motigo app review: part I

If you noticed on my Twitter feed last night, I posted how I had spent an hour and a half on a post, to have it be deleted. For whatever reason, Blogger wasn’t autosaving, I pressed save and tried to close, and it said I’d lose all unsaved changes. I clicked cancel, saved it, and tried again. Same message, and while I was thinking hit cancel and copy your work before closing it, I hit cancel by mistake. Woe is me. Why 'OK' is the main option for such an event is unclear to me... shouldn't it be 'Cancel'?! Anyway, I’m back re-writing, and have decided to break up my review into two parts since the original had been so long.

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Disclaimer: I received a 25 free cheers to send on Motigo 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 don't know about you, but when I come across people on the sidelines of a race, and they're cheering (for me, or just generally for everyone), I get so excited and happy. If I'm feeling crappy or like the race isn't going well, they make me smile and keep me pushing hard to finish strong.

Have you ever been to a race that had little to no spectators/people cheering? I have. It makes the race a little sad, at least for me. Well, Motigo is here to save the day. It's a nifty iPhone app that allows other people to record audio for you, choose what mile of your race it plays, and cheer you on during your race, even if they can't physically be there to do so.

The app is currently only available for iPhone users, but they do have on their website a place to put your email address to be notified when it's available for Android, so I'd say it's in the works. There is hope, Android users!

The app was created by a couple in Denver. Dan was running a marathon in Arizona while Celeste was back in Denver. Although he received some cheers from strangers along the way, it wasn’t enough to get him through the agonizing final miles. It’s then that the idea for Motigo came about. You can read more and watch a short video here.

Ok, so now onto how the app works for when you are running an event and want to add it your race list.

MOTIGO FOR RUNNERS

First, you need to download the app from the iTunes App Store. Easy. Next, you register with an email address and create an account.

Go to the bottom of your screen, and ap on race if it isn’t already selected. At the top, there is a ‘Select Your Event’ Option. Within that page you can search for your race. If it isn’t there, go back a ‘page’ and select ‘Request New Event’. This opens up an email, in which you send to the Motigo folks the details of your race – Name and Date.

I had to do this for my first race. I was concerned because I didn’t send the email until 4pm on Friday and my race was Sunday morning. Not only was it not much time, it was also almost the weekend. Lucky for me, I received an email (to the account I registered with) stating that the race had been added and that it was in my event list. Yay! The email was personalized and offered some words of encouragement - bonus points for Motigo.

Another cool feature is that once you select your event, you can share it on twitter, which sends the link to others so they can download the app and cheer you on!

After you choose an event, you’ll receive an email saying that you’ve added the event successfully. The night before the race, I received another email giving me tips on how to use the app while running, and some ways to save battery life. My phone is old and usually dies during half marathons unless I bring my external charger with me, so this was definitely a concern for me. I use Spotify and Nike+ during races, so who knows what my phone would do with another app running. I turned off bluetooth, as suggested, and also changed my mail ‘Fetch’ to every hour instead of every 15 minutes, hoping this would help. You also need to make sure you have GPS enabled (Angie accidentally went into airplane mode for a race, and didn’t get her cheers). It also helps to close all other apps that aren’t being used during the event. I found the email very helpful in figuring out the best way to use the app without draining my battery too much. My phone actually made it till the finish without dying OR using the external battery - JOY! It was about 32% at the finish line (remember though, I take a long time to finish a half marathon ;) )

I use Spotify for my music, and you are able to set up a playlist through the app, but unfortunately that’s through iTunes, which I don’t use. I was nervous about how the app would work if I was also using Spotify, and tweeted my concern to another Pro who had just used the app for a race. He used iTunes, so it wasn’t any help for me, but Motigo responded and let me know that as long as I didn’t close out of Motigo and had it running in the background, I could use Spotify and the app without any issues.

At the race start, I got my phone ready to go, had Motigo open and at the event. When the race began, I hit ‘Start Event’ on my phone, started my Spotify playlist (offline, not streaming), and ran. The app lets you know how many cheers you have for each event, and for this one I had one. I listened for something the whole race, and at mile 12 fellow Pro Angie’s voice came playing through my yurbuds. She sent me a great cheer which made me smile and laugh – a welcome treat since I had been grimacing for quite a bit with hip pain.

