Happy Anniversary to ME and a Giveaway for YOU!!

It is unbelievable to me that it has been 3 whole years since I hit publish on this:

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It All Started with One Conversation

To start, let me just say that if you are looking for serious how-tos for training for a triathlon, this is NOT the site for that. This will catalog my own personal experiences--both real and perceived--with multisport racing. It is my goal to show humourous depictions of my training in all three sports, two of which I have little to no experience in. I am a total klutz and the majority of my “athletic” background comes from eleven years of ballet and jazz; from the ages of 3-14, to be precise. I danced up to 4 times a week, and ultimately left due to artistic differences. I saw myself as talented,

and they saw me as klutzy, inflexible and not anorexic.

The full post is here.
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While the first thing that strikes me is how my drawings have evolved, I also love that I can look back on what I have done in my life over the past 3 years. I think that might actually be the point of a blog, isn't it?

Here are the best things about blogging:

1. I have met many fellow bloggers/triathletes/runners, some of whom have become my closest friends!

 

2.  I became an ambassador for FitFluential and Sweat Pink.

And I just joined the Tough Chiks!!

3.  Over time, I also got out of my comfort zone to try new things, like Hot Yoga.

It was nasty.

Indoor cycling classes and aqua jogging.

A Masters Swim class, and a Jillian Michaels Shred class.

 

Sometimes I do these things just for you, my faithful readers.

I got to join my sister and nephews as they ran their first 5k and became runners!!

And one year I was in a 1300 person flash mob!!

Most recently (you're not sick of me telling you yet, are you?)  I ran a MARATHON!

Over the past 3 years I have discovered that I can do so much more than I had ever thought possible.

Oh, and I also discovered that I really like high fives.

 A lot.

So.  In order to celebrate my 3 year blogiversary and to say thank you THANK YOU! A million times thank you!! for reading, I am  doing another...

DRAWING FOR A DRAWING!  

The winner will get their own personalized stick figure drawing, courtesy of TriGirl.  I promise to make it cool and totally awesome.

This contest is open to absolutely anyone!

You can enter by leaving any type of comment you want.  If you would like additional entries, you can: 

1.  Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your Twitter handle).
2.  Tweet this post (leave a comment with a link to the tweet).  You can tweet daily and leave a link to the tweet in the comments for an entry.
3.  Tell me a good joke.  Tell me lots of good jokes.  Just put each one in a separate comment so it counts as an entry.

Official stuff:
The drawing will be open until 12:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time), Saturday December 14th, 2013. Winner will be chosen at random, using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and blog post. If there is no response after 48 hours, a new drawing will take place.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!  THE WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND ANNOUNCED HERE!

UPCOMING POSTS: REVIEW OF THE KOSS FIT SERIES EARBUDS FOR WOMEN, HOW I TRAINED IN PARIS, HOW MY SUPER-LONG MARATHON TRAINING RUNS WENT

It's a New Year for a New You! 7 Years Younger Book Review and Giveaway

UPDATE:  WE HAVE A WINNER! I used Random.org to select the winner (but while trying to cut and paste it here, it reloaded the site.  I'm cool like that.)  The winner is Megan from WatchMegoRun!

Meg O @watchmegorunDecember 30, 2012 5:12 PM

It definitely sounds like an interesting read! I would like to change things up in terms of what I cook/eat. PS - one day, just for fun, can you please do your make up like the above picture? :)

Congrats Megan!  Email me your address so I can mail you the book!  (Not sure if I can do the makeup request though...maybe one day :P )

Thanks to everyone who entered!


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 A while back, I was contacted by the editors of Good Housekeeping to review their new book 7 Years Younger.

Their media packet states that "This is an easy-to-follow guide that delivers proven results, based on established science as well as testing in the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, to help women look and feel their absolute best."-Rosemary Ellis, Editor-in-chief, Good Housekeeping. I thought it would be fun to get some tips on how to look and feel my best, so I requested a copy.  I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the book was not quite what I was expecting.  It was a little bigger.

Perhaps it was so heavy because there were two...I got one for one of you!

