22 miles hurt, thank goodness for taper weeks

Pinch punch first day of the month!

Happy March everyone! March brings lots of good things, like Girl's Day, the Daylight Savings Time (yay more sunlight after work!) and of course, the LA Marathon! (21 days, what what)

Yesterday was the last official LSD run before the big day; all 22 frigggggin miles of it. It was only the third time James and I had run that far/long... and it was as daunting as the first time around. 22 miles. Does that ever become easy, I wonder? :)

Of course, my favorite part about LSD runs is the "carbo-loading." (cough cough chocolate doughnut what? cough cough who me?) For the pre-run dinner, we tried a new variation on a recent favorite food of mine: Polenta. At Trader Joe's, you can get ready-to-eat Polenta for only $1.99, and one of those things is enough to feed a very hungry James and Julia for two meals. (that's a lot of food)

The new variation consisted of Polenta Pizza: rounds of polenta topped with BBQ tri-tip, (James is the grill master) spinach, mushrooms, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, and shredded cheese. Pop it into a 390* oven for 10-15 min and voila: carb heaven.

Sorry for the yucky photo, but it was tastey. He had five, I had three, along with some fried rice.

Pre-run morning breakfast was the usual waffles/banana/coffee spread. Yum.

Ok. On to the run. We finally managed to start a run before 10 AM. Success!
The weather was perfection; clear and cool. (so glad the rains stopped the day before!)

The run consisted of two 11 mile loops. We parked one car at the start/stop/midpoint, and one car at mile 6/16, and stashed it with water/Gatorade/food/food/food.

Miles 1-13 was a blast. Body felt good. And we were having one of the most stimulating conversations ever. The time and miles just flew by. So far so good.

Waffles pit stop at mile 10.5. Yum yum yumminess. Please excuse the gross sweatiness. Yes. I like to eat solid food on runs. Is that weird?

Then all of a sudden, around mile 15/16(?) my right ITB started acting up like a bratty hormonal teenager throwing a tantrum. The pain was sharp. It hurt. It was annoying. It pissed me off. We took a break at mile 16-ish to stretch and re-fuel. I had a Banana Peach Carb Boom! (not my favorite flavor; a little too fake on the banana front, but still enjoyable, kind of like candy) and then James came up with the most genius idea ever. He squeezed his Double Espresso Carb Boom! onto one of the waffles as a topping. ummmmm.... WOW. It was incredible. I make some pretty bomb waffles, and the addition of the Carb Boom! as a topping was just like putting chocolate syrup on it or something. Absolutely delightful. Will definitely be repeating this again. I guess you know you're a runner when you start incorporating energy gels into your diet as an ingredient.

The stretching only helped for a bit. By mile 17.5 it was screaming at me again. I could hardly bend my knee it hurt so much. But for some reason I was just so full of adrenaline. I kept shouting and grunting, and James was so encouraging. The endorphins were racing through my blood. All of a sudden at mile 19, I had this surge of animal instinct to run for it. Just run my little heart out. Who knows where this energy suddenly came from, but it was fast. It was primal. It felt GLORIOUS. All of a sudden there was no pain. Only a desire to run as fast as possible.

After the little sprint was a two mile cool down and this:

I'm doing my best interpretation of "Try not to collapse into one sweaty, painful, miserable lump of flesh on the ground."

Every last step. Finito. Done. Booya.

LA Marathon; bring it on baby!

Though my ITB is tight as a mofo today and my knee still hurts, I know it's nothing some Ibuprofen and a lot of foam rolling, and 21 days can't take care of. I feel confident I'll be fine. LA: I am ready for you.

A huge shout out to my dad who completed the Tokyo Marathon this weekend!

Have a splendid week everyone!

Back from the dead

is how I feel today.
Still some fatigue in the legs, yes. But I have come to live with that by now :)
But my body, my energy levels, and my spirits are feeling a bajillion times better today.

Last week was a brutal week for me: I was just feeling fatigued beyond repair, weak, unmotivated, and just generally off. And after reading Frayed Laces and Yasi from NJ Training write about overtraining, I knew I had reached beyond my threshold as well. With the LA marathon less than a month away, I knew I didn't want to risk the "big prize" by "having" to squeeze in that one lifting session or whatever. As the saying goes; I'm looking at the forest and not the trees. (image source)

So I took it easy. Just some walking to enjoy the fresh air. And ate some good quality nutrition, not like the Apple Fritter junk that I love so much and eat so much of. Spinach, brown rice, polenta, chicken, and some really yummy bread. And got a lot of sleep. Bingo. Winner winner chicken dinner.
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Saturday's run was a "recovery run" of 13-14 miles. It sounded really easy in theory, and I wasn't worried about it at all.... except for the fact that I was just so DARNED tired! But reminding myself it was all over in a mere two hours was pretty good motivation to git er done.

It was a clear and gorgeous day, temps in the mid 60s, lots of smiling people out exercising.... and WINDY. Holy crap.

