Friday Favorites: Things You Find at a Race

Every once in a while I stumble upon something new or I'm reminded why I already love a product.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Cincinnati to run the Flying Pig Half Marathon. One of the big race sponsors was Proctor & Gamble. At the expo, P&G handed out A LOT of sample products. One that was new to me was Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. I've been using it at night on my 40+ year old face, and I've noticed that my skin feels very soft and dewy again.

One of my favorite snacks (or desserts depending on the time of day) is Stonyfield Organic Greek Yogurt. I actually tried this yogurt for the first time when it was handed out to finishers after the Half at the Hamptons a couple of years ago. I love chocolate on the bottom!

A favorite staple that has been coming in very handy as the weather heats up is my Simple Hydration Water Bottle. It always takes me awhile as a runner to acclimate to the heat and my bottle makes it so easy to carry water or performance drinks on my runs. I had the pleasure of hanging out at the Simple Hydration booth at the Flying Pig Expo and talking to people about the bottle. It's really fun now to read the positive comments on the Facebook page from runners who bought and used the bottle at the race.

Have you ever tried a sample from a race day expo, goodie bag, or finisher's treat and fallen in love with it?   

There's still time to enter to win a pair of sunglasses! Details here! Giveaway ends tomorrow!

SurfSet Fitness Session

I've been hearing great things about the urban surfing craze ever since the inventors swam with the sharks. As a member of New Hampshire Bloggers & Tweeters, I was invited to attend a TI SurfSet Fitness event at TI Fitness Training in Manchester.

TI SURFSET© is a 45 minute workout based on the movements of surfing. The comprehensive routine centered around the RSX board is designed to build core strength, burn fat, and create lean muscles. Other gear such as jump ropes and kettle bells can be incorporated into the routine as well. What you don't need are shoes. This workout is done completely barefoot.

After a quick meet and greet, our instructor Christine, explained some of the common moves we would be using like sup stand (below) and surf stand while walking us through some exercises to get used to the board. I was grateful for this part as 1) I am not a surfer and 2) this was my first time taking a class like this.

Once we were all warmed up, the high-intensity aerobic intervals began. We worked our core from the plank position doing moves like wave runners (basically mountain climbers on the board) and cha-chas (knee taps while in the plank position).

We tried to balance while doing squats, kicks, and knee ups. We even did some surfing moves such as  stand up paddling, pop ups, and carving outs.

Photo credit: TI Fitness Instagram

Toward the end of the session we did some floor work with the jump ropes and kettle bells. I've never used a kettle bell before, so I could feel all of my muscles firing up.

This total body workout kicked my butt. It was challenging, but completely achievable. Christine led us through a progressive routine that pushed our muscles to the max and left us feeling proudly spent.

This class was so much fun, I'm already thinking about when I can do it again. 

In addition to SurfSet, TI Fitness Training also offers Fitness Bootcamp, Children's Fitness, Running Programs, and Private Sessions. They have a variety of pricing packages along with a punch pass program and a separate drop-in fee for those who prefer to pay as they go. One thing I love is the 20% discount offered to students, teachers, military, and government employees.

What do you think of SurfSet?

TrainingTruths: A Recovery Week

The downhill that followed the run up into Eden Park during the Flying Pig Half Marathon left my legs feeling a little like mush. Add the rising temperatures and my running last week wasn't pretty. Since I know from past experience that there is a period of adjustment between cold and warm weather, I'm trying not to sweat (haha) the ugliness of my runs.

Tuesday I ran after school with my running partner. We were both nursing tired legs so we did a quick 5K. It was tough and the warmth made it feel even harder. I did try out my new Mizuno running shorts  and along with my Wave Inspires, they were the most comfortable part of the run.

I waited until Friday to do my second run because I was still feeling tired. I came home after my last class and did a lunch run with hubs. It was basically a 4.2 mile repeat of Tuesday's run: tired legs and warm temps. We earned a good sweat on this one and I was reminded how much I love cucumber facial wipes.

I went to a SurfSet class on Saturday morning and experienced my first total body urban surfing lesson. It was the toughest non-running workout I've done in a long time. Recap coming soon!

