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As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of Pro Compression socks. I have them in two colors, purple and yellow.

I like to wear them for recovery after a tough workout or while running to help those calves through some hills.

Attempted Quarryman Challenge

I also wear them sometimes when I'm racing (photos below are from the Jim Gibbons 5k).

Why am I talking all about Pro Compression? Because they have graciously donated a pair of Marathon socks for me to raffle off! You get to choose your size and color preference (including the new color, orange).

Now the big question, how do you enter this amazing raffle?

Donate to my charity, Open Heart Magic by clicking HERE. For this raffle, every $2 donation = 1 entry. ($2 for 1, $4 for 2, $6 for 3, etc.)

Those that have donated to this raffle (or any previous raffle) can gain additional raffle entries if you:
1) like ProCompression on Facebook
2) like Running Kellometers on Facebook
3) blog about the raffle
4) follow Pro Compression on Twitter
5) tweet about the raffle (@kellywils0n)
Example: I've donated to @kellywils0n's @openheartmagic raffle to win a pair of @procompression socks. Have you?? http://bit.ly/LYKq2S

If you do any of the items mentioned above, please leave a comment letting me know so I can be sure to include the additional entries (you can include everything all in one comment)! (If you have any questions please leave a comment or send me an email!)

You have until Monday, August 6th (11:59pm CST) to enter. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 7th. Best of luck!

This raffle is open to all readers who donate or have previously donated to the Open Heart Magic charity. Winner must contact me within 48 hours of being announced.

I know that there has been some blogger buzz around the 13.1 half marathon this year in Chicago. I haven't talked about it much because I won't be running the race this year. However, like many other bloggers, I'd like to offer a reader the change to enter into the 5k the day of the race (Saturday, June 9). In order to be entered into the giveaway, all you have to do is leave me a comment letting me know you are interested. I will choose the winner by Wednesday, June 6 at 9am CST as online registration has to be completed by June 6.

Partnering with the 13.1 event is the charity, Give Your Sole. Some information is below on the charity and how you can participate.

Details: · Allstate Life Insurance Company and non-profit organization Give Your Sole are giving half marathon runners the chance to leave a unique footprint on local communities as part of a shoe donation program around Allstate Life Insurance SM 13.1 Marathon® Series races.


· Beginning with the Chicago 13.1 Marathon on June 9, race participants, spectators and local residents can donate moderately used athletic shoes to benefit homeless shelters and missions in race markets. All shoes collected in Chicago will be donated to Breakthrough, an organization that provides shelter, meals and other services to homeless men, women and children within the city.


· In addition to the Finish Line Festival, race participants and local residents will be invited to donate shoes at 2012 race packet pick-up events leading up to the race. Participating Allstate® agents will assist with collecting donations by inviting customers to drop off shoes at their local agencies. In Chicago, donations will also be collected at participating Fleet Feet Sports store locations (N. Lincoln Ave. and N. Wells St. in Chicago, and at E. Schiller St. in Elmhurst) until June 10.


· To celebrate the program launch in their hometown of Chicago on June 9, Allstate Life Insurance Company has teamed up with Chicago Bears’ 2012 first-round draft pick Shea McClellin to interact with runners and encourage donations at the Allstate Life InsuranceSM Chicago 13.1 Marathon® Finish Line Festival, held at the South Shore Cultural Center.

I plan on donating a few pairs (that I won't be wearing to the Warrior Dash later this month). Have you donated shoes before? If so, was it part of a race or simply at your local Goodwill or donation center?

I'm super duper excited to announce my next raffle!

For those of you that have seen me walking around town, you've probably noticed some new kicks on my feet. I've been sporting the Mizuno Wave Rider 15s that Mizuno sent me to test out!

They definitely stand out in a crowd and are super comfortable. The Wave Riders are in the Moderate/Neutral range.

What does this mean for you?!

The folks at Mizuno have donated a pair of the Mizuno Wave Rider 15 Limited Edition shoes for me to raffle off!


Here is a little bit about the Wave Rider (taken directly from Mizuno's website)


What makes Wave Rider 15 different?
By combining the best qualities of every Wave Rider that came before it, Mizuno has created its masterpiece with the Wave Rider 15. While the pendulum in running may swing from one extreme to another, the genius of the Wave Rider 15 is found through its harmonious balance of a lightweight feel, wrapped-to-foot fit and exquisitely smooth ride, ultimately producing a brilliant running experience.

And here is a video from Jason Lewis at Mizuno USA talking about the Wave Rider 15.


Just like all of my other raffles, donate to my charity, Open Heart Magic, by CLICKING HERE. Every $5 donation = 1 entry into the raffle. ($5 = 1 entry, $10 = 2 entries, $15 = 3 entries, etc.)

