6 Miles. January 31, 2011.

Got in 6 miles, including 1 hilly mile.  My 1st workout since being sick.  My head and heart was in it, but my legs wasn't in sync with everything else.  I am sure things will eventually get back to normal.

6 miles @ 1:18:45
662 calories burned

6-Hour Distance Classic, San Francisco, CA. Great Price!!! Event date: July 10, 2011.

Running around in circles is something that doesn't bothers me.  It bothers some I know.

If it doesn't bother you, you might want to consider the following event organized by the DSE Runners, a local running club in San Francisco:

6-Hour Distance Classic
Crissy Field, San Francisco, CA
Date:  July 10, 2011


The course is flat.  I believe it is a 1.061 mile loop going around a lagoon.


There will be 1 fully stocked aid station with water, electrolyte drink and snacks.

I really, really dig the price.  Currently, it's $10, not including the pesky Active.com fee.

If it is not too foggy, you will also get a very nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge.

For more info. about going around in circles at this event and/to register, click here.

Good luck!!!

15% Off Sale at Brightroom Event Photography. Ends Midnight, February 15, 2011.

I do buy event photos when they turn out well, but I do hate it that it costs an arm and leg to purchase them.  And, many of my running friends agree.

Hopefully this sale will help a bit.

15% off
Code:  GROUNDHOGDAY
Sale ends:  Midnight, February 15, 2011

Brightroom is based in Forth Worth, TX, I believe.  I would definitely order way before their midnight deadline to avoid any disappointments.

To start saving on your photos, click here and don't forget to enter your code.

Happy savings!!!

Hoping for a Better's Night Sleep. January 30, 2011.

My fever of 100.4 F seemed to have subsided, but other things cropped up.

Was kept up last night by a migraine headache.

I ended up tossing my cookies several times as well as having a small nosebleed before I was able to get some quality sleep.  [Be thankful I didn't shoot any pics for this blog.  :)]

Hoping for a better's night sleep tonight.

Coyote Hills Half Marathon: DNS. January 29, 2011.

I had been looking forward to the Coyote Hills Half Marathon (trail half marathon) all month, but the day before, I knew it wasn't going to happen...at least, not for me.

I was feeling sick after work.  I felt hot and cold.  My muscles ached, and it was not due to any strenuous physical activity.

I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling really hot, that I went to a closet to pull out a thermometer.

Fever of 100.4 F degrees.

OK.  I now have "proof" the event wasn't going to happen for me, and it's back to bed I go.

I am hoping there would be a Coyote Hills Half Marathon for 2012.

Activities for January 25 and 26, 2011.

Since I have the Coyote Hills Half Marathon this weekend, I have been tapering this week, so more walking instead of wogging along.

January 25
Walked 6.6 miles
Guestimate calories burned:  363

January 26
Walked 6.6 miles
Guestimate calories burned:  363

Why Pay Full Price for Running Events with Schwaggle?

Active.com recently launched Schwaggle, which is their version of Groupon for running events and fitness related activities, services and products.

To date, I have seen the following 2 events among several blow out heavily discounted entries:

100th Bay to Breakers 12k

100th Bay to Breakers entries were blown out at 50% off.

2nd Oakland Marathon Events

Oakland Marathon entries were blown out at 47% off with an option to downgrade to the Half Marathon event. 

For events which have a history of poor reg. #'s, why bother to pay full price next time around or ever again?

Dashed 8.01 Miles. January 23, 2011.

Speedwork is kinda hard to do in my area without becoming roadkill.  Best I can do is dash from 1 intersection to the next.

Today was unseasonably warm.  It was 8 to 13 F warmer than usual.

Dashed 8.01 miles @ 1:46:41
Downed 1 Strawberry PowerBar Gel
Net calories burned:  742

Walked 10.8 miles. Got Lost in Golden Gate Park. January 22, 2011.

Went sightseeing in Golden Gate Park.  I wasn't planning on walking 10.8 miles but got lost along the way.  At one point, I was so famished, I downed 1 nice, warm and soft pretzel with mustard from the Annie's Hot Dogs and Pretzels cart near the de Young Museum.  The pretzel was delicious.

Here are a few pics from my sightseeing adventures:

The Conservatory of Flowers.

The Music Concourse Band Shell.

The California Academy of Sciences.

Rainbow Falls with the Prayerbook Cross near the top.

Walked 10.8 miles.
Guestimate gross calories burned:  592
 
I have no idea how many calories the pretzel contained, but I am pretty sure I am still ahead.  :)

15% off Round Trip Airfare Southwest Airlines* and Visa Signature Credit Card.

