OC Fair Closing Celebration 5k Race Report

The Green Girl represented Team Jamba Juice at the OC Fair Closing Celebration 5k this morning.

The race registration area was clearly marked and very well organized. The volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful.

I was also very pleased to receive a technical shirt for a 5k race.

While I was waiting for the race to start, I handed out some Jamba Juice coupons.

I also ran into some other Team Jamba Juice athletes. We all chatted about our respective race schedules and wished each other luck.

After my long run yesterday, I wasn't sure how my body was going to react to a race so I figured I'd take it easy and went to the very back of the line.

When the race started, I immediately regretted my decision. I had positioned myself behind a wall of walkers. Along with a number of strollers, I tried my best to weave past them.

I finally managed to break away and I eased into a comfortably fast pace.

I loved running through the fairgrounds. It was so cool to go by funnel cake stands and cotton candy while running a race.

After I hit the Mile 2 marker, I realized I had a chance to PR. I dug deep and pushed myself as hard as I could. That last mile was rough. I got a side stitch and I got really tired.

When I finally crossed the Finish Line, Mr. Green Garmin read 34:49:12.

I knew my 5k PR was 34-something but I couldn't remember the seconds so I called my friend, Dan. He looked it up and let me know it was 34:48. Unfortunately, my official tag time was 34:50. I missed a PR by two seconds - well, I guess technically, three.

Regardless, I had a really good time and the medal was awesome.

Our bibs granted us admission to the OC Fair, so I handed out the rest of my Jamba Juice coupons and headed inside.

I stopped to get a roasted corn on the cob and then I headed for the exhibits.

They had an Ice Exhibit featuring elaborate ice sculptures.

Going inside the chilled room evoked memories of visiting the Harbin Ice and Snow Art Hall in Northern China. Since I had missed the outdoor Harbin Ice Festival, I was thrilled to have been able to view a handful of ice sculptures at the hall.

After I'd visited all the exhibition halls, I hopped on the Skylift for an aerial view of the fair.

I stopped to snack on a couple of mini cupcakes before heading home.

I'm happy to report my third race representing Team Jamba Juice went exceptionally well.

San Francisco Half Marathon Race Report

The Green Girl represented Team Jamba Juice as she ran over the Golden Gate Bridge at the San Francisco Half Marathon this weekend.

Rad Runner Girl and I flew up to San Francisco first thing Saturday morning. My sister, Patti, picked us up at the airport and we headed straight to the Expo. The goodie bags were reusable drawstring backpacks with spaces for us to fill in our bib numbers on the back. The Half Marathon shirts were an aqua blue with a drawing of the bridge with either 13.1 or 26.2 printed on the deck.

We browsed the booths and collected free samples. I picked up some replacement bottles for my Nathan Speed 4 hydration belt. I also ended up purchasing a Neoprene Double Pouch from iFitness to use on shorter runs.

As we walked around, I handed out Jamba Juice coupons to the Expo participants and even to some of the exhibitors.

After the Expo, we checked into the Hotel Vitale. I had stayed there last year and felt the convenience and ambiance were worth the price.

Next, we crossed the street to the Ferry Marketplace for some lunch where we got to meet up with another blogger, Jill.

After lunch, we walked around the Mission District. For dinner, our friends, Jackie and Janey, joined us for some burritos Papalote. For dessert, we stopped by Bi-Rite Creamery for some unusual ice cream flavors. I had a scoop of Balsamic Strawberry. My sister had her favorite, Ricanelas, which tasted exactly like a snickerdoodle.

When we returned to the hotel, we went through the usual pre-race preparations before we settled in for the night.

Rad Runner Girl and I were dressed and ready when my friend, Leah, from SparkPeople and her friend, Maria, knocked on our hotel door early the next morning. Downstairs in the lobby, we met up with Jackie and Janey before we headed across the street to the Starting Line.

I was in Corral 8 so my start time was an hour later. I hung out with Jackie, Janey, Leah, and Maria, for a bit and then I headed down to my Corral to meet up with the Sole Runners so I could cross the Starting Line with Babak, Betty, and Jim.

