5k Foam Fest Recap {includes a discount code}

Tags

Race, Racing, Review, Running

Disclaimer: I was offered a free Bib from the Foam Fest in exchange for sharing my thoughts on this race. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts are my own. 

I was so excited to have the chance to do another “fun run” this year, and while I love half marathons and more serious races, I feel like it adds some fun to training to have these types of runs too. I was supposed to do the race with Melissa, but she was sick, so I ended up going alone. I was really excited for this race, as they claim it’s “filthy clean”- a good mixture of mud and foam! The race website suggested getting to the venue an hour early for check in, so that’s what I did. I ended up not needing so much time at all, but in later waves (yes- you get to choose what wave you want to run in, which helped the lines at obstacles be nice and short) I saw a much longer line for registration. Just a head’s up! I turned in my waiver, left my stuff at gear check, and headed to the starting line. I started talking to 3 other women, and when they found out I was there alone, they invited me to run the course with them! One of them had even run the Indy Women’s Half the weekend before too!

The first part of the course started in the woods, climbing through webs of ropes, down trails, and up and down little hills. This was the first time I’ve ever thought that I might actually really enjoy trail running. Once we popped out of the woods, we hit the first Foam and Mud pit. The ground was really slippery due to the mix of mud and and foam. They had inflatable balls hitting you as you ran through, making it even more difficult to keep balance!

Seriously- doesn’t that look like fun?

From that point on we ran most of the race on the sides of a soybean field, which meant the ground was uneven. Some places in the fields were so uneven that we had to slowly walk so we didn’t twist an ankle. This was a little frustrating as it would’ve been fun to run a bit more of it! The most crazy obstacle for me was crawling up a rope ladder thing about 20ish feet in the air and then climbing back down. I was totally ungraceful, but it was fun.

This was sort of a huge inflatable slip and slide. It was so long that you had to run the last part of it, which was tough, but so fun.

The end came far too quickly, and I really wished I could run through the course again. The final obstacle was a huge inflatable slide with water on it- I may have yelled a bit on the way down! It was a really fun way to end this great race!

 

Even though I had gotten muddy throughout the race, I had very little left on me by the end, as you can see in the picture above. They had little stations to rinse off too, but I didn’t bother waiting in line for them.

A few suggestions for you: I brought a towel to sit on in the car, which I would strongly encourage you to do. I also brought a bag to put my shoes and socks in, since there was mud still in them. I loved being able to switch to flip flops right away. Bring sunglasses to run in so that spraying water, soap, or mud won’t get in your eyes. I wore contacts and sunglasses and was just fine. My clothes and shoes cleaned up just fine (although I didn’t wear my current pair of racing shoes for the event).

My thoughts on the race: Positives: The race was SO FUN, and I had a great time running. The obstacles were quite a bit of fun, and it was incredibly well organized. There were two places to get water to drink on the course, which was a nice touch. They had all sorts of other activities that you could do after the race too (but obviously had to pay for them). They gave out shirts at the end, and they were great. They had women’s specific shirts that fit really well and were cute! The volunteers were all very nice and helpful too.  Negatives: The entry price was $75, and I would’ve never paid that for this race. It wasn’t $75 worth of fun, for sure, even though I did love the race. I know that lots of people were able to get discounts (the women I ran with got it half price on groupon). Parking was also $10, so the price of the race in total could add up pretty quickly. I had asked a question of Foam Fest via twitter a few days before the race, and didn’t get a response, which was a little disappointing. For post race food they ONLY had pure protein bars, and they have milk and whey in it. For anyone who is lactose intolerant (like I am), vegan, or has a milk allergy, there was no post-race food available. I’d highly suggest the race look into other options that everyone could eat… especially if they’re going to charge $75 for the race. Luckily I had brought other food in the car!

So, overall, the race itself was a LOT of fun, and I really enjoyed the obstacles and getting a chance to play around in the mud. I would definitely consider doing the Foam Fest race again… but wouldn’t pay full price for it! For those of you who’d love to run the race but don’t want to pay full price, use the following code at checkout for a discount (good nationwide): FF3380

Now it’s your turn to share! Have you ever done the Foam Fest before? What fun runs have you done in the past or are wanting to do?

Looking for more ways to connect?

