The Energizer Night Race [GIVEAWAY] [CLOSED]

Happy Sunday, y'all!  I'm healing up a bit today, after the Wisconsin [half] marathon yesterday.  It was a great time!  I'll have a recap in a couple of days.  ;)

With about five weeks until the Energizer Night Race, I wanted to throw out some information, as well as a giveaway for two of you (YES, YOU!) to win free entries to the race!  

If you would love to mix your love of our planet and running, then this is the race for you!

Where and When:

Lake Shore East Park - Chicago IL - 450 East Benton Place

Saturday, June 7th, 2014
Race begins at sunset.

Some points that the event exhibits:

• As participants race at night – with the light of an Energizer® headlight to guide them – they unite to raise awareness for the gglobal need for safe, affordable solar light for these individuals.

• Inn honor of the 2014 race series, Energizer is pledging to donate an unprecedented 14 million hours of solar light through their work with the international relief agency One Million Lights. 

• As the world leader in batteries and portable lights Energizzer is committed to bringing powerful, energy-efficient lighting to people around the world who live without access to electricity.

• Sincee its first year, 26 countries have hosted more than 60 races around the world. 

A race that Chicago is proud to host:

• With its bustling cityscape, peaceful lakefront and passionate running community, Chicago provides the perfect backdrop for this event, which aims to draw runners of all ages to come together and raise awareness of this important issue.
• The Energizer Night Race will be held at sunset in Chicago’s Lake Shore East Park on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
• During the event, runners will have the option of participating in the full 5K or the 2.6K kids’ fun run. 
• All participants will receive an Energizer® LED headlight to pave the way for the run.
• There will be pre- and post-race celebrations with family-friendly activities, concessions and live entertainment. 
• $35 includes an Energizer LED headlamp, bunny ears, event shirt and pre and post-race entertainment.

Do you live in the Chicago area, or would love to come on up for a visit to the Chi?  We'll definitely have to meet up!  :)  Enter the giveaway below, and get ready to *LIGHT UP THE NIGHT*!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end May 18th, 2014! 

Left in the Dust...

4:30am wake-up = coffee and dance party in the Jeep on the way to the pool.

I needed to be at work slightly earlier than usual, so I made the workout a shorty.  Easy, peasy, mac n' cheesy 3 x 500 yards all done.  I used my paddles in the second set to shake things up a bit.

More PINK.  *le sigh*

My coffee spoke to me.  This explains a lot about myself, really. 

Later in the afternoon, Harry and I head off to the track to meet up with the speedwork crew.  We have a name and a website, by the way:  The Chicago /R/iver /R/unners, or 606 /R/iver /R/unners on the Twitter.  It's all still very brand new, so it's not set up yet, but it's live.  :)

It was spectacular out!  There were soooooooo many people out at the track; mostly soccer players.  Fearless Leader Greg had time intervals all organized and ready to rock out.  Since Stephanie and I have the half marathon this Saturday, we decided we'd take it easy for the same duration of the planned workout, approximately 45 minutes.

The guys immediately took off.  We had a new crew member join us, too!  Welcome, Andy!

This was mine and Steph's view for about 75% of the run.  The guys pulled way ahead of us, as we were just happy chatting along to our easy pace.  We ended our five miles at an ~8:32 average pace.

True to form, we hit up a local spot, Wild Goose Bar and Grill.  The food was just fine and the beer selection was good.  They had their trivia night going on, so it was pretty loud, but we managed to exchange pleasant conversation.  Also, their trivia level questions were set to "Master".  Go scratch, Trivial Pursuit...this game was the real deal Holyfield.

I think everyone besides Andy and I got the Goose Burger.  I felt like having brinner, so it was a Bacon, Egg and Cheese burger for me!

CHEERS to another terrific workout!  Andy's beer is in there somewhere.

I love how we wreck shop wherever we go.  We were RUNGRY.

Another great session in the books.  My legs don't feel wonky today at all.  I'll run a couple of shakeout miles tomorrow, then we're heading up to Wisconsin for the half marathon Saturday morning.  Since Stephanie and Greg are both running it as well, we're planning on meeting up after the race.  It should be an awesome time!

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Do you have any race plans for this weekend?  Cheering or running?

Meat-eaters:  What's your favorite kind of burger?  

-I'm usually a sucker for an egg on top of my burger.  Avocado, too!

Do you like working out with others, or would you rather exercise solo?

Cookies & COSMOS

I soooooooooo meant to update you guys on my weekend yesterday, but work got so nuts that I was too exhausted to do anything when I got home yesterday.  I sat my booty on the couch and totally watched "House, M.D." on Netflix until Harry got home.  :P

We had the Sophs this past weekend, which is usually a good time.  These weekends are always packed with funsies, whether it's a ton of activities at the park, visiting with family, or a dance party and PJ day.   They almost always involve Skookies.

We head right over to Harry's parents' house right after picking her up Saturday.  They were sweet enough to feed us pizza (all three of us were STARVING), and they even let me watch some of the Spurs vs. Mavs game.  Harry and I snuggled up in his Dad's recliner...tightest snuggle ever!

It's always a riot to see what a tomboy Sophia can be.  Taking on a teenage boy (her uncle) is tough!  And as you can see, her main technique of tickling one's feet is to latch on like a howler monkey and never ever letting go.  Not even if you threaten to ground her.  :\

 After some visiting, some pizza, some coloring with Grandma and some near-napping for Harry and I, we head home.  My throat and sinuses were really bugging me, so I hit the sack early (it was 8:45pm or so at this point).  Harry and Sophs stayed up for Skookies, in which I was slightly envious.

I got up the next morning, still suffering from what I'm assuming was sinus blahhhhhh.  I had a 10-mile @ pace on the schedule, but I ended up just taking it easy.  I have the Wisconsin Half Marathon this weekend and didn't want to push anything, especially if I'm on the edge of getting sick.

I also go this e-mail!  SO EXCITING!  

Best believe, I spent most of my long run thinking about all of the amazing athletes and sporty girls with whom I would become besties!  There are a few that live in and around Chicago; I can't wait for a meet-up run or Yoga sesh.

After some breaky, we hit up the park for some kite flying, and then off to Fleet Feet in Old Town to pick up my packet.  Harry wanted to show Sophs the ropes.  This was her first time on a treadmill...I was so proud!

We left Fleet Feet and dropped off Sophs.  We won't see her for a couple of weeks, when she's doing the Run or Dye 5K with us!  She's so excited to do it!

USE DISCOUNT CODE BLOGCHICAGO FOR $10.00 OFF REGISTRATION!  :)

Harry and I usually watch COSMOS on Sunday evenings.  There have been a couple of occasions, like this past weekend, where we were just too doggone tired to watch it without dozing off.  We love the snot out of the show, but the couch is sooooo comfy.  :)  So last night after dinner, we made some dessert and snuggled up for our show.

Cookies and ice cream?  Uh, YES.

One last thing (I promise!):  This week, FitApproach is doing a weekly Yoga challenge on Instagram.  FUNSIES!  I just had to join in!  Go check it out if you have a chance.  :)

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Are you watching COSMOS?  What's your favorite thing about it so far?

-Please don't say the water bear.  Ew.

Parents or peeps who love hanging with kiddos:  What's your favorite activity?

-Sophia LOVES baking with me!  How cool is that?

Any races you have coming up?  How's your training going?