Sunday, October 26, 2014

Winner, Winner, Chocolate Dinner!

This is going to be a short post.  This week I am visiting my father, who is in the hospital, and I am very far from home.

The plusses:  The weather is beautiful!  Sunny skies, hot temps.  I was able to run every day so far.

The minuses:  I don't have time for a long run.  I pretty much don't have time for anything!  When I'm not with my father, I'm traveling to get to him.  When I'm not doing those things, I'm grading or monitoring my students online.

The running is keeping me sane, Peeps.

Now here is the news we've all been waiting to hear:

The winner of the Hot Chocolate Giveaway, generated randomly by Rafflecopter, is Erin M.!  Contact me for your entry code, Erin.  Congratulations!



Still want to register for the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k?  Click here and use my code, TroubleRunHat, to get a free hat!

Thanks for participating in my first (and hopefully not my last) giveaway.  Thanks for being my friends, and thanks for reading my blog posts.

Run strong, my friends.

Stephani

Like what you read?  Follow me on Twitter @itibrout.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

I'm Giving away a Race Entry!

Helloooooo, Peeps!  It is a beautiful Sunday in Ohio, and I had a wonderful run with my Peeps from The Ohio Runners Network.  Those of you who know me also know that I have what I call "Bud Light Syndrome," which means I just want all of you to know this:

I love you, Man.

Are you creeped out yet?  Read this post to figure out what the heck I'm talking about.

I feel so good that I want to give back to you, my Peeps.

Hot Chocolate 5k/15k has given me a free race entry for the Columbus race on November 16, and I want YOU to have it.  Yes, you can stuff yourself silly with this:



And you can run away from a 15k with this:


And you can wear this while sledding this winter:


All for free, just for being my friend!

Keep in mind that the race entry is good for Columbus, November 16, ONLY, and it isn't redeemable for cash.  Join me, Peeps!  The random drawing (conducted by Rafflecopter) will be next Sunday, and I will announce the winner in next week's post.  

May the odds be ever in your favor!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not a risk taker?  Register here for any Hot Chocolate race.  Use my code, TroubleRunHat, to get a free hat!


Like what you read?  Follow me on Twitter @itibrout!  (It will also get you an additional entry into the drawing.)

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Party in Columbus for the Columbus Hot Chocolate 5k/15k

It is getting close to the Columbus Hot Chocolate 5k/15k--November 16.  I'm  excited as I keep hearing that more and more of my running peeps will be there.  We will party in C-Town!

Here is the 15k medal for this year:


Isn't it adorable?  You can tell it has the special Ohio touch because there is a buckeye on it.  They even got the candy right!  (On a side note, did you realize that there are people outside Ohio who don't know what buckeye candies are?  Me neither.  How can you live life if you've never eaten a buckeye?)

When I ran the Hot Chocolate 15k in 2012, I loved the course.  It took me through the Short North, part of the campus of The Ohio State University, and some residential areas.  I enjoy looking at the scenery when I run;  the houses were really funky and cool, and the campus was gorgeous.  Here is the course map for this year:



It is impossible for me to understand maps unless they are AAA Triptiks (remember those?), so I don't know where we are going, really.  The important part for me is the CHOCOLATE STATION!!!  Can you believe that there will be chocolate at mile 5?

I would include an elevation map for you, but I understand those even less than conventional maps.

By the way, I am not even good at following maps or directions on my phone!  Yesterday I tried to find a store that I thought was in Cuyahoga Falls, and somehow I ended up in Canal Fulton.  True but pathetic story.  Oh, and when my friend Joy and I tried to find my car after the Akron Half Marathon, we had to walk at least two miles out of our way because I got lost IN MY OWN HOMETOWN.  sigh.

The post-race party that year was so fun.  There was a great band and lots of chocolate, of course.  Here is what you get from the food tent when you finish:

This is a finisher's mug with hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, and dippables.  There are usually bananas, pretzels, crackers, and marshmallows.  It is soooo good!

