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

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

I Love The Light Life

Disclaimer: I received an SPIbeams LED Visor 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!

The startline was dark at the November 4, 2018 3TV Phoenix Half Marathon . I came prepared to pace the 2:40 group with my SPIbeams LED Visor . — The startline was dark at the November 4, 2018 3TV Phoenix Half Marathon. I came prepared to pace the 2:40 group with my SPIbeams LED Visor.

Words I can’t believe I’m saying: I miss the summer. I live in Phoenix, so I must be crazy to utter those words. It’s finally starting to cool off and shorts are being traded for long pants. Yet, I miss the summer. It’s because I miss those pre-5a.m. sunrises. More light means safer and happier running for me. As the fall season starts to progress, the days are getting shorter and morning runs feel like night runs with the sun rising later. I’m more of a daytime runner. When the opportunity came to test the SPIBelt Beams LED Visor, I had to jump on it. I had other tools to keep me safe on the run, but now I could have something to light my way, other than a headlamp. Here are my favorite features of this supercharged visor.

Morning runs now include the @SPIBELT Beams LED Visor. Light to brighten the sidewalk & the visor to protect my eyes during sunrise.

Dark to light, still shine bright

The interesting thing about headlamps is that they work well when you start and end your run in the dark. But what if you start your run in the dark and end it in the sun? What do you do with your headlamp? When this was my problem, I left it on my head and then suffered when the sun would rise because I had nothing to protect my eyes. Also, nothing to protect my forehead from sunburn. This is where the SPIbeams LED Visor is brilliant, both in idea and brightness. I can wear my visor at night with the lights turned on. There is a main on/off switch in the sweatband and a quick switch under the brim. As the sun starts to rise, I just turn off the front lights from under the brim. Then I can still keep my visor on to trap sweat and keep the sun out of my eyes. Totally brilliant.

Around mile 11 of the October 13, 2018 Craft Classic Phoenix Half Marathon where my Beast Pacing teammate and I paced the 2:45 group.

Race wear, hardly there

Race day is a critical time in that you can’t be bogged down. I hesitate wearing anything extra because I don’t want the weight on me. I wore the SPIbeams LED Visor during two half marathons I paced. Each of them had a pre-dawn arrival time. I didn’t have the capacity to carry a flashlight or wear a headlamp because there wasn’t anywhere to put it when as the sun rose. SPIbeams saved the day again, with the front LED lights that could be easily turned on and off. That’s not the only plus on race day though. During both races, I didn’t notice the visor on my head and it’s because it’s super lightweight. It weighs approximately 2.6oz.

A few of my favorite things

Check out the annotated graphic for my favorite features of the SPIbeams LED Visor. Cool features include: it’s super lightweight, 4 LEDs on the front that shine 128 lumes, 2 red LEDs on the back closure, on/off quick switch under brim, replaceable batteries inside sweatband.

If you’d ask me what my favorite feature is, I’d tell you the 2 blinky LED lights on the back. To me, that gets a drivers attention.

Interesting observations and conclusions

During two runs and one race, I wore my SPIbeams LED Visor. I took a risk and won. Nothing broke, but it could have. The components of the main on/off switch are not waterproof. Lot’s of water poured down on me and thank goodness nothing happened. The electrical wires could have been damaged. With that being said, I don’t recommend running with this visor in the rain unprotected. Maybe wear it with a waterproof hood covering the sweatband part.

During my last half marathon this past Sunday, I realized the sweatband was covered in my own salt! Yikes! SPIbelt does recommend handwashing with specific instructions on their website. I plan on doing that this weekend.

I’m pleased with my SPIbeams LED Visor and glad it’s keeping me safe on the run and race. SPIbelt is generous and offering a 20% discount on purchases through November 12. Apply code BIBRAVE at checkout. Also, all orders in the U.S. include free shipping.

Scoobtober 10k — Can Wally Do It?

Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Scooby-Doo Virtual Run Series 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!

Earlier this month, Wally and I decided to the 10k distance of the Scooby-Doo Scoobtober Virtual Run. We did so well last month during the Scooby-Doo Do Good 5k, that we decided to take on the challenge of the extra 3.1 miles for the the Halloween-themed run. I try to be the best dog-mom, but I noticed I haven’t been walking Wally much. The Scooby-Doo run series helped me get Wally out the door which made him a happier pup!

Happy Birthday to you Wally! Yes, I made him a hat and this is him on his actual birthday earlier this month. Hear how he asks for a hotdog treat here . — Happy Birthday to you Wally! Yes, I made him a hat and this is him on his actual birthday earlier this month. Hear how he asks for a hotdog treat here.

