D-Day: 69th Anniversary



"June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler". (US Army D-Day Website)

Today as I ran my 2.5 miles I could not help but think of those men who came off of the back of those "Higgins boats", trudged through the water and stormed the beach.  I can not help but think of the Rangers that scaled Pointe du Hoc to seize the German artillery in order to save their fellow brothers.  These are the men that paved the way for my husband to serve in the Army's premiere light Infantry unit, the 75th Ranger Regiment, these are also the men that were first to insure that I am able to run free today!  Today as you run, take a moment if you will, to remember these true heroes!

Why Do You Run???

In honor of National Running Day I would love it if you would tell me why you run?

I run for........

For my boys!  I want to be the best mother and wife that I can possibly be to these amazing men that God has blessed me with in this life! 

 

For those that can no longer run.....our life as a military family was impacted by the brave few that gave their lives for our freedoms and to insure that I can run!  Our brave friend, SGT Robert Sanchez, pictured above, is one of the few that have paved the way for my freedom that allows me to run free today!

 

Because, I LOVE ME!  I didn't always love the ME that I had become, but I am loving the old/new me that I have re-discovered/discovered!

 

I will wear this medal!  I will own the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler in October!

 

Why do you run?

 



National Running Day-$20 off Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series Registrations-June 5!

Celebrate 2013 National Running Day
with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series

National Running Day is a celebration where people everywhere declare their passion for running. It is a coast-to-coast tribute to our sport; for longtime runners to reaffirm their love of running and for beginners to kick off a lifetime commitment.
Fast or slow, alone or with others, all over town or just around the block… we run.

For one day only, on Wednesday June 5, enjoy this special
Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series Pricing*

RNR Event	Event Date	Discount	Discounted Half	Discounted Full	Discounted 10k
Arizona	Jan. 19	$20	$70	$85
New Orleans	Feb. 2	$20	$70	$75
St. Pete	Feb. 9	$20	$65
Pasadena	Feb. 16	$20	$70
USA / DC	Mar. 15	$20	$70	$75
Dallas	Mar. 23	$20	$65
San Francisco	Apr. 6	$20	$65
Raleigh	Apr. 13	$20	$65	$75
Nashville	Apr. 26	$20	$70	$75
Portland	May. 18	$20	$60
San Diego	Jun. 1	$20	$90	$105
Seattle	Jun. 22	$20	$110	$120
Chicago	Jul. 21	$20	$100
Virginia Beach	Sep. 1	$20	$79
Philadelphia	Sep. 15	$20	$75
Providence	Sep. 29	$20	$85
Cleveland	Oct. 6	$20	$65
San Jose	Oct. 6	$20	$75
Brooklyn, NY	Oct. 12	$12			$43
Denver	Oct. 20	$20	$80	$90
St. Louis	Oct. 27	$20	$70	$95
Los Angeles	Oct. 27	$20	$75
Savannah	Nov. 9	$20	$85	$95
San Antonio	Nov. 17	$20	$90	$95
Las Vegas	Nov. 17	$20	$145	$145
International	Event Date	Discount	Discounted Half	Discounted Full	Discounted 10k
Dublin	Aug. 5	€ 10	€ 39
Portugal	Oct. 6	€ 10	€ 29	€ 55

BONUS OFFERS!
Every hour, on the hour we will select random winners for the following prize package giveaways**. All winners will be announced Thursday, June 6 on the
Rock ‘n’ Roll Series Facebook Page.

