I'm running in Vegas... are you? Yes! I'm running in Vegas! How about you? Are you running in Vegas? I am! You? Yes, indeedy...I will be running in Vegas...you, too?

"Once a year the 'whore' population of Las Vegas quintriples when a ton of self-entitled (runners) who are willing to sell their souls for chocolate milk endorsements roll into town to complain for 26.2 miles at a 10:30/mile pace" My friend has an awfully twisted sense of humor and said he'd pay me to put that in this post. Guess that makes me a... whore.

This coming Sunday, I am running The Strip at night. 

image info (artist: Matt Field)

I will be running with the 40,000+ other entrants (among them, what seems to be a sizable blogger population) in the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half-Marathon, but unlike almost every other female, I won't be in a slutty costume or sparkly outfit. 

Okay, okay... I might wear a SparklySoul headband that I won in a giveaway at my friend Megan's blog. And I might stick adhesive rhinestones on my awesome $2 knee-sock/armwarmers just so I blend. And sparkles can be fun. shut up, haters. But there is something to be said for not blending, too. 

For example, if it is really, really cold, I might be tempted to wear my award-winning Winter Workout Gear...for real, I won a gym wardrobe makeover this week by submitting this picture to a contest...

this would totally not blend in Vegas...am I right?

note: hat doesn't come with reservoir tip

Knowing me, however, I will be running in my plain black Target shorts and tank top...and running shoes. And... of course, I'll be wearing my awesome Moving Comfort Juno bra :) I run "hot." That doesn't mean I look 'hot' when I run...quite the contrary...it means I get hot when I run. But I'm sure you figured that out without me needing to explain it, right? 

13.1 miles is still quite an undertaking for me. A lot of people say they are running this race 'for fun.' I can't do that. Sure, I'll have fun while I am there, and it will be a fun experience. But something about sick physical effort and fun and costumes... it just all seems a little incongruous. I will be busting my butt to put one foot in front of the other for close to two hours, give or take (does 'give' mean that it would be less than 2 hours...or is that 'take'?). 

In addition to getting my run on, I'm looking forward to spending some time in a fancy hotel without my kids and meeting up with some of my good friends from the ol' Nuun Platuun glory days...Jess the Blonde Ponytail), Tricia who knows Endurance Isn't Only Physical, and Caitlin and Kim from Nuun. And we'll get to see our Team Nuun teammates and rivals for the Nuun Cup (which seems to have gone missing, am I right, Tonia?), AfterNuun Delight's Sweaty Emily of Sweat Once a Day and Mr. Mason, prez of Nuun.

And Emz!

And...well... so many others :)

I wonder if they have gluten-free food in Las Vegas?

*If this post makes no sense or is utter tasteless, remember that I am tapering...which means I can't be held entirely accountable for anything!*

Not everything tastes great when it sits on a Ritz...

When I first saw this on the kitchen table, I was puzzled... what is it?

Closer inspection revealed the facts...

a used Bandaid. I'm gagging... are you?

The same child who creates such disgusting things also leaves adorable things like this in her wake...

Although the vigor with which she jams the heads back into the holes is a little unnerving :P

...as well as very strange things like this...

Dora's Super Babies praying to Mecca? in between piles of cardboard boxes? 

Perhaps they are hiding in fear of an 'ethnic cleansing'?

These are just some of the weird and random things that I am using to distract myself from my pre-race neuroses. Yes, 4 days until my first half-marathon since 1997. Some of you are thinking, "Sheesh, woman... get over it... that you even can run that far is pretty freakin' cool!" You are correct. And some of you are thinking, "Sheesh, woman... get over it... a half marathon is nothing! Just wait 'til you do an ultra!" You also are correct.

So all of you, go ahead and think these things... but tell me, "Go, XL! you are awesome! You can do this! You will rock it! Stay strong, stay focused, and it will be yours!" Stuff like that.

For the record, my biggest concern is not being able to actually do it. I can do it. 

