Game Changing AfterShokz Xtrainerz

Disclaimer: I received a pair of AfterShokz Xtrainerz to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

These headphones!! As if I weren’t already obsessed with AfterShokz enough, they went a made WATERPROOF headphones and saved me from the endless black line at the bottom of the pool! The specs on these headphones are amazing…

4G of storage ~1200 songs

8hr battery life

IP68 rated (aka fully waterproof)

Flexible fit

PremiumPitch 2.0+

2yr warranty

As with all the AfterShokz products, they were really simple to set up, just snap them into the charger and plug it into your computer, then drag and drop your audio files. For my swim days I loaded music onto them, for my bike and run days I loaded podcasts (that constant studying PA school life). They come with a little booklet that breaks down all the buttons, which is super helpful because they are a bit different from the AfterShokz Airz.

Once I had them set up I was ready to go…

And they crushed it in all 3 disciplines – and totally made me want to sign up for another triathlon – maybe in 2020!! Having them during the swim is a huge game changer for me. I used to dread swimming, I found it so boring, and it would feel like it was lasting forever. With these Xtrainerz the time just flies by, and before I know it I’ve rocked a pretty solid swim!! You can wear them under OR over your swim cap, it’s all about personal preference. They’re super comfy and they stay put. But most of all, the sound quality is AMAZING! The hardest part about swimming with them is trying not to smile when your favorite song comes on, lol.

Snag your own at https://bibrave.aftershokz.com and save $50 off any of their bundles! Happy swimming, biking, and running 🙂

Knockaround Sport Sunnies Review

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Knockaround Sport Sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

I’ve been practically living in my Knockaround Sport Shades since they arrived 6 weeks ago – and by living I mean wearing them everywhere, everyday, running, biking, hiking, walking around, driving – you name it Facetune_25-09-2019-09-26-10 and I’ve had my shades on for it!!

The verdict ⇒ I’m OBSESSED.

Not only are they amazing for actually blocking out the sun and protecting my eyes, but they are solid quality, especially when you realize Knockaround shades start selling at just $10. They haven’t scratched (and that’s not because I’m super careful) and the tint is just as solid today as it was on day 1, which sets them wayyyyy above some other sunglass brands!

But, my favorite thing about them, and about the whole Sports Collection, they have tiny embedded rubber nose pads, so they don’t budge, even when I am dripping with sweat! And yes, I am usually dripping with sweat!!

Don’t let the fact that I am wearing the matte black & smoke shades fool you into thinking they don’t come in a TON of colors, if you can think of a color combo, they have it in some form on their website. Plus → you can use code BIBRAVEKNOCKS3 on your order and save 20%, at that price you might as well get a few pairs!!

Overjoyed in Oofos

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Oofos OOlala Luxe Sandal to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be writing a blog post about being obsessed with a pair of shoes – a pair of flip flops no less – but here I am! I was never one to live in flip flops, which is surprising since I’m from Florida. I always found them to be too uncomfortable, or too flat, or too flimsy. Let me just say, I am so happy I gave Oofos a try! I had heard people rave about them before, especially other runners, and I was curious, but how good could a shoe possibly be? Answer, really freaking good!!

The second I slipped them on I knew that they would be a game changer. The support alone made it feel like I was walking around with a sneaker beneath my feet. But a sneaker that let my toes breathe! I even ended up on some pretty long walks while wearing them, upwards of 10 miles, and they were comfortable the whole time, which is saying A LOT for a sandal!

Ultra training is pretty hard on the feet and the legs, and walking around in supportive shoes is so important for recovery. Especially on the weekends, when you know as soon as Saturday’s long run is over, your Sunday long run isn’t far behind it. With Oofos I can actually take care of my body post-run while helping it get ready for the next day and the next adventure. I’ve even found myself standing at my kitchen sink doing the dishes while wearing them, it’s just so nice to have the support, hahaha, tile is rough on an ultra runner!

I’ve only had these shoes for about 6 weeks, and I have raved about them to so many people. Plus I’m already eyeing another pair that I can pass off as business casual on the days I need to dress more professionally!

Have you tried Oofos? Are you as obsessed as I am??

AfterShokz Trekz Air Review

Disclaimer: I received a pair of AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Let me just start by saying that my life got so much better when my Aftershokz Airs arrived!! Not only was I able to up my run game, but they made my time cycling better, and made it easier for me to study/learn in PA school! I had no idea how much of my life could be improved.

For starters – they are super comfortable – and they stay put. I was weary at first, but after giving them a try it became apparent that they weren’t going anywhere. Luckily they arrived just in time for me to run the Oakland Half with them, and it made the whole race experience even better. I loved being able to hear the crowds AND my music!