Miles 0-0.5: All downhill. Best way ever to start off a run. But oh shiza! My right pififormis hurts! Dang pinched nerve! I thought I was done with you!
Mile 0.5-1: More downhill, but less steep. No more ass pain. Phew.
Mile 1-4.5: All good. Energy levels still at full tank. Wind is on our back. No wonder the run feels "easy". Shoes are feeling good!
Mile 4.5: turn around point. Take a quick break so James can eat his Carb Boom! He had the Vanilla Orange Flavor and he really enjoyed it. I've had this flavor before too, and again, I have to say, Carb Boom! has made me an energy gel convert. Not only is the flavor far superior to Gu's, the texture is a million time better, imo. Gu has these tiny little gritty bits that remain in my mouth. This creeps me out. I mean... it's a gel. WTF are gritty things doing in my gel? I mean, the whole definition of a gel is that it's a soft solid/liquid. No grits in my gel please! :) Vanilla Orange tastes like an orange creamsicle btw. Yummmm.
Miles 4.5-6.5: Holy Moly Wind! WIND! And now it's not pushing me forward! I try to draft behind James as much as possible (he's 6'4 and makes for a pretty good wind blocker), but oh dang the wind. The funny thing is, I was so pissed off at the wind that my pace was actually faster. Anger=speed.
Mile 6.5: OMG I am sooooo tired. 6.5 miles usually means nothing to me, but I was just so dang tired. I could tell, cause my heart was pounding like I just sprinted or something. I actually had to take a break and actually sit down. Shit. What weak sauce, right? I decided I needed some nutrition. I take half of my Carb Boom! Strawberry Kiwi gel. Yummmmmmmmmm. Just what I needed. Washed it down with my Gatorade Fruit Punch/Coconut water mixture. (Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds)
Mile 6.5-8.5: Wind wind wind wind wind. Eff.
Mile 8.5: I have to stop again. Eff. Take the other half of my Carb Boom! gel. Yummmm
Mile 8.5-11.5: Ahhh. Going with the wind again. Much better. Pace picks up a little. However, left ankle is starting to hurt. WTF. Roll it out. Roll it out.
Mile 11.5 -13: Oh shit. ITB pain in both knees. Piriformis pain in the right, and ankle pain in the left. Experience one shooting pain. Oh shit. This is exactly what happened at this point in my last marathon training cycle. shit shit shit. Slow down the pace. eff. Pain goes away. Look down at Garmin. Oh shit. Hadn't slowed down the pace at all. Well, that's cool I guess. I was going fast even though I thought I was going slow. I'll take it :)
Mile 13-13.5: Second wind. WTF. A little late for that don't you think? All of a sudden feel like I can go forever! But decide against it and stop. aaaaaaaaaand another one bites the dust.

It was a pretty pathetic run cause I had to stop so many times. I seriously felt like I was running on empty the entire time, even though I had eaten a breakfast worthy of a 20 miler. My body was just screaming at me to take a break. A real break. I decided then that I would have to make Sunday a rest day. Which was actually perfect, cause I was busy all day on Sun and wouldn't have had time to exercise anyway.
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So now with three "recovery" days last week, I am feeling much better. And with a 22 miler coming up this weekend, and the marathon in less than a month, I am going to try to take it a wee bit easier than I usually do. "Taking it easy" on my workouts is a lot harder for me than it sounds, because usually the adrenaline kicks in, and I go at an 80-100% effort most days. Sometimes multiple times a day. So STOP! Rest is good. Rest is necessary. Rest is my friend.
Repeat with me my friends: Rest is not the enemy :)

So I hope you all have a lovely week ahead!

I hope to debut a "new look" I acquired last week.... not to keep you anxious and waiting or anything! :)

Adios my friends!

Feature Friday: Asics Gel-Nimbus 11 Shoe Review

Fridays always call for a celebration. Every week, I welcome in the weekend by starting off on the right foot: Fritter Fridays. Most Fridays start off with a quick trip to the local bakery for a fresh, crisp, sickeningly sweet Apple Fritter. Healthy; No, Happy; Yes :) Do you have any weekly rituals?

My weekly ritual does not usually include two rest days, but after the 20 miler on Sunday and the triple workout on Monday, I have been t-i-r-e-d. (I did manage an hour of walking) I waged an epic battle with gravity yesterday; I fought and fought; and after much slothing around in the sheets, gravity was too much of a formidable force to overcome. I passed out by 9PM and got 9.5 hours of sleep. Epic indeed.
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Today's Feature Friday is a little different, since I am doing a shoe review!
Back in October, I was very fortunate and won a contest over at OnlineShoes.com, and received a free pair of Asics kicks. I love me some shoes! (BTW, OnlineShoes.com is quickly becoming my favorite place to buy shoes, since in my small-ass town, it's hard to find sneakers with the right size/color/fit)

After much hair-pulling and head-scratching (too many choices!) I decided on this lovely gem:

Asics Gel-Nimbus 11

(Image source)

I've put just shy of 100 miles on these puppies, and I must say they are quickly becoming one of my favorite long distance shoes.

These are actually the first pair of Asics I have ever worn. My first impression of these shoes was that they are quite bulky/big for running shoes. However, they are unbelievably light! How do they do it?

The fit is nice and snug. My feet literally feel like they are standing atop a big marshmallow. I don't have that feeling like I'm so close to the ground, like in my Mizuno Elixirs.

According to the Asics website:

The cushioning and stability of this hugely popular trainer is even better this year, with the addition of a new comfort-centric lightweight upper.

The cushioning is the feature that stands out the most to me. I have found that many "neutral" shoes feel kind of flat and un-supportive. I have just the slightest overpronation in my left foot, so the amount of cushioning helps on the 13+mile runs.

The longest I've been in these shoes is 18 miles, and it provided enough support for each and every step. Despite all this amazing cushioning, these shoes really are light. Seriously. Technology never fails to amaze me. My Nike Pegasus shoes do not have nearly the same amount of cushioning, and I can definitely tell by the end of the run.

Other features of this shoe include an anatomically correct lacing system, an anti-microbial sockliner, and gender specific forefoot cushioning.

One thing to note though, is that I think this particular shoe comes up pretty high around the ankles; more so than any of my other shoes. At first, I thought the height would bother me, but I've gotten used to them, and I don't notice it anymore. But depending on where your ankle bulges out, this shoe must rub that ankle protrusion bone, FYI.

