Andrea Heser

New Goals On The Horizon

On February 9th and March 2nd, I want to cross the finish line like this: Big Smile, Team Orange!

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Scottsdale Giant Race 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!

The MESA-PHX Half Marathon is 6 days away and already I have my eye on a new goal: PR my 5k. For the past 16 weeks I’ve been in half marathon training to hit a 2:10 finish time on February 9. While on this training plan I was able to PR my 10k by 67 seconds on a hilly course at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona! Yes, I’m nervous about my half marathon, and also excited to see if my training will take me to PR 6 minutes from my last half marathon time. Once this half is over, my long run training season will be over. Summer will be here in no time and the heat in Phoenix is relentless. I decided to now focus on shorter distances, speed and I’m going to train to PR my 5k.

And My Next Training Focus Is…

The race I’m set on to PR is the Scottsdale Giants Race on March 2. About four years ago, a friend of mine raced it, loved it and I loved following her along from pre-race to actual race day: here, here, here and here! Then I didn’t think much of this race anymore. Not sure why, considering the start line is walking distance from where I work — hello free parking! Here are the top 3 reasons why I’m excited to attempt to PR my 5k at the Scottsdale Giant Race:

1: The Course is Fast

I’ve ran the streets around my work office. It is not hilly. Thank goodness! The people behind the Scottsdale Race did have the course maps online, but they didn’t show elevation. Quickly through Strava, I mapped out a route and discovered the elevation gain is only 18ft! This gives me all the confidence I need to PR this race.

The route of the Scottsdale Giant Race 5k I mapped out on Strava.

2: Go Team Orange

Orange is one of the San Francisco Giants main colors. Orange is the main color of BibRave. Orange is the new fast considering the Giants won 8 World Series and that BibRave is the #1 pace to find race reviews quickly. Do you see where I’m going here? So it’s pretty much inevitable that I’ll be running super speedy at this race because I’ll be rocking my BibRave Pro singlet.

3: Finishing on the Field

It’s been three years since I crossed the finish line on a major stadium field. It was at the 2016 Pat Tillman race at ASU main. The experience was exhilarating! All the screaming people, sports players, balloons, flags. Now I know another reason athletes want to go into pro sports: the field is like a stage! Pumped to get those goosebump feels again.

Thrilled for a balloon-filled-on-the-field-finish!

Race With Me

Come run fast with me at the Scottsdale Giant Race! BibRave is offering $10 off the 10k or 5k registration. Apply code WERUNAZ19 at checkout. I’ll be keeping everyone updated on how my 5k training plan is going. It will start the week of February 11, just 3 weeks prior to 5k race day.

PR On The Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona 10k Course!

Hands up if you know you’re going to PR at the 2019 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona!

Disclaimer: I received a race entry to the 2019 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona 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.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned but then something magical happens as a result. If you remember from my last post, I was planning on doing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Remix Challenge. In the end I discovered I could only choose one race distance. Honestly, I got a little bummed. Quickly, I turned those feelings around and decided this is my chance to still PR on my 10k time, so I picked that distance to race and represent BibRave. The ending of this story is a good one. I did PR my overall 10k time and buy 67 seconds! So proud of myself.

Here are three big takeaways I got from racing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona 10k:

Tons of energy at the 10k and half marathon start line of the 2019 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona.

Excellent Organization: I ran this race through BibRave which means I didn’t have to pay for a race entry fee. I did have to pay for parking, gas, and food. On the first day of the expo, I picked up my bib. It was a Friday, a hard work day and week for me and I was fried. Luckily, I found a metered parking spot and put in 50 cents. I had 27 minutes to get my bib and get out of there. In my Oofos, I trotted along and made it to the solutions booth. My name was on a paper saying I was good for any distance I wanted (thanks BibRave!) I told her the 10k and she handed me a paper to fill out. Then I was moved to another woman and then a man. He told me that I could go to the 5k distance if I wanted to. ‘Ok,’ I told him. Got my bib from him and I was out of there back to my car with 7 minutes to spare. Fast forward to Saturday. I looked at my bib because I wanted to do a flat lay. 5k!? I am thinking he thought I said yes to the 5k instead of acknowledging him. Honestly, I panicked. The RnR website start line map did show a solutions booth there on race day. I had to take a chance. Sunday morning I made the 34 mile trek to Tempe to see if RnR could help me. Worst case, I just wouldn’t run the race and get over it because I should have checked my bib as soon as it was handed to me. There wasn’t a line at the booth even though the total event was packed. The woman at the booth didn’t bat an eye at me when I told her my situation. She took my 5k bib, and handed me a 10k one. Whew. I’m so thankful for RnR and the way they handled this for me.

