GET MOVIN GIVEAWAY - Win a POLAR FT4

Would you like a chance to win a FREE Polar FT4? This is the giveaway for you!

The kind people over at Polar have offered up a FT4 to give away to one of my lucky followers! So what better way to try to win it than to MOVE?! So...let's get movin!

Here is how it works...

When: Starting today lasting until December 31st at 11:59pm EST
Where: My Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/abbysgettinfit
How: 
Step 1) LIKE my Facebook page. You MUST like my page for a chance to win!
Step 2) GET MOVIN' - this includes walking, running, dancing in your kitchen, playing with your kids or pups, swinging, swimming, lifting, etc and so forth! Any way you can get your body moving, do it! I don't care how long, how far, how heavy, just GET MOVIN'!
Step 3) SHARE YOUR PHOTO - share you photo in the event I have created on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/892956804078001/. For every "workout selfie" you post, you receive ONE entry toward the grand prize of a Polar FT4! Don't care for selfies? That's cool, post the equipment used, the dog you walked, the kids you played with, the shoes you wore, ANYTHING! This is supposed to be fun, no pressure, no (okay, almost) rules!

Step 4) REPEAT! You can receive an entry for every movin' photo you post (up to 1 per day) So you can enter once a week or once a day, it's up to you!

Want some bonus entries? Here you go!

For these to count, post a screenshot as proof in the event of each

Bonus entry 1: Like the Polar USA and/or Polar FB pages
Bonus entry 2: Follow me on Twitter - @abbysgettinfit
Bonus entry 3: Follow Polar on Twitter - @polarglobal
Bonus entry 4: SHARE the contest on your personal page - extra bonus - you will receive 2 entries for this!
Bonus entry 5: Use hashtag #getmovingiveaway on either Twitter or FB when sharing about the giveaway
Bonus entry 6: Follow me on IG - @abbysgettinfit

A winner will be chosen at random from the entries! Obviously the more you post, the more chances you have, but that shouldn't mean you burn yourself out or over exercise to get more entires! This is about having fun, enjoying your body movement, and not feeling the pressure (because we have enough of that don't' we?!) And don't forget, like and comment on other people's photos in the event! This is all about having fun and encouraging all of us to move in ways we love!

Please note - this entire giveaway will take place on my Facebook page, so please read here than head over there! Any photos posted here will not be included in the entries.

US ONLY please! Sorry other countries, I'll get ya next time!

I am a half-marathoner!

Yesterday, October 19, 2014, I became a half marathoner. After months of training, weeks of worrying, hours of doubt and anxiety, I crossed the start line AND the finish line.

In late 2013, I decided I wanted to do a half marathon and in January 2014, I signed up for the Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon. I struggled with training, quit a plan, stopped running almost completely, and than somehow finished a second plan and made it to the starting line.

On Saturday, October 18th, I headed downtown (Detroit) with my fiance to head to the Expo and pick up my packet. The minute I walked into the Expo, everything started feeling real. I wouldn't call it nerves, but I wouldn't NOT call it nerves either. It was a strange mix of excitement, nerves, anxiety, and everything else you could possibly feel.

After the expo, we went to our hotel and relaxed for awhile before going and getting something to eat. I decided on a hamburger and fries for dinner, because it never usually upsets my stomach (more on that later!)

I ended up falling asleep super early, around 8:30, which was great, because I worried I would be to nervous to sleep. Before sleep, I made sure I had everything I needed for the morning laid out and ready to go.

Morning of, I woke up at around 4:30, a half hour before my alarm was going to go off. I laid in bed for a bit than got up and started getting ready. I was strangely calm, the nerves seemed to go away, I knew there was NOTHING I could do at this point to further myself or get myself more ready, at this point, it was what it was. I had some breakfast, got dressed slowly, and put on more Body Glide than I think I have used my entire training time, and got ready to leave the room, but not before some selfies...

Our hotel was about a mile away from the starting line so my boyfriend and I headed down there, and it.was.cold!!! Starting time temps were around 33º, far colder than I had originally thought. Thank goodness for my fiance, who suggested, at the last minute before we left the house, to grab another long sleeve shirt. I ended up keeping that shirt, the jacket in the photo, and a tank on for nearly half the race, the long sleep shirt came off around mile 5 or 6.

Getting corraled up was such a exciting experience. There was so much excitement and the energy was awesome! My fiance gave me a big hug and looked me right in the eyes before getting behind the fence and told me I was going to do great. That was when the water works started. I was finally here. Finally going to do this. There was not more preparing, there was no more training, it was here.

One of the main reasons I wanted to do THIS race is that it has some special aspects to it, including an international half/full marathon, meaning you get to run both in the US and Canada, crossing the Ambassador Bridge and than coming back through the Tunnel, which is UNDERWATER. This race has international border crossing AND an underwater mile, how cool is that?! 

There is no feeling quite like running up a HUGE freaking hill, that leads you to the Ambassador Bridge, knowing that so few people ever get that experience. There isn't anything like looking out and seeing Canada and the US from the bridge, as the sun is rising. It took my breath away, and I'm fairly certain that wasn't JUST because of the HUGE freaking hill........did I mention the hill? Holy hell, the hill!

