Thursday Training Update with Mizuno Wave Inspire 12

As a FitFluential Ambassador, I was given the opportunity to try the new Mizuno Wave Inspire 12s before they hit stores on October 28th. As always, all opinions are my own.

The shoes arrived at a perfect time. I was ending my 6 week break from running, so that my foot could heal. I couldn't wait to wear them, I actually ended up running a mile in them  before my 6 weeks was up! Can you blame me? They.are.so.pretty.

They fit well, too. The toe box has just enough extra room, and they are nice and snug around my foot and heel. The first couple of runs were a little stiff, but that may have been my feet getting back into the groove. I wore them for some training runs and a race.

Overall, I am very happy with the shoes. They are definitely a little stiffer than the ones I was previously wearing, but I don't find that to be a deterrent at all. They feel really good on my feet,  there is no pinching, no blisters. The true test will be at Rock n Roll Brooklyn this weekend, but I am confident that all will be well for that distance as well. They grip the street and the boardwalk well, and even in the sand I was comfortable. I will test them on a trail soon, although it is more dirt road than actual trail.

I recommend these to anyone who needs a solid support shoe.

From Mizuno:

Wave Inspire 12: Built-In Support System  Dynamically supportive.

Flexibly light.  
The new Wave Inspire 12 has the lightweight support you need to farther and longer.

With an improved upper that provides a soft-yet-structural fit and increased blown runner for maximum durability, this shoe provides the stability you need to stay on the road longer. 
What’s New 

Improved upper has a supportive design for a soft-yet-structural fit.  

Increased blown rubber in the forefoot for improved durability and softness. 

Redesigned, U4ic midsole platform provides more ground contact and a softer touch down. 
Tried and true tech 

Double Fan Wave for moderate support without the stiffness.  

Support shoe without the weight.

In stores on October 28th, be on the look out!

Wordless Wednesday

#ComfortVoxBox from @Influenster

Last week I received a complimentary Vox Box for testing purposes.
It actually arrived right around the same time as Hurricane Joaquin, which was fortuitous!
The first thing I reached for was the Fisher Nut Exactly snack bites. They were the perfect snack during the Giants game. Almond popcorn dipped in chocolate? Yes, please! I had to put the bag away before I ate the whole thing! 15 calories a piece is all fine and good until you eat the whole bag!

The Fiber Choice Immunity Support Fruity Bites are also super handy at this time of year. I babysit a pre schooler a couple times a week, and it's cold and flu season.  I need all the help I can get. Made from 100% natural fiber found in fruits and veggies and an excellent source of Vitamin C. Score!

Also included in my box was a sample of Tide Ultra Stain Release FREE. As in, free of all dyes and perfumes. I have been using a different brand of perfume and dye free detergent for a couple.of years now. I developed an allergy to regular detergents. I really liked using the Tide, and I am super excited about the coupon that was included, so that I can buy more!

Next was a carton of Annie's Homegrown Organic Soup, chicken and stars! Boy saw this and too it right away. He is a super picky soup eater and he just loved it! He wants me to buy more, which I am glad about.

Last, but definitely not least, was a coupon for free Ragu sauce. We actually use Ragu. A lot. Score points for me. The hubs is italian, and this is the only jar of sauce he will let me buy.

I really enjoyed this box, I am looking forward to the next one. What was in your last VoxBox?

Race for the Cure Great Adventure Recap

Have you ever done a race so many times that you arrive on race day with grand expectations? The Race for the Cure has always been one of my favorite races. It was my very first 5k, and this year was my 6th year running it. I almost failed because of Hurricane Joaquin, and the crazy weather. And then I remembered all of the great companies handing out swag, all of the fun entertainment before the race, and all of the food before and after the race. It was always a great time!
Imagine my surprise when I arrived at great adventure and they directed me to a different parking lot. It was a much smaller lot and it's usually were the race started and ended. I figured that this was because they had made a new route for the race, which included running through the Safari. I was super excited about running through the Safari, so I didn't mind the craziness of a new parking lot.

I could see right away that things were different this year. There were no tents for the teams, and there are very few tense for companies that are usually there. I am so glad I brought my own granola bar because this year there were no companies handing out yogurt, granola bars, or any other food for that matter. I did eventually find a representative from ShopRite who was handing out water bottles and mini muffins.

Ford was also there handing out their Ford cares scarves and of course Komen was there and they had a wheel to spin where you can choose a scarf or a collapsible water bottle.

After a lot of searching, I finally found the registration tent, which had no signs to let you know where you should go if you had pre registered or if you need to register on site. It was one long line that you had to stand on regardless of whether you had registered early or not. This was super frustrating, because a lot of people had it registered, and  I had to wait on line behind them for my turn to go to the table if you had already registered. Ugh! 

