5k crate subscription box review

Disclaimer: I received one 5k crate 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 love trying new things, so when the change to try a subscription box came up within the BibRave Ambassador Program, I decided to opt in. There's a lot of products out there, and can cost a lot of money to try them all out, and the choices are overwhelming. Getting a subscription box with handpicked items from 5k Crate can make that a little easier. Plus, it's not just the snacks, gels, or whatever. It's gear and accessories. Yes, please. October boxes start shipping on 10/16.

What is 5k Crate? Let's go into more details before I talk about what I got. 5k Crate is a curated quarterly box for runners of all levels. It costs $59.99 (free shipping within the US), and every 3 months you'll get a box filled with 4–6 handpicked items. The 5k Crate is about offering subscribers a premium subscription that provides the best apparel and accessories on the market today. They promise not to be another subscription box filled with just snacks and gels, but rather deliver to you a box filled with products that you will happily be able to use over and over again.

WHAT'S INSIDE

Each quarter you will receive quality apparel, gear, and accessories from well known brands like Nathan, HydraKlick, Mission, Nike, Zensah, Kunckle Lights, Nike and others that are sure to motivate you but more importantly, that you are sure to use over and over again. You choose men or women, then your shoe, top, and bottom sizes. 

When I opened my box, I noticed how nicely packed it was. There was a card (with a short handwritten note on it) that described the products inside and what the costs of each product was. So what came in my box (July–September box)?

• Mission VaporActive Alpha Running Shirt (hot pink) $35.95
• Mission VaporActive Cooling Towel (blue) $19.99
• Spigen Wireless Bluetooth Headphones (black) $45.00
• Zensah No-Show Compression Socks (white, grey, and bright pink) $19.99
• Epic Full-Size Body Wipes (x2) $2.50 each
• La Fresh Travel Sunscreen Samples (x3... except mine only had 2, but that's ok) $1.00 each

The box arrived the day before I left for Disneyland, so I packed the Zensah socks and the travel sunscreen samples since I knew I could get some use out of those on my trip. Let's go down the line and discuss a little about each product.

Mission VaporActive Alpha Running Shirt

I'm not gonna lie. I didn't love this shirt. While the VaporActive and the color were great, it just wasn't a great cut for me. I'm very picky about what I wear for running, because if there's any seams rubbing, that can be uncomfortable (and lead to chaffing). The shirt was just a snug on my muffin top, and I could tell it would bother me while running, so I didn't wear it for that. It's fine for walking or just to wear for errands/around the house (because I wear tech shirts all day if I can), but not great for me personally to run in. I think maybe if I went a size up on that one it would work... but you know how tricky sizing can be. For whatever reason, sizes are different and fit different depending on brand and style. 

Mission VaporActive Cooling Towel

This came in HANDY. It has been hot here in Chicago, and while training for the Chicago Marathon, some of these long runs have been brutal. Like, 90s and sunny. That is not my cup of tea at all. If you know me or follow me, you'll know that I prefer 30s over summer temps. I tossed this towel in my bag and would use it after my long runs. It helped to cool me down and feel more comfortable post-run. Just yesterday I ran at noon in the city when it was another hot day (95 and sunny, ick). I actually folded up the towel and put it in the pocket of my hydration pack. I only had to run 3 miles, but they were tough. At mile 2, I took out the towel, wet it at the water fountain on the lake front path, and wore it around my neck for the last mile. It's getting a lot of use and I would highly recommend it for anyone that overheats like I do in the summer. I say overheat like I do, because I get crazy hot running even in the 50s and 60s haha.

Spigen Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

So, I already have a pair of wireless bluetooth headphones I love for running. They are open ear so they are awesome for safety when outside. And they fit nicely. I have a really hard time getting most earbuds to stay in my ear, especially when running. So I'm not going to mess with what already works so well. Instead of wearing these for running, I decided to bring them to work. They're nice headphones, and it's nice not to be constantly dropping my phone because I turned and pulled the cord of wired headphones, landing my phone on the floor.  

