Roctane Drink and Ryders Giveaway Winners!

Let me just say these 2 things right now before I even announce the winners: (1) Thanks for entering!! And (2) if you didn't win, don't fret! There's ANOTHER giveaway coming tomorrow! Seriously. Check back for that.

Now, onto the winners of the Roctane Drink and Ryders Shades Giveaway! Remember, there were to be TWO winners: one male and one female. Each would get a handful of "single serve" Roctane Drink packets along with a male or female specific pair of Ryders shades.

Gu "Roctane Drink" Individual Packets


Ryders "Vela" for a dude


Ryders "Hex" for a lady

The giveaway had 122 comments. And being you could earn extra entries, I had a total of 198 "names in the hat" that I had to draw from. Here's a photo of the printed out and numbered entries:

Here's what random.org gave me this time:

THE FEMALE WINNER: amjeso

THE MALE WINNER: Needlerunning (at least I THINK "needlerunning" is a guy - there was a reference to "Andrew" being his/her name on his/her blog)

So a final BIG THANKS to GU Energy Labs and Ryders Eyewear for the giveaway!! And remember to check back TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!! Thanks everyone!

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Review and GIVEAWAY: Roctane Drink and Shades!

I've never officially "reviewed" the new Gu Roctane Ultra Endurance Drink yet, so I'll do that before this giveaway. I was sent one of the first batches of Roctane Drink about 2 months ago before it was even on the market:

Since then, they've "prettied it up" a bit:

I've used about half my tub already. I've used it on hard workouts, long workouts, and before races. Here's a photo from when it took some to the track to do 800 intervals in December:

And here's some sitting in my bottle just 2 weeks ago before the Securian Run Half Marathon:

Here's my 2 cents:

• All I've had is the Tropical Fruit flavor. I tend to NOT like "tropical" flavors or "fruit punch" flavors, but this is a bit more subtle and delicious. Really. It tastes good!

• It mixes REALLY easy - easier than gatorade. I put 2 scoops in a bottle, give it 2 shakes, and it's good. No clumps what-so-ever.

• I've used it on my longest run of the winter (my 14.3 miler with Henry), and it really kept me going. NO upset stomach. NO bonk. And I had NO gels or other food during that run - just sips on my Roctane Drink sitting in the bottle holder of Henry's jogging stroller.

• It's great to have enough faith in a product to use it during a workout, but I've also used this before my last 2 races: the Securian Run Half Marathon (where I ran a 1:25 half), and the Meet of the Miles (where I ran a 4:53 mile on a 200 meter track). If it works in races, then it MUST be good stuff.

MY BOTTOM LINE:

Roctane Ultra Endurance Drink has become my new "go to" drink for hard or long workouts and races. It gives me the boost I need. It doesn't upset my stomach. It's helped push me to 2 speedy finishes in recent races. I don't need to eat much else while sipping on it during longer workouts. And it tastes good. What more can I say?


ON TO THE GIVEAWAY....

I usually don't MAKE you do anything other than comment, and you can usually "earn" extra entries by doing more. Well, I'm changing it up this time. This time, you have to have a Facebook Account to participate.

..... What? You don't have Facebook?....

Oh I'm kidding!!!

Sort of....

In this giveaway, there will be 2 winners: 1 man and 1 woman. You must be from the US or Canada because that's where these folks can send their goodies.

ONE WOMAN CAN WIN THIS:

5 individual packets of GU's Lemon Lime Roctane Drink


1 pair of Ryders "Hex" shades

Here's a bit about the HEX shades:

Hex - a lightweight blade with high airflow designed for female athletes and made for speed. Features nose pads and temple tips. Weight, 26g. Lenses feature; polycarbonate (making them resistant to rocks, high impact), UV protection, shatterproof, optically correct, scratch resistant coating. Frames feature; TR90 Switzerland material (flexibility, durability, lightweight).