634CAAA4-E605-4662-B6E6-547478C6F0C6 — Pretty much all I need!

They hold a charge for a long time, I actually never had them die on me, and I probably plugged them in every week or so. It’s so nice to be able to quickly pause or change volume without having to get to my phone. Plus I feel so much safer wearing them as opposed to any other headphones. Being able to hear my surroundings makes me so much more comfortable, and allows me to actually keep the volume at a level I can hear it, I used to listen so low in an attempt to hear everything else, but those days are over!!

That also makes them perfect for walking around while listening to medical podcasts or audiobooks. I am a huge lover of movement and generally walk 5-10 miles a day, on top of my daily workout. Being able to turn that walking time into usable study time has been so great! I’m spending far less time at my desk, but I am learning so much more. Plus I am that much closer to hitting my book goal for 2019!! Such a fun and unexpected bonus of the Aftershokz Airs! I have even been using them when I watch pharmacology videos on my laptop – granted pairing them with my laptop took a bit of googling – because I’m bad with technology – not because it’s actually hard, hahaha.

Once I had them paired with my laptop a whole other D6818F90-DAB5-4371-AE53-D409D390D3A2 door opened!! It occurred to me that I can use them to watch TV while I am on my bike trainer. Usually I have to either read closed captioning, or turn the volume all the way up and still struggle to hear it. BUT – with Aftershokz I can just cycle with my headphones on and hear my TV shows perfectly! Even with the loud noise my trainer makes, and even if I have my industrial fan turned on too. They’ve actually helped me stop skipping my training rides!

Basically – I am obsessed with them. They are without a doubt a total game changer and everyone needs a pair. Not only will they keep you entertained, but you can stay safe at the same time. Gone are the days of people accidentally sneaking up and saying you because you could hear anyone coming. Comfort and peace of mind.

Plus – you can save $50 off the Adventure Bundle with the link at the top of my post or with code ‘BRBUNDLE’ – how amazing is that!?!?!!

Shady Rays

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Shady Rays sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Absolutely loved trying out Shady Rays sunglasses. I had been seeing their advertising, and seeing other runners wear them, for so long! It was nice to get to see what all of the fuss was about – and let me say – it was all well deserved. From the second they arrived it was obvious they were high quality – PLUS – they will replace your shades if they are broken or lost. Not a lot of companies will do that!

These shades did a great job of providing full coverage for me. I am always worried about my eyes in the sun, so between my contacts that have UV protection and these sunglasses I feel fully covered. They also felt really comfortable on and were a great size for my face. It was really easy to run in them and they didn’t bounce or slide around at all.

They quickly became my new go to sunglasses – and I managed to finish two half marathons wearing them in the last 3 weeks. If you check out their website you’ll see so many color combinations, both for the frames and the lenses. I really like the black with the reflective blue lens, makes it easier to match with all of my bright running clothes and accessories.

A9BCEFAB-49A0-44B4-8A59-0459D41BC892 — Runner style!

The more I ran in these and fell in love with them, the more I started just wearing them as my everyday sunglasses. The work so well and feel so great that it’s easy to just grab them on my way out the door and bring them everywhere with me. Will definitely be ordering more of these in the future!!

Wanna try your own? Use code “RAVE” for 50% off 2+ pairs from the Shade Shop!!

Keeping Warm with BUFF DryFlx

Disclaimer: I received a BUFF DryFlx Neck-warmer and Headband to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Facetune_04-12-2018-09-34-07 — Buff keeps me so warm I was able to shed my jacket!!

I was so excited to get the opportunity to try out the Buff DryFlx neck warmer and headband – and they could not have come at a better time!! Being born and raised in Florida, and then spending 5 years in Southern California, you can imagine that I was not build for the cold, hahaha, not at all build for it!! Moving to the Bay Area has been quite the challenge, for many reasons, but the biggest one has truly been getting used to this weather. It’s currently in the 40s and 50s everyday – and it rains here. I had to buy boots, sweaters, and jackets. And figuring out what to run in was getting harder and harder – until – Buff DryFlx came to my rescue! Now that I have them, I haven’t done even one run without them

The first thing I noticed about my headband and neck warmer? How soft they are!! For a second I was worried they wouldn’t wick the moisture away since they were so soft, but somehow they managed. They also have a little band in them to help keep them in place – which is missing from a lot of headbands and neck warmers. These did not budge! Plus the headband still allowed my to wear my sunglasses AND my earbuds!!

