aaron Sherf will be competing in this year’s Boston Marathon. To celebrate all of the runners from Oklahoma, OK Runner is hosting a watch party at their Norman location. So, if you’re lucky enough to have the morning off, head over to OK Runner and enjoy some donuts and bagels and cheer on the runners taking on America’s greatest race.

Aaron Sherf

 

Boston Marathon Watch Party

When: Monday, April 17th, 2017

Time: 8:45 AM

Where: OK Runner, Brookhaven Village

3720 W Robinson St #116, Norman, OK 73072

 

 

Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones ONLY $24.77 (Regularly $99)

Running and traditional wired headphones just didn’t mix. Wires get in the way of arms. Or the wires are in a big knot before you even put them on. Wireless headphones are a great piece in your running toolkit and these  Syllable Wireless Headphones with Charging Box are so amazing. They are truly wireless, noise-canceling, and are small enough that it doesn’t look like you have a satellite hanging off of your ears.

Now through April 12th the or until they sell out, the Syllable Truly Wireless Headphones are on sale on Amazon.com for just $41.99 (regularly $99). Even better, enter promo code 2QQWKDKA at checkout and you’ll get an additional 41% off making them just $24.77!

These headphones are sweat proof and compatible with most Bluetooth enabled devices such as iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Android Smartphones, etc.