Are you salivating?  Does a party in Columbus sound good to you?  Join me, Peeps; let's run the Hot Chocolate together!  Click here to register for the Columbus race.  Use my code to get a free hat:  TroubleRunHat.

Like what you read?  Follow me on Twitter @itibrout!

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Will Run for Chocolate

Today I ran 10 miles on the Towpath from Lock 29.  It was so beautiful to see the colorful leaves, and this morning it was still warm enough to run with capris and a long-sleeve shirt.

This is EXACTLY how the Towpath looks in October

This is our starting point:  Lock 29 in Peninsula, Ohio.
I ran with Michael and Shelby, and while the run wasn't exactly relaxing (a bit faster for the lsd than I usually do), it was so nice to be with them both in the sunshine running next to a river.  Poor Michael had to listen to Shelby and me rehash the Akron Half Marathon.  He is a true gentleman; had I been in his shoes (very speedy shoes, by the way), I would have hit us both over the head.

Because I was able to whine and moan with Shelby about our disappointing times in Akron, I am not going to burden you with a more in-depth recap, which was originally my intention.  I will save you from the torture I have subjected myself to as I covered EVERY FREAKING INCH of the terrain to figure out where I lost those 32 seconds.  Enough.  Let's move on, shall we?

Let's talk about chocolate, the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k, to be specific.  I ran this in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012, and I loved every second of it!  Today I'd like to write about the Expo, and next week I'd like to write about the race and post-race events.  The expo was in downtown Columbus on a Saturday.  I arrived with my peeps: Teresa, Deidre, Julie, and Tina.  We had reserved two rooms through the race webpage, so we checked into our hotel, and then we went on to the expo. It was very big and user-friendly.  Even better, it was full of CHOCOLATE!  Chocolate fountains, chocolate tabs, hot chocolate. . . mm m m m m.

I picked up my bib and my swag.  Hot Chocolate always has a cool item of clothing as the goody bag.  In 2012 I got a windbreaker.  This year the goody bag is super cool:

Cute, huh? The hoodie is fleece-lined.  Perfect for the Polar Vortex.

The volunteers were so fun at the expo.  They were rocking out while passing out chocolate and bibs. They also encouraged us to try on our jackets to make sure they fit, which I really appreciate since I stink at guessing my size.

The Expo this year promises to be just as great (and full of chocolate).  There will be lots of vendors and the chance to buy more race gear, and there will be a DJ (our own dance party!) and a Kid Zone with inflatables.

As much as we enjoyed the Expo, my running peeps and I were anxious to move on to carb-loading in the Short North, so we did our photo-op and then left for pasta and wine.  And more chocolate.

This is EXACTLY how I look at the Hot Chocolate Expo after gorging myself on chocolate.


You, too can have this experience, Peeps.  Register now for either the 5k or the 15k!  Use my code:  TroubleRunHat, and you'll get a free hat with your goody bag!

Let's do this together!

Next week:  My memories of the 15k race and the post-race experience

Like what you read?  Follow me on Twitter @itibrout.


Goodie Bag

The wait is over—check out the award-winning Hot Chocolate 2014-2015 goodie bag. It’ll become your go-to outer layer whenever you need to stay cozy and stylish. Pair it with the included reusable drawstring bag.
• Luxurious full-zip hoodie
• Fleece-lined material
• Men’s: cool green accent lining, piping, + drawstring
• Women’s: hot pink accent lining, piping, + drawstring
• Roomy front pockets

Goodie Bag

The wait is over—check out the award-winning Hot Chocolate 2014-2015 goodie bag. It’ll become your go-to outer layer whenever you need to stay cozy and stylish. Pair it with the included reusable drawstring bag.
• Luxurious full-zip hoodie
• Fleece-lined material
• Men’s: cool green accent lining, piping, + drawstring
• Women’s: hot pink accent lining, piping, + drawstring
• Roomy front pockets