Those that have donated to this raffle (or any previous raffle) can gain additional raffle entries if you:
1) like Running Kellometers on Facebook
2) blog about the raffle
3) tweet about the raffle (@kellywils0n)
If you do any of the items mentioned above, please leave a comment letting me know so I can be sure to include the additional entries! (If you have any questions please leave a comment or send me an email!)

Entries will be accepted until 9am (CST) on Monday, April 2 and the winner will be announced that same day.

It's Monday and therefore time for my weekend recap! Saturday morning I went for a 12 mile run in the hills of Palos with my running group. My legs were exhausted by mile 9 and I was happy I was only doing 12 (the rest of the running group was doing 16 and 18 miles). I am ready for my half marathon to be here... beyond ready! Thankfully it is THIS SUNDAY! :) How was your long run this weekend?

After the run, I was very happy to put on my compression sleeves and shorts under my clothes and enjoy the rest of the day.

However Saturday was a bad day in a "first world problems" kind of way. I drove to the city and picked up a bridesmaids dress I'm wearing for my cousin's wedding. The boutique is in the Gold Coast neighborhood so it made for an annoying trip with several rides around the block. After picking up the dress, I headed to the office to do some work. I had about 5-6 hours worth of work to do. Unfortunately, I couldn't access any of the network files. I did what I could and then went home. Before I left though, Toph called to tell me that the dog chewed up a check that I had to have reissued. Needless to say, it was not a great day (other than the run of course). Thankfully we had dinner plans afterwards with our friends Kate and Sam which totally made up for the crappy day I was having!

Sunday I did the rowing machine for about 45 minutes while watching Sex and the City reruns on HBO Go. Then it was time for The Walking Dead. Was anyone shocked by what happened in the episode? I didn't read the comics so I was really surprised.

Next, it is time for another charity raffle! This time, the folks at Road ID donated a "prize pack" that includes:
1) T-shirt (cotton, men's size medium, suuuper soft)

2) E-gift certificate for a Road ID wrist bracelet

3) Wide variety of Gu and Gu Brew packets

Close-up of the Gu packets

In order to enter into the raffle, all you need to do is donate to my charity, Open Heart Magic by clicking HERE. For this raffle, every $3 donation = 1 entry. ($3 for 1, $6 for 2, etc.)

After you donate, you can tweet or blog about this raffle for an additional entry. Please be sure to leave a comment letting me know your twitter name and/or the link to your blog post.This raffle is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada!

You have until Sunday, March 18 (11:59pm CST) to enter the raffle. The winner will be announced here on Monday, March 19.

Best of luck to all those entering, thanks again to Road ID for the prize pack, and thanks in advance for your donations!

Wow, what a busy weekend it has been!

First things first, I'd like to announce the winner of the Chicago Spring Half Marathon and 10k raffle...

Congrats to Kevin and thank you to all participants for your donations! This is just the beginning and I have some more fun giveaways in the months to come! :)

Thursday night I had some meetings at work and we went out to dinner afterwards. The group had collectively decided ahead of time to go to Morton's Steakhouse for dinner. Considering I gave up meat for lent this year, I was interested to see how the menu would be. This restaurant definitely does NOT cater to vegetarians. I had very, very few options. In fact, my only option was a chopped salad that I ordered without bacon. Everyone else around me got steak and I was stuck with a crappy salad. (I've had better tasting salads at fast food restaurants.) Oh well, I didn't plan the dinner so there was nothing else I could do. Next time, I might skip a dinner like that. Although, the key lime pie was absolutely delicious! :)

Friday I had additional meetings and no time to blog. I was going to try to fit in some miles on my lunch break, but that didn't happen. Thankfully I was able to complete my long run on Saturday, despite a rocky start to my morning. I met up with the FN Runners out on the Old Plank Trail (standard) for 8 miles. It was a great turnout for a cold Saturday morning!

I got to meet another fellow blogger, Kelly the Culinarian, who made the trip from Addison, IL for our group run! It was great to meet Kelly and it was a great run overall! I had planned to do 12 so after the people looking to do 8 miles went home, Susan and Maggie joined me out on the trail for a few more miles. Susan was looking to do 10 so she joined us for a little while longer while Maggie stayed with me for the full 12. Our overall splits were consistent and we completed the run at an average pace of 9:20. I felt totally comfortable and that is around my goal pace for the Chicago Get Lucky Half Marathon. What was your long run this weekend?

After the long run, I had to take my poor puppy to the groomers. She was overdue and needed a haircut. Unfortunately, she had some mats that needed to be taken care of so she is much shorter than I would have wished.
As much as I am a dog lover and I still love my puppy, I do not love her haircut. Thankfully it is just hair and it will grow back soon. Have you ever had this happen to your pet?

That same night we went out to celebrate my cousin's birthday in downtown Lagrange, IL. It is a cute little place with lots of cool restaurants and bars.

