2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Runners

It’s the most run-derful time of the year which means it’s time to start your holiday shopping.  I usually wait until the last minute, but this year I’ve vowed to start early.  To help me do that, I’ve made a gift guide for all the runners in my life (and a list of things I secretly want myself)

 

Hurts So Good

Recovery  is an important part of running.  If you’ve ever had the chance to try Rapid Reboot recovery boots, you know how amazing they can be.  The only downside? The cost.  But they are definitely worth it. 

Source: www.rapidreboot.com

 

Their Own Personal Cheerleader

I don’t mean the kind of cheerleader you’d find on the sidelines of Monday night football- I’m talking about the kind the can take anywhere they go.  If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll often see pictures of my Momentum Wrap bracelets—they’re the perfect pep talk during my runs.  These were on my list last year and made it again this year because of the new SPARK boxes—with four options to choose from, there’s something for everyone. 

Source: www.momentumjewelry.com

Stocking Stuffers Socks

It’s no secret that I love ProCompression socks and I #KeepItTight whenever I run.  This time of year, they have some great deals.  Not only do ProCompression socks offer the benefit of compression for running and recovery, they have the best colors and designs.  I’m also loving the “Lifestyle” line for everyday wear.  (And for Cyber Monday, they’re offering two pairs of marathon socks for $40.00 when you use the code BFCM)

Gifts That Give Back

Run Far Trucker Hats

I love a good trucker hat and Run Far trucker hats fall into that category.  Simple in design, they come in a good selection of colors and are quality hats.  The best part about them?  All the profits of items purchased from Run Far go to provide educational scholarships for children of fallen service members who have committed suicide.

Source: www.run-far.org

Gift Cards

How does a gift card give back? Simple.  Get one to your local running store—not only are you helping a small local business, you’re giving the runner in your life an experience that they won’t find in a big box store.  Local running stores will give them the personal shopping experience and knowledge they deserve. 

For the Runner Who Isn’t Running

Red Horse and Co.

I am a big fan of “arm candy” and earlier this year I discovered Red Horse and Co.  She makes beautiful bracelets and necklaces—her site has “pre-made” ones or you can special order the colors and sayings you want.  The bracelets are so comfortable—I forget that I’m wearing it when I have it on.  I love that I can bring running with me in my non-running life with these bracelets. 

 

Source: www.redhorseandco.esty.com

It’s The Thought That Counts

My favorite gifts are the gifts that come from the heart—it can be as simple as a note on a Post-It or simply finding time to do something I like to do.  Sometimes it’s easy to forget that runners do things other than run—as you think about the runner in your life, think about the other things they like to do. If you can't think of anything, offer to go for a run with them.  I promise any miles run with someone they care about will be better than any other gift.

 

What are you wishing for this year?

Until next time, happy running.

Jenn13.1

 

 

#Run4AllWomen California Recap

Earlier in the year, I started seeing posts on social media about #Run4AllWomen and I was intrigued.  One of #Run4AllWomen’s  guiding thoughts is “resist the status quo and work tirelessly to advance the conversation around women's issues.” As a woman and as someone who believes that women’s rights are human rights, this cause spoke to me.  When one of my Instafriends, Whitney, announced that she has been selected as an ambassador for #Run4AllWomen and that there would be a Southern California run, I knew I wanted to be involved.  

The Southern California event would take place on a Saturday, running from Encinitas to Chula Vista or forty miles.  The event was to benefit and raise awareness for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. Whitney and the her partner in the race planning and fellow #R4AW ambassador, Amy, had broken the 40 miles into legs so that runners (and walkers) of all levels could participate.  When registering for the event, I couldn’t decide how many legs I wanted to run.  After some internal debate, I decided to sign up for all the legs—I was going to attempt to run 40 miles.  

Prior to this event, I had never run a distance more than 26.2 miles.  A part of me was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to complete all 40 miles, so I told very few people.  I rationalized that if I didn’t tell people, it would be easier to accept if I didn’t make it.  Since very few people knew, that also meant that very few people knew I was in taper mode the week leading up to the event.  I was definitely cranky—I’m sorry for what I said during taper mode. (If you’ve ever tapered, you know what I’m talking about.)

