bibravepro spotlight: amy

I took a bit of a break on the BibRavePro Spotlight posts. Life has been a bit hectic post-marathon, and I wanted to give the posts the time and effort they deserved. I'm back now, and hopefully will be able to stick with doing them at least twice a month. They'll always post on Tuesdays around noon (theoretically), so keep an eye out :)

Today we have another one of my #BRFs. I met Amy through the BibRave Pro program. We haven't had the chance to meet in person yet, but I sure hope sometime soon. She is a BEAST, in the best possible way. Other than being an ultra marathoner, she is also a mother of two AND loves craft beer. I love interacting with her, whether it's through Twitter or our Facebook group. She has an amazing attitude towards not just running, but life. 

She inspires and motivates me to be the best I can be, and I really appreciate her friendship. I don't have a ton of friends that get the whole running thing, other than the runners I've met through Twitter and BibRave/BibChat, who are now some of my closest friends. The friends I've had since before starting this whole running thing are still my pals, but they don't quite get it, so it's harder to talk to them about running. It's nice to have a whole community out there that can help with questions, are super friendly and helpful, and are so encouraging ALL the time.

I was so happy when Amy agreed to give up some of her valuable time to answer some questions so we could all get to know her better. Here she is!

____________________________________




Name: Amy Dedic

Location: Flourtown, PA

When did you start running and why? 
I started running in September 2010. I was always an athlete (swimming, softball) until physical therapy school took away all my time and energy. It was a year after I had my first child, I was so out of shape and didn't feel good. I wanted to be an athlete again but needed to be able to do my sport whenever I could fit it in between work and family. My husband had bought a treadmill the year before so that meant I could easily work out while my son was sleeping. It took a while to be able to actually run full miles and actually enjoy it but the rest is history! 

What is your favorite race distance? 
Currently 50 milers. I don't have to run as fast as I can like in a marathon and I don't have too much experience yet running further than that ;-) 

Do you have a favorite race? 
Born To Run Ultra was pretty epic. I ran the 100K but they had every distance from 10 miles to 100 miles and now they have 200 miles. It takes place in California on a ranch. It is just a huge weekend long running party. 

How about toughest race you've ever done (because of weather, distance, injury, etc.)? 
Velebit Ultra in Croatia. Partly because I ran it about 18 days after I had to get my appendix removed but also the terrain was the most difficult I've encountered so far. It was so steep and so rocky. Really super crazy! 

Do you have any race day traditions? 
I must have my coffee and some kind of breakfast, usually a breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito of some type. Other than that I'm flexible which I need to be with some of the types of races I've been doing lately with crazy start times and staying random places including camping at the race. 

What is the most important lesson running has taught you? 
That I am capable of so much more than I ever thought. Before I started running, I truly believed I could not run. I hated running my whole life. I struggled with running the bases in softball and would always take the short cuts when we were supposed to do our pre-practice run. So the fact that I CAN run ultras now just blows my mind. 

What are some of your favorite running products – for running or recovery?
Shoes, Altras of course. Zensah sleeves for during long runs and after for recovery. Garmin Fenix 2, Salomon hydration pack, Tailwind for fueling

What are you currently training for? 
My current main goal is to finish 100 miler. I'm signed up for several races over the winter and spring to help me prepare. I will likely run the C & O canal 100 on April 30th/May 1st but registration doesn't open for a couple more weeks so can't say it's 100% official yet.

What's one item you can't go on a run without? 
My Garmin! I'm so obsessed with all the data!

Do you prefer to run in a group or alone? 
I rarely get a chance to do training runs in a group since I have to just run whenever I can fit it in. I'm sure I would like it but I'm so used to training alone that it's become my "me time" I enjoy the quiet time to myself. But maybe that's why I love doing races so much because I get to be with other runners which is different from my everyday routine. 