The book is laid out in such a way that they introduce the concepts of the chapter, then give you a quick start.  This is followed by a 7 week plan and testimonial by one of their panelists.  I like the fact that they back up their information with research.

They have lists of the best makeup and skincare products based on price and test subjects' responses.   This is very helpful if you are anything like me and get completely confused about what to put on your face.

If you are ready to spend some time focusing on your health, this is a very good book.  It gives you the reasons behind the foods you should eat, what vitamins you need, and the best sources for them.  It also has a great plan for starting to exercise if you currently do very little to none, has healthy recipes, and ideas for choosing better meals when eating out.

If you would like to win a copy of this book, leave a comment below telling me how you would like to change things up this year!

*Contest open to US residents only (very sorry my international friends...I still love you!)

The contest will be open until Sunday, January 6th at noon PST.  I will choose a winner using Random.org   WE HAVE A WINNER! Please make sure I have a way to contact you! (e.g. email or Twitter)

Want extra entries?  Leave a separate comment for each of the following:

1.  Follow me on Google Friend Connect, or let me know if you already do.

2.  Twitter @triingathlete, or let me know if you already do.

3.  Tweet about the giveaway, and come back leaving a comment that you did so.

UPCOMING POSTS:  MY FRIEND WANTS TO TAKE ME TO TRX, AND MORE RUNNING

Business in the Front, Party in the Back: A TriForever Review and Giveaway!

UPDATE 9/30/12:
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.  THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

Hey everyone!  Last month I was contacted by the lovely Rachel at TriForever about doing a giveaway and review.  Never one to turn down the chance for free running gear to increase my readership to give my readers some cool presents, I said yes! They have a TON of fun stuff ont their site and are triathletes themselves with a love for fellow racers, as you can see on their Facebook page! I went to their site and spent the weekend trying to decide what to get!  I went with a tech shirt since I could wear it to work out and then give you guys the lowdown.  Also, I could be confident with the giveaway part!

*That was a joke.  I have no cars to give away.

I chose what I thought was a pretty clever quote and sent off my order.  It came with the saying on the back rather than the front, so my one suggestion is to not be a dolt like me, and double check your order details (I think I was just looking at the different variations and must not have clicked the 'front' button again).  I decided that having the writing on the back just meant I would have to run faster so that there would be people behind me to read it!

Plus, it seemed like a good nod to 80s fashion, which is making a comeback in a big, bad way:

Business in the front,

PARTY IN THE BACK!

Did you guys get the reference with the 80s mullet? Too much of a stretch?  Let's move on. (Real photos at the end of the post.)

I took my shirt out for a spin a couple of weekends ago for my last long run before my half marathon.  Despite the fact that it was a black shirt and I wore it at noon on a sunny day for an 11 mile run (because I'm a genius), it vented extremely well.  I liked the fit; it was a feminine cut but still loose.  I went with a size larger than I could have because I have a hard time fitting my chest (HA!) shoulders.

The sleeve seams did not chafe at all (a common issue for me).  I also felt that I could move my arms freely throughout the run.

Classic mid-run horsefly evasion tactics.

At the end of the run I was definitely sweaty, but no more so than usual.

I've since washed  the shirt and air-dried it, and so far the lettering is intact and the fit has not changed.  I like having loose, breathable t-shirts to run in and this one fits the bill.  Plus, it has a fun saying without being obnoxious!

And just so you know what you are entering for (if you choose a shirt) here are some real photos:

FRONT.

BACK!

Like I said, there are many options on the website, including clothes, jewelry, headgear, bib and award displays, and safety gear.  TriForever is offering a $25 gift card to one of you lucky ducks!  This contest is open to everyone (i.e. not limited to the United States), but please be aware that shipping costs vary by location and may not be entirely covered by the gift card, depending on your item of choice and where you live.

If you would like to enter, here is how to do it!

1. Follow me and leave a comment! It's time for me to get some new numbers on GFC :)  If you already follow,  leave a comment saying so.
2. Go to TriForever, then come back and leave a comment telling me what you would order if you won.

Optional Extra Entries!

