Race Schedule and Results

Monday, December 2, 2013

Mizuno Wave Rider 17

**The following post is sponsored by FitFluential, LLC on behalf of Mizuno.  All opinions stated in this blog are my own**

Thanks to FitFluential, I was given the opportunity to test drive the new Mizuno Wave Rider 17's which are being released to the public on December 5th.  I have loved older versions of the Wave Rider and was super excited to get a sneak peak at the newest version, the lightest Wave Rider yet.

I'm a visual running shoe buyer - I find a pair that I like and then want a color I like.  Since they hadn't been released yet, I had no clue what they would look like.  I was super excited when I opened the box and found these:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/4jlqdzdvlmw6e8m/PQWLjTeTqs/Product%20Images/410564_8M8K.jpg?token_hash=AAGqYzAVSNJ7Kgj9hd_srtWIFYWzjD-xFQv02OEI09rjSA


http://distilleryimage4.ak.instagram.com/c15b7e76547811e3a3b412b8b4421951_8.jpg

I have become a fan of darker shoes and I loved the pink and light teal (they look a little more green and purple on the website, but they are definitely pink and teal!).  And the toe box had an awesome metallic band that I was digging for sure.  They looked a lot like my older versions, but they were super light.  I was shocked by the weight (around 8 ounces).  I was worried that this would impact the cushioning that I've come to love with the Wave Rider, but that's not the case at all.
http://distilleryimage11.ak.instagram.com/a964efb257ae11e38c7612f15deb871e_8.jpg
I have run in the shoes 4 times now - twice on the treadmill and twice outside.  They fit great (true to size) and are in fact very light weight.  I feel like I could run in them for my longer runs with no problem.  The motto on these shoes is "from here to disappear.  Feel your run and not your shoes" and I get it.  I like it.  It fits.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/4jlqdzdvlmw6e8m/TogjulUoyB/Digital%20Assets/WR%2017_WOMENS_240x161.jpg?token_hash=AAGqYzAVSNJ7Kgj9hd_srtWIFYWzjD-xFQv02OEI09rjSA

This is really a great all around neutral shoe.  I've come to expect this from Mizuno, but with the Wave Rider 17, Mizuno stepped it up a notch!

Key Features:
  • U4ic midsole delivers lightweight, resilient cushioning.
  • Dissolving upper fit with new DMF execution and soft, supple mesh materials.
  • New sockliner with increased resiliency and responsiveness.
  • SmoothRide Engineer for a Brilliant Run.
  • Lateral Forefoot Sculpting for smooth touchdown and transition.
  • Blown rubber forefront with deep flex grooves for optimal flexibility and cushioning.
  • MSRP: $114.99
Overall, I'm a fan.  They look good.  They feel good. And they definitely added to my brilliant, mezamashii run!  


 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

My daily gratitude


I've enjoyed so many people posting each day of November what they are thankful for on Facebook although it kind of makes me smile that the first 10 days or so are things like "my parents", "my health", "my house" and then by the 26th day, it's things like "the wine store down the street that sells huge vats of cheap wine that help me cope with the weather in November". Hey, whatever works for you!

I've been trying to list the things I'm grateful for every day of the year - Tom and I actually do it each night before dinner.  I guess it's our sort of grace before supper.  And in a year when it's easy to say how much a lot of the situations that we have faced have sucked, our list of things we are grateful for each day is quite long and impressive.

We have an amazing marriage, build from a friendship, surrounded by love and trust.  We fight, we disagree, we get angry at each other, but we always talk through things and we never go to bed mad.  We get each other and know that everything we do is way more fun with the other one next to us. We laugh, a lot, usually at the other person and that's fine.  We're a team in every aspect of our lives.


We have the most spectacular little girl in our life.  Never in a million years did either of us think that a little girl could bring us so much happiness.  And each day she gets more and more fun.  She's learning something new around the clock and her personality is starting to shine through.  She smiles and giggles, she plays with toys and pets the dog. She grabs your nose and blows raspberries with a mouth full of carrots.  She's awesome.


We have a dog who I swear is getting younger every day.  We laughed the other day while running her when someone stopped and said "what a cute puppy.  She's going to be a big one".  We went on to tell them that she's 9.5 years old and then smiled the rest of the run wondering if there's a big 10 year growth spurt that we should be concerned with.  She's so patient with Abby, and we keep telling her that someday soon they will be the best of friends, probably when Abby starts feeding herself!

Our family is a blessing to us.  They support us in so many ways and encourage us to put ourselves out there and take risks.  They teach us the value of love and that it's totally unconditional.

We have friends and neighbors that have become like family to us, especially when our "blood" family is so far away.  They are people that we can truly count on for anything.  It's important to have people like that in your life.

We have a beautiful house that's safe and keeps us warm.  We have food on our table each day to keep us fat full.  We have the ability and desire to exercise which keeps us healthy and sane.

Tom has started a new career and through his patience and determination, has been able to teach himself a trade, pass a test and get licensed in the state of Georgia to do something that he's truly excited about in less than a month.  And he has a company willing to mentor him to help him achieve his goals and to learn everything he can possibly learn to be the best.

Seriously, we are lucky people.  We have a great life.  We have so many things to be thankful for 365 days a year.  I challenge you to take a few minutes every day... not just in November... and think about all of the things that are blessings in your life.  I bet the list is longer than you think!!!

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Okay so a few more things.  Black Friday - aka total chaos in stores for things that inevitably will be that cheap again in about two weeks without the crazies.  I try to avoid it if at all possible (I have gone out at the wee hours of the morning just to experience it and it was fun.  Once.  Now my warm bed is WAY more exciting).  And don't get me started on the stores that are open on Thanksgiving.  Ahhhhh... there are a ton of online sales though that are pretty awesome and I totally cool with that.  As a Zensah Ambassador, I'm sharing this one with you because it's a really great deal.  They socks are awesome (well everything about their stuff is awesome, but their socks are really awesome).  This is a good deal people.  Trust me!

It's also Beat M*ch*gan week.  That could possibly be more important to a lot of people than Thanksgiving.  Tom and I have been proudly flying our Ohio State flag all week and Saturday we'll plop our butts on the couch with some yummy snacks and cheer our Buckeyes onto a win.  I'm not a die-hard OSU fan or anything, but it's funny how easy it is to meet someone from M*ch*gan and simply say "I'm sorry". :)  O-H


I'm testing some Mizuno WaveRider 17's right now thanks to FitFluential and really loving them.  Will post a review about them soon.  Here's a sneak peak at them though...



Photo: Day made when the new Mizuno #waverider17 showed up! Love the color and super light! Can't wait to test these! #sponsored #fitfluential