They have other cute colors too, like this one I REALLY wanted, but alas they did not have that color available in my size at the time. But hey, who's complaining? beggars can't be choosers, and a new pair of shoes is SUPER DUPER CHILL no matter the color :)

Because of the thickness/cushiness, I wouldn't use this shoe for racing, short distances, or speed work. But for those LSDs, these babies work great. I still haven't decided if I'll wear these or the Nike shoes for the LA Marathon, but I'll take both of them with me. (OMG only 30 days away!!!) I'll for shizzle be wearing these on my 14 miler tomorrow.
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So I'm still going to wage war with gravity and the dead/lead/heavy feeling in my body. I have a 14 miler to bust through tomorrow! I can't believe how "short" a distance 14 miles sounds like now. I mean, compared to 20, 22, 26 miles.... 14 miles is, as we say in Japanese, "Asa-meshi-mae". (Literal Translation: Before Breakfast. Meaning: Something is so easy/no-brainer, you can do it before breakfast) There you go. Your language lesson of the day :)

Have a super duper terrific weekend, and I promise I'll be back with a more regular posting schedule, and will make my way around all your guys' awesome blogs too! This week has been extra busy!

Thanks and Adios ladies and gents :)

Carb Boom! and Honey Stinger Energy Chews Review Time

Happy Tuesday! Thank you so much for the encouraging words yesterday regarding my craptastic run this weekend. To know that I'm not the only one who has horrid runs, to know that bad runs are followed by good ones, and to hear your coping strategies is invaluable to me. So thanks for lifting my spirits!

And now onto some fun stuff: It is product review time here over at Chocolate Shoestrings

One redeeming thing about the above mentioned run was that I got to try out two (new to me) nutrition products. To my pleasant surprise, both were so good, I think they are going to dethrone my current favorite; Clif Shot Blocks!

I found both of these products at my local bike shop, btw. I haven't seen them anywhere else.... but that's probably because I live in a small town!

Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews in Pomegranate Passion

Dang. I really like these little suckers! So tastey! Clif Shot blocks are in immediate danger of being overthrown as my top running nutrition.

These chews from Honey Stinger are, according to the website, a "natural energy gel made from a combination of pure Honey, pure water, Salt, Potassium Citrate and Vitamin B Complex." They contain an "ideal balance of carbohydrates for optimal performance before, during and after training. A near 50/50 Fructose - Glucose ratio gives ideal levels of glycogen to muscles and liver." Sounds good to me!

The guy at the bike shop explained to me that since it's made from honey, the sugars get absorbed into the body quicker, thus resulting in a faster energy boost. Who knows how accurate "bike shop dude" is, but I know honey's good for you, so I gave it a shot. And I'm glad I did!

Each chew is a little smaller than the Clif Shot Blocks, and are circular in shape. There are 10 pieces in each bag.

Taste: Delicious. Not too sweet, not too tart. No "fake" and icky aftertaste, just a nice, fruity burst of happiness right around mile 8 :)

Texture: Very easy to chew and swallow. Since each piece is smaller than the Clif Shot blocks, I found it easier and quicker to chew these Honey Stinger ones. Sometimes, I struggle with the Shot Blocks; I can't chew them small enough while running, and end up swallowing big chunks. And I know that will cause my body to digest/use it slower. So I think the Honey Stinger chews are superior in this aspect.

Verdict: I couldn't tell if Honey Stinger worked any "faster" than the Clif Shot Blocks, but all I know is that I'm headed back to the bike shop today to buy some more for the long run this weekend.

Nutrition at a glance: Serving size of 10 pieces (1 bag)
160 calories, 0g fat, 80mg sodium, 40mg potassium, 39g total carbs, 1g fiber, 24g sugar, 1g protein, 100% Vitamin C

Honey Stinger also offers energy gels, protein bars, energy bars.... and flavors galore! I am interested in trying the Cherry Blossom Energy Chews next. All the products are available on their website, and the chews go for $1.99/pack or $22.50 for a box of 12. I might have to invest in a box :)

Carb Boom! Energy Gel in Apple Cinnamon
I have been weary of energy gels ever since I had a bad experience early on in my training. (ie puke) However, I was getting tired of stuffing my pockets with countless Clif Shot Blocks. You need to eat a lot of Shot Blocks to get the same amount of calories as one Gel Packet. I don't know why I got inspired to try a gel again, but I did. And I'm glad I did!

Carb Boom! Sports Nutrition is a very new company; started in '08. They have a whole slew of products including energy gels, chews, sports drinks, whey protein, recovery drinks, etc. I tried the energy gel in the apple cinnamon flavor. That is Guppie-chan, my favorite childhood stuffed animal friend :)

The energy gels are all natural, and has a "blend of 22-25g of complex carbohydrates and just 2-4g of simple sugars to maximize energy delivery to working muscles." (according to website) Flavors range from Cranberry Grapefruit to Banana Peach to Chocolate Cherry and much more.

Taste: Wow. Crazy good. It tasted just like dessert! It was much better than the Hammer Apple Cinnamon Gel that made me puke. I actually enjoyed every last drop of this gel. Mmmmmm :)

Texture: Thick. I ate this gel during a quick pit stop at the car, so I wasn't eating and running at the same time. However, I think it will still go down easy even while running. It is smooth though, absolutely no grittiness or lumpiness. It was just like pureed apple pie filling :)

Verdict: I think I have been converted into the ways of the energy gel. I'm serious. This Carb Boom! stuff is delicious. And the best part? No puking! No nausea, no cramps, no "heavy" feeling in my tummy. I'm stocking up on some Carb Boom!s for the remainder of my training cycle.

Nutrition at a glance: 1 packet of Carb Boom! Apple Cinnamon Energy Gel (info from website) You can purchase these gels on the Carb Boom! website, and they are $29.99 for a box of 24, and if you get a second box, the second box is 10% off.

So there you have it folks. I'm excited about my little trip to the bike shop today to try out some bike shorts and buy some more of these yummy nutrition options for my long run this weekend. 18 miles! eeek! The rain had better stop by then! :)

Later gater!

