Ryders Sunglasses

I was sent a pair of Ryders sunglasses several months ago to review. I have worn them a lot in everyday situations….driving, sitting by the pool, yard work etc. But I haven’t been able to really test them out in the way they were intended…running, biking, etc. Way back when I used to run (circa June/July) before the nasty little injuries began to plague me, I ran mostly in the morning before the sun was up or on the trail. Both of which conditions do not require sunglasses and would not be conducive to staying upright while running. But I finally got to wear them on one of my last runs recently in NYC/Central Park. Ah the sweet memories of that run!!!!!

These glasses are super light weight and bendy…..but bendy in a good way, as in flexible enough to not squeeze your head to death, perfect for those with huge heads like my husband (did I say that out loud?!). I relented and let him wear them briefly and he thought they were comfortable on his rather large melon. They also stay put while pounding down the road. No bouncing or jostling at all!!!! Even after sweating like a horse, they don’t slip and slide

Now that I have been riding a bike, I have been able to test them out twice while riding, and they performed well in this situation as well. They did not interfere with my helmet at all, did not block my peripheral vision in any way, and I’m pretty sure they protected my eyeballs from a few kamikaze bugs. They block out the sun wonderfully, my eyes felt completely shielded, which is important for eye health (BAD UV rays!!!!) Speaking of which, they block 100% UVA/UVB rays, and this particular pair that I test are polarized which helps reduce glare. I don’t really see any downside to these glasses at all. They are grrrrreat!!!! Two Thumbs Up!

Ryders has several different styles and lens options to choose from. They have a line that looks more fashionista-ish , but still functional. There are some that have interchangeable lenses that I am very interested in as I run/bike in different types of places (i.e. trail running in the woods requires a clearish lens rather than the dark lenses). I can’t remember the name of the style I am wearing, and I can’t seem to locate it on their website…discontinued maybe??? Too bad if they are, I really like this style.

Go check out Ryders here and shop around, you won’t be disappointed if you buy a pair….trust me!!!!!

i Run Like a Girl Skirt and Shirt

I had the opportunity recently to test some super cool products from iRunLikeAGirl. They have a great selection of lady specific running gear, with their uber cute logo on them. I was sent a girly skirt and sleeveless shirt to try out.

I am coo-coo for running skirts, but very picky about them at the same time. I prefer a brief underneath, so when I saw that their skirts didn’t fool around with those stoooopid boy-shorts, I was ecstatic!!!! I mean really, what is the point in 2 inch shorts unless you have twiggy legs? Lets face it, most of our “pigs” rub together and cause the, most unflattering and uncomfortable, “crotch eating your shorts” phenomenon. I HATE it!!! What I initially loved about this skirt (after the brief issue of course) was the cute ruffle detail, athletic with a kick of girly-ness. The skirt I was sent to test did NOT have a pocket, but I was told that the ones up for sale now do. But I do not really utilize pockets to their fullest potential, so no biggie to me. I’ve worn this during a 6 mile trail run and a 4 mile road run….both of which were brutally hot. The skirt did not bunch, twist, pinch, rub, or irritate any part of my derrière, mucho comfortable. I LOVE that the elastic of the waist band is sewn down. Another skirt I have, the elastic in the waist band is not sewn down and it is constantly flipping….irritating!!!! I was drenched with sweat by the end of both runs and the fabric managed not to chafe me at all. It fits pretty true to size, I wear a big 6 small 8 (I know you know what that means ladies!) and I wore a medium in the skirt.

The shirt is equally as fabulous. It is slim cut shirt for women, but not fitted or compression like. It does not ride up at all, wicks away the sweat like a good shirt should, and does not chafe or irritate at all. I will, however, say that I wish I had gotten a size smaller. But this is my fault really. I should know by now that most non-compression running shirts run a little big. I normally wear a small or a small fitting medium (again you ladies know what I mean). But for some reason I told them I needed a medium shirt. So it probably does fit pretty true to size, I was just the dummy who asked for the wrong size…..duh!!! It has their cute little logo on the front and it says “iRUNLIKEAGIRL” on the back (this is my favorite part, I wear it proudly!!!) So order the smallest size that you think you should wear.