Other key points of perfect organization on the RnR part was providing runners a safe course. There were cones, cops and volunteers everywhere along the course. I felt very safe. There was TONS of free parking and it was easy to find a spot when I arrived at 7:30am which I feel is late considering the race starts at 7:50am. Also, they got people in and out of the shoot so fast. Great organization on the RnR part, just not on mine!

See my Stava data for the course and those mean little hills.

10k Course: I love the many options RnR Arizona gives to their runners. There is a 1-mile, 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon over the course of 3 days to choose from. My initial plan was to do a 3-day Remix Challenge that consisted of the 1-mile on Friday, 5k on Saturday and 10k on Sunday. It didn’t work out in the end, but you know I didn’t let that get me down. My plan was to still PR my overall 10k time.

The energy throughout the entire race was strong! The 10k and half marathon racers started at the same time on the same start line and shared the course for about 2.5 miles. The 10kers then ran west on Curry Road while the 1/2 runners went north. Once on Curry, we were greeted with a slight downhill and the beautiful view of the Salt River. We ran along the waterfront for about 1 mile. The RnR website says the 10k course is a fast one. Maybe they forgot to mention the hill at mile 4.5 :D. I’ll be honest, seeing that hill concerned me. I kept trucking along and got up it slowly with hopes there would be a downhill for the last part of this race. I was in luck! The last 1.25 was pretty much all downhill and I took advantage of it! The scenery was pretty in this part of the course. We then crossed Tempe Town Lake on the Mill Avenue Bridge. It was awesome! At this point, I had a huge grin on my face and I’m excited to see my race photos. The emcee was calling us all in at the shoot. There were tons of spectators cheering us on. The fastest half marathoners were coming in too which made it even more exciting. The red carpet finish line made me feel like a star. I ran with a 67 second PR over my last 10k I ran last year! And my 10k PR from last year was on an all downhill course. So that tells you I was working it.

All smiles when crossing the finish line!

Finish line festivities: It was a good little walk from the time you hit stop on your Garmin to the time you got your first glimpse of the band on stage. Along the way, tons of volunteers were handing out chocolate milk, Gatorade Endurance, chips, granola bars, bananas and water bottles. Then a few volunteers at the end passed out RnR drawstring bags to load your loot into. Since I ran the 10k and ran it kinda fast, I noticed there wasn’t a line at the massage tent. This was my chance! I never got a post-race massage before. I quickly signed up and in one minute I was on a table and in another world. The massage therapist asked me exactly what I wanted and I opted for a stretch and quad massage. I was in heaven. The massage was 100% free and it lasted 15 minutes. I recommend the post-race massage to everyone. Once done, I chilled out on the lawn for a bit, updating my Strava, IG and Twitter feeds and giving tons of love to people I follow on social. After I was relaxed a bit, I headed back to my car which was about a 3/4 of a mile walk. It was needed to get my legs moving after that hard 10k.

Post-race at home, I was able to jump on Athlinks.com and claim my race results. You can check out how I did, and while you’re at it, jump on and make an account too. Don’t forget to add me as a friend so we can go head-to-head in future races!

I’m thankful I was able to turn my mindset around in the end and focus on nabbing that PR. My next goal is a PR on my half marathon time at the MESA-PHX Marathon happening on 2/9/18. For a gigantic race with tens of thousands of runners, this is one of the best races to start the year with and I fully recommend racing it.

Rock the Remix Challenge

Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona 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

Can’t wait to earn this Remix Challenge Medal at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Next Week!

Gosh, I love a good challenge. I live for challenges. Every year I make running goals and I achieve them. This year I decided one of my goals will be a running challenge. A series of races over the course of 3 days, something I never done before.

Running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon in 2018.

Love for Rock n Roll

This will be my third year in a row of rocking out at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona but this year will be slightly different. Friday, the 18th, I’ll run my heart out in their 1-mile race. Saturday, the 19th will be an easy yet scenic run during for the 5k race. Come, Sunday, I’ll put it in 4th gear again and run the 10k. Participating in races on two or more consecutive earns you a special Remix Medal and it’s super cool. Scroll on down to see the Arizona themed race medals, the scenic course maps and tech shirts that I’ll be earning next week, including the Remix Medal.

Jam Sesh, Then Chill, Then Jam Out Again

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1 Miler – Jam
A strategic plan had to be developed for my 3 days of race rock out. My plan is to not go all out for each race. I need to save my strength for next month’s MESA-PHX Half Marathon that I’m in training to PR at. Friday night is the 1-miler. I’ll be working that day, so that means I’ll be drained and I’ll need to stop at the expo first to get my bibs. But I’m not letting that hold me back! Race starts at 6 p.m. and my plan is to run my fastest mile yet. It would be great to PR my mile time. The time I have to beat is 8:54.