Nor is my biggest concern my scary hair. My good buddy Sandra gave me an awesome Lululemon headband, so that's handled :)

I have comfortable and serviceable racing attire... nothing special except my awesome Moving Comfort Juno bra (yes, I go on and on about this thing and even made a video to show how totally awesome it is because it is ....well... awesome!). So I am not concerned about clothing.

My biggest concern is the finish line.

Recent history shows that I am a goner at the finish line. At my last races, I have had a friend or team there to ensure my safety and well-being! My husband will not be there. My buddies at the race will be racing, too.

My friends Patrick and Caroline and Jill have assured me over and over that there are tons of volunteers who will help keep me from stepping out in front of a bus or keeling over in a puddle of my own puke... and other such post-race, zoned-out activities. And Caroline (who will be there) has even offered to have her husband be on help-XL-alert... so sweet :) While it definitely helps to know these things, I am still concerned. To achieve my 'A' goal, I need to shelve this concern. And close the cupboard doors on it. Truthfully, reading my own words helps reassure me that I can do it and I will be okay.

Time to stop looking for distractions.

Time to get my head in the game.

Celebratory Music... or something like that.

All of the great comments I've gotten on this and simply the act of getting it out of myself so I could see it really helped me get centered and feel solid. Thanks, everyone!

I ran last night. It was hot, as in temperature hot. For the first time in 19 years, I ran in just my sports bra...my killer Moving Comfort Juno, of course. It was awesome :) It was also dark and no one was around to witness the event...both huge contributing factors to the awesomeness :P Seeing my shadow on the street, two words jumped out at me: Core. Work.

I haven't really been keeping up with my music-sharing. I have 'interesting' preferences that are all over the map. Some of my readers have expressed vexation that I was wasting valuable bytes with my mess... or wasting their time with it, but last night a song came on while I was running and it made me think of how awesome it is that I can run. It reminded me of what Dorothy over at Mile-Posts said... "Running is a gift. We don't have to run; we get to run!"

So today you get my musical choice. Of course, you don't have to listen if you don't want to! This video cracked me up... and when I read about it, it cracked me up even more. But the song got me into a great groove last night with fantastic focus and self-belief. Go, me! And thanks, Fatboy :)

My hip has given me bad times and good.

We're in a 'good' phase right now... and I want to praise that.

Take nothing for granted. Nothing.

Hiding...

Where is she?

Ever since I actually lost her over the summer, when Miss C disappears from view I get a little freaked.

It used to be she would just be in the bathroom cupboard... if you missed that post, which you probably did because it was written about a year ago when I first started this blog and had 10 followers, then click this. It is super cute. I promise.

Now she has graduated...

I seriously have no idea how she closes the doors without pinching her fingers. And when I open up the cabinet, she yells at me...

CLOSE THE DOORS!

In a large family, I guess she needs to find her privacy somehow.

*****************************

If this was annoying and boring to you and you really want to know about my running...

here is my long run from yesterday, with discourse on ice baths.

here is my 5K PR last week.

here is a link to the Nuun Hood to Coast video. It's awesome and I am surprisingly in it.

here is my sports bra review with demonstration video... the Moving Comfort Juno bra is awesome!

Now that everyone's seen it...

In case you've been asleep or offline for the past 24 hours... or don't follow the blogs of any other Team Nuun Hood to Coasters (you can find them all in my sidebar)... you may be seeing this news for the first time....

the official Nuun 2011 Hood to Coast Relay with blogging badass babes is available for viewing!!!!

Click HERE to go see it... it's on the Nuun blog.

I am in it.

Sadly, Nuun Platuun's finish is not in it :(

I think Megan must have a nicer butt than I do, and I think the sparkly skirts made for a flashier team-crossing-the-finish-line shot. Must've been the camouflage... we were just too stealth to be captured on film :P

No matter... we were there. And we did it in less than 28 hours :)

This video brings up tons of feelings... all over the map. I know all my fellow Platuuners are right there with me on this :)

Can we have another huggle?