Gu

The nice folks over at Outside PR sent me some Gu products to try. I have been experimenting with different products and am now reporting back to the masses……all 13 of my loyal readers!!! When people think about Gu the first thing that comes to mind is probably GEL….but Gu is soooo much more than just the energy gel!!!! Visit {this} page for some interesting FAQ about all the Gu products

Gu gel…..strange and funny stuff. You will NEVER forget your first gel experience….you can never be quite prepared for it can you ??? I tried Gu gel several months ago when my mileage started ramping up. I knew I needed the electrolytes, but I’m very sensitive to fluctuating glucose levels, so that was my main reason for trying it. When the glucose starts running out……..all hell breaks loose for me. The gel did the job for me for a while, and the caffeinated packs really added some pep in my step. I will spare you the details, but I soon found out that gel + running is just not for me, but I did enjoy it while I used it. The flavors were, in general, pretty good with vanilla, chocolate, and espresso love being my favorites. I know Gu gel works for TONS of people, but sadly it does not work for me. I SO wish it did, because its the most convenient thing I have found to carry during a run and easy to get down. Maybe one day I will be able to gel again.

Up next were the Gu Chomps. Honestly I have yet to try them during a run. After having the “issues” with the gel, I was a little afraid the Chomps would do the same thing. I mainly eat them for snacks or eat them post run for the electrolytes. They are really tasty, I LOVE the cran-apple flavor. They are pretty sticky and gummy and get stuck in my teeth. But I think they would work pretty well on a run, no after taste, not overly sweet. I may be brave and try some during a run soon.

Now, I really like the Gu Electrolyte Brew!! I had been using a tablet form of electrolytes during long runs, but the pseudo-carbonation the tabs created got on my nerves. This is just a powder you mix in, shake and drink. Yum-O!!!! All the flavors were great. I was skeptical about the blueberry-pomegranate flavor but it ended up being my favorite, very light and refreshing. I will definitely be getting some more of this stuff!!!!

And finally the Gu Recovery Brew. I had been using good ol’ chocolate milk for my recovery drink. I was very excited to try this stuff because I am never happy about the amount of fat in chocolate milk. There is ZERO fat in the recovery brew, just 250 calories and 8 grams of protein, plus all the other necessary amounts of electrolytes. I do wish it came in more flavors. Right now it only comes in strawberry-watermelon and orange-pineapple. The orange-pineapple was my favorite of the two. It goes down pretty easy, a little thicker than the electrolyte brew, but not heavy or overly filling like milk can be.

Nuu-Muu Running Dress

I found a company called Nuu-Muu through a blog I follow (you may be familiar with her too), the absolutely adorable, and hard-core barefoot runner…..Barefoot Angie Bee. Nuu-Muu makes some super sassy little exercise dresses. Angie hosted a Nuu-Muu giveaway last week and I was so intrigued by their product I had to contact them. I got an almost instantaneous reply from Enid at Nuu-Muu who was kind enough to send me a dress to try out. I was super impressed by the AWESOME communication with Enid, super fast and helpful……they have some GREAT customer service at Nuu-Muu!!!! I also really love their philosophy. Just an overall great company!!!!

I had a really hard time choosing which dress I wanted, they are so cute…..I want them ALL!!!! But I finally chose the “Soiree” dress. A purplish dress with white and pinkish dots. I thought the pattern would be super flattering and hide the “mommy belly” a little better than a solid color. When I pulled the dress out of the package, I could hardly wait to put it on. The material is so soft and silky, and feels soooooo good on. Very flowy but fitted in all the right spots.

It fits very true to size. I wear a 6-8 and chose a medium. I am, however, 6 ft tall and this dress is a bit short on me. I must wear compression shorts under it if I do anything other than run in it………as in going to the grocery store, picking up the kid from school, etc….anything where I don’t want to show off London and France (see picture below). Otherwise I think I could get away with just runderwear (my term for running underwear aka; rundies) I honestly would wear this dress most places, its just that cute!!! When I first put it on, I was a little shocked by the shortness, but then when I compared it to my running skirts I realized it was the pretty much the same length. I think the length just felt different because it is a dress.