It’s a really fun and motivating experience. Another cool feature is that after the race (around 2pm) the cheers for that event show up in your Past Events/Race list and you can re-listen to them… whenever you want! If you couldn’t hear it well (this happened to me during Soldier Field – Nike+ was telling me my mile stats at the same time the cheer was playing, so I wasn’t sure who it was or what they said), you can go back and listen when you’re finished. I went back and listened to all of mine again before writing this post yesterday (ya know, before it was deleted) and they made me laugh a lot. I think if I’m ever having a tough day, I’ll go back into the archives and give a listen to my cheers… to cheer myself up ;)

I’ve used it for 4 races so far, and have loved the messages each time. I find it simple to use, and love how hands on the company can be – I have been receiving emails post-race to see how it went, and letting me know to contact them if I had any questions or problems with the app during the race.

Tomorrow I will post the Cheering on a Runner portion of the app. Stay tuned.

Here’s another SUPER FUN thing happening. Motigo has partnered with Nuun (one of my favorite hydration products) for National Running Day Virtual Run! It goes from June 3–7, and you’ll run a 5k (or longer, if you want). Download the app and add the event to your list. You’ll have a chance to win prizes WHILE you are running! How cool is that? Nuun has lined up some surprise messages from some special guests… I can’t wait to hear who it is and what they have to say! Make sure to hit ‘Start Event’ before you begin, and then listen up for some cheers! Learn more here.

PS Receive 20% off Nuun with discount code 'NRD2015'!

Want to read Angie’s experience with the app? Head on over.

Connect with Motigo:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

nuun review

I received 4 tubes/flavors to try - thanks Nuun and BibRave!

If you follow me on twitter, or have been reading this blog at all, you know how much I LOVE Nuun. I heard the Mother Runners Sarah and Dimity talk about it at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Expo, and it peaked my interest, since I have trouble staying hydrated. I bought my first tubes back in March and haven't looked back. I was ok drinking Gatorade during races, but I always found it to be too sweet, so I have to cut it with water. After runs, I would use G2 powder.

My gym essentials.

Nowadays for training runs, I always bring Nuun with me. After already being a lover of the product, I was blessed enough to be sent four tubes from Nuun thanks to being a part of the BibRave Pro program*. The flavors I received were: Lemon-Lime Energy, Grapefruit Orange All Day, Strawberry Lemonade Active, and Tri-Berry Active. 

Nuun keeps me company on my 17 miler.

I love the little bit of fizz and the light flavor of it. It's not harsh, and it doesn't leave a weird taste in my mouth. None of that super sugary taste because there's no sugar! There's also no carbs and is packed with electrolytes. It's easy to tote around, too. I tend to keep a tube in my purse for when I'm out and about, and there's always some in my work drawer. It keeps me hydrated not just when out running, but all the time. I really notice a difference in my hydration after running longer distances when I'm hydrating with Nuun during my run (and the days before). Hydration wins when Nuun is on the docket. I don't get the headaches I used to get when running with Gatorade, and don't feel a crash in energy. You can reuse the tubes when they're empty – I've used mine for keeping loose change in one place.

Nuun is always with me on my runs.

I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of the All Day. There's something just a bit off in the flavor department... I can't quite put my finger on it. I know they're good to drink, since they have some vitamins in there, but I just don't love it like I love the Active and Energy tabs (really enjoy the extra caffeine in the Energy tabs for those days that I'm dragging). I've tried most of the All Day flavors, and though I will drink what I have on hand, I don't think I'll buy any more. I have trouble drinking enough water, and was hoping the All Day would help me with that by adding some delightful flavor and vitamins to regular water, but it just doesn't do it for me. Instead, I just drink the regular stuff. I've also tried the U Natural Hydration, and again, not a big fan. I drink it if it's around, but if I have the Active around, I'd rather drink that. I know most people I've talked to have really liked it, so it's just me and my picky ways, I think.

Drinking Nuun Watermelon with my breakfast.