On October 1st, Wally turned 9-years-old! In human years, that’s about 56-years-old, which means technically he just entered the senior category of dog ages according to Pet Health Network. Wally still might act like a puppy with his playful ways, but that doesn’t mean he has the stamina of one.

Our Scoobtober 10k effort must be deliberate. We only go for a half a mile maximum. His pace varies from a 14 to a 20 minute mile. Also, even though it’s cooler out, the pavement is still warm. I try to get him outside before noon or after 6 p.m. for our 25 minute average walks.

We only have 4 more walks to go until we reach our goal! The swag he’ll get is really pretty and will look nice against his cream colored fur. I’ll keep you posted on how Wally does on his last leg of this 10k. So far, so good!

Salivating at the Opportunity to Taste Test Luvo

Disclaimer: I received a Luvo Vegan Essentials Bundle 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 have no shame by telling you that 50% of the food my family and I consume comes from the frozen section. It’s the ease and minimal prep that appeals to me most. When BibRave put out the opportunity for their pros to test Luvo Foods, you know I was champing at bit to get on board. There are four huge reasons why I’m thrilled to taste the Luvo Vegan Essentials Bundle, and here they are:

1) A Good Pair:

My family loves how I prepare chicken. It’s quite simple, I bake chicken breast dusted with lemon pepper seasoning. Problem is, I’m never sure what to have as a side dish. Usually it’s the same ol’ thing; can of green beans. I decided to try the Luvo Vegan Essentials Bundle because it has the variety of flavors that I hope would pair perfectly with my mild flavored chicken.

2) Low on Sugar:

During the summer, I decided to cut back sugar from my diet. So far, doing so helped me loose 20 pounds and curb my sugar cravings dramatically! I’d like to help my family curb their sugar cravings too. I chose the Luvo Vegan Essentials Bundle because of the low sugar content per serving. Their Great Karma Coconut Curry and Chana Masala bowls only have 2-5g of sugar per serving.

3) Right Balance:

Finding food that is fast and nutritious is tricky. It makes my heart warm to know that Luvo has guiding principles when it comes to their products. They feel food should be nutritious while limiting sodium and added sugar. Also, they so no to artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Also, the meals I chose are gluten free and vegan.

4) Fast Foodie:

My time is simply limited. Swim team lessons for my son 3x a week, my running 3x a week, school, packing lunches, making dinner, husband & wife time, oh and me working full-time; it all adds up. Frozen food has been my go-to. I love how each of the bowls in the Luvo Vegan Essential Bundle take only 4-4 1/2 minutes in the microwave. And since I cook up a bunch of my famous chicken ahead of time, I can get dinner on the table in less than 10 minutes, with a veggies that actually taste fantastic.

Dinner is Served

My order just came in tonight! The Luvo Vegan Essential Bundle comes with 2x of the following flavor bowls: So Cal Kale & Bean, Hawaiian Un-Fried Rice, Great Karma Coconut Curry & Chana Masala. Which flavor should I try tonight with dinner?

Hawaiian Un-Fried Rice

Chana Masala

Great Karma Coconut Curry

Gear Review: Knockaround Sunglasses

Disclaimer: I received two pairs of K nockarounds 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!

Last month I had the opportunity to test another cool product with BibRave. On the review docket for the month of August were two pairs of Knockaround Sunglasses. These sunnies really have it all: superior quality, adorable colors, awesome for activities and they are crazy affordable. I put in my request to test their Premiums in Pool Blue with Sunset polarized lenses and to my surprise they mailed me those and a more modest pair of Premiums in Glossy Tortoise Shell with polarized Amber lenses. Let’s get to the nitty gritty on Knockarounds.

Superior Quality

These shades hold up! I’m rough and tough with sunglasses. That’s why I don’t purchase sunnies with a triple digit price tag! I have been careful to keep these in their soft carry case while transporting from my laptop duffle to purse to running vest and they are holding up. Also dropped them a few times, lens down and no scratches. Check out the annotated infographic I designed to see some of the great quality features Knockarounds have:

Adorable Colors

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From themed running races, to favorite sports teams, to everyday looks, Knockarounds has a color for you. I choose Pool Blue with Sunset lenses because I know how good the blue would look against my skin tone and against my BibRave orange singlet! I had no idea they would send me a Glossy Tortoise Shell which looks fab with my natural hair color. They also design limited edition pairs that are seriously super cool. If I were to set myself up with Knockaround entourage, these would be the colors I’d choose.