I know many of my Marathon Maniac and Half Fanatic running peeps can use an airfare discount any which way they can get to their numerous events.

Here's one:

Valid for 15% off Wanna Get Away Round Trip Airfare*

and Visa Signature Credit Card

Valid for Visa Signature consumer cards only.  One code available per card for the length of the promotion.  One time use and for a limited time only.  Purchase must be made between January 20, 2011 and April 30, 2011 for travel January 20, 2011 thru June 1, 2011.  There are also Blackout Dates outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

You MUST register and MUST have an email addie to participate. 

For more info. and/or to register for this promo, click here.  (NOTE:  You might have to refresh the page after you click here.)

Safe travels!!!

Post-RnR Arizona Marathon Recovery. January 18 to 20, 2011.

Post-RnR Arizona Marathon, I have been a busy bee.  I’ll try to have a recap of my marathon up before the end of next week.

For the time being, I have doing a little bit here and there, recovering from the marathon.  Here are my following activities:

1/18, Tue

Went downstairs 2 floors twice.  Going downstairs is still a bit of a challenge.

Walked 3.4 miles.

Guestimate calories burned:  170

1/19, Wed

My new best friend is The Stick.*  A few rolls on my legs, and my legs felt much better.  I used The Stick before heading out on a long walk this day. 

The Stick.

For the most part, my long walk was uneventful, but I encountered a dead opossum along the way.  I have a soft spot for animals and felt bad for it.

RIP opossum.

Walked:  7.3 miles

Guestimate calories burned:  401

1/20, Thursday

I wanted to wog an easy 4 miles, but the number of stoplights along the way was ridiculous.

Wogged 4 miles @ 0:55:28

Calories burned:  404


*For more info. about The Stick, click here.

Again, I'll try to have my RnR Arizona Marathon recap up before the end of next week.

Happy running!!!

Shopping for Textbooks? SFSU Bookstore Savings for SFSU Students. Ongoing.

This one is for the students at SF State University:

I was once a student and paying for textbooks every semester just wasn't any fun.

The SFSU Bookstore.

But, the SFSU Booktore has a Gator Rewards Club program to give you back a $25 gift card to use on your next purchase for $350 you spend in textbooks and a few other items (sorry, food and drinks don't count).

NOTE:  Limit of 1 - $25 gift card issued per purchase transaction.

You must be a student in good standing and present your SFSU Student ID # or SFSU Student ID card each time you make a purchase for them to keep track of your spending.

You MUST register to participate, and I believe it takes 2 business days AFTER you register on the SF State University Bookstore's website for the program before your purchases count.

To register for the Gator Rewards Club program and/or for more info., scroll down and look on the left side of the screen AFTER clicking here.

Good look on your studies!!!

Marin County Half Marathon Discount Registration at $35 (53% savings!!!). Updated: SOLD OUT!

Pay $35, while the thing is supposed to go for $75 (53% savings!!!).

Offer is valid only on the Marin County Half.

Event date:  April 23, 2011.

This Schwaggle ends Thu, Jan 27 8am PST or when sold out.

To get in on this deal, click here

For more info., on the Marin County Half Marathon, click here.

I am already committed to other events around this date, so I will take a pass.

But, you don't have to AND get the savings!!! 

---
updated:  January 20, 2010 at 2:17 pm.


SOLD OUT!!!

Pay $10, Get $20 Amazon.com Gift Card off of LivingSocial. January 19, 2011.

This is a great deal.

Pay $10, Get $20 Amazon.com Gift Card.

You can buy some gels, running gear, some tunes to listen to while running or pretty much anything else Amazon.com sells.

To get in on this deal, click here.

Happy savings!!!

Marathon Carb Loading: Pizza.

I generally try to stay away from grease food but with the P.F. Chang's RnR Arizona Marathon around the corner, I decided to indulge a bit.

Delicious!!!

I sometimes do wonder what everyone else chows down on before their big event.

RnR Heavy Medal Series for 2011.

Looks like the RnR Heavy Medal lineup have been announced for 2011.  The more RnR events you do, the more bonus Heavy Medals you get.

I am happy to see the Rock Encore bling and hope I get one.  Now, I need to figure out which event to add on top of the P.F. Chang's RnR Arizona Marathon to complete to get one.

If you do 2 RnR events in 2011, you get the Rock Encore bling.

My only disappointment is that the Musical Note blings are no longer in the lineup.  The Musical Note blings were for marathon combinations completed during one calendar year.

