Happy Friday friends!
There is so much to be happy about today.
![IMG_1716[1]](http://www.healthyhappierbear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_17161.jpg "IMG_1716[1]")
- My 15 mile long run is already complete. Yup, I woke up at 5:30 this morning to get my run done bright and early. Six hours of sleep and a restless night didn’t make waking up easy but man do the views make up for it! I can’t lie, I have a little bit of swagger in my step during the day when I know I ran 15 miles while most of my colleagues were eating breakfast.
- I get to unexpectedly travel to Athens, Greece this weekend. A last minute business meeting requires me to be in Athens early Sunday through Tuesday evening. As Bo nor I have been there before, we are heading there tomorrow morning so we can squeeze in some sight seeing before my meetings start!
- You all amazing people helped me reach a social media goal this week. I haven’t shared my goals with many people but one of my top goals for this year was to increase my reach on a few social media sites. My first focus was Twitter as this is my favorite form of social media. Over the years it’s helped us gain tips and tricks while traveling, introduced me to one of my best friends and provided me with a wealth of knowledge. My big, hairy audacious goal was to reach 6,000 followers, naturally. I say naturally because we all know that these days you can pay for anything. I wanted to spend more time, when possible, engaging with followers and building a relationship. The focus paid off and yesterday morning I crossed the 6,000 follower mark.
In honor of this and to thank each and every one of you for your support these past few months, I wanted to host a giveaway today. This giveaway is one that I’m paying for out of my own wallet. It wasn’t planned until my 12 of this morning’s run.
This giveaway includes a few of my favorite things for the RUNNERS who follow along.
- A bottle of your favorite POWER NAIL POLISH COLOR. I fully believe that every goal race needs to include spirit nails. I already know that I want to wear OPI Deutsch You Want Me Baby on my nails for the Berlin Marathon.
- One year’s subscription to either Runners World or Women’s Running magazine in your country. If you already have a subscription to both of these then take this opportunity to gift it to a friend!
- An I RUN THIS BODY shirt or tank from Dorothy’s Dream Big, Run Long shop. This is the perfect shirt to wear for any occasion – cross training, running, recovery, expos, or just running errands. You even get to choose your favorite color!
- A RUN ALL DAY shirt or tank from Pavement Runner’s shop! I am in love with the purple t-shirt and can’t wait to wear this come November.
One lucky reader will receive all of these items. Please note that the RUN ALL DAY shirts ship in November, so there will be a delay in when you receive this.
I’m sure Athens will be awesome! Do you plan on running while you’re there? Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Awesome!
I would love to continue to see more about your overseas travels!
I’m going to choose a green nailpolish so I can wear it during the Dublin Marathon!
Great giveaway and congratulations! Always love to hear more about your training and how you fit it in to everyday life. Love seeing the gorgeous photos of the scenery in Geneva too! 🙂
I love all this happiness going into a long weekend. Thanks for all the updates. Have fun in Greece!
I love authentic posts (which I think you do a good job of) I like the sporadic cooking post from Bo, but I don’t think they need to increase much as I’d rather hear about European adventures!
I love hearing about your training!
Love those shirts and love your blog, I love hearing about life across the pond!
So jealous about Athens! I definitely want to go visit there! Hope you have great weather!
So exciting to get a quick trip to Greece! I’ve been wanting one of the I Run This Body shirts, hope I can nab one this way!
What a fun trip! I’d love to read more about how you’re getting faster with your running. Your splits have been rocking recently! Are you still working with a coach, or are you coming up with your own speedwork workouts?
Wow, congrats on your 6,000th follower! I enjoy the combination of travel, expat life, and fitness on your blog — those are the things that make my world go ’round too. 🙂
I love your fashion posts and seeing all of your travels.
I am loving Yoga at the moment. Good luck at the Berlin Marathon!
Great t-shirts!
I love all your posts, especially those when you travel!
I started reading your blog a few months ago, and I have loved reading about your training! I love that you are so honest in your posts, and it has definitely helped encourage me in my own training. For something I would like to see more of, I would actually love to hear more about your travels!