ONE MAN CAN WIN THIS:

5 individual packets of GU's Lemon Lime Roctane Drink


1 pair of Ryders "Vela" shades

Here's a bit about the VELA shades:

Vela - lightweight with co-injected temples for extreme flexibility and comfort. Adjustable nose pads provide for a custom fit. Features nose pads and temple tips. Weight, 24g. Lenses feature; polycarbonate (making them resistant to rocks, high impact), UV protection, shatterproof, optically correct, scratch resistant coating. Frames feature; TR90 Switzerland material (flexibility, durability, lightweight).

For the record, I have a number of Ryders shades. I didn't have to wear sunglasses much last year at the races (because it was a pretty gloomy year), but here's a photo of me from the year before on my way to a 17:11 5K PR in my Ryder DRILLS:

Here's what you have to do to enter:

Step 1: Show your love to these 2 great companies by "liking" them on Facebook. Head over to GU Energy Labs and Ryders Eyewear on Facebook and give them a "like." They post good stuff - you won't be disappointed. (It still counts if you already "like" them.)

Step 2: Comment on this post to enter. Yep. That's easy.

Step 3: (optional) If you'd like to earn an extra entry, send out this tweet:

Check out the @GUEnergyLabs and @RydersEyewear giveaway on @SteveinaSpeedo's blog: http://iwannagetphysical.blogspot.com/

If you send out that tweet, make sure to leave a note in your comment that you did so I give you TWO entries into the giveaway.

Pseudo-legal stuff:
- Contest only open to residents of the US and Canada. Sorry Egypt.
- You may comment now (on THIS post) through 6 pm Central time on Sat, Feb 18th.
- The winners will be chosen at random by a random number generator or by drawing numbers out of a hat. If you’ve earned multiple entries, you will get multiple numbers assigned to your name, thus bettering your chances at winning.
- Early next week (Feb 20 or 21) to see if you won! (Especially if you don’t have a blogger account because I have no way of contacting you.)
- If I can't get in touch with the winner(s) within 2-3 days, I'll choose a new winner(s). So check back!
-As with all of my reviews/giveaways, Gu and Ryders have not asked me for a favorable review. All these opinions are mine, and have not been swayed by these great companies.

Big thanks to GU Energy Labs and Ryders Eyewear for the giveaway!!

Ryders "Vela"


Ryders "Hex"


Gu "Roctane Drink" Individual Packets

So comment NOW! Right here on THIS POST! Thanks everyone!

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Friday Funny 181: What to Wear for Tomorrow's Race

I've given it a lot of very little thought, and I'd like to break out the "Tutti Frutti" shorts for tomorrow's duathlon. Remember, they were debuted late last summer at my last triathlon of 2010:

Only I'll need to wear a LITTLE more than just that. It's supposed to be in the lower to mid-50s and raining, along with 20 mph winds. Yay. So I might look a little like I did at the Mosquito Man Duathlon:

But the icing on the cake will be my new Ryders shades! I hope to wear these along with the shorts:

RACE STRATEGY: Quick get out into the lead, and then everyone will go blind or have a slight seizure as they try to pass.

So Matt and I are off to race tomorrow! In closing, here's a great (awkward) photo from just after the Waseca Triathlon - the last triathlon Matt and I did together:

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Winner of the Three Pairs of Ryders!

I couldn't sleep this morning. Probably that damn "boot" I have to wear at night (see last 2 posts). So I got up early to pick a winner in the big Ryders Eyewear giveaway!!

The winner gets to choose THREE PAIRS from different lines of Ryders shades! CLICK HERE to see the original giveaway post with all of the great shades.

So early this morning, I cuddled up with 18 pages of printouts from all the entries:

There were 218 comments from people who wanted to try out these 3 pairs of Ryders! Once I gave multiple entries to those who were fan of Ryders on Facebook and / or tweeted about the contest, I had 331 names in the proverbial hat! That's a lot of people looking to get some sweet, sweet eyewear!