For more info. about the 2011 RnR Heavy Medal blings and to see most of the 2011 lineup, click here.

Rock on!!!

Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon Training Run and Shopping Discount Day (20% Off), San Francisco, CA. Training Run and Discount Date: January 15, 2011.

You usually don't see a free training run, free nibbles afterwards and get a 20% off shopping discount, but this event has it ALL.

Free Training Run #2 for Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon (20% discount day!)

Date of the Training Run and Discount:  9 am on January 15, 2011, Saturday

Where:
Sports Basement - Presidio
610 Old Mason St.
San Francisco, CA

Distance of training run:  6 to 10 mile

Training runs are conducted by Pamakid Running Club and hosted by Sport Basement.

For the flyer on the training runs, click here.

Good luck on your training and happy shopping!!!

Groupon Los Angeles: Plancha Tacos. Pay $5, Get $10 Food and Drinks. Or, Pay $49 for a Party Platter.

This is to my SoCal running peeps in LA:

I am researching for my trip to the LA Marathon.

I am not sure if I can make it to across town to this place for food when in town, but if you are in LA, this seems like a great deal.

Plancha Tacos, a Mexican restaurant.

Choose between 1 of 2 options:

• For $5, get $10 worth of tacos, drinks, and more.
• For $49, a party package to feed about 20 people, including 40 Street Tacos, a rice tray, a bean tray, chips, two pints of salsa, and salad (a $133.60 value).

This Groupon Los Angeles offer seems to be good thru January 16, 2011, Sunday, and the following applies:

• Must redeem offer by July 17, 2011
• Limit 3/person, limit 1/visit for $10 Groupon. Limit 2/person, limit 2/visit for party package. Valid only for option purchased. 24-hour advance order required for party package.

Valid at the following:

Plancha Tacos

8250 W 3rd St., Suite 108
Los Angeles, California 90048
Get Directions

To get in on this deal, look on the right side of your screen after clicking here.

Happy dining and savings!!!

Wogged 5 miles. January 12, 2011.

Quite a change 2 days make.  On my last wog 2 days ago, it was 38 F.  Today was 56 F.

5 miles @ 1:05:48
Calories burned:  592

I think this might be my last wog before the PF Chang's RnR Arizona Marathon, which just popped up on my radar about 18 days before the event date, thanks to the folks at Power Balance.

The PF Chang's RnR Arizona Marathon will be the most underprepared marathon I will ever attempt.  I am currently nervous and getting more anxious as the event date approaches.

Wog on!!!

Groupon San Francisco: Mel's Drive In. Pay $10, Get $20. January 13, 2011.

The more I exercise, the more hungry I get.

Fortunately, I do see deals.

I haven't been to Mel's Drive In in a while.  Perhaps, it's a sign I should visit when I can pay $10, get $20 there.

Mel's Drive In.

Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as gifts.  Limit 1 per table, 2 per table of 5 or more. Valid for Dine In or Pick Up.

Offer available on January 13, 2011, but you have up to April 14, 2011 to redeem.

Valid at the following locations:

1. Geary Boulevard
2. Lombard Street
3. 4th and Mission Street
4. Van Ness Ave

To get in on this deal, look on the right side of your screen after clicking here.

Happy dining and savings!!!

Bay to Breakers Registration Flip Flop; NOT Cool. January 11, 2011.

Now a days, it is not uncommon for some running events to blow out some of their remaining entries at reduced pricing when the event date approaches.

But, when the event is over 4 months away, it gets annoying especially to those who registered early at the early registration discounted prices a few weeks before.

In December 2010, Bay to Breakers promoted early discounted registration.  In order to receive the discount, one needed to sign up for their newsletters, which I did.

When early registration opened up, I registered at the early registration discounted price of $47 not including the Active.com fees.

Flash forward to January 11, 2011, Bay to Breakers entries were blown out at 50% off at $26 off of Schwaggle, which is the new "Groupon" for Active.com.

I am feeling gyped of $21.

OK, Bay to Breakers, you might have gotten an Andrew Jackson + 1 out of me for 2011, but we'll see if you can get a penny out of me next year.

Groupon San Francisco: Macworld Expo Ticket Up to 60% off (1 Three-Day Expo and 1 Day User Conference). January 12, 2011 Only.

