While training for my first half marathon back in 2013, I didn't feel inspiring. I registered for the race to help cope with a difficult time in my life, when I didn't feel very successful at all. Long story short, I was working my tail off in grad school and at work, but it felt like I was going nowhere. Training for the half marathon helped take my mind off of the struggles I was going through in my post-undergrad life. And that gave me hope.
I've told this story millions of times, but for those of who haven't heard it before, I crossed the finish line of my first half a different person than when I started. Despite struggling during the last three miles of the race, I stepped over that final Chrono-Track overwhelmed with emotion. I felt incredible. And powerful. And most importantly...successful. I ran six more half marathons that year, each one proving that I was getting stronger and faster. I kept competing because after struggling for so long, I had finally found something that provided me with a sense of achievement.
And that's what I love about running. No matter what you're going through, no matter how hard things get, running has the power to almost instantly make any situation feel a million times better. It won't earn you a 4.0 in grad school or land you your dream job, but it will help you develop the confidence you need to succeed in every day life. This is why I have spent nearly every day since my first half marathon sharing my passion for running, in hopes of inspiring others to recognize their potential, to challenge themselves, and to accomplish things they never thought possible.
So as part of my effort to get more people running and challenging themselves, I'm giving away one free race registration to the 2017 Divas Half Marathon in DC's Wine Country! The race takes place on September 16th, and registration includes personalized race bibs, participant tees, a pink tutu, and a drawstring bag. After running 13.1 miles alongside hundreds of other women (and a few good men!), you'll be rewarded with a pink feather boa, tiara, an incredible finisher's medal (see below), and some bubbly!
So as part of my effort to get more people running and challenging themselves, I'm giving away one free race registration to the 2017 Divas Half Marathon in DC's Wine Country! The race takes place on September 16th, and registration includes personalized race bibs, participant tees, a pink tutu, and a drawstring bag. After running 13.1 miles alongside hundreds of other women (and a few good men!), you'll be rewarded with a pink feather boa, tiara, an incredible finisher's medal (see below), and some bubbly!
Want to earn your tiara?
Enter the giveaway by leaving me a comment and tell me what you love about running -- that's it! The winner will be announced Wednesday, March 8th, and will notified by e-mail. Best of luck!Not interested in testing your luck? No problem! You can register for the event yourself here. Promo code RCDIVADC17 saves you 10% on either distance. Hope to see you there!
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| Come run with me! |
What I love about running. I love being able to spend one on one time with my husband because with the daily chaos it is nice to have that time without distractions where we can just enjoy each other's company.
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering the giveaway! The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you there!
DeleteI love running! I'm not big into sports or competition, but running has been my way to get into challenging myself. It's great, because it's just me. No pressure. When I hit my goals, I'm ecstatic! When I don't, it's ok. I'm still getting out there and being active. There's no losing :)
ReplyDeleteRunning is such a great challenge, and that excitement definitely spreads to almost all other aspects of life!
DeleteThank you for entering the giveaway! The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you there!
Why I love running. I love running for many reasons but the main reason I run is to compete against myself- my stress, my anger, my decisions-life. It calms me, it rejuvenates me, it gives me clarity. After having three kids, it helps me to be a better mom, wife, a better friend. Whenever I start getting anxious about life, my husband says, "go for a run". As soon as my foot hits the ground, the intitial step, my life instantaneously feels superior. I've won the battle within. That is why I truly love to run
ReplyDeleteYes! Running definitely makes any day better!
DeleteThank you for entering the giveaway! The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you there!
I love that running can be whatever you want it to be. If you need solitude and silence, you've got it. If you need a community and accountability, you've got that too. You can run fast and hard, you can run slow and steady, it is all up to you and meets your needs in every stage of the game.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Running is perfect for when you need time alone, or when you need to spend time with others. It is what you make it!
DeleteThank you for entering the giveaway! The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you there!
It's my safe heaven :)
ReplyDeleteLove that! Thank you for entering the giveaway. The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you there!
DeleteI'm married to a wonderful man and have two beautiful children. I have an amazing, but very demanding and time consuming, career that I love. I give everything to these relationships and it's extremely rewarding. This may sound selfish, but when I starting running again after a huge break, I felt like I found something that was a challenge just for me. When I start a longer run or a race it's FOR me -- no one else is counting on me, no else has expectations for me, no one else NEEDS me. It's just me and that journey ahead of me. Between the beginning and the end of that run I have to depend on myself to dig deep and keep going. I get to set the bar for my pace and challenge only my self. It may sound selfish but it's really the only thing I do that's just for me.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I have an 10 yo girl that has watched me run road races, trail races, mud runs, and a few sprint tris (never pretty but I've made it). She is not an athlete and that's okay. But she said to me one day -- I want to do girls on the run. Why? Because you seem happier when you run. We have now run 3 GOTR 5ks together and every sat we run a free, timed 5k at teddy Roosevelt island. Every week her time improves just a little bit more. Every week her time to run vs walk increases. I'm starting to cry as I write this. I realized a few weekends ago that I've actually inspired her and that she now has a coping tool to fall back in for the rest of her life. If you ever run with us on sat I'm the one singing "you are my hero" to her on the long boardwalk portion of the run since she's starting to run that whole section without stopping.
I'd love to run this race and continue to be a mentor for my daughter. Thanks for holding this raffle.
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DeleteCongratulations, Diva! You are the winner of the free race registration. Please email me at nomadrunnerreb@gmail.com for your code and directions on how to register.
DeleteHey, Tracy! Please email me at nomadrunnerreb@gmail.com to claim your free code!
DeleteRunning makes me feel free! I forget about lifes worries, my past, and future. I focus on the hear and now and always feel free!
ReplyDeleteThis is Brooke Jones
DeleteHey Brooke! I love the freedom of running too! Thank you for entering the giveaway. The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you on the course!
DeleteI love running because it is my "me time". Being a stay at home mom of 3, I don't get many minutes throughout the day or week to myself, so when I step outside, I know its just me, my headphones and the ground. It relaxes me, melts the stress away, and just resets me!
ReplyDelete"Me time" is so important so I totally support that! Thank you for entering my giveaway. The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. Hope to see you out there!
DeleteRunning is time for myself to think and be challenged. I can't wait to get back to it after my second baby! (Eleise@law.gwu.edu)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this time with your children! Running will always be there for you. :) Thank you for entering the giveaway. The winner has been selected and notified. You can still save 10% on registration with code RCHERVINDC17. I hope you join me!
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