2011 Farewell

The finish line of my first Marathon
Quad Cities 9.25.11

I had full intentions of writing a extensive 2011 Year in Review.  I thought about it.  I made notes.  But when it comes right down to it, I can't get myself motivated to write it.  Why?  Because I'm too damn excited to kick off 2012!!  I'm so over 2011 and can't wait to get started on new goals in the new year!

So without much ado, I bid 2011 farewell, short and sweet...

2011 will forever be remembered for my First Marathon (race recap).  It is by far my proudest accomplishment.  I diligently trained my ass off, sacrificed summer fun for rest/run/recovery, and crossed that finish line like a damn champion.  (No, I didn't win.)  I still can't quite put the feeling into words.  How on earth can running 26.2 miles make me feel so darn happy and elated?  I'm all about the endorphin high.

Other Highlights from 2011

• I broke PR's in every race distance.  Training with speed intervals work. period. no cheating. just do the work.
• I met so many fabulous running friends with the creation of Sole Sisters.  I can't say enough about this newfound running community of women.
• I started blogging last January and made extraordinary friendships with runners from all over the U.S. Pretty confident that I could run anywhere and find a fellow blogger who would take me in.  :)
• I became Half Fanatic #1092. 
• I raised over $2000 for cancer charities.

What was your proudest moment of 2011?

Rose Bowl wager

I may live in Illinois now, but I'm a Wisconsin gal through and through.  Born, raised, educated there.  If you're not familiar with us Wisconsin folk, let me educate you a bit...

• We love our football.

• We arrange our weekend plans based on when the Green Bay Packers play.

• We've perfected the art of tailgating.  I've been around the country and have never seen anyone do it better than the fans at Lambeau, Camp Randall and Miller Park.  Don't be jealous or bitter, it's just what we've been trained to do.

•  The Rose Bowl is our thing.  The Wisconsin Badgers have earned 7 trips to the infamous "Granddaddy of Them All," claiming victory 3 times.  Those victories came during/since my college years.  In 1994, I was a college sophomore and remember the mass celebration not only when we earned the trip, but also the extensive victory celebration that followed.  The Badgers repeated victory in 1999 and 2000. Kinda became old hat, right?  So we took a break.  Last year's Rose Bowl trip ended in defeat, so we're pretty determined to redeem ourselves this year.

In four days, the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Oregon Ducks, who are 1-5 in Rose Bowl appearances.  You're asking... What the heck does this have to do with RUNNING?! 


Well, my imaginary running pal Kim... you may know her from (Just) Trying is for Little Girls... is a huge Oregon fan.  Quack, Quack!  Needless to say, we've been smack-talking for weeks now, and decided to put a little wager on the line.

Me and the Badgers are ready to FIGHT!

Kim sporting her new Ducks shirt.  Ooooo, I'm so scared!

~ THE ROSE BOWL BLOGGY WAGER ~

Whoever LOSES the mighty football game must immediately...

Deck themselves out in the WINNING teams colors.

(red/white for the Badgers - green/yellow for the Ducks) 

Design and pose with a sign that declares their humble servitude.

Post a photo of the above on their blog, facebook & twitter for all to see!

Oh- the Shame!

I can't wait to see Kim all dressed in Badger Red!!

Please support me in this fun little wager... I encourage you to give Kim

 a little Badger love (taunting) on Facebook (here) and on Twitter (here).

GO BIG RED!
I'm hungry for roasted duck!

Christmas Runs & New Toys!

Back from another whirlwind Christmas.  It was by far the best I've had in years.  The kids were at a wonderfully fun age this year.  We were able to see all of our extended family and still squeeze in some quality time for our little family of four.

And I kept my run on through it all!  On Christmas Eve, I joined up with Sole Sisters Patty, Laura and Karyn as we tackled 9+ miles on a sunny but very cold morning.  We ran the Pekin trails, which are one of my favorites.  I wasn't feeling it that morning, but so happy I had company to push me through the miles.  I'm totally late in recapping for the virtual Christmas 5K, but my 5K split was 32:02.  The backhalf of the long run was to complete the virtual Home for the Holidays 10K, so my official time for that race was 1:04.

Christmas Eve run... Our hats/headbands were covered in frost!

And then the food coma began.  Let's just get it out there... I ate like crap!  My stomach hurt so badly from the rich (and delicious) food.  Yesterday morning before we left Wisconsin, I pushed myself out the door for a run.  Again, I was totally not feeling it, but I knew even a short run would make me feel better.  I told myself at least 3 miles and then see how it goes...  I ended up with 6 miles.  There's something I just enjoy about running back in my hometown!