• Connect on twitter @kalolainastar
• Find me on ‘Bloglovin

 

PureLyft Clean Caffeine

Tags

Review

Disclaimer: I was given 2 PureLyft sticks to try out through my affiliation with Sweatpink. All opinions are my own.

I have an interesting relationship with caffeine. I love it and hate it all at once. I’ve seen too many people addicted to caffeine, and want no part of that. That being said, I still drink caffeine an average of 3-4 times a week because I enjoy it and it helps me wake up in the mornings. Since I teach pilates and barre classes early in the morning, and then head to a dimly lit office to counsel all day, sometimes I need an extra pick me up.

That’s where PureLyft could come in for me. I tried it out early on Tuesday morning, deciding to mix it in with straight water. There is no real taste to the caffeine, so you could mix it in with any fluid you’d like. I unpeeled the packaging off the stick, stuck it in the water for about 10 seconds as I stirred, and it was ready to go. The powder dissolved quickly for me, and it felt like I was drinking regular water. I liked the fact that there were vitamins in it as well– a much better start to my day then the sugar laden coffee I often drink (yes- I’m working on it).

The sticks could be stored in your purse, gym bag, while traveling (for all you caffeine addicts this could be HUGELY helpful!), or desk drawer for easy “in a pinch” use!

Would I choose to use these sticks every day- nope! I definitely am not ready to give up my coffee and tea all the time. However, like I said, in a pinch these would work great, and I plan to keep them around for that purpose! You can check out PureLyft at their website or on twitter.

Now it’s your turn to share! What’s your favorite way to consume caffeine?

Looking for more ways to connect?

• Connect on twitter @kalolainastar
• Find me on ‘Bloglovin

 

Notes From A Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally

Tags

2014 Challenge, Book, Review

I’m so excited to share with you all today about my favorite book I’ve read so far in 2014!

I recently finished this book, and immediately want to start reading it again! This is Tsh’s story of her journey to living life more simply and more intentionally. Tsh shares stories of her family’s adventures across the US and traveling and living abroad, and explores what it means to live the intentional life in each of these contexts.

The book is broken down into categories: Food, Work, Education, Travel, and Entertainment, and shares stories and lessons learned throughout each of these.

Of course this is one family’s journey,  so while it might not look the same for each of us, there are lessons that can still be applied in each of our lives. No matter who we are, I think we each struggle in specific ways with living life more simply and intentionally (I know I do!). Life feels chaotic and overwhelming to each of us at points, and sometimes the way that culture is structured or the “demands” that society places on us can make it that much worse. This book definitely got me thinking, and I hope to blog later about some of the changes that I’m making to live the more intentional life!

Another great thing is that each chapter is only a few pages in length most of the time, so it’s easier to pick it up and put it down throughout your day while feeling like you don’t lose your train of thought (hmm- i wonder if that fits in with the “living simply” idea?).

Here’s a “book trailer” to give you a bit more of an idea of what the book is about:

I’d highly recommend that you go out and get this book IMMEDIATELY to read! It’ll be well worth your time, and there are so many fantastic little gems woven throughout that you’ll want to go back and read it over and over again!

Now it’s your turn to share! What’s one way you try to simplify your life a bit? 

Looking for more ways to connect?

• Connect on twitter @kalolainastar
• Find me on ‘Bloglovin

 

I Choose BioSkin

Tags

Injury, Racing, Review, Running

Back in April of 2012 I went to see a sports medicine doctor because I had shin splints. Beyond some PT exercises, he also gave me 2 BioSkin compression sleeves. I decided to give them a try, and they soon become one of my most important running items ever.

Above are some pictures to prove to you that I really love these sleeves: Monumental Half Marathon 2013, Indy Mini 2013, Monumental Half Marathon 2012. I LOVE running in these compression sleeves, and I can tell a huge different when I don’t have them on during a run. I do run occasionally without them, but I don’t like the feeling at all. These sleeves are great quality and have held up perfectly for almost 2 years now!

You can read all about the benefits of compression here. In a nutshell, compression can help with muscle damage (less DOMS later on!), muscle fatigue, helps blood flow from the legs, and can lead to a better and faster recovery.