Zensah No-Show Compression Socks

I'm a big fan of Zensah, and wear their compressions sleeves and socks a lot. I've never actually tried their low socks, though. Don't ask me why. I was excited to give these a try. They are thin and lightweight and come up to your ankles. They fit nicely and were very comfortable. I wore them for running and all day for work and for when I was Disneyland walking around in the parks all day. No blisters or problems. Very comfy.

Epic Full-Size Body Wipes

These body wipes are no joke. They say full-size and they mean it (dubbed the Massive Wet Wipe. Yep, it's massive alright). I tossed one in my bag for a post-race wipe down. Obviously in the heat of summer, we get sweatier than normal, and here's some real talk: I've been dealing with some body acne which I think has to do with being so sweaty, but not being able to shower for another hour because I have to drive home. Being able to wipe all the sweat off and clean the pores has helped reduce this body acne. I've never dealt with this before, so it was new to me and confusing, but I think I pinpointed the problem, and these wipes have helped to fix it. They work great and smelled nice. I'm not sure I always need such a large sized wipe, but I bet they'd be awesome for ultras, camping, and other travel. What's really great about these wipes is that they are made with bamboo, which is a wildly renewable resource, which makes the wipes 100% biodegradable. Score.

La Fresh Travel Sunscreen 

These travel packs came in handy for traveling. Much easier to put in your purse than a full container of sunscreen (and light-weight!). It was easy to apply, and you don't get all that sunscreen lotion all over your hands. I really liked having these, and might stock up. It certainly makes applying sunscreen more convenient, and we all know how important it is to sunscreen up! I know as an Irish, blonde-haired girl I need it bad. I burn very easily.

5k Crate was a pleasant surprise. You never really know what to expect from these things, and I was really happy with the selection of gear and accessories. I've found some new staples that'll get a lot of use (or something I know is worth buying more of). Give it a shot. You might find some of your new favorite products!

Connect with 5k Crate:

website | facebook | twitter | instagram

What the other BibRave Pros had to say:

Tedrick | Jenna | Mai | Ang | Vanessa

zensah thigh compression sleeve review

Disclaimer: I received a the Zensah Thigh Compression Sleeve 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!

No such thing as too much Zensah. I just need to get another
thigh sleeve for the other leg...

If you follow me at all on social media, I think you know how big a fan I am of Zensah compression leg sleeves. I honestly believe they are the reason I was able to complete training and cross the finish line to become a Dopey Challenge Finisher + the Castaway Cay 5k a few days later. I wore them for long training runs, and then the ultras for post-run recovery. My muscles always felt good the next day, as to before I used them I was usually pretty sore after long runs. Anyway, the point to this is that when I was presented with the opportunity to try the thigh sleeve, I jumped at it. 

Unlike the calf sleeves, the thigh sleeve doesn't come as a pair, but as a single sleeve. I think this sleeve would work great for you if you are experiencing any hamstring issues.

Recovery post-Fort2Base. Icing the knee and using Zensah
Compression (thigh and leg).

I never wore the sleeve for running, but would put it on after my shower for recovery. I was experiencing knee pain that might have been IT Band issues, and tossing the sleeve on post-long runs helped alleviate some of the pain. I was weary of wearing it for running, as I felt it would cause some serious chafing on my thighs... something I sometimes experience without the help of extra materials, if I'm being honest with you.

I also have a bit of a night before the race routine - which is to toss on my Zensah compression and roll out my muscles with my Addaday Pro roller. I tried this out for Foret2Base, which is when I was experiencing some of my knee problems, and though I still had some pain while running, it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been on previous runs. 

Resting up before Fort2Base.

I got the L/XL size, which fit me well. I was initially concerned that it was on the large side, but after wearing a couple times and noticing the recovery, I knew I had chosen well (and accurately, really – I went by the sizing on the website). I found it easy to get on and off. I would suggest measuring, per their instructions, and use the sizing chart provided to select your size. If you have measured, use that as your guide. They provide a height for those that don't have a measurement for their thigh, so it's more of a general guideline. At the moment, it only comes in black and the size choices are S/M or L/XL for $24.99 a piece. 