Awesome for Activities

No bouncy bounce for me when I ran a fast 5k in my Pool Blue Sunsets. They fit my face perfectly. I like how the frames are wide. It’s like they were made for my wide round face. No glare from the polarized lenses either. Check me out at mile 2.85 at the StartLine Racing last race of their Sunrise Series in Glendale, AZ. Happy runner indeed!

Crazy Affordable

You heard me mention this before. I’m on a budget. NBD though cause Knockarounds are crazy affordable. They range from $15-35 a pair. You read that correctly. No triple digit price tags. Low double-digit price tags here! That means I can sign up for more races and continue to keep my son on swim team. Every penny counts in my household.

Happy Shopping

You know that pretty much all of my gear reviews come with a discount code, so here it is! Apply code BibRaveKnocks20 to your order for 20%. Good till 9/30 and one code per person. https://knockaround.com/ Happy Shopping!

Run-life to Work-life, AfterShokz TrekzAir Has Me Hearing Clearly

Disclaimer: I received a pair of AfterShokz Trekz Air in Canyon Red 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!

The idea of having a go-to pair of headphones always sounded so cool to me yet I couldn’t find the perfect pair. In the past, I’ve seen those people with their headphones/buds on planes, in their car, running at races and at work and just happy as can be. Maybe they have a specific pair to wear at work to chat on video calls, and a different pair to down out noises while on a plane and then another pair for when they work out. That’s annoying because that is what I was dealing. I had a pair of earbuds for running, over-ear-headphones for work and nothing for hands-free video or regular calls. This is exactly why I decided to opt-in to test the Trekz Air by AfterShokz, Could finally have it all with one product?

What’s in The Box?

UPS My Choice just alerted me that my package will be delivered. Next thing I know, there is a knock at the door and here are my Trekz Air! This was during one of my remote days and I was working from home, so opening up the box had to wait till after work.

You probably know that my background is in graphic design and my degree is in visual communication. All design intrigues me, especially package design. AfterShokz didn’t disappoint. At first inspection, the design is clean, modern and crisp. The words Trekz Air are foil stamped on the front in shiny silver. Same with some product points on the left side. What’s not clean and crisp? The real model photographed on the front. She looks like she just finished working hard with sweat droplets on her face and messy hair. She’s diverse. She looks like me (well sorta!) I want to be her. Or at least put in the work like she did. Hmm, things are looking pretty authentic, and I like it.

The package opens from the right by pulling on a small folded ribbon and separating the hidden magnet closure. BE OPEN is seen on the inner flap. Then I see another photo of a focused dude who actually looks like he’s working out. My eyes light up when I see the beautiful Canyon Red’s behind the plastic window on the right of the box. It was kinda tricky opening that window — I don’t like to ruin any product packaging. I’m with this with all packaging, even for food!

Carefully, I removed the Trekz Air, placed them aside, and checked out the accessories that came with them. Included in the box are:

Trekz Air in Canyon Red
Micro-USB Charging Cable
Silicone-like zip-up storage case
Earplugs in a clear storage box
User guide

First Impressions and Step Up

If you closed your eyes and touched the surface of the Trekz Airs, you’d notice how smooth their texture was. The construction of them is built well. Nothing sharp or awkward sticks out. There isn’t a place where stray hairs could get caught. They are beautifully designed. That super soft smooth texture extends to the silicone-like zip-up storage case. It’s lined with mesh and holds the headphones perfectly.

First, I made sure to charge up my Trek Airs completely. They had a little charge on them already, but the user guide specifically says to charge first. Once the LED light turned from red to blue (about 2 hours), I was ready to pair. Pairing was simple. I made sure the Bluetooth was turned on in my smartphone settings. While the headphones are powered off, I put them on. At that moment I realized how incredibly light they are. They only weigh 1.06 oz! I entered pairing mode by pressing and holding the volume+ button on the right bottom. The LED light flashed red and blue. Once I heard Audrey say ‘pairing’ I went to my smart phone’s Bluetooth menu again and selected Trekz Air by AfterShokz”. She said ‘connected’ and the LED flashed blue one time. I did this same sequence when pairing to my work laptop.

Most of the buttons are on the under part right side. Those include the power and volume control as well as the charging port and LED indicator. Those buttons control the volume up/down, power on/off, mute, EQ setting and battery status. The left outside houses the multifunction button. That button can play/pause music, skip to the next song, answer/end a phone call, answer call waiting and put the current caller on hold or hang up on the current caller, reject a call, prompt device assistant and redial the last number. The power/volume+ button has a nice embossed bump on it so it’s easy to find when your headphones are on.