This recap is going to be a little different than my usual race recaps—I had such an amazing experience and I’m still on my runner’s high, that I can’t quite contain my thoughts.  So I’m just going to talk about all the things I loved about this event.

The Organizers
Amy and Whitney did an amazing job organizing this event.  From planning a route that would be runner friendly and safe for us, to pre-event fundraising events and communication, they were on top of everything.  If you’ve ever planned an event, you know it can be stressful. Although I’m sure there were times they were stressed, they never let it show.  Their enemy was contagious and you couldn’t help but want to be involved.  

We ran 40 miles! Amy and Whitney are amazing!

The Event Volunteers
I can’t express in words how incredible all the volunteers were during this event.  Marc and Mike were with us for all 40 miles, following us in a van making sure we had water, fuel and anything else we could need at each leg stop.  Each leg stop also had other volunteers with signs, supplies and plenty of smiles & encouragement. During the first half of the event, a volunteer named Rachel followed along, holding up signs and honking as she drove by, checking on all the runners, making sure we were okay and didn’t need anything.  I wish I had the names of all the volunteers—there is something about a group of people who will give up their time on a Saturday to support a group of runners.  I am so grateful for everyone who came out to support us.

Mile 17 Aide Station

The Runners
Throughout the day, 50-60 runners made their was from Encinitas to Chula Vista.  Some ran a couple legs, some ran double digit miles and three of us ran all 40 miles.  During that time, we laughed, we cried, we loved and we supported each other, all running with a purpose.  Each milestone was celebrated.  A runner, Lisa, had never run more than 13 miles—she can out and ran 17.  How awesome is that?!  When Amy and I went past 26.2 miles (the furthest either of us had ever run) you can bet we stopped, high fived and celebrated.  When a runner looked like they were struggling, another runner would fall behind to check on them.  When a runner looked tired, another runner would give them a pep talk to keep them going.  I believe that runners are amongst the best types of people and this event just confirmed that for me.  

The first leg runners

The Finish Area
The love bubble and energy continued at the finish area.  There were more volunteers there cheering the runners in as they finished.  There was music and post run snacks.  (And the best ice cold Coke I’ve ever had thanks to Mick from Movin Shoes who also saved me at mile 20 by bringing me some salt) There was post-run yoga led by Mady who did an awesome job in helping us stretch and getting centered.  As tired as everyone was, you could feel the positivity.  

I had such an amazing experience during the #Run4AllWomen California event.  When I started my running journey, I never imagined that I would be participating in something like this.  I ran 40 miles—it’s the next day and I still can’t wrap my head around it.  It’s an amazing feeling to know that you are capable of something like that.  I know without a doubt that I wouldn’t have been able to do it without being surrounded by this amazing group of people (and my virtual race crew who sent me message throughout the day).  This experience reminded me why I fell in love with running and I will forever be grateful for it- my heart is full.  I can’t wait to see what they do next year.  

#R4AWCA

Have you participated in a run that’s changed your life?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

Trekz Titanium Mini Review

Disclaimer: I received the Trekz Titanium headphones from AfterShokz  for review in conjunction with FitApproach and SweatPink. All opinions are my own.


I stopped listening to music on my runs sometime last year—although I love listening to music, I wanted to be more aware of all the other sounds around me during my runs.  When I read about the bone conduction technology used in the AfterShokz Trekz Titanium headphones, I was intrigued.  When I had to opportunity to try them out, it was a no brainier.  There are two different sizes, regular and mini, and based on their guidelines, I opted for the mini.   I loved all the colors and couldn’t decide—after texting a few friends to get their opinions, I decided on the pink. 

How do they work?
The AfterShokz headphones work with bone conduction technology.  According the their website:

"Bone conduction is a natural part of the hearing process—sound travels through our eardrums and bones simultaneously. We've taken the concept to the next level through development of a suite of proprietary audio technologies and design patents. The result: headphones that deliver unrivaled situational awareness and comfort.