But now to the really fun news... NEW RUNNING STUFF!!

I'm most excited about the YakTrax.  It was the "one" thing I wanted for snow-running this winter.  But look at all the other stuff too... gloves, Luna bars, foot repair cream, knee high socks, gum, nuun, GU packets, BondiBand headband, clip-on light for a hat and a $25 gift certificate to our local running store.

Of course, last week I already received my new treadmill...

And yesterday, we stopped at four car dealerships during our long drive home looking for one of these...

Dodge Journey in Pearl Blue... Yup, one is in my future... real soon!

So what running toys did Santa bring you??

Friday Five!

O • N • E

All my patience, rest and icing has paid off.  My foot is on the mend.  I'm so darn happy to be running again this week. Of all the weeks I need my run, the week of Christmas is it! With travel, shopping and all the hustle-bustle, the holiday season is not exactly my favorite time of year. (what?!)  The next 14 days, my hubby is on vacation, which means my run window is wide open!  Best gift ever.

T • W • O

Christmas Eve morning (Sat), I'm heading out with a couple Sole Sisters to hit 9 miles before the holiday festivities sweep me into a coma.  I'll time the first 5K split for Daily Vitamin F's virtual Christmas 5K. (you can still enter here).  The back half of the run, I'll time separately for Home for the Holidays virtual 10K.  So I guess that means I gotta do 9.3 miles total, huh?  

T • H • R • E • E

2012 is going to be a great year.  I'm working on my goals, my challenges, my aspirations... and I'm really getting excited for the possibilities of a New Year!  It's official... I'm on the ToughChik Team for 2012!  And you can be too!  They have extended membership signup until Jan. 7, so head over HERE and check out the details.

F • O • U • R

I'm at 1165 miles for the year.  I was hoping to reach 1200, which means I need 35 miles in the next 8 days.  Can I do it?  Do I want to?  We'll see... Friend me on DailyMile.com here and you'll find out when (if) I do!!

F • I • V • E

Signing off for the weekend... I hope you all have the best Christmas ever!  May you and your family enjoy all the blessings of the holiday.  Next week, I'm excited to write my "best of 2011" that Miss Zippy has challenged us with.  It's been such a fabulous year that it's taken me some thought. 

Merry Fitmas and a Happy New Rear!

Introducing my new baby...

Name:  Pro-Form 1450 Treadmill, but taking your suggestions on a sassier name...
Delivered:  December 20, 2011 at 1:25pm
Weight: 256 pounds!
Proud Mommy:  Jess!
First Words:  "No Excuses!"

My sweet baby has arrived!  This one is gonna give me a run for the money, I just know it.  While I was playing with 16 kindergarteners yesterday afternoon, my hubby welcomed our new treadmill in the door.  We had to break down the box upstairs and carry it piece by piece into the basement.  Once I accounted for all the pieces, I let her sleep for a couple hours because I knew the task of assembly was going to be long and frustrating.

When my hubby and kids settled in for The Polar Express movie, I snuck downstairs and got to work.  For the most part, it went together without problem.  The worst part was that my hands were sore from tightening all the screws.  The instruction manual was adequate, but it helped greatly that could quietly concentrate 100% on the task at hand.  Roughly two hours later, I was at the end of assembly.  Hubby came down to assist with the final part and she was good to go.

This morning I woke up ready to coo over my new baby.  I read the whole manual, played with the console, setup my iFit.com account, downloaded routes and charted some maps.  During all this, my girls kept asking, "So when you going to RUN on it?"  Finally, I strapped on my Asics and took her for a spin.

Going so fast it's blurry!  Ha!  Just the best photo my 3 year old could get...

My girls set up their seats right next to the treadmill for the inaugural run... So darn cute!

I tried out the iFit program for my first run since this was the feature on the Pro-Form 1450 I was most excited about.  I choose the 3.15 mile Central Park loop in New York City.

The iFit program controls your treadmill, taking you through the streets of New York.  It automatically rotates displays of map, street and satellite pictures, or you can lock it on the one of your choice.  The incline adjust up and down based on the actual geography.  Central Park has some hills, that I now know.

I can knock out 5 miles around my neighborhood with ease, but for some reason, the treadmill always seems like hard work to me.  Today was no exception.  The console reported a 10:30 pace and yet I felt like I was really hustling... and I'm usually pretty good about "feeling" my pace.  My first run was a hard 3 miles with some decent hill work (up to a 4.5 incline in spots).  I guess the hills felt harder because I never decreased the speed.  Regardless, I was sweating something fierce!

