Category: Product Review

BibRave · Product Review · Run!

Keeping up with Hydration

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Disclaimer: I received  NOW® Sports Effer-Hydrate 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!

I used to be so good at drinking all the water. Granted I had trouble hydrating properly on the run but not running? Oh I was good- usually clearing around 150 oz of water a day. Then COVID. It’s so much harder to drink all the water wearing a mask all day.

Then there’s running- I can never seem to drink enough when running. Probably because I used to drink way too much when I started out and usually made myself sick. Oops. Now I need something flavorful in order to remind me to drink more. I’m also trying to decrease the amount of Aspartame I consume – I know it’s a lot- as well as have become much lazier in the last year or so. Lazy, as in, mixing powders and trying to get them to dissolve properly in water has started to really irk me. And I’ve tried a lot of brands lately both via BibRave and local stores.

So, how about NOW® Sports Effer-Hydrate? And NOW® Sports Effer-Energy?

Nice convenient tube packaging. I can drop a tube in my purse and have it with me all day- and I am very attached to my purse- so knowing that I can have hydration on hand and a clean purse? Thank you!

The tablets inside are easy to break if you need to drop them in a smaller mouthed bottle. Which coming from someone who has wrapped other tablets in napkins and then smashed them with a stapler to break them is a huge plus. I wasn’t kidding when I said I have been trying multiple hydration options the last few months. These also make a satisfying fizzing noise while they dissolve.

How I prep for a run

I received the NOW® Sports Effer-Energy in Tropical Punch and the NOW® Sports Effer-Hydrate in Lemon Lime, Mixed Berry and Orange Strawberry. I have run with all of them as well as enjoyed them at work on crazy days- so every day? Flavor wise, my favorites are the Mixed Berry and Tropical Punch. Lemon lime is super light- almost too light and Orange Strawberry didn’t deliver like I hoped. Maybe it will grow on me? But I did like drinking them and actually finished off a bottle of water on a couple runs. We missed out on winter until recently, so it was around 70-80 degrees for all my recent runs.

Now did they give me energy or help my recover faster? I’m on the fence, however I can say that I did not suffer from the post run run headaches like I usually do. I’m on board! Now will they keep me from a headache when I am stupidly running in 100 degree weather? I’ll report back in 4 months.

I’ll be buying more.

Want to try it? Use code NOWSPORTS20 for 20% off your purchase of NOW® Sports products at nowsportsproducts.com**.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

**Offer valid 1/1/21 through 11:59 PM Central Standard Time 3/21/21. Offer valid only on products found at https://www.nowfoods.com/sports-nutrition/sports-nutrition-all-products. Prices are as shown. Some exclusions may apply. Must use coupon code NOWSPORTS20 in the Promotion Code field at checkout. While supplies last at nowfoods.com. This offer does not apply to applicable taxes or shipping and handling. Offer cannot be used on previous purchases. NOW Health Group, Inc has the right to end any promotion at any time.

BibRave · Product Review

A Love of Socks

Fallon @ Slacker Runner4 Comments

Disclaimer: I received compression socks from Extreme Fit 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!

I love socks. Short ones, tall ones, solid ones, patterned ones. I’ve been know to show up to work in a dress and mismatched knee socks. Especially in the winter. I always took them off and transitioned to heels but plenty of people probably saw me over the years. I literally have 3 boxes of sock in my closet.

A few years into running I started wearing compression socks- I rarely ever ran without after that. I’ve also been known to sleep in them. However as years went on, the ones I had relied on began not to work for me. I was looking for other options. So when the chance came up to try out Extreme Fit, I was all on board.

Extreme Fit makes various types of compression socks, sleeves, low socks, shirts, pants and of course- masks. Their have compression socks with multiple levels of compression- 15-20 mmHG and 20-30 mmHG, i.e, everyday wear vs high active wear. Plus they have awesome patterns.

Then the socks arrived- holy moly sock palooza! Various awesome patterns, multiple lengths and a mask. Woo hoo! I was stoked I received a pair of camo socks!