I take it with me to bars! Gotta stay hydrated while enjoying some brews.

But hey, just because I don't love it doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try. I do my best to try everything at least a few times to give it a fair chance. And it's ok, because I drink plenty of the Active and Energy to make up for not enjoying the All Day or U Natural Hydration.

Nuun Active flavors

Nuun Energy flavors

Nuun All Day and U Natural flavors

Want some more information? Here's some helpful tidbits from their website:

WHICH NUUN PRODUCT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

• NUUN ACTIVE HYDRATION is formulated specifically for higher intensity activities and/or higher electrolyte replenishment needs. 

• U NATURAL HYDRATION is all-natural and contains a lower electrolyte profile to Nuun. 

• NUUN ALL DAY HYDRATION helps you drink more water every day with crisp and refreshing flavors and is enhanced with an all-natural blend of vitamins and minerals making it perfect for your daily routine.

You Sweat - Nuun Active Hydration Replenishes

ELECTROLYTE ENHANCED DRINK TABS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU OPTIMALLY HYDRATED WHEREVER YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE TAKES YOU.

Packed with electrolytes, light flavor, no sugars or carbs, and portable, Nuun Active Hydration is the perfect sports drink.

The electrolytes found in Nuun will help alleviate cramps, help muscles function, communicate and burn energy efficiently.

NUUN ACTIVE HYDRATION comes in 12 flavors: Orange, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Kona Cola, Lemon Tea, Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical, Citrus Fruit, Watermelon, and Lemonade.

Side note - I've had the Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Kola Cola, Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical, Watermelon, Lemon Tea, and Lemonade. The only one I wasn't a big fan of was Lemonade, but my husband really liked it. So yeah... big fan over here of Nuun in general.

Nutritional info for Nuun Active.

Stay Balanced & Refreshed With U Natural Hydration

ELECTROLYTE & VITAMIN-ENHANCED DRINK TABS WITH HALF THE SODIUM AS NUUN. BECAUSE YOU CAN’T SWEAT YOUR TAIL OFF ALL THE TIME.

U Natural Hydration makes it easier for people to stay optimally hydrated during less intense activities.

U is all natural, sweetened with stevia, and is only 7 calories per tab.

U NATURAL HYDRATION comes in 4 flavors: Cucumber Mint, Goji Berry Green Tea, Tangerine Ginger, and Lemon Chai.

Nutritional info for Nuun U Natural Hydration.

Add More Water to Your Daily Routine with Nuun All Day

RETHINK YOUR DRINK WITH NUUN ALL DAY, YOUR FAMILY’S PERFECT SUBSTITUTE FOR SODA, JUICE AND CAFFEINE BEVERAGES.

Hydration plays an elemental role in staying healthy, energized and focused. Did you know dehydration is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue?

Sugary and caffeinated drinks take you on a roller coaster ride during the day, but with zero sugar, under 8 calories per tab, and an all-natural blend of 17 vitamins and minerals, Nuun All Day keeps you going.

NUUN ALL DAY comes in 4 flavors: Grapefruit Orange, Tangerine Lime, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Grape Raspberry.

Nutritional info for Nuun All Day

I've even got my husband on the Nuun love train. I talked about it all the time and how much I love it, and he gave it a try a few months back. Suddenly, my tubes were coming up empty faster than normal. The culprit? My husband had started drinking it daily as well. Now we just order more each month so we both can enjoy it. It's saying something that he really likes it – he can be picky when it comes to the flavor, taste, texture, and calories of this kind of stuff. He likes that it isn't chalky and that it doesn't leave any weird tastes or feelings in the mouth afterwards. 

A favorite day time snack - Nuun and Picky Bars.

I've also taken to preparing a bottle prior to heading out on my shorter runs so that it's ready to go when I get back... I'm too impatient to wait those 2 minutes for it to finish dissolving. It is so refreshing to drink when I'm done and I hate having to wait for it to dissolve haha. It's a great companion for my longer runs, too.

