Monday, February 6, 2012

A New Half PR + a Giveaway!

Takin' care of some business:

1. I ran another half marathon yesterday. I was shooting for a PR. I got a PR. For the first time in, uh, ever, I never once looked at my Garmin during the race. While this was a great test of mental willpower, this kind of ended up screwing me over. I started too fast, I ended too slow. A PR is a PR no matter how small, I know, and there are some things I need to work on in regards to pacing. Moving on.

Oh, AND, for another first of this race, I didn't take a single picture before, during, or after the race! I didn't actually take a photo until we did some post-race grubbin'. And even then, I'm using Cate's photo because it turned out better. :)

Any day with Genki is a good day, race or no race!
Naomi, Courtney, me, Renee, RoadBunner, & Cate
Splits from the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon:
1: 7:27
2: 7:26
3: 7:48
4: 7:44
5: 7:45
6: 7:30
7: 7:33
8: 7:50
9: 8:01
10: 8:05
11: 8:03
12: 8:10
13: 8:07
.23: 7:54/pace

Garmin time: 13.23 miles, 1:43:16 -- 7:48 pace (7.7mph)

Official time: 13.1 miles, 1:43:19 -- a 52-second PR!
Average pace: 7:53 min/miles
Overall place: 1,025 out of 4,998
Gender place: 220 out of 2,491
A/G place: 46 out of 458

And that would mark half marathon #11.

2. A kind lady from PureFit nutrition sent me some samples of PureFit bars. They are high-protein, wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, all-natural protein bars that actually sounded intriguing. I gave them a whirl -- even brought one to Maui with me -- and they are seriously not bad for sounding as boring as they describe themselves! The best thing about these bars is that they aren't coated in chocolate like many nutrition bars out there, so there's no worry about them melting or deforming in your pocket while working out (or having them turn into sludge in tropical atmospheres). The only negative I had about the bars was that they are a little on the chalkier side & made me kind of thirsty. Seriously not a big deal, though, since water is usually pretty available in the areas where I tromp around. I still have a few bars left & I want to give them away... so here is your chance.

3. I guess I hit 200 followers on here. While this is nice, I really don't know why you guys keep coming back to my blog! ;) As a thank you, I'm going to do a fun little sweepstakes where you are going to get more GU that you probably want (6 kinds of Roctane, including the re-released Island Nectar flavor and 2x 6 kinds of regular GU, including the coveted new Peanut Butter flavor!). I am going to throw some Nuun in there, too, just because I love that stuff and want to share the love. And for your chance to try the PureFit bars, I'll throw some in there as well. I also have a bunch of stickers & temporary tattoos that I'm going to force upon you, muhahaha. :)

FREE STUFF TIME!

Want to win this goodness? EASY!

1. Leave me a comment and tell me why you want free stuff! (1 entry)
2. Go ahead and give this sweepstakes some Twitter love -- tag me, @DiaryAvgRunner, so I can tell that you did. (1 entry)

Enter as many times as you want, because I feel like being CrAZzzY.

PEASY! I'll randomly pick/contact a winner next Monday, February 13th. Good luck!

*Legal jargon that I know I should do but don't know what to say. I'm doing this sweepstakes because I want to, not because anyone put me up for it. I got the PureFit bars in exchange for a review, but the opinions are my own. Everything I'm giving away in this sweepstakes I've paid for/acquired on my own, blah blah blah. U.S. entries only, please and thank you and enjoy!


60 comments:

  1. Awesome job on the PR! I want to win because I am finally to the point in my training plan when I need to fuel and I keep forgetting to go to the running store and get more! You could totally save me some time and gas money ;)

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  2. Congrats on your PR!! I ran the Kaiser Half too and LOVED it. It was my first half for 8 years and I buzzed all the way round. I love your skirt too.

    I need those prizes very badly because I am about to sign up for the SF half in July and frankly those hills wil kill me!!!

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  3. Congratulations on that PR. I can't wait to see what you do in Oakland. and I need all that free stuff to train for Oakland! the gu roctanes are my favorite.

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  4. congrats on the PR. You rock!
    I WANT ALL OF THAT STUFF!!!

    Miss ya.

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    Replies
    1. FASTER BUNNY. Check out our twin skirts. :) Miss you back.

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    2. omg you got the super ruffly one? Awesome.

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  5. I want free stuff because I'm a poor college student. Also, I'm cheap. :)

    You are so awesomely fast!

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  6. Congrats on the PR! I'm impressed you didn't look at your Garmin....I'm so not that brave.

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  7. I actually NEED free shit because I have 4 kids who all go to private school and so we don't have any money. O, but I guess I don't really run far enough to need Gu...but I could save money on groceries by feeding it TO MY KIDS!!! So yeah, I totally need this free shit. Please and thank you ;-)

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  8. because I'm just starting my training for a SPRING marathon and desperately need any help I can get!

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  9. Because all that stuff is extremely expensive here in SA and GU is seen as a treat by me.

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  10. Congrats on the PR! I don't know how you didn't look at your Garmin...I don't think I would be able to do that unless I didn't wear it at all!

    I want to win this stuff because...well who DOESN'T want free stuff?!? Plus I really want to try that PB Gu.