What do YOU think Wednesdays II - Compression Pantyhose

Buenos dias!
We are having thunder and lightning over here....! It's definitely keeping my adrenaline high! I am considering this foul weather as nature's way of getting us even for having had near perfect weather all winter long ;) I just hope it clears up by my long run this weekend!

So for my second installment of What do YOU think Wednesdays, I would like to talk about a line of products very popular in Japan, but haven't really seen in America. (correct me if I'm wrong)

Exhibit A: Compression Pantyhose

I know compression socks are popular amongst runners and other athletes, (I've been very jealous of all the bloggers out there with their fancy compression socks! ;) ) but I have never seen them outside of the context of sports.

The compression socks I have seen in America look, well..... clinical. Though they come in pretty colors like pink, I still think most women would find them unattractive. And Expensive!!!!! (the reason why I don't own a pair yet. Told you I was stingy!)

Enter Japanese Compression Pantyhose and hosiery.

Leave it up to the Japanese to cute-ify even compression/recovery gear!

Slim Walk is one of the leading brands of compression hosiery in Japan. It is widely popular, available everywhere (7-11, drugstores, grocery stores, etc) and cheap!

You can see the whole line up of products here. There's fishnets, stockings, knee highs, black tights, beige tights....you name it. And you gotta admit, it's aesthetically women-friendly.

It was developed with the OL in mind- (Office Ladies) women who spend hours everyday at their desks, or commuting, or walking around. It's designed to minimize the swelling of the calves, prevent discomfort, make your legs look slimmer... all things women desire.

It offers graduated compression just like the American socks. Each pair of socks/stockings is labeled with how much pressure it offers, and ranges from 13 hPa - 30 hPa. And it's CHEAP! Prices range from $13-$20.

I picked up this pair on my recent trip to Japan:
Slim Walk Compression Socks. The toes are cut off, apparently, for comfort. It offers 25hPa of pressure around the ankle, and around 17hPa as it moves up the calf. It cost me about $15.

Here's how they look on my legs.

Well you are all probably wondering....... Do they work?

Keep in mind that I have nothing to compare it to, but yes. It works.
I wear it at home after work when I'm just puttsing around, I wear it after I work out, I wear it when I feel tired, or when I feel like I might swell up again. (My calves have a tendency to BLOAT). I usually remove the socks after a few hours, and each time, my calves have felt really good. It's not a miracle cure to my swelling of course, but it has definitely kept it under control.

I can see how beneficial the full length compression pantyhose would be to women who need to wear heels everyday, or be on their feet all day. I especially love how the boxes are marked with exactly how much pressure is provided. I looked at American products, and none of them disclose how much pressure it offers.

So now comes the fun part: What do YOU think?

• Would you ever want to wear compression hosiery? Or do you know someone who might benefit from such a product?
• What do you think about the Slim Walk Line Up, aesthetically speaking?
• If such products were imported and sold in USA, would you buy it?
  
• Would there be a way to make these products dude-friendly?
  

I'm really looking forward to hearing your thoughts! I know this is a female-centric product, but I would love to hear men's perspectives as well. Or you could just offer up some thoughts about compression gear in general. Have you ever tried any compression products?

Thanks for all your amazing insight! Hope your day is truly Humpalicious!

O.N.E. Coconut Water: A Review of Nature's Sports Drink

Good morning cyberspace and blog land! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. And you know what the best part about this week is? It's a three-day weekend followed by a four-day work week! "Three-Day Weekend" - - ahhh like music to my ears.

A while ago, after I wrote about how I love drinking coconut water on my long runs,(click here) lovely Lucy from O.N.E Coconut Water generously offered to send me three different kinds coconut water to test out on my runs. Woohoo! Thank you so much Lucy!

~Check out the cute t-shirt too~

I have now had the chance to test out O.N.E Coconut Water on two long runs. But before we get much further, what is coconut water?

Coconut Water:
(According to their website:)

Coconut water is different from coconut milk, the white, creamy liquid used in pina coladas and curries and stuff. Yuck. I would NOT want to be guzzling coconut milk on a 16 miler! ick!

Coconut water is the water inside of a young green coconut that is extracted before the white meat grows. Since the water is filtered out before the meat grows, it has none of the fat coconut milk/coconut flakes have. That's why the plain coconut water is a mostly clear color.

Why Coconut Water on Long Runs?
We all know hydration and electrolytes are VERY important on long runs.
Coconut water is great because

• 100% natural
• has 5 important electrolytes:calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and sodium
• No preservatives
• Naturally sweet and low calorie (60 calories per 11 fluid ounces)
  
• It is a natural isotonic beverage and "contains a similar level of electrolytes found in human blood"
• Rich in potassium; and potassium helps with cramping and other non-fun things
• non-allergenic
• Apparently, it can even aid in dissolving kidney stones! (unrelated to running I know, but you never know when this kind of info can come in handy!)

Basically, I like to think of coconut water as Nature's Sports Drink.
Nutrition facts: Per one 11 fluid ounce serving:
60 calories, 0g fat, 0g cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 670mg potassium, 15g carbs, 14g sugars, 1g protein, 40mg calcium, 17mg phosphorous, 25mg magnesium.
Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water

So.... what do I think?
I think O.N.E Coconut Water tastes fabulous! When you first taste the plain coconut water, you might be surprised to discover it tastes nothing like what you expect. It doesn't taste like what you think stereotypical coconuts taste like. It's not rich, creamy, or tropical tasting. It tastes more like a light sports drink. I think if I had to compare it to anything, it would be like a watery white Gatorade flavor, but without that chemical, fake aftertaste.

When running, I will either add two coconut water packs into my handheld bottle, or dilute one pack with cold water. I really enjoy the light, refreshing taste of coconut water, and prefer it over the plethora of other drinks I have tried. It has this nice, natural sweetness that for me, is just right. I also find it has less of an aftertaste than other sports drinks.

