buff in the wild campaign

Disclaimer: BibRave and BUFF have partnered up for a BUFF prizepack giveaway, and as part of being a BibRave Pro, I am giving you a chance to win! Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

This is the UV Half BUFF that's likely to make an appearance or two.

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know I've had the chance to test a few different BUFF products, and I've loved them all. There was the UV Half BUFF, the UV Full BUFF, the Thermal Hoodie, and the Merino Wool BUFF. All great products and I almost always have some version of the BUFF on me when I go for a run.

Here's a #BUFFIE all by my lonesome with my Merino Wool BUFF.

Prize pack of BUFF gear for one lucky winner includes:
1 Original BUFF
2 UV BUFF
1 Merino Wool BUFF
1 UV Half BUFF
1 Headband
1 Shirt
1 Sweatshirt 
Stickers

This all comes to a retail value of $215! Honestly, I wish I could enter! So much awesome gear.

How do you enter? 
First, you'll need to find me at a race in the month of May. I have a few, so if you do a lot of races too, you're odds go up!

May 1: Southwest Half Marathon
May 22: Chicago Spring Half Marathon
May 24: United Relay, Stage 318, Chicago
May 28: Soldier Field 10 Mile
May 30: Ridge Run 5k

On a side note, I'll also be at all of the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend races, but I haven't decided if I'll be doing the contest there, as it's already a hectic race weekend. Make sure to follow me on Twitter (@HeatherRuns13_1) and Instagram (@HeatherRuns13.1), and I'll post a Flat Heather and let you know whether you should come find me or not. I'll definitely post Flat Heathers before each of the other races, and try and tweet out my whereabouts once I get to the races, so you can better find me :) It's very likely I'll be in my BibRave orange tank or tee for many of these races.

My BibRave BUFF.

RULES:
1. Take a #BUFFIE with a BibRave Pro and post it on Twitter or Instagram.
2. Tag @BibRave & @BUFF_USA (same handles on both Twitter and Instagram).
3. Use hastags #BUFFIE AND #BibChat.
4. Contest runs May 1–31, 2016.
5. For US residents only. 
6. Photo must be taken at a race (so not the expo or a training run)
7. Participants can enter the #BUFFIE contest at multiple events 
8. One #BUFFIE entry per race 
9. Twitter and Instagram entries only* 

An example of a #BUFFIE with my pal Julia.

I'm pretty much game for any kind of #BUFFIE you want - silly face, smiling, being 'buff'. I mean, I have my limits, bit I'll do my best to accommodate the kind of #BUFFIE you'd like to post to Social Media haha.

Let me know if you have any questions. If you know you'll be at one of these races - let me know which one(s) in the comment section. It'll help me keep an eye out for you as well :)

Not in the Chicagoland area? Maybe one of the other participating BibRave Pros will be at one of your races. Check out their posts (I'll update as we go and add the Pros once their blogs are up):

Angie | Mark | Karen | Brenda | Katherine | Lisa | Elizabeth | Samantha | Gina

Remember to keep an eye on my Twitter and Instagram feed for my outfit and locations for the races! You definitely want to win this prize pack!

*This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Twitter

week in review: september 8–14

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 11

Monday, September 8: Cross Train (Bar Method – 60 minutes)

Tuesday, September 9: Cross Train (Bar Method – 60 minutes)

Wednesday, September 10: 3.33 miles

Thursday, September 11: Cross Train (Bar Method – 60 minutes)

Friday, September 12: rest day

Saturday, September 13: 3.41 miles

Sunday, September 14: rest day

Weekly mileage:  6.74 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 165.03 miles

What a week! I only ran twice this week, as I was at Riot Fest all 3 days this past weekend, and I just couldn't bring myself to run again on Sunday. Talk about exhausting! I've got a blister on the bottom of one of my toes because I had to wear boots everyday, due to the muddy conditions. It was a lot of fun, but my entire body is sore from standing for so long each day. Not to mention I'm just plain tiiiiiirrrrreeeed.

Some of the carnival.

Fire Dancer... is that what they're called? Either way, it was crazy!

The Flaming Lips.

Bar Method classes went great this week! Unfortunately, this was my final week of class. As much as I loved it, and as much as I notice a difference in my strength and can tell I am more toned, I feel with my Dopey training mileage amping up soon, it's best to concentrate on my running, rest days, and other forms of cross training. I plan on joining the gym this week so I can start swimming (looow impact cross training, thank you, but still quite difficult). I learned a good amount during my month of classes, and will continue to do some of the workouts on my own. I would love to take more classes come the spring, if I can swing it.

Saturday = cooooold. As much as I love those temps,
my body isn't quite ready for them.
I saw a funny sign outside a coffee shop that said
'BRRRRRIOT FEST'. Haha.

Repping some of my favorite companies:
Orange Mud hat, ENERGYbits sunglasses,
and Picky Bars t-shirt (though I couldn't get
my arms to reach far enough away to show it).

I did not feel like going for a run on Saturday before heading back to Riot Fest, but I took some ENERGYbits and got my butt out the door for a short 3.41 miles. Thanks to my bits, I was able to keep a pretty good pace (for me) the entire time. It's funny how now, when I feel like I'm going slow, I'm still a minute faster per mile than I used to be. That's a great feeling!

Remember I have an ENERGYbits giveaway going on now, so make sure to enter before Friday! The winner will be announced Friday afternoon. Or, if you're looking to buy a full bag, use promo code 'HeatherRuns' for a 25% discount!

Couldn't get a focused photo, but Picky Bars and ENERGYbits
helped me get through the exhausting weekend.

On a side note, BibRave.com was featured in a recent Runner's World article about Chicago. Check it out here. Also, Jessica (one of the co-founders of BibRave) completed an The North Face Endurance Challenge Wisconsin on Saturday (50 mile trail race!). And by completed, I mean she demolished it! She won 1st place in her age group, and was the fourth female overall – that's amazing! She's an inspiration, and her BibRave family is so proud of her! Join me in congratulating her on this amazing accomplishment. You can check out her review here, and don't forget to review your own races while you're there :)

How was your week? Did training go well? Any races over the weekend? Let me know how it all went :)