My Thoughts on “Runmeter” for iPhone

I wrote an article recently for examiner.com about why runners should track mileage. I have a friend who runs with little regard to her weekly mileage and is oblivious to her stats. I don’t know why, but it irritates me. It goes against every fiber of my runner’s being….what runner does not keep up with their stats??? It bothers me to no end!!!! I digress. I was contacted by Lori at abvio.com about trying out their app “Runmeter”. At the time I didn’t have an iPhone, but luckily, my BlackBerry Storm died and I hopped on the Verizon iPhone train 3 seconds later.

Runmeter 5.0 was just released a few weeks ago and is available at iTunes for $4.99. I have used other phone based tracking software such as Bones in Motion in the past, pre Garmin days. Run Meter automatically syncs to multiple places like Daily Mile, Facebook, and Twitter without having to connect a device and download to your computer. Like other software, Runmeter tracks distance, time, pace, elevation, GPS map, calories, etc.

Example of Runmeter screen:

Photo: iTunes Store; Runmeter

I have taken it out on 3 test runs. I will be honest and say that it will never replace my Garmin. For one, I paid too much for that thing to ditch it, and two Runmeter does not track heart rate or sync to my cadence sensor on my bike. Also, I do not run with music and carrying a phone is cumbersome to me….all 4.8 ounces of it! I will however use this for races. Like I said earlier, it syncs automatically to DailyMile and Facebook. If you have the settings to post when you start your run, it will magically put up a little post on Facebook and DailyMile alerting your friends that you have started your run. They can then track your real time progress during your run by refreshing the page every so often. I have an out of town 10K coming up, so now my family and friends can track my progress live and know my results probably before I do. Imagine your family cheering you on live during a race without even being there. Speaking of cheering you on, there is an additional app you can buy (for .99) that gives spoken replies left on your workout post. (I did not buy this app, what can I say I’m just that cheap!) How cool is that!!?? You can actually hear what people are saying about your run while you are running. Now, depending on how your run is going, you may or may not want this feature. I can only imagine hearing….gee, you're running pretty slow today, or you SUCK during a difficult run.

I have not used all of the features as of yet, I really have only hit start and stop and let it run. But I think it can do some other cool little things as well, more experimentation is needed. One of the problems I have had with the app is GPS accuracy and I can not blame that on the app itself, I blame it on phone and user error. You have to carry your iPhone in just the right way to get the GPS to record accurately. First run, I carried it in a SpiBelt and it was roughly a quarter mile off. Next run, I carried it in my jacket pocket and it was nearly a HALF mile off. The last run, I carried it in an armband and it was pretty much dead on, less and .05 off. So, that being said, the app itself if accurate, but you may have issues if you carry the phone incorrectly. I guess the jostling around in my pocket made the GPS go haywire. This is what my run looked like that day on the map…..I really don’t run that erratically….unless a few cold ones are involved.

My only other complaint is how your workout is posted on Daily Mile and Facebook. When you start your run, it says “Laura ran for 1 sec” why can’t it just say, Laura started running. It makes you look like a total idiot….I ran for one second….who does that??? If your friends don’t know to refresh they might think you’re a little weird.

View of how your workout is actually posted on Facebook:

and this is the response I got from a “less athletic” friend

All in all, this is a pretty handy little app and an economical alternative to a Garmin. If I did not have a Garmin, I would definitely use this for every run. Thanks to Abvio.com for the app! I will definitely be using this on race days!

CEP Compression Socks

The fine folks at CEP sent me some compression socks to review last week. I have another brand of compression socks, but I think I wear them more for warmth and the so-called fashion benefit rather than for the true medical science behind compression. These other socks (that will remain nameless) just didn’t do much for me. They ended up falling down mid run, they are becoming stretched out, they have their brand name covering the entire side of your leg etc. But this is a CEP review, not a competitor bashing session! Lets proceed!

By now, we have all heard the claims about compression and athletic performance, but CEP running socks are the first scientifically proven compression running socks to maximize power, boost energy, and speed recovery time. Studies have shown that CEP socks can increase performance by 5%, which doesn’t sound like much, but could be 10-12 minutes off a marathon time! Read more {here} about the benefits as described by CEP

So, when I was first contacted for the review, I was asked to send my calf size measurement in. Hmmm, I’m already liking this more than the other brand already! A more custom fit….more than just a shoe size measurement. I mean, how does a company know how big your calves are based on your shoe size…come on now!!! I have pretty big calves, which is what causes my socks to fall down mid run. I was sent the women’s size III socks, which I was happy to find out is not their biggest size. Maybe my calves aren’t as big as I thought!

When I got them in the mail, the first thing I noticed was the toe and heel are reinforced with thicker fabric. This is another complaint with the other brand, because compression socks are often hard to get on, the heel area endures a lot of added stress from pulling them on, and now the heel area is wearing thin. With CEP’s reinforced heel area, I don’t foresee this being a problem. I also have very sharp talons toenails that I forget don’t trim often enough and they end up tearing through a lot of my socks. Again the reinforced toe should alleviate this concern for me.

CEP socks are comfortable all the way from the toe to the cuff of the sock. There is no pinching, binding, or rubbing. And they DID NOT MOVE at all during my 6 mile test run. The other socks starts sliding their way down to my ankles within the first mile. My legs felt energized and well supported. I’m not sure how much better I performed but I did feel like I had a little extra spring in my step. I did not feel the harsh jarring on my calves and shins as much as I do without compression. I also did another 5 mile run on a wet rainy day and although the socks were soaked, my (lower) legs remained warm. Even with the rain and wetness, there was no problem with blistering or rubbing.