The race course started out northbound along the Embarcadero towards Fisherman's Wharf and then veered west towards Ghirardelli Square before passing Crissy Park and leading us to the Golden Gate Bridge.

I felt really good. My body was free of aches and pains - my hamstring soreness was completely gone.

Instead of using a set run/walk interval, I just ran until I felt tired and then walked until I felt satisfied. Since I'm a strong hill runner, I ran up every hill and walked down a lot of them. This strategy worked well for me.

I loved running across the bridge with the fog. The weather was absolutely perfect.

Before I reached the end of the bridge, the deck was re-opened and the runners were routed back up on the sidewalk. I was forced to maneuver myself between the oncoming runners and the walkers going in my direction.

By the time I looped back onto the bridge, the crowd had grown sparse. When I got to the streets, I discovered they were no longer blocked off and we were forced to obey the traffic rules. I may be a true back of the packer, but I never had to wait for the crosswalk signal to change before. Some intersections didn't even have signal lights or stop signs so we had to creep out cautiously and then sprint across.

Not easily discouraged, I maintained my pace and kept going. Despite the fact that it didn't even really look like I was still participating in a race, I knew I was making good timing.

As I was running through the Presidio, I spotted what appeared to be a large branch covered in pine cones.

Jackie, Janey, and Rad Runner Girl were waiting for me at the Finish Line. My official time was 03:10:02.

The post-race area was still well stocked with food and beverages for the runners. The blueberry scones in individual paper sleeves were amazing.

We took the shuttle back to the Embarcadero for the post-race party so I could stop by the Jamba Juice booth before heading back to the hotel for a nice, hot shower.

I was pleased that my second race representing Team Jamba Juice also went really well.

Christmas In July 5k Run

The Green Girl volunteered at the Christmas In July 5k Run today at Dockweiler State Beach Playa del Rey. I proudly represented Team Jamba Juice by wearing my gear.

The race was organized by a small group of Team In Training triathletes to raise money for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I knew one of the organizers, Sara, through Team In Training from back when I was training for my first marathon but we'd never actually met in person. I came out to show my support but I was also looking forward to finally meeting her.

I helped mark the registration area and set up the water station.

There were about a hundred participants registered for this race. It was amusing to only see two porta potties and no line!

The post-run area had bananas, oranges, and water for the runners. Tents were set up by Activate Drinks, Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate, and KIND Snacks to offer free samples to the participants.

Small plastic cones were used to designate the course route along with copious chalk markings. Volunteers in fluorescent yellow vests also assisted in directing the runners.

The race itself went smoothly. Since we had enough designated water station volunteers, I went ahead and took pictures of the runners going by.

As a volunteer, I received a Christmas In July drawstring backpack and a matching water bottle along with a sample of Biofreeze.

The Christmas In July 5k Run was a small race with a really big heart.

MLB All-Star Charity 5k Race Report

The Green Girl did the All-Star Charity 5k at Angel Stadium. Along with the Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the All-Star Charity 5k is celebrating the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

One great thing about this event was that 100% of the registration fees are going to cancer charities.

The All-Star Charity 5k was my first event representing Team Jamba Juice. I had on my Jamba Juice branded apparel and I applied a Jamba Juice tattoo to my left leg.

I met up with my coworker, Brandy, her husband, Oscar, and another one of the Sole Runners, Isabelle, under the giant Anaheim Angels baseball cap.

We made the obligatory porta potty stop and then lined up at the Starting Line. The majority of the runners were decked out in the Anaheim Angel's red so I blended right in with my Team Jamba shirt.

In the first mile, I ran into another member of Team Jamba. We chatted briefly and then I took off to catch up with my friends.

The course was conspicuous and the hydration stations were well-marked. The crowd support was literally non-existent but the energy among the runners and walkers was palpable.

Shortly after we passed the Mile 2 marker, the course led us into the stadium, and around the perimeter. Although it created a significant bottleneck, I really enjoyed the experience and didn't mind the fact that the clock was ticking as I strolled the baseball field.

Participants were featured on the JumboTron and you had the option to give an announcer your name to hear it read over the loudspeakers.

