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 :)

friday five: five running products i am currently loving

Hey guys! I am linking up with the DC Trifecta again on this gorgeous, sunny and, cool Friday: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run. Some may say it's too cold here in Chicago, but 61 degrees is right up my alley :) This week's theme is a 'Free Friday'– meaning, the choice is ours. I've decided to list 5 running products/items that I am loving right now.

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1. New Balance Momentum 2 in 1 Shorts. You guys, these were the dream shorts I had been searching for. I've worn them during half marathons and NOT ONCE did I have to pull them down. No more fidgeting with my shorts. No more having to pull them down every 5 minutes when they ride up. They stay put, and that's what I've been on the hunt for (I loathe when my thighs rub against each other, even if I have on Body Glide and there isn't any chafing happening, I just don't like the feeling). I love the material—so light. I honestly didn't expect to like love them so much, because I didn't believe they wouldn't ride up. After all, there is no grip on the inner shorts, and they aren't very tight on my leg, so I just figured I'd be pulling them down during my runs. NOT ONCE. They're amazing. The inner short has a 5.5" inseam, and the outer short has an inseam of 2.5". It has Lightning Dry® technology (wicks away moisture to keep you comfortable and dry – a must for any running attire, in my book), the waistband is comfortable, and there is some reflectivity on the front and back for safety and visibility.

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2. Garmin Forerunner 220. I am loving my new watch! It's so lightweight, I barely even notice I have it on. I also enjoy that it vibrates and beeps at every mile (you can set your 'laps' at whatever distance or time you like; I prefer to keep it on the miles). Another feature I have enjoyed is the bluetooth connectivity so that it will upload my run info immediately, unlike my Nike+ that I had to plug in to my computer after each run. So much more convenient. I charged it last Friday before my half on Saturday, and then continued to use it through Thursday without charging it again. When I plugged it in Thursday, it was still at 40%. That's amazing. I know there is so much more the watch can do, I just haven't had the time to play with it as much as I'd like.

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3. My Road ID* bracelet. I purchased the Elite a while back (it has a watch-like buckle clasp), and wear it on every run. Sometimes I even just wear it out. A few summers back, I was having issues breathing and feeling nauseous/like I was going to pass out, so I wore it in case I did. I'd be easy to identify if it came down to it. Luckily, I never did pass out, but it was nice to know I was covered. I'm sure I've mentioned this before in another post, but it's one of my running essentials. If something were to happen to me while out for a run, it's nice to know that if I can't speak, they can still identify who I am and contact the important people. God forbid that ever happens, but it does put my mind at ease (even if it's just a little) to know that the info is there on my person. Plus, they have so many options for wrist band colors (I have pink and blue), so if you get bored you can switch it up. They also just recently came out with badges that you can add to the wristband (5K, 13.1, 26.2, etc.), which is another fun way to accessorize. I would urge anyone that does not use Road ID* to go buy one now. 

*Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link in which I receive a small commission if a new customer orders through the link. I am not an ambassador or getting paid to promote the product, but I do believe in the it, and whether any one uses my link to purchase or not, I think it's an essential item for anyone that runs/cycles/is active outdoors. Not to say I wouldn't love a small commission so I can buy some more color bands ;)

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4. Nuun. Perhaps you know this about me already, but I am not a lover of plain water. Sometimes it hits the spot, but usually I want some flavor. In order to hydrate more, I decided to give Nuun a try. It is fantastic! The flavors are so light, that it's just a hint of flavor, and not an overwhelming taste. A few of my favorite flavors are Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Lemonade, Lemon Tea, Fruit Punch, and Tr-Berry. I know, that's most of them haha. I also love that they have different kinds – Energy (contains caffeine for an energy boost along with electrolytes), Active (electrolytes), and All Day (natural hydration) – so you can find the perfect tablet for any time of day, depending on what you're up to. There's no sugar, artificial flavors or colors, or high-fructose corn syrup with only about 7 calories per tab. Sounds (and tastes) good to me!