No doubt about it, I enjoy outside running much better.  But this will make me appreciate the days I actually get outdoors, especially in the winter.  And the toughness of treadmill runs will make me stronger for spring races.  I can't wait to try out some of Jillian Michaels' interval workouts.  The thought of letting Jillian take over my mill controls sounds kinda scary.

The corporate introduction of my new baby...

Can you help me think up a

 fun sassy name for my new treadmill?

Tis the Season

I enjoyed participating in the holiday card exchange hosted by (Just) Trying is for Little Girls.  Everyone was put on teams of five... and then we sent holiday cards to each other.  Team Vixen totally rocked and I got cool cards (and goodies!) from all of them.

Yesterday, I received a surprise gift from my Secret Santa on DailyMile.  Cool new running book!  I can't seem to find her on DM to thank her, so if by some chance Melissa reads this blog... Thank You!

Last Friday, I celebrated the holidays with my longstanding group of girlfriends.  They may not run, but they sure do mix up killer cocktails.  Seriously, it took me a couple days to recoup from these Pomegranate Fizzlers.  They sounds innocent enough, right?!  I mean pomegranate is healthy.  Yeah, not these... pomegranate seeds marinated for a day in brandy, then dropped into a glass of champagne.  The seeds bounce up and down for the whole 5 minutes it lasted in my hand.  Fun, festive, but dangerous!

Today I hold my breathe with anticipation.  My new treadmill is scheduled to arrive.  It's been a long journey (read here), but ALAS!  My new baby arrives today!  I cross my fingers that assembly goes smoothly and it works when we flip the switch.

ProForm 1450, you are all mine!

5 Days until Christmas!

Shopping is done and wrapping in progress.  I'm trying to take this year in stride and not stress about the details, the travel, the chaos... and just enjoy the time with my kids, family and friends. Today I get to be "room mom" at the kindergarten Christmas party and then both girls will be on holiday break for 2.5 weeks.  Sure hope I can fit some runs in there or momma might go crazy. 

Jingle Bell HELL recap

The infamous Michael Sonnemaker statue was
our start/finish line for each hilly loop.

Last night I gathered up all the red, green and white that my running wardrobe had to offer in preparation for the Jingle Bell Hell.  I wish a trip to Berkley, California was in my cards to run the JBH with XLMIC herself.  Instead, I created a local fun run and invited my Sole Sisters to join in.

The objective of the Jingle Bell Hell run was to put together a challenging course of hills and run a 1/3 marathon (8.75 miles). I designed a winding course of 4.45 miles through Springdale Cemetery and Glen Oak Park.  I wanted to give the option of 1 or 2 loops, depending on individual abilities.

So this morning, we all bundled up and met at 8:00am to complete our hellish run.  It was a chilly 24 degrees at the start, but the sun was shining so brightly!  It was a beautiful morning and by time we were done, it was up to 40 degrees already.

Now I've been giving my foot a lot of rest this week - no running, all biking and boxing.  So I wasn't sure what to expect of my Jingle Bell Hell run.  The roads through Springdale aren't the best (broken cement, rocks, uneven), so I watched my footfall and concentrated on my steps.  The foot feels sore, but no pain, so I'm happy with that.

Eighteen ladies showed up to run Peoria's first Jingle Bell Hell.  We broke up into a couple different groups based on pace and tried not to get lost on my winding course.  I was so impressed on how everyone trudged up those hills.  Even with hill interval training on the bike the last two weeks, I could feel every muscle in my legs working to get up those hills.

Two loops of up and down, up and down = 1/3 Marathon baby!

There's a reason there is only one letter difference 

between the words HILL and HELL!

On the second loop, I started to feel the hills a bit more.  As my legs started to scream, I focused on a halfway point up the hill ... and crawl towards that until I slowed to a walk.  Even with a couple walk breaks on the big hills, my group maintained a pretty good pace of 10:31 average.  I was pleased with that for my first run back and ahem... the hills!

My Jingle Bell Hell stats

8.93 miles in 1:33:50

"Don't look up!"

Once we were done, I promised the gals hot chocolate waiting at the finish.  We laughed (mandatory for XLMIC!), we hugged, we snapped pictures, we told stories and discussed holiday plans over yummy hot cocoa.  Despite the hellish run, it was AWESOME to spend a Sunday morning with my Sistas.  I think we'll make the Jingle Bell Hell an annual tradition in Peoria.  Thanks for the great idea and hosting the virtual event XLMIC.