Transducers guide mini vibrations through the cheekbones to the inner ears, delivering sound without plugging or covering them."

Put simply, you will "hear" the sound through your cheekbones, thus leaving your ears free to hear the other noises around you.  This allows you to #BeOpen on your runs or other fitness activities.

When I received the headphones in the mail, I was excited to try them right away.  After unpacking them, I charged them completely and set them out with my running clothes for the following morning.  

The headphones come with a case, charging cord and ear plugs.

When I got to my running destination the next morning, I powered up the headphones and they quickly connected to my phone.  I put them on, placing them over my ears, trying to get a comfortable position with my trucker hat and sunglasses.  These headphones fit a little differently than standard headphones or earbuds and it did take a bit of adjustment to make sure they were comfortable. 

When I used them on my first run, I was honestly surprised at how clear the sound was.  I truly was able to listen to my music and hear the other noises going on around me.  I often run at trails with mountain bikers and I found a level of comfort knowing that I would be able to hear their "On the Left" warnings or bells/horns.  The only downside to this was hearing all the wind that is normally blocked out by headphones that go into your ears.

The Trekz Titanium headphones use Audrey Says voice prompts and it was nice to have the connection confirmation with you turn them off or on.  She also gives you a warning when the need to be charged-- I was quite impressed with the battery charge.  The headphones are listed as having 6 hours of charge time, but I feel like I got more time than that on a single charge.  Over a two week time period, I only charged them once and I used them on ninety percent of my runs. When they are connected to my phone, a headphone icon with battery charge is displayed which makes it nice-- no one wants their headphones to die during the middle of their run. 

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the headphones.  I found myself using them more than I thought I would, although I do find them more comfortable when I'm not wearing a hat.  I even wore them a few times at home to listen to podcasts while I was doing chores-- there were times I even forgot I had them on.  The longest run I used them on was fifteen miles so I am not sure if the would start to bother me on any longer runs.  However, they are compact enough to fit into my Orange Mud pack so it would be easy to take them off and put them away during a run. 

I do a lot of trail running so I appreciated that I was able to listen to music and hear the critters around me-- it's snake season in Southern California and I definitely don't want to miss the warning of a rattle! They are also sweat resistant which is great for every type of runner, especially during the summer months. 

Want to win your own pair of AfterShokz Trekz Titanium? Find out "How to Have it Both Ways on Your Run" and enter to win here.

Don't want to wait to find out if you win?  Order you AfterShockz Titanium Trekz here- use the code SWEAT at checkout and they'll send you a free stainless steel water bottle with your order.

What type of headphones do you run with? 

Until next time, happy running.

Jenn13.1

Run Streak: One Year

Last year my friend Jen hosted a Running Streak for the month of June—we were to run a mile everyday and at the end of the month everyone who had completed the month would be entered into a drawing for awesome prizes.  I love prizes and had several other friends signing up, so I thought, “Why not?”  Although it officially started on June 1st, I ran on May 31st-- so began my Run Streak with #StreakingWithTheCoolKids.

When I started the streak, I didn’t know if I’d make it through the entire month.  But after the first week, then the next, I though maybe I really can do this.  And sure enough, I made it through June running at least one mile everyday.  And once the month was over, I didn't want to stop.  So I kept running.  My new goal became 50 days and then 100 days.  Once I reached 100, I knew I had a decision to make.  So I kept running.

If you follow my adventures on Instagram, you know what happened next.  I have officially been streaking for one year and seven days.  From May 31, 2016 to May 31, 2017 I ran 1,877 miles. During my streak, I’ve been asked a lot of questions.  Here are some of the more common ones.

Why?
When people ask me why, my short answer is “why not?” My long answer is a little more complicated.  I love how the streak has challenged me and how it pushes me to keep doing more.  I love proving to myself that I can. Is a run streak for everyone? No, but right now it’s right for me.

 Do you always feel like running?
There are days when the answer to this is a big NO.  But my desire to keep my run streak going out weighs my desire not to run.  On those days I don’t want to run, I keep the distance to a minimum.  Some days my legs are tired, some days I’m just tired and some days I’m just busy.  But I can always find ten minutes to get a mile in.  