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5. Yurbuds. I mentioned these in my Friday Five: Five Things in My Gym Bag, but thought they were worth mentioning again in more detail. I have the Inspire Pro for Women in Aqua. I used to use the Ironman Yurbuds Inspire Pro (which it appears are no longer sold on the Yurbuds website), because they had the 3 button dry mic, which wasn't available yet for the Women Inspire Pro (at least not that I could find), but only the regular sized Inspire Pro. I really like the ones geared towards women, because they are designed specifically to fit smaller ears. Even with the different size earbud pieces with the Ironman ones, they were still a bit large for my ear. I ended up losing an earbud, so decided to purchase a new pair, so went with the Inspire Pro for Women, and am happy I did. I like having the ability to control my music and volume from the Yurbuds rather than having to take my phone out and play with it, hence my need for the 3 button dry mic. I love that these earphones don't fall out of my ears, unlike most other brands. I am no sound expert, but it all seems good to me, and obvisouly the sweat and water resistance is a must have for earbuds that I run with. 

What are some of your favorite running products/items at the moment? Any must-haves? Essential items you can't go running without? Would love to hear your recommendations!

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (links to the specific posts are at the top of the page) and link up if you are joining in! There are always a lot of blogs linked up, and it's interesting to see everyone's takes on the theme, with this week's being especially fun and varied. I suggest taking a look at a few (or all, if you have the time). Have a great weekend, everyone!

friday five: five things in my gym bag

I'm linking up again with the DC gals for the Friday Five: Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run. The theme for this week is five things in my gym bag. I don't belong to a gym anymore, but these are things that I bring with me when I do trail runs. Without further ado....

1. Sunscreen – I know this is a little weird, since most people's gym bags are for indoor activities, but since I'm going off of an outdoor activity, it makes sense for me. I have very fair skin that, honestly, begins to burn the instant it hits sunlight. So, for me, sunscreen is a must (plus, it's a important to use to help prevent things like skin cancer and early aging). I'm on the hunt for the perfect sports sunscreen, but have tried Coppertone Continuous Sport Spray and Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Spray. They were ok, but I'd love to find one that doesn't give me that greasy feeling. I don't remember for the Coppertone one, but I didn't like that after spraying the Neutrogena you then had to also wipe it in. I get you want even coverage, but if I wasn't near soap and water to wash my hands, then I am very likely to get it in my eyes, which burns (I rub my eyes a lot, and tend to forget that I shouldn't). Also, I like to have as few steps as possible. I've heard good things about Banana Boat, so I'm going to try that next. I also use the sunscreen sticks for my face and ears.

2. iPhone with Yurbuds – I need me some music when I'm running, and I love the Yurbuds Inspire Pro for Women. They stay in my ear, and I like being able to control the volume and skip songs via the 3-button dry mic. I've tried using Siri as well with the mic, but she never seems to be able to translate what I'm saying into text very well, but that's a Siri problem, not the earphones.

3. Water Bottle – I'm very particular about water bottles. I really love my Camelbak Eddy and Eddie Bauer Freezer water bottles. I don't use the freezer core on the EB often, but if I'll be out for a long time in the summer heat, I add it in. It's a great one to keep in the car for when I'm done, because it's still cold. I also love that both are 'no-spill', so they can be tipped upside down without make a mess. Another bonus is they both have nice tops with loops that I like to carry them by (with a finger or two). Sometimes my teeth start to hurt from having to bite the Camelbak, which is why the EB one is great – just a sip straw!

4. Chapstick - this is a must! I hate dry lips. For working out I use Chapsitck moisturizer (I don't like using the scented/'flavor' ones when I exercise, but love them for everyday use. EOS is my recent favorite).

5. Body/Face Wipes – After a sweaty, dusty trail run, I like to wipe down before having to get in the car and drive home. For the face, I really like the Simple brand wipes. I've tried both the Cleansing Facial Wipes and the Radiance Cleansing Wipes and liked them both. For body (which needs a bit more oomph than the face wipes provide), I've found that Action Wipes work really well.

There you have it! There's plenty of other things I bring/like to have in my 'gym' bag, but these are a few of my essentials (you know, other than the obvious—shoes, shirt, shorts, bra, socks, GPS watch is always a must, so include it with the shoes list haha).

What's in your gym bag? What are your must-haves? Anything unusual?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts and link up if you are joining in!