*********************

Click here to see a cute picture of Miss C that reminds me of how I often feel...

Click here to see my video of how awesomely my Moving Comfort Juno bra controls bouncing!

Click here to see the action of an exciting Monopoly game underway.... oooo... drama... intrigue....

And here is where you should click to learn how to make Nuun cocktails :)

Moving Comfort Juno Bra Review and Demonstration...because seeing is believing!

Did you know that the sports bra is just a little over 30 years old? I am old enough to remember this... as in, I was old enough to need one when they were invented. I found this great article about the history of the sports bra... I especially liked it because they use the expression shooting for the moon :)

Back in the olden days, I hated running. Hated. I think my newly-sprouted D's were part of the problem. And as that article says, the newly-invented Jogbra wasn't doing the trick for more voluptuous women... or adolescents. By the time I was a freshman in college, Lily of France had a great sports bra on the market... but I still needed to double up to get it to work. Thus began what I thought would be a life-long necessity... double-bra-ing for runs.

I have always been protective of my breasts. Adequate support is imperative if you don't want to end up looking like those scary boobscarves as seen in my first Running Bra Report. I thought I had found the perfect bra combo... those two different granny bras pictured in that same report. They served me well in the past but were getting tired and needed to be replaced.

Over the summer I purchased my new bra. It came with the saleswoman's reassurance and insistence that I would only need ONE. People always say that... but they don't really know what it's like.

I scoffed...even though she looked like she might know.

She was right.

The Juno bra by Moving Comfort is IT.

I am so excited to show you THE bra...

if you are tired of seeing and hearing perfect fitness models and small-breasted women touting what they are calling 'the best' sports bras (nothing against these ladies but they have different needs),

if you are looking for a substantial yet comfortable and attractive sports bra,

if you want a sports bra that isn't scary-looking but WORKS for C, D and DD all by its lonesome...

Inside-out, you can see the seamless, chafe-resistant construction. 

It has molded cups to prevent uniboob.

The chest band is soft for comfort, wide and minimally stretchy for stability.

Close-up of the waffle-y wicking fabric that lines the cups...

super comfy!

The straps are NOT STRETCHY! 

Awesome bonus for us more busty women because...

stretchy straps = bouncing boobs

But they are adjustable because they pass through loops

and then velcro where you need them!

I found that I get the best control when I tighten these up as far as they will go. This velcro feature would also be pretty fantastic if you are a nursing mom who works out. I remember the contortions I went through trying to get my babe to the boob when it was trapped beneath two old-school sports bras :P

It is not scary to look at! It looks like a normal sports bra!

And it comes in a bunch of colors...they even have bigger sizes in pretty colors :)

I can talk and write all I want about this thing... but we all know

seeing is believing.

So, to that end, here is the Juno in action...

yeah, yeah... shot kind of close... that's so you can't see my lack of core work :P

Isn't it true? Look through the pictures of sportsbras... how many of us are fitness models? Ummmm... maybe just Sandra. We want to know how these things are going to work on our 'normal' everyday bodies. Are my D's or her DD's really going to be adequately contained?

With the awesome Juno, the answer is...

YES!!!!

Double-bra wearers of the workout world unite! 

You have nothing to lose but that stupid extra bra! 

You have a race to win!

******************

Note: these do run true to size in my personal experience...if you know your real bra size and aren't just guessing or going by habit. I was lucky enough to try my first one on at a Title Nine store.

** I bought my first Juno bra and was so in love with it that I bought two more so that I would have one for each leg of my Hood to Coast experience (I know you were wondering how I'd work that in). I then received one as a gift from Moving Comfort as a member of Nuun Platuun! How stoked was I to get my most very favoritest piece of running equipment as a gift? SO stoked! This review is solely based on my personal experience with the Juno bra and other sports bras, and I have not been compensated for it in any way.