How does it perform you ask???? Like a dream!!! I’ve worn it on two different runs this past week, one with and one without my hydration belt. I was worried the hydration belt would cause the dress to ride up, but it stayed put the whole time. It does an excellent job of wicking the sweat away and keeping me cool and dry (well, relatively dry, in this heat and humidity you are never completely dry). It is super comfortable while running, no scratchiness anywhere from seams or tags, no tugging or pulling on the dress to keep it in the right place either. That’s the beauty of the dress, no more of that awkward “shirt riding up exposing the belly” phenomenon going on. I felt super confident in it the whole run (even with the back flying up showing my shorts!!!).

I can’t wait until Fall and Winter, this little puppy is going to be so cute with some long tights or capri tights underneath it. It is super sassy…..and I dare say, a little sexy. And we all know feeling good in what you work-out in is essential. Of course, I am primarily a runner, but this would be a perfect outfit for tennis, walking, hiking, golf, biking, swimsuit cover-up, yoga……the possibilities are endless!!!!

‘Channeling my inner barefoot runner’

So my verdict for Nuu-Muu running dresses???? 150% two (very enthusiastic) Thumbs Up! Love them, can’t wait to get some more!!!!

Trail Running Gaiters

I had several inquires and comments about the super cute little zebra gaiter that I was sporting in yesterday’s GoLite review. So, since you all asked, here is the low-down on the goods…….

The zebra gaiters and also these hot pink gaiters to the right are made by Running Funky. I bought them on Road Runner Sports.com but you can also purchase them from other online retailers. For those unfamiliar with how gaiters work, they are made of light weight, bathing suit-y type material and the collar is elastic-y. You really can’t tell they are on, not hot at all. There is a piece of velcro on the back of the gaiter and you afix a piece of velcro to the back of your shoe. Then there is a hook at the front of the gaiter that hooks onto the front of your laces. And, VOILA…..no more junk in your shoes!!!! Fabulous!!!!

I also have another pair that I won from the Filly Girl blog (go visit her!). They are from Dirty Girl Gaiters, you can purchase those directly from the lady that makes them. Of the two brands, I like Dirty Girl’s better. They are BOTH made really well, fit perfectly and keep all the debris out of my shoes, but the Dirty Girl’s are much easier to put on and take off. Nothing more annoying than to fight with your gaiters in order to adjust your laces in the middle of a run. The hook on the Dirty Girl’s slip off and on much easier. She also seems to have more designs to choose from, and you get a much more generous serving and much more adhesive velcro with the Dirty Girl’s.

But they are both AWESOME!!!! I won’t run trails without gaiters now. Such a simple idea that had never crossed my mind until my running bud “trail girl” Ashley turned me on to them. I was relatively lucky, keeping trail trash out of my shoes, until one day running through a field of high grass and tons of little sticky things got stuck on my socks and then found their way down into my shoes. OWWWWWW!!!! That was all the convincing I needed!!!! Not only are they functional, but they are fashionable as well. Just another way to express your personality and stand out in the crowd. We get comments on them wherever we go. And if I fall and pass out on the trail there is no way a passer-by-er could NOT see me in the bright pink gaiters LOL.

GoLite Skirt and Shirt

The nice folks at Outside PR sent me some stuff from GoLite a few weeks ago to review, and I have been testing it out on several runs. Being a skirt type of girl, I was super excited when I opened the package and saw a skirt (squeals with joy").

The “Wildwood Trail” shirt is just awesome!!!! The first thing I noticed was how light weight the materials are. The shirt is soft and gauzy, I couldn’t wait to put it on. It is super comfy and fits perfectly and pretty true to size. I am a S/M and this shirt is a M. There is a cute little pocket on the side of the shirt that would be perfect for a gel pack or two or small Ipod. Here is what the people GoLite say about the shirt. Using lightweight fabrics with extra fast dry times and a UPF of 50+, this shortsleeve top is built to protect from the sun without the risk of overheating. Materials: 80 g/m² 100% polyester body fabric; 86 g/m² 58% Minerale™ polyester, 42% polyester panels; UPF: 50+ (main body fabric)It is indeed a fast drying, super wicking shirt. The first run I tested it on was a super hot and humid 8 miler on the trail. Although it was soaked by the end, it was pretty much dry by the time I got home. I would have expected the shirt to stick to me with all the sweat, but it remained flowy and comfortable the entire run. Two Thumbs Up! for this shirt.