To me, these compression sleeves are so much more than running though. With POTS, blood can easily pool in the legs (much more than the average person). Between that and overall blood flow issues due to the POTS, I not only can get really dizzy when I exercise, but I get really sore and have a higher likelihood of injury. These compression sleeves are true lifesavers for me. If I know I have to be on my feet for long periods of time (even when not exercising), I wear them to keep proper blood flow. I also wear them often on long car trips and flights, again for healthy blood flow (and to avoid DVT!).

These sleeves come with me on almost every trip and to almost ever race… at least over the last 22 months. If you’re looking for high quality compression sleeves that won’t stretch out or lose their shape, then these are your sleeves. They are definitely worth the investment. I’ll be wearing these sleeves as I train for my 5th half marathon this spring as well!

I love this product so much that I started communicating with BioSkin via twitter in the summer of 2013, and ended up sharing a bit of my story with them. You can check it out here (and share your story with them as well!). I want to mention here that I was in no way asked to write this post, but thought I would share with each of you this product that I truly value (obviously since I’ve been wearing them for 2 years now)! BioSkin has many other products beyond compression sleeves (like foot & ankle braces, knee braches, thigh supports, back braces, and wrist braces). Make sure to check them out!

Now it’s your turn to share! Do you use compression during or after exercise? Have you ever heard of BioSkin before? 

The Hiding Place

Tags

2014 Challenge, Review

Two weeks ago I had a day off work, and had little planned for the day. I knew I wanted to get a bike ride in on my trainer, but that was the only “big thing” on the schedule. I decided to pick up the book The Hiding Place and read a few chapters as my breakfast digested (i made this for breakfast– it was delicious!) before I got onto the trainer. Well, as it happened, it ended up hitting 4 pm and I was just finishing the book. I’ve read it before (although the last time was probably 13+ years ago), but I just couldn’t put it down.

The book is the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family who were living in Amsterdam at the start of World War II. A Christian family, they believed that all people were loved and valuable. As the Nazis took over Holland and began the persecution of the Jews, Corrie ten Boom became a key player in the underground movement to help protect the Jewish people.

She built a secret hiding room in her house, and took in many, many Jews and allowed them to hide in her house. She, along with several family members, ended up being arrested, sent to a prison, and then she and her sister were sent to Ravensbruck, a large concentration camp in Germany.

The faith she held onto and the love and forgiveness she held onto transformed the women in her barracks, and brought joy to a truly horrific place. The rest of the story is pretty cool, but I don’t want to give anything away.

Corrie ten Boom is a truly amazing person, and I enjoyed learning more about her through a report I did on her growing up (she is one of the resiliency role models for me). The Hiding Place is a really awesome book, and I encourage you strongly to pick it up and give it a read. My mom first read it to me in 2nd or 3rd grade, and I’ve loved it ever since. You can go and visit the ten Boom’s house in Amsterdam as well, and see the actual hiding place in person. I love books that are a mix of inspiration, a true story, and something that grips my heart, and this book is certainly that!

Now it’s your turn to share! Have you read The Hiding Place or heard of Corrie ten Boom ever?

Zola Coconut Water

Tags

Exercise, Review

Because I have POTS, hydration has been a very high priority for me as I have to increase fluid intake. Working out makes this even more true, and I hydrate like it’s my job. One thing I’ve found that really does help is coconut water, so when I was offered the opportunity to review Zola Water, I immediately took them up on the offer! While I’ve tried and enjoyed other coconut waters, I was anxious to try a new brand!

Zola sent a cute little package with a few drinks and some sunglasses! Happy Summer:)

I felt a little weird about drinking coconut water with pulp, and really had no idea what to expect. I decided to drink that one first to “get it out of the way”. I had spent 5 o 6 hours spring cleaning, and was anxious for a refreshing drink. I popped open the can and took a sip. The pulp in the drink actually turned out to be small-ish chunks of coconut. The first few times I took a drink it was a little weird, but once I got used to the chunks I actually really enjoyed it! It felt a little more smoothie like (and actually would have worked very well as a base for a smoothie as well!) as I drank it, and I loved it! I drank the original flavored can of coconut water after my last run before my half marathon! It was a hot day and I had to pack after the run. The coconut water was cool and refreshing, and was the perfect drink on which to end a training cycle.

