Tag: BibRave

CDA Half Marathon- Recap

Holy crap, a real life race!

Disclaimer: I received an entry into CDA Half Marathon 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!

It’s been over a year since my last in person race. When the chance to run Coeur D’Alene came up, I jumped at it. Things would be open by Memorial Day, right? I wasn’t picked in the first run and I was bummed but then I was hit with the melanoma diagnosis and my brain ran away so maybe it was a good thing. A month or so later, something changed and a spot opened up. Once I made sure I could switch to the virtual if things didn’t change or if I had more things to deal with on the skin front. But… I headed out of town on my first race trip since March 2020 last week. Yay!

Holy crap, that is a long drive from the middle of California. Coeur D’Alene is gorgeous. The lake and the park with the trails is like runner heaven- could that just be plopped down where I am, please?

The race was utilizing a rolling start from 5:30AM to 11:00AM. You had to register for your start time before race day. I am an idiot and chose 8:30. What? I then stressed about it right up until race morning. I showed up early on race morning as I was concerned about parking. The parking lot was huge but throw in lots of runners combined with a busy public park and who know what could happen. This turned out to be a good thing as I heard the announcer say you could jump in and start if you were there early. Pick me! So instead of 8:30, I started a little after 7:45. Yay!

The first 3 miles headed out into city streets along the lakeside before looping back to the park. Man, there are some nice houses out there. The next 10 miles were on a paved path called the North Idaho Centennial Trail. This thing is 23 miles long! Again, can I have it please?

Going into the race, I had a feeling it was going to be a rough go. I figured if I walked it all and kept a 15 minute pace, I would finish around 3:15. Any running could bring me down but not far… I really am that out of shape. So there was a good chance this was going to my new personal worst.

And it was.

But I don’t care. This was about enjoying racing, taking in the sights and being around other runners again. I missed it more than I thought. It was so good. The course was awesome, lake views for most of it, dream houses for the other part. Plus, I decided I really like rolling starts. I never felt like I was back of the pack even though I definitely was. I was very warm though so I was questioning the sanity of everyone who started later in the day. I’ve never taken in so much water during a race before in my life. I drank 4 bottles on course.

So yeah, I was slow but it was fun. Other than some odd toe pain. That said, I would definitely run this race again. But maybe fly in?

Also, my finish time of 3:05:54 makes me laugh- it is exactly one hour more than my PR. To the second. That makes me giggle for some reason.

Keeping up with Hydration

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.

Going The Distance

Disclaimer: I received an entry into The Texas Distance Challenge 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!

2020 and I have not seen eye to eye. I doubt it had with anyone really.

My motivation to run has tanked. I wish I could say I was one of those people who used the lock down to jump start their miles or start a run streak. The ones who are turning in more miles than ever before. But nope, I have run less miles this year than I have since my first year running. Ouch. I like to tell myself it would be different if I was working from home but am I just lying to myself? I mean going into the office everyday is normal for me, granted we locked our doors for a while but I’ve gone to work everyday and still helped numerous customers everyday. So, it sounds like not much changed… right? But still.

So I needed a kick in the pants. Enter the Texas Distance Challenge.

I’ve kind of always had a slight obsession with Texas… and London. I blame all those cheesy romance novels I read years ago. Anyways.

Did you know it’s further from El Paso to Texarkana than it is from New York to Chicago? And props if you know the completely random way I learned that.

Yes, I put it on my bear… not the first time, probably not the last either

The Texas Distance Challenge went live on July 1, 2020 and continues until April 30, 2021. The Run the Crossing challenge- which I signed up for- is 814 miles. Or as they sneakily tell you- only 19 miles a week.

19 a week?? That sounds totally doable- sign me up!
Except 19 miles is more than I ran the entire month of July. And August. Crap.

I still have 7 months right?? I can do it… can’t I?

Kind of love this bandanna

Participants get to view their progress on a map as they complete the challenge. Y’all, I’ve barely left El Paso. I have already received some pretty sweet swag and I hope to earn even more as I journey on.

Challengers can also ride the crossing, or ride the loop (all around Texas) and there are various detours. I’ve committed to the run/walk of the crossing, so now it’s time to put up or shut up.

Come join! I need the moral support. I think I can, I think I can.

Looking to Santa Rosa

My bad. (Do people still say that?) I swear I published this back in February. A search of my blog history told me I was crazy. Then I found it in my drafts. Oops. And now things have changed drastically.

This was supposed to be a post where I cagily announced I had my third marathon on the calendar. Actually I am still registered for the full but let’s be real here, the events of the last few months have changed so many things and least of all was my running. Like I kind of just stopped. I had less then 30 miles in March and April.

So instead- I really hope this race will be my next in person race and my 41st half marathon. I even have a real training plan for it. Like, real real. And if we have to go virtual- which the race is prepared to do if needs be- I will still run the 13.1 miles. Prove to myself that I can follow a training plan.

As for the original post or parts of it—

Disclaimer: I received an entry into the Santa Rosa Marathon 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!

In the spirit of running new and different things this year, enter Santa Rosa Marathon. So far every race I am running this year is north California- changing it up!

Also for a person who doesn’t drink, my favorite types of runs are those by vineyards. Or through them.

Santa Rosa Marathon offers a full weekend of fun. There is a full marathon, a half, a 10K and a 5K. The 5K and 10K are on Saturday and the half and full on Sunday. Who knows, be crazy- run 2 races! The full marathon gives runners the chance to run through the barrel room at Deloach Winery. Ok, kind of bummed to miss that. Oh, and the full and half runners get a hoodie instead of a tech tee. I love hoodies.

Santa Rosa takes place the last weekend in August. Fingers crossed for good weather, but really, isn’t north cooler than where I am? Now fingers crossed it’s small enough to happen.

Also I need to find a hotel. Scratch that, that was true the first time I wrote this, I have booked a hotel since then… in February.

If you want to join me in August use code SAVE10 to save 10%.

What are you looking forward to?

It’s a Handful

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?