The “Tilly Jane Run Skirt”……I have to preface this review with the fact that I am a skirt aficionado and very (to a fault) picky about my skirts since finding “the one”. That being said, this skirt was up against some tough competition. Also made out of similarly light material like the shirt, it is quite light and flowy. A little shorter than the style I am used to, but still covered all the essential areas :) I will say after getting over the shock of the shortness, I did feel a little sexy in it, well as sexy as you can be drenched in sweat while running through the woods. I was skeptical of the boy shorts underneath, but they managed to stay wedgie free and stayed put for the duration of all test runs. This also fits pretty true to size. I was very impressed with its wicking and drying capabilities as well. The skirt also has a cute little zippered pocket on the size for some light weight items. Here is the description on the GoLite site. All trail, this skirt has a stretchy body fabric that moves with the athlete and doesn't ride up or get in the way. The boy short liner is made from Minerale™ which dries quickly and feels great. Materials: 164 g/m² 85% recycled polyester, 15% elastic; 86 g/m² 58% Minerale™ polyester, 42% polyester lining. So although I still favor a different skirt because I prefer a brief underneath (hmm, that rhymes) this skirt is top notch quality, super comfortable, and I would definitely recommend to someone who likes short boy shorts under their skirt.

Here are some action shots of me in the test gear. Before and after running…..I wish you could see how sweaty I was in the after shot……well, then again, maybe not, it was pretty gross!

Before (cute and perky) After (tired and not so attractive)

The one thing I am really impressed with about GoLite in general are their values and commitment to sustainability and environmentally consciousness in the making of their products. I wish I had some GoLite stuff to giveaway, but if you visit the GoLite site, they are having a “93 days of Summer Giveaway” giving away something everyday for the remainder of the Summer….go check it out. Thanks again Outside PR and GoLite.

Road ID

Carrying ID with you on a run is an important thing to do, but a fact that is often forgotten. I admit, I rarely carried ID with me on runs either out of laziness, forgetfulness, or out just feeling like I didn’t need it. I was recently asked to do a review on the Road ID Elite ID Band and, of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

I originally was going to order black but decided to get one true to my “style” and order pink. After I got it I thought the bright color may be functional as well as fashionable. The bright color might stand out more than a black band and alert someone to my ID more quickly….just a hunch. You get 6 lines worth of information to put on your ID. I put my name, city and state, two emergency contact numbers, medical history and the phrase “Jog 4 Joubert Syndrome”. You can fully customize it however you like with any information you feel pertinent. I love the silicone band because I don’t have to worry about it getting stinky and gross with sweat. It is very comfortable and after wearing it all week I don’t notice that I have it on anymore, in fact I don’t think I have taken it off at all.

After wearing this invaluable piece of running gear this past week, I really see the value of it. I think of how dumb I was to run alone without ID all those times. It was probably even dumb to run in my teeny tiny little neighborhood without ID, because I doubt if I fell out while running “the loop” a passing neighbor would be able to identify me because I don’t know most of the people in the neighborhood. I also think about what a horrible situation it would be if something happened to me while running with someone who didn’t know my contact information or medical history and I was unable to communicate that to them…..how freaked out would you be if something happened to the person you were running with???!! I think my new Road ID will be the running gear that I can’t won’t leave home without.

Sweaty Bands

The nice folks over at Sweaty Bands were kind enough to send me a two pack Sweaty Bands to review. I have been looking for something that was more suitable for summertime. Some of the other headbands I have used are great, but my head gets too hot with the mercury rising outside. I saw these on another blog giveaway and was intrigued, so I contacted them and they replied almost immediately. I have worn this super cute polka-dot number several times now. I have also tried a thinner band which is plain white and I like it equally as well as this thicker one.

I think I am becoming a big fan. They do NOT slip……AT ALL, which I am surprised by. It fits very snugly which took some getting used to, but you definitely don’t have to worry about it going anywhere. It absorbs a fair amount of sweat (hence the name)keeping what sweat comes from my hair line out of my eyes. I have recently changed hair styles and it works well with long hair in a ponytail or pigtails and works great with short hair. It has stood up to the test of a very wet and difficult 12 miles and don’t have to mess with it at all. I will definitely be getting some more of these bad boys and would recommend them to anyone.