Review: Oofos… Feel the Ooo

Posted on August 13, 2017 by runstrongrun

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Oofos to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

I don’t know about you, but the first thing that I want to do after a run, is take my shoes off (not to mention also taking off all of my sweaty clothes)! After I take my shoes off, the question then becomes, “What do I put on my feet?” Before Oofos entered my life, I’d normally just throw on any ‘ol pair of sandals. Now, however, with my Oofos, my body can tell a difference and its thrilled!

Makes you say, “Oooo”

Oofos slogan, “Feel the Ooo”, is so appropriate! I can guarantee that the first time you put on a pair of Oofos, you will make an audible, “Oooo” sound. Here’s a clip of my 12 year old putting on a pair of Oofos for the first time. (Note: When he says, “It feels weird,” what he really means is, “It feels so amazing!”)

My husband also tried on my Oofos. After trying them on, he quickly hopped online to purchase himself a pair. Here’s my husband and son discussing how amazing the Oofos felt and trying to decide which color to buy.

What’s so great about Oofos?

ABSORBS MORE SHOCK THAN TRADITIONAL FOAMS – Traditional athletic shoe foams are designed to “rebound” and propel you forward. With OOfoam, however, it does the opposite, absorbing 37% more shock with every step than traditional footwear foam.
REDUCES STRESS ON SORE FEET, KNEES AND BACK – Your feet and joints take a pounding on hard surfaces everyday. Slipping on OOFOS after a workout, provides them with relief and a chance to recover.
CRADLES YOUR ARCHES – Unlike flip-flops, the OOFOS patented footbed is designed with tremendous arch support to take the pressure off of ankles, knees and hips, as well as your lower back.
ENABLES MORE NATURAL MOTION – Biomechanically designed, OOFOS flex with both your foot and the ground. The soft, flexible OOfoam material enables your foot to articulate the way nature intended. (Oofos.com)

An Everyday Shoe

While testing out my Oofos, my husband and I traveled to Cancun, Mexico. Yes, my Oofos most certainly came along with us! Here’s my Oofos on the beach.

Here’s my Oofos on our kayak. (The Oofos are made with a moisture resistant closed cell foam which is shower-ready and machine washable!)

Here’s my Oofos during a relaxing morning by the ocean with a mimosa in hand.

After spending a whole day walking around with my brown sandals on, I could not wait to put on my Oofos to finally feel some relief from my tried feet, ankles, knees, and back!

Although my pair of Women’s OOriginal Sport Sandal may seem a little big, it’s amazing how lightweight they are! They provide the support my body needs while adding minimal weight to my feet!

One Monday evening, while at my friend’s house to watch the Bachelorette, my friend asked, “Are those Oofos really as great as you say they are?”

I then took off my Oofos, handed them to her, and said, “Try them on for yourself.”

As soon as she put them on, she giggled and said, “Wow! These are amazing!”

Recently, while at the Oakland Town’s Half expo representing the California International Marathon, I spotted some Oofos for sale at a booth across from me. I so badly wanted to purchase a pair of the Women’s OOlala sandals, but I was a good girl and kept my wallet put away. (I’ve spent way too much money lately for my classroom!)

In the end, I’d highly recommend that everyone own at least one pair of Oofos. Wear them before you workout, after you workout, and even on your rest days like I did below.

Check out what my fellow BibRave Pros had to say about their Oofos.

Jeannine Amy James Vanessa

Do you own a pair of Oofos? If so, what do you think about them? If you don’t own a pair of Oofos, what do you normally wear after a hard run / workout?

Until next time,

Review: Knuckle Lights… See and Be Seen

Posted on August 12, 2017 by runstrongrun

Disclaimer: I received a set of Knuckle Lights to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you’ve surely seen my early am running posts. As a busy wife, mom, and 5th grade teacher, running at 4:45am makes sense. When I try to run in the evenings, helping kids with homework, making dinner, or simply feeling exhausted all get in the way. It’s no surprise that at 4:45am, it is dark outside and I have found myself in need of a light of some sort. Enter Knuckle Lights.

Similarly to Dan Hopkins, founder of Knuckle Lights, I too have tried carrying a flashlight with me and wearing a headlamp. The flashlight was annoying since I didn’t like having something in my hand that I had to carry. The headlamp was annoying because 1) it’d leave a line indent going across my forehead (and it’d still be faintly visible when I went into work) 2) it’d hurt my head. When I found out about Knuckle Lights, I couldn’t wait to try them!

Here are my thoughts after testing out my Knuckle Lights…

Pros

Lightweight – hardly felt them there!
Bright – it was easy to see in front of me!
Steady – the wide beam of light did not bounce around, even with my arms moving!
Adjustable – the knuckle lights can be made smaller or larger depending on hand size and/or with gloves.
Magnetic – great for storing at home and once the sun comes out! (Since I usually wear my SPIbelt, I was able to attach my Knuckle Lights to my SPIbelt once the sun came out.)

Cons

Sweaty – Yes, they made my hands sweat. Not really too big of a deal because when my hands would begin to feel a little sweaty, I’d simply adjust where the knuckle lights were placed.