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  11. Well done, Alyssa! :-) I use Roctane and NUUN...with three Marathons coming up, I would LOVE some free stuff!

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  12. Stellar PR girl! Whoo! I'd love to replenish ny gu stash. I have 13 weeks of marathon training left and 3 gu's to speak of. Hah.

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  13. I would love some free nuun because I can't seem to pull the trigger and but some :P also, you can never overload on gu! Haha. Congrats on yet another PR!

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  14. I tweeted and tagged you! @alisenasu

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  15. I love free stuff because it makes life feel like Christmas! Oh, and because I am a grad student and we are pretty crazy about anything that is free :)

    Congrats on your PR!

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  16. I tweeted about the giveaway! @serunitynow

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  17. Congratulations on the PR! Way to go! And congrats on the ramen too -- best way to celebrate! :)

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  18. Wow! What a great PR - congrats! I love free stuff because running has become an increasingly expensive hobby...

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  19. Yay super race, Alyssa!! I want free stuff because I'm scared to try new flavors of Gu!! I stick my 'ol faithful Chocolate Outrage :D

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  20. Love sharin' some contest love on Twitter :)

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  21. I want free stuff because I won free stuff from you before. And I never win shit!

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  22. I like free stuff. I like running. I like free running stuff. I like.

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  23. Your blog name is deceiving. You rank FAR above the average runner. That is a good think, though :)

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  24. Nice race! I'm shooting for around that time for my spring goal race. Fingers crossed for a PR, cause not much feels as awesome as PR.

    I want to win because I'm a broke grad student, and GU is expensive! They should offer a student discount for GU, don't ya think? I'd be all over it.

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  25. Um, running in the top 10% of gender/age groups makes you way above average. If you really want average, give your free stuff to ME.

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  26. I want free things because otherwise I'll just keep buying chocolate mint gu and fruit punch nuun forever and ever. What if my new favorite is out there just waiting to be discovered?

    Yay PR!

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  27. Congrats!

    I'm training for my first marathon, and GU's are pricey! Pretty please!

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  28. Congrats on the PR! Yea, looks like your mile splits go up each mile, but they aren't too far off each other, every race can't go perfect!

    As for the gu, it would really come in handy for me now that I am starting to get back out and do real runs as I recover from injury...

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  29. i love free stuff! i've never tried these so that's why i wanna win! thanks! runner_girl5k at yahoo dot com

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  30. All of that stuff looks amazing and I'm in need of some great pre and post run fueling!
    Also, great job on the race! I wish I could hold down an 8 minute mile for 13ish miles!

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  31. All of that stuff looks amazing and I'm in need of some great pre and post run fueling!
    Also, great job on the race! I wish I could hold down an 8 minute mile for 13ish miles!

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  32. Congrats on the smoking fast half! I've been eating way expired powerbar bites; I bet having actual gu would be great training motivation!

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  33. Congrats on your PR! I love this giveaway because no one ever wants to shell out money for a Gu flavor or bar they haven't tried before.

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  34. WOO HOO on the PR!!!!
    Free stuff? Cause its free!! and I get to try stuff I havent had before!! Im training of a half and would love to try some Gu and Nuun!!!!

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  35. I want free stuff because... DUH! IT'S FREE! :) And I'm pinching every penny I can for our CRUISE we just booked for April! :D And I ESPECIALLY want free PB-flavored gu. And Nuun! I've never tried that before. And I just started a bunch of sentences with "and" ... my elementary school English teacher just flipped over in her grave.

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  36. girl, you are the bomb. nice job on the PR. and send some of that gu my way!! xoxox

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  37. oh crap, i did it wrong. i want free stuff because IM training is breaking my piggy bank!

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  38. Looks like your Half is better than average! Nice work.

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  39. YAY FOR PRs!!!! Very impressive. And I love free stuff! Who doesn't?! :-)

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  40. I want to try Nuun! And more GU flavors! :)

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  41. I'd love to win cause I LOVE getting stuff in the mail!!! :)

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  42. Also, I really want to try PureFit bars!

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  43. tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/corgipants/status/167734219089522688

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  44. CONGRATULATIONS Alyssa!!! I love that you set your sights on a PR and went out and got it!

    I would love to restock my gels in hopes of inspiring me to register for another race! :)

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  45. You just keep getting more awesome with every race. Congrats!

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  46. PR!?! you totally didn't need me to pace you. I'm curious about running a race without a Garmin...why do you think that helped?

    Why I want to win your 200+ followers giveaway? Because. Um. Because it's Friday.

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  47. PR!! Congrats!! What skirt are you wearing? I actually like it, and I'm not of the running skirt kind...

    I want to win because I'm giving gu a try again and I need all the samples I can get...

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  48. Woohoo! Contrats on your OF! Yummy goodness and just the fuel I need!

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  49. Great on your pr- would live some hi for my training runs

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  50. OMG I WOULD SERRRRRRRRRRRRIOUSLY DO ANYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYTHING FOR SOME MORE GUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  51. if i don't win your giveaway, PUPPIES WILL DIE

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  52. or perhaps chach will disappear in the night and no one will ever know what happened...

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  53. I love all this gluten-free stuff and the fact that it's FREE is just really awesome icing on the cake! Congrats on the PR!

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