Hour	Giveaway
8:00 AM	$100 Brooks Giftcard Maui Jim Sunglasses GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
9:00 AM	CEP Dynamic Short Socks $100 Moving Comfort Giftcard GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
10:00 AM	CEP Dynamic Short Socks $100 Moving Comfort Giftcard GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
11:00 AM	$100 Brooks Giftcard Maui Jim Sunglasses GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
12:00 PM	CEP Dynamic Short Socks $100 Moving Comfort Giftcard GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
1:00 PM	Garmin Forerunner Watch CEP Dynamic Short Socks Fuel Belt
2:00 PM	$100 Brooks Giftcard Maui Jim Sunglasses GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
3:00 PM	CEP Dynamic Short Socks $100 Moving Comfort Giftcard GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
4:00 PM	Garmin Forerunner Watch CEP Dynamic Short Socks Fuel Belt
5:00 PM	$100 Brooks Giftcard Maui Jim Sunglasses GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
6:00 PM	CEP Dynamic Short Socks $100 Moving Comfort Giftcard GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt
7:00 PM	Garmin Forerunner Watch CEP Dynamic Short Socks Fuel Belt
8:00 PM	$100 Brooks Giftcard Maui Jim Sunglasses GU Energy Gel 24 Pack Fuel Belt

* Discount Disclaimers: - Discount is valid on June 5, 2013 from 12am – 11:59pm PST for open Marathon & 1/2 Marathon distances only - $12 discount towards Rock ‘n’ Roll Brooklyn 10K - Not valid towards Mini Marathons, Bike Tours, Kids Races, GET FIT Challenge or Relay options - €10 discount towards all open Rock ‘n’ Roll International events - No other discount codes or promotions can be used in combination with the National Running Day promotion - **No purchase necessary. Submit form on June 5, 2013 from 12am – 11:59pm PST

**There was so much information that I just put exactly what was up on the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series website as to not leave out any pertinent information or forget anything!  Just click on the picture above an register for any race you want!

Sweaty Bands, Look Cute While You Run!

I can't wait until the Sweaty Bands that I ordered come in!  I usually have to wear by hair pretty much on top of my head to keep my hair from flying everywhere so I was so excited when I stumbled across Sweaty Bands the other day!  They are super cute, and hey, who doesn't want to look cute while running?!

I ordered these two:



They are also made in the USA, it really does not get much better than that!

12 Day Challenge!



Yesterday I started a Beachbody 12 day challenge, with an amazingly motivating gal Brittany; you can find her on Facebook here!  I am so excited for this, I was given a fantastic menu with tons of options and replacing one meal a day with Beachbody's Shakeology along with kicking up my workouts!  I am still following the running plan that the Ironman has given me (I will never deviate from that since I upload my workouts to the computer for him to see and I'm kinda scared of him, ha!  Not really, but he is my older brother), but have been adding some other workouts during the day as well!

 

Yesterday one of my momma friends sent me a text asking me to be her accountability partner for her weight loss journey, I was so excited to help her!  So this morning I sent her a text challenging her to do 100 crunches throughout the day, so of course I would not challenge her to something that I was not going to do myself, so I knocked those out at the gym this morning!  Once I was done with that she asked me if I wanted a challenge so she challenged me to 50 Burpees, after we stopped by Whole Foods, I came home and knocked those out in 5 sets of 10!

 

I find it so much easier to me excited about working out and to be motivated if I am being challenged or have someone directing me.  That is why I am so thankful to my brother for setting me on the right path and giving me direction and now I am doing this 12 day challenge for extra fun and a kick in the pants!  So, if you are struggling or needs a swift kick in the booty, ask a friend to be your accountability partner, join a challenge or find an online community!  There is no excuse!!

4 Months and 2 Days!!

Where do I begin......

I have never been a trainer, will never be a trainer and do not have a desire to be a trainer, however I love being trained!  I will share with you the tools that I have been so fortunate enough to learn from my amazing trainers!

I started this journey of my own accord (Sua Sponte), on a whim I downloaded the Couch 2 5K App on my IPhone and took of running and barely made it home on week 1 day 1. I stuck with it though and by the end of the first week I was feeling great, sore, but great!  I think that this is a great program for beginners and there is absolutely nothing negative that I have to say about it!  Once I was confident in my ability and was to the point where I could run about a mile straight, I knew it was time to call in the big guns!

Last week I started the plan formulated by my brother, the Ironman himself!

