oofos project pink

Disclaimer: I received a pair of OOcloog Project Pink Clog 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 am a big fan of OOFOS products. I have their OOmg Low Shoe (which they just came out with a full black color that I need for work stat), the OOriginal Sport Sandal, and I picked up a pair of the limited/special edition Chicago Marathon OOsport Slide Sandal. 

Obviously I'm trying to get a full collection of their products and was in need of adding the OOcloog Clog. When BibRave gave the Pros the change to be involved with OOFOS Project Pink, I wanted to be a part of the promotion and was thankfully picked to receive the clog. Yahoo!

During Chicago Marathon training, I was having a lot of heel issues (believed by me to be a symptom of tight calves/PF flare ups). This meant if I sat down to long, or after sleeping, I had a lot of trouble walking without pain when I got up again. Keeping OOFOS by my bed so I could slip them on when I woke up helped immensely. I also wore them around the house, as I read being barefoot would make PF worse.

I love to toss them in my car for post-race. I will note that they are warm, so for most of the past month I haven't been able to wear them outside the house because it's been too hot for them (needed the sandals), but it's starting to cool down, so they've been useful for running errands. So, if your feet are always cold, these will work for you year round. If you are like me, and your feet got hot quick, then they'll be more of a fall and winter shoe and I'll rotate in my sandals during warmer temps.

What makes them different? OOFOS are made with OOFoam, which absorbs 37% more shock than traditional footwear foam. They reduce stress on your feet, knees, and back. They cradle your arches. More information regarding why your feet have earned this.

Now onto the Project Pink portion (information from the OOFOS website). 

This extends beyond footwear to a cause that strikes way too close to home: the fight against breast cancer.
Duncan Finigan is a long time member of the OOFOS family and was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in October 2014. After Duncan’s diagnosis, it was an easy decision for us to choose breast cancer research as the cause that OOFOS would stand behind. 

$10 of every pair of the Project Pink collection sold is donated to breast cancer treatment research at Dana-Farber. As one of the world’s leading cancer care centers, the Dana-Farber team works tirelessly to find a cure to help the millions around the world that are affected. 

Read more about Duncan's Story here.

Perfect to wear to Yoga and Beer - slip on and off easy peasy.

Connect with OOfos:

website | facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube | pinterest 

pumpkins in the park 5k this saturday!

Disclaimer: I received an entry for Pumpkins in the Park 5k 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 can't believe we are coming to my birthday weekend! This year has been flying by. We are already past mid-October. Say what?

Anyway, my next race is on Saturday and it's my pre-race birthday fun. I ran it last year on my birthday and had a good time, so decided to come back again for 2017. I generally don't do many 5k these day unless there's a cool medal, but what draws me to this race is that it's in the afternoon (4pm start time), so I don't have to get up at 4am to get into the city for only 3.1 miles. In the afternoon, you can walk around Lincoln Park Zoo pre-race if you get there early, which I intend to do.

Some other fun things about this race:

• Costume contest (Bring out your best costumes for this year's costume contest! This year, prizes will be awarded for the Best Original Costume and Best Group Costume. The sky's the limit, so let's see what you've got!)Individual mini pumpkin pie
• Revolution Brewing Cross of Gold Pale Ale (for our 21 and over participants)
• Post-race snacks
• Multiple options for packet pickup (including race site from 1:30–3:30)
• Kids Spooky Sprint at 2:30pm

Packet pickup information:

Fleet Feet Sports Old Town

1620 N Wells St.

Chicago, Illinois 60614

Friday, October 20, 2017: 10am to 8pm

Lincoln Park – South Fieldhouse

1650 N Stockton Drive

Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, October 21, 2017: 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Looking for plans on Saturday? Come join the fun. Use code BibRavePP17 to score a free RAM Racing branded water bottle at packet pickup.

This year's goodie bag includes a long-sleeved technical tee (purple with a bat on the front and gender specific sizes). All participants in the CLIF Kids Spooky Sprints will receive a youth t-shirt, sure to brighten up those spooky fall nights! They're pretty cute.

Are you headed there this Saturday? Dressing in costume? Let me know in the comments :)

upcoming october races

Disclaimer: I received an entry for Pumpkins in the Park 5k and Hot Chocolate 15k 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!

Now that the Chicago Marathon is over, I can think about a few more fun races on the schedule - no pressure of time goals, just fun.

On deck I have Pumpkins in the Park 5k on Saturday, October 21 and Hot Chocolate 15k Chicago on Sunday, October 29.