The compression technology helps to stabilize and support the quad and hamstring muscles, as well as improve circulation. It has a no-slip gripper (a bunch of grippy dots at the top), which is supposed to ensure that the thigh sleeve stays in place. I did, find, however, that it rolled down a little once on, but this didn't bother me at all. I found I still got the recovery magic needed for my thigh to feel refreshed the next day.

Some key features include:
• moisture wicking and anti-odor
• full range of motion: seamless design and compression technology provides a second-skin fit.
• targeted quad and hamstring support: features pin-point compression to stabilize muscles in the quad and hamstring areas. Support is provided exactly where you need it most. The compression technology also helps to reduce swelling and ensures the thigh sleeve keeps its shape.

I would seriously check this out if you are a fan of compression, and definitely if you are experiencing any quad or hamstring problems. It might even help with your IT Band issues, like it did with mine. 

I'm no doctor, so I can't really get clinical about the effects of compression gear, but I am a believer. It works for me, and so I continue to use my sleeves all the time. I wake up feeling better the day after a long run, my legs feel less tired and sore, and this makes me happy. I ran 18 miles yesterday, and wore it post-run and today to help with blood flow and muscle recovery. Compared to how I used to feel before I wore compression, I'd say it's much better with it in my life.

Check out Zensah:
website | twitter | instagram | facebook 

Want to know what the other Pros thought?

Angie | Christine | Jess | Runner and the Bride | Elizabeth | Laura | Kim | Laurel

Join us tomorrow night at 8pm for #BibChat, which Zensah will be sponsoring. I don't know the details yet, but there's usually some cool prizes and/or discounts when they sponsor - so make sure to follow them and BibRave on twitter and join the running community for some fun chit chat :)

fort2base race recap

Disclaimer: I received a free race entry into Fort2Base 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!

Pre-race ritual: laying out flat Heather to make sure I have
everything ready for the morning, some compression
with Zensah and rolling with Addaday.

When I was asked to race Fort2Base, I was pretty excited. It would be a new race and a new distance for me, plus, it looked like a really cool race. When asking about it on Twitter, there was a very positive response from other runners who had previously done it. (You can read my shorter review on BibRave.)

Fort2Base offers both a 3 Nautical Miles and 10 Nautical Miles race. 3NM equals 3.45 miles, and 10NM is 11.5 miles.

Working out the logistics of the race was more time consuming than a lot of other races, but now that the race is over, I'd say it was most definitely worth it. I was able to convince Angie and Josh to run it by suggesting we split a hotel room. With a 7am race start, and having to be shuttled over to that location (with a 30 minute transportation time), I knew that I wouldn't want to wake up at 3am in order to make it there on time.

Booking a hotel room was an excellent idea, and you'll see why. Included with the hotel room was packet pickup at check-in, runner's breakfast starting at 3:30, shuttles to the shuttles to the race, and a late check-out at 1pm. 

Angie and Josh had two other races on Saturday, so they wouldn't be in until late Saturday evening (ended up being around 11:45), so I told them I would get their packets. When I registered and learned that you could get packets at check-in, I emailed the race to make sure that all three of our packets would be there. I figured they would know to have mine, since I was the one that registered through the race hotel link, but they wouldn't know about Angie and Josh's. Even if it was just me, I would have emailed to confirm that my name was on the list for packet pickup at the hotel, since I knew I wouldn't be making it to any of the other packet pickup dates/times, and I wouldn't get to the hotel in time to run to the packet pickup on Saturday if my packet wasn't at the hotel. I got a quick email response back that our names were added to the list. I'm not sure how it worked out for everyone else that did the hotel room, but it worked for me.

I got to the hotel at about 7pm Saturday evening, had a quick and easy check-in, and received the three packets for the race. The hotel worker knew my name from check-in, so just had to give the other two. She found all three easily, and gave me some pins. Inside the bags were our bibs, shirts, race guide book, and a little goody bag with candy and smiley stickers. I really like the shirt, but unfortunately, it was a bit large, and I didn't know how to go about exchanging it – I couldn't find any info about it in the guide book, and never received an answer on Facebook about it. I feared I could only do it after the race, and so I would either have to do gear check, or carry the shirt with me while I ran. I already have so much stuff to worry about on race day, I decided I would just keep it and wear it around the house/about town rather than for running (unless I can figure out how to shrink it a little haha). 

