Category: Product Review

BibRave, Product Review, run, Run!

Take a Moment

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

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 Runner

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?

BibRave, Product Review, Run!

Further, Farther

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Disclaimer: I received Gatorade Endurance products to use 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 started the year with one BIG goal.

However I never shared that goal.

Then I spent the first few months of the year more sick than not and things got put on the back burner. Well, the race dropping my distance and changing locations and dates didn’t help either but that’s another story.

Then I circled back around. Why not? Let’s do this.

And that is a 50K.

Some of you are possibly saying hell yeah! While others are saying, yeah no, you just need to stop.

I do love dirt.

Don’t get me wrong- I am not aiming to run this thing tomorrow, or even next month. I realize this is going to take some time. I need time on my feet, miles under my belt, mountains to climb.

I also need to practice my fueling. Because well, I don’t. I may have been able to skate through 2 marathons that way but that won’t work if my aim is for dirty trails and steep climbs.

I will have time to practice my fueling over the next few months. As I have more than a few races planned that I’ve not yet mentioned.😆

At this point I am tossing around 50k races happening early 2020. Typing that year was kind of scary. Makes the race seem less frightening, ha! However that means I have a few months to get my act together. Which is good as some my options are BEASTS.

So, tell me your thoughts! Am I crazy? Any tips?

BibRave, Product Review, Run!

Safety Sunday- Sidekick

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Disclaimer: I received a Sidekick ID from Road iD 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’ve been a fan of Road ID for years. I’ve had the Sport ID and one of the silicone Stretch ones. I loved the changeablity of the Sport ID but it’s no longer offered. And that’s ok. I’ve bought ones for both of my parents and recently upgraded Zoey’s dog tags.

What is Road iD? Road ID offers a variety of ways to carry ID outside of your actual license. Wrist ID’s, shoe ID’s, dog tags, kid’s ID, medical ID’s, etc. They offer a variety of band types for the wrist ID’s as well as decorative tags. As runners, it is important that we carry ID as we never know when we might need. We all hope that we never will but it is better to be prepared.

from the website

There was a time when I never ran without my RoadID. And I have proven that it does work, like the time I accidently dropped it getting into my car post run. A nice stranger found it and called my mother with the number on it. Which as you can imagine had her very alarmed until we worked it out.

Then came the last 6 months. Things I never forgot I was leaving behind. I forgot my hat numerous times. Water bottles were an afterthought, forgot my headphones numerous times, and my Sport Road iD? I started forgetting it so much I don’t even know where it is.

I started looking at the Sidekick ID a few months ago. I even went so far as filling in all my information and putting in the cart but never checking out. I should just look for mine right? Then the possibility opened with BibRave and I jumped on it.

The Sidekick ID is designed to slip right on the watch band of your Garmin, Fitbit or Apple Watch. I chose the 19mm size and was able to fit 6 lines of information on it. Name, Location, Emergency Contact 1, Emergency Contact 2, health info, and a motto.

It arrived and I eagerly opened the package. The Sidekick slides over a piece of industrial fabric with 2 bands to loop around your watch band. It also came with a secondary fabric piece for the just in case moments. It was super easy to slide onto my watch. Then I could just forget about it.

From then on I always had my Road iD on. At work, around town and on the run. Once it was on my watch, I never even noticed it- it didn’t add to the weight at all. I no longer had to worry about forgetting it, yay! I also no longer had to worry about dropping it when my hands swelled on hot runs. Like the above mentioned incident. My only wish is that I had purchased the Rose Gold faceplate instead of the black but I figured I was already pushing the limits on the professionalism of my watch, ha! So I made Zoey’s new tag Rose Gold. It all works out.

Want your own? Use this link to save 20%!  https://road.id/BibRave
How do you carry ID on the run?

For other thoughts, checkout Corey – Jessica – Christine