Merry Christmas

Recovery During the Holidays with Arcanum and CEP

I received products from CEP and Arcanum during my visit to The Running Event as part of being a BibRave Pro. Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews.

No, I'm not talking about that kind of recovery! When you run year round, there are still training runs and races during the holiday season. In December, I ran 2 half marathons and tomorrow I have a 10k.



We received 3 amazing products from Arcanum, a wonderful company that makes products using Activated Hemp.



First is the Quill, a gel pen that dispenses 2 mg doses of Activated Hemp in each application. Each dose reduces toxins in the body naturally, and helps to alleviate stress. It is paraben and sulfate free! It's so easy to use and it has a light scent that I just love!
I keep this by my planner in my kitchen and I use it each morning. It's easy to remember since it's right there every day!



Next is the Sarco Freeze, a topical Activated Hemp product that gives cooling relief in about five minutes. A little goes a long way, y'all, so start small! I rub it into my foot after races for my PF, and it's such a huge help! It provides more accurate dosage and better absorption without that added stress to your internal systems! Paraben and sulfate free, non-GMO, and made in the USA! Love it!



I keep the Sarco Breeze Activated Hemp Moisturizer by the sink and I've been using it for my achey muscles before bed at night. It hydrates your skin, helps with muscle recovery, soothes aches muscles, and is scent free.

All of these products are really helping me to keep continually paying attention to my achey muscles. I can be super lazy about this kind of thing, so I'm loving the ease of use that these products provide.



Next up is some amazing gifts from CEP Compression. We received Compression Recovery Socks and Trail Merino Socks.

The Compression Socks are ah-mazing! I wore them after both of my half marathons this month and they are super comfy. They increase blood flow and reduce swelling, and you don't feel like your legs are being squeezed by a boa constrictor! You know what I mean, I know you do!
So, the Trail Socks. I was legit thrilled about these, and I couldn't wait to try them on. I probably looked at them 5 times before it registered that they are merino. As in wool. Which I'm allergic to.
Ugh.
So fellow BibRave Pro Lissa is going to try them out for me, and report back. What a pal!

I do want to give a shout out about another product while I have your attention.



I know that you cannot see the magic in this picture, the magic I call the Plantar Fasciitis Sleeve. Y'all, this is a game changer for me. I heard about this from the peeps at CEP during The Running Event and I ordered it while I waited for my flight home that night.
Oh my heck, I am in heaven. I have been limping around and miserable after long runs, but this sleeve is perfection. No pain during the run, and very little afterwards. I want to cry from the sheer joy of it all. If you have PF, I highly recommend this sleeve. They are sold as a single or a pair.

What do you do to help with your recovery over the holidays?

Staying Race Ready with Vooray and Addaday

I received a Vooray Backpack and Addaday Massage Roller at The Running Event as part of being a BibRave Pro (Ambassador). Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews.

Running a race doesn't just happen on race day. You train for weeks or months, you cross train, stretch, lift weights, and you recover. A lot. Those weekly long runs take a toll on your body, and recovering after each one is key.



When we were at The Running Event, we were gifted an amazing backpack from Vooray with all.the.pockets. You can fit so much in here. It was crammed full with all of this!



It's called the ACE Backpack, and it is perfection. It has 2 water bottle pockets, a 15" padded laptop pocket, a front pocket, and an interior zip mesh pocket. Oh my heck. It comes in a bunch of colors and patterns, so you are sure to find one that you like!
At the expo, they also gave us a cute fanny pack, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet! It's big enough to hold a big ole phone though, so it's only a matter of time before I break it in!

One of the gifts in the ACE Backpack was an Addaday Type C Massage Roller.



This amazing tool has been a huge help with post race recovery this month! Two half marathons in 2 weeks and my feet are a mess. I've been massaging my calfs, thighs, hips.... and I also lay it on the floor and massage my arches. It's super helpful with my plantar fasciitis! The grey medium muscle roller helps with lactic acid buildup and muscle fatigue. The cute little red pin point muscle roller is for pesky things like shin splints, Achilles, and other hard to reach areas!



When we met the peeps from Addaday at The Running Event, we got to try their new tea!



It was so delicious! Runner's Tea is hand picked in Taiwan and is delivered to you in whole leaves. It contains natural caffeine and can be brewed hot or cold! It's easy on the tummy, is high in antioxidants, and may even help with muscle recovery!
Love!



Do you have a Vooray bag? What tools do use for your race recovery?

Mount Dora Half Marathon Recap

I received entry into the Mount Dora Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. (Ambassador) Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews.



Race morning was super foggy! I arrived bright and early, just before 6 am, since I wasn't familiar with the area and did not know how close I would be able to park. It turns out that I picked the perfect time because I parked 2 blocks away from the start. Score!