I also got to try the Guava flavored Coconut Water and the Passion Fruit Coconut Water.
The Guava Flavor is my absolute favorite!
I've always had a soft spot for guava juice, so no surprise that I LOVED it. The Guava flavor is sweeter than the plain flavor, so it does leave more of a sugary aftertaste than the plain one. One way to prevent this is to dilute it with water, or mix one guava flavor with one plain flavor. Whatever floats your boat :) I put two guavas in my handheld for my 10 miler this weekend (see photo to the left), and I looked forward to every single sip!

The passion fruit was equally tastey, but for running, I think I prefer either the plain or the guava. But I might just be biased about the whole guava thing. ;)

The only downside to coconut water for me, is the price. It definitely is more costly than giant bottles of Gatorade you can buy for a buck. So I usually end up diluting coconut water with strawberry-kiwi flavored Gatorade or water.

O.N.E the Company:
I was impressed to learn that O.N.E grows their own coconuts and own all their plantations so they can guarantee the quality of the products, as opposed to other brands who purchase coconuts on the open market. I was also impressed to learn that O.N.E is making efforts towards sustainability by supporting non-profit organizations like the Brazil Foundation and Healthy Child Healthy World.

O.N.E also sells Amazon Acai drinks, Coffee Fruit Drinks, and Cashew Fruit drinks. They all seem curious and intriguing to me, but I have never tried them nor seen them. I wonder what a cashew fruit drink is? (you can check it out on the website)

I recently created a "My Favorite Products: Products I couldn't run without" page, and coconut water is definitly one of those products :)

Again, I would like to thank Lucy from O.N.E One Natural Experience for this opportunity to review their products. I will be continuing to run with coconut water for my next training cycle :)

What's your favorite hydration product?

Finally! A shoe review!

But before I begin.....

It's Friday the 13th!!!
And to me, this meant that I needed to go to the bakery for an apple fritter for breakfast.
Hey. Life is uncertain. Eat Dessert First.
Oh, and interestingly enough, "Dessert s" is "Stressed" spelled backwards. Ahhh, nifty, huh? :)

I think I'll spare you the "OMG, woe is me", "my knee hurts and my life sucks", and "wtf does my knee have to hurt now?" stories. (you probably get the gist). And did I mention that I have a 22 miler tomorrow? This should get really interesting, to say the least. At least I finally bought myself a foam roller yesterday, so that should help with some of the pain (keeping my fingers crossed).

So. Here's is my super delayed review of the Nike Air Pegasus+ 26.

Bottom line; I really like this shoe. I like how it looks, and I like how it feels. It's light for a big-looking shoe. It's put me through the 4 longest runs of my life so far without any trouble, and it worked great right out of the box. (The white+turquoise color would have been my second choice color)

To be honest, at first I didn't believe that Nike made legit running shoes. I was looking at Mizunos, Sauconys and Asics. But more than a couple of people and a couple of sources recommended the Pegasus, so when I found a pair I tried them on on a whim.

Wow. They fit perfect.

I actually had to go to three different stores to find my size. Who knew 9.5 was such a popular size?

Anyway, here is the review.




I'm hoping to sharpen my video skills to make these videos more fun. I think I'll start with better lighting and not looking at 14 thousand different directions. haha. I like doing these videos, so you'll probably see some more on here soon!

In other news, I am working to add some more interesting things to my blog, such as an "About Me" page. It'll take me a while to navigate the blog thing, but it's in the works!

Also, I moved locations within my office. I used to sit in a back corner where I could blog and comment on everyone's blogs whenever I wanted, but now I sit right smack in the middle of traffic, and blogging/commenting has gotten 100 times more difficult. So I just wanted to say I'm still reading! (but I still can't find a good way to comment inconspicuously). I hope you continue to read mine too! :)

Muchos gracias, and have a safe Friday the thirteenth!

oh man, was that a black cat I just saw....???? :)

SPIbelt Review time!

I haven't done one of these in a while....
Chocolate Shoestrings Video Review Time!

Ok I know you're so totally excited as I am :)

This time I am reviewing the SPIbelt.



Sorry if the motions and sound don't match up perfectly. I have no idea why it's doing that.

But the fact remains that the SPIbelt is pretty darned cool. I know there are a lot of other fanny pack type products out there, but I think the Spibelt reigns supreme. I mean, this thing was invented by this girl who's a personal trainer, and I just love stories about young women entrepreneurs. Totally inspiring.

image from spibelt.com

I think I pretty much summed it up in the video, but I didn't mention that SPIbelts come in different sizes as well as different colors. You can get a dual pocket belt, a belt with a inner pocket, etc. The website even lets you customize your belt. How baller is that? There's one with a "26.2" logo on it too!

To reiterate, I think the SPIbelt rocks. I wasn't expecting it to be so stretchy and so comfortable. This belt will come in handy especially on those long runs when you need to carry a whole bunch of nutrition with you. It's also fun for races when you want to have a phone or a camera on you. I bet you could even carry your dog in there if he gets tired halfway through the run.

...ok that's probably a stretch, haha, but you know what I mean :)

What kind of bag/carrying device do you/have you used? Are there any other ones you would recommend? Please do share your experience!

And coming soon... a much belated Nike Pegasus shoe review.

Cheers!

A Thong Review

Oh no, ew! Not that kind of a thong! Get your dirty mind out of the gutter!

I'm talking about thong sandals, silly rabbit! You know... flip flops?! :)

Thank you to all the amazing bloggers out there for the valuable suggestions on supportive flip flops. With your recommendations, I finally dragged my stingy a$ to the REI store to replace my Havianas.

So what are my lucky feet wearing these days?

The Keen Bree Thong!

You can visit the Keen website here.