***And definitely... definitely click on this link to vote for my insanity... I really really really want to win free ad space on another incredibly awesome blog. Please click the link here and then find my Einstein-hair picture or my Maxfield Parrish sky photo or both and then click the little yellow stars under them :) It ends Thursday at midnight... like, as in today!

Pleeeeeeeeease? 

{First 11 Legs} 2011 Hood to Coast Relay – Nuun-style: The Miniseries, Part 2

**Warning: there are tons and tons and tons of pictures in this post**

I am hoping to show those who haven't ever done this to see what it's about...

runners and NON-runners alike.

So after we finished snagging all that Nuun and eating pizza (which I couldn't eat because I am gluten-free... which comes into play in a later episode of this epic saga) and meeting all the cool Nuun people for the first time all in the super cool Nuun office (love that office... not just the ultracool filter seat-thing, but also the old building, the open layout, the really cold water in the water fountain...the whole package), Captains Cupcake and Underpants and I decided to hit up the ice cream parlor downstairs...

Molly Moon's

loved the logo, wanted the t-shirt,  but $22 was a little steep :P

check out the flavors...

tomato basil sorbet?!  I got vanilla :P

As we were waiting in line, I did something that became my signature move for this trip...

I had already done it earlier in the day down at the Public Market...

I had my full Nuun bottle tucked under my arm...

top open – of course!

Seriously, I did this at least a dozen times in two days.

But I did clean up after myself :) And the ice cream was very good.

I am so glad Cupcake got these pictures demonstrating my domestic skills so that my husband can see that I do, in fact, know how to clean a floor.

We went back to the hotel after this and got ready for bed. I was rooming with Cupcake, Dorothy from Mile-Posts and Mel – Tall Mom on the Run. We were put together in an effort to mix things up... vans, teams, height, regionality... They gave me grief for whipping out the laptop as well as for my bodybag-sized duffel (in my defense, it did have my sleeping bag and my pillow in it as well as all my clothes and shoes and gear). So I got revenge for the grief-giving...

I call this one...

Braless Bloggers in Bed :)

yes, I know you can't tell...you'll have to take my word for it...

and yes, they know I planned to put the pic in my blog.

We went to sleep. Dorothy and Cupcake had to get up too early... they were Van 1 runners... Cupcake on Nuun Platuun and Dorothy on AfterNuun Delight. Move-out time for them... 0545. Scary. You'll have to check their blogs for the early morning move-out pics.

Tall Mom and I got to sleep in until a leisurely 0730 to make our 0830 departure. Packed up and off we went... she in her AfterNuun Delight Van 2 and I in my Nuun Platuun Van 2...

this was the set-up for the next 30+ hours...

we pretty much kept these positions for the duration.

My view toward the front... I don't get carsick... and I liked sitting with all the stuff :)

My view out the side... I kept my feet up A LOT throughout the journey.

About the same time this super sweet lady made a u-turn...

to take this picture of us with Mt. Hood in the distance...

left to right: Casey, me, Love, Chafe, Style, Nightingale, Phoenix

Nuun Platuun Van 1 and...

Obvious, Crunch, Confusion, Cupcake, Miles, Underpants

AfterNuun Delight Van 1 were at Timberline... the start!

Kimberly, Lauren, Alanna, Dorothy, Emily, Jocelyn

Major Miles and General Confusion got to meet Bob from Dead Jocks in a Box...

I am so jealous they got such great pictures with him.

Everyone in the wave (including the white speedo guy) lined up for the 12:30 start...

Here's Major Miles screeeeeeming down the road somewhere in Leg 1.

She handed off to Capt. Cupcake part way down...

who held a blistering pace for the entirety of her leg before...

passing off to Cap'n Crunch.

This girl is the most free-spirited runner! She is young and just goes... happily...joyously.

Just doing her thing :)

Leg 4 was handled by Captain Obvious (left) who is being cooled down (it was a bazillion degrees) by Cupcake in this shot.

