Apera Yoga Tote Review

February 19, 2014 by 5 Comments

Until about a month ago, my gym bag has been the swag bag I got from the Philadelphia Half – your basic drawstring bag – not ideal by any means. And when I headed to yoga I’d usually carry my gym bag and then carry my yoga mat in a separate strap.

bags

Way too much to carry!

Yep! That’s how I rolled…until Apera sent me one of their Yoga Totes.

The Apera Yoga tote fits everything and looks great doing it.

Apera bag

  • Apera Bags are antimicrobial and have vented – say goodbye to gym bag stink!
  • Wipeable linings
  • Built-in shoe compartment
  • Loaded with pockets both inside and out – including a washable insert to store your sweaty clothes
  • Water bottle pocket on the outside – so no “sweating” all over my clothes and other stuff
  • Shoulder strap’s unique design gives you the perfect spot to carry your yoga mat (I’ve discovered it will also hold a foam roller too!)

(My camera’s been acting cranky so to do this bag justice I’m borrowing some pics from Apera’s site)

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Needless to say, I am loving this bag! Not only does it meet my gym/yoga needs, but I think this bag has enough space and features to serve as a great overnight bag. While I will say that initially I thought the $119 price tag was a bit steep for a gym bag – now that I’ve lived with it a while I think it offers the versatility and durability to last for years to come.

aspera blues

Apera currently has a couple sales: 40% OFF entire Blue line of bags; and, all of their Duffel Packs, any color, are 40% OFF.

 Would you like one for yourself?

Every month Apera Bags is giving away a bag to one winner, and for the month of February the bag they are giving away is the Yoga Tote! All you need to do is sign up for their email newsletter. Then, at the conclusion of each month, they will randomly draw a name from their list of subscribers. Just go HERE and follow the instructions!

Disclaimer: I was provided the Apera Yoga Tote free of charge. As always, the opinions expressed here are completely my own.

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Filed Under: Apera Yoga Tote, product reviews

Koss Fit Series – Must Have Gear

January 16, 2014 by 9 Comments

 

Koss Headphones

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Koss Fit Series Headphones. All of the opinions expressed here are, as always, my own.

It’s always fun to kick off the new year and a new training cycle with new gear. And, as I mentioned yesterday, for me that also includes new playlists. So given how important music is in my training, you can imagine how happy I was to be given a chance to try out Koss Fit Series headphones!

Koss’ female designers teamed-up with Gold Medalist Dara Torres to create the world’s first headphones designed specifically for women by women. I received both the FitBuds and FitClips headphones.

Fit buds

At 33% smaller than any earbud Koss has ever created, the Koss FitBuds are ideally designed for smaller ear canals. I loved the fit right out of the box, comfortable and secure –  they do come with three different sizes of ear cushions so you can find your ideal fit. They are ultra light-weight and delivered great sound, even during a wind-swept run last Saturday. Did I mention that they’re sweat-resistant too? Win!

I was pleasantly surprised by the Koss FitClips because I’ve not had the best track record with over-the-ear headphones. I find this style of headphone usually pinches – so not the case with the FitClips!

fit clips

They were flexible and very comfortable. Like the FitBuds, they included three different sized ear cushions, are equally light-weight and sweat-resistant. I loved that I could just put them on and forget about them – no fiddling necessary.

Both the FitBuds and FitClips come in five great shades and retail for $29.99. They’re available at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Walgreens, Kmart and Sears.

Overall, I loved the quality of both headphones, the comfortable fit they provide and the great sound they delivered – making them must have fitness gear in my book! With my training kicking off this week, I know I’ll be putting both headphones to good use both in the gym and on the road.

You can connect with Koss via Social Media

 

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Filed Under: fave things, Koss Fit Series, product reviews

Runner’s World Cookbook Review

October 2, 2013 by 5 Comments

When I received a preview copy of the new Runner’s World Cookbook a couple of weeks ago, I was super excited! I love food and love to cook – so a cookbook dedicated to runners – um yeah that’s a no-brainer for me…sign me up!

Cookbook1

That philosophy – that you can eat well while fueling your body – is something we strive to bring to the pages of Runner’s World every month. Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of recipes that show you how to create nutrient-rich and satisfyingly delicious meals that you can cook for yourself, your family and your friends. Now we’ve compiled the very best of those recipes into one cookbook that you can turn to no matter what your needs.”
 — The Runner’s World Cookbook

The first thing that struck me as I took my first scan of the book, besides how visually appealing it was, is that I really think they deliver on the promise of offering something for everybody! The introduction “How to Eat Like a Runner” offers some helpful nutritional information on key staples, including  protein sources and healthy oil options.