The first 5 miles of my race, which are usually my most difficult, were my easiest this time. The energy of the crowd got me going. But as time went on, I wasn't as much a part of the crowd, since I was further back, and I started to lag a bit. My worst mile was mile 8-9ish, which was the underwater mile. I walked the majority of it, was starting to have a lot of pain, and the worst thing happened.......I had to poop. As I was half way through the tunnel, the pain in my belly couldn't be ignored, so as soon as I got out of the tunnel, I bolted to the porta-potty. The LAST thing I wanted to do during my race was poop, but it happened. and it couldn't be stopped. But I did my business, pulled up my big girl panties (literally) and got back on the road! But after that stop, I slowed down a lot. I was still in a bit of pain in my stomach and I was just plain getting tired.

The last 3 miles seemed to go by pretty quick, but I had to continually remind myself not to stop MOVING. Over and over again I had to keep saying "Keep moving, keep moving, don't stop, keep moving, keep moving, if you keep moving, you will be there sooner, keep moving"

And than suddenly, the final stretch was within sight, I could SEE the finish line. There it was. Throughout my race, my fiance, best friends and parents let me know they were standing on the right side, near corral C, to look for them. As I got closer, the water works started again. I couldn't wait to see there faces, it'd been over 3 hours since I saw my fiance. And than suddenly, a neon green and neon yellow sign popped up, that said "GO ABBY" and there, behind the signs, were the most important faces I could see. And I started crying, tears streaming, paired with the biggest smile I could muster. I ran by them and onto the finish. I was running so fast, I was so happy to be done, I was so proud of what I had accomplished. I crossed that line, and got that medal, and wanted to collapse! 

So it's over. After months and months of training, it's over. And I've never had such a feeling of pride. This is something that not EVERYONE has the guts to do, it's something that not everyone CAN do. and I both had the guts did it. The time didn't matter, it didn't matter I walked a lot, it didn't matter that I was in the second to slowest corral. It all didn't matter. What mattered was I finished, I accomplished what I set out to to do.

Now, I will continue repeating to myself that someday I will want to run again. That the pain will go away. 

It's The Final Countdown!

(Don't pretend you didn't sing my title.....cause I know you did.)

Yes, the final countdown. I have less than 35 days until my very first half marathon. And although I have a little over a month, I am already thinking of what it will feel like to cross that finish line, to finally be a half marathoner, to have proven to myself (and others) that a morbidly obese person can do a half marathon.

As I eagerly count down the miles (75.1) until the big day, I also, as odd as it sounds, am trying to cherish them. I want to cherish the time before the big day, cherish those good (and bad!) runs, cherish the rest days. Why? Because this experience has taught me so much about myself.

I Don't Give Up - My training started way back in January, and I had planned to do two full plans before the big day. But I completely and utterly burned myself out from January to March. I was only averaging about 25 miles a month those three months, but I was on a treadmill, I was indoors, I wasn't eating enough, and it was hard. My last long run was in March, 10 miles, on a treadmill. I watched Grease all the way through and still had time left. It was sooo mentally draining. From April to July, I averaged 14 miles a month........14 miles. I could have quit completely, ate the run cost and moved along. But I didn't. Instead, I put on my big girl panties, found a 12 week training program, and got to work. I had a half marathon to do, I wasn't going to settle for anything less. Last month I ran 40.6 miles, which is only 15.6 less than I had ran April through July. I got back on that horse in a big bad way.

My Heart Is Stronger Than My Head - I struggle with negative thoughts, doubt, & lack of self confidence. About every other run I do, my doubts start, I tell myself I probably won't be able to do it, I'll probably exceed the time limit, I'll probably pass out half way through. But, than, my heart takes over, and my next run I get out there and believe in myself. In my heart I know I was meant to do this. Sometimes I just have to remember to tell my head that.

I Am Stronger Than I Thought -
This quote sums up my experience. Before I started this, I could have never believed I could run 7 miles in a row, or 8, or even 4. The old me "couldn't" run, "couldn't" stick with a training plan, "couldn't" run more than 30 seconds at a time, or more than a quarter mile. But the new me can. I can run for more than 30 seconds, I can run more than a quarter mile, I can run 7 miles in a row, and I can turn my dreams into a plans.

Guess Who Is Now A Polar Ambassador??

I'll give you ONE guess!

I am turly humbled that Polar is giving me a chance to be their ambassador. It means a great deal to me!

So here is a little about the company...

From their website "At our heart we’re all about getting people fit and improving their physical performance, but more than that, we’re about pushing boundaries in everything we do. Take a look through the About Polar section and see for yourself. Who we are, what we do, our history and the innovations that make us unique – it’s all here waiting for you to discover." Polar was founded in 1977 in Finland and by 1982 they had their first wireless wearable heart rate monitor. They have a pretty cool timeline on their site of the accomplishments they have had.

My first HRM was by Polar and I purchased it about 2 and a half years ago. I went with the FT4. It came highly recommended by many people on FB and it did what I needed it to do, track my calories while working out.

Once my needs started to change (ie, I started running), I wanted something that would track my distance as well as my calories burned. I asked around and although people suggested a Garmin to me, I went with my gut and got another Polar, the RCX3 GPS and I certainly didn't regret it. The GPS was spot-on, it fit me well, it allowed me to use it for crossing training as well (something some of the Garmins don't really allow for) and I already knew the basics of using it (which BTW, these products are SO easy to use).

Now, I am once again upgrading, I will now be using the RC3 GPS and will be trading in my Fitbit for a Polar Loop. In the coming weeks, I'll give you some reviews on those, since I am just starting to use them.

So what does this mean for my readers? Well, I am going to be doing weekly Polar posts on here, introducing different products, giving you info, etc. You will start to see more of my photos with the hashtag #teampolar, which won't affect you, but, you'll see it. And I have some more things up my sleeve, but you'll have to wait!

So, tell me, does anyone have any Polar products?