That picture is gorgeous, definitely a nice sight for the start of your day!
Awesome! thanks for the giveaway!
I love when you post about fun trips you take and the restaurants and food and wine that come along with it! Obviously 😉
I love your posts on travel and exercise!!
your training updates are pretty inspiring – and the scenery is great too! nice change from where i am in NYC.
I don’t have anything that I hate about your blog! I love reading about you and Bo’s life in Geneva! I also love your favorites post. I love some of the clothes and jewelry you wear.
I just started following and reading your blog, so I’m really excited to read about your running and racing internationally and living in Switzerland/I miss living in Germany so much!
Your weekly training recaps are thorough and motivating.
Hey Ashley! Long time reader, first time commenter 🙂 I love your blog and that you are so honest! Great tips and advice 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I love hearing about your workouts! It’s nice to have something new to try. Can’t say there’s anything I don’t like. I’d love to see more about nutrition maybe and fueling for different kinds of runs?
Definitely want to hear all about Athens, have fun
I’ve loved the weekly training updates! Have fun in Greece!
I love the fashion posts!
Beautiful pic. Jealous you did 15 miles before work!!!!
Hearing about your overseas adventures is always fun 🙂
Great giveaway!
I always make sure my nails are done before races! I like to make sure they are fun so if I get bored, I can at least look down and see something interesting.
It’s been years since I was in Greece, but it was fantastic. I’m sure you’ll have a great time!
I love your blog and I love seeing all the progress you have made! Definitely keep having Bo do his special cooking posts!
Love the fashion and travel. More recipes!
more healthy eating tips! congrats on all the milestones!
I love that your training is a realistic! You aren’t running 20 miles a day and making it look like everyone else can do that. I also love that we’ve met in real life! Would love to run again with you one day.
I’d be interested to hear why you changed up your training plan/coach.
I love running early in the morning (well…hate the alarm / getting up part) but it feels so good when you’re done and everyone else is just waking up!
Whatever you want to write about, it’s your blog afterall 🙂 Thank you for the giveaway.
Enjoy Athens! There are some great sights to be seen – I am sure you will love it!
I love the sneak peeks into your life abroad, including traveling to other countries. Also love the focus of being realistic with balancing exercising and a busy corporate job. And the little fashion tidbits here and there don’t hurt either 🙂
I love all your posts! I’m so excited for you to take a trip to Greece! And congrats on 6k followers!
I love the tall girl fashion- I’m 5”11′!
I studied abroad in Athens – it’s the best!
I love that you mix it up with your posts and cover life, fashion, food, fitness, travel, etc.
I like the variety.
I’d love to hear tips on what you did to get to 6k followers 😉
I love keeping up with your travels!
I’d love to see more nyc running escapades!
Nails are so important for races. I have a pre race ritual for every race where I give my toes a french tip pedi.
15 miles before work?? Amazing.
Love your blog! More about fueling and recovery
What a great giveaway!
More pictures of Theodora.
Love the training recaps! I am a triathlete so I would LOVE to see you complete more of them!
I love your realistic view and your travels through europe!! xoxoxo congrats on reaching your goal!
Congrats on reaching 6,000 followers.
I love eggs, running, collecting shells, adventures, sunrises, sunsets, kayaking with my husband, jumping on the trampoline with my kids, and camping in Yosemite. I don’t often paint my nails but I totally rocked sparkly ruby-red nail polish for last spring’s Garmin (“In the Land of Oz”) half marathon.
I’m a new follower. I love being inspired by other runner’s goals, the plans that take them there, and good food.
Wow, your training is going so well! Have a great time in Greece.
I love all of the running related posts and glimpses into your life 🙂
I love how honest you are both when things go well and when they don’t go as planned. You make it so easy to relate to you 🙂
I hope you LOVE Athens!! I’ve been there a few times and love it more and more every time I go. Make sure you get a gyros from a street shop! They are delicious! I love your travel recaps.
Your dedication is inspiring! You’re going to rock Berlin!
power nails – definitely essential for any momentous occasion!!!
