Race reflections ~ and a GIVEAWAY!

I definitely subscribe to a minimalist training philosophy and it works for me. I don't break speed records, but I finish strong and always have fun. When training for a race I stick to Hal Higdon's schedules for long runs on the weekends and reduce my weekday mileage and focus on cross training. For the Old Port Half Marathon last weekend, however, I pushed my theory to the limit especially given the heat and humidity. 

With two active kids home for the summer who are too heavy to push in a double stroller I shifted my priorities and was less diligent about getting to the gym or running. Now don't get me wrong. It's not like I rolled my sedentary self off the couch and headed to the half marathon starting line. I just wasn't as prepared as I usually am. I knew I could finish. The question was how long it would take me.

As expected, I did finish the race ~ hand in hand with Amy and Jen. That, by the way, is the absolute best way to finish. We represented the back of the packers very well and although I momentarily shuttered at the difference in time between my fastest half marathon and this one I quickly reminded myself that I'm still a 'real' runner. As Bart Yasso said, "I often hear someone say 'I'm not a real runner'. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner."

Speaking of Bart Yasso (and yes I'm leading up to the GIVEAWAY)... Bart Yasso is the Chief Running Officer at Runner's World Magazine and is the author of the book, My Life on the Run. He has competed in over 1000 races and has run marathons on all 7 continents. He has overcome drug and alcohol addition and chronic Lyme disease and now motivates others to improve their lives through running. Bart has an incredible story to tell and it's worth reading!

Now for the GIVEAWAY... Bart has offered to send a personalized copy of his book, My Life on the Run, to the lucky winner of this Mainely Running GIVEAWAY! 

Below is what you have to do to qualify. You get 1 chance to win for every one you do! We'll announce the winner a week from today!

1. 'Join' this site or 'Follow' Mainely Running (the link is on our home page in the column on the right) and tell us you've done so in a comment here on our site.

2. 'Like' Mainely Running on Facebook and tell us you've done so in a comment here on our site.

3. 'Share' this GIVEAWAY on your Facebook page and tell us you've done so in a comment here on our site.

4. Tweet about this GIVEAWAY and tell us you've done so in yet another comment. 

5. And for one more chance to win this GIVEAWAY, tell us in a comment on this site what makes you a real runner!

    Good luck and thanks again to Bart Yasso for his support of Mainely Running!