EmpowerMoms

Have you heard about these new races being offered by the City of Salem in October? I signed up for the 8k race and my son is doing the kids race.

I LOVE that they are offering an 8k race. Alot of race venues offer 5k or half or full marathons, but sometimes I like doing longer races than a 5k but not commit to a half marathon. Last month I did a 4 mile race on the 4th of July and that was alot of fun.

I have partnered with the City of Salem Parks and Rec to offer you some promo codes for this race! You can save 20% off the half marathon or 8k race by using my code: BLOG20

You can walk or run the 8k race and its a total of 4.97 miles of beautiful City of Salem scenery! And if you sign up now, you have 2 months-plenty of time to start training even if you’re a beginner.

They are also offering a KIDS race! My 6 year old will be doing it and is so excited! It’s only $20 and he gets a tshirt, medal and chickfila sandwich at the end of the race! AND you can save $5 off any kids registration by using my code: KIDZ5

Stay up to date with all the fun info on their Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/SalemHalfMarathon/home

About the race:
Why should you decide to run the LewisGale Salem Half Marathon? Simple! Salem is known as the “Championship City,” which hosts various NCAA Championship tournaments. We have brought that championship mentality to this race. This course allows you to see Salem and experience why we are called the “Championship City.”

The scenic race will take you through all the sights and sounds of Salem, “Tour of Salem”. This race starts on Main Street, takes you through beautiful Roanoke College, quaint neighborhoods, on the popular Roanoke Green-way, the two different sport complexes, then finish on Main Street with all your family & friends cheering you on as you finish. This race will be something that you don’t want to miss!

As you finish, come celebrate with us at the After-Party! There will be live entertainment, food, & drinks. Our very own local craft beer, Parkway Brewery, will be supplying the suds.

Event details and schedule
Saturday, October 15th- RACE DAY!

9 a.m. Half Marathon & 8K Start
9:15 a.m. Kids Mile Start
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Post-race celebration at Salem Farmer’s Market
1 p.m. Course closes

Every runner in the Half Marathon, 8K & Kids Mile will receive an official race t-shirt, a custom medal at the finish line and admitted to the special post-race celebration, and a memorial race experience in scenic Salem, VA. There you will be greeted at the finish line by the race director, family, friends and other spectators to congratulate you!

Expo:

Packet pick-up will be available at the Roanoke College Race Expo held at the Bast Center on Friday, October 14th from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The address to the Bast Center is:
310 North Market Street
Salem, VA 24175

A photo ID is required to pick up your race packet. You may pick up a race packet for another pre-registered runner, provided you have a copy of their photo ID.

How to sign up:
http://www.active.com/salem-va/running/distance-running-races/lewisgale-salem-half-marathon-2016?int

LewisGale Salem Half Marathon – Half Marathon Pricing Tier Three (Expires October 11th) $90.00

Virginia’s Blue Ridge 8K – Virginia’s Blue Ridge 8K Tier Three (Expires October 11th) $50.00

G&H Contracting Kids Run – G&H Contracting Kids Run Tier Three (Expires October 11th) $20.00

It’s a new month! Can you believe it? This summer has flown by and it’s almost time for the kids to go back to school.

and it’s time for a new month of GOALS!

Every month I like to plan out my daily workout schedule and set some health & fitness goals for the month.

August Health & Fitness 2016:

If the Shoe Fits: A Contemporary Fairy Tale by Sandra D. Bricker

This story is the modern tale of Cinderella.

The main character Julianne is so determined to meet her “prince charming” that she doesn’t open her eyes to the possibility of her friend Will, being more than a friend.

This story had a good pace with lots of laughs! Some of the things that happened were ridiculous, but it was still funny and good light reading. I have read several books by this author and really enjoy her writing style and stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book
Meet Julianne Bartlett, a brilliant young attorney ready to start her own law firm with her best friend—and virtually constant companion—Will Hanes. Julianne has been waiting her whole life for her Prince Charming to gallop in on his white steed. Will rode up on his 10-speed bike while they were still in grade school—but who meets the perfect guy right in the middle of a cul-de-sac?

On the way to her new office, Julianne screeches to a halt after a mysterious Prince Charming loses his toolbox and work boot in a busy intersection. He’s gorgeous . . . and he’s a caring dog-rescuer, too! How far she will go to grab the attention of the prince who begins to look less and less charming all the time?

Shriek with laughter—and embarrassment—as your new best friend, Julianne, goes on a collision course with God’s impeccable plan!

Rise and Shine: A Contemporary Fairy Tale by Sandra B. Bricker

This story is the modern tale of Sleeping Beauty.

After being in a coma for 10 years, Shannon wakes up to discover she’s 30 years old and that her husband recently died. As Shannon tries to get use to the “real world” again, she can’t help feel dependent on her doctor, Daniel, who has taken a personal interest in her medical case. Shannon tries to rebuild her friendships and learn about love and the world around her.

Good steady pace-lots of laughs and “feel good” christian romance story! I have read several books by this author and really enjoy her writing style and stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book
Shannon Malone wakes from a coma ten years after a diving accident to find that nothing in her previous life is the same. Waking up to the news that she’s thirty years old would have been daunting enough . . . but she also learns that her young groom, Edmund Ridgeway, recently lost his battle with cancer.

Shannon’s elderly aunts flit through her life, trying to save her from Millicent, Edmund’s evil sister, as she tries to bar Shannon from any claim on the Ridgeway fortune. Shannon’s gorgeous doctor, Daniel Petros, becomes Shannon’s tour guide into a whole new world of madness, where reality television has taken over the planet and everyone’s life appears to revolve around a tiny screen on their cellphones!

Can Shannon navigate to a happy ending, even when her heart keeps asking, “Why, God?”

A Beauty Refined (Sapphire Brides) by Tracie Peterson

This book was released this month and is book 2 of the Sapphire Brides series. I did not read book 1, so I don’t know if it would make a difference with the character development or if they are stand alone books.

Phoebe visits America with her father from Germany. While in Montana, she meets a local merchant named Ian and some of his friends. As Phoebe stays longer in America, she discovers that the people she thought she knew and loved, may not be who they seem. And perfect strangers may be able to fill her with the love and hope that she has been longing for.

I really enjoyed this book! It had a steady pace with interesting characters with some romance and drama.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book
Phoebe Von Bergen is excited to accompany her father when he travels from Germany to purchase sapphires in Montana. Little does she know that her father’s plans–for the gemstones and his daughter–are not what they seem.

Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie–a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Meeting Ian has changed everything. Phoebe is determined to stay in America, regardless of her father’s plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger as the deception begins to unravel.

Biography
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com