And the WINNERS are....

Here is one of the RVs we will be riding in! Brian of UCF just picked it up!

In FIVE days we set off on our amazing voyage across the country. I'm so excited to see the country this way. We will be traveling through parts I've never seen.. I'll be with some of my favorite people and will be meeting many other wonderful people. All along the way we will be spreading the word about The Ulman Cancer Fund and we will MOST CERTAINLY still be taking donations!!! So keep spreading the word for us as we travel across the country!

The raffle was not nearly as successful as I had hoped it would be, but I'm happy to announce the winners! The raffle raised only $130... but every little bit helps right?

Swim Bike Run: Erin Serrault
1BandID: Amy Sursock
Sparkle Skirt: Sarah Goldie
Powerbar: Nancy
SpiBelt: Nicole Griswold

Please send me your info at lamount03 at gmial dot com and I will ship your prizes!!! Sarah, I will send you a coupon code and you can order your skirt directly from Sparkle Skirts. Amy, Same for you!

Off to continue my last minute preparations!! Thank you all for your donations!!!!

be AWESOME!

It's been a fairly stressful couple of weeks.. and my mental state has been a contributor. Boo.

Then I see the above. Must remember!

When I get sad,
I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead.

TRUE STORY!

Okay.. so it isn't true, but I want it to be. It really should be that simple.

Been trying to teach that to my kid... he has a hard time being awesome when he is being the OPPOSITE of awesome. God I see myself in that kid so much. Funny how they are like putting a mirror up to your face EVERY FREAKIN' day... a mirror that isn't always so flattering.

Thank you Jason for making me look reality in the face. Perhaps we can conquer this problem together and just practice being MORE AWESOME! Because who doesn't like some AWESOME.

Am I right?

True Story!

So go forth and be awesome my friends....

Two more weeks and I better start pulling some awesome out of the stratosphere! My joints are talking back a bit so in an effort to hit the start of the RAA I am taking the morning (and maybe the day) off running. Trying not to be twitchy about it, but we all know I am feeling some angst over it!

Is your mind going in a million different directions?

Or is it just  me!?

Training is going well. I run.. and then I run some more. I changed things up a while ago. I went from following an arbitrary plan that I had pieced together to trying (arbitrarily) to just increase my runs 1 mile a day each week. That is going okay. I am at 12 miles a day this week and so far I've run: Monday: 8 miles, Tues off, Wed 8 miles and have planned two 6 mile runs today. Some days I don't hit that mileage either because life got in the way or I taught a spin class or .. well my legs said, "nope, not today". I am trying NOT TO stress over it.

I find myself becoming addicted to the running. I took a rest day (like ZERO) running the other day and it nearly killed me. Mostly mentally. That day was a bit of a cluster. The running clears my head.

And would you believe that the next day when I ran I had more aches and pains than I had been having. Weird.

I'm finding myself in that 'gotta get the miles' in head space that I know is not exactly the right place to be. Recovery? What is that? How does that fit into RUNNING ACROSS THE FREAKIN' country? There is no recovery! In addition to that our house is on the market... we accepted an offer ... were going to have to MOVE BEFORE I left for the run. Then we hit some road blocks in the process and I had to stop the forward motion on the move. This sent me over the edge for some reason.

I feel I'm getting back on track mentally, but I took a pretty big hit. STRESS... what stress?

This all said I am SHOCKED at how well my body has acclimated to all the running. I'm certainly not going out there and killing it. I am taking my time on (most of) my runs. Enjoying the process and the scenery. I even quit taking my Garmin with me so I couldn't obsess about the pace and how slow I was going. This is a different gig. And I gotta say I feel pretty good. I definitely feel like I'm doing something.. I'm tired.. I can feel up walking up stairs, but I am not trashed like I expected to be at this point. Well physically anyway!

Tonight I'm having a 'going away' party (even though I have GULP a little over two weeks until I leave) at a local pizza joint and they are donating a portion of the proceeds to Ulman. I'm also doing a raffle there with some art work from my Uncle's stash and some local businesses. I'm excited and hope that it is successful. I will get to meet a lot of local families that I usually only speak to over Facebook.. how pathetic is that?

And don't forget about the RAFFLE going on right here in blogland for all of you to participate in! I have added TWO items since my original posting - I even DISCOUNTED the raffle price - and would really appreciate your participation and sharing on your blogs, Facebook and Twitter! THANK YOU! We have a ways to go on the fundraising front (at about $21k of our $100k goal) and could use your support!

Cool Stuff. I know YOU'LL like it!

We are Three weeks away from push off on our big run across the country so.....

I am presenting to you Three different items for RAFFLE. I will pull THREE different winners. So that increases your odds of winning SOMETHING three fold! (in case that was not obvious!)

(Edited to add: Exciting news.. we got another item so this takes us to FOUR opportunities to win!! Thank you SpiBelt!)

Edited AGAIN: Just got word from Leah at Sparkle skirts and they are donating a super fantastic and fun Sparkle Skirt to the party! Do not miss out! FIVE.. yes FIVE opportunities to win now!)

So here they are in no particular order!