Now here’s where things get tricky. If you by chance read my last post, you know I have put on some weight. That includes my calves. Which puts compression socks and I in a complicated relationship. Knowing that I sized up to the L/XL.

The low socks were mostly comfortable but too big, well too long. My running shoe size is a 9.5 and I was able to pull the heel cup up to my ankle. Not a huge deal, I just threw them in the dryer. That helped for the most part but I am also still dealing with the fallout from those damn Cascadia’s. I had a bunion that never bothered me at all until those shoes and now it still gets a little angry sometimes. Stupid shoes.

Anyhow, back to the socks. Ok, let’s talk about the usual knee high compression socks. The patterns were so cute! I loved that the orange pair would match my Bibrave tank and thought the reflective socks were awesome. Also I like that these socks feel much softer than my other pairs of compression socks.

They get hung up right around the stripes.😢

Less awesome was that any one of the socks with patterns that involved different stitching didn’t fit. They would get to a spot on my calf and just stop. Boo. The pairs that were a solid tube of fabric did fit and felt good. They felt good on the run and post run. They were also comfy enough to pass my nap test- aced it in fact.

No, not the best pic but they fit!

But the best thing- the calf sleeves fit!!!! I have never found a pair of calf sleeves that fit even when sizing up. Seriously, some brands calf sleeves look like they would struggle to fit my arm let alone my calves. I’ve actually cut the feet off multiple pairs of compression socks to make my own sleeves. I will probably be buying more of those as they were so awesome.

So while I liked the socks I could wear, I am bummed about the ones that didn’t fit. I mean, yes, it gives me more motivation to get my butt in gear but it’s also frustrating that there are less options for people my size or bigger. We like patterns too!

The socks are very affordable and I liked the compression level so I may by a few more solids as well.
If you want to try theme out, code BRP20 will save you 20% on $50 or higher.

Do you wear compression socks? How do you like them?

Other Pro thoughts-

BibRave · Product Review · run · Run!

Take a Moment

Fallon @ Slacker Runner2 Comments

I had such a plan.

And it was a good one!

Disclaimer: I received a pair of special release Knockaround sunglasses to participate in a custom campaign 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!

Knockaround wants to talk about plogging and the planet? I’m in, sign me up! I’ve been toying with the idea of adopting a street in my town. This would just give me that last push! My mother and I were talking about a big trash pick up party- us and her tennis team- we were making plans.

Then the world went a little sideways.

While litter still drives me absolutely mad, suddenly the idea of plogging even with gloves was a little off-putting. Especially since I kind of didn’t venture outdoors except to go to work in the first weeks. Which was not good for my psyche.

Turns out I can’t just hide inside anymore, running has opened up so much more to me. You know, I was the treasurer of the hiking and environmental club in high school? Except I don’t remember any actual hiking. Hmmm. Then I graduated high school, started working full time and got lazy.

It wasn’t until I started running that I rediscovered how much I loved nature and being outside. Part of that came from the running of my first real trail race. Which was a complete accident. I swear there was nothing said about trails in the race description. Oops.

I digress.

With the change in circumstances, Knockaround decided to focus on how awesome the Earth is. And I needed the encouragement and reminder to take a moment (or few) and just take in what nature had to offer. I feel like I needed something else to focus on and just try to decompress. Which has become a lot harder these days. I’ve been sticking to my neighborhood but have been finding the beauty where it is. We could all use that right now.

Mother Nature is showing us how resilient she is right now and we need to take notes. I’ll keep taking in all the nature moments I can right now.

Of course in my favorite shades- Knockaround. And I just ordered myself another pair. You can’t have too many, right?

How are you decompressing these days?

BibRave · Product Review

It’s a Handful

Fallon @ Slacker Runner7 Comments

Disclaimer: I received a Closer Bra from Handful 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!

Okay, let’s get honest here- I have a chafing problem. A real one. And it’s bad.

For now, lets talk the dreaded bra chafe.