I immediately knew that I wanted these flip flops as soon as my feet slipped into them. What makes this sandal special is the superb cushioning. According to the website, the cushioning is a "blend of recycled PU, cork and memory foam that contours to feet and adjusts to give you the cushioning you need throughout your day." It's soft, cushy, and provides ample support for my arches.

To me, the arch support is the most vital aspect of this sandal. Sure, my pink Havianas are cute, but the thin, flat rubber does nothing to support and protect my feet. As my running mileage has crept up, taking good care of my feet has become a big concern of mine, for obvious reasons. And since flip flops are as ubiquitous as palm trees, fake tans and fake boobs in southern CA, I needed to find me a great pair. (A pair of flip flops, you silly goose! NOT a pair of implants! Sheesh! :)

The Keen Bree thong has a nice thick sole, so I think it will last me a long time. And for being the supportive sandal that it is, it's not too heavy at all. I've gone on numerous half hour walks in these slippers, and my feet/legs do not hurt at all. They have not given me any blisters either. No breaking in required.

Pros:

• Very supportive and the cushioning is extremely comfortable .
• Comes in many cute colors: Black, Carribean Sea, Inca Gold, Amaranth, and Oak Street
• Doesn't look too "grandma", like other supportive sandals
• Made of durable leather
• Non-marking rubber outsole
• My black color matches with any outfit
  

Cons:

• $$ Pricey. Suggested retail is $75. I got mine on sale for $49.99
• They run a little bit narrow

I don't have any other complaints with the sandals. They are comfy, and I am loving it! And I am stoked I will have a nice pair of flip flops to wear in Hawai'i! (Or slippers, as they're called over there) Again, thank you so much for helping me choose such a great pair!

In other Chocolate Shoestrings news, I finally have presentable hair now. Over the weekend, I dyed my hair a dark brown, and last night I gave myself a hair cut.

Yup. You read that right. I cut my own hair. I know that may sound shocking to some, but that is how cheap I am. I just cannot justify spending hundreds of $ and wasting a whole 2 hours at the salon. (I mean, it cuts into my training time!) I've been dying my own hair now for quite a while, and I've had good luck with all the brands and products I've tried. As for the cut, I just took a pair of scissors and went to town on it. I thinned out my hair and took off a good two inches. And I love it! My head feels so much lighter, and my ponytails are much more manageable (important for those runs!). And the best thing is, it was absolutely free and it only took me 10 minutes! Yippee! I'm quite proud of myself and just had to share :)

Haha. Ok. Hopefully I will have some more exciting running news to share with you all tomorrow. But in the meantime, have a splendid Wednesday! It's 09/09/09 today, so don't forget to make a special wish! (like a new PR, perhaps?)

I need to put my brain on a leash...

Because I keep forgetting to bring it with me. Yesterday, I was locked out of my house for an hour after work, because I forgot that my keys were still in my running pants from Sunday. I can usually climb through my window, but of course, I had locked it. When I finally got into the house an hour later, I realized I had forgotten to even close my bedroom door. Today, I was gonna take pictures during my lunch break, but whaddayaknow, I forgot my camera. I don't know why I am so scatterbrained! I seriously think I am losing my marbles.

Come back brain, I kinda need you!

Maybe I should wear a hat all day and make sure my brain is securely locked into place.

Moving on... till my brain leaves me stranded again.

I want to share my thoughts on my newest addition to my running family:

The Nathan Quickdraw Plus Handheld 22 ounce Bottle Carrier!

Isn't she pretty? (image source)

I got this bottle a few weeks ago from Amazon for around $15. (They now are about $17; I think I got it while it was on sale). I actually wanted a blue one, but for some reason, the pink one was about 5 bucks cheaper, so I went with the stingy/frugal/cheapo option, haha.

My thoughts: I am surprised at how snugly this bottle fits in my hand! The strap that goes around your hand (on the left side of this photo) is adjustable, and is made of a mesh material that is padded, so it feels comfortable on your hand. I've tried other options at the running store, but none of them had the same sort of padding and thus was not as comfortable/snug. I like the cushion-y feel this bottle provides.

Even when the bottle is full, I didn't really need to "grip" the bottle, so my hands do not get tired on runs. I've taken this bottle with me on two 12+ milers and one 6 miler, and it has been working well. I used to just carry a normal water bottle, but my hands and shoulders would get really tired from gripping it so hard. This bottle does not give me that problem. It's even easy to take this Nathan bottle off your hand and slip it onto the other hand mid-run if you need to.

The pocket zips closed to securely hold a few key items. I can fit my bulky car key in there along with 3-5 shot blocks. I can also fit my cell phone in there, but if I do, nothing else will fit. I usually don't run with a cell phone, so that's not such a big deal to me. I carry my Shot Blocks in there, and I have found it very easy to open the zipper and grab a block to eat without having to stop running.

Summary:
Pros:

• Cheap
• Doesn't make my hands/arms/shoulders tired
• Cushion-y feel, very comfortable, smooth
• Can hold a few key items (shot blocks, Gus, keys, etc)
  
• Gets lighter the more you drink! (Duh! but it wasn't so obvious to me at the start lol)
  
• You can detach the bottle from the straps
• I like the way it looks
• More snug than the other options at the running store
  

Cons:

• Can only hold 22 ounces; on longer runs you will need more water!
• The straps will need to be washed, because it will start to stink like sweat
• It got slightly deformed in the dishwasher, so I think it needs to be hand washed
• It has a "sport bottle top," so you need to use both hands to drink from it; unless you can run, lift that top yellow part up with your teeth, and drink at the same time. I'm not that coordinated.
• If you make the strap too tight, your fingers will get all tingly

Overall, I really like this bottle, and will continue to use it. I don't think I'll want to switch to another brand/another model. It works well for me. I think once I get to the point where I need more water, I will get a camelbak, or just hide some water bottles along the route. Maybe one day I'll get one of those belt thingies, but they just look really cumbersome to me, and I'm afraid they'll make my hips look gigantor! haha.