The introduction also provides my favorite feature – the recipe key. Every recipe in the book is indexed by a color-coded key at the top of the page so you can quickly and easily identify if the recipe is best for pre-run or recovery, as well as if it’s vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free.

Contents pageThe 150 recipes are laid out over 10 chapters, covering everything from Breakfast to Snacks and Smoothies to Mains to Deserts. As you can see from all the little green tabs, I had no problem identifying a bunch of recipes I wanted to try 🙂

While I have not worked my way through all of those tabs yet, I can definitely say that what I have tried has been really flavorful!

Soup Collage

Spicy Sausage & Mushroom Soup

pear sandwich

Almond Butter & Pear Sandwich

peanutbutter balls

Frozen Peanut Butter Balls
(totally addictive!)

These are just a sampling of some of the recipes I’ve tried so far – I still need to work on my food photo skills – and in some cases I started eating before I remembered to take a picture 😉

Overall, in addition to being delicious, the recipes are really straightforward, easy to follow and quick to put together. So you can get a great meal and then either get on with your run or the rest of your day!

I’m really looking forward to trying more of the recipes. A huge thanks to the folks at Runner’s World for sending me a copy of the book to review!

The Runner’s World Cookbook is available for sale now. I received a complimentary copy to review, however all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

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Filed Under: Nutrition, product reviews, Runner's World

Designer Whey Sustained Energy Review & Giveaway

June 25, 2013 by 21 Comments

DWheyA couple of months ago, I had the chance to review a number of products from Designer Whey – they were all a win with me so I was very happy to get another chance through FitFluential to try Designer Whey’s newest product Sustained Energy™.

Key features of the Sustained Energy™ line include:

  • Formulated with Endurance Blend™ : Designed to give you balanced, stimulant-free, sustained energy through a premium protein blend of fast-absorbing whey protein and slower absorbing soy & casein proteins.
  • 16g of Protein: 32% Daily Value per serving.
  • 5g of Fiber: To help control hunger.
  • Packed with 19 Vitamins and Minerals: Including B-vitamins to help convert protein, carbohydrates, and fats into energy; vitamins A, C, & E for fast workout recovery; and, calcium and vitamin D to maintain strong bones.
  • 100 calories per serving: Naturally flavored and just 1g of sugar.

Sustained Energy™ comes in two great flavors – Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Velvet. And while I enjoyed them both, Chocolate Velvet was definitely my favorite.

Choco VelvetThis concoction I call Chocolate Heaven is a yummy combination of:

  • 1 scoop Designer Whey Chocolate Velvet
  • 1 cup chocolate almond milk
  • 5- 6 frozen whole strawberries
  • 3-4 frozen cherries (an extra boost of antioxidants for muscle recovery)
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

While I usually love drinking chocolate milk post-run, this shake has been a great alternative and has given me a little added staying power when lunch doesn’t happen until late in the day (which has happened on more than one occasion lately with all the various end-of-year school activities!)

The great folks at Designer Whey are offering 6 — yes six! — Running with Attitude readers a chance to try the new Sustained Energy protein powder in the flavor of their choice!

To enter:

  • (Mandatory) leave a comment telling me which flavor you want to try –  Chocolate Velvet or Vanilla Bean.
  • (Additional entry) Follow both @RunAttitude and @DesignerWhey on Twitter and tweet this message: “I want to win @DesignerWhey Sustained Energy protein powder from @RunAttitude  http://wp.me/p3alX4-lk  #DesignerWhey #FitFluential” Please make sure you  leave a comment here telling me you did.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only and will be open until Thursday, June 27th,  at 11:00 pm EST.  Winners will be announced on Friday, June 28th, 2013.  Good luck!

Product was provided to me by Designer Whey as a FitFluential Ambassador for the purpose of a review. As always, the opinions expressed here are my own.

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Filed Under: #DesignerWhey, FitFluential, giveaways, Nutrition, product reviews

Lock Laces Review & Giveaway

May 28, 2013 by 19 Comments

I’m all for anything that will make my life a little easier – even something as simple as not having to tie and retie my shoes when I’m out on a run. I’d heard about Lock Laces through social media and thought it was an interesting idea, so when they contacted me offering a pair to try out I said “absolutely!”

from Lock Laces website

from Lock Laces website

If you don’t know about them, Lock Laces are an innovative product developed especially for the demands of athletes. Unlike regular old laces, they provide flexible compression across the top of the foot with each stride. As you move, your foot changes shape – Lock Laces stretch and contract to fit the changing needs of your foot. Lock Laces’ simple clasp mechanism eliminates the need to tie your shoes over and over. You simply slide them on, secure the clasp and go!