Are you a morning runner? Any tips for those of us who have trouble getting it done in the AM? 
I have to admit that I'm really not a fan of running in the morning which is just because I LOVE sleep and if I know that I technically don't really have to get up, I will opt for the extra sleep. That said, with a family and a runner husband there are plenty of times that I need to run in the morning if I want to get my run in. 

My tips for getting it done are to definitely have everything ready, all your gear, anything you might want to eat real quick before you go. Get it all ready the night before. Sometimes I will even have a quick cup of coffee to get me going. I've also on more than one occasion slept in my running clothes. For me it's also a huge thing to know that if I don't run in the morning, I won't be able to run that day and missing a run is not an option for me. 

How many marathons have you completed? 
11 marathons. I know you didn't ask but 13 ultras ;-)

How did you get started/interested in ultra marathons? Any tips for those that are interested in taking on this new challenge? 
I really am not sure exactly why because I remember talking with Emir (my husband) frequently about how we thought people that ran longer than marathon distance were super crazy. But after running a few marathons, I guess we felt like we wanted more, to challenge ourselves in a different way. Our first ultra was TNF Bear Mountain 50K. We did it as an anniversary getaway weekend to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. Obviously we were hooked immediately. I would say anyone interested should just do it. Ultras can be easier in a way than shorter distances. The pace is usually much slower with walk breaks and AMAZING food at the aid stations. The ultra community is so welcoming and supportive that you are bound to succeed. The training for a 50K is really not much more than the training for a marathon so if you can run a marathon you can do an ultra :-)

You have two kids and both you and your husband are ultra runners - how do you both get in the training/balance life? 
(editor's note: I'm so impressed with these two - super family!) 
It's not always easy and it took a little time to figure it out. We basically plan things out for the week. Decide who's running mornings versus after work. Weekend long runs we take turns going out except for the occasion that they are doing something with my family and we can go run together. There are also plenty of times we do family runs with the double running stroller, usually anything 8 miles or less is manageable with the two kids. I have been known to take our youngest for runs up to 15 miles as she will take a two hour nap in the stroller. Now our son has started to get into running so we try to incorporate him into shorter runs. For the most part, we either try to include them or get our runs done at times that won't affect them like super early morning or nap time. 

What are some of your other hobbies? 
I'm a huge baseball/Phillies fan. I'm also a huge beach bum. We have a place in Wildwood, NJ and I spend a fair amount of time in the summer visiting my husband's family in Bosnia and Croatia (also on the beach)

What's your day job? 
I'm a physical therapist at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. I work there 3 days a week plus 1 weekend day a month. 2 days a week I am a stay at home mom now just to Una since Niko is in first grade. 

Any big running/athletic goals for the future? (i.e. ultra, triathlon, etc) 
I always thought, and by always I guess the last couple years, that 100 miler was my big goal for the future, many years down the line but then all the sudden here I am on the verge of making that goal so I really haven't had a chance to think much past that. And even though I did get a BQ last year, it wasn't by enough to get into Boston so I still do want to BQ again so I can run Boston. 

How long have you been a BibRave Pro? 
about a year and a half

What's your favorite thing about being a BibRave Pro? 
I love being part of the Bibrave community. I love interacting with all the pros and with tons of runners during Bibchat. I've also made my two #BRF's because of being a BRP which I'll always be grateful for.

Make sure to follow Amy on her fun adventures!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.dedic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marathonmom217

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dedica217/

BibRave: http://www.bibrave.com/users/329

Blog: http://runningmarathonmom.blogspot.com/

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Join the fun BibRave gang for BibChat tonight (Tuesday, December 8) at 8pm CT. The sponsor this evening is Plantronics, and if you're lucky, you might win a pair of BackBeat FIT Wireless Headphones. They are AMAZING. Check out Amy's review or my review. I've tried quite a few headphones, and these are by far my favorite. Still loving them months later and I don't go for a run without them. They're also great for house/yard work!

nite ize: visibility, safety, solutions

Disclaimer: I received a variety of Nite Ize products 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!

All of the awesome products Nite Ize sent.