So, in closing, I drink Nuun ALL THE TIME! I love it. I get so bored with plain water, and getting to lightly flavor it up while also getting electrolytes is fantastic. I have trouble drinking enough water, and adding Nuun to my day helps me reach my goals. I drink it at work, on the treadmill, at the trails, while pounding pavement (it never bothers my stomach or leaves me with that sloshy water feeling, even if I drink a lot of it), at breweries... and the list can go on and on. 

The free trucker hat I received with my first order
in March - I wear it all the time, including
at Lollapalooza :)

Connect with Nuun:

Nuun Website

Shop Nuun

Nuun on Facebook

Nuun on Instagram

Nuun on Twitter

*Disclaimer: I was sent Nuun to test out as part of the BibRave Pro program. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any other form. I was a big fan of Nuun prior to receiving the free tubes as a BibRave Pro, as you can probably tell ;)

Here's what the other BibRave Pros have to say about it:

Angie Runs

Confessions of an Amateur Athlete

The Cupcake Runner

Marathon Mom

No Bitching Out

Oh, She Runs

Run Ginger Run

Run the Jungle

week in review: october 27–november 2

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 18

Monday, October 27: rest day

Tuesday, October 28: 2.96 miles (treadmill; 2 incline; 60/60 run/walk intervals)

Wednesday, October 29: rest day

Thursday, October 30: 3.17 miles (treadmill; 1.5 incline; 60/60 intervals, then 120/60)

Friday, October 21: 30 minute walk

Saturday, November 1: 8.5 miles (treadmill; 1.5 incline; 30/120 intervals)

Sunday, November 2: 20.05 miles

Weekly mileage:  34.68 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 298.38 miles

This week in training went well. I ended up with only one day of cross training, but had four days of running. I ran after work, so hit up the gym on Tuesday and Thursday. My right knee hurt a little bit on Tuesday, but has been fine since then. 

Wednesday I went to my cousin's house for our annual pumpkin carving and pizza night. That was a lot of fun catching up, since it's been a while. Friday after work traffic was horrible, so I walked to the train station rather than the bus, since I figured it would be quicker to walk anyway. It was in the low 40s and had winds of up to 38 MPH. Whoa. The wind was literally pushing me around, it was crazy. There were also some snow flurries that day, I felt bad for the kids having to trick-or-treat in that weather. 

Friday evening my husband and I went met some friends at a brewery which was hosting a Halloween Party – it was a lot of fun. They had a costume contest and some special tappings and Halloween cocktails; deliciousness. Then came a tough weekend.

Great snack to hold me over until lunch.

Treadmill workout done!

On Saturday I did a lot of house cleaning, laundry, and went to the gym, which was fairly empty and I loved, to do an 8.5 mile easy/slow run. Luckily, I had a treadmill with a working TV, so I was able to watch Spiderman and an episode of "Friends". Even though I listened to music, it was nice to have something to watch to help keep me entertained. Since I had 20 miles the next day, and the 17 miles was a bit rough because I took the 7 miles a bit too fast two weeks prior, I took those 8.5 miles as slow as I could stand. At one point I was just thinking that I just wanted to be done, but I tried to stay on the slow end (and I'm slow anyway, so you can imagine just how slow I had to go haha). I did 2 minutes of walking and 30 seconds of running on a 1.5 incline. I brought some Nuun to drink and had two Clif Shot Bloks. Afterwards, I ate a Lemon Vanilla LUNA protein bar. Yum.

Gym essentials.

Luckily, I had no plans for Saturday, so the rest of the day was lounging on the couch, making dinner, resting/recovering, and gathering my gear for Sunday's run. I went to bed fairly early, so happy to know that the time change would be happening while I slept. Loved. Waking up at 7 wasn't so bad when my body felt like it was 8. However, I wasn't too thrilled to see the temperature outside was 'feels like' 25. Woof.

I ended up not getting to the trail until about 9, since I dragged my feet a bit leaving the house hoping the weather would warm up a bit. Then, when I got there, I had to drive around a bit to find a parking space – it was much more crowded than I was expecting, which turned out to be because there was a group of 20+ hikers that all drove separately taking up most of the spaces. 

Fueling my very long run.