NUMBER 1 SBR Sports

The full line of SBR Sports products including Tri Swim (shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion) No more chlorine smell or scaly dry skin for you, TriSlide (used to make that wetsuit come of lickety split and prevent chaffing.. well ANYWHERE ... and you can share it with friends without feeling a bit to 'personal' and foggle (they are wipes you use on your goggles and they work like a charm)! Retail price: $79.80

Here is the review I posted after my first use of TriSwim:
"THIS STUFF WORKS! I can always smell the chlorine on me and feel the itch even the day after the workout. (wears off just in time for the next workout!) The shampoo, conditioner, bodywash and lotion all had a pleasant (not overwhelming) smell and they WORKED! Left my skin smooth and with no itch. I didn't smell the chlorine right after my shower, but knew that my husband "the nose" would be the true test. I stand next to someone eating garlic and I get accused of eating a whole raw bulb of it for lunch. NOT KIDDING! I put my hair in his face when I got home from the pool and he told me he couldn't smell ANY chlorine. Now that's amazing."

NUMBER 2 1BandID

1BandIDprovides first responders with critical information if you’re unconscious orunable to speak and cannot communicate after an accident or injury.  Unlike bracelets or dogtags that you wear in addition to your training device, 1BandID is the firstand only wearable athlete ID that securely attaches and displays criticalcontact, medical information and motivation on the one thing you probably nevertrain without your watch, GPS or heart rate monitor…helping make ID unforgettable… helping to simplify your safety. Retail price: $19.99

My Review:
I contacted 1BandID after seeing a write up on my teammie Jill's blog Tribirdie Musings and told them all about what we are up to at Rev3 and Ulman and Joe - Mr. 1BandID - was all over it. He even sent me my OWN! Thanks Joe!!! He took it upon himself to right Team Rev3 up the side and I just think that's cool! It fits on my Garmin strap perfectly and I like only having to wear one band... and thus I don't forget the ID! :)

NUMBER 3 Powerbar

A variety of Powerbar products for your endurance pleasure... Retail value: $162.94 + shipping

Including the newly released KONA PUNCH gel: (box of 24 gels)
PowerBar Energy Gel is the first gel to provide the carbs and electrolytes of a high end sports drink, and contains 4 times the sodium of leading competitors.*

Lemon Energy Blasts: (box of 12 packages)
PowerBar Energy Blasts gel filled chews are a great choice for use before or during moderate and high-intensity exercise. They're formulated with PowerBar® C2MAX dual source energy blend, a 2:1 glucose to fructose blend found to deliver 20–50% more energy to muscles than glucose alone and improve endurance performance by 8%.*

Powerbar RESTORE:
RESTORE™ is a serious sports drink specially developed by the sports nutrition experts at PowerBar® designed to help you PUSH your limits.

Protein plus Chocolate Brownie bars (box of 12),
Recovery Cookies and Cream Caramle Crisp bars (box of 15) and
Triple Threat Chocolate Carmel Fusion bars (box of 15)!!!

NUMBER 4: SpiBelt


Sleek, expandable, secure and does not bounce. Can hold an iPod™, Blackberry™, cell, keys, up to five GU™ packs, and other small personal items. The SPIbelt does not bounce, ride or shift while running or doing other activities. Made in the USA Retail value: $19.95

I've got to be honest about this product. I got my SpiBelt in my race packet for the Austin Marathon in 2011 My first thought was that it was kinda dorky. Like the fanny pack of running. It rolled around in my closet for A YEAR! Then one day my arm band for my ipod/phone (music player of choice) kicked the bucket so I dug this thing out and thought "this'll have to do until I can get a new arm band".. and guess what ... I LOVE IT! I use it every time I run now to carry my phone or my ipod and I don't even know it's there. The other day I ran to the store (because I, like, have to run a lot and sometimes I just need to cram it in) and I carried my CC, Cash, phone, DL and a big wad of folded up paper I needed and it was perfect!

I will definitely be using this baby EVERY DAY of the 21 days I will be running .... starting in LESS THAN 3 weeks!

NUMBER 5: Sparkle Skirt


You could win the Sparkle TECH skirt of your choice! Their number ONE seller!

Straight for the Sparkle Skirt Site:

Train in fabulous comfort in your new SparkleTech skirts running skirt. We think you’ll agree with our product testers who say: “It’s the most comfortable running skirt I have ever worn!”

SparkleTech skirts are specially designed to address the most common needs of runners and walkers:

• Shorts that stay put with no riding up (we guarantee it)
• Lots of cargo space
• Attractive shape that enhances all figure types
• 3X-Large and 4X-Large available (by special order)
• Stylish, curve-friendly skirt disguises pocket cargo and (ahem) figure flaws.

Leah's story is very sweet as is she. I am so excited to offer you this opportunity for an amazingly fun addition to your (or your lady friend's) running wardrobe! (not necessarily the skirt pictured.. there are many fun items to choose from on her site!)

 Here are the rules: (RULES UPDATE)

1) Make a $10 $5 donation to the Ulman Cancer Fund. Each $10  $5 donation is equivalent to one entry for the drawing. So, if you donate $30 you will get three entries to win. (If you already made a donation.. your raffle tickets will be adjust to reflect the change. ie if you donated $10 = to 1 raffle ticket... you just got an upgrade it now equals 2!)

2) After you donate leave a comment here saying that you did and I can check the database and enter you the appropriate amount of times. (Make sure you select my name: Laura Mount when you make your donation. It will come up AFTER you enter your info.)

3) For an extra entry Tweet or facebook about this give away. Make sure you mention me (@Marual) and I guess this means if you want to get credit for posting it on FB you'll have to friend me first. :) I'm down with that. I like friends. (Please come back here and post a comment stating that you tweeted/Facebooked it so I don't miss anyone.)


This giveaway begins today (March 5th) and will run for two weeks. Yes, the lucky winner will be drawn using a random number generator and announced on Monday March 19th around 4:30pm! 

Please pass this along as anyone is eligible to enter!