Turning 30

Last month, it happened. I turned the big 3-0. What did I do on my last day as a 20-something? A little Yoga X from P90X. It was the best birthday ever.

Yoga X

By the way, this is my Garmin FR60 heart rate monitor watch. I love it. Check out my review of it. It's fantastic for running and is a must to keep track of your cardio workouts.

iTunes 40 Free Songs from Lollapalooza

Hello, friends! I know some of you out there have iPods, iPads and the like. Hopefully, you're not running with an iPad on your back. It might injure you.

I have here a download code which I got at Lollapalooza this summer for 40 free songs on iTunes. I don't use iTunes, so I'm passing it along.

Obviously, the code will only work for the first person who uses it, so get those trigger fingers ready. Good luck to the quickest of them all! Also, I have no idea what artists or songs are on this collection. Let me know how you like it!

I'm excited to do a few more 5k runs before the cold weather comes around.

Tribest Single Serving Blender / Grinder PB-250 (PBA Free)

For months, I blended my Shakeology in my beast of a blender. Don't get me wrong, the ikon Hemisphere blender by Breville is great. The jar is made of glass (no fear of lingering stains or smells) and the brushed metal looks sleek. It's a high quality appliance. However, it's a pain to clean on a daily basis.

I considered getting a Magic Bullet to make things easier. After doing some homework, I was won over by the Tribest personal blender. Tribest has a couple of different options for you depending on how many tumblers you want and whether you want to pay a little extra for a PBA-free set (which I would recommend... because, who really wants to drink PBA?). The model I purchased is below:

Tribest Personal Blender

This set comes with (2) 16 oz tumblers, (2) 8 oz tumblers, lids, an ice crushing blade, a mixing blade, the base which includes a powerful 200-watt motor and a recipe book. The ice crusher really does crush ice! I was concerned that it might not be strong enough, but it is. Just make sure not to overfill the tumbler.  What I like best is that you can buy replacement parts. So, if you are sharing this blender with several people, you can each order your own tumblers.

My typical morning Shakeology is about 5-6 half-moon ice cubes, 12 ounces of water, a tablespoon of peanut butter and a scoop of Shakeology powder. Put that into the glass, pulse blend it for about 8 seconds, and it's done. Twist off the blender cap, wash it out, and stow the blender in the cupboard. It's so much easier than taking apart my large blender, wiping out the jar and removing the neoprene O-ring to scrub out. I even keep the personal blender at work, so I don't have to rush in the morning while I'm getting ready and trying to catch the bus. It's the best purchase I've made as far as appliances.

At about $65 (on Amazon), it's a reasonable investment in keeping a healthy lifestyle on a busy schedule.Whether you buy Tribest PB-250 or another model/brand, owning a personal blender makes Shakeology ridiculously easy to drink.

UPDATE: I'm still using this blender at work almost every morning. It's lasted almost 2 years and has been a great investment. Couldn't be happier with it.

Amazon - Running Shoes 20% Off

If you've been running on fumes (or at least your shoes have), it's a great time to get some new kicks.

Amazon has an extra 20% off running shoes orders of $75 or more through August 13, 2011.


Brands include:

adidas
adidas Originals
Aetrex
ASICS
Aura
Brooks
Hi-Tec
Karhu
Mizuno
New Balance
Pearl iZUMi
PUMA
Reebok
Ryka
Saucony
Saucony Originals
Tretorn
Zoot

That means if you buy at least $75 worth of shoes, you'll save enough to get a Nathan Shadow Pak if you haven't already. It's great!

Happy running.
 

Skydive Midwest

First time skydiving!

Running Playlist

There's nothing that pumps me up for running better than the perfect set of songs. A fast beat, some guitar shredding and maybe some crazy vocals do the trick. So, what have I been listening to recently?

Some of the mainstream music on my playlist includes: Yellowcard (Rough Landing, Holly and Miles Apart); Paramore (Born for This and Fences); and Lady Gaga (Judas).



  

Mea Culpa Mea Culpa



But what delights me even more are some tunes by an indie rock band called The Kickback. While they have songs for all types of moods, my favorite songs for running include:



The Kickback - Roman Regret

The Kickback - Alpha Flight

The Kickback - Hate this City



Listen to these songs and more for free here. Check out their tour information and online store. Their next Chicago show will be at The Cobra Lounge on September 3, 2011.  

Fall Into Fitness 5k Run/Walk - September 25, 2011

Fall Into Fitness 5k Run/Walk will take place in Portage Park. This course will lead you through tree-lined streets similar to the ones in the Ravenswood 5k.

Website Link

This 5k run/walk is targeted to families and is very affordable. While other races cost from $30 upwards, the registration fee for adults is only $15 and there's even a discount family rate for up to 5 family members.

Entry Fees

Age Bracket	Pre-Race	Race Day
Adults (ages 18+)	$15	$20
Youth (ages 6-17)	$8	$10
Seniors (ages 60+)	$8	$10
Family Rate (up to five members)	$35	$45
Children 5 and under	Free	Free

Proceeds will go toward providing health care for the indigent who are treated at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center.

Register by mail, in-person or online.