They had a shuttle sign-up sheet at the front desk, and the only time slot with three spots left was at 4:15. I wrote our names down in case, but after some discussion with Angie, we decided to get some extra sleep and drive ourselves to the university parking lot to catch the buses to the start line. So, I ended up going back to the front desk to whiteout our names, so they wouldn't be waiting for us in the am and others could sign up if they wanted. It seemed like the first shuttles was at 4, and then the last one at 5:45ish. They seemed to leave in 15 minute increments, but I can't be sure. The hotel also had signs up all over the lobby cheering on the runners – it was fantastic.

While waiting for Angie and Josh to arrive, I got all of my gear ready for the next morning: clothes, shoes, BodyGlide, charged my Plantronics Backbeat FIT (excited to take them out for their first race), Clif Shot Bloks, FlipBelt, chapstick, OrangeMud Backpack and bottles, Nuun, watch, SparklySoul Headband, RunGoo, ID wallet, Road ID... is that it? Like I said... I have a lot of stuff haha. I laid everything out so I didn't have to do much thinking come our 5am wake up call. 

After Angie and Josh arrived, we chatted a bit and finished our race morning logistics, deciding to wake up at 5 and try to leave by 5:45 to get to the parking lot for the bus (they ran from 5am–6:15am). After a little more chit chat, we went to bed around 12:15/12:30.

And runners love Courtyard!

5am came way too soon, as I didn't sleep very well (which is the usual for me on race nights and when I'm at hotels – I think I get anxious and there just isn;t enough white noise for me to get a good nights sleep.). We all stumbled about as we got ready to go, and somehow we were all able to be ready to leave the room at 5:30. Go us. We stopped in the lobby to grab a bite  – they had provided coffee, mini bagels, and mini muffins. I had half the mini bagel, as that's all I was able to handle so early in the morning. As we were leaving, we saw a shuttle pull up, so we ran to the car so we could just follow them to the drop off.

Photo courtesy of Angie.
This is my 'we got less than 5 hours of sleep' face ;)

The university was about 4 miles from the hotel, and it ended up taking about 15 minutes to get there, with some back up of cars all going to the same place. Parking was a bit of a jumble, as no one was really directing cars where to go. We mentioned how it would have been nice if they were doing stadium parking — as in, someone directs the cars to the farthest spot down the aisle, and then cars follow in parking in the spots next to it, going down the line, until the lane is full. Then on to the next one. Unfortunately, we were just scrambling about trying to find an empty spot. Luckily we snagged one and were off to hop on the bus. There were two lines – one to get on buses to the 3NM and the other for the 10NM (they started at different points). There were volunteers there letting us know which was which, so no problems with messing that up.

While getting in line for the bus, we ran into fellow BibRavePro Tom. Yay! I had a seat mate now! We all chatted the whole way there, so the 30 minute bus ride went by quickly.

Photo courtesy of Angie.

We got there at about 6:45ish I think, and then met up with other BibRave Pro running the race, Kati. We snapped some quick photos, and then she was off to do gear check and then a mile warm up. The remaining four chatted until it was time to line up. I stood with the fast group for a while, and then about 3 minutes before starting, I went to the back where my pace belonged. I was so happy to see that they had pacers, but not only for the quicker people, but up to 16 minute mile pace. That is rare, and so awesome, especially since they promoted the race as walker and runner friendly – the 10NM race had a 16:10 mile pace cut off, which is 10 secs slower than most other races, if not more. 

BibRave Pros!

I had been having some knee problems, but when we started, I was feeling good. I ran the first few minutes, and then began my run/walk intervals (which I noticed a lot of others doing as well). I went with 45 secs running and 2 minutes walking. I loved the change of scenery, and that the race was a point to point instead of an out and back or a loop. I was feeling good (albeit uncomfortable thanks to 80% humidity) until about mile 4. Then the knee pain started, though not as bad as it had been previous weekends. It's strange, since it only hits a few miles in on my long runs, and I don't have pain on my short runs during the week. Doing some more research, I'm starting to think it might be my IT band. Further review will be taken with my physical therapist. 