I was also sent a bottle of original Acai juice to try. The juice had a tiny bit of grit to it, but it was hardly noticeable. I love acai flavored drinks, so I was excited to try out this juice. I really did enjoy the juice, but have to say that the coconut water was my favorite part of this package. Coconut water is a great post-exercise drink, especially leading up to these warm summer months! Plus, who doesn’t love a taste of the tropics in the summer?

Now it’s your turn to share! Have you ever tried Coconut water or Acai Juice before? What’s your favorite flavor of coconut water?

Disclosure: I was provided these three drinks free of charge from Zola Water in exchange for a review. No other form of compensation was given. All thoughts are my own. 

Check Out Core Foods!

Tags

Food, Review

Some days I just don’t want to take the time to make breakfast. Sometimes my lunch doesn’t fill me up as much as I hoped it would, and I need a bigger snack than usual before an evening workout. When those times hit, I prefer to grab something like a granola bar. When Core Foods contacted me to do a review through the Sweat Pink Ambassador Program, I was eager to try their product! From the CORE Foods website:

CORE Meals are FRESH portable food. They’re as convenient as packaged products, but they’re not candy, they’re food. Each pack is 4 hours of stable, balanced energy. Grab instead of breakfast when you’re in a rush, or after a workout for a solid recovery.

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? A package arrived on my doorstep with three defender meals and an ice pack in it. I immediately opened the package and put the meals into the freezer.

Delicious sounding flavors!

I was impressed by the ingredient list.

All ingredients I can pronounce:)

The first bar I tried was on a Sunday morning. I pulled the almond raisin bar out of the freezer and let it thaw for about 10 minutes before digging into it! I was instantly surprised at the lack of sweetness (in comparison to other granola or protein bars). While it bothered me a bit for the first third of the bar, I quickly got used to it and enjoyed the flavor immensely. I was having “linner” (what do you call it when you eat between lunch and dinner?) at 4 pm, and ate the bar about 10 am. I had a few carrots with hummus in between (after a workout), but I was surprised at how incredibly filling this bar was! Definitely not your typical granola bar. It really did feel like I had eaten a whole meal! You’ll definitely want to make sure you have lots of liquid on hand as you eat the bar, as the instructions state.

For the person on the go, this would be a great meal option for those crazy or unplanned days. Click on this link and “like” CORE Foods on Facebook and you’ll be given a coupon code for $5 off any online order and you can enter to win a free case!

Now it’s your turn to share! Have you ever tried CORE Foods before? We have brunch, but what do you call a meal you eat between lunch and dinner time? 

Disclaimer: This is a FitApproach Ambassador Campaign. Core Foods sent me these three bars for free in exchange for a review. All opinions on this product are my own. 

Sparkle Skirt Review

Tags

Review, Running

Back in January I completed a 3.5 mile Virtual Run that was hosted by Toni from Running, Loving, Living. This was perfect, as my training plan had called for a 3.5 mile run on saturday anyway. I hopped on the treadmill and set out to run, feeling strong. I had a great time, knowing that I was “racing” with people across the country. As part of the race, winners were randomly selected for prizes by a number of sponsers. I was surprised when I got a tweet from Toni saying that I had won a Sparkle Skirt.

I had never worn a skirt while running, but had seen a number of people on blogs who had, and I was anxious to try it out. I’ve now worn my skirt a number of times while running, including a 5k race I completed a week and a half ago.

At the end of my 5k race. This skirt is lightweight, and honestly felt as if I wasn’t even wearing anything (which mentally freaked me out a few times as I was running:D). I love how this skirt is constructed, and find that it’s incredibly convenient for running.

The skirt has a zip pocket up front (or it can be reversed and worn behind) along the waistband that is big enough to easily hold an iphone and a few things of fuel, and ID, or other essentials.

One the outside of each of the legs, a 4″x 4″ pocket is placed, which again is big enough to hold Kleenex or other fuel that you may need. This skirt has lots of storage space, which makes it ideal for a long run.

I highly recommend checking them out and purchasing a sparkle skirt if you are interested in skirts while running. It’s fun, light weight, and is convenient for storing necessary items for runs! I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to win a skirt and get to try it out!

Now it’s your turn to share: Have you ever worn a skirt while running? What’s your favorite article of clothing in which to run?