I have numerous sports bras- some inexpensive, some very expensive. Pull over the head and front zip. The front zips while easier to get on and off rip me up no matter how much I slather up. I’ve used Body Glide, Vaseline, Squirrel’s Nut Butter- nothing works. I end runs and races with severe chafe to the point of slices at the bottom right of the front zipper and top left of the zipper. Any run over 4 miles and I would end up bloody. I’ve shoved my shirt up under my sports bra numerous times just to see if it helped.

Oh and the pull over ones? Chafe all along the back band. Not to mention how next to impossible they are to get off post run.

I had heard good things about Handful so when the opportunity came up, I thought why not? I opted for the Closer version as I really do love the ease of a front zip.

It was cute!!!

Here’s where things get tricky. I am currently up in weight- a lot- but all my sports bras are mediums. According to the Handful website you should choose your shirt size when ordering a bra. My shirts range from mediums to extra large. I chose a large. Once it arrived, I was excited. It seemed very soft and was super cute. Except… it didn’t fit. Like at all, there was no way that was getting zipped up. Nope. So I sent it back and exchanged it for an extra large. Which I won’t lie, stung a little.

Yeah, should have taken a pic of just the bra

Once it arrived, I tried it on right away. It felt big so I tightened the adjustable straps on the back. Took it for an 8 mile run, no chafe! It felt a little loose on the downhills though. So I tightened it again. Better. Took it for more runs. Still soft, still no chafe. Hmmm.

I gave it the ultimate test up in Napa this past weekend. Thanks to the temper tantrum that is my GI system, I was in the sports bra for over 5 hours. 3 of those were running hours… ok trying to run hours. Zero chafe!!!!! I didn’t even think that was possible. Who knew???

I am sold on the softness and the chafe free-ness. I do feel like I need it to be a little tighter but I can’t tighten the straps anymore. Handful does sell extra pads to insert so I could buy some and use those to make it a snugger fit. Or I can finally get my act together and to get to a point where I can buy the large. Plus that way I can get a fun pattern too.

Want your own? Use code BIBRAVE20 for 20% off.

How do you avoid chafe?

BibRave · Product Review · Run!

Keeping it Sporty

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Knockaround Sport Edition Fast Lanes 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!

I may have a problem. Maybe. But I don’t think so.

There were 2 missing at the time of this photo too😹

I didn’t need BibRave to introduce me to Knockaround, as you can see, I had a pretty extensive collection already.

I love Knockaround for a variety of reasons. The fun colors, the polarization, the comfort and the price point. Let’s face it- I am Destructo Girl I’m so many ways I don’t want to pay $$$$ for sunglasses I will inevitably break because I always do. Or drop down a port-a-potty but that’s another story.

The newest addition to the Knockaround line is the Sport Edition. The Sport Edition is all polarized and comes with those grippy nose pads so your glasses don’t slide down your face when you get all sweaty. The Sport Edition is currently offered for the Premiums and The Fast Lanes.

I was excited for my new shades to arrive. And maybe did a happy sunglass dance when they arrived. I received the Sport edition Fast Lanes in Clear Grey frames and Green Moonshine lenses. Love.

The Fast Lanes are one of the larger frames that Knockaround offers… at least in my opinion. I own other Fast Lane frames too and while I love them, I realized I forgot something at ordering.

I have a small head! Between my hats, my sunglasses and my Aftershokz, there is not a lot of space left on my head. Which is why I don’t usually run in my Fast Lanes. Oops.

That being said- these glasses do not move. I ran in them with a hat and without a hat. Wore in them 100 degree days without a hat when I turned into a nasty, sweaty mess and they didn’t budge. They also never fogged up on me either on some humid runs.

I’m sold! In fact, I’m probably going to buy a Sport Editon of the Premium’s too. Now if only they would make a Sport Edition of the Paso Robles, my favorite style. That’s ok, I’ll console myself with a new pair of Premiums while I wait.😂

Want your own? Use code BIBRAVEKNOCKS3 to save 20%!

What are your favorite sunglasses?