I wore my Patagonia long sleeve light-weight top, a dry-tech short sleeve, Saucony jacket (I love the jacket because there are zip pockets so I can store a bunch of stuff like Kleenex and such), Athleta capris, Zensah compressions sleeves, Features socks, my Brooks trail shoes, Orangemud Double Barrel HydraQuiver with Nuun, and my Flipbelt filled with my ENERGYbits, Clif Shot Bloks Orange flavor with caffeine, and a Picky Bar. 

I started with 30 seconds running and two minutes walking. I took two shot books every two miles, and took 15 ENERGYbits before starting, along with another 10 at mile 9. The first 5 miles went great. I was feeling good and thinking optimistically. Unfortunately, around mile 5.5 I started having horrible shin pains on my left leg. Sometimes it hurt when I walked, other times when I ran. I couldn't quite figure out why it was hurting, and couldn't stop the pain. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish the miles. I managed to walk/run the same intervals till I got back to the start. 

20 miles complete!

Lucky for me, my husband agreed to meet me for the final 10 miles. When I got back to the start, I swapped out my empty bottle of Nuun for the extra one I put in my car in a cooler. After the swap, my husband and I started the final half of the run. Unfortunately, I had to do a lot more walking – my shin was not having it when I tried to run. My arches started to really hurt towards the end as well, but I managed to finish, albeit with a very slow time. Sometimes the pain would subside, and sometimes it was constant, while other times it was more of a sharp quick pain. I haven't had pain so bad in quite a long time, and if my husband wasn't there with me helping to keep me motivated and keeping my mind off of it all with some chatter and jokes, I probably would have quit before I hit 20. I am very thankful for that. I made sure to take it slow, so I didn't injure myself more; I'm smart enough to listen to my body and not push too hard.

When I got home, I drank some chocolate milk with extra protein and tossed my legs up the wall. After a shower, I put my Dr. Cool Wrap around my shin to help alleviate the pain and possible swelling. Family came over for dinner, and during that time my right calf started hurting. Oh boy. The joys of marathon training. I went to bed around 9:30... I was exhausted! Luckily, when I woke up, my right leg felt better, and my shin, though still in pain, was better than last night. I'm hoping another day of elevation, ice, compression, and no running helps it heal. I've never had shin splints, so not sure if that's what it was. Anyone ever deal with shin splints or the pain I described? Any tips?

Anyway, I'm really happy that I finished all the miles that were in my training plan for the week. Though it was really tough, I'm proud that I completed it all :) Training with the Flipbelt (thanks BibRave) this week has gone well and you can expect a review later this week.
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As a side note, ENERGYbits is running a promotion right now called BITS for BIBS. Do this soon – the offer is only for a few weeks: 

To celebrate your success and commitment to a lifestyle of running and working hard to achieve your fitness goals, the ENERGYbits team would like to congratulate you with some fun swag and a chance to brag!

All you need to do is:

1. Email Emily Pettengill epettengill at energybits.com a photo of one or more of your 2014 race bibs and your twitter handle.

2. In the subject line of the email put “BITS for BIBS”.

3. Immediately (or within 48 hours of emailing Emily), place your next order on www.energybits.com. Remember to use code HeatherRuns for a 25% discount!!

4. The ENERGYbits team will include a SWAG Bag (value $50.00) when they receive your order.

5. They will post your bib photo on a promotion card and Tweet it!

Don’t delay! This promotion will only run for a few weeks!
[Please Note: they can only send one SWAG Bag per person. Thanks!]

Look What’s in Your BITS for BIBS SWAG Bag!

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How was your week/end? Did training go well? Hope you all had a great Halloween! Welcome to November. 

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com, and join us for #BibChat tomorrow night at 8pm CT.

week in review: september 29 – october 5

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 14

Monday, September 29: rest day

Tuesday, September 30: 3.01 miles (30/60 run/walk intervals)

Wednesday, October 1: Cross training - arms

Thursday, October 2: 1.94 miles (30/60 run/walk intervals)

Friday, October 3: rest day

Saturday, October 4: 2.63 miles (30/60 (30/60 run/walk intervals)(5.5 scheduled)

Sunday, October 5: 15.05 miles (and then .25 mile cool down)

Weekly mileage:  22.63 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 222.69 miles

Wow – it was another busy week! Monday was a rest day, and I just hung out won the couch with the husband watching OITNB. Tuesday I ran during a work break over on the LFP – it was crazy windy and was fun to hear/watch the waves, though some were coming so far up on the path I thought they might drag me into the lake with them. At night I had #bibchat, so the husband and I packed some sandwiches for dinner and went to a local brewery to grab a drink and I chatted from there while he did some reading. Wednesday was a more relaxing day, I did a few strength exercises for my arms, and then house cleaning and more OITNB.