Well, the folks at Lock Laces didn’t just send me one pair to try – they sent 5! My oldest son quickly spied them and begged for the neon green pair (he’s now making a case for the red ones too!) Needless to say he’s a fan and, now that I’ve been running in them for the past month I have to say I am too!

At $7.99 retail, Lock Laces is a very affordable piece of fitness gear! I love that they come in so many colors – and the fact that they’re water-proof makes them a win for my boys…especially with lots of summer hiking and days at camp on the horizon.

The generous folks at Lock Laces is offering to send a pair each to three Running with Attitude readers!

Three easy ways to enter this giveaway – leave a comment for each action below ~ Good Luck!

  • Check out the Lock Laces website and come back and tell me what color you’d pick
  • Like Lock Laces on Facebook and tell them Running with Attitude sent you
  • Tweet “I want to win a pair of @LockLaces from @RunAttitude http://wp.me/p3alX4-jd”

This giveaway is open to residents of the continental US only and will close on Sunday, June 2, 2013. Winners will be selected by Randon.org.  I received Lock Laces to try. The opinions expressed here, as always, are my own.

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Filed Under: fave things, giveaways, Lock Laces, product reviews

Omega Infusion Review

March 20, 2013 by 4 Comments

One thing I really struggle with is my hydration – unless it is the dog-days of summer, I have to really make a conscious effort to drink enough water. And I’ll admit, sometimes I just get bored with plain old H2O. Often you’ll find me putting either lemon, cucumber or mint in my water to give it a little umph and keep me drinking.

I was recently introduced to Omega Infusion – a zero-calorie enhanced water that not only provides you with hydration, but also with natural energy from B vitamins and antioxidant vitamin C, and much needed Omega-3s.  Once I heard the description I had to give them a try.

picmonkey_image

Omega Infusion comes in berry, fruit punch, citrus, and orange. I thought they all had a good flavor – offering more taste than most “flavored” waters I’ve tried, without being too strong. My favorite was berry. My oldest son got in on the act too – trying all of them with me and declaring them “delicious!” Fruit punch was his favorite, with the citrus a close second. In fact, since they’ve appeared in our fridge, he’s been grabbing a bottle after school, instead of making his usual pitch for lemonade – win!

Each bottle contains 80mg of Omega-3s EPA/DHA. Did you know that the FDA qualified health benefit of Omega-3 fatty acids is a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)?  It is a fact that our bodies cannot naturally produce the nutrients found in Omega-3 so we must get them from outside sources.  Recent studies have shown several potential benefits of Omega-3’s, including:

  • Improvement of cognitive function in both children and adults
  • Help with psychiatric disorders such as depression
  • Increased mental focus and motivation
  • Reduced stress levels and mental fatigue
  • Reduced macular degeneration
  • Strengthened red blood cells which may improve blood pressure, heart rate and vascular function
  • Possible anticancer benefits
  • Potential to counter inflammation
  • Higher level of satiety and appetite reduction

Omega Infusion provides nice variety when you get tired of drinking plain H2O – with some added vitamin benefits! You can find Omega Infusion in Giant Stores, Stop & Shop and HEB stores – check out their website http://www.omegainfusion.com/ for details. You can also follow them on Facebook (here) or Twitter (here).

This post was sponsored by Omega Infusion. As always, all opinions expressed here are my own.

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Filed Under: hydration, Omega Infusion, product reviews

October Rewind

November 3, 2012 by 7 Comments
Good things for the month:
Things I could do without:
  • No complaints – it’s all good.

What’s up for November:

  • Chilly Half Marathon is next weekend! 
  • Running without a training plan. I haven’t been without a training plan since I started working with Coach Bennett in July. And, while I have really enjoyed training, I’m looking forward to having a break and just running whatever and when ever I want.
  • Continue focusing on making my left ITB happy again. With some down time coming, I need to get this ITB beyond just the “manageable” stage.
  • Once again I’ll be participating in the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge organized by Amanda at Run To The Finish. The Challenge starts November 19 and is an awesome way to stay motivated during the holidays. Amanda does an amazing job pulling this Challenge together and there are some great prizes for added incentive. There’s still time to register, so come join me  — and if you do sign up, please tell her I sent you 🙂
How’d your October go? What have you got planned for this month?