Anyway, I slowed down a bit, but still stuck with the intervals. I had been staying near the 14:00 min/mile pacer, and my goal was to try and stay that way. As long as she was in my sights, I was happy. I think around mile 5 we hit some rain – it started slow, then poured, but it was all in about a minute span. I didn't mind, since it felt nice. The weather would have been perfect if the humidity had stayed away – it was low/mid 60s and cloudy with a breeze. Lovely. After running around the Fort, we were onto the trail that would take us to the Base. I thought the trail was nice, and most cyclists gave warning when they were coming, which was helpful. I didn't notice any issues with congestion.

At about mile 6 or 7 there was a DJ encouraging runners, saying their names and helping morale when people were starting to get tired. He told me to keep up the great work, and then said that he loved my outfit – and then proceeded to tell everyone around to give me a cheer for it haha. It made me laugh.

There were also a group of three friends that were on similar intervals as me, but opposite. So they would catch up to me and walk, and right about when they stopped to walk, my beeper went off for my run. It went on like that for a while, but they eventually passed me when I slowed down. I had another goal to keep them in my sights and not let them get too far. Doing things like that keeps me motivated, plus, helps the miles tick on by. I was shocked when I got to mile 8, because normally by then I am tired and have been slowly ticking off the miles, but not that day – they went by so quickly (but not really quickly because I'm a slow runner haha).

Anyway, eventually we were turning onto the naval base. It was cool to see so many active military members out cheering for us. Their encouraging words really helped keep me going. The woman at the last water stop (I think it was the last one) had hilarious rhymes for her water stop cheers – I loved it. 

I ran past Angie, Tom, and Josh as they cheered me on (they had just finished and walked over to catch me). Yay! Angie got some really great photos of me here. HA. I complained about my knee, but continued on, telling them I'd see them in an hour ;)

Finishers!

And then, after going by the lake for a bit, Hero Hill was in my sights. Whoa. I had heard that there was a hill (thank goodness for the warning, because if I hadn't known about this bad boy near the end of the race, I think I might have collapsed and cried). It was SO STEEP and long haha. Luckily, they had motivational signs leading up to it, and then military men and women were there running up and down with the racers to encourage them and push them up. The one guy asked the person in front of me (surprisingly enough two of the friends that I had been playing tag with) if they wanted to run up with him. I laughed to myself, because I knew there was no way I'd be able to run up that thing and still finish the race... so, I walked. (By the way, even my pacer who I chatted with briefly had said we walk the hill no matter what haha). 

Didn't even realize till after the race that my skirt matched
my socks and KT Tape.

My thoughts exactly. I put all my efforts into just putting each foot in front of the other, but everyone cheering us on was quite helpful. The guy in front of me just kept saying it doesn't matter how we get up – run, walk, or crawl – just get up that hill. And then, at the top, there's a banner you run under that says 'Hero Hill'. After what seemed like forever, and enough time to slow my average pace considerably, we were up the hill and I was running my intervals again.

It started raining again, about a mile or so from the finish. No bother. Before I knew it, I was turning the corner to go down the finisher's chute and cross the finish line. The gang was there cheering me on, as were some other spectators and runners. An active military man placed a medal around my neck, and then I got a towel from a little boy handing them out. What a cutie. I then got some bottled water and bottled SoBe Life Water, and then headed to the food tent. There, I grabbed a banana, pita chips, popcorn, a Clif Bar, and Cracker Jacks.