What kind of hydration equipment/methods do you use?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight I'm so amped on the Gregory Isaacs Concert. I loooove me some reggae music! There's a whole bunch of places in town that honor "Reggae Tuesdays," which I absolutely love. There are some great musicians who come through SB.
I'm kind of scared to be up so late (I am SUCH a grandma....) but have been looking forward to this for a while, so I gotta bring out my inner 24 year old back :)
7 mile run + Reggae Tuesday=should be a good one!
Here's some Gregory for ya:


Thanks for reading and happy running

Endurance Sports Nutrition Book Giveaway Time!

I woke up at the worst possible time today. I was dreaming about eating a mucho delicioso piece of cake. It was right in front of me, I had the fork in my hand, and I had just cut off a piece. Right as I was about to take a bite of delicious heavenliness, "BEEEEEP! BEEEEP! BEEEEP!" and I was shaken awake by that god-awful sound. My cake.....!!!!!!! Oh well. Maybe I'll get to actually take a bite tonight in my dream, lol.

Thank you for all the good luck wishes yesterday. Unfortunately, I don't have the good news I was hoping to have. It was pretty clear to me that this postition was not the right match for me. I was actually very proud of how I handled the questions, and I can't really think of anything that I would have said or done better. It just did not seem like the right fit for me at this moment in time. Not gonna lie, I am super disappointed. I saw it going down differently in my head, and yeah, I may have shed a tear or two. But I know the right opportunity will come across at the right place at the right time. It was a great learning experience for me.
Deep breath in, sigh. Deep breath in, sigh.
You live and you learn, right? Today is a new day with new potential.

And speaking of potential, let's move onto the fun portion of this post; the potential to boost your endurance power with proper nutrition!

I am so lucky to have won a few blog giveaways in the last month. To keep the good blog karma going, I am very excited to have my very first giveaway! One lucky winner will receive, courtesy of moi, a book that I have found very helpful:

Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes by Monique Ryan (Velo Press)

As you know, performance and nutrition go hand in hand. And as you also know, I have been struggling with my nutrition (oh cookies... I miss you! xoxo, Julia) I picked up this book on Amazon.com, because it had great reviews.

I have found this book to be very informative and very helpful. There is minimal "fluff" information, and is packed with directly useful tips and charts. The author does a fantastic job of providing enough scientific information to back up her claims, which is important to me.

She breaks down exactly how many grams of carbs, fats, protein, and water you need for varying intensities/durations of workouts. For example, your nutritional needs are different for a 60 min intense workout day, a 90 min moderate intensity day, a couple hours low intensity day, etc. This helped me realize that I was not eating nearly enough protein, and WAAAAY too much fat, and too many calories in general. I actually made an excel spreadsheet using her information, and planned out meals and snacks that would provide the right nutrients at the right time. This information has been invaluable.

Her chapter on hydration was also very illuminating to me, as I always forget to drink enough water! She does a good job explaining how much liquid you need at different points throughout the workout and throughout the day. She also breaks down what kinds of electrolytes you need. Very useful information, esp since it's summer and I'm sure we're all running in the heat.

She also has chapters specific to running, cycling, swimming, rowing, triathlons, and adventure racing. So no matter which sport or sports you participate in, I am sure you will find some useful information in here.

I found the charts comparing carb contents of foods, different gus/gels/sports drinks, sample meal plans, and meal timing to be extremely helpful.

I have used this book, and though my diet has made leaps and bounds of improvement. Though it's not super great by any means, I definitely have noticed a difference in performance by adding in more protein, and cutting back on fat/sugar. I know the more closely I follow her guidelines, the better I could perform, though right now, I am NOT ready to give up my daily sugar fix :)

I think you will find this book a great addition to your training!

So this is how you can enter to win:

1) Leave a comment on this post telling me what nutrition changes helped you perform better
2) Follow my blog
3) List my blog on your blogroll
4) Mention this giveaway on your blog and link back to my post, and then let me know that you did.

That's FOUR chances to win! Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you already follow my blog and/or list me on your blogroll, please leave a separate comment telling me you already do.

This giveaway will end at midnight Pacific Time on Sunday August 9th, and I will announce the winner on Monday.

Happy training!

My knees love CW-X: A running tights review

Have you ever woken up, and been like, dang! how did my body get all twisted up like that while I was asleep? You wake up like some sort of yogi contortionist with your right arm bent backwards and around your back? Well I woke up like that this morning and BOY OH BOY is my right elbow/trapezius in a lot of pain!!! How on earth did I manage to sleep comfortably in such a non-human position???? Craziness.

Thanks everyone, for your kind comments about my new header! And thanks James, for taking the photo!

As you can see in the header, I am wearing a pair of CW-X compression tights. I mentioned before that it's one of my most favoritest running gear, and that I will do a more detailed review, but somehow life got in the way of that. So I would like to finally get around to writing a review, which will also be my first review! How exciting.

The tights I am wearing are called CW-X Stabilyx Tights. CW-X is made by Wacoal Sports Science Corp. Wacoal, as you know, is a Japanese company and also the world's largest manufacturer of intimate apparel. (I remember in Japan, Wacoal is like, Victoria's Secret and Hanes and Fruit of the Loom combined.) According to thier website, CW-X brand is the "world's first truly anatomically-engineered high performance sports apparel," and a study showed that, compared to regular tights, participants wearing CW-X tights showed a lower oxygen usage, indicating a lower energy expenditure, which all translates in to less fatigue.

Less fatigue=I can work out more intensly for a longer period of time= a faster/stronger Julia= PR!