My first run was a pretty chilly (for me) morning – it was in the 40s – and I started my run with my Buff covering my face. After about a mile it had helped me stay so warm I was able to just push it down and wear it around my neck. It still helped keep my core warm – somehow – maybe magic. Just covering my ears and neck make a huge difference to my overall warmth – and comfort. I am not a person who can stand being cold, and I tend to skip a lot of my runs in the colder months. But not anymore!

Even on the days when the sun is out and I get started in the afternoon, the Buff DryFlx headband is my go to! I’ve never had a headband that stays in place so well. As an added bonus the wide style means all my little fly away hairs are actually kept out of my face! It’s reflective too! Not a feature that is super important to me since I never run in the dark, but I know a lot of other runners who do, and the fact that this headband has 360 degree reflection is just another thing to love about it!! It has UPF 50 protection and it’s machine washable. I don’t know about anyone else, but I gave up buying things I have to hand wash long ago, hahaha.

I cannot wait to add a few more DryFlx headbands and neck warmers to my collection in the coming week. If you’re looking for something new to try to keep you warm, or just love a headband that stays in place, just head over to https://www.buffusa.com 🙂

Cancelled Races and Postponed Goals

Trying to process my feelings about The North Face Endurance Challenge Series races being cancelled this weekend in NorCal. I was scheduled to run the 50k – my first ultra marathon – and have been training for 4 months. The air quality in the Bay Area has been horrible for the last week due to the Camp Fire, like horribly horrible, residents have been told to stay inside, which means I have been inside for the last 7 days straight (with the exception of walking to my car). It was the right call to cancel the race, completely, and the logic part of my brain knows that 100%… but the emotional side, the side that has been getting ready for the last 4 months, is incredibly disappointed.

I know it’s just a race, and that there will be other opportunities, and that resources should be going to the Camp Fire community. I know all that, and I support ALL of that. I have donated money and goods and will continue to do so, because what happened in Paradise is devastating. So trying to process my feelings of disappointment about a cancelled 50k is made more complicated by the fact that my brain feels guilty for feeling disappointed. But there should be room for all of these emotions. I shouldn’t feel guilty about being sad my race is cancelled. I have been working hard, sacrificing regularly to get my runs done, and now my season is just over. Plus the news came during taper week, a time during which I am always a bit more emotional, hahaha.

My fitness is the highest it has ever been, and instead of running 50k this weekend, I will be stuck inside, for days 9 & 10 and going stir crazy. I have so much energy to burn off and no good way to do it. I have been in the gym so much this week, which just reminds me how much I hate the treadmill, and how lucky I am so live in such a beautiful place where I can usually run outside.

I have been looking for another 50k, but with training, and vacations coming up, and school schedules, it is hard to pick one. The North Face has given all of us entry into the race next year, but by then I will be on clinical rotations so it is impossible for me to know if I will even be in the Bay Area then. But I am going to try to hardest to race it next year. And in the meantime I am really hopeful I will find a 50k in early/mid 2019 to crush! For now, I am going to try to channel my disappointment into scouring the internet for a new 50k and into training for the Napa Valley Marathon, which will probably be here before I know it!!

Love for Luvo

Disclaimer: I received Luvo food bundles to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Feeling super thankful that I got to try, and fall in love with, Luvo foods vegan bowls!!

Finding quality frozen meals while being vegan has been a challenge that I have been dealing with since I made this dietary change at the beginning of the year. Most vegan frozen meals are either completely unhealthy, bland tasting, or not filling. Happy to report that Luvo foods blew me away with every meal I tried, they delivered on every count! Right now they have 4 totally vegan meals and I got to try all of them!!

For starters – these bowls are all really healthy. Each has 10-11 grams of protein, which is key when I am logging serious training miles. The veggies are flash frozen, so you know they are fresh, and you can taste that difference when you’re eating them. They use whole grains and have low sugar. And, best of all, my favorite one, Chana Masala, has chickpeas, which are a MAJOR obsession of mine. How did they know??

Not sure how they do it – but the flavors are amazing! With other frozen meals I have had to add seasonings after heating them up, but not with Luvo. A few times I “dressed them up” – not because they needed it, but because I like to get creative and I also like to put avocado on everything, hahaha. It went perfectly on the Hawaiian Un-fried Rice!

These meals are a LIFE-SAVER on crazy busy school days!!

And last, but certainly not least, my favorite thing about these meals – they keep you full!! Like actually full, for a long time, like until it’s time for your next meal. Super rare to find in a frozen meal. Most others end up being more of a snack than an actual meal. But these kept me satisfied. They were such a perfect addition to my busy school schedule and 50k training plan. I just love products that make it easy for me to nourish and care for my body!!

