Three Things & a giveaway winner!

1. Yesterday I gobbled up the leapyear savings. I registered for not one, but 2 half marathons! 

Aug 19, 2012

S & I had been debating this as a girls weekend away. Its 3 weeks before Pumpkinman 70.3, so it will be good to get a half marathon in. We saved $29, and spent only $61 on the race. Score!

October 13, 2012

Race price increased today, so I signed up yesterday for a sweet price of only $55 for the half marathon. If it weren't for Pumpkinman, I'd consider the full, but I know it will be too soon.

2. My green smoothie today was delicious, and I actually remembered to put greens inside! Grapefruit, oranges, kiwi, banana, spinach, a scoop of protein powder, and flax seeds. It made so much that I had enough for a morning snack and lunch. Its funny that I feel so satisfied and refreshed having this for lunch. I feel like maybe my old lunches were weighing me down. 

3. We got snow. Not a ton, but enough to make driving a pain. I hate waking up early, cleaning off a car, and shoveling, all before getting to the gym. So I decided to have Kevin do a hearing test with me last night to see if you could hear me on the bike trainer downstairs while in the upstairs bedrooms. Lucky for me, there was no noise, and I was able to pound out 70 minutes in the morning while reading a magazine.  I also counted points all day today. Yay!

The winner of the Immucell?

Lauren... at no blog I can find. I'm shooting you an email Lauren!

Who else is glad its Friday tomorrow?

Did you sign up for any races this week?

Immucell Review & Giveaway!

Do you want healthy joints & skin?

A while back, Neocell gave me the opportunity to try 2 different products.

Collagen Sport Whey Isolate Complex

&

Immucell Collagen Type 2

They sent these over to me when I was trying to nurse my knee pain away before the Disney Marathon. The Collagen Sport came in chocolate or vanilla, and the stats all looked great. I won't go into great detail, because unfortunately I couldn't handle the taste. Despite trying it several different ways (with milk, or water I couldn't drink it. Blended with peanut butter and banana was the only way I could handle it). I know there are several bloggers who have tried it and loved it, but it was a no go for me. To read other's reviews check them out @ Women's Endurance Gear, Blonde Ponytail, I'm a Sleeper Baker, See Mom Run Far. Please check out their reviews, since I feel like I can't give it a fair review.

What I was wicked excited about, was the Immucell Collagen Type 2.

Since I'd been having unrelenting right knee pain, Jean @ Neocell encouraged me to try the Immucell to help me rehydrate my joints. 

• Ideal for those individuals suffering from joint issues and degenerative joint diseases
• High bioavailability with anti-inflammatory and pain modulating effects
• Aids in replenishment of body’s most abundant structural protein
• Supports collagen type 2 found in joints
• Assists in the maintenance and rebuilding of cartilage bones, joints and surrounding tissue
• Lubricates eyes and skin improving moisture levels, and joints promoting mobility

The directions say to take 4-6 capsules daily with Orange Juice or a Vitamin C drink, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach & wait 20 minutes before eating.

yay! No Knee pain!

Every day for weeks leading up to the marathon, I took my Immucell. You all remember that race day I had no knee pain at all. 

I'm certainly not saying that the Immucell was the only thing to help my knee pain. If you remember from my race report (HERE), I spent a lot of the marathon walking due to sickness. But I will tell you the knee felt great even in the weeks following the marathon, only to now be getting worse again since not taking it for 6 weeks or so.

From their website:

ImmuCell® Collagen Type 2 is a food sourced supplement that holds a high concentration of joint-saving nutrients including hyaluronic acid (HA), glucosamine, and high levels of chondroitin, the major components of joint cartilage. These necessary elements support and maintain healthy joints and repair the damage that causes pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Chondroitin also acts as an anti-inflammatory compound and pain modulator without the negative side effects of non-steroidal medicines while enhancing the synthesis of cartilage and HA. Supplementing with ImmuCell® Collagen Type 2 focuses on the regenerating effects for skin and connective tissue health.

 Life Extension magazine had an article in their February 2012 edition... (see the full story HERE)Conventional medical wisdom has long held that rheumatoid arthritis results from an autoimmune attack on joints, while osteoarthritis was thought to result from age-related “wear-and-tear.” 
For the first time, a team of researchers2 at Stanford University has demonstrated that this is not true!
It turns out that osteoarthritis is accompanied by the same pathological, pro-inflammatory immune factors involved in rheumatoid arthritis. Even more compelling was their finding that, if treatment is initiated before symptoms manifest, osteoarthritis may be entirely prevented.

If you read further in the article you'll see that Collagen supplements (including those contained in Immucell), fit that category. So, even if you are experiencing no joint pain, you may be able to prevent arthritis with supplementation.

My knee pain returning has convinced me to visit Amazon to replenish my stock.

You can buy a bottle with 120 capsules for about $17 HERE.

Want to Win some of your own to try?

Neocell has generously offered a bottle of Immucell Collagen Type 2 to one lucky winner!

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each entry

1. Be or become a follower of my blog

2. Follow NeoCell on facebook HERE & tell them Running to Health sent you!

3. Like me on facebook HERE & tell me your best tip for staying injury free.

4. Spread the word! Blog, twitter, facebook (1 for each)

contest ends 2/27 @ midnight EST.

Good luck!