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The Tech Behind the Tech

Trekz Air is truly a remarkable technology product. It’s insane how we can listen to music with bone conduction technology. Although, Beethoven was using this tech in the 1800s. He found a way to hear music through his jawbone by biting a rod attached to his piano.

According to AfterShokz, Bone conduction is a natural part of the hearing process—sound travels through our eardrums and bones simultaneously. They took the concept to the next level through the development of a suite of proprietary audio technologies and design patents. The result: headphones that deliver unrivalled situational awareness and comfort. Transducers guide mini vibrations through the cheekbones to the inner ears, delivering sound without plugging or covering them. They also implement PremiumPitch. They say that it doesn’t seem sensible that audio travelling through your bones instead of your ears could be so finely tuned. It wouldn’t be possible without our PremiumPitch technology, which assures the finest in bone conduction audio, with a range that suits music and voice. Gosh, I love tech!

Workout or Work They Work!

They became my favorite headphones after my first test. While sweating it out on the run with my 90s Dance Jams Spotify playlist, I was still able to hear the outside world. Heard my neighbor & his two dogs bark hello while ‘2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted’ blared. Heard a covey of quails call out while ‘I Like to Move It’ roared. Heard many of my neighbors start their engines for their morning commute while ‘Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg’ boomed on. I never, ever experienced this with over-ear headphones or earbuds. Also, no ear pain from stuffing earbuds into my ears.

During a work trip, I brought them with me to the hotel gym and did a treadmill workout with my FitBit Coach app. No cords got in my way, which freak me out around treadmills, and I could hear my coach and my new-to-me environment.

They didn’t even fall off my head during planks, downward facing dogs or jumping jacks when I wore them during a FitBit Coach strength session. In the past, I would do my FitBit Coach strength sessions at home and listen via the speaker on my phone. Then, I would worry if I was disrupting my family. Thankful for the Trekz Air lightness and stability during these sessions and how I don’t wake anyone up.

My job has me on calls and video chats at least 2x a day. What?! You thought all I do is run and review products huh? By day, I work full time as a sr . art director for Manifest. They are an agency that has locations around the nation. I really didn’t consider AfterShokz as a brand that could help me with my day job. Well, they can and they did. Trekz Air helped me so I could participate in calls AND take notes AND do design work all while my team hears me clearly, hands-free. I felt confident when my teammates told me they could hear me while I took a call through my headphones. Trekz Air is so beyond just listening to music!

Beautiful Tech

One of the 2018 Fall/Winter Pantone colors is 19-1536: Deliciously deep red, whose luscious depth entices. It resembles the Trekz Air Canyon Red color so well and believe me, they do entice. I love how deep muted tones are making a comeback. According to Pantone, the deep muted hues are a comforting classic. I even matched my lip color and nail color to the Canyon Red. It’s pretty cool how Canyon Red goes with my skin tone so well. It’s the Canyon Red color that makes me feel so comfortable to wear them out and about and to work. Nothing flashy, just a classic and signature look.

Final Thoughts

I found my unicorn of headphones, Trekz Air by AfterShokz. They really can do it all. For the past month, they’ve taken me from run-workout to strength-workout and to work. I’m honestly surprised that a headphone could do all that seamlessly. If you are curious and would like to try a pair for yourself, BibRave partnered with AfterShokz with $55 off of their Trekz Air Bundle. Apply code BRBUNDLE for a package that includes: your choice of Trekz Air color (Slate Grey, Forrest Green, Midnight Blue or Canyon Red), BibRave Trucker Hat, Shoe Bag, Sport Towel and Cell Phone Power Bank.

Read what other BibRave Pros had to say:
Run Bigfoot Run
Fitful Focus
LiveLaughExplore
I Run On Beer
Once Upon A Run
Run Katy Run
This Old Runner

Amphipod Knows Hydration Vests

“Disclaimer: I received a PureRun Minimalist Hydration Vest by Amphipod 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!”

It’s crazy that a hydration pack actually makes me feel safer on the run. I’m like a pack-rat runner, I like to carry everything with me and find stuff while I’m out. There was a joke amongst my girl-run-squad that my running spirit animal is a hamster because I ran all night once. This is why I pounced on the opportunity to test out the PureRun Minimalist Hydration Vest by Amphipod. I had a 13k trail run coming up with Aravaipa Running and I knew this vest would be perfect for the race and for upcoming training. Also, ever since my ultra, I’ve just come to love to run with a hydration vest. My last vest was a no-name knock-off and I can tell you that I feel like a big girl now with my Amphipod.