If you guys know much about me, you know safety is a key concern when I'm out running. I've had to do a lot of night running (I prefer it over early mornings) post work, and I take every precaution I know of to keep me safe out there. I wear a light up vest, bright/reflective clothing, always wear my Road ID, tell people where I'm running and for how long, use Knuckle Lights, etc.

I was super stoked to hear I'd be able to try out some of the awesome products Nite Ize has! What was in the box? A SlapLit LED Slap Wrap, ShoeLit x2 (blue), LED Marker Band, Curvyman, Inova STS Headlamp, Gear Tie - Clippable Twist Tie 24", Gear Tie - Clippable Twist Tie 12", and Gear Tie 8 pack(2 x 3", 2x 6", 2 x 12", and 2x 18"). Lots of cool stuff! 

All it takes to turn on the SlapLit is a quick press of the button.

Let's start out with the SlapLit LED Slap Wrap:
Yes, it's incredibly similar to the slap bracelets of my youth that I was so fond of. How cool is that?! It's made of a durable nylon with a reflective spider web design and is very bright. You can put it on your wrist, ankle, or upper arm. You can use it in two different modes: one where the light stays on, or use it in flashing mode. It's your preference. It's great for any activity outdoors during the evening - cycling, running, walking, lawn games, etc. How did I like using the SlapLit? I LOVED IT. I'm a big fan of things that light up for my night runs, and it made me feel visible (because I was) and safe. It's really easy to use – just press the lightbulb graphic to turn it on, and slap it on your wrist. Press twice for the flashing mode, and another time to turn it off.

It retails for $11.99 and when the batteries get low, you can replace them with a 2032 3V Lithium Coin Cell (which can be bought on Nite Ize here, or found wherever batteries are sold). 

Some other notable details from the website:
• Bright red LED for Active Illumination - Glow or Flash Modes
• Passive High Visibility Reflective Pattern
• Easily replacable 1 x 2032 3V lithium battery included
• 100 hour battery life

LED Marker Band:
Another great product for safety during night runs is the LED Marker Band. It's lightweight, adjustable, flexible, long lasting, and makes you VISIBLE. This is key to night time running. I want to be sure that I am doing everything I can to make myself visible to drivers. While I also have to be diligent in checking for traffic myself, as I know drivers aren't always paying the best attention, I feel better with the fact that I'm at least very easily seen by them if they are paying attention. Not much more can be done on my part.

Front and back of the LED Marker Band

This guy is easy to put on. I tried it on my arm; all you need to do is slide your arm in, adjust the strap, and shut the clasp it in place when it's at the size you want. The retail price is $11.99 an can be found here.

Some other notable details from the website:
• Bright red LED for Active Illumination - Glow or Flash Modes
• Passive High Visibility Reflective Pattern
• Lightweight, Flexible Design
• Easily replacable 1 x 2032 3V lithium battery included
• Adjustable size elastic strap fits: 5.5" – 25.5"
• 100 hour battery life

ShoeLits on my Nike Lunarglide :)

ShoeLit:
I received two blue ShoeLit - somehow they knew me favorite color! ;) They also come in red, green, and pink. My shoes don't have a ton of reflective material on them, so I love having this extra light to make me visible. I feel a bit like a personal light up show, but if it's what might help prevent me from getting hit by a car, I just don't care what I look like.

They are water resistant... but I wonder how much water they can withstand? Would they have made it through the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, which, for me, was 3+ hours in the rain? I'll let you guys know if/when I find out it's water resistant level :)

These were easy to put on – just slide the clip underneath your shoe laces and then snap to the front portion (the light). These are made with a bright white LED in a water-resistant casing backed by a durable stainless steel locking gate. To turn on, just twist the light, and turn the other way to turn off. These retail at  $4.49 per light (they are not sold as a pair, but as individuals).