It was finally my turn, and I gave my name and my daughters name and they handed me two bibs with 2015 on them. I pointed out that I was a runner, and they said that everyone was getting the same babe this year, with no timing chip, because they were not Timing the event. At this point I was super frustrated because I had paid $35 for registration and I definitely wasn't getting what I expected. 

I headed over to the stage, where I took most of the pictures above, and danced for almost an hour, since I didn't need that time to visit the different tables I had plenty of time to dance. They had a great DJ, who really got the crowd going, and they had the survivors parade which was very emotional for everyone involved. Finally my daughter and her friends arrived, and we all decided that since it wasn't and we would just walk the whole thing and have a good time.

The course was very well marked, and there were plenty of volunteers to let you know where to go for the 5k and the one mile distance. You could see quite a few animals but you had to walk pretty far to get to them and it was very muddy, so we didn't get any pictures. We had a lot of fun, laughed and joked a lot, and finished in a little over an hour. We would have gone faster, but there were lots of Teams walking together and they were spread out so wide across that you couldn't get around in most situations.

As we were getting to the finish line, I started thinking about how delicious the apples and the granola bars would be, and I started getting hungry. Imagine my surprise when, as we crossed the finish line, we weren't handed so much as a bottle of water. No one from the race was really cheering for anyone, and there was not much in the way of support. After you walked through the finish line, there were no tables full of food, no water bottles, not even a small cup of water. So disappointed. I will not be returning next year.

Week 4 of the #BOSUStrong Challenge

This week is the very last week of the #bosustrong challenge that has inspired me to move more. Before starting the challenge, my goal was to get stronger and now that we’re in the final week I plan to_keep getting stronger every week.

This week we’re focusing on the things that make us BOSUStrong. Here are the 10 things that make me #BOSUStrong:

• I am persistent.
• I will always keep on trucking__.
• I never _give up__.
• I do__my best.
• I love to_learn new ways to work out__.
• I am inspired to_change my body.
• I love to encourage others to_push their limits_.
• I have _amazing friends and family_.
• I am proud of _my efforts in this challenge_.
• I hope to _inspire others to do the same_.

So I want to know – are you #BOSUStrong? Copy and paste the above, fill it in and make it your own and then tag me in it and share with your friends! Let’s all be #BOSUSTRONG.


Week 4, SHOW US YOUR #BOSUSTRONG! (10/5-10/9):
(Make sure you tag @Bosu_Fitness on Instagram & @BosuFitness on Twitter):

• Monday, 10/5: It’s #moveitmonday. Show us how you’re moving it this Monday. #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Bonus: Y’all know we love to #jumpjoymonday! Show us your BEST jump shot and tag @BOSU_Fitness @FitApproach #BOSUStrong #FitFamily #SweatPink #ad

• Tuesday, 10/6: It’s #tempotuesday! Show us what makes you #BosuStrong! @BOSU_Fitness @FitApproach #BOSUStrong #FitFamily #SweatPink #ad

• Bonus: It’s #triceptuesday and we want to see what makes you #BosuStrong. #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Wednesday, 10/7: Planks, planks and more planks! Plank it out and show us how you’re #BosuStrong @BOSU_Fitness @FitApproach #BOSUStrong #FitFamily #SweatPink #ad

• Bonus: #workitwednesday, show us how you’re workin’ it this Wednesday and tag #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Thursday, 10/8: It’s #totalbodythursday. Show us your favorite total body move – the one that truly makes you feel #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Bonus: Give us a #tbt of your favorite moment of this challenge #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Friday, 10/9: #FreeFriday. Show us your #BOSUstrong! #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Bonus: Happy #forearmfriday. Let’s all celebrate the final day of the challenge with dolphin pose! #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

Notes: You do not need to own or have access to a BOSU to participate. By participating you will have a chance to win a BOSU and other fun prizes. And please, if you are using a BOSU throughout this challenge, never stand on your BOSU with the dome facing down (images or moves down on the BOSU incorrectly will not count during this challenge).

Disclaimer: this post was sponsored by BOSU but all opinions expressed are my own. I truly appreciate all of the brands that support the Fit Approach (Sweat Pink) community.

Flat Mama Saturday

It looks like Race for the Cure is going to be a thing! Hurricane Joaquin 0, Runners 1.
I have been going back and forth about whether or not to run it, but I haven't raced since July 4, so im.going for it. I have my outfit all picked out, and I'm ready to go. Cross your fingers for me, it could still be rainy and windy!

Flat Mama Friday?

With Hurricane Joaquin playing chicken with the East Coast, I am pretty sure there will be no race this weekend.
I was signed up for my 5th Race for the Cure (I think, I have lost count!) with the teenie and her old high school, but it's not looking good!
In any case, I haven't even made a Flat Mama so I will leave you with a pic of the pretty new shoes I would have worn.
Review to come......