Carrying It All

I love to take it all with me when I run: whistles, pepper spray, my phone, a knife, fuel, my iPod (yep, it’s 13 years-old!), water, mini-tripod (for action photos), sunblock and my keys. I get that running with all that stuff can slow you down, especially on interval speed days. But the PureRun Minimalist Hydration Vest never let dragged down. I can carry it all without discomfort, the vest is light as can be. When empty the PureRun weighs 7.7oz.

My heart did a happy dance when I saw all the storage pockets and space and then it did a flip when I realized the chest stash pockets expand! There is room for everything on this vest, you could even store a 2L hydration bladder in the back. The PureRun comes standard with two 12oz. bottles for hydration. Those are great, although I prefer drinking water from a hydration bladder. I did pack in a bladder from a previous purchase and it works great. Amphipod doesn’t tell bladders (yet), so I recommend finding one on eBay or Amazon.

Custom, For Me?

So, could a vest really be custom for everyone? PureRun most definitely is. The 360º CinchFit Stability straps helped me cinch the vest tightly around my waist to ensure no bouncing while I was running the 13k race at the Dam Good Run. The 3-Lateral Stabilization System straps are great but the 3rd strap was a bit awkward around my chest (lady-runner problems.) Thankfully the PureRun is so customizable that I was able to slip off the strap and run comfortably with only two. The vest comes in two sizes: Size 1 for a 24”-40” torso and Size 2 for a 36”-50” torso. I am a size 10-12 in women’s clothing with a 36 D bra size and I chose size 2 because of my bust.

All Gains, No Pains

Extra gear on your body means extra sore spots and chaffing, right? Nope. Not with the PureRun. The vest is LIGHT. My 13k trail run took me a little over 2 hours to complete. That’s 2 hours in the full desert sun and the temps were approaching 90 degrees at the finish line. I was covered in salt at the end. But the minimalist design, custom fit for no bounce and free-flow Air Mesh cooling construction of the PureRun left me chafe-free! I didn’t sunburn either. I was able to pack a full-size of sunblock in the front storage pocket and I applied it 4x during the race!

Conclusion

Watch-out vest competitors, Amphipod did a terrific job with their PureRun Minimalist Hydration Vest and people are going to turn to them now for their vest needs. Amphipod is a leader when it comes to waist hydration-belts and visibility (I’ve owned and run with the Xinglet Pocket in Hi-Viz for over 4 years) so it’s a no-brainer that they would lead with a hydration vest. If you would like to learn more about the PureRun and purchase one yourself ($100), please check out the Amphipod website — http://www.amphipod.com/products/hydration/purerun-vests/purerun-minimalist-24.

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See what other BibRave Pros have to say:
RunnerGirl1612
TrailRunningFaith
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The Importance of Expressing Myself on the Run

Disclaimer: I received BibBoards 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!

Flashy, smiley, happy, mouth-open, grinning from ear-to-ear, arms up, bright, sparkly, patterns.

These are adjectives that describe me on race day runs. Running didn’t come easy for me. I worked hard to get faster and go longer distances over the past four years and I’m proud of what I achieved. Expressing myself on race day is important because it reminds me to think positive during the tough times. This is why I was tickled pink to test out BibBoards as a BibRave Pro. Not only does BibBoards save your favorite race shirts from holes and rust, they actually look adorable and are another way to express your personality on the run.

You better believe it that I went with the Heart Eyes BibBoards. Look how cute they are! They would go perfect with my race day outfits. I officially tested them out during the Runner’s Den Pancake Run last weekend.

Quality: Overall the quality of Bibboards is great. The plastic is tough and rigid and the printing of the graphic looks crisp and bright. They felt good in my hands. Not too light but a bit heavier than a safety pin. They reminded me of a rivet or a snap fastener.

Application: Putting them on was much easier than I expected. I noticed that the back fastener part of the BibBoard has a flat side. 1️⃣ Grab the opposite side of the flat side, lift up and the backing will quickly pop off. Repeat for all 4 fasteners. 2️⃣ While your race shirt is on, position your bib to the exact spot you want it on your shirt. With one hand, push the front piece stud through the one of the top race bib holes. Snap the back piece onto the stud from the inside of your shirt fastening the shirt and bib between the two pieces. 3️⃣ Finish up by fastening the other three corners of your bib.

