It’s not my race, but I trained …
enduring countless t.v. and radio ads,
answering numerous voter polling questions, and
deflecting too many campaign calls to count.
It’s not my race, but I strategized …
studying the local election guides,
reading about the candidates and their positions,
figuring out how to adjust my schedule to get to the polls.
It’s not my race, but as this post is publishing, I will be collecting my medal.
Have you voted?
It’s November!
With the Army Ten Miler behind me and plans with friends preempting the Richmond Half, I have no more races on my calendar. Still, I set my alarm this weekend so I could go for a sunrise run. As I was warming up, I realized that I was running because that’s what I like to do.
I love being outside at daybreak.
I love the fresh, crisp air.
I love that it’s cool enough for long sleeves, but not so cold that I need to bundle up.
I love the fall colors in the trees.
I love clearing my head and leaving my stress on the trail.
I love stopping at Starbucks® on the way home for a Grande Thanksgiving Blend.
What do you like to do in November?
The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church has prayers for almost every occasion, including a prayer “For an Election.”
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges:
Guide the people of the United States (or of this community) in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Since we will be electing our next President, this prayer “For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority” also is fitting:
O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world:
We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace.
Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
And, after such a divisive campaign, it would be good to say a “For our Country” as well:
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage:
We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.
Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Recent news from around the world reminds me of how blessed I am to live in a country where I can freely and fearlessly discuss politics, criticize our government, promote what I believe in, be friends with people who disagree with me, and cast a vote that will be counted (albeit under the strange math of the electoral college!).
There’s no escaping the fact that I get sweaty when I workout
and even sweatier when I run.
That’s why I have lots of athletic wear to wash in my weekly laundry.
One of the many great products in our Fitbloggin’ swag was the new Febreze® Laundry Odor Eliminator.
You pour it in during the wash cycle, so you can use it for items that you don’t put in the dryer–like all those technical shirts, compression shorts and sports bras.
I don’t like strong scents (some perfumes make me sneezey) but I do love the smell of fresh laundry, and this product gets the scent just right. My clothes smell good when I put them on, but the fragrance doesn’t cling.
It worked on the hamper-full of clothes my son brought home from college over fall break, and it finally got the last bit of “chemical” odor that was keeping me from wearing my GW Parkway Classic shirt.
The people behind the new Febreze® Laundry Odor Eliminator have offered to send a bottle to one of my lucky readers who lives in the continental United States. Here’s how you can enter this giveaway:
I entered to win the Febreze giveaway from @Got2Run4Me http://wp.me/p131gw-1G5 #laundrochat
One comment per entry, up to two entries per person.
I will select a winner from qualified entries received by midnight east coast time on Friday, November 8, 2012. Make sure your comment includes an email address where I can reach you and make sure you have a continental U.S. mailing address or you may be disqualified!
Don’t be the stanky gym offender in this Ask Amy column!
**FTC Notice** I was given a bottle of Febreze® Laundry Odor Eliminator as part of the Fitbloggin’ conference swag. This review reflects my own personal opinion of the product.
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Five Ways To Discourage Blog Comments
They don’t call it “comment love” for nothing. Bloggers love blog comments! Bloggers know that they have many more readers than commenters, and we all want to encourage more people to comment on our blogs. I certainly don’t have the answer, but I can tell you why I don’t comment on your blog.
1. You use a captcha spam filter.
(source)
We all hate captcha. I may try it once. Too often, once is not enough for it to work.
2. You already have 50 comments. Even if your post is brilliant, if you already have a lot of blog comments, I may feel like I don’t have anything more to add.
3. I can’t figure out how to comment. I’m pretty blog-savvy, but it’s happened. If I have to click through to another screen to comment–especially if I have to click a link at the top of the post–I may get lost on my way to comment land.
4. I’m reading your blog on my iPhone. Maybe it’s my fault for having a 10-character email address and an even longer blog address, but I hate having to tap all that out on my iPhone. Blame Apple for not giving us auto-fill for blog comments.
5. I don’t have anything to say.
(For some other great blogging tips, check out Carrie’s 5 Tips For New Bloggers, which got me thinking about this one.)
How about you? What makes you more or less likely to comment?