 We all look funny squinting into the sun!

 Happy to be done with Hills!

 Yeah, she's a crazy Bears fan, but I still love my Steph!

Hot chocolate for all - perfect warmup after a chilly run!

Three Things Thursday

1. When I run in the early morning or evening darkness, I'm a safety gal.  With reflective belt, a headlamp and numerous blinkers around my body, I'm hard to miss coming down the street.  I always joked around that I'm "lit up like a Christmas tree."  Well, I took that to a literal sense this holiday season...

Yup, that's a battery-powered set of LED Christmas lights wrapped around me.  

Festive and effective!  Best of all, they were only $4.

2.  I'm reading a new book right now.  Only five chapters in, I'm already compelled to tell you about it! If your running obsession hobby is parallel for other important things in your life, this book is a must read.  I'm getting so much out of it already.  It's making me think outside the box... and dream again.  A seriously great last-minute addition to your Christmas list...

Running the Edge by Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano

3.  I thought the hardest part of getting a treadmill was picking which one I wanted.  Nope!  You won't even believe the process of how it's gone down... starting back in early November...

O' Yes... you will be mine!

• Finally decided on the ProForm 1080 treadmill.

• Ordered from (company unnamed) online.  Said it was in-stock and would arrive for pickup in 4-6 days.  Eagerly waited...

• One week later, receive an email that the item is now backordered.  Crap!

• Two weeks later, receive an email that my order has now been cancelled because it is backordered indefinitely.  Sh*t!

• Fight with company to get the extended warranty refunded.  Hello? You cancelled my order, why would I still want the warranty on an item I don't have?

• Decide on a new model - since the 1080 is now sold out everywhere. (Hello holiday season!)

• Order the 1450 model directly from ProForm.  No messing around with a middle man this time.  Delivery is promised in 10-14 days.

• 15 days go past... nothing. My credit card is still not even charged for the order.  Okay, WTH?  I e-mail the company for an order status update.  No answer for three days.

• Finally today, the shipping company calls to schedule delivery for next Tuesday.  I think this just MIGHT become a reality!!  But there is 4 more days for someone to screw something up.  Dare I even wonder it aloud... Will it work upon arrival!?!?

The Battle Within

I want to thank everyone who played the 12 Days of a Fit Christmas!  It was fun playing Santa for 12 straight days.  There were some super great sponsors, right?!  I  hope you found a new product or two to add to your Christmas list.  By reading the responses each day, it really motivated me last week... so thanks to YOU!  I have one final winner to announce from Day 12.  Congrats to JENNIFER F., who ran 10 miles on a treadmill Monday to win herself some Peppermint GU Energy gel.  Jennifer, email me with your address at runwithjess@comcast.net to claim your prize.

• • •

I'm struggling this week with the same nagging injury. Twisting an ankle equals a lot of unhappy muscles in your whole foot.  Downsizing my runs for the past couple weeks has not been easy. I'm trying to stay fit with bike rides, boxing, weights, yoga... but it's just not the same.  Running brings me a special kind of release.  It's my elixir, my drug. Without it, I feel kinda lost... and depressed, especially when I'm suppose to be in-training for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon in less than 10 weeks.

Getting over an injury, even as simple as a twisted ankle, takes a certain kind of inner strength.  It's easy to get sucked down into that spiraling tunnel of laziness.  Without the exhilaration, exhaustion and utter high that a run provides, I find myself wandering around the house bored and unsatisfied.  That always leads me into the kitchen looking for something I can eat to make it better, make it go away.  In the past, I've dealt with life's adversities by numbing my system... food comas, alcohol or cigarettes.  I refuse to be that person again.  So when injuries riddle my run, my subconscious goes into a deep battle.  I fight the urge to sulk on the couch with a tub of ice cream.  I refuse to let my muscles turn to jelly.  I hoist myself up on that bike, crank the happy tunes and pedal away... because I know a kick-ass run is in my future.

Day 12 of a Fit Christmas

It's the FINAL day of a the 12 Days of a Fit Christmas!  I hope it's provided a little extra motivation to help keep you on track this busy holiday season.  Just reading your entries have made the difference in getting me out the door some days!  The random winner of Day 11's custom iPhone cover from Family Fan Club is... ERIN D., who ran 5.5 miles, followed by the hip portion of the StrongStrides DVD.  Erin, please email me at runwithjess@comcast.net to claim your prize.

