Racedots Review & Giveaway

Are you sick of using safety pins to hold your race bib in place? If you're like me, you've got your favorite running shirts that you don't want holes in.

I'm sorry, but I just don't want to ruin my favorite Breakaway Running shirts. I mean...look at them...they are too awesome to be poking holes in!

I recently discovered this awesome, new product called Racedots. You MUST check them out!

What are RaceDots?

Magnetic Race Number Positioning System

RaceDots™ are the simple, elegant and effective alternative to safety pins. Each RaceDot is a unique assembly of two magnets that lock together to hold your race number in place, but they never hurt your clothing.

This made me very curious, so I decided to approach Racedots. I received a package with 5 VERY, strong magnets. I absolutely LOVE the color I received...green & pink...very girly! I knew that I wasn't going to be running a race from the time I received them until the St. Jude Half-Marathon, but I just had to grab one of my old bibs to try them out.

 

Finally, race day came and I was able to try out my Racedots!  I only attached 4 of the magnets, one in each corner, the night before the race. Attaching the magnets took a little practice for me, since I wasn't used to them or their strength...or maybe it's that I'm a perfectionist & want my bib straight and flat.

Once Racedots are in place, they don't budge! This was great since it was very WINDY for the St. Jude race. My only other concern, with the magnets being so strong, was interference with the timing device on the back of my bib & my iPod...no problems whatsoever!

I am definitely a fan now...I love this product! They are reasonably priced, and the BEST part is...NO MORE HOLES!

#Don'tBeAPinHead...

Racedots sent me an extra set of magnets to giveaway to help get the word out about their product. See the picture below.

 Yellow-Black-White

**You must be a U.S. resident with a U.S. mailing address to enter.

Good luck to everyone!

 

UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE!!! If you don't want to wait, or you need a last minute unique gift for Christmas Racedots is offering FREE Priority Shipping from NOW through December 23!!!

 







a Rafflecopter giveaway

#FuelYourBetter Review: Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer

I was recently given the opportunity to try and review a Vega Sport  product through Sweat Pink & Fit Approach for their FuelYourBetter campaign. I was able to select which product I wanted to try...I chose the Pre-Workout Energizer (who couldn't use a little energy?) Since I run & workout in the gym and sometimes struggle with energy, I wanted to see if this would give me a boost. I was also very curious about the Recovery products, but I haven't "officially" started training for St. Jude yet...I have been doing some long runs & hill repeats, but nothing that has exceeded 9 miles...so I figured I'd wait on the Recovery products.

I received a box of 12 individual packages of the Açai Berry flavor.

 

Directions: Mix one pack of Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer in 1 cup (8oz) of cold water and drink 20 minutes prior to exercise to enhance athletic and metal performanc (directions taken from box/package). **I poured mine into bottled water to make it easier to shake up/mix up.

 

I must admit, the powder did not dissolve well & I shook it up HARD! The first time I took a sip, I got lots of grainy bits...so I shook it up even harder. It mixed up a little better, but stay dissolved...what I mean is...if you didn't CHUG IT, then it would become gritty/grainy again, so I felt I was constantly having to shake it.

 

Taste: At first it was not what I expected, it didn't seem very berry-ish to me...it was an acquired taste (I guess I was expecting something really sweet). I will say, that after using it several times I did get accustomed to the taste.

Color: Once mixed up, the color wasn't what I was expecting either...I'm thinking it's Berry...so maybe a pinkish or reddish color. The color was more of an orangey-brown.

 

Fuel Your Better

Here are a few ways I used Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer to Fuel My Better:

• Before shorter runs (usually 5-6 miles)
• Before a strength-training workout at the gym
• Before yoga & a short run

 

 

 

How do you Fuel Your Better?

After using the product, I noticed a slight boost of energy to keep my focus and endurance without a jittery feeling. This product, I feel, would be best for shorter workouts/runs...not so much for long runs.

Pros:

• plant-based
• dairy, gluten & soy free
• no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners
• slight increase in energy, endurance & mental focus
• 70 calories
• no jitters

Cons:

• hard to mix up/dissolve
• not much of a berry flavor

 



LaceLocker Review & Giveaway

Do you get sick of having to stop & tie your shoes during a run or worse...a RACE? Are you constantly double-knotting your shoelaces? Well...I recently "tripped" over this nifty little product that can help with this problem...

It's called LaceLocker by STASH Sports! No, it's not those laces you hear about that lock in place (this is what I was first thinking when Carol, the President & Co-Developer, approached me on Twitter). It's like a locker for your laces! When I checked out the website, I was intrigued.