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5k – Chill
Saturday morning is the 5k. This will be my opportunity to do an easy, green heart run. My plan is to take in the scenery, enjoy the music and just chill! I need this time for my body to recover.

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10k – Jam
Sunday is my jam out day — again! My plan is to PR this 10k. It will be tough. The time I have to beat is 1:02:15. That means I need to run this 10k in the high 9’s. Oof. That’s a huge deal for me. I’ve been training and I know I can do it. But is the course hilly?

Rock With Me!

This is my opportunity to put my half marathon training to the test. My goal is to PR my 10k and 1-mile time and those times will set the tone on me PR’ing my MESA-PHX Half Marathon time. Can’t wait to rock out next week and earn 4 medals!

There is still time to sign up to run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona! Registration ends on January 13th. Apply code RNRBRAZ19 for $10 off the half or full distance. See you there!

I’m a Zwifter!

Disclaimer: I received an Zwift RunPod 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.

Do you dream of running in far away places but simply can’t? I do. My husband, son and job are my number one priority and unfortunately, I can’t run or race in dreamy distant places. Not in real-life that is. BibRave recently introduced me to Zwift, a virtual platform to run and bike in with others from around the world in distant places around the world all from the comfort of my own home or gym. Now, this I can do!

Cool to run virtually & you see a real map on Strava!

What Does It Mean to Zwift

Zwift is an app that connects to indoor training gear (a bike or foot pod) that allows you to run or bike on hundreds of miles in 5 worlds with other athletes from around the world. Think if it as playing Halo on your Xbox with other people but instead of your thumbs getting a workout, your entire body is getting a workout. You can just start running on your own with Zwift or you can train with one of their structured workouts. They have training plans for 5ks, half marathons and even triathlon events. Do you prefer to run with groups? This is where Zwift is awesome. They host hundreds of events — fun group runs like the BibRave 5k I participated in lat month to intense races with real prizes to be won. On Strava? Zwift connects with third party apps like Strava and Garmin Connect so you can share your virtual runs from Zwift to those platforms and your friends can actually see the virtual map you ran! All of this got me super excited. Back in my teenager days, I was a gamer. Gosh, I wish Zwift was invented back then, I would have been getting fit instead of gaining weight because Zwift reminds me so much of playing a video game. It made running on a treadmill fun for me.

Becoming a Zwifter

I tested out Zwift using their RunPod. It’s the RunPod that allows you to connect to the app while you are on your home treadmill or on a gym treadmill. The RunPod pairs with Zwift via Bluetooth and attaches to the laces on your running shoes. It will measure your speed, cadence and distance through the Zwift app and thankfully it only weighs less than a half an ounce, so you don’t notice it’s on. It takes a standard CR2032 battery that is easy to replace. Zwift recommends removing the battery after each use to extend the life.

Attaching the RunPod onto your laces — as well as removing the battery — is simple: hold the bottom and top of the RunPod in each hand, twist counter clockwise to remove base from pod. Now you can see the bottom of the pod and grab a coin or flathead screwdriver to remove the bottom to insert the battery. Match plus side of battery to the plus side of the foam backing on the bottom of the pod. Use a coin or flathead screwdriver to reattach the bottom while the battery is inserted. Now, grab a pair of your running shoes. Tip: It’s easier to attach the pod onto shoes that you haven’t put on your feet yet. Slide the base of the pod under two of your laces. I attached mine on the 4th and 5th row of laces. That worked best for me. Now, place the top of the pod on the base and turn clockwise until you hear an audible click. Make sure it’s attached properly because you don’t want to lose your RunPod. Tap your RunPod a few times and you’ll notice a green light glows. That means your pod is on and ready to link up to the app.

Ima Zwifter

Now that your RunPod is attached to you, it’s time to sync up to your app. Like I said earlier, there are a few ways to sync to the Zwift app. I decided to connect through a MacBook. It was easy to download the app. Once it was launched, make sure the Bluetooth on your device — laptop or phone — is turned on. You’ll see the RunPod syncing up. I took the extra time to customize my avatar. Although, I wish it had more facial and body customizations. Like, my body isn’t skinny like my avatar. I’d like her to be a size medium versus a size extra small LOL! Also, I’d rather my person have brown eyes than the blue default. Maybe I need to run more to get more options. I did notice that there were special clothing, shoes and accessories that could only be applied if they were unlocked.