Oh, before I forget, my pacer was at the finish line with some other pacers. I just had to go up to her and thank her for her encouraging words on the course. Anytime she passed me, or I passed her, she would say motivating things that put a smile on my face. She got away from me around mile 9/10ish. I had her in my sights until Hero Hill, and then she disappeared, but having someone to keep my sights on really kept me motivated and entertained during the race. I gave her a hug and said thank you, and we chatted a bit. It was my first time even attempting to stay near a pacer, so it was cool for me. I knew I couldn't stick with her completely, since I didn't want to change the intervals I had been working with, but keeping her in my area helped out. Anyway, I didn't catch her name, and I doubt she'd read this, but I appreciated her awesomeness.

And later realized that my post-race outfit matched my race outfit.

The BRP gang chatted a bit more, and then Tom was on his way. We stopped briefly at the merchandise tent and then stopped for samples of PowerBar. We walked over to the bus line, which was quite long, but moved pretty quickly. If we weren't so tired, I'd say we could have walked to the parking lot, I think it was only about a mile or so away.

A sad little note about Fort2Base was that once you were at the Base, no photography was allowed – so I have no photos of Hero Hill (the event photographer wasn't even taking any photos when I was going up), the finish line, or anything like that. I was attempting to take a photo right before entering of the entrance sign, but heard a military dude tell a guy a little in front of me no photos, so I put my phone away. Also when entering, I saw a sign of all the 'dont's' inside the base, and photos was one of them. I totally understand it, but really wish I had a few photos from the course or finish. Anyway, that's why I have no photos to show for that portion of the course.

Another thing of note was that I couldn't tell weather the mile markers were for Nautical Miles or regular miles. My watch is always a bit off (as they tend to be if you don't run the tangents exactly, which I most certainly don't/can't haha), so I was confused the whole race until I got to 10 and it wasn't the finish line haha. Not a big deal for me, as the miles ticked off pretty quickly, but I'm sure it could have been disheartening for some. Perhaps there was clarification or word about it somewhere, but I didn't see it, and one of the pacers wasn't sure either (or if I had looked at the map more closely, but I have a hard time remember where the mile markers are anyway unless I write it down haha). Anyway, sorry that's a bit out of sorts... I sometimes ramble on ;)

We got back to the car, and then went on our way back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped at Dunkin Donuts for donuts and warm drinks (chai tea for me, coffee for the others). We were pretty cold after being all sweaty and in the rain, so it was nice to drink something warm. We got back to the hotel, took our turns showering and rested/chatted until checkout at 1. 

Because, well... donuts! Another Angie collage.

We went for lunch at buffalo wild wings before parting ways. It was so fantastic to hang out with Angie and Josh again – they are so fun to be around.

I had a great time at this race. It was nice not to be on the lakefront path, as nice as that is, for the millionth race – new scenery was welcomed. It was also very humbling to be running with members of the navy and army, as well as having them cheer us on. I think it was a well organized race, and would definitely do it again. The only 'problem' was the logistics, as far as needing to get a hotel, figure out how to get to the buses, figuring out packet pickup, etc... but getting the hotel was definitely a great idea, especially being able to split it with someone. 

After long before parting ways. One last photo was needed.

The swag was top notch, though I would go down a size next year if they used the same shirts. The medal was a pretty decent size, and it had Fort Sheridan on one side, and the Great Lakes Naval Base on the other. I would definitely consider doing this race again next year.

Read what Angie and Tom had to say.

bibrave pro stocking stuffer guide: recap

If you follow BibRave on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, which I hope you all do by now, this past week they did a Stocking Stuffer Guide with some of the BibRave Pros' favorite things (sponsored by Zensah). I just wanted to do a brief recap of what each day was for y'all, and just a heads up, I'm a fan of EVERY item on the list.

Day 1: My favorite fuel = CLIF BARS

I love me some Clif Bars and Shot Bloks. I pretty much keep a few bars in my purse/bag at all times for when a snack is needed (which for me, is often). I especially like the minis – they are the perfect size and about 100 calories each.

Here's my review on some Clif Bar & Company products.

 

Day 2: Jeremy's favorite recovery tool = Zensah!

I have taken to wearing my Zensah sleeves on my long training runs during this Dopey Challenge training session. They help keep my legs feeling strong even when they are tired. I've found the Ultras to be an amazing tool for after the runs – they have a bit more compression, which helps with the blood flow and muscle recovery. You can read my review here and Jeremy's here.