Some other notable details from the website:

• Features passively reflective pattern for safety when not illuminated

• Secure clip: easy to attache and remove

• Easily replaceable 1 x CR 927 3V lithium battery (included)

• Battery Run Time: 24 hours

INOVA STS Headlamp:

This thing is amazing! So so bright. I honestly loved to use it when taking the  dogs out for their night time bathroom breaks - they go in a special run on the side of the house, which has very poor lighting, so this headlamp helped a LOT. I love that to turn it on, switch to the other settings, turn off, all you have to dis swipe. Again, they must know my favorite color as I received blue :)

BRIGHT!

It was really easy to adjust the strap so that it fit my head properly. Watch how it works/how to use the lamp here. It retails for a reasonable $34.99.

Some notable things about the headlamp from the website:

• Mult-mode, full LED color headlamp featuring a simple touch activated user interface - Swipe-to-Shine

• Lumens (White LED):High - 142 | Medium - 40 | Low - 3

• Run Time (White LED): High 4h 40m | Medium 26h 40m | low - 2h

• IPX-7 - Waterproof to 1 meter

• 1 white high power LED featuring 5 modes (high, variable dim, medium, strobe, and lockout)

• 2 red LEDs for preserving night vision that features 5 modes (high, variable dim, medium, strobe, and lockout)

• Fully programmed lock-out mode to prevent accidental activation when transporting or storing

• Battery Type: 3 x AAA alkaline replaceable batteries

• Available in 3 body and strap colors: Charcoal, Orange, and Blue

• Impact resistant polycarbonate body

• Adjustable Angles for precise illumination

• High quality, woven elastic strap

Honestly, I need a little more time with it to remember all of the ways to switch the modes (other than from high, medium, strobe - that's pretty much a no brainer haha), but so far, I am finding it easy and quite helpful to use. For running, it's a bit easier to have a headlamp than to have to carry my Knuckle Lights, plus, the batteries last WAY longer. Thank you, Nite Ize. I swear, I had to change the batteries after every Knuckle Lights use, which was really frustrating. If I didn't, I'd be out for a run and one would always die. Ugh.

Curvyman:

This cute little thing is great for keeping cords from getting tangled up in my purse. I try to always keep my Apple headphones on me at all times (never know when I need to listen to music!), so Curvyman was a great solution for me. No more tangles! Amazing. He also has some other great features: use it to shorten your cord, clip it on to your shirt when running. I'm sure there's a million ways you could use this product. This product costs just $3.39.

I clip him on the inside of my purse. Great way to find him.

Some other details of note:

• Available in black, white, pink, orange, and purple, plus two tactical colors: coyote brown and foliage green (both have S-Biner's with black non-reflective gates)

• Customization Availble - engrave your logo or company name

• Made of durable, lightweight plastic

• Comes with a size #0 plastic S-Biner attachment (clip on to your keys, backpack, purse, or zipper pull)

What an awesome use!

Finally, I received an assortment of Gear Ties. 

They're great at keeping larger cords from tangling - I found them useful when I traveled to Florida for keeping my GoPro Battery Charger and other cords - it kept them in a more organized manner. Definitely better than those paper/wire ones that come with most product packaging. Honestly, I haven't found a use for the Clippable Twist Ties, but they offer a variety of uses on the packaging itself – hang a smaller piece of luggage on your roller bag, Clip and hang larger cords in the garage (maybe that extra extension cord that's in tangles). I think if I gave them to my husband, he'd find a lot of things to use it for. I have a feeling they'd come in handy on a camping trip. Depending on what you got, they ranged from about $6–$25.

Some product details

• Available in the following colors: black, blue, lime green, red, bright orange, neon yellow, neon pink, desert tan, foliage green, coyote brown, and navy blue (some have assorted color packs)

• Use gear ties in the garage, on the boat, in the home, and in countless other places where things need to be secured and organized

• Waterproof and safe for use in fresh or salt water without damage

• UV resistant - will not be damaged or destroyed by extended sun exposure

• Tough rubber shell provides excellent grip

• Use indoors and outdoors in any weather

• Strong wire inside holds its shape

• Won't scratch or mark

• Twist it, tie it, reuse it

Some cords kept organized while traveling.