Now that all of my settings were updated, I was ready to run! You could either sign up for a group for a scheduled group run. There is a calendar on the right to see what runs are available, or you can check your Zwift Companion App for events that will start soon. Or, if you just want to run right now, you can. Click on the orange run button and start running. Once you are in the Zwift environment, you can see other runners. Sometimes you’ll see a cyclist. I notice some people chat with each other, I’m sure I’d trip on the treadmill if I tried to chat and run at the same time! The interface shows your speed, targets you’d like to make, other Zwifters, you can even change the view of your runs. One of the difficult things I found was selecting the turns. I like to do the bare minimum while running and deciding which way to turn is cumbersome. When I participated in the BibRave Group Run 5k, I realized I was going in a different direction than the group. It wasn’t until later that I noticed I could have gone their same direction if I chose that route during the prompts.

Zwifting is Cool

I don’t own a treadmill, but after testing out Zwift, I’m thinking I should have asked Santa for one! Phoenix weather is dreamy right now and outdoor running is where it’s at. But come summer time, treadmill running will have to be done because no one wants to run in 115 degree full sun temps. It’s great how Zwift could keep you motivated during terrible weather either it be snow or full sun. Also, I like how I can be part of a group run even though I don’t have to be in their physical presence. I’m not the only one who thinks Zwift is cool. According to this Forbes article posted last week, Zwift raised $120 million (yeah, million) to expand its platform to running competitions as well as eSports tournaments.

Do You Wanna Be a Zwifter?

Ok, I know you do. It’s reasonable to join to Zwifting community. An account for runners is free (cyclists pay about $15 a month) and runners only need to purchase a RunPod. BibRave and Zwift partnered to offer 15% the cost of a RunPod with discount code BibRave15. That makes it $25.49 with free shipping in the U.S. Come Zwift with me and tell me what you think!

Ready to Get the Stink Out with WIN Detergent

Disclaimer: I received an WIN Detergent 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.

No one likes to talk about it but it happens to all of us. Stinky workout/tech clothes retain their stink even after washing. I smelled it before at many start lines. As clean tech clothes start to warm up the bacteria stored in them starts to wake up and then that stink smell starts to emit. No one is running yet, but the smell is there. WTF? It happens with my workout clothes too! This weird bacteria science experiment of smells doesn’t happen with cotton clothes but happens every time with technical or synthetic fabrics (I’ll explain later.) When BibRave gave us Pro’s the chance to test WIN Detergent, I opted in immediately!

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How WIN Works

Your Running shorts stink.

Have you ever just put on clean workout clothes and after a few minutes of just wearing them you start to smell something funky? That smell is the bacteria waking up on your tech clothes and the gas they are releasing. YUCK! Those tech clothes you wear are made with synthetic fibers. They are great for wicking away water, keeping you dry and keeping you chafe-free. But tech clothes tend to trap oil that feed bacteria. Then those bacteria release gas and that’s that funk/sweat smell you catch a whiff of before you even start working out. Niceeeeeee? Not!

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Cotton Doesn’t Have this Problem.

Did you know that cotton fabrics absorb water. This is why cotton is perfect for towels but not so perfect for workout wear. When you wear cotton and workout, the fabric will swell and that’s when chafing happens. Also, cotton naturally repels oils, so cotton usually doesn’t small as bad as synthetics.

Your Regular Detergent Won’t Help

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Whatever regular brand you use to wash your running clothes won’t help to get the stink out. I use a free and clear by Costco and although it’s great at getting stains and regular dirt out, it does not get that bacteria skunk out of my clothes. Regular detergent is optimized for cotton and not synthetic tech gear and not for getting the funk smell out. Ugh, this is totally grossing me out.

WIN Gets the Job Done

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The main difference between WIN Detergent and regular detergent is that WIN has the ingredients in its formula that separate the oils from the synthetic fibers. WIN will break that bond between oil and the synthetic fibers! WIN’s formula contains special detergent molecules called Surfactants. Pretty much all detergents have surfactants, but the type in WIN specifically work to get the oils out of synthetic fabrics. Want to geek out? Surfactants are two-sided molecules and one side is hydrophobic so it repels water and grabs onto the oil. The other side is hydrophilic so it grabs onto water. When the water goes down the drain after your wash cycle, so do the oils and the bacteria and that funk smell that NO ONE likes to talk about. Yay!

Since WIN removes that stink oil from your favorite workout wear, the wicking properties of your clothes are restored. So your tech clothes actually work better and smell better and now you don’t have to worry about if that gal next to you has a grimace on her face because she caught a whiff of your clothes or because she forgot her sunglasses. LOL!

WIN helped me

I tested out WIN because I will admit, my running clothes don’t smell pretty. To get the most out of WIN detergent, follow the directions and here are a few bonus tips.

Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale post-race stinky clothes and my son’s swim gear are not match to WIN Detergent!