Day 3: Angie loves to recover with Addaday!

She takes such fun photos!

Addaday has some of the most AMAZING rollers to help heal tired muscles all over the body. I have the Ultra Roller Plus Series Pro which offers a variety of gears and even has a precision gear to get some of the harder to get at places. Read my review here and Angie's here.

Day 4: Amy loves her Garmin!

I don't have a review for a Garmin, but I've been using the Forerunner 220 since May and love love love it. I've only had trouble with the accuracy two times since I started using it, which I think is pretty great.

Day 5: Melissa loves to recover with Chocolate Milk!

Since I heard of the great powers of Chocolate Milk after running, I decided to try it out for myself. I've noticed some quicker recovery in my own muscles after longer/tougher runs—it's been a quicker recovery time, and have noticed the day after those runs, I don't feel as bad as I used to. There were days that I would have trouble walking the next day from sore legs, but that soreness has greatly been decreased since adding chocolate milk to the recovery lineup. I drink it as quickly after my run as possible (I believe they say within 20–30 minutes is best). I've also been keen on the extra protein kind – that extra 20% is a wonderful thing. Again, no review for this one, but if you like chocolate milk, I would try adding it to your routine. Would love to hear how you notice a difference.

So that's that, my dear friends. All of these things make some great stocking stuffers (though maybe don't add that milk until the last minute ;) ). I would be a happy camper to find any one of these products in my own.

Hope everyone's holidays are going well so far, and looking forward to ringing in the new year :)

week in review: november 24–30

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 22

Monday, November 24: rest day

Tuesday, November 25: unscheduled rest day

Wednesday, November 26: 40 minute walk

Thursday, November 27: 4.07 miles (RFK 4 mile Turkey Trot)

Friday, November 28: 3.17 miles 

Saturday, November 29: 10.01 miles (Grant Park Turkey Trot & Ugly Sweater Run)

Sunday, November 30: 23 miles

Weekly mileage: 40.25

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 354.83 miles

Whooooeeee. That was a tough weekend. Tuesday should have been a 30 minute run, but my arches were in a lot of pain, so I took it easy in preparation for my first Dopey Simulation (four consecutive days of running, though the mileage wasn't quite what the actual races are) over the weekend. 

Wednesday I walked from work to the train station to try and catch an earlier train than usual so I could make it for packet pickup for the Turkey Trot on Thursday. Unfortunately, I had on winter boots that aren't great for quick walking, and ended up with blisters on my big toes that came back to haunt me the rest of the week/end. Boo. We hit up our local watering hole for a Black Wednesday drink, then went to bed early. I remember the days where I would be out all night with my friends, and now I'm more concerned with getting home early so I'll be well rested for my race in the morning haha.

Thursday's Turkey Trot 4 mile run was hilly and a little chilly, but really not too bad. After the race my mom and I grabbed some hot beverages and donuts at DD, then I had to rush home and shower so I could go out with the husband for our monthly wine tasting and a light lunch. I felt horrible going on Thanksgiving, but they were open and it was the only day we could squeeze it in when it wouldn't be miserable—we had contemplated Wednesday night, but figured it would be way too crowded (we overheard a server saying how it was a madhouse, so I think we made the right call). It was lovely. After that we headed to my in-laws for dinner, which was delicious. His family is filled with characters, so it's always so fun to get together with them all... we pretty much just laugh the whole time. I filled up on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, Irish soda bread, dinner rolls, and corn. Then I had some pumpkin pie. Yum. We got home around 8:30 or so, took care of some house business and hit bed pretty early. 

Friday I was up at 4am and could not fall back asleep. I woke up and tossed some laundry in the washer, watched a little tv, and then started to feel sick. That happens to me when I'm exhausted. I headed back up to bed and was able to sleep another 2 hours, which was great. The rest of the day was productive cleaning the house with a treadmill run at the gym squeezed in. I was planning on doing 4 miles, but was having some foot pain and ended at about 3. I figured it was alright since I did the 4 miles before, and still had 10 miles Saturday and 23 on Sunday. For dinner we headed up to our favorite food truck at our favorite local brewery, and had an early night to bed... again.