What I like about Pumpkins in the Park 5k, other than that it’s a fun way to celebrate a birthday, is that it’s a later afternoon race, starting at 4pm. Sleeping in for the win! I’m much more of a night runner, so this makes me happy. They also have race day packet pickup, which is essential for those of us that don’t work in the city and can’t make it in there easily on the weekdays.

The race takes place near Lincoln Park Zoo and goody bag includes a long sleeve tech shirt (these were super soft last year, and looks like it’s the same material this year) + individual pumpkin pies at the finish line! Taffy Apples! Popcorn! Costume contest! lots of fun stuff haha.

Hot Chocolate 15k always has sweet sweatshirts and delicious treats awaiting you at the finish line. This will be my third year, but unfortunately not in consecutive, or I’d be able to score that legacy title and get some extra perks. I ran a few years ago, but then the race weekend was always when I was doing runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon down in Florida, so I was happy when they switched to October in 2016. 

Join me for the fun at these races and use the following codes for extra SWAG:

Saturday, October 21 – RAM Racing Pumpkins in the Park 5k. Use code BibRavePP17 for a free RAM racing water bottle

Sunday, October 29 – RAM Racing Hot Chocolate 5/15k. Use code BRHCCHI17 for a free Hot Chocolate branded hat

Are you running either of these events?

bucktown 5k recap

Disclaimer: I received an entry for Bucktown 5k 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!

At the start line.

If you prefer a short version, check out my BibRave review here.

RAM Racing Bucktown 5k was held on Sunday, September 17. This was my second year running it (2016 was my first; recap here). Though I have been trying to mostly run 10k or longer distance races, I couldn't help but register for this Bucktown 5k. Why? Because of the goodie bag. This year's included a super soft, Chicago flag blanket, and when I saw it in person at an expo/felt it, well, it was just too good to pass up.

At the finish line.

My mom picked up my bib for me on Friday afternoon at Fleet Feet Sports in Old Town. She said pickup was easy and no problems. We left the house around 7 and got to the race around 7:30. I went to where I parked last year, and both sides of the street were full. This put me in panic mode, even though we had a lot of time still. Parking in the city isn't easy, and since the course was a no parking zone, it meant all of the cars that normally were parked there were displaced, which means there was going to be limited parking in the area.

The photographer told us to do it haha.

In our search, we came across a policeman on the course. We asked if he knew where some parking might be and he said he had no idea. So, we just drove around. Eventually we found some metered parking on the street maybe mile from the race. A lot of other runners parked here as well, and in the end, though it cost us $4 rather than being free, it was closer to Starbucks and Stan's Donuts, so worked out better haha. I tried to get my mom to get out of the car near the race so she would have time for the bathroom in case we were cutting it close, but she refused.

Free race photos for the win. And there were actually a good amount.

Anyway, we were parked before 8, got our gear ready, and walked over to the race site. Plenty of time to use the portapotties, which didn't have very long lines, and all was fine. There was a DJ and an announcer letting people know when to go line up in the corrals. The race start was different than last year, moved up just a little bit so all of the corrals were on one street rather than being 'L' shaped, turning down a different street.

There were 6 corrals released every 3 minutes or so. We were in the second to last, and I ran with my mom the whole way with her intervals (45/45). The congestion seemed a bit better to me than last year, not running into as many people. I'd say the course was pretty wide in most cases, and MOST cars had parked elsewhere (there was an occasional car you had to weave around). Two sections you ran on half the street, as the other half was for another portion of the course, but it wasn't long or bad, and it was cool to watch the other runners go by.

There were plenty of volunteers and police out to keep the runners on course, safe, and keep traffic off course. There was one water stop (there might have also been Nuun, but I couldn't tell for sure - I skipped it). 

The course.

There were so many families out cheering for all of the runners, it made the race seem very special and local. 

At the finish line, we were given a cup of Nuun, bottled water, a banana, and a bag of snacks which included Soy chocolate milk, a plain bagel, Clif mini bar, Rice Krispy treat, and a piroucrisp. Post-race site had a DJ, games, and a photo backdrop. 

We didn't stick around too long. We headed back to the car to drop off the extra stuff and then headed over to Stan's to grab some amazing donuts. Then we got some iced beverages from Starbucks next door. It was a delicious morning haha.

I shared, I promise.

Definitely looking at running again in 2018 – looks like they are voting between a chicago flag blue long sleeve tech shirt with the 4 stars on the sleeve or a duffel bag. They both looked pretty cool. 

Have you ever run this race? Did anything I mention make you want to register? :)