 What’s the threshold for your streak?
I run a minimum of a mile a day and it must be a solid mile before I start on my intervals/hiking.  There times when this fluctuates a little-- I run a lot of trails and there are a few trails where the first mile is a steep, rocky climb so on those runs, my solid mile might come in the middle of the run. 

What do you like least about the run streak?
The laundry! When you're running seven days a week, no matter how many running clothes you have, there always seems to be laundry to be done.  There are some days I run twice so that means even more laundry. 

What do you like most about the run streak?
Hands down, the support and encouragement I get from my friends, family and social media.  From running miles with me, to texts of encouragement and overall support, the people in my life rock.  

What's next?
I'm going to keep running.  Jen is hosting the #StreakingWithTheCoolKids streak again so I'm in for at least the month of June.  My next goal is 500 days, but I honestly can't foresee stopping any time soon. I'm going to run as long as I can.  

Have you every done a run streak?  How long did you run for?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1  

Inaugural San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon

Living in San Diego, I frequently run on the coast exploring the beaches and bays.  When I heard about the Inaugural San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon and 5K, I knew I wanted to check it out.  Run somewhere I do a lot of my training runs at and get a medal for it? Sign me up!  I went into the race knowing there might be a few glitches since it was in its first year, but also knew the views would make up for any of those.  With two distance options, I decided to run the half marathon.    

Like all races, I knew there were going to be things I loved and things that I feel can be improved for the next year’s race.  The things I loved about this race were:

Bib Pick-Up
You had two options for bib pick-up, either picking it up the day prior or race day (with no additional charge).  I like to have my bib before going to a race so opted for the day before.  It was scheduled to start at 2:30pm and I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at 2:00pm and it was already in full swing.  It was quick and easy- organized with friendly volunteers and people ready to answer any questions you had.  It had a mini-expo feel to it as there were also vendor booths, free beer samples and discounts available for the running store it was at.   

Race Start Time
The Half Marathon started at 6:30am and as an early runner, I loved it!  It meant waking up super early, especially since I was car pooling with Smitha and we were getting there early.  But it also meant that I had a fantastic nap that afternoon and I never miss an opportunity for a good nap.  

The Course
The beach is one of my favorite places to run and this course did not disappoint. The views were pretty and even the “ugly” parts of the course were pretty.  It even took me through some parts of the bay/beach that I’ve never explored by foot.  It was also clearly marked and there were volunteers to direct us at all the important turns. 

The Volunteers
I know that a big part of races being successful is the volunteers and they were awesome for this event, from bib pick-up to the finish line.  And the big shout out to the volunteer just after mile 3—spirit fingers and high kicks with shouts of encouragement definitely added a little pep to my step.  

The Swag
From the medal to the post race snacks, they took care of us for the half. I also loved that they have a v-neck shirt for the women's shirt-- I appreciate when races have the different shirts as I am not a fan of the any unisex shirts fit me. (You were able to pick your shirt fit/size in case you do prefer a different fit)

Race Guards
I have said it in previous recaps, but it’s worth repeating.  I love races that use Race Guards.  I feel safer on my run knowing that first aid is readily available should I need it.  During the race, I did see a few injured runners and the response from Race Guards was on point.  A big kudos to all the Race Guards who volunteer their time to make sure the runners have a safe race.  

The Post Race Experience
I don’t often hang out after races, but this way too fun to miss.  There were booths with samples, fun picture opportunities, live music, food trucks and a beer garden.  Fun for the whole family!   

The Brew Dr. Kombucha Samples were so good! 

With so many good things about this race, there were just a few things that I think can be improved upon for next year.  