Saturday was another early morning as my mom and I headed in to the city. We had the Grant Park Turkey Trot 5k at 9am and then the Ugly Sweater Run at Soldier Field at 11am. Since I had to do 10 miles that day and got there a bit early, we did 1.83 miles before the first race, then the first race at 3.14, then another mile, the other 5k, and then I after finishing that race I ran around the parking lot to finish another .93 miles. After that I enjoyed an Angry Orchard that was included in the race registration. After the races, I had lunch with my mom and we stopped at a local running store for some socks (I also got a Brooks winter running hat with the ponytail hole and a baclava). Then I showered, took a nap, and took the rest of the day easy.

My left knee was hurting me after the races Saturday, so I did a full knee support KT Tape application, and on Sunday I had no problems with it.

Sunday was tough. This was my first time going 23 miles—until yesterday, my farthest had been 20, and then was extremely tough for me as my shins were giving me a lot of problems. These 23 miles were still crazy hard, but they were better than the time I did 20, and after 3 other days of running, I was quite happy with that. These 23 miles were done all by my lonesome – no one to chat with or give me words of encouragement. Having finished them by myself, I feel confident that I can complete the marathon. I don't know if it rained the night before or if it was the snow/ice that melted, but a lot of the trail was very very messy. I had mud all over my shoes and back of my pants. I didn't mind that it was messy, but there were times that my feet would sink in or turn an odd way that I didn't feel stable on my feet.

Probably hard to tell how muddy it is from that picture in the middle,
but think the pants show it well enough.

As for fueling, I had 20 ENERGYbits and a PowerBar Performance Energy Blend about 15 minutes before starting. I hydrated with some water and about 30 oz of Nuun Fruit Punch. Every 2 miles I had a Clif Shot Blok – I finished off a pack of Orange and then had Mountain Berry. At mile 10 I had a Picky Bar Cookie Doughpness (my favorite!). I felt this fueling strategy helped keep me going. When I finished, I immediately had a chocolate milk with extra protein and a Justin's Nut Butter (Thanks to the fine folks at Justin's and BibRave for providing this BibRavePro an abundance of samples!). This was my first time trying Justin's and let me say, I was quite pleased with it! It tasted delicious and hit the spot after those tough miles.

As far as the weather and my attire... it was too hot for the first 1/3 and then too cold for the 2/3 at the end. I had on a Patagonia lightweight long sleeve top as a base layer, then a tech t-shirt and my Brooks jacket (I love the zipper pockets!), and then I had on Zensah compression sleeves, Oiselle Portman Pants (the only legging to not bother me when running), Features socks, and Brooks trail running shoes. It was sunny and 48 with a feels like 43 when I started, not much wine, and then at about mile 10 it was 34 with a feels like of 25, no sun, and 12 MPH winds. I was cold and sort of miserable for those last 13 miles, but I powered through any way.

I was a bit tired and sore when I got home, but nothing too strange. However, right before bed, I had such a horrible pain in my right ankle that I could barely walk. I didn't notice any swelling or bruising, and couldn't think of any incidents that would make it hurt that bad. Unfortunately  it was still hurting this morning when I got up. I taped it with KT Tape, which has been helpful, but it still gives me shooting pains now and again when I'm walking (or should I say limping). This is a bit disconcerting, but I'm hoping with some RICE and a bit of stretching, it'll feel better pronto. Luckily this week is just some maintenance runs for the week and a fun run 5k on Saturday. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

SIDE NOTE:

With the holiday season now upon us, the frantic search for the perfect gift has begun! Why not "Give BITS as Gifts!"? One size fits all, and many runners and athletes already have BITS on their Holiday Wish List!

BITS come in attractive organza bags so they don’t even need to be wrapped! Everyone loves them -- and what’s not to love?! They’re vegan, Paleo, plant-based, healthy and provide clean energy!

Remember to use code 'HeatherRuns' for a 25% discount on your cart :)

How was your week/end? Did training go well?

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