Here's a great way to save on a 1 Three-Day Expo or a 1 Day User Conference ticket to an event Apple fans just love:

Macworld Expo and Conference
Moscone Center
San Francisco, CA
January 26 to 29, 2011


1 Day User Conference
Thursday, January 27 - Saturday, January 29
-All sessions in the User Conference on the day you select
-Access to all Feature Presentations
-Access to the Expo Hall
For more info. about the User Conference sessions, click here.
For more info. about the Feature Presentations, click here.
Current regular price:  $210 (Get this pass for just $100, saving $110!!!)

One Three-Day Expo Only
Thursday, January 27 - Saturday, January 29
-Access to the Expo Hall
-Access to all Feature Presentations

For more info. about the Feature Presentations, click here.

Current expo price:  $25 (Get this pass for $10, saving $15!!!)

To get in on 1 of the aforementioned deals, look on the right side of your screen after clicking here.

This deal seems only available on January 12, 2011.

Enjoy the show!!!

What to Wear for 38 F? January 10, 2011.

Here's a first for me:

Today was the first time ever I had gone for a morning wog.  It was 38 F, but I dragged my behind outside and got in 8 miles.

But before I went outside, I had to figure out what to wear.  It has been very cold lately, and I had no clue what to wear for 38 F.

Fortunately, I had the following book:

Marathon by Jeff Galloway.

My edition was an older edition and had a clothing chart in it.  I went with a S/S T over a L/S T and running capris.  Had I not had the book, I am positive I would have either been overdressed or underdressed.

It was interesting watching the sunrise instead of a sunset.

My least favorite part of being out and about in the morning was breathing the exhaust fumes of all these vehicles.  It seems a lot of morning commuters leave their engines idling while they cleaned their windows before driving off.  There are definitely much fewer idling vehicles in the evening.


And, my morning activities didn't end things for the day.  I got in a walk of 6.6 miles in the late afternoon.


For the Day:
8 miles wog @ 1:45:11; net calories burned:  800
6.6 miles brisk walk; guestimate calories burned:  396

Total mileage:  14.6 miles
Guestimate net calories burned:  1,196

Rose Bowl Half Marathon Promo Code: $10 off. Event date: 2/6/11.

This one is for my SoCal running peeps and to everyone else who wants to finish a half marathon at the 50 yard line at the famous Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

 

Rose Bowl Half Marathon
Pasadena, CA
Event date:  February 6, 2011 (Super Bowl Sunday)

$10 off
Code:  RBHM11ACTIVE


Someday, I'd like to do this one.  Who wouldn't want to finish an event at the 50 yard line at the Rose Bowl?

The event is about 70% on trails and at times hilly.

For more info. and/or to register, click here.

Happy savings!!!

Physical Activities from 1/3/11 to 1/8/11, including a Nike+ Sport Kit and Apple Nano Fail.

I haven't updated my activities on my blog but rest assure I did not stop doing some physical activity since the start of 2011.

1/3 - Wogged 8.29 miles. Things went great except for the part I went splat on the pavement.  I got road rash and scuffed my Garmin.  Downed:  1 Strawberry Banana PowerBar gel.  Net calories burned:   844.

1/5 - Brisk walk of 6.6 miles.  It's nice to save on bus fare.  Guestimate calories burned:  396.

1/6 - Brisk walk of 6.6 miles.  It's nice to save on bus fare again.  Guestimate calories burned:  396.

1/8 - Wogged 8 miles. Very glad I had my running jacket AND my running capris on; very cold (upper 40s F). Downed: 1 Strawberry Banana PowerBar gel. Net calories burned: 718.  Love my new Petzl light; now has 30+ miles.  (For my product review of the Petzl Signal Flasher, click here.)  OTOH: My Nike+ failed. :(

At the end of my wog on 1/8, I reached to stop my Nike+ and realized it is frozen.  :(

I have had Nike+ failures in the past when it is very cold.  But, this is the first time where the lock switch won't turn off and a major portion of the screen is blacked out (see pic above).

I even removed the Nike+ receiver from the Nano and the screen is still blacked out (see pic above).

Currently, I can not even turn the thing off.  :(


By the numbers from 1/3/11 to 1/8/11:
Total mileage:  29.49 miles
Total net calories burned:  2,354

Product Review: Petzl Signal Flasher. It's a Great Addition to Your Safety/Reflective Wear.

I came across this item at the Sports Basement - Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA and thought it would be a nice addition to my wogging gear:

The Petzl Signal Flasher.

I often wog along multi-use paths during the sunset and evenings hours and don't want speeding bicyclists to mow me down from behind.

I just set the unit to flashing mode, clip it to the back of my visor or cap and just go.