Tuesday run on the Lakefront.

Thursday after work I went to a wedding rehearsal dinner – my husband was standing up in the wedding. After the church rehearsal, we headed to dinner at an Italian restaurant with family/wedding party and had a great time chatting and eating pizza. Yum. Friday night was spent packing for the wedding and more hanging out.

Passed the Nike Chicago store and was excited
to see the Chicago Marathon window display!

Saturday I had attempted my 5.5 mile run. I was so proud because I woke up 6 to get this done (not an easy feat for me, especially knowing it would be a long day and late night). Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating. I got outside and realized how cold and windy it actually was, but I kept moving. I was quite glad I had brought gloves, but really wished I had a gaitor for my face and a hat. Almost immediately it started to drizzle, and it was practically ice! Buurrrr. Anyway, as you can see from above, I cut the run short. I was freezing and could feel a cold coming on if I stayed out there much longer. I had a long day ahead of me and wanted to be able to last. It took a while to warm up once I got home and showered. 

Saturday's cold/windy/rainy run -
mid 30's, burrr! I like cold, but was not
yet prepared for it.

Then it was time to head to the church. The husband had to be at the church up north at 12:45, and since he would be on the trolley for the day, I just went with then so there wouldn't be two cars to deal with. After the wedding ceremony I headed to the hotel about an hour away. Traffic was miserable, and it was rainy and so windy that the car was shaking, but I made it to the hotel with no incidents. Then I thought it was a good time to do my hair, which I rarely do. I brought a wand – basically it's a curling iron without the extra claspy thing that holds your hair on... you just wrap it around the ceramic wand. Annnnd... of course, I burnt myself. Ouch. It wasn't too bad, but it certainly left a mark that hurt. 

After eating a burger that a friend brought to my room, it was time to grab the shuttle to the reception. It was such a beautiful place, and it was decorated with a lot of cute touches the bride and groom came up with. I had a great time, but being on my feet almost all day, plus dancing the night away, heading to the bar after the reception ended and not getting to bed at 2am made me feeling quite nervous about my 15 run the next day. I was smart enough to drink water and not much alcohol during the night (1 1/2 glasses champagne and maybe half a beer), so I was happy not to have a hangover to deal with in the morning.

After waking up, I showered, packed, and hit the road for some Panera. I got a sesame seed bagel with plain cream cheese and of course a large Green Iced Tea (if you follow me on twitter or instagram, you know I'm obsessed). After about an hour drive home (so glad my husband drove so I could rest the legs a bit), I got home, changed, got my gear ready, and headed out to my favorite running trail. 

I was pretty nervous about this run. Not only was it my first time running 15 miles, but it was coming off a very long day of being on my feet (and in heels!). I think that was more of a leg exhaustion than the 5.5 miles that were scheduled. Luckily, I felt pretty good most of the way! Hooray!

Upper left: Mile 3
Upper Right: Fall leaves
Lower left: #poweredbybits
Lower right: FINISHED, and still smiling

What I wore: BibRave tech shirt, New Balance shorts, sunglasses, Nike visor, Sparky Soul headband, Nike sports bra, Brooks Running trail shoes (I don't know their exact style... that's bad, right? haha), Feetures Elite socks, Brooks rain jacket, Garmin Forerunner 220, Road ID wristband, Fitletic fuel belt, and Orangemud HydraQuiver Double Barrel.

I took 20 ENERGYbits before I started, and then one Clif Shot Blok at mile 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14. I wanted to take more ENERGYbits at mile 10, but I forgot to get them out of my backpack and didn't want to stop to dig through to find them, hence the amount of Shot Bloks consumed at the end there—I was getting hungry—ENERGYbits could have helped curb the hunger. 