Aide Stations
The weather in San Diego during May is a little unpredictable and when I saw earlier in the week the expected highs for the coast on race day was 80 degrees, I knew it was going to be a hot race.  I kept my fingers crossed for an overcast morning, but that didn’t happen—there wasn't a cloud in sight.  I know the heat is not a controllable factor, but I definitely felt it.  I do carry my own hydration, but also use the hydration on the course to make sure I will have enough for the entire race.  If I didn’t have my own hydration with me, I wouldn’t have had enough with just relying on the race’s aide stations.  In my opinion, there could have been at least one or two more stations on the course.  There were also a couple stations that were set far back off the course and it was a bit congested as people had to walk off the course to get the water and walk back on after getting their water.  I don’t know if I would feel this way if the weather wasn’t as warm as it was, however I would rather err on the side of having too much hydration than not enough.  

The Course
Yes, above I said that I loved the course, but there were a couple things I didn’t love about it.  Other than the portions run on the road, the course was not closed to the public.  This meant that we were sharing the course with other people out running, walking,  or riding their bikes. This caused quite a bit of congestion at the parts where the course narrowed and it was a safety issue a few times when I saw runners almost hit by people on bikes or have to come to a sudden stop when the walkers in front of them suddenly stopped.  There were a few times I saw people cutting the course and I think this might have been in reaction to getting around the other people out there. I’m glad that people are out enjoying the sites of San Diego and quite frequently I am one of those people so I don’t know what the solution is to this.  I imagine it would be hard to get permits to close an entire beach boardwalk or path.  Maybe next year, they can have a few more volunteers dispersed to help with “traffic control.”  

Race Photographers
This is the first half marathon I've run that hasn't had race photographers. At the very least, I thought I'd see one at the finish line- if this was my first half, I'd definitely want a finish line photo.  With so many pretty views, there was definitely great scenery for awesome running shots.    

UPDATE: The race organizers sent out an e-mail to all the runners and the lack of photographers was not due to the race organizers- the contracted photographers did no show up for the event.  I'm looking forward to seeing if there are any photos of me in the ones that will be made available to us and I appreciate the race's candidness about the situation.  

From the email sent out

With this being the Inaugural year of this event, I wasn’t sure what to expect so I went to into with a very open mind.  Overall I had a lot of fun (even if it didn’t feel like it at the time—I am not a fan of hot weather running and my time definitely showed that) Despite the few things that I feel can be improved upon, I would love to run this race again.  It will be fun to see if they do any type of legacy status for the upcoming years of this event.  

Have you ever run an Inaugural race?  Did you run it again?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

Disclaimer: I received my race entry in exchange for promotion of the event, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Lululemon Test Truck Experience

I don’t own any Lululemon, but I’ve been told by my friends who love the brand that once you try it, you won’t want to wear any other brand. Earlier this year, I heard about their #MoreThanMiles tour that took #TheTestTruck to different cities so that people could do just that- test the Lululemon.  I was excited when I learned it would be coming to San Diego and quickly started following their Facebook page so I could stay up to date on the stops they would be making while they were here.

Setting up the truck.

When a group of friends that run early every Monday morning learned that the truck would be near their normal running spot from 6:00am-8:00am, I decided to join them.  We met up at 4:55am for a short run then came over to the Lululemon Test Truck to get in line.

What is the Test Truck?
It’s exactly what it sounds like—it’s a truck where you get to try out a piece of Lululemon gear.  While you're there, you can also test out a pair of APL shoes which I heard were super comfy and light. (I opted out of the shoe test) 

Source: www.lululemon.com

What Do You Get? 

When we arrived, after getting an brief introduction we were given the options of a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve shirt, shorts or a pair of crops.  (I don't know if the items change at the various stops)   This is when I had an internal debate with myself-- I couldn't decide between the shorts or the crops.  How do you choose when you've heard great things about both?  After giving it some thought I decided that as much as I want to try their shorts, I know that I'm picky when it comes to my running shorts and decided I would get more use out of the crops. (I still want to try their shorts but today the crops won.)  The person helping us was really great about explaining their sizing since it was all new to me and making sure I would be trying on the right size. One we received our item, there was a portable fitting room for us to change that included cubbies for us to store the clothes we were changing out of.  After you changed, another Lululemon expert made sure the fit was right and sent us on our way to the treadmill.  