• • •

When I was training for my first half marathon, a runner friend asked me if I was practicing mid-run fueling.  The answer was obvious by my "deer-in-headlights" look.  Almost three years later, I've gotten it down to a near science.  My product of choice is GU Energy gels.

GU Energy was first on the scene with energy gels, introduced in 1991.  Easy to take, simple to digest, the GU Energy gels provide a shot of fast-acting natural fructose (natural sugar) to boost your energy supply while on the run.  The 100 calorie pack restores vital electrolytes to keep your blood chemistry in line and hydration levels stable. The gel contains complex carbs (in the form of maltodextrin) to assist in maintaining your glucose levels over the course of your run.

I typically use energy gels when I plan training runs over 8 miles in length. In a half marathon, I've found timing to be best at mile 5 and 10.  Sometimes I even take one before a 5K or 10K if I feel like I didn't fuel properly the night before.

GU Energy also offers "fuel" in forms of chewable Chomps, electrolyte drinks and the Roctane ultra-endurance gels.  I've trained with them all at some point or another.  The Chomps remind me of my kids' fruit snacks. If you have a hard time swallowing the "goo," then these are probably your best bet.  The drinks are a great addition to your water on a long run to keep your electrolyte levels up.  I found this really helpful during my full marathon training.  The Roctane is a serious boost of caffeine. I've tried it many times without a consistent result.  Sometimes my tummy can't handle it; other times it's fine.

Overall I prefer the regular GU Energy gels.  There is definitely a difference when I use them on a long run or marathon.  My favorite flavors are Tri-Berry, Strawberry-Banana, Mandarin Orange and Jet Blackberry.  And now, GU Energy introduced a seasonal flavor for the winter... Peppermint Stick!

I recently tried out the Peppermint Stick flavor and found the minty flavor refreshing while on the run.  Keep in mind, I love Peppermint flavor in general.  I chew Peppermint Extra gym while running all the time, so this flavor was perfect for me.  Think of it like a breath mint - your running partner will thank you!

GU Energy also introduced new Peanut Butter and Island Nector flavors.  I haven't tried them yet, but Peanut Butter sure sounds interesting to me!?

It's Monday AND the last day of a Fit Christmas ... so GET BUSY and GET ACTIVE today!  Then come back and tell me about it to earn an entry to win today's prize... 

Peppermint Stick GU Energy gel!

HERE'S HOW TO WIN TODAY'S PRIZE

 from GU Energy

First you gotta work out!!  That's #1 priority here folks.  Get your sweat on and then come back and tell me about it!!  Make stuff up and Karma will come knocking at your door...

1.  BLOG

Comment below on this blogpost:  Answer me this... "How did you stay FIT today?"  Simple answers such as "I ran 3 miles" will suffice, or you can brag it up and give me a detailed summary.  One entry per person per day.

2.  TWITTER

Tweet, tweet, tweet!  Tweet something like this... "I ran 4 miles to win  Peppermint GU in the #FitXmas @GUEnergyLabs @RUNwJESS"  Of course, you should replace the underlined part with what you actually did.  Key is to include the hashtags #FitXmas, @RUNwJESS and @GUEnergyLabs.  No need to come back and tell me about it... I'll see it on Twitter if you tag me appropriately.  One entry per person per day.

3.  FACEBOOK

Comment on today's Facebook post that asks, "How did you stay FIT today?"  Again, no need to come back and tell me about it... I'll see it on the Run with Jess FB page.  One entry per person per day.

No matter which social medium is your forte, 

you can play the 12 Days of a Fit Christmas!!

If you do all three, you'll earn 3 entries into today's drawing.

Day 12 closes for new entries at 12:00 midnight CST.  Winner will be announced on Dec. 13.

THE FINE PRINT

• You must follow Run with Jess via Google Friend Connect (click Join button in the right sidebar), on Facebook and/or on Twitter.  I don't mean to force you to like me, but I gotta be able to get in touch with you.

• Giveaway items were supplied to me by the named companies.  However, the opinions expressed here are all Jess.

• Open to U.S. residents only. Sorry my international buddies, but postage is getting expensive.

• Each person may only win once.  Gotta spread the holiday cheer around...

• No sign-up or registration required.  Just come back each day from Dec. 1st thru the 12th.

• Each person is allowed a maximum of 3 entries into each giveaway (1 for a blog comment, 1 for a tweet, and 1 for a FB post).  Each entry must answer the question, "What did you do to stay fit today?"  