For recovery, CEP socks are pure bliss. I pulled them over my tired and aching calves and I felt an immediate difference. The achy pressure was pretty much gone once I put the socks on, and probably helped work the soreness out faster than if I had not worn them at all.

I honestly have ZERO negatives to say about CEP socks. If you are interested in compression socks, they are well worth every penny and far superior to the other compression sock I used to wear. These are fashionable and functional!!!!!

CEP gets TWO THUMBS UP!!!!!

Sugoi Helium Jacket

I was sent this jacket a long time ago to review. But the weather conditions never really presented themselves to be able to actually test it out. Here in NC, it went from blistering heat to winter weather almost instantly. But lately it has been quite nice out….perfect weather for a light jacket!

This is what Sugoi has to say about the jacket:

“Featuring impressive coverage and protection, our Helium Jacket weighs in less than 100 grams (3 oz.). Lighter than air, these jackets are both water and wind resistant, and have a packable function. This breathable Helium Jacket is perforated for ventilation, has a reflective element, and a signature zip pocket for functionality.”

First thing I LOVE about this jacket it its weight….or lack thereof. As implied by its name “helium”, it is literally as light as helium…..virtually weightless. It feels like what I would imagine parachute material to feel like. Very light and airy. It is also the perfect jacket to take with you on vacation. It wads up into a teeny tiny little ball and can easily be stuffed into a small bag, and it doesn’t wrinkle.

For as light and airy as it is, it is surprisingly warm. I would probably be able to wear this jacket up into the low 60s, but I am a very warm natured person and shed layers a lot earlier than most. I have ran in it on two 50ish degree days and it worked perfectly. It also says its water resistant, I didn’t get to test out this quality, but wonder how water resistant it is.

I am a tall gal, and often worry about sleeve length. I am happy to report that this jacket gives me ample length for my gorilla arms. The jacket allowed for my arms to swing freely without pulling feeling at any point. I love the fit of it in general. It is fitted without being tight and quite flattering, and I love that the back is a little longer. It fits pretty true to size, I wear a small to medium and was given a medium….fits perfectly.

There are some things I don’t like about the jacket though. I think it is meant to wear a long sleeve shirt under it because if any sweaty body part comes in contact with the fabric it kind of sticks to you, which I found uncomfortable. I wore it with a sleeveless shirt underneath and it stuck to my pits pretty badly, ICK. I also wish it had better pockets. It does have a pocket in the back, kind of on the side/flank area, but no pockets in the traditional areas.

Overall, I REALLY like this jacket and would recommend it. Visit Sugoi to check it out.

I was provided this product for free to test, no other compensation was received. This review is entirely my own opinion…..yada, yada, yada and all that good stuff.

DryMax Socks

Did I mention how nice it is to have connections???? A tri buddy of mine has an online sports apparel company called Racing Toes. You may remember the logo on butt of my tri suit (not to be confused with camel toes EMZ!)

Anywho, they sent me some sweet trail running socks to try and review. I received the DryMax Maximum Protection and the Lite Trail Running socks.

Lite Mini Crew

Maximum Protection 1/4 crew

These bad boys were meant specifically for trail running. They have a few key components specific to trail running:

~Debris prevention~They intentionally left out the “vents” found in a lot of other socks to help prevent debris getting into the socks. There is also a special shoe seal around the ankle area to help keep debris from entering the top of the socks.

~Moisture control~Wetness is always a concern for trail runners. We splash through creeks on a regular basis, sometimes by choice sometimes by necessity. And can work up a serious case of swamp foot by the end of a long trail run. These socks are made with a fancy schmansy “Dual Layer Moisture Elimination System” to help remove excess sweat, creek water, and pond scum. ~Extra protection~These socks are densely padded but not thickly padded. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but just keep reading. Think extra protection, without the bulk.

I wore the Lite Trail Running socks this past weekend and I was a very happy camper. I wore them around the house for a bit just to make sure they fit my foot well. They felt just like any other sock, I honestly didn’t expect to feel any difference between these socks and any other sock. But once I put my shoes on, I could tell an immediate difference. I could feel the “dense” padding. They felt fluffy and comforting, just like little bunny slippers on my feet (how sweet!) With a sock this “fluffy”, I would normally expect to feel like my foot was crammed into my shoes, but these socks don’t take up the extra room that a THICK padded sock does. Weird….it almost defies the laws of physics! I also worry a fair amount about the toe seams of socks. If a seam is too pronounced (or there at all in some socks) it gets bunched up around my toes creating a blister friendly environment. Happy to say, these flat seams do not intertwine with my toes at all…..no blistered toes. As for moisture control, I did not encounter any bodies of water during my run, but they do their job moving sweat. I have mondo sweaty feet (ewwww!) It was a warm day out, and my feet were toasty in them, but not overly toasty. I would have expected my feet to be dripping with sweat, but they were bone dry after my run. I do wonder how they will fare in the sweltering NC summers. These may be reserved for sub-70ish degree runs. But these will now be my go-to socks for cold runs. Also happy to report that the anti debris system does indeed keep the trail trash out of my shoes. Basically, these socks ROCK!

Happy dance, for happy feet!

So hop on over to Racing Toes and pick up some socks, peruse the rest of their site, they have some pretty cool things. And for you NC locals, check out the link to the Lincolnton Biathlon on their website while you’re at it, I will be there….you should too! Thanks again Kim!!!!!

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.