Use the hottest water possible. That will help WIN remove the oil from your clothes faster. Think of it as if you are washing an oily pan in the sink you would use hot water and not cold. It’s the hot water that will help the surfactants even better to get that oil off.
Use 2oz. I always put in a double shot of WIN during my wash. This just got the stink out better than using 1oz. Also, my wash loads tend to be on the extra large side.
Double rinse. This is also important. Do a second rinse cycle. This ensures that all of the stinky oil goes away down the drain with the water.
Tumble Dry on Low. High drying temps could damage fabrics. Most synthetics, especially good wicking fabrics, dry quickly on a low.
Sensitive to fragrances? My entire family (including myself) is sensitive to extra fragrances in products. I was thrilled that I was able to test out the fragrance-free version of WIN Detergent. It works exactly the same as the regular WIN, but doesn’t have any added fragrance or dye!

Smell you later?

Sorry, I don’t mean to joke but if you own tech clothes then know that they smell if you use regular detergent. That’s just the stinky reality! BibRave and WIN is sweet enough to offer a discount code of 20% orders. Apply code RAVE4WIN to get 20% off any WIN purchase (individual bottle, 2-pack, or 4-pack.) This is good for orders on Amazon. Offer good through 1/15/2019. Limit one use per household.

Let me know what you think! Do your tech clothes smell better?

Check out some other reviews of WIN from other BibRave Pro’s:
The Marathon Lady
Run Katy Run

Trained Smart Only to Run Stupid

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale race 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.

Thankful to see the art my Dad made on the course. It gave me the boost I needed to plug on.

Open and Honest

I trained smart this training cycle only to throw it all away and run stupid on race day. My training plan had me to run a 10:15 pace and that would have given me a PR on my 15k at the Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale. On race morning I got stupid and instead ran a 10 minute pace the first 3 miles. But does that 15 seconds really make a big difference? Sure does. I overdid it and my breathing got out of control. Had to walk at mile 4. Yes, I was pissed. Got over it really quick and started running again. At that moment I knew I wouldn’t PR but I wasn’t giving up so I kept running strong. My dad made some metal art statues that were coming up on the course and seeing those gave me a huge boost. He died unexpectedly about 7 years ago and seeing what he made a year before he died was the positive vibes I needed. The Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale was a learning lesson of a race. It’s been a long time since I ran one of those, so I guess it was time for another. And this happened a good time too! I don’t want to make this mistake come PHX Mesa Half Marathon time. I need to continue to train smart and race smart so I could reach my half marathon PR goal.

Overall Glowing Race Review

Now that I put it all out there, let’s get to some happy stuff. The Hot Chocolate 15k is one of the only 15k races that takes place in Arizona. That makes race day super crowded, super fun and super sweet. I ran this race in 2014 and 2015 and most recently 2018 on December 2.

Pre-race: The people behind the Hot Chocolate brand have one of the most extensive and hype-worthy social media presence out there. If you follow them on Facebook or Instagram, you’ll see they post daily. And that’s a good thing! I was totally hyped up every time I saw their posts push through. Communication on their part was excellent. They let runners know about packet pick-up and how parking will be a struggle on race day. With the Hot Chocolate Scottsdale run, please know to pick up your bib early. I did on the first day as soon as the expo opened. I was in and out quickly and still had time to browse the vendors there.

The jacket this year is incredible. It’s in a lovely, on-trend burgundy color. It’s super lightweight and oh so soft. It has a hoodie and thumb holes and pocket. It’s my favorite Hot Chocolate jacket yet. Yes, I did wear it 2 days in a row and almost wore it work over a dress.

Race day: My alarm was set much earlier than normal and I hit the road knowing the 101 freeway would have closures (I read the email from the Hot Chocolate crew) and that parking will be crowded if I didn’t arrive before 7:15am. I got to the parking lot at 6:45am, there was a long line awaiting us. The volunteers got us through quickly.

My race didn’t start till 8:15am, but the 5k started at 7:30am. I chilled out in my car for a while until my friends arrived. Since the 15k didn’t start for a while, I decided to use the porta potties. This is an area of a missed opportunity. There simply wasn’t enough potties to go around. The lines were about 50 people deep and there were 25 potties. I suggest doubling the amount for next year. Or, maybe take some of the potties from the finish line to the start line. I noticed so many empty potties at the finish.

The corals moved quickly! That was great. And I was off! The course is nice. There are a few out and backs and that’s ok. Those out and backs made it fun to people watch. So many people dress up for the Hot Chocolate and it’s really fantastic to watch everyone. Even I wore a Sparkle Athletic skirt and Christmas tights.