I hit up the porta potty right away, since there was no line, and then walked laps around until it was almost time to start. I wanted my foot warmed up, since my PF feels worse when I first start out.



I met up with Shannon, from Girl's Got Sole, just before we started. We are fellow BibRave and Skirt Sports Ambassadors, and it turns out we had similar goals.



We decided to stick together for as long as I could keep up with her. I told her not to wait for me when that time came, since I figured that I would walk it in at some point.
We started by running uphill, and then turned to run down this beautiful street...



Soon we were in the neighborhoods and the locals were so fun!



Shannon runs a 30:30 so I tried it out and I did pretty well. I decided to keep it up as long a possible, but had my watch set to my intervals just in case.



The scenery was really amazing, and we had a great time. Every once in a while, a car would sneak onto the closed course!



Not funny, people!
My favorite part was running along this amazing waterfront.





The view was spectacular. I definitely started slowing down around mile 10, and soon Shannon had pulled ahead. I could see her for awhile, but by mile 11.5 or so, she was too far ahead. She was kicking butt!



I had originally hoped to beat last week's time at Kiawah, and then realized my best time all year (with the exception of Scream, which was all downhill) was at Revel Rockies in June. Hmmmm a new goal?



I managed to beat both times, making Mount Dora my 2nd fastest half of 2018, and my 62nd half marathon finish. I also managed to run intervals the whole time. No walking it in. Progress!



Shannon had waited for me, and we took some finisher photos before she went for a massage and I went to change clothes and get lunch.



Overall this was a great race. Their communication with the half marathoners was good, and their packet pickup was smooth. The water stops were well spaced and well manned, and they even had gels around the halfway point. With the exception of some cars near the end, the course was closed and I felt safe.

The bling was adorable and it spinned. The shirt is comfy, I just wish it had a holiday theme like the medal did. Those who finished 5 years in a row get a jacket!

Oh.
And free pics...







I usually have the worst luck with free pics, but these are amazing!

Have you ever gotten good free pics at a race?

Prepping for the Mount Dora Half Marathon

I received entry into the Mount Dora Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. (Ambassador) Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews.

I had a whole day to myself today, so of course I drove over to Disney Springs to see some friends and visit the Christmas Tree Trail.



It was a great way to stretch my legs and also visit the happiest place on earth!





I may have also gotten a little cake for tonight...



Then I drive back to Mount Dora to pick up my bib!





It was super rainy, so I basically just ran in and out, but what I saw of the town was so cute!



I cannot wait to see it all tomorrow morning! I came back to my hotel and put out my outfit...



I'm all set and ready for race day!



How's the weather where you live?

Flat Mama Friday, Mount Dora Half Edition

I received entry into the Mount Dora Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. (Ambassador) Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews.

For the 3rd weekend in a row, I'm traveling. This will be the last weekend until March, hooray! I love to travel, but it can be exhausting. Luckily, this trip is to sunny Florida.



I'm ready to run the half! Tomorrow is the packet pick up, and there is also a 5k in the morning, which I'm thinking of spectating. I love watching races, but I rarely get the chance.

Are you racing this weekend?

Packing for the Mount Dora Half Marathon with Handful!

I received entry into the Mount Dora Half Marathon as part of being a Bibrave Pro (ambassador). I also received Handful Products when I attended The Running Event with my BibRave peeps. Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews.

Whew!

Ok, y'all, this is my last race weekend away until March, and I'm excited to be traveling to Florida for the Mount Dora Half Marathon.



I'm super excited about those numbers on Sunday! When the race starts it will be close to 50! Woohoo!

I cannot wait to see the crazy outfits at this holiday themed race. I will be sporting my BibRave Pro gear along with my Handful Adjustable Bra.



I am loving this bra. It is super comfy and stays that way for long distances. I wore it for the Kiawah Half last weekend and it felt great!
It comes with removable Lights Out pads, which keep you comfy and help you to avoid that headlights in the cold look! The lining is performance wicking, and the poly/spandex blend are super soft and quick to dry. The straps can be x-back, straight, or halter, which is a game changer, and they are adjustable.



Part of our gift from the ladies at Handful during The Running Event was a pair of leggings. I received Squeeze Play leggings in Off the Grid. Omg y'all, these are the smoothest sweetest leggings I have ever owned. I have run in them and done yoga in them, and I'm in love!



They have a high waist, which is perfection for a full bodied gal like me, and the ruching in the back waist ensures comfort! The spandex is light weight, they feel invisible! I'm seriously infatuated with these leggings!



Best of all is that they make Handful bras that can be used as prosthetics. Their Breast Cancer program is ah-mazing.



They have all kinds of tops as well, jump over to the website and check them all out!

Are you running a race this weekend? Will it be warm or cold?