I had always wanted to try those laces that lock in place, but I thought it'd be a pain to change them out each time I switched out/rotated running shoes, or thought that you'd have to pick a color that would go with everthing...and I'm NO PLAIN JANE!

So after seeing the product & being curious as to whether it really worked, I got back with Carol to see if she'd be willing to do a blog review/giveaway...and she jumped on it! She even let me pick out my color!!!



Basically, LaceLocker is a velcro gadget, created by STASH Sports, that keeps your laces in place. It's EASY to install. Lift the the logo section away from the back section, then slide the back section under the first few sections of laces. Then, fold the logo section down & press. Next, open up the logo section from side to side...tie your shoes as usual, then place them in the center. Finally, fold the flaps over the laces to lock them in place. Now you're ready to RUN!


I've worn LaceLocker on several runs, while riding my road bike & spin bike, and at the gym. I must admit, I am impressed...for several reasons:

• they're small & light-weight
• they don't budge or flop around
• laces stay in place
• the velcro doesn't pull at the laces
• they're easy to install & remove

*Not only do I think these are great for runners, but coming from a teacher that sees floppy laces ALL DAY LONG, I think they would be PERFECT for kids/students!!!

**All opinions are my own. I was given a pair of LaceLocker for free in exchange for an honest review.

LaceLocker even does custom orders! Please go check them out! 

Please go "LIKE" STASH Sports on Facebook & let them know

Jennifer from Teacher in Training sent you!

 

 

And now for the Giveaway...

     2 lucky winners will each win & choose their own pair of LaceLocker. Enter the Rafflecopter link below. Once the giveaway is over & the winners have been chosen, I will notify each of the winners via email.

 

Good luck to everyone!

 

**The contest is open to residents world-wide!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/175f1b4/"





 

 

 











Pure LYFT Energy Stir Sticks Product Review

Looking for a Lyft? A pick-me-up? Something to get you through that run, workout, afternoon slump, or late-night study session?

I was recently given the opportunity, through Sweat Pink, to sample a new product (or new to me) called Pure LYFT Energy Stir Sticks. The stir sticks are a "clean caffeine" energy product that are infused with natural caffeine and vitamins.

I received one package that contained two energy stir sticks.

The package said you could use the energy stir sticks with any beverage, so I chose water the first time. Note: When removing the label, be sure to open it over the liquid...this is where the powder from the stir stick is.

The powder changed the taste of the water only slightly, but it was a clean taste...nothing bitter. I must admit that the first time I tried the energy stir stick, I didn't notice a discernible difference. Maybe that was because I was getting ready for an early morning run and had already taken some of my energy supplements...I just wanted to see if there would be a noticeable difference, but I couldn't tell or feel it.

 

So I decided to try my other stick a few days later while at work. I am a teacher, but all my 5th graders had already graduated, so we had no students...it was a pretty slow, boring day. I knew I had to go to the gym that afternoon, so I figured I'd try the other stir stick with my lunch. This time I mixed it with tea.

I couldn't feel any major effects after using the stir stick, as far as feeling jittery or anything like that. My co-workers did notice that I seemed a little more "hyper" (were their words to describe me) later in the afternoon. It did seem that I had enough energy to get through my strength-training workout at the gym.

 

If you're looking for a product with:

• Zero calories
• Clean taste
• Vibrant alertness
• No artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives
• Caffeine equivalent to one tall coffee (I can't speak on this, because I'm not a coffee drinker...so I wouldn't know)

then Pure LYFT Energy Stir Sticks may be for you!

 



 



#megsmiles Half-Marathon

If you are a runner, you've probably seen something on Facebook or Twitter about #megsmiles. If not, here's some information about #megmiles:
    

Meg Cross Menzies was tragically killed by a drunk driver while out for her morning run on January 13, 2014. As an avid runner, member of the Richmond Road Runners Club, and Boston marathoner, she was a member of the running family nationwide. In her honor, our hope is to raise awareness of drunk driving, texting and driving, and overall safety of runners and cyclists everywhere. This Saturday, January 18, 2014, no matter what your distance, no matter where you live, run for Meg. Take in the fresh air, be... aware of your surroundings, keep your headphones on low, feel the heaviness in your lungs, the soreness in your legs, and be grateful for it--for all of it. The sweat, the pain, the wind, the cold…everything. Be grateful for that moment. Feel free to post pictures of yourself pre-run or post-run, post your distance, post your thoughts, prayers, condolences with the hashtag #megsmiles. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook. Let all runners unite together and remember the loss of a beautiful spirit. It's not a coincidence the hashtag reads either "Meg's Miles" or "Meg Smiles." She will be smiling on all of us forevermore. I usually dedicate my runs to a special little girl named Bella. We were matched through this great non-profit organization called whoirun4. Bella after receiving Bob Marley's book Every Little Thing that I sent her. The shoe bling I sent Bella to let her know I'm on her side! So not only did I dedicate yesterday's long run to Bella, but I also dedicated it to Meg & her family.  I ran 13.1 miles! I called it #megsmiles Half-Marathon. Here's my run according to my Garmin:

#megsmiles Half-Marathon by nikerunner75 at Garmin Connect - Details

My running buddy, Ruthie, joined me for 11 miles (more than I expected her to)...this has been her longest run since running the Rocket City Marathon last month. We ran a route we haven't run in a while...old Highway 64 to the landfill (ah, the smells...actually I don't notice it when it's this cold) & the grounds of the mental institution. The route was pretty hilly, or hillier than what I've been running. It was cold & the wind began picking up. We had about 5 little, yappy dogs run out into the highway chasing us...Ruthie called it "Attack of the Little Dogs". It was a little busier on this old highway than I expected, for the time of morning.

On this run, it got me to thinking about what happened to Meg & more about safety. Here are some things I try to do to stay safe:

• run with friends
• wear reflective clothing/items
• wear a headlamp on early runs (recent Christmas gift)
• wear only one earbud when listening to ipod
• run with some form of ID (I wear a RoadID bracelet)
• run with a phone (I never did this until I recently won a FlipBelt)
• run against the flow of traffic & assume cars don't see you

I wear these magnetic reflective Amphipod Vizlets...one on the front of my shirt & one on the back.

Here's the FlipBelt I recently won. The people that came up with this little creation are GENIUSES!

As you can see, it can hold your energy gels. It has 2 openings in the front & 2 in the back.

It might look a little bulky under your clothing, but it DOESN'T FLOP!

My RoadID bracelet. I had to add some new bling...IRUN4BELLA, 13.1, & #RunChat charms.

This was a Christmas gift from my dad...he worries about me running at 5am.

It's pretty bright!

One more long-ish run (8 miles) next weekend, then the following weekend will be the Rock N Roll New Orleans Half! I'm ready to run this! I feel like I've been in training forever, since the St. Jude was canceled.

Get your run on & be safe out there!



The Dirty Dozen

Today was LONG RUN day!

I began my morning with some yoga. I discovered a new yoga series on Runner's World called Power Yoga for Runners that I am really enjoying. I've done it a few times now...not that difficult. They also have Essential Yoga & Core Yoga that I plan to try soon.

I then met up with my neighborhood running buddies. We ran about 4 miles together in the neighborhood, then I headed out to the highway...to cross over and run the grounds of our Mental Institution.

Quite blurry, but it says Western Mental Health Institute.

 

Main Building

What a shame that they knocked the side wings down years ago. Reminds me of an old university.

 

There's something eerily peaceful about running these grounds. Most of the old buildings are now run down & empty, which almost seems asylum-like. Makes me wonder what kind of stories the walls of those buildings could tell.

 

It was a gorgeous day for running a dozen miles! Every time I run 12 miles, I can't get this little ditty out of my head...





Anyone remember this?

 



Back to the gorgeous day...perfect weather for running! Especially after the Polar Vortex we were in earlier this week & the weird January thunderstorm we had last night. It was warmer than I thought. So much so that I sweat my heart out...

 

So it was really "boob sweat" in the shape of a heart.





There was nothing easy about this run. I had to take a few walk breaks, but I got it done!

 

Looking a HOT MESS, but glad to be done!

 

Tattoos & Argyle...what a combo!

If it wasn't for Rocktape, I don't think I'd make it through my runs.







There are a few ways I recover after a run...

• drink chocolate milk
• eat some yogurt or a protein bar
• foam roll & stretch
• soak in the tub with Dr. Teals while enjoying a cup of hot green tea
• have Brunch since it's usually around noon before I sit down to eat a meal

 

Dr. Teal's & green tea in a Wonder Woman mug...can't get much better than this!

 

This is my Stone Wave omelet. I bought my husband one for Christmas as a joke, but this thing REALLY WORKS & it's so easy!

 

Blueberry bagel with Chocolate Smackaroon Pocket Fuel...YUM!

 



 



Only 2 more long runs before I head to New Orleans for the Rock N Roll New Orleans Half!