I love your “products/things I love” posts the most. Also really enjoy your travel posts.
Never done power nails but I think I am going to have to start!
Just started following your blog about a month or so ago and love it! Thanks for all of the great photos and I love how real and relatable you are. Have a good weekend!
I love reading about your adventures in Europe, especially Geneva. I spent a summer in Geneva several years ago and loved it!
I love seeing all your European Adventures and hearing how you have transitioned to life abroad!
Awesome that you reached your goals. Enjoy Greece!
Every time I look at OPI colors, I wonder how I can get the job of naming them. Have so much fun in Athens!
I love your posts on travel!
Love this. Safe travels!
Have a great trip!
What a great giveaway- EVERYONE loves a magazine subscription!!!! xx
Amazing, well done!
Love your travel stories! Can’t wait to hear about it!
Have fun in Athens! I’ve always wanted to visit.
I’d love to continue to hear about your life overseas and maybe more insight into what you do at P&G.
I love your blog! You lead such an exciting life. I love to see your running and training in Europe and all your travels. I also love seeing meals you eat to keep yourself healthy.
I love to hear all about your travel adventures. Have a great weekend in Athens!
I love following your training and reading your product reviews (particularly hair and makeup products)!
Have an amazing time in Greece! I’ve only been once…when I was 6 and needless to say, I don’t remember much except how blue the ocean was. I love reading about your travels and would love to continue reading about that.
I love following your marathon training as I hope to do one myself in the near-ish future!
Love your long run summaries and great photos of the scenery you are able to enjoy.
Enjoy Greece and thanks for the giveaway!
Something sparkly on my nails always keeps me motivated! It makes me feel like a sweaty princess. I hope you enjoy Greece!!
Congrats! I love hearing about all your travels. Hopefully one day I will be able to travel overseas!
OPI and travel are high on my list of things that make happy.
I love hearing how you fit it all in.
I love reading about your travels through Europe. I also love reading training recaps especially because you are very real with your readers about the ups and downs of training and racing.
Great running items! Congrats on your accomplishment.
I love reading about your life overseas!
I enjoy reading about life in Geneva and your travels through Europe.
Athens, Greece and Athens, Georgia in one month! That’s going to be awesome.
Such a nice give away! I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time now while living in Frankfurt – I’m especially looking forward to your Berlin recap! I love this city and I’ve cheered on runners in the past. The atmosphere is awesome and I’m sure you’ll like it a lot 🙂
I love seeing all of the gorgeous pictures of Europe on here! Though it makes me jealous, it also motivates me to make it a goal to take another vacation there one day.
I would love to see grilled and sugar free recipes
Love you blog – enjoy reading about your training and how you fit it in work. I tkae inspiration from you that it can be done! i also love hearing about your adventures in Europe – especially as I from the UK and live there.
Twitter is such a great way to reach followers! Great job!
Hi Ashley,
Nice work! I love your workouts and travel features along with the odd fashion/beauty feature.
Congrats on reaching your social media goals and thanks for the giveaway – I have entered!
I love your lifestyle posts and reading about your adventures in Europe.
That may sound boring but I love when you write about you work trips and trying to find the balance while on the go. Even after years of travel, I always find some useful tips, so thank you for that!
I love your training, race and travel posts! So basically everything here. It’s always an inspiration.
Love the travel, food, and just day-to-day stuff
Love the giveaway and happy travels!
I love reading your travel posts, and hearing about your training. I would love to see more of the same in the coming year! Great blog!
Well done, you deserve it!
Greece is some place I have always wanted to visit! Can’t wait to hear about your travels there!
I would love to see more posts on weight loss! I also liked you on Facebook!
I love the outfits – as a fellow tall girl they give me much needed inspiration!
I like reading about your training runs.
I would love to hear more about your travels! Greece looks wonderful!
I love to hear (and drool) about your running!
I agree that a great polish during a race is a necessity!
I really enjoy reading about your training & what it’s like to live outside the US!
Enjoy Athens. Some off my in-laws live there and I love it.
I love your travel posts and tall girl fashion inspiration!