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Filed Under: Canton Fall Classic, Chilly Half, Holiday Bootie Buster, ITB, month in review, PR, product reviews

Saucony Triumph 10 Review

November 1, 2012 by 11 Comments

I have made no secret of my love of Saucony shoes since I first attended a shoe clinic sponsored by Saucony back in March 2011. At that time, I started running in the Saucony Mirage and by last summer, the Kinvara 2s had found their way into my heart! Currently, I do most of my runs either in the Mirage 2 or Kinvara 3.

So you can imagine how psyched I was when the folks at Saucony sent me a pre-launch pair of the new Triumph 10! I’ve now had a chance to get a few runs in them and I’m happy to say without hesitation that Saucony did not disappoint!

What stood out for me right off the bat was just how much cushion these shoes provide without the weight (9.2 oz). I could see rotating these shoes in for my long runs where my legs would appreciate the extra cushion once I hit double digits. I’m a big fan of the sock-like fit of the interior – my foot felt like it was being held while still offering the flexibility in the midsole that I want in a neutral shoe. (You can review the tech sheet here).

If you’re looking for a neutral shoe with a cushioned ride, I’d recommend checking out the Triumph 10s which launch today. A big, big thanks to Saucony for letting me try them out!

Saucony provided the pair of the Triumph 10s to me as a FitFluential Ambassador for the purposes of a product review. All of the opinions expressed here, as always, are my own.

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Filed Under: product reviews, Saucony, Triumph 10

Yurbuds Inspire Review & Giveaway

October 29, 2012 by 46 Comments

While I do try to work in the occasional “naked” run, for most of my runs music is a constant companion. And, let’s just say in the past couple of years I’ve tried my fair share of earbuds with mixed results.

Recently I had the opportunity to try out a pair of the new Yurbuds Inspire for Women. Quite simply these earbuds did not disappoint!

These earbuds feature the same patented TwistLock™ technology and FlexSoft™ fit Yurbuds is famous for, while being designed to specifically fit the smaller ears of women.

For me, all of this translated into earbuds that stayed in place regardless of how much I sweated. They were super comfortable – basically I put them in and forgot about them. The sound quality was good, while providing enough ambient sound so I was aware of my surroundings.

The folks at Yurbuds were nice enough to send along an extra pair for one of you to win! To enter:

  • Simply leave a comment below and let me know what song inspires your runs (I’m always looking for new songs for my playlist!)
  • For an additional entry, tweet about this giveaway and please be sure to include the hashtag #InspireForWomen — come back and let me know you did!

The giveaway will be open until midnight Friday, November 2, and is open only to U.S. residents.

If you don’t want to wait, Yurbuds Inspire for Women are now available at Target ($29.99 – and in 8 great colors!). Check them out, you won’t be disappointed!

I received this product for the purpose of providing a review. As always, the opinions expressed here are completely my own.

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Filed Under: fave things, Inspire for Women, product reviews, Yurbuds

Kona Kase Review

October 15, 2012 by 7 Comments

As I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion, I’ve been on the hunt for the fueling options that will work best for me.  So when I was contacted by the guys at Kona Kase I was definitely intrigued.

What is Kona Kase?
Kona Kase is a subscription service delivering a collection of endurance nutrition samples to your doorstep every month. (Each Kase is $15 and shipping is free.)

Kona Kase Goodies!

I received the September Kase which included 10 products: Hammer Heed, Honey Stringer Waffle, Cliff Bar, Cliff Shot Bloks, GU, PR Bar, Cytomax, Picky Bars and Urgent Rx Headache Relief.

I appreciated that the day my package arrived that I received an email from Taylor at Kona Kase saying that he saw that my Kase had been delivered and was interested in my feedback.

 So I’ll tell you what I told him:

  • Loved the collection of products, (it’s a good mix of products I was familiar with and others that either I wasn’t familiar or had never tried).
  • It would be very helpful if some product information was included in the Kona Kase to help educate recipients about the products. 
  • Also, along with the product information, recommendations for how best to use the products (pre-workout, during a workout and recovery) would be helpful.

Taylor told me that starting with the October shipment that they are including educational inserts and are labeling the products pre/during/post-workout. And, soon recipients can go back to the Kona Kase site and order their favorite products from the Kases.

Overall, I really like this concept behind Kona Kase! There are so many products on the market, I think this is a great way to see what’s out there and to sample until you find the ones that work best for you! (Hint to my family – a subscription would make a great Christmas gift 🙂 )

I received a Kona Kase for the purposes of a review. As always, the opinions expressed here are solely my own.

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Filed Under: fueling a run, Kona Kase, product reviews