Capt. Obvious handed off to Capt. Underpants who ran in her underwear and crushed Leg 5.

Gen. Confusion looked like a superstar in the heat and sun... making it look easy and attractive.

How does she do that?

While all that was going on with Van 1... all that running down the sheer face of the mountain... all that running on steaming hot, nearly bubbling asphalt... Van 2 was at Quiznos eating lunch. Well, some of us were eating... poor Lt. Love was losing hers :(

left to right: Nightingale, Style, me, Casey, Chafe

 

We had our first Nuun 'conversion' as we were leaving!

And we were off the the Sandy Safeway to spread more Nuun love :)

Guys like it when cute girls talk to them and give them things for free.

Sgt. Style is very persuasive and engaging...

just look at that smile :)

Four girls and a guy... he's loving Nuun right about now ;-)

Cap'n Crunch was easy... but the Chef... man, he was not wanting to do anything.

We are really nice though, so finally he agreed to put his costume on and pose for the picture.

"Will I look as tough as Sgt. Style if I wear a Nuun tattoo?"

you betcha ;-)

This woman was hands down the sweetest, most receptive and responsive and delightful person in the parking lot. I hope she sees that she is getting recognition for her sunny disposition!

Ira (the owner of the butt) was very concerned about the tattoo. But he let us put it on anyway...

cuz we're cute and nice :)

Then the team posed with their spewing rubber ass.

So awesome.

We met Jenny Penny Sue who writes a blog...

Coming Up Lemon.

This guy was soooooo funny...

"Do you know Converse? Take a picture of Nuun + Converse."

Okay.

Amanda@Runninghood and her hot hubby were there...

seeing them was a "bright spot" in my HTC experience ;-)

(they were running for Bright Spots)

Gettin' gnarly with the Nuun...

Chillaxin' in the fumes...

Speedo Wars: Revenge of the Crack...

winning the Overshare Costume contest!

Team Ironmullet ... so freakin' hot... don't know how they could stand running with all that hair!

Speaking of costumes... I finally busted out the nun dress...

and met Linda the Photographer from Linda's Lens...

and the Dead Jocks!

total thrill

I got a great pic of the Baby Loaf Bus! sooooo cute!

Somewhere around then, the Van 1's showed up... this Safeway in Sandy, OR is the first major van exchange... the first six legs are done at this point and things are handed over to Van 2.

It was so great to get to see these ladies and hear some of the stories of the early going.

And I got a picture with my AfterNuun counterpart...

The two 12's running for Nuun :)

Here's a shot of the nuts scene at the hand-off point.

These guys DO have shorts on under their kilts. They lied to me. But I found out the truth.

I always do.

The Handful Bra Ladies were waiting for their next runner, too.

And sporting Nuun tattoos.

Waiting in the hot, hot late afternoon sun... it was about 5 p.m...

here came General Confusion for the hand-off to Pvt. Chafe!

Van 2's turn finally!

The Blonde Ponytail AKA Private Chafe rocked the heat during Leg 7.

Here she is in motion!

In her Moving Comfort Juno sportsbra... can you say 'swoobs'? 

(translation: sweaty boobs)

 

Julie from Adventure is Out There and her beautiful daughter had made a cheer sign!

During her stint on Leg 8, Capt. Phoenix (our totally butt-kickin' Nuun staffer) got some sprinkler love from residents along the way :)

Here she is handing off to Nightingale... our van's speed-demon who destroyed Leg 9!

You'd think things might cool down noticeably as darkness fell...

but you can tell by Lt. Love's face and sweatiness that was not the case.

Here she had just passed the slappy strap off to Sgt. Style...

 who was able to make a headlamp look hot!

Maybe because it was hot... but she looks pretty badass in that thing.

Right here, she is crossing the street to where I am waiting for her.

Waiting.

The whole day I had been waiting for this moment.

And here it was...