CW-X tights uses a patented CW-X Support Web(TM) technology, which mimics kinesio taping techniques that a PT would use. This means it's basically a built-in support system for your muscles and joints. This support decreases muscle fatigue and focuses power, and the variable compression minimalizes lactic acid build up. The fabric is UBER sweat-whicking and will keep you nice and cool during your runs. CW-X products include tights, bras, and shirts.

As I mentioned, I own the Stabilyx full length tights. When I pinched a nerve in my lower back (completely un-related to running) I was in quite a good bit of discomfort for a while. But I still wanted to run! I asked my dad what he thought of CW-X pants, because he is really into marathons, triathlons, biking, Ironmans, and all that jazz himself. When he said that CW-X sponsored teams win all the races, I was sold. I contacted the company, and they told me that for my symptoms (Lower back, knee and ankle pain), I should go with the Stabilyx tights.

image source

They are VERY TIGHT and quite hard to put on; I have to sing that Chingy song in my head "I bet you had to jump up and down just to put em on, bet you had to wiggle it around just to put em on, bet you had to lay back on the bed just to zip em up..." haha you get the idea. Once the dance is over, they don't actually feel that tight. And I think they make me look Hard-Core, and yet, they look pretty streamlined, and I think they make me look fast! And as far as running tights go, this is pretty flattering, because the subtle grey/black ontrast and the stitching are all strategically placed to minimize the appearance of bulge. It even sucks your tummy in for a sleeker look.

But obviously, I didn't buy them for how sleek they make me look; I bought it for its function.
You probably want to know.... So, does it work?
My answer is an astounding YES! :)

The first time I wore them on a run, I was able to run faster and longer than before. Even when my knees are feeling a little tired/sore/wobbly, these pants keep them snugly locked in place, and I have no problems running. The tightness in the calves keep me fresh even when running uphill. I have been wearing these pants on all runs over 7 miles long so far, and my legs really don't get too fatigued. I mean, yes, of course, they feel tired and tight, that is to be expected. But I think these tights really help my muscles recover faster, and my knees from becoming too wobbly. And even though the material feels thick, it does a superb job of whicking away my sweat and keeping my dry. In fact, they do a much superior job than all my other dri-fit clothes. Once, I had a nasty fall while running. I landed on my knees and elbows and totally tore up the skin on my arms. But the thick CW-X fabric didn't even rip, and I did not lose any skin on my knees. I got pretty bruised up, but they could've been so much worse. I was so thankful for my CW-X!

Honestly, I wish I had more $$ to buy their shirts and more pants so I can rotate them around. Their shirts apparently come with back/shoulder support, which I imagine will feel really good on those 20 mile runs I've got coming up. Their bras look awesomely supportive too, but alas, I have no need for them, as my girlies could even potentially go bra-less. (tear rolls down my cheek....haha) They are kind of expensive, not gonna lie, but if you have any sort of knee pain, or just want to recover faster, I would definitely look into getting a pair of CW-X pants. They've got ones to keep you ventilated in the summer, insulated in the winter, shorts, capris, you name it. Go check it out!

Wow this review is getting long, and probably quite boring. Thanks for being good sports and for reading it anyways! :)

Today I have my 4X1200 at a sub 8 minute mile pace. I am going to stick to the tready for now till I get a better "feel" for what my pace is supposed be like. I want my body to kind of "learn" the pace. Wish me luck!

Happy Tuesday, and have a great one!

Running milestones and shoe "review"

GOOD MORNING runners!

It is Monday once again, but hey, only 5 more days till the weekend!
Today marks the beginning of my marathon training. It's not really all that exciting though, cause today is my rest day. I will do a more thorough description of my plan tomorrow, when there's something to actually talk about.

On Friday, I did a 5 mile run which I hated. I was THISCLOSE to quitting at mile 1.5. I thought, if I just make it to 2.5 miles I can quit, but toughed it out for all planned 5 miles.

On Saturday, I did a 45 min swim. Swimming is so difficult to me! I really don't know how to get in a rhythm and breathe smoothly. Right now, each breathe feels like a battle. I think I'm gonna have to hit up YouTube for some swim lessons. Lol.

Saturday afternoon, we hit up the French Festival. Bonjour! It was a really fun festival with TONS of great bread, crepes, and of course, SNAILS! James tried escargot for the first time. It was my second time trying snails, and we both agreed that though the sauce was delish, we did NOT like the texture nor the idea that we were chewing snails. What are some of the wierdest things you've eaten? I've eaten moose, pig hooves, and pig ears, which are all kinda strange.

Here's me channeling my inner Mona Lisa:
And James enjoying some wine as his head gets chopped off by an overly smiley security guard:
Haha.

On Sunday, I hit my running milestone. I ran 10 miles! Well, it was actually 9.99 miles, but whatev! I've never run that much during training before, and outside of a race. I am very proud of myself for this accomplishment, and thankful for James for sticking out the entire distance with me. WOO! I felt good for most of the run. I was very surprised to discover that I was in a very limited amount of pain. My knees and hips took the ten miles surprisingly well. I think the post-run ibuprofen/ice/stretch combo helped a lot as well. I think another factor that helped is that we kept the pace nice and easy. My max heart rate was 173 or something. I usually run my entire run at above 170, so keeping it in the 150-160 BPM range helped tremendously.

It's hard to think that just a couple of months ago, I could barely run 6 miles! Yay for progress!

Another reason why my run went so well is becasue I had new shoes on! As I mentioned a while back, I won a $75 gift card to OnlineShoes.com from Steve. And I thought I'll jsut talk about them instead of writing about them, to spice things up a bit. So welcome to my first home made video! Please excuse the bushy hair/lack of make-up/lack of idea what on earth I was going to say!

Oh boy. Yeah its kinda embarrassing.... :)
Haha. Anyways, Muchos Gracias Steve and onlineshoes.com for my super fly new sneakers!!!!

Have a great day, everyone!
PS- If you love popcorn, head on over to Jacksons World for a giveaway