Training Tuesday: RACE RECAP & Product Review

Good morning! I’ve got my race recap for you HERE !

I received a BUFF Tech Fleece Headband as being a Bib Rave Pro to give my honest and unbiased opinion. You too can become a Bib Rave Pro beginning in November!

I thought it would be fun to do a product review with you as a type of stats breakdown because sometimes it’s easier to read that way.

Before getting the headband I was looking for: A wind resistant, warm layer that’s light and not too tight around my head- I definitely found it in my Buff Tech Fleece Headband!

Pros Before Running In It: it’s light, the color is so cute, I love how large it is to cover my ears completely, and the fleece is so warm.

Pros while running in it: It doesn’t move around, it really does keep the wind out, & it’s not too warm (you know those bulky fleece headbands? This is not one of them!)

The best part about it? It’s not thick at all! I love how it’s got-all of the technical features that I’m looking for, but is really made for runners!

Training Tuesday: Keeping Those Sweaty Clothes Fresh

Tuesdays. Not quite ready to let go of the weekend, not quite ready to start thinking about the new weekend. At least tomorrow is hump-day right? Flashback to yesterday’s long run. 22 miles and last 20+ miles until my first 50 miler!

​Also saw this after I got back from my run.

Disclaimer: I received a bottle of Win Detergent to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Does anyone else have really nice workout clothes? I honestly spend way more money on my running clothes than my everyday work clothes. I know that they get the most usage and a cute new race outfit = gives me a HUGE confidence boost. They are the only clothes that I continually hang-dry and wash on a delicate cycle, which is why when I had the chance to try out sports-specific detergent I knew I had to try it.

I’m also super picky with my detergents. I always want something that will work with my sensitive skin, has no crazy amount chemicals added, a fresh scent, and can actually get rid of all of my sweaty scents. After running 7 marathons (and all of those training cycles), my clothes kinda STINK. You know that jacket where you wear anytime it’s cold/rainy/sleety outside? Yeah, mine kinda smells disgusting all the time no matter how often I wash it.

This detergent had BIG shoes to fill and it didn’t let me down. I love how it has a specific sensitive-skin formula, a fresh scent, and can really get out those stinky scents in my precious running clothes. I basically live in my running clothes on the weekend and will sometimes (i.e. often) wear the clothes I ran in to the grocery store, getting gas, running errands. So they have extra time to really let the sweat sink in. Ha. I’m also a pretty heavy sweater (not sure if this is how you spell that, but we’re just going to go with it), so for this detergent to get my clothes clean is pretty amazing.

Make sure to grab yourself a bottle and you can use code WIN4RAVE at checkout to get 20% off any WIN products off Amazon here.

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-How do you keep your sweaty clothes fresh and clean?

-Are you a fan of WIN?

Product Review: Oofos OOmg Low Shoe

Happy Friday (is it Friday? I’m not sure. Coming back from vacation- my body is all sorts of confused!). I got back home around 8pm last night and have been so busy ever since! Had fasting blood work done this morning, unpacked, grocery shopped, and catching up on a bunch of emails. Hoping to head out for my run soonish. Yay for first day of #funemployment! Although, I am already missing these sandy beaches.

It’s no longer snowing here in Steamboat and looks like it will be nicer these next few days (which is a relief because it was so beautiful!). Our snow is almost all melted here, which also makes it easier to fit in some trail running as well : ) Not sure exactly what we’ll be doing this weekend (besides seeing the new Avengers movie!), but hoping to have some time to sleep in as well because I really enjoyed doing that on vacation!

Throwback to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival with my mom! This was possibly one of the highlights on our trip for me (but there were so many good things we saw?!?).

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*I was sent a pair of Oofos OOmg Low Shoes to test out and provide my unbiased opinion of them

One of the staples that I brought on my trip were my Oofos Oomg Low Shoes. I’m all about recovery AND taking care of my feet during vacation (and really anytime if we’re being honest here)! I love how these shoes cover your feet & toes, but are also super easy to slip on (hello, perfect for airport trips where you’re feeling rushed to take your shoes off & put them back on!).

They also look equally fashionable with some compression socks (only way I travel to/ from races)! I also love all of the color options that they come in (gray, black, orange, pink, blue) - perfect for all sorts of different outfits! They are extremely light, provide excellent arch support, and I will definitely be getting a second pair as my ‘around the house shoes’. I’ve suffered from plantar fasciitis over the past year or so and wearing shoes in the house is a must. I’ve normally been wearing my oofos flip flops around, but these are so much better because I can wear them with socks. I also don’t feel super self conscious wearing shoes that provide so much support because they look cute too (let’s be honest- not all supportive shoes look good with both jeans AND dresses)!

You can check out all of the Oofos options here.

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-Three things you’re doing this weekend?!? Anyone racing?? GOOD LUCK!

-Atlantic or Pacific Ocean?

-What beach would you retire to if you could?

Training Tuesday: AfterShokz Trekz Air PRODUCT REVIEW & Must Listen.

"Disclaimer: I received an Trekz Air Titanium Wireless Headphones to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

Happy Tuesday! WOW. Am I TIRED. Ha. It’s finally starting to catch-up to me, so I’m upping my fluid-intact, sleep, stretching/foam rolling 2x a day, and eating super healthy. I’ve got some stressful weeks ahead of me before the marathon, so I’m trying to everything I can to minimize the stress. Come Wednesday, I’ll have all of my “long long" runs behind me so I’ll begin to taper, which I think should relieve some of that stress (but honestly the taper is sometimes a bit stressful to me too).