So I entered my numbers into random.org to help me pick a winner:

After clicking "generate," I was given number 77:

Who was number 77 on my list of printouts? It was Elaine from RatherBeSwimming! Congrats Elaine! (I'm always a little happy when someone wins who had earned extra entries - every entry helps!) And thanks to EVERYONE for entering!! And a SUPER BIG THANKS to Ryders Eyewear for this great gear for this giveaway! Thanks everyone!

[And just because I want to put up this GIF again, I NEED to say this...] Oh, you didn't win? So sorry. Deal with it.

Sorry for being so sassy, but I'm really quite proud of that GIF. ;) AND that GIF features 2 pairs of Ryders shades, too!

Oh, and I wanted to put up this post a little sooner, so sorry for the delay. It would have been up a few hours ago if the printer weren't acting up when I tried to print the entries:

Uhhhh... that's not a good sign....

Congrats to Elaine from RatherBeSwimming! Enjoy your shades!

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Ryders, Ryders EVERYWHERE!! (A Giveaway!)

The great people at Ryders Eyewear want you to try out not 1, not 2, but 3 different pairs of their sunglasses. So they're offering 3 pairs to one lucky reader of mine! Yay you! ;)

If you've seen a photo of me in sunglasses over the last year, there's a 99% chance that they were a pair of my Ryders. Here's a few photos proving I love my Ryders "Drills:"

5K PR in March


Falls Duathlon in May


Waseca Triathlon in August


Wearing my wife's pink "Drills" before going snowshoeing a few weeks ago
(I forgot MY "Drills" at home....)

Ryders wants you to have your choice of 3 different pairs of shades:

• FIRST: Choose a pair of these SWEET "throw-backs" that are part of Ryders 25th Anniversary celebration:

"20five" neon
(SWEET JESUS ON A BICYCLE THESE ARE AWESOME!!!)


"20five" black


"Awol" pink


"Awol" black


"Decoy"


"Grindhouse" blue


"Grindhouse" rasta


"Grindhouse" yellow fade


"Shiner"

Sweetness, right? Right.


• SECOND: Choose one of the designs of the new interchangeable "Tweaker" SLs. This pair of shades retails for $59.99 and comes with a set of 3 interchangeable lenses (14%, 47% AND 93% VLT).

"Tweaker" black


"Tweaker" yellow fade

• THIRD: Choose one of the designs of the "Defcon" shades ($39.99 - $69.99):

"Defcon" white with 57% VLT


"Defcon" black with 17% VLT

So that's up to $169.97 in sweet, sweet shades from the wonderful people at Ryders Eyewear!! Who DOESN'T want that?!?


HERE’S HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

You can enter by simply commenting on this post, or you can earn an "extra" entry by becoming a fan of Ryders on Facebook and/or by tweeting to Ryders.

• Step 1 (optional): to earn +1 extra entry: Become a fan of Ryders on Facebook and then post this as your status:

I just entered the RydersEyewear Giveaway on Steve in a Speedo's blog! Check out these sweet shades: http://iwannagetphysical.blogspot.com/

(Use the "@" symbol before "RydersEyewear" so it links to their FB page.)

• Step 2 (optional): to earn +1 extra entry: follow Ryders Eyewear on Twitter. Then send out this tweet to show your love:

I just entered the @RydersEyewear giveaway on @SteveinaSpeedo’s blog - http://iwannagetphysical.blogspot.com/

• Step 3: comment on this post and tell me how many entries you earned! (You get one entry for just commenting!) So you'll either comment something like this: "Hi Steve! I want some shades! One entry for me, please!" Or something like this: "I'm a fan of Ryders on FB and I posted about it on my wall, and I'm commenting here, but I didn't tweet about it, so TWO entries for me, please!"

So, check back next week Tuesday (Feb 15th) to see if you've won! ESPECIALLY if you’re not a blogger, because I have no way of contacting you! The contest is open NOW through 3 pm (central time) on Sunday. UPDATE: I've extended the deadline for a few more hours! I'll print out all the entries, give extra numbers to those who earned extra entries, and then draw numbers out a hat for the winner!