Thanks so much to BibRave and the people at Nite Ize for the wonderful opportunity to try all of these amazing products! Definitely check them out - especially if you are someone that spends time outdoors when it's dark out. Safety first!! They also have some pretty cool stuff for your cell phone.

Connect with Nite Ize:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

 

Check out the thoughts of some other BibRave Pros:

Angie | Jess | Caroline

clif bar minis and shot bloks / luna protein bar review

All of the goodies!

Disclaimer: I received Clif and LUNA products 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!*

Fueling before, during, and after your runs can be tricky. You want to make sure you get the right kinds of fuel that will help you power your runs along with help with the recovery process afterwards. It can take a lot of trial and error before finding a product or products that work for you. Some people have sensitive stomachs, others have picky tastes (me!). I have trouble with the texture of GUs and other shot-like options. I've found some things that work great for me, but I'm also always willing to try new things – maybe they'll be even better than what I use now. What works for some won't work for others. That's why you have to test different options and see how your body reacts.

I've been using Clif Shot Bloks for maybe a year now and have been a big fan. I find them easy to use while running, and have no stomach issues with them. They give me the energy to finish those longer runs (carbs, protein, sodium, and even a little potassium). 

I've also received a variety of their bars through countless race swag bags and have enjoyed them. I haven't had much chance to try LUNA bars. When I heard that Clif and LUNA were sending ALL of the BibRave Pros a shipment of their products, I was extremely pleased.

What was in my shipment? An 18-count box of Shot Bloks Orange with Caffeine, 18-count box of mini Clif Bars – 9 Chocolate Chip and 9 White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, and 12-count box of Chocolate Coconut Almond LUNA Protein bars.

I was SO grateful for all of the products we received, the amount sent was extremely generous. However, I am a picky eater and not a fan of coconut... so I reached out to all of the other Pros to see if anyone had a different flavor and was willing to swap. Luckily for me, Jenn (The Cupcake Runner) wasn't a fan of the Lemon Vanilla, so we each shipped our boxes to each other – thanks again, Jenn!

Featured: LUNA Protein Bars, Clif Bar Minis, and Clif Shot Bloks.

SHOT BLOKS
On my long runs (which for me is 6+ miles), I eat one Shot Blok every 2 miles. They have been coming in handy during my ongoing Dopey Challenge training. I've brought them along on my 15, 17, and 20 mile runs. I liked the orange flavor, though got a bit of a mediciny like after taste. I really liked the extra boost of caffeine, as it helped give me the push needed to finish those longer miles (each one being my longest run until that next one).

The Bloks don't bother my stomach at all, and I find them easy to chew. Their packaging is much easier to deal with than other chews I've tried – they have a nice perforation that you pull down on the top rather than needing to peel apart, so it's easy to get the chews out. If you have trouble with this, you can also put the chews in a snack size ziplock bag for easy access. I have no problems fitting these in my Flipbelt or my Orange Mud hydration pack.

They are a great fuel option, and I usually use them in conjunction with ENERGYbits – no tummy problems, and the combo keeps my hunger at bay when I'm out there for 2+ hours. If you're curious, I drink Nuun on my runs. Again, no stomach issues for me.

I will continue to use the Shot Bloks, but I'll admit that orange won't be my first pick – I generally go for the berry flavors (love the mountain berry, black cherry, cran-razz, strawberry, and tropical punch). It's just my preference. I let my husband try one, and he enjoyed the flavor. I hear the margarita is phenomenal, so I'll have to give those a try sometime soon. Angie and I swapped a few packages when we met up at the Chicago Marathon, so I was able to try the Mountain Berry. Great taste! Thanks for sharing, Angie!