Photo credit: TI Fitness Instagram

Sunday morning when I woke up, I was reminded right away that I had done a total body workout the day before! Even though I was hurting, I went for a six mile run with the hubs and it was the best run of the week. I'm definitely a cooler weather, morning runner!

When was the last time you were sore from a workout? What kind of runner are you?

There's still time to enter to win a pair of sunglasses! Details here!

Inspirational Fit Female

What better day to celebrate your female fitness inspiration than Mother's Day? There are so many mom's out there that are working hard, raising families, and staying fit. The Fit Female Blogging Campaign is a collaborative effort to share stories about women who have inspired us.

My first inspiration was my mother. She taught me at a young age that I could do anything I set my mind to. She showed me that girls could play sports and be just as tough as the boys. From her I learned the value of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. She got me involved in sports and has supported my athletic endeavors ever since. My mom is one of the strongest women I know and I am so grateful to have her cheering for me on the sidelines or from miles away.

After the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon

My friend Sarah is also a #fitfemale. Sarah is a mother and a runner, too. Sarah is planning to run a half marathon and raise $5,000 for Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock! Her motivation is her son Jack, who has had to endure several surgeries to correct a congenital birth defect. You can read Sarah and Jack's story here and find out how you can help her accomplish her goal. While you're there, give Sarah a shout of encouragement!

Participation in the Inspirational Fit Female Blogging Campaign is open to everyone. If you don't have a blog you can share your story on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also read more inspiring stories here.

Happy Mother's Day!

*There's still time to enter my Firmoo sunglasses giveaway**

My Mezamashii Run Project

Last week I was whisked away by Mizuno to be a part of a Mezamashii Run Project in Atlanta. 

I arrived in Atlanta on Wednesday evening and met Ashi and Heather. Ashi went straight to his shoot, while Heather and I were dropped at the W Hotel in downtown Atlanta. Since we had the night off we decided to meet for dinner. After checking out the fine dining in the hotel, we opted to go around the block to JR Crickets, a more casual sports bar-like place.

After dinner I had a chance to check out the welcome gift that Mizuno thoughtfully gave us. Inside the Mizuno bag were some snacks, a water bottle, lanyard, and a note thanking me for coming to Atlanta. I was thinking, No, thank YOU, Mizuno, for inviting me on this amazing adventure!

The shoot: After easing into the day because shooting ran late on Wednesday night, Ashi, Heather, and I were picked up by Lisandra and driven to the Mizuno warehouse. Lisandra and a host of other production assistants took care of us (the talent) all day. It was a little bit rock-star-ish.

Shortly after we arrived we were given the scripts for our individual scenes and time to learn them. A little while later, David, one of the producers brought us some wardrobe to go through to find outfits for our scenes.

Things kicked into high gear after I was taken to see the Mizuno representatives to approve my wardrobe. They had built a mini-set right there in the warehouse with the stereotypical lights, camera, microphones, and screens. After meeting the reps, including Lori Ann who has supported my little blog for a while now, I met the director and was mic'ed for my scene.

(Photos shamelessly borrowed from Louise who was part of the project all week)

I was so nervous that I really thought they could hear my heart pounding through the microphone attached to my bra. It was so surreal to have the PA step in with the scene clapper board and another PA yelling Quiet on the set! 

I'm not sure how many takes it took for me to get it right they way the directors wanted, but it was a lot. Even though I was a bundle of nerves, everyone was super nice and made me feel comfortable. I am grateful that no one made me feel inadequate or like the amateur that I am. I didn't know it at the time, but the production crew was a legit Hollywood team. This experience just made me love Mizuno even more.

Although I can't tell you much about the specifics of the filming, I can show the wardrobe I wore and then was allowed to keep. I wore the shorts on my run the other day and they were very comfortable. They have an inside key pocket and outer zip pocket.

I have been a Mezamashii Run Project member for almost two years. As a member I receive early access to new product launches, exclusive events, and the ability to impact future shoe design. Mizuno believes in bringing Mezamashii, or brilliant run, directly to the runners. There are some amazing things happening for the Mezamashii Run Project community. Join in the fun by applying today.

Have you tried Mizunos?