Sunday:OFF

Monday:  Easy 40 minute run, don't worry about the pace

Tuesday:  Go to the track, warm up for 10 minutes, then do 15 minutes of one lap hard and one lap easy, alternate that for the whole 15 minutes, followed by a 10 minute warm down.

Wednesday:  40 minutes on the elliptical or treadmill at a 5% incline.

Thursday: Warm up for 10 minutes, then do 6 times of 2 minutes hard running, followed by 1 minute of walking, then a 10 minute cool down.  The running should be as hard as you can go, you should barely be able to talk

Friday:  OFF

Saturday:  Run 4 miles, just run for a long as you can, if you have to stop just do so for 2 minutes and then begin running again.

This is my schedule for last week and then again for this week.  I am tracking my runs with a Garmin and my brother will evaluate these runs to adjust my schedule for the next two weeks!

**Disclaimer:  This program is specifically tailored to my physical ability, you are more than welcome to use this as a guideline, but as with any other exercise plan consult your physician for your needs.

Meet My Trainers!

My husband, the American Bad Ass.  He is truly that, a former Special Operations Soldier turned Government Agent, he loves God, me, our boys, life, liberty, freedom and fitness.  He is my rock and encourages me as well as strengthens me daily.

My oldest brother, the Ironman!  He has provided my inspiration and foundation in this journey, he has been a great motivator and has given me all of the tools necessary to make this happen!  To him I am forever thankful!

Why I'm Running.......

For my boys!  I want to be the best mother and wife that I can possibly be to these amazing men that God has blessed me with in this life! 

 

For those that can no longer run.....our life as a military family was impacted by the brave few that gave their lives for our freedoms and to insure that I can run!  Our brave friend, SGT Robert Sanchez, pictured above, is one of the few that have paved the way for my freedom that allows me to run free today!

 

Because, I LOVE ME!  I didn't always love the ME that I had become, but I am loving the old/new me that I have re-discovered/discovered!

 

I will wear this medal!  I will own the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler in October!

 

Why do you run?

 



Goals for 2013

• Complete my first 5K: Ran May 11, 2013, finished 202/241 with a time of 49.18, 15.18 minute mile
• Run my second 5K:  Registered for the Blueberry Festival 5K on June 15, 2013, my goal of this race is 43.40 or less, 14 minute mile
• Run a 5K in July with a time of 40.00 or less, 12.9 minute mile
• Run a 5K in August with at time of 38.00 or less, 12.25 minute mile
• Run a 10 K in September with at time of 75.00 of less, 12 minute mile
• Run the Disney World Tower of Terror 10 Miler in October with a time of 2 hours of less, this would be a 12 minute mile or less pace!
• Run the Savannah Rock 'N Roll 1/2 Marathon Relay with a time of 66 minutes or less, 11 minute mile for the 6 miles I will run!

Hello, Where Did Cortney Go? What Did You Do With Her?!?!

Cortney 2012:

• Mom of 2 young boys
• Wife of an American Bad Ass
• Lover of Food and Wine
• Hobbies:  Watching my boys play sports from the sidelines, Reality TV connoisseur, spending time with my family indoors
• Gasp, I can't believe I'm about to admit this publicly, Clothing Size 14-16!

Cortney 2013:

• Mom of 2 young boys
• Wife of an American Bad Ass
• Lover of Food and Wine-IN MODERATION
• Hobbies:  Playing sports with my boys, spending time with my family outdoors, RUNNING, Working out, watching TV when I have time at the end of my day!
• Clothing Size 12!

2012 was a hard year for me, it was my first year of no longer being a military wife, my husband got out of the Army in 2011 and while that was a year of transition, it really hit me in 2012.  I had to find a new sense of belonging, for so long I lived in a military world, which is a whole different reality than the civilian world!  I was far away from all of my friends, in fact many of them were now across the country, so I buried my loneliness with Food and TV!  I knew there had to be a change, which I will explain in a whole new blog post, 2013 is my year!  I hope that you will follow my journey and run by my side!