IMG_5EB8C3F803C6-1 — Perfect recovery combo!

So, so, so glad I got to give these a try! Cannot wait to get another shipment!

50k training & PA school

Six weeks until The North Face Endurance Challenge 50k – and – six weeks into PA school.

Feeling pretty surprised that my training has been fairly consistent while trying to get used to my crazy new schedule. Don’t get me wrong, I have skipped plenty of workouts. My new city is kinda small so I am having trouble finding good paths or roads for long runs. I finally broke out of my comfort zone and joined a group run on Saturday in the Marin Headlands. And it went about as poorly as I expected, haha. I got dropped by all 40+ runners within the first mile – talk about humbling! Managed to survive the whole 13.5 mile run, with 2000 feet of elevation gain, but barely. It was painful, and eye opening!

I have not been doing nearly enough elevation training – so this morning I went back to the trails and hiked up and ran down over and over again. Welcome to my new weekend morning routine! Also trying to utilize my bike trainer for those days I just don’t feel like running. Eventually I’ll get back into the pool too – but damn if I don’t hate swimming – lol.

On the bright side – I love PA school. Some of the classes are more interesting than others, but all are teaching me so much. And I am loving the clinical assessment side of things!! It has definitely been an adjustment – moving to a new city by myself and starting a hard program . It is not as crazy yet as it will be in the future – so I am trying to enjoy the time I have while I have it. Staying active, exploring Marin county, volunteering at school and the food bank, basically doing all the things I love.

Gonna try to keep blogging every Sunday – it slips my mind – but I am going to do my best!

Finish Line Feels

Yesterday was the Chula Vista Challenge 70.3 – which means today I am firmly planted on the couch with my feet up, just reflecting on yesterday’s race. While it could have gone better, I am pretty happy that I managed to finish. The heat in San Diego was fierce yesterday and it was a struggle just to keep moving. But I crossed that finish line – and got the super cute medal too!

SWIM – I should have known it would be a bit of a struggle from the start. The race was an in water start and I didn’t realize that it would start immediately after the national anthem. Which means the rest of wave 1 was treading water while I was still making my way down the beach. Oops! But I managed to catch up to the main group so not too bad there. The swim was murky and the water was choppy but I was able to stay relaxed. One major difference I noticed between this 70.3 and the usual Ironman branded races was the absence of sighting buoys. Between my not so great eyesight, the foggy goggles, and the seaweed sticking to my face, it was hard to sight something half a mile away. I definitely followed some people I shouldn’t have, but as least we were swimming in zig-zags together, hahaha. Took longer than I had hoped but I made it out, and got this glamorous shot to remember it by.

Bike – The bike was a constant reminder of why I should have looked at the course map prior to showing up on race day. There was way more elevation that I had anticipated. What always makes me think San Diego is flat?!?! The course was four loops, but what I hadn’t realized that that the loop had a second smaller loop within it. Which meant that the main climb had to be done eight times. Eight!! And while it wasn’t a lot of elevation for some people, it was for me. Especially since I did most of my training on the bike trainer in my garage. Add that to my dropped chain and my brake malfunction, and lets just say I’ve had better rides. But on the bright side, a four loop course meant I got to see my boyfriend four times at the turn around! And he snagged some pictures!

Run – Going out on that run was a battle from the start. All I wanted was to quit. It was hot, like really hot, and I was pissy, like really pissy. The heat was making it hard for me to eat, which means instead of the 800 calories I was trying to consume on the bike I only consumed 200. Plus my skin was really starting to burn from the sun. Even with carrying a mini spray bottle of sunscreen with me and reapplying every 60 minutes. But I forced myself to take a few steps, and then a few more, and went trotting down the course. The run was three loops, and thank goodness for that. Getting to see my boyfriend every 4.5ish miles was a life saver. And the aid stations had ice, nothing better when it’s hot out than ice down your bra! I am always so happy that the run is last in triathlon, it’s my favorite part and I’m pretty sure if the swim or the bike were last I would have thrown in the towel yesterday for sure.

Finish – I was feeling a special type of hurt when I crossed that finish line yesterday. I am not sure I have ever struggled so hard for something. But I knew if I had quit I would be in a pretty crappy emotional state after. The whole point of this race, in this city, on this date, was to get me mentally prepared to move away this week and start PA school. My self esteem could not have handled quitting. While I am proud I finished I feel like I could have trained better and had a better result. I finished 2 whole hours after the overall winner, which feels like a lot of hours. But I got it done, and now I have no more excuse not to pack and finish getting ready for my move!