Flavor notes from the Clif Bar website:
• An orange pick-me-up with a 25mg boost of caffeine
• 95% organic
• 25mg caffeine
• Simple-to-handle
• Easy-to-chew

Flavor options: black cherry with caffeine (50mg), citrus, cran-razz, margarita (cramp buster = 3X sodium = 150mg), mountain berry, orange with caffeine (25mg), strawberry, and tropical punch with caffeine (25mg)

Nutrition Facts.

CLIF BAR MINIS
I liked both of the bars that I received. The chocolate chip and white chocolate macadamia nut were great to have as on-the-go snacks. I often put one in my purse before I left the house to have something when I got hungry. It definitely came in handy when I did a brewery tour that had no food involved. After a few beers, I had a Clif Bar and it satiated my hunger for another few hours. Their the perfect size at 100–110 calories per bar. I actually just ordered a pack of some seasonal holiday flavors (iced gingerbread and spiced pumpkin pie - yum!) from Amazon, though they are the full sized ones. Can't wait for them to arrive :)

A perfect snack to hold off the hunger while waiting to eat lunch.
Yes, I enjoy pre-lunch snacks.

Brewery Tour snack.

Flavor options for the full bars (there's a LOT and I want to taste all of them except the ones with coconut, obviously haha): apricot, banana nut bread, black cherry almond, blueberry crisp, carrot cake, chocolate almond fudge, chocolate brownie, chocolate chip, chocolate chip peanut crunch, coconut chocolate chip, cool mint chocolate, crunchy peanut butter, iced gingerbread, maple nut, oatmeal raisin walnut, peanut toffee buzz, pecan pie, sierra trail mix, spiced pumpkin pie, white chocolate macadamia nut.

Flavor options for the minis: chocolate chip, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate brownie, white chocolate macadamia nut. Those all sound yummy.

Chocolate Chip Mini Nutrition Facts.

Chocolate Chip flavor notes from the Clif Bar website:
• A cookie-lover's dream come true
• Made with organic rolled oats
• 23 Vitamins and minerals

The full ones are also a good source of protein and fiber.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Nutrition Facts.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut flavor notes from the Clif Bar website:
• Exploding with roasted macadamia nuts and the taste of scrumptious white chocolate

• Made with organic rolled oats

• 23 Vitamins and minerals

LUNA PROTEIN BARS

As stated above, I traded with Jenn for the Lemon Vanilla. While some people don't like this flavor, I think it's delicious! It reminds me of the Lemonade Girl Scout cookies. I had a sample of this flavor at the Chicago Women's Half Marathon Packet Pickup and thought it tasted great. Since it's packed with protein, I like to eat them after workouts. I add it to my gym bag and eat it on my way out. Works like a charm. I've also had the Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough – both delightful. Other flavor options include Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Coconut Almond (which I swapped), and Chocolate Cherry Almond.

Some information about the LUNA Protein Lemon Vanilla Bars:

• Zesty lemon with a creamy finish, their first non-chocolate protein bar.

• Sweet satisfaction in a high protein bar created just for women. LUNA Protein lets us indulge while it helps us stick to our best intentions, with nutritious ingredients and the power of protein to keep us feeling full.

• Gluten free

• 12g of Protein, 3g of Fiber

• High in Calcium and Folic Acid

• Good source of Iron and Vitamin D

LUNA Protein Lemon Vanilla Nutrition Facts.

So, if you're looking to try out some new fuel options for before, during, or after your runs (or to have some delicious snacks) – I'd give any/all of these a try :) 

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below.

Have you ever tried any of these products? Do you use them to fuel your runs? What's your go-to?

Connect with Clif:

http://www.clifbar.com/

https://www.facebook.com/clifbar

http://www.clifbar.com/

http://instagram.com/clifbarcompany

Connect with LUNA:

http://www.lunabar.com/

https://www.facebook.com/luna

https://twitter.com/lunabar

http://instagram.com/lunabar

What did the other Pros have to say? Check it out:

Jane | Jeremy | Angie | Jenn | Amy | Matt

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and honest, as always :)