To date, I have logged 30+ miles on my Petzl Signal Flasher including 1 spill, and it does make me more visible to bicyclists and motorists.

The unit is pretty lightweight, weighing 22 grams including the batteries.  The batteries are included in the packaging.

One can wear the unit several ways.  It comes with an adjustable band, which you can adjust to wearing around your arm or around a piece of clothing.  It has a clip, which can be clipped to the backs of many caps and visors.

The unit can work in 2 modes, and the estimated lifespan of the batteries is the following:
1.  Flashing; 120 hours in flashing mode
2.  Non-flashing; 40 hours of continuous use mode

BTW, if you ever want to dress up as Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, you should definitely put this on your shopping list.

It retails for around $15.

It is probably available at many other places, but the following are 2 places I know that carries them:
1.  Sports Basement - click here
2.  Road Runner Sports - click here

Happy running!!!

Tokyo Relay Marathon - FAIL!!!

A Japanese runner recently went the wrong way during a Japanese marathon.

Videos of the incident has been making the rounds across cyberspace.  But, in case you have never seen it...

To see the video clip, click here.

And, since the dialogue in the video clip is in Japanese and most folks don't understand Japanese, I found a news article to give non-Japanese speakers more info about the incident.  For the news article, click here.

I guess it's a lesson in never to follow the vehicle (or runners ahead of you) blindly in a race.

GU Gel Sale at REI.com (Vanilla, Chocolate and Jet Blackberry only) at $0.79 each.

I was surfing the web and stumbled across some GU gels at REI.com and noticed several flavors were on sale.

Vanilla, Chocolate and Jet Blackberry at $0.79 each.

A case at this price goes for $18.96 ($0.79 x 24 = $18.96).  And, I usually see each of these 24 count of gel cases go for anywhere from $23 to $32 per case, so this is a pretty good deal.

To get in on this great deal, click here.

Groupon San Francisco East Bay: Quiznos Sandwich and Drink Deal, Pay $5 for $10. January 3, 2011.

Quiznos is having a pay $5 get $10 towards sandwiches and drinks via Groupon in the San Francisco East Bay area.  The deal is listed in the "More Great Deals Nearby" section (usually on the right side of the screen).

The savings are valid at the following locations ONLY:

• A
  15501 San Pablo Ave.
  San Pablo, California 94806
  Get Directions
• B
  39494 Fremont Blvd.
  Fremont, California 94538
  Get Directions
• C
  179 N McDowell Blvd.
  Petaluma, California 94954
  Get Directions

This is a great savings at 50% off!!!

To get in on this deal, click here.

Happy eating and savings!!!

Pasadena Marathon Registration Open with a Discount and Shirt.* Event date: May 15, 2011.

I know many of my SoCal running peeps did this one and had an eye on the event date as its event date got shuffled around.

Here's their new event date:

Kaiser Permanente Pasadena Marathon
Event date:  May 15, 2011


*I really do like their registration prices and a free training shirt if you register thru Jan 3, 2011.

Through Jan  3	Through Feb 20
Full Marathon	$63	$81
Half marathon	$52.50	$67.50
10K	$31.50	$40.50
5K	$24.50	$31.50
Bike Tour	$28	$36
1K / 0.5K Kids Run	$12.50	$12.50
1K Wheelchair Stroll	$24.50	$31.50

For more info. and/or to register for the Pasadena Marathon and its other events, click here.


NOTE:
The Pasadena Marathon events are on the same date as the 100th Bay to Breakers 12k in San Francisco, CA.  So, don't register for 2 different events for the same date like one of my running friends did.  I guess he really didn't want to be sold out of 2 different events...or something like that.

Bay to Breakers Registration Now Open. Event date: May 15, 2011.

Alright, most people have it on their New Year's resolutions to exercise more and to lose weight.  Well, here's a great event that will give you some exercise, might help you lose some weight AND go down in the history books at the time:

100th Bay to Breakers 12k
San Francisco, CA
Event date:  May 15, 2011

As of January 1, 2011, a limited number of regular registration spots is now open.

You might want to sign up for this one as early as possible.  In December 2010, a limited # of discounted registration spots were made available to those who subscribed to the event's newsletters.  One of my runner friends procrastinated and literally "missed the boat" on a discounted spot.

From what I hear for 2011, there will be a finisher's bling in addition to the usual T.

What will you be doing on May 15, 2011?

You might have missed the 99th Bay to Breakers.  Don't miss the 100th running!!!

For more info. and/or to register for the 100th Bay to Breakers 12k, click here.