Before we get into my AfterShokz product review, I NEED to share with you a podcast episode that I listened to on my long run Saturday. THIS podcast episode was mind-blowing and honestly it gets me even more excited to read her book (I just picked it up from the library). Super informative and I think that I’d like to build my next training cycle around my hormones if I can somehow figure them out??

On a side note, you probably know by now that I’ve been testing out my AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones for a few weeks now- including on my 28 mile long run last week! Side note: I must have been slightly delirious by my last 7-mile segment because I definitely put my vest on the wrong way…Whoops.

I’m happy to report that they lasted the entire 4 and something hours I was out there. So that is definitely a bonus. But first, let’s back-track to the beautiful packaging they come in. Stella is also very interested.

So sleek and they come in this great case that my cat, Brady also equally loves (he actually picks it out of wherever I hide it and carry it about the house). I wish I had a photo to share, but he normally drops it by my feet before I can snag one!

I got the slate color and they came with also a charging cord and a 2-year warranty. I love that they have a 6-hour battery. They will get me through an entire marathon and a good majority of my 50 miler (which is perfect because I normally like to save music/podcasts as a ‘treat’ in the later miles of a race). I also really like that you can take calls from them (or ahem…ignore them…I’m looking at you telemarketers!) and they are sweat resistant.

Can ya tell I like to wear this visor a lot? Ha. I should probably wash it…

One of the biggest pet-peeves that I find with ANYTHING wired is how absolutely disgusting that wire feels when you get sweaty. You know what I’m talking about… it gets coated and slimy and ugh. it’s like those really humid days where even wearing a shirt is pointless because it just gets drenched two seconds into your run. I also wondered about the bone-conduction technology. I thought it was SO COOL, but also kinda weird? Like, would I feel it in my jaw (I’ve got TMJ)? Would it move all about and prevent me from catching up on my latest podcast?

I can 100% say for certain that it didn’t feel weird and they never moved on me ONCE! I never felt them and really love how mindful I am now on the run. I don’t tune everything out and come back from my run feeling more rejuvenated and at-ease with myself as opposed to tuning out the birds chirping, cars driving by, the quietness of a morning run. They are so much safer on the roads and I can’t wait to try them on the trails this summer. I know that I’ll be able to hear wildlife approaching, mountain bikers zooming down the trail, and fellow runners coming up behind me (all of my biggest fears when on the trails alone).

Aftershokz also has an amazing video about the headphones, which I’ll share below incase you’re interested! They are so light as well. Don’t forget to get yourself a discount code if you want to try a pair out for yourself.

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Ever done a training cycled that has followed your hormones?

Favorite part about running outside?

Last favorite podcast episode you listened to?

Training Tuesday: Shady Rays Product Review!

"Disclaimer: I received an XYZ to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

SO CUTE.

Happy Tuesday! I’ll be stepping back from my blog for a bit to focus on life priorities. I’m stepping back actually from most social-media related things. I’ve got a lot going and finally realized on Friday that it’s kinda zapping my love for running. I LOVE to run, but when it starts to feel like a task to post about my run and having certain expectations to meet on my runs, then that’s not so fun anymore. I want to continue to ignite that fire and honestly platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook just aren’t doing it for me at the moment (and feeling like I HAVE to post on my blog versus I WANT to post are two very different things). I’m not sure how long I’ll take (maybe I’ll feel ‘back to normal’ tomorrow or maybe I’ll decide ‘hey, this is pretty nice too..’), but I’ll still post my weekly training recaps & I have another Training Tuesday prewritten that’s scheduled next week (it’s a GOOD one!).

Now, let’s get to my review of Shady Rays- I got their Pink Sunset Ice Polarized. First, let’s chat about how CUTE that name is?! They kinda had me just from that title.

I’m really particular about my running sunglasses. I want something that is really cute, affordable (because honestly they’re just running sunglasses), fits my teeny-tiny face/head (yes, I CAN fit into child’s size small hats), lightweight, and durable. I really dislike the typical ‘running sunglass look’ where you kinda look like the terminator.

SOURCE

They also come in a cute color, then well that’s even better (a color that makes me feel fast is obviously what I want and need in life at ALL times). Something that really impressed me about the Shady Rays website is the sheer amount of sunglasses they offer! I also love that they offer free replacements. As someone who’s previously worked for small independent businesses, I really appreciate when other businesses also offer free warranty replacements. I think it says A LOT about how much they believe in their product.

When I first took mine out for a test run, I put them in my running jacket pocket because it was that ‘in-between raining/ cloudiness’. I normally wear sunglasses when it’s raining or snowing hard because my poor eyes DO NOT like to be blinded by it. In my pocket, they were so light that they didn’t move around at all! I was so impressed that I could just keep them in there and not feel them. I think that if I had a pocket big enough to hold them while racing (i.e. in my Honey Stinger Race Jersey), I could do that and not even notice that they were there! Side note: I’m excited to race with them in Moab Canyonlands 1/2 on Saturday!

While they’re light, they are sturdy. They certainly won’t be broken easily (which is saying something because I’m TOUGH on my running gear —> I need them withstand a lot when I’m packing them in my backpack for my 50 miler this Spring).

I love that they don’t fog-up on you either (a serious need when you’re a sweaty racer like I am). I’ve tested them out on sunny, rainy, snowy, and overcast runs (because I live in Colorado and honestly our weather lately has been INSANE) - they are magical. The price-point is great, especially when you consider how they feel real expensive.

Overall, I can’t wait to wear these out and about not just on my runs, but in everyday life because they are stylish! When I put together my race recap next week, I’ll let you guys know how they perform in race situations! I’m sure they’ll be amazing like they have been throughout my training runs : )

Don’t forget to get yourself a pair! —> "RAVE" good for 50% off 2+ pairs from the Shade Shop!