There was tons of water and Nuun at the aid stations. I was grateful for that. I was concerned about the Swedish Fish and gummy bears though. The cold weather made them very hard to bite into and I didn’t want to choke. The marshmallows were perfect. Maybe there could be chocolate flavored marshmallows next year.

The finish line signs were perfect. I loved how a sign said I had 500 meters to go. That made me kick it in high gear. Then 400m to go, 300m, 200m, etc. It was great. I loved how the announcer said my name as I crossed the finish line.

A volunteer quickly gave me a medal and I was off to get my spoils of the finishers chocolate mug. This is the best part really. I chugged my hot chocolate, it was the perfect temperature to do so. And starting eating my goodies after dunking them in melted chocolate.

I noticed tons of empty porta potties and huge blowups to play in or take photos with, but I was tired and wanted to go home.

Exiting the parking lot was simple, it was emptied out quickly and I’m a middle of the pack runner so there was still about 1/2 the 15k’er on course when I left.

Post-race: I love race day photos. Hot Chocolate gives them for FREE. That’s a huge bonus in my book because I will purchase mine. Also, they came the day after the race. I am so thankful for that.

Also, I was able to jump on Athlinks.com and claim my race results. You can check out how I did it here, and while you’re at it, jump on and make an account too. Don’t forget to add me as a friend so we can go head-to-head in future races!

Overall, I encourage you to run the Hot Chocolate Scottsdale 15k once if you haven’t already.

Running Safe and Smart With Sabre

Disclaimer: I received Sabre Runner Pepper Gel with Adjustable Hand Strap 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.

Protecting myself by being smart and while carrying Sabre.

I play the scenario out in my head. Being attacked while running. Would I fight back? Yes. Would I scream? Hope so. Would I run away? I’ll try if my fighting back isn’t working. This is a reality that all outdoor runners — male or female — have to deal with. Society has been talking about it more because more people, women in particular, have been attacked or killed while doing something they are passionate about, running. I am careful while I am running and do particular things that I will elaborate more on but I didn’t run with protection. It was a surprise to me that BibRave was offering a unique testing opportunity. An opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Test pepper spray by Sabre. The interesting thing is, this isn’t ordinary pepper spray, it’s actually a pepper gel and Sabre is the most trusted brand by police. Here are ways that I keep safe while running and how I now incorporate Sabre in my running routine.

Be Aware of Surroundings

I’ll only run in the dark in areas I know, like my own neighborhood. I’m constantly looking and seeing and listening. Yes, I look behind my shoulder a lot. I’m not paranoid, I’m being observant. If you are running somewhere new, think about what could be there before you hit that run. Will there be commuters, animals (domesticated or not), train tracks, alley ways, no street lights, etc. If we are aware about surroundings, then it’s less likely we will be caught off guard by a sudden surprise.

Be Visible To Those Around You

My running clothes are bright or have reflective elements ironed on them (hello, Brilliant Reflective!) You’ll also find blinky lights on my head and hydro vest. I’ll put one red blinky light on the back and side that faces the street on my hydro vest. I look everyone in the eye and wave. That could be others walking or running and even people in their cars driving. Tired morning commuters see me better when I acknowledge them. I always remember that a person driving is NOT looking for people on bicycles, runners or walkers. They are looking for other cars, so acknowledging them goes a long way. A coyote will always be greeted with a stomp of my feet, loud clapping hands and a yell of “GO!” They run off when I do that. I even greeted two dogs off their leash that way! Thankfully they ran off.

Hand held protection by Sabre. The Runner Pepper Gel w/ adjustable hand strap.

Be Willing To Carry & Use Protection

I don’t ever want it to come to this, but I will protect myself any way possible against harm. Lately, I’ve been running with the Sabre Runner Pepper Gel with Adjustable Hand Strap. It’s a gel, so there isn’t blowback like from a spray. It has UV dye aids. I never thought about a pepper spray or gel having this technology. The UV marking dye aids in suspect identification. It’s the #1 brand trusted by police and consumers worldwide which included county sheriff & U.S. marshals from New York, Chicago PD and Los Angeles. The spray range is huge at 12 feet and Sabra mentions that is 20% greater range than other products. I get that running with extra running gear is cumbersome. During my multiple runs with the Sabre Runner Pepper Gel, I didn’t notice it on my hand. It also stayed on my hand securely because of the adjustable velcro hand strap. So I took it to my food scale and discovered It weighs only 1.4 ounces, even with the velcro hand strap and holder! It can also be used-multiple times, there is enough protection in the bottle for 35 bursts. This surprised me because I assumed that a pepper spray or gel is a one time use only.

Walking your dog while carrying the Sabre Runner Pepper Gel is easy.