1. Follow me on Twitter.  I'm @triingathlete! Leave a comment here.
2. Follow TriForever on Twitter.  They're @TRIforever1!  Leave a comment here.
3. Tweet about the giveaway with something like "I want to win @triingathlete's giveaway for a gift card from @Triforever1!" Leave a comment here.

This contest will be open until Sunday, September 30th, 10pm PST.  I will choose a winner using Random.org and announce it on here.  Please make sure I can contact you by email or Twitter.

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DISCLAIMER:  I was sent the "Let the Course be with You" shirt in exchange for writing this review and hosting the giveaway.  All opinions expressed are my own.

UPCOMING POSTS:  THOUGHTS DURING MY LONG RUNS, SWIMMING, TORTURE TECHNIQUES FOR ATHLETES (or maybe it's just me)

Another Drawing for a Drawing!

UPDATE:  WE HAVE A WINNER!
Since Yvonne already has drawings and her comment was purely congratulatory in nature (thanks Yvonne!), I took her comment out and and went with 74.  And, the winner is:

Comment #43:  

 Dwija {House Unseen} said...

I stumbled this post, too :)

October 28, 2011 8:34 PM

BUT. Remember how I said there was a second prize?  Yup!  It's a very limited-edition tank.  Only 12 were made.  The cut hits at the top of the the thigh and it really flattering :D

                                 




The second winning comment was #9:

 Little Gothic Horrors said...

Congratulations on getting 200 followers! What a fabulous milestone!!!

October 26, 2011 11:55 PM

Dweej, you get a stick drawing, so email me with the picture of your choice!
Little Gothic Horrors, you get the shirt, so email me with your deets!


I just want to thank each 204 of you who follow! I love getting to share my little demented mind and doodles with you guys!
__________________________________________________

It actually happened.  Just 5 months after getting 100 followers, I now have 200 followers! So basically, that's 20 new followers a month.  Not bad for a little blog that's been chugging along for 10 months.

Pickleope was worried I would change when I hit this number.

I don't think I have.  No really.

I don't think I have.

Anyway, since stick figures are what I do best (and no sponsors are knocking on my door...but mostly because of the stick figure thing) I decided to do the following giveaway:

A Drawing for a Drawing! 

Yup, I'm repeating the same thing I did last time.
Because I couldn't come up with a better idea if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it!!

But wait!  There's more!

I passed 10,000 hits on Sunday!  It's been a banner week here at Tri-ing to be Athletic!

And with that comes an extra surprise for a SECOND winner...it's a limited edition of something that I will tell you about when the contest is over.  I think it's pretty cool you guys :D

So here's what you need to do.  If you would like to win your VERY OWN stick figure version of yourself, leave one comment for each of the following:

Number 1:  (Mandatory--because this gets me more followers, which gets y'all more giveaways!)  Follow my site via Google Friends Connect (GFC).  *If the Followers tab is empty, reload the site and it should pop up.  Leave a comment in the comments section below saying you are a new follower or that you already follow.

Optional, for extra entries (You can click on the tabs/widgets on this page or click the links below):

Number 2:  'Like' me on Facebook.  Leave a comment  in the comments section below saying you are a new 'liker' or that you already 'like' me.  That way I will know that you like me! You really like me!

Number 3:  Follow me on Twitter.  I'm @triingathlete.  Leave a comment...

You get the point right?  You leave a separate comment for each follow, whether it's new or something you're already doing.

Also, Number 4:  Follow me through Networked Blogs.  Comment.

Oh, and Number 5:  Tweet about the giveaway. Comment.

How about Number 6, just for kicks:  Follow me on Blog Lovin.  Comment.

One more?  Okay here's Number 7:  Stumble me!    Comment.

Right. I think I've covered all the typical giveaway rules and many entry types.

I'll keep the contest open for one week and a couple of days.  That means I will lock it up on exactly Friday, November 4th.  Since I live on the west coast I'll pick the winner at about 8:30 a.m. PST.

I will use the random number generator to find the winner.

I swear I will be doing those race recaps after this. Two triathlons equal 6 upcoming posts!