I also tried out my Jabra Sport Wireless+. Unfortunately, it didn't go as well as it did on my three shorter runs (used them just the day before and they were fine). For some reason, I couldn't get the right one in my ear well. The sound and left ear were fine, but the right one just felt wrong. It wasn't falling out or anything, but it was annoying me. I had brought my Yurbuds just in case the Jabras ran out of battery, or if something was wrong, so at mile 3.5 I took a bathroom break and swapped my earphones. Normally I would have kept trying to fix the Jabras until I got them how I wanted, but I didn't want to waste any energy on that (along with frustration) that I could use, and need, for my run. I'll write more in detail what was going on when I write up my review: part two. I just need to fiddle with some different eargels for my right ear to find the perfect match. I think I need different ones for my left and right ears haha.

Sad face for problems with fitting my Jabras on my ears.

I wore my Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves, and am really glad I did. I had a bit of leg cramping/tightness towards the end. I know it would have felt much worse if I wasn't wearing those bad boys. They also kept my legs warm. I also used my Orangemud HydraQuiver Double Barrel hydration pack – one bottle filled with Nuun Strawberry Lemonade and the other with water. I drank all of the Nuun and about half of the water. 

It was a bit windy and cold, especially when the sun wasn't out, so I brought a rain jacket and put that on around mile 12 to help cut the wind – it fits perfectly on the pack in the cord lock system. It was funny though, because I was wearing a short sleeved shirt (my BibRave one), shorts, and compression sleeves, while most others out were wearing long pants, long sleeve shirts and/or winter type jackets and ear warmers. It was such a difference in attire haha. I wasn't even cold during the run after about a mile, but could feel that my arms felt cold, if that makes sense, which is why I put on the jacket towards the end.

My body felt pretty good the whole run – my arches gave me a few pangs here and there, but were generally pretty good.

I was so happy to complete 15 miles! They were pretty slow, but considering the day I had previously, I was quite happy with the fact that I actually went AND did all 15 miles. I had about .25 miles till the end of the trail, so used that as a cool down walk. I brought a Hoist Strawberry Lemonade and left it in a cooler in the car, so drank that on my way home. You'll find out why I love it so much in a recap coming this week :) (here's a sneak preview: it's isotonic, so hydrates faster than other sports drinks, and it tastes great!).

What my recovery looked like.

When I got home, I drank some reduced fat chocolate milk and put my legs up on the wall. After that, a warm shower, tossed on sweatpants, a long sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt and for recovery: my Feetures PF sleeves and Zensah Ultra Compression Sleeves. Let me tell you... the Ultras felt amaaaazing. The instant I put them on, my legs felt relief. It was my first time using them, and they did not disappoint. Zensah are my favorite, so I was quite excited that the got together with BibRave to let some BibRavePros give them a try. I finished my Hoist Strawberry Lemonade while waiting for our pizza to be delivered ;) 

This morning I woke up with very little aches/pains and no headahces or signs of dehydration – I really think the Nuun on my run and the Hoist after helped keep me from getting my usual signs. Awesome. I thank Zensah for keeping my legs happy, even the day after when I usually feel sore, I don't. Regular and Ultra for the win!

I'll write up a Hoist and Zensah Ultra Compression Sleeve review eventually, but need to test them out some more :) Thanks to Hoist, Zensah, and BibRave for being awesome and sending me these amazing products to try out!!

Coming up this week: It's a tame week in training for me, but I'm super excited to meet up with folks running the marathon for a shakeout run on Saturday morning being hosted by Justin and BibRave. I'm also headed to cheer on the marathoners and will be at mile 11.5 on the south west corner of Erie and Wells – if you're running, keep an eye out for the orange. Scheduled to be there between 8 and 10 :) FYI - I plan on sticking around till I see all of my friends/family pass, but think the BibRave signs will be gone around 10. 

How was your week? Did training go well? Any races over the weekend? Let me know how it all went :)

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com, and join us for BibChat tomorrow night at 8pm CT to talk hydration with our sponsor, Hoist :)