Not just for running

For the most part, I run alone and that’s a good reason to carry the Runner Pepper Gel. But I also frequently walk my dog, Wally. He’s 30 pounds, so not totally a small dog but he could appear to be an easy target for a coyote or bobcat. I have both species living in the desert preserve behind my home. Sabre doesn’t recommend spraying the Runner Pepper Gel at dogs, they make a specific dog spray for that, a product that won’t permanently hurt the dog, just disable their attack in a humane way. If a coyote or other non-domesticated animals comes between me and Wally, I will spray it with the Runner Pepper Gel. I noticed that the Runner Pepper Gel is perfect for when you are walking a dog. The velcro strap makes it simple to keep the pepper gel on your hand while picking up doggy doo-doo. All I did was flip the strap and case around to the top of my hand, then proceeded to clean up. Once I was done, I just flipped it back. No need to put anything in my pocket. My protection was always there. Since protection is always near, Sabre built in a reinforced trigger with a twist lock. It can be turned on and off with the flip of your thumb. I’m right-handed and I found the pepper gel was easy to engage and disengage the twist lock with either my left or right hand.

Final takeaways

I had no idea that something so small could make me feel so confident. Each mornings run now includes me running with the Sabre Runner Pepper Gel. My brain is already in an euphoric state during most of my runs so it feels good that I could let my mind wander just a bit because I know I’m carrying strong protection.

If you are interested in the Sabre Runner Pepper Gel, it can be purchased from their website or from their Amazon store.

Do you want to feel it on your hand before you buy? I’ll be at the Scottsdale Half Marathon & 5k this Sunday, December 9th pacing the 2:50 half marathon group. I’m bringing the Sabre Runner Pepper Gel to show one of my Instagram runner friends. You are welcome to come check it out! Find me holding my pacer sign or comment here!

Curious what other BibRave Pro’s have to say? Here’s a compiled list of other blog reviews:
She Runs By Faith
Runner Antics
Back to Basics
Crazy Hamster
Preston Ramsey
Elbow Glitter
The Marathon Lady
BluegrassBAMR
She Runs By The Seashore
Running Around the Boyz
Marathang
Another Half Please
Living Loving Runner

Expo Love: Hot Chocolate Scottsdale

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale race 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.

My friend Mysti and I at the AllState photo booth.

Doesn’t a fantastic expo get you pumped for race day? The Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale expo did just that for me. Yesterday, I picked up my packet (and packets for 3 friends!) on the first expo day. Here are a few of the coolest things that stood out to me:

Long Line But Flew Through

I really thought I was a smart one to arrive at noon, as soon as expo doors opened. Apparently, everyone else had the same idea! The line to pick up bibs was long! My tummy did a little flip at first. I realized there was only one line. It wasn’t organized by last name letter. Hmm. I panicked because I thought I’d be in this line forever. Not the case. A Hot Chocolate volunteer was at the very front of the line, directing the next person to the first available volunteer bib-passer-outer-person. In about 3 minutes, I was already next! I handed the volunteer my QR codes and she quickly turned around, found my bib and my friends 3 bibs. She told me that my friends were all legacy and that I needed to go to the legacy booth to pick up their special gifts! I got serious FOMO, I’m not legacy. Then she directed me to the other end of the expo to get my jacket & goodie bag.

The Sweet Perks of Legacy

Technically, this is my 3rd time running The Scottsdale Hot Chocolate 15k. But there’s that little ol’ 2 year gap. Oops! I was swooning over the special swag legacy runners received. Similar to the bib pick up, the legacy pickup went super smooth! The volunteers at this table were extra peppy and congratulating me on my legacy status. Then I reminded her that only my friends are legacy. Boo! Still, she reassured me and told me to sign up again for next year. Excelling selling tactic!

My friends were celebrating their 3rd years of running Hot Chocolate 15k races and their extra swag included: a copper-colored mug medal and pin with the 3 year legacy logo on it, a legacy novelty bib and a legacy beanie. Curious if legacy status also gets you into shorter-line portopoties on race day morning! Now that would be a perk! LOL

All About the Jacket

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the Hot Chocolate swag jackets. That was a reason why I signed up for my first Hot Chocolate 15k back in 2014. And, check out my Instagram post, I still own and wear it. The jackets are that good. It’s just a different race perk that sets the Hot Chocolate races apart from other races. I have enough tech tees, so receiving a race jacket is a special treat. The 2018 jacket is extremely soft, lightweight and the in the most beautiful color. I’m glad the people at Hot Chocolate went with a muted color this year. So on trend. The men received a dark charcoal colored jacket in the same material.

The lines to pick up the jacket also went quickly. The volunteer asked me to try on my jacket and I was able to exchange it for a different size if needed at a booth on the end of the expo. My jacket fit well. Size M, thank you very much! I’ve been working hard at losing fat weight.