Me and Mom

We had delicious Mexican food (which is much easier to order vegetarian) and of course, margaritas! I was happy to justify the copious amounts of guacamole I consumed with "I ran 12 miles today!" The joys of a long run fulfilled in so many ways! What is your favorite post-run reward?

As I've mentioned a few times so far, I've been a bit under the weather this week. I decided to take a break from speedwork and have a rest day yesterday in hopes of feeling better. I want to still do my long run on Saturday (12 miles is the plan) and also would like to squeeze in a small run tomorrow (if I can leave the office early, as hopefully planned). This morning I woke up feeling better than yesterday, although still physically tired. I don't think I've had a restful night's sleep all week hence the exhaustion. Either way, I think I'm finally over the hump of this cold and am happy to be feeling better!

My office building has these in the vending machines. I was very thankful for them this past week when I've been sick, but something just seems unnatural about orange juice in a can as opposed to a carton. Very strange, but I'll take it at only $0.25 per can.

I'm bummed that I'm going to miss my traditional Thursday night crew this week because I have a business meeting. Although, snaps for free dinner! It should be fun/interesting to eat a meal at a fancy restaurant that is vegetarian. Hopefully we won't end up at a steakhouse, but you never know! I'll be happy to be back to my "new/old" routine next week!

Have you signed up for my Chicago Spring Half Marathon/10k raffle yet? You have until Sunday, March 4 to enter!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I recently signed up to be a part of the Miles for Magic charity team. My goal is to raise $500, and I will be running the Rock N Roll Chicago Half Marathon for Miles for Magic. To help raise money I will be raffling off several different items here on my blog. Today is the first of (hopefully) many more to come!

What will I be raffling off today? Race entry into the 2012 Chicago Spring Half Marathon and 10k!

The race takes place in downtown Chicago on Saturday, May 12, 2012. (The 2011 course information can be found here.) The winner of the raffle will be awarded entry into the half marathon OR 10k, whatever they choose.

To enter this amazing raffle, you must donate to my charity (Miles for Magic) by clicking here. For a $5 donation you receive 1 entry into the raffle, and each additional raffle entry is $3.

1 entry = $5
2 entries = $8
3 entries = $11
4 entries = $14
5 entries = $17
6 entries = $20

Please leave a comment on this post letting me know when you have entered the raffle. All raffle entries must be received by Sunday, March 4 at 11:59pm (CST). I will choose the winner using random.org. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or leave me a comment!

Were you wondering about my clue yesterday?
I registered for this race in 2009. I didn't end up running it, but I absolutely love the race shirt and wear it all the time. I have heard good things about this race and I'm happy to give one of you this racing experience! Have you run this race before? Tell me in the comments and I'll update this post with some feedback!

I'm really excited about this raffle and I hope you are too. Best of luck to all participants!

In other news, Amanda and Kilax are the winners of the Nathan/Penguin Sports Wash samples! Please email me to coordinate the distribution of the samples.

Quite a few folks at my work are part of a charity running group. When I first joined the firm, I was training for the Chicago Marathon and already had a set program. Now that the post-marathon dust has settled, I was asked to join the team. I knew it was a matter of time that I would asked, considering all runners at our firm run for this charity. I turned in my form and am now officially part of the team! The fund raising minimum is small as the charity doesn't have a lot of overheard. There are different programs that I can do to raise money (guest bartending, bake sale, etc.) where I won't have to hound my family for cash. I might do a few things on this blog too, so we'll see how it goes!

The name of the charity is Miles for Magic. The charity performs magic with kids and teaches kids the same magic while children are in the hospital, at their bedsides. Here is more info on what the charity does. It is a great way to help kids and their families smile while they are going through a tough time. I knew I wanted to help raise money for a charity for my next race, and I think I found a really great one that I know can work with my crazy schedule.

Last night I pumped iron at the gym (aka did some arm workouts with 5 lb free weights and some ab workouts too). I felt good actually kind-of knowing what I was doing since working out with Amanda last weekend. My local gym has several different locations, and I recently found out that one close to me offers FREE classes! I cannot get over my excitement!!! They have cardio kickboxing on Wednesdays and Zumba on Mondays at a time that is actually reasonable for someone who works during the day!!! (Class starts at 6:30pm on both days.) As there is no CCD next week Wednesday due to Christmas, I'm going to see if I can go to class. I of course will let you know how it turns out. I've never been to a Zumba or Cardio Kickboxing class. Does anyone have any feedback for the type of workout you receive?

P.S. I don't know if you folks follow Skinny Runner's blog, but she's been posting some unflattering running pictures that have been cracking me up. I think that 90% of running photos are unflattering of most people. I sent her some of mine so be sure to look for some great shots of yours truly later on today!