We are constantly striving to improve our series by polling runners and gathering information. In the past we have done that on our Facebook page and by sending out post race surveys, but as we grow and we dream BIGGER we wanted even more input so we formed a Blogger Advisory Panel. Our Blogger Advisory Panel ladies have graciously opened their audiences up to us so we will have access to large amounts of fitness minded ladies when we need feedback. We want to give you the BEST race possible, and we want your input to do that.

Outside of picking their readers brains, each of the panel members will also be running and reviewing one of our races. We have selected a group of ladies with different running backgrounds to best represent the women who usually run our race. We feel that by having veteran runners mixed with newer runners we will be able to get well rounded feedback. We also wanted to offer you a place to go for training motivation and inspiration. Our group is a mix of moms,non-moms,hardcore runners, fitness enthusiasts,and ladies just getting back into running-we’re hoping there is someone here you can relate to.

 Blogger Advisory Panel

Marron is a yoga instructor and trainer at ID Gym in Chicago, has been working in the fitness industry since 1999 and teaching yoga since 2004. Recently, she became certified as a holistic health counselor and is very excited to begin her practice working with athletes of all kinds (especially those who also have a sweet tooth). Marron started running with her dad when she was 12 years old and that tradition carried throughout high school, her collegiate running career, and remains a weekly date! After taking time off competitive running following U of Montana Cross Country, she came back to her love of the sport, training hard, and the running community in 2008. Marron is currently very grateful to be sponsored by Brooks Running’s Inspire Daily program, training and racing as a local elite in Chicago. Marron’s training and nutrition ramblings can be found on her blog Marronb.com!

Marron will be running our Chicago race.

Tina Haupert is a published author and full-time blogger. On her blog, Carrots ‘N’ Cake, she shares her love of food, staying fit, and living a healthy life. This same philosophy and passion to share it with others helped her secure a book deal with Sterling Publishing. In May 2011, Tina’s book, Carrots ‘N’ Cake: Healthy Living One Carrot and Cupcake at a Time, was published. Tina loves to stay active and running is one of her favorite forms of exercise. To date, she’s run more than 30 races, including two marathons and nearly a dozen half marathons. She lives in Weymouth, Massachusetts with her husband, Mal, and her pug, Murphy.

Gina Harney is a 27-year-old fitness instructor and the blogger behind Fitnessista.com. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Finance degree, but found her calling in fitness after marrying an Air Force pilot. The military lifestyle has given Gina the ability to experience life in different cities, as well as the challenges that come with it, including deployments. Gina began writing The Fitnessista as a way to share her passion for health, fitness and now, her adventures as a first-time mom. Gina has completed two half marathons and is excited to get back into running after the birth of her daughter in January.

Gina will be running our Cape Cod race. You can meet her at a poolside mocktail party at 7pm on 9/21 at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel.

According to Skinny Runner “Normal Jogger just didn’t have the same ring to it,” and her blog is a “not so serious take on a serious passion of mine: running“. Along with running she discusses fashion, celebrity gossip and more-all delivered with her trademark sarcasm. Sarah has run 12 marathons a year for the past 2 years and ran her first 50K this year as well.  This year she’s tackling some of the biggest marathons in the US: Boston, Chicago, New York and Houston.  SkinnyRunner loves all things running but never takes her running or herself too seriously.

Skinny Runner will be running our Great Lakes race. Anyone registered for Great Lakes will be invited to a special ZOOMA mocktail party with Skinny Runner at the Abbey at 7pm on 10/19.

Caitlin Boyle is the blogger behind the healthy living blog Healthy Tipping Point, which Fitness magazine recently named Best Healthy Living Blog of 2012, and the creator of the self-esteem movement Operation Beautiful.  She is 28 years old and is married with one child and two crazy dogs. Caitlin’s blog is notable for the wide range of topics she addresses:  fitness, healthy cooking, feminist issues, and parenting.  She is the author of three books, including Healthy Tipping Point: A Powerful Program for a Stronger, Happier You, and has appeared on The Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Network.  Caitlin has completed over 45 races, including two marathons and nearly a dozen triathlons.  Her favorite distance is the Olympic triathlon, but she also loves to do 5Ks.

Caitlin is coming back from having a baby to run our Florida race. She will be speaking and answering questions at the ZOOMA Market Place on 1/18.

Julie Fagan is the blogger behind Peanut Butter Fingers, a lighthearted blog that follows Julie’s life as she strives to exercise regularly, eat (mostly) healthy and enjoy life in Ocala, Florida with her husband and their crazy dog. Peanut Butter Fingers is updated multiple times a day with sweaty workouts, simple, healthy recipes and random anecdotes from Julie’s life as a freelance writer and blogger. Julie’s work and her blog have been featured in national magazines, including SHAPE, Fitness, Glamour, Women’s Day and Women’s Health and she is currently studying to obtain her personal training certification. Julie enjoys running with her dog Sadie who trained alongside her for three of the four half marathons she’s completed since 2007.

Julie will be running our Florida race. She will be speaking and answering questions at the ZOOMA Market Place on 1/18 with Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point.