The Treadmill

I am not a treadmill runner-- I can't even remember the last time I was on a treadmill so I was convinced I would become one of those memes that shows someone flying off the treadmill.  When we entered the truck we were given the option of "walk, jog or run."  After a brief explanation of where I could adjust my speed, the treadmill was started and I was ready for my two minute test.  During the run, you get to watch an inspirational video featuring runners in Lululemon gear.  The two minutes went by quickly, but it was definitely a fun experience.  I was just excited I didn't fall off! 

The Test

When I first put on the Pace Rival crop on, they were comfortable right away.  My legs are longer and I have a shorter torso so I sometimes have fit issues with the rise in crops.  These were perfect and the fit was good-- snug but not tight, just how they should be.  And the side leg pockets are my new favorite thing!  It's hard to give a full review after two minutes so I decided to do another short run on my way home followed by some stretching exercises.  I love these crops-- they were comfortable and I didn't have any issues with them falling down during my run and stretching.  Now I understand my friends who have told me you won't want to wear other brands after trying Lululemon.

Such a great start to the day!

I had a great experience with the Test Truck and think everyone should definitely check it out.  I scored and awesome pair of crops and everyone was so friendly & helpful.  This was the perfect way to experience my first piece of Lululemon gear and I suspect there will be more added in the future.

If you're in San Diego, they will be here until June 4th.  Follow their Facebook page to stay up to date on the locations.  Not in San Diego?  Check out the rest of their tour stops here.

Have you worn Lululemon?  What's your favorite piece of gear?  Have you been to the Test Truck?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

Xterra Black Mountain 15K Recap

Last month, I won a race entry to the Xterra Black Mountain event from Movin Shoes- I was excited to explore a new to me trail and I have heard great things about Xterra events.  To help get ready for the event, a couple weeks prior  the race I joined Movin Shoes at their Hoppy Trails event to do a preview run of the course.  I’m definitely glad I did the preview run—it helped prepare me for race day.

The pre-race communication was good and frequent—they kept us up to date on all the important information, including weather, parking and directions to the start area.  It was recommended that we arrive early for parking—the lot adjacent to the park was a little small, but a shuttle was also available at a nearby school.  I arrived with plenty of time to spare. Check-in and bib pickup were scheduled to start at 7am, but this actually opened early.  I love that they were not only prepared, but they were ahead of schedule.  After getting my bib and shirt, I headed pack to my car to get race ready.  I still had plenty of time so I headed over to the Movin Shoes booth to hang out before the race.  

The Course

The Xterra Black Mountain event has a 5K which started at 8:30am and a 15K which started at 8:00am.  I was running the 15K.  Thirty minutes prior to the first start time, they made some announcements/reminders and before I knew it, we were ready to run.  Since I had recently run the course, I knew what to expect.  The first mile or so was pretty congested but not overwhelmingly so.  There were about 250 runners in the 15K and 150 runners in the 5K.

On the course, there were three aid stations offering both water and Gatorade.  Although I carry my own hydration, I always take some from the aid stations so I can ration mine as needed.  There was also one street crossing with volunteers stopping traffic and directing us across.  The volunteers were so friendly and encouraging.  

Having run this course prior to the race, I knew that I would be dreading the end.  Although the race communications offerer a “fairly flat and fast course,” there are some pretty intense inclines, especially at the end.  But I pushed through and my time was definitely better than it was at the course preview. 

Once we crossed the finish line and received our medal, there was a the post race area offering different treats.  I enjoyed a vegan breakfast burrito and some oranges, as well as a sample of Naked mango protein shake.  I hung out and watched the award ceremony and it was fun—I usually leave right after a race so it was a nice change to see it all.  Because it’s a smaller race, there was definitely a different vibe.    

Overall, I really enjoyed this race.  Although the course is moderately challenging, it also pushes you to be a stronger runner.  All the recent Southern California rains made the views beautiful—the wild flowers were in full force.  The event was organized and everyone I encountered was so friendly. If you ever have the chance to do an Xterra race, you should check it out.  I know I’ll be looking to see what other Xterra events I can add to my calendar.  

What's the most challenging course you’ve run?  Until next time, happy running.  
Jenn13.1