2017 has already been pretty great!
It started out with an email before NYE, informing me that I've been accepted as a Pro Compression Ambassador! I applied for this before Christmas and then kept my fingers and toes crossed that they would consider me. Finally the big day came, and I learned that I was chosen as a #RunHundredAmbassador ! AKA one of only 100 people they chose! Im so excited to be able to represent this company that I've loved and worn for quite a while now. I started with calve sleeves for OCR races, and now progressed to being obsessed with their over the calf socks! This is a product I personally use and LOVE LOVE LOVE. Not once have I ever gotten a blister, not even in my first marathon ran in September while wearing these socks. Plus, they have beautiful designs that I've never seen on other compression products. They're so incredible and I can't wait to share my love of them with you all!

 My new winter faves - The Ugly Sweater Sock!

Black and white stripes are also a go-to colour for me, since they match everything. Keep your eyes out for posts on discounts, etc!
For example, the new Sock Of The Month is beautiful.. I may have already ordered both colours ;)

Use code "Wings" for 40% off AND free shipping (to the US, sorry Canadian friends.. but good news is shipping is only like $9!)

Second awesome thing so far is that I started off New Years GREAT by running the Johnny Miles New Years Eve Resolution run with Kirk! He came first (typical haha) and I dressed up in lights and decorations, played some music and had a BLAST! This is typically how we run races haha, he wins and I bring the excitement. (Plus I wore my awesome Christmas socks!)

Hope everyones New Year was incredible as well! For now, I will be writing new goals for the year, (click HERE for some goal setting tips) and continuing training for my first half of the year coming up in February!
Happy Trails,
The Rural Runner

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After realizing now that I forgot to post about the 5k New Years Eve fun run I did with my boyfriend Kirk, I decided it's better late than never!

I signed us up for this free race sometime in October, which was good because it ended up selling out quickly! The race race bibs were super cute and had our 2016 New Years resolution written on them too (mine is to run my first marathon). We also got a nice hat with registration.. Which is super warm and I wear basically every outside run now.

Me and Kirk decided to dress up a little bit and wrapped ourselves in battery operated lights and wore happy new year hats! After all.. It was not timed and just a super fun event!

At the start line, we did a little countdown to new year (pretending it was actually midnight.. The race was really at like 5pm haha), and then they set off ALOT of amazing fireworks!

Everyone watching the fireworks when we started. That darn light up head band was falling off the entire time.. Worth it though!

The race was basically a little loop around the town, staying on the edge of the road or the sidewalk, with all right hand turns. There was a short part through a subdivision, which was great because people still had their Christmas lights on, and made for a more scenic run.

We weren't really pushing crazy hard, but somehow managed to PR my 5k at 26:36! It's not crazy fast.. And my goal is a sub 25min 5k. But it's not often I head out specifically for 5k fast paced runs, since I've been focusing so much more on longer distances recently, so I'm pretty excited about this!

All smiles at the finish knowing I hit a PR!

After the race there was tons of food and drinks to fill up on! Hot chocolate, timbits and subway deli sandwiches.

We're hoping to do this race again next year because it was such a blast!

After the race we headed back up to Cape Breton to go to a Celtic music concert and to celebrate together.

As much as wearing workout clothes all the time is great.. I LOVE any excuse to dress up!

We had some champagne and danced until we were sweaty, it was a great way to ring in the new year!

So.. it's a little late.. But Happy New Year!

Here are some of my running/fitness goals for 2016:

- run my first marathon (Maratime race weekend, September 16)

- complete a Spartan Race Beast (April 30, in New Jersey)

- complete the Montreal Spartan Race Ultra Beast (July 31)

- do a muscle up

- do 10 pull-ups in a row (half way there!)

- do a 50k run for my birthday

- finish top 10 elite female at a Spartan Race

- sub 25 minute 5k

- sub 2:15 half marathon

Here's to making 2016 amazing!

What are some of your goals for this new year?

The Rural Runner

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