Facebook giveaway and Christmas Eve Traditions.

 It's been quite the week.... Preparing for holidays, lots of treats and trying to sneak in runs.  I'm on day 44 of my holiday running streak!  I am excited that I've made it this far, but it's still a battle to make time for even just a short mile every day.  We'll see what Christmas Day brings!

Christmas Eve has a new tradition of taking Squeakers and Bugaboo out in the double stroller to go look at lights in the neighborhood... and Maybe to work off the cookies Santa will be eating tonight.  We worse blinking holiday lights which, I'd like to think, helped us be more visible in the fog we are having tonight.  Good thing Santa has Rudolph... or he'd have a heckofa time in our area tonight!

On a side note, I wonder how this tradition will morph and change as the kiddos get too big to be hauled in a running stroller...

Other big news... A GIVEAWAY!!!

If you aren't already following me of Faceook, let me announce my big news!  Well, I think it's big.

My Facebook page reached (over) 1,000 likes!!!  So to celebrate, I'm having an "Ultimate Runner's Care Package" giveaway to start off someone's 2014 on the right foot.  Click here to check out my Facebook page.  While the giveaway is going on, it'll be pinned to the top of the page.  

For this giveaway, I've teamed up with "Hands Free living with Hips-sister", Fitsok, The RunnerBox and Glimmer Gear.   You won't want to miss this.... and for a limited time, Fitsok and Glimmer Gear are offering my readers a discount on some of their products.  

Attack of the sport sock! It will eat your toes.... (Impromptu Product review?)

 Last week I had a bit of issue sneaking in a morning run....  You know how it goes... the day just starts slipping away and by the time the baby is down for her nap and everyone is dressed and I'm ready to go, someone wakes up early from nap or an appointment comes up...  You get the idea.

Anyway....  We decided that a family picnic style dinner at the park would be an enjoyable evening. And i could loop the park to get in my miles while my husband was playing with the kids.

I got a mile and I had this TERRIBLE pain in my foot!  It felt like the knuckles on my middle toe was being rubbed by the neighboring toes.  It sorta felt like there wasn't enough room on my foot for that toe!

I should probably preface this post that when it comes to my shoes, I'm sorta "the princess and the pea".  I have to sweep out my shoes before they go on and examine the socks for any strange snags or anything that's going to "rub weird" (like the sock seam at the toes!).

That's why I'm sorta surprised that I didn't notice this issue sooner, like when I put my sock on!  But I thought I was just being too sensitive and powered through it.  After that one mile, I wandered to the picnic blanket and took my sock off to adjust it.

My toe was trapped in thread loops like a little hammock!

Champion  "Duo Dry" Socks

After trying another mile, it hurt too bad.  Another examination on the blanket, and it became obvious that I had cuts on the toe from the threads rubbing.  I purchased these Champion Duo Dry Socks on the cheap at Target, and now I know to avoid them!!  When I got home, I turned every pair inside-out and all of them have this loopy issue.  Ick.  As if my life doesn't already have little things to stress about and big things to worry over, now I have to cut the loose threads out of my socks?  No thank you.  

I first purchased some Fitsok socks at Portland Running Company, and now I know that there are some things it's just best not to skimp on.  Love you Fitsok!  Thanks for not cutting my toes off!

At least the injury was short lived.  Today I got 10 miles done!  In the pouring rain.  I loved every minute of it.  Sometimes it's just good to get out and get a run in.

Any painful gear lessons you have endured?  Please share them with me!
What kind of socks have won your heart or helped your feet?