Ready to Race this 15k

So, who’s also racing tomorrow? I’m officially pumped to run my 3rd Hot Chocolate Scottsdale Race. I’ll be doing my flat runner later today and I’ll be dressed in BibRave Festive. Stay tuned!

The Turkey Trot With Heart

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Virtual Oakland Turkey Trot 5k race 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!

First Turkey Trot complete! Thank you Oakland Turkey Trot!

I never ran a turkey trot before.

I know, I know, I’m in the minority here. It’s difficult for me because I have lots to do on Thanksgiving morning and driving to run a race doesn’t fit. Thankful for the opportunity to virtually run the Oakland Turkey Trot through BibRave.

The Bay Area holds a special place in my heart. I lived there for about 4 years. Originally, I was born in Chicago. In 1982, my parents took me to San Jose and lived there till 1986. That is an important reason why chose to run the Oakland Turkey Trot, virtually on Thanksgiving Day.

The Turkey Trot With Heart

The Oakland Turkey Trot partnered with the Oakland Mayor’s Office, Alameda County Community Food Bank, Oakland Public Schools, and local sponsors and charities. 100% of proceeds are going straight back to the Oakland community! This is huge and another reason this was the race I chose for my first turkey trot.

They also had one of the coolest shirts designed and their #feastmode medal is pretty cool. I was impressed with the custom bib I received. See the photo I have attached to see the outfit I ran in on Thanksgiving morning.

I would have loved to actually run in Oakland around Lake Merritt. The course looks so pretty.

It was awesome how responsive Oakland Turkey Trot was on social media, especially Instagram. They posted a ton and liked my posts as well as shared some of posts and IG stories on their stories. It felt good to see that and get acknowledged.

If you want to run a fun turkey trot with a whole lot of heart, then choose the Oakland Turkey Trot. You can plan ahead and register here for 2019! https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=45514#register

My Most Flavorful Hot Chocolate 15k Yet?

Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Hot Chocolate 15k Scottsdale race 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!

In 10 short days, I’ll be racing my 3rd Hot Chocolate Scottsdale race. As I look back at the last two times I ran the race, I feel proud. My times improved by 2 minutes per mile in just one year! It’s fun to reminisce about the past times I ran this race and think about what my body could do on December 2.

2014 is when I first started running.

I was clumsy, my breathing was still out of whack, yet I loved it. It brought me pure joy! The longest race at that time for me was the 10k. Since I was new to running, 6 whole miles was a big deal. My goal was to run a half marathon in January and I needed some races to help build my confidence. I already was in training, but the races would be there to make the runs more fun. Hot Chocolate was coming up in December and the idea of eating chocolate while running sounded too good to be true! For the most part, I run races alone. I rather run alone. It’s like my own personal ‘me-time.’ So I signed up for the race alone and hoped for the best. I ended up totally surprising myself because this was the first time I ran 9 miles at once. One of the coolest things about the Hot Chocolate races is that so many runners dressed up in costume. It was incredibly fun to people watch! This fueled the fire in me to sign up again the following year.

2015 is when I finally had control of my body.

That concept never made sense to me prior to being a runner. In control of my body? How? I can move it, but I can’t push it hard because my body can’t take it. I’ll overheat, can’t breathe, my legs will fall off. Then, after a year of running I realized that I can push my body hard and sustain it. It was incredible. I finally felt powerful and in control. My speed was getting faster and I wanted to see what my body could do at the Hot Chocolate 15k. This time I dressed in a costume! My idea was a hostess cupcake but I think I ended up looking like a gingerbread cookie. I totally surprised myself that year and ran over 2 minutes faster than the year before! If you hadn’t noticed, I am smaller in size from 2014. I lost about 20 lbs of fat weight from running more, tracking my food & calorie intake, making healthy food choices and doing strength training.

andrea-heser-hot-chocolate-scottsdale_0001_Layer 0.jpg

2018 is when I …

That is the statement that has yet to be completed. In 2016 I had major work changes and my fitness went down, which meant my fat weight went up. Although, I kept getting PR’s and running happy, I wasn’t happy about the amount of fat I was carrying. 2018 is when I decided to gain back some control and track what I ate again. I’m proud to say I’m at or better in fitness than what I was in 2015, the last time I ran the Hot Chocolate 15k in Scottsdale. In 10 short days I’ll be able to prove to myself that I got it. I may be 3 years older now and just 1 year to 40, but I know I can beat my 2015 time.

Run with me on December 2nd! Code “BRHCScotts” gets you some extra swag, a free phone armband. Link to register: http://hotchocolate15k.com/scottsdale