Pseudo-legal stuff:
- Contest only open to residents of the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.
- You may comment now (on THIS post) through 3 pm Central time on Sunday, Feb 13th. UPDATE: keep commenting!
- The winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator or by drawing numbers out of a hat. If you’ve earned multiple entries, you will get multiple numbers, thus bettering your chances at winning.
- Check back next week to see if you won! (Especially if you don’t have a blogger account because I have no way of contacting you.)
- If the winner does not contact me within 24 hours after being announced, I'll be forced to draw a new winner. So check back and KEEP checking back in case the winner is a no-show!!

One final big THANKS to the people at Outside PR and Ryders Eyewear! You guys are great! Thanks!!

Oh, and PERSONALLY, I think the neon "20fives" would REALLY match my "Tutti-Frutti" shorts. If you disagree, you're wrong. Deal with it.

(If that GIF makes no sense to you, click here to see why it's SUPPOSED to be funny. I find myself explaining WHY I'm funny all the time. And if I have to explain it, then I'm not really that funny. D'oh.)

Go "fan" Ryders on Facebook, follow Ryders on Twitter, and leave a comment! Or just comment! NOW! Thanks everyone!

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WINNER of the "Ultimate Stocking Stuffer Giveaway"

A quick reminder of the $170 in sweet prizes in this giveaway: Ryders VTX sunglasses (with interchangeable lenses), Ryders "Shreddie" or "Grindhouse" sunglasses (the winner gets to pick), Road ID giftcard that will the cover the price of all of their popular Road IDs, Road ID hat, Road ID socks, Gu Vanilla Gingerbread (6 pack), Gu Mint Chocolate (6 pack), and Gu 6 pack of your choice:

Down the left: VTX sunglasses, Road ID, and Road ID socks.
Down the right: Shreddie or Grindhouse, 3 kinds of Gu (one of your choice), and a Road ID hat.

I printed out all 200+ comments, and I gave them all a number. I made sure to give more numbers to those who earned "extra" entries:

Printed comments labeled with numbers

Being it's my giveaway, I feel that I can give extra entries to whoever I'd like, right? Right. (No, not my friends - that wouldn't be right.) I thought some comments were entertaining enough for an extra chance in the giveaway. So I gave these 6 comments a free "extra entry."

Tom M said:

I got a fever and the only prescription is to win this prize!

Anything that makes me think of Will Ferrell's belly and Christopher Walken is super! Extra entry for you!

Sarah said:

Your blog motivates me, and I'd like to enter to giveaway :)

When someone calls me motivational or inspiring, I'm always a little turned on super appreciative - that's a major compliment that I don't take lightly! Extra entry for you!

Eric and I met in person at Rev3: Cedar Point. I gave him a Krispy Kreme after he ROCKED the half iron race. Remember this photo?

Anyway, Eric's comment in the giveaway ended with:

.... Now where's my donut?

YES! Extra entry for you!

Mark got an extra entry for being sassy. I like sassy:

I've earned one entry and have one entry.

That's a total of one.

Someone who goes by "Adolf Hilfiger" maybe had the best entry EVER, so I gave him (maybe her[??]) an extra entry for this (which is the ENTIRE comment):

I like turtles!

TriDan tried to out-do Adolf with this:

cocka doodle doo

Classy. Extra entry for you!

So, with those 230 comments numbered, I had numbers 1 - 496. I used the random number generator at Random.org to pick a winner. I entered my values:

I clicked "generate," and it gave me this:

Who did that number correspond to? It was Kelly from trimommylife.com. Congrats Kelly! I hope you enjoy your goodies!

And finally, one last big THANKS to the irresistibly stunning people at Outside PR, Ryders Eyewear, Road ID, and Gu for making the "Ultimate Stocking Stuffer Giveaway" possible!

Back tomorrow with my 1 mile race report from yesterday's indoor track meet! 8 laps is a few too many.... ;)

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