In Action: For the first time I raced with a flat bib. Not only do safety pins ruin shirts with rust and holes but I never was able to position my bibs correctly. They would be on my shirt crooked, flap, bunch, get crinkled and sometimes tear away. Also the sound of a floppy bib while racing is enough to make me pull my hair out. BibBoards solved those problems during my 10k.

No race? That's ok, wear them as buttons! — No race? That’s ok, wear them as buttons!

Expression: Remember how much I love to express myself on the run? BibBoards is another fun way to do that. I choose the Heart Eyes graphic because I love running and hearts look so darn cute. But did you know that BibBoards takes custom orders? This would be perfect for track clubs, run teams, Ragnar runners or anyone who wants to show off a little bit of who they are while they are running. Check out my dream set of BibBoards. Remember that this set would be one order of Heart Eyes and three custom orders because you have to order custom BibBoards in a pack of four. I thought this set would be perfect for my 50k run squad friends. No race? No problem. I discovered that BibBoards could be placed anywhere if the fabric is thin enough. I think of them as buttons on non-race days and apply them to my shirt in a creative display.

Do you like to express yourself on your runs and also like the idea of not ruining race shirts? Oh good! BibBoards is offering 20% off orders with code #BibChat. Please let me know what you think and send me a photo of you on race day or of your custom order.

It’s My Time To Shine

Disclaimer: I received Brilliant Reflective 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.

Simple and monotone was the look of the Runner’s World Jan/Feb issue’s Run Outfit of the Day. Too bad that’s not my style, I’m afraid I’d blend into the streets and sidewalks. See, I want to be seen! My running wardrobe consists mostly of ultra-bright colors, neon accents and — when possible — reflective details. I need to be seen because my miles happen mostly during the pre-sunrise or post-sunrise. This is what we call working-married-mom-life. Family comes first and I need to run while they sleep or after dinner during down time.

Not all clothing or shoes for that matter have the reflection that I yearn for. Um, hello Brooks Levitate? Running shoe purchases are big purchases in my world. I didn’t bat an eyelash when I paid $150 for my silver Levitates back in October 2017. When I got home I noticed something that was different from the other Brooks I’ve owned in the past. Where was the reflection details? I knew they weren’t going to be as bright as my Altra Impulse Flash, but these didn’t give one bit of reflective detail! Still, I wore them during the dark hours and honestly I didn’t feel all that safe in them.

As a BibRave Pro I get the opportunity to test, try and review new products. When the team was asked to test Brilliant Reflective, I jumped on the opportunity. This was my time to make my Levitate’s shine! Application was easy, their instructions were straightforward, and the results are brilliant.

Here is my step-by-step process for applying Brilliant Reflective iron-on to my Brooks Levitates:

Step 1: Read instructions. Twice. Clear off your work space and gather your supplies. Heat up iron and face it away from you. One thin strip of black Brilliant Reflective cut in half was used or my Levitate's. Gently clean the surface of your shoes. — **Step 1:** Read instructions. Twice. Clear off your work space and gather your supplies. Heat up iron and face it away from you. One thin strip of black Brilliant Reflective cut in half was used or my Levitate’s. Gently clean the surface of your shoes.

Step 2: Place the strip on the area you want reflection. This was tricky for me because of my shoe's convex shape at the heel. Be very careful when ironing on these rounded surfaces. Gently, I ironed the bottom of the strip first then the top for 30-60 seconds. Not seen is the paper towel I placed in between the strip and iron. — **Step 2:** Place the strip on the area you want reflection. This was tricky for me because of my shoe’s convex shape at the heel. Be very careful when ironing on these rounded surfaces. Gently, I ironed the bottom of the strip first then the top for 30-60 seconds. Not seen is the paper towel I placed in between the strip and iron.

Step 3: Repeat on other shoe. After the strips cooled for a minute, remove the clear layer from them. Time to shine! — **Step 3:** Repeat on other shoe. After the strips cooled for a minute, remove the clear layer from them. Time to shine!

The Brilliant Reflective strips have been holding up well on my shoes. I’ve put about 30 miles on them so far and they have been sticking great. If lifting occurs, all I need to do is re-iron that area. It is a product for me because I need to be seen during my low-light runs and this is an easy way to achieve that. The other areas I applied the iron-on strips to were my Foxelli headlamp (see my application process on IG) and the stick-on to my face! If you too run in the dark, I recommend that you give Brilliant Reflective a try. Save a few dollars by applying code BRP25 to save 25% off of all Multi/Assortment Packs. Shine bright friends!