Day 11 of a Fit Christmas

Saturdays equal long runs for a lot of you... many in some really COLD weather!  Congrats!  Unfortunately for me, it meant a rest day since my ankle was throbbing again. <argh>  The random winner of Day 10's Tough Chik iRun t-shirt is... AMY, who rocked 14 miles in 20 degrees Sat morning.  Amy, please email me at runwithjess@comcast.net with your mailing address to claim your prize.

• • •

Last spring, hubby and I made the plunge into "technology" and bought matching iPhones.  Until then, we had the regular old cell phones, with no extra features... not even texting.  Now I don't know how we ever lived without our iPhones.  They're like little computers at our fingertips!  I even use my iPhone on long runs when I want to know exact mileage via GPS apps like Nike+GPS or iMapMyRun+. When I'm gone running for 2+ hours, having the iPhone along on the run is kind of a safety thing too.

So when a gadget becomes that important in your life, you want it to look good, right?  I have several covers for my iPhone... pink, yellow, black... but nothing as stylish as my new iPhone cover from Family Fan Club!  Recently, Family Fan Club contacted me about their new custom iPhone covers.  Feature your favorite finish line photo or make a design of your own.  As a graphic designer, I love creating custom looks on just about any and all products.


I wanted the design to reflect my blog a little bit, so I kept with the purple and black colors and my "runner ponytail girl"icon.  I went with a black cover, but you also have the option of clear or white.  I kept the design general enough so that any runner can use the design...  I'D RATHER BE RUNNING!  So go ahead and order one of these iPhone covers from Family Fan Club.  Just ask for Run with Jess design!  Order before Dec. 15 and you can get 15% off with the coupon code runwithjess.


My custom iPhone cover arrived within the week and I was so delighted at how it turned out!  The color printed nice and vibrant.  It snapped around the iPhone with ease, but has a firm fit so there's no slipping off. The cover provides a protective shield around all four corners, with openings for all the buttons and plug-ins.  And by golly, I just look cool holding it, right?!

The Family Fan Club team excels at customer service, whether you're doing a custom shirt, hat, drinkware or iPhone cover.  They are all about customized service to make something special for the athlete in you or the fans that cheer you on. 


So GET MOVING and GET ACTIVE today to score an entry into Day 11 of a Fit Christmas to win a custom iPhone cover of your choice from Family Fan Club!  Remember even if you don't win, Family Fan Club is offering my readers a super great discount for the holidays...

HERE'S HOW TO WIN TODAY'S PRIZE

 from Family Fan Club

First you gotta work out!!  That's #1 priority here folks.  Get your sweat on and then come back and tell me about it!!  Make stuff up and Karma will come knocking at your door...

1.  BLOG

Comment below on this blogpost:  Answer me this... "How did you stay FIT today?"  Simple answers such as "I ran 3 miles" will suffice, or you can brag it up and give me a detailed summary.  One entry per person per day.

2.  TWITTER

Tweet, tweet, tweet!  Tweet something like this... "I ran 6 miles to win a @familyfanclub iPhone cover in the #FitXmas giveaway @RUNwJESS"  Of course, you should replace the underlined part with what you actually did.  Key is to include the hashtags #FitXmas, @RUNwJESS and @familyfanclub.  No need to come back and tell me about it... I'll see it on Twitter if you tag me appropriately.  One entry per person per day.

3.  FACEBOOK

Comment on today's Facebook post that asks, "How did you stay FIT today?"  Again, no need to come back and tell me about it... I'll see it on the Run with Jess FB page.  One entry per person per day.

No matter which social medium is your forte, 

you can play the 12 Days of a Fit Christmas!!

If you do all three, you'll earn 3 entries into today's drawing.

Day 11 closes for new entries at 12:00 midnight CST.  Winner will be announced on Dec. 12.

THE FINE PRINT

• You must follow Run with Jess via Google Friend Connect (click Join button in the right sidebar), on Facebook and/or on Twitter.  I don't mean to force you to like me, but I gotta be able to get in touch with you.

• Giveaway items were supplied to me by the named companies.  However, the opinions expressed here are all Jess.

• Open to U.S. residents only. Sorry my international buddies, but postage is getting expensive.

• Each person may only win once.  Gotta spread the holiday cheer around...

• No sign-up or registration required.  Just come back each day from Dec. 1st thru the 12th.

• Each person is allowed a maximum of 3 entries into each giveaway (1 for a blog comment, 1 for a tweet, and 1 for a FB post).  Each entry must answer the question, "What did you do to stay fit today?"