I was absolutely thrilled when we finally crossed the Finish Line and I received my very first 5k medal.

I grabbed the green Jamba Juice bag containing the stacks of Jamba Juice coupons from my car and headed back to the post-race area.

As soon as I started asking people if they would like some $1 off Jamba Juice coupons, others would overhear and come over and ask for a few. The response was overwhelmingly positive. It made me feel really good to see the pleased expressions on people's faces when I handed them the coupons.

Handing out coupons went so well that I gave away almost the entire batch within minutes.

After the race, I headed over to the All-Stars FanFest to help out at the PennyCollector.com booth with the smushed pennies. I also handed out more Jamba Juice coupons.

I'm thrilled that my first race representing Team Jamba Juice went so well. I had a really good time and it was great to see how receptive everyone was to the $1 off coupons.

The Green Girl Will Run Like An All-Star

The Green Girl will run like an all-star this Sunday, at the All-Star Charity 5k at Angel Stadium.

For the record, I am really looking forward to getting my first ever 5k medal.

Along with the Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the All-Star Charity 5k is celebrating the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

I learned that All-Star Game is also know as the 'Midsummer Classic' and takes place annually. The Anaheim Angels are hosting the event for the first time in 21 years.

The teams consist of players from the National League and the American League. The FanFest is is an interactive baseball theme park and the largest baseball fan event in the world.

The All-Star Charity 5k will be my first event representing Team Jamba Juice. I am looking forward to spreading the word about Jamba Juice's SuperActive Summer powered by Superfruit. I will wear the Jamba Juice branded apparel and hand out the $1 off Jamba Juice coupons, window clings, and tattoos, to the race participants and spectators.

After the race, I will be volunteering at the PennyCollector.com booth helping fans roll their very own smushed pennies.

If you happen to be at FanFest this weekend, please stop by. The penny booth is located near the Aramark store entrance. I'll be the girl in the Team Jamba Juice gear.

The Green Girl's Jamba Juice Gift Card Winner

The Green Girl is pleased to announce the winner of her very first blog giveaway.

There were a total of 15 entries submitted via blog reply or email. The winner number 12 was selected randomly based on the result from random.org.

A big congratulations to the winner, Her Name is Rio! You have won a $10 gift card to Jamba Juice. Please send your mailing address to giveaway@therunninggreengirl.com.



Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to participate in my giveaway. And a special thank you goes out to Jill for the wonderful suggestion.

For those of you who entered but did not win, please send your mailing address to me at giveaway@therunninggreengirl.com and I'll be happy to send you some $1 off Jamba Juice coupons.

The Green Girl's Jamba Juice Gift Card Giveaway

The Green Girl is thrilled to announce her very first blog giveaway!

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am proud to be a member of Team Jamba Juice 2010.

My Team Jamba package included a $10 gift card for Jamba Juice. Jill came up with a brilliant idea that I could do a giveaway.

To enter this giveaway, I would like to know what is your favorite Jamba Juice flavor.

My favorite Jamba Juice is a Citrus Squeeze with no banana, substitute mango.
There are two ways to submit your entries to win this $10 Jamba Juice gift card:

• • Reply to this post
• • Send an email to giveaway@therunninggreengirl.com

One entry per person. The deadline to enter is next Thursday, July 8th at midnight Pacific Time. The winner will be announced on Friday, July 9th.

Good luck to everyone!

No Sole Runner Left Behind!

The Green Girl joined the Sole Runners for another Tuesday night trail run with Rad Runner Girl.

It was my first run sporting my Team Jamba Juice gear.

My friend Brisa's sister-in-law, Vanessa, returned after having injured herself on a run with us a few weeks ago. She brought along her friend, Michael. She was still experiencing some knee pain and was wearing a brace.

As we took off, we fell into our natural groups - the fast runners in the front and the back of the packers faithfully trailing. Vanessa and her friend opted to walk and were actually the very the back of the pack.

When we crossed over to the trails, I ran back to Vanessa and her friend to make sure they knew where the entrance was. I reassured them I would wait for them at the next fork in the path and then I took off to catch up with Betty and Michelle.

At some point, Vanessa and her friend actually passed Betty, Michelle and me. When we reached the three-way intersection, there was no trace of Vanessa and her friend. This was disconcerting to me because the unofficial Sole Runners' motto is 'No Sole Runner left behind' but technically, they weren't left behind since they passed us. I tried to call her but she wasn't answering her phone.

Further up the trail, we encountered some cyclists and I asked them if they had seen a couple matching Vanessa and her friend's description but they had not. If they should run across them, I asked them to please pass along a message that the back of the packers had turned around and were heading back.

When we returned to the parking lot, Vanessa and her friend were not there and we weren't sure which car they had come in. Through process of elimination, we decided it was probably this one car but I had my doubts because it was a new car with dealer tags still attached and Vanessa hadn't mentioned buying a brand new car.

I alternated between calling my friend Brisa and Vanessa but neither of them were answering their phones.

As the night grew darker, some Sole Runners had to leave but some stayed behind to wait for Vanessa and her friend. I felt bad because I had no idea if they were still out there on the trails or back home safe and sound.

Finally, I decided I would drive back to the base of the trails and just see if I could somehow locate Vanessa and her friend. I asked Rad Runner if she wanted to hitch a ride with one of the other runners back home but she agreed to hang around.I drove my car up onto the dirt and directed my headlights into the mountains but I quickly realized that only granted us a couple hundred feet of visibility. We got out of the car and I switched on my headlamp to red light flashing mode.

We alternated calling out her name at the top of our lungs but only succeeded in attracting the attention of the wildlife. After a few rounds, it was as if we were participating in a two-way conversation.

All of a sudden, Rad Runner Girl grabbed my arm and pointed out two dark shadows in the distance. I yelled out Vanessa's name and she responded in the affirmative.

They thanked us for waiting and were grateful for the ride back to the parking lot. We discovered the suspiciously new car belonged Vanessa's friend, Michael. Ironically, in retrospect, it was actually advantageous that Brisa never answered her phone because had I talked to her, I would have thought Vanessa had left in her car and we would have taken off.

Rad Runner and I texted all the Sole Runners to let them know Vanessa and Michael had been located. One of the Sole Runners was about to head back to assist in the manhunt.

Driving home, I let out a huge sigh of relief. In the moment, I hadn't realized how stressed out I was but I could feel the tension throughout my body.

Team Jamba Juice 2010

The Green Girl is a proud member of Team Jamba Juice 2010.

Team Jamba Juice is part of the Active.com's Active Ambassadors program. The Active Network created this program to help connect companies to like-minded consumers. As an Active Ambassador, you have the opportunity to become a brand ambassador and promote products you believe in on a grassroots level.

When I heard Jamba Juice was looking for 100 ambassadors for their 2010 team, I had to apply. I'm convinced I am one of Jamba Juice's biggest fans. At one point, I even set out to drink every Jamba Juice drink on the menu.

On the application, I let Jamba Juice know as a true back of the packer, I was their biggest bang for their buck. I mean not that many runners are out there on the course as long as me!

A few days after I submitted my application, I received the following email:

Dear Athlete:
Congratulations! We’re pleased to announce that you have been selected to become a member of the 2010 Team Jamba Juice Sponsored Athlete Team.
The selection process was tough, and we thank you for your patience. Your athletic accomplishments and individual interests are a perfect match for the sponsors’ goal of building a dedicated team of athletes who are passionate about their sport and community. Your 2010 goals, past achievements, future motivations, and overall dedication to the sport best demonstrate this commitment.

Shortly after, I received a package in the mail containing the team manual, my Jamba Juice branded apparel, $1 off Jamba Juice coupons, window clings, and tattoos.

As a Jamba Juice Ambassador, I will help promote Jamba Juice's current campaign, Jamba Juice's SuperActive Summer powered by Superfruit.


I will also sport my Jamba Juice branded gear when I participate in local events and hand out the coupons, window clings, and tattoos.

I think this will be a great opportunity for me. I'm really excited about this.

Go, Team Jamba!