The Knuckle Lights that I tested out were the Knuckle Lights Colors. Here are the specs:

2 LIGHTS PER SET — The units connect together magnetically. The soft silicone straps can be adjusted to fit any size hand and even over gloves.
120 TOTAL LUMENS — The super bright lights provide a wide flood beam, providing a steady, even light in front of you that does not bounce around, even with your arms moving.
BATTERIES INCLUDED — Each Unit Operates on 1 X AA Battery.
WATERPROOF — Units can be used in any type of weather.
Price point: $39.99 and ALWAYS free standard shipping for US orders

Knuckle Lights has recently come out with a new, rechargeable design! So, if you’re looking for a product that can be recharged, be sure to check out the new design. (I’ve been using my Knuckle Lights for about a month now and the batteries are still going strong!) There’s also the o riginal Knuckle Lights design.

So, if you’re an early morning runner such as myself or a late night runner, then you need to ditch your flashlight / headlamp and get yourself some Knuckle Lights! BONUS: Use code “BRKL2017” for 15% off your purchase at https://www.knucklelights.com/ (expires 9/1/17).

Check out what my fellow BibRave Pros thought about their Knuckle Lights.

Mai Allison Amy W. Lindsey Tedrick

Until next time,

Review: Healthy, Quick, and Delicious Luvo Meals

Posted on July 15, 2017 by runstrongrun

Disclaimer: I received Luvo Meals to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

As a full time teacher, wife, mom of two, and runner/blogger, I am often on the lookout for quick and nutritious meals. I and my colleagues often pack frozen meals to heat up and eat during our lunch break. When I was offered the opportunity to try a new brand of frozen meals, I said, “Yes, please!” I was quite stoked when my package of 10 Luvo free meal coupons arrived!

Prior to accepting the offer to try and review the Luvo meals, I went to the Luvo website to see which of my local stores sold Luvo products and to also see if they had vegetarian meal options. (Check out my journey towards becoming a no-meat athlete HERE.) I was pleased to find that several stores in my area sell Luvo meals AND Luvo has many vegetarian options.

Here’s what I found when I headed out to purchase my Luvo meals:

Safeway – $4.99

Whole Foods – $5.99 with a $1.00 off coupon taped to the box

Walmart – $4.42

Bel-Air – regularly priced $5.99 on sale for $4.99

Raley’s – regularly priced $5.99 on sale for $4.99

Nugget Market – $5.99

Sadly, when I traveled to six stores within a 40 mile radius to my house, I did not find any vegetarian meals. I still purchased a few meals, however, since the rest of my family are not vegetarians. The first meal I prepared for my husband was turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

The first thing that surprised me about the Luvo meal was that it was “steamazing”. It steams perfectly in the paper pouch. There’s no puncturing, no mess, and it slides out easily when it’s done cooking! My husband’s first comment after tasting his meal was, “It tastes homemade.”

After trying hard to find some local vegetarian Luvo meal options, I contacted BibRave to let them know I wasn’t able to find any. They ended up contacting Luvo. Luvo was kind enough to send me not one, not two, but eight vegetarian meals to try! So awesome!

The first meal I decided to try was the quinoa and vegetable enchilada meal. Again, it steamed nicely in the pouch, and tasted great! If I could only eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it’d be Mexican food. Seriously, I am always in the mood for Mexican food! This quinoa and vegetable enchilada meal not only helped to give me my Mexican food fix, but it also had a little spice to it which made my taste buds dance!

As I began to do some more research in the Luvo brand, one thing that caputured my attention was their 3-2-none promise. The three things they focus on are: fruits and veggies, whole grains, and quality proteins. The two things they limit are sodium and added sugar. None. The things they leave out entirely are artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners. (Read more at http://luvoinc.com/blog/fighting-obesity-basic-nutrition/)

One of my fellow BibRave PROs, Lindsey, posted that her favorite meal was the steel cut oatmeal meal, so that was my next meal to try. Oatmeal is not a food that I eat vey often. This Luvo meal, however, tasted so good that I think I could eat this every morning for breakfast and not grow tired of it! (As you can see from the pic collage below, it smelled so good that I didn’t even take a before pic. I only got the after pic.)

I recently spent an entire day eating only Luvo meals! I ate a steel cut oatmeal for breakfast, a so cal kale and bean bowl for lunch, and a quinoa and vegetable enchilada for dinner. I felt full, energized, and even ran 3.1 miles that evening for the first time in a month!

Overall, I’d recommend Luvo meals if you’re looking for a quick and nutritious meal option. The only con I’d comment on is the lack of variety found in my local stores. Perhaps it’s due to brand being fairly new in the market? Perhaps it’s my area? Not sure, but what I am sure about is it’s true… Luvo meals are healthy, quick, and delicious!

What are you favorite healthy, quick, and delicious meals? Have you tried Luvo meals before? Have you seen them at your local grocery store?

Until next time,

Review: Brilliant Reflective

Posted on July 9, 2017 by runstrongrun

Disclaimer: I received two packages of Brilliant Reflective to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

We’ve all been there before. We’re out for a late night / early morning run or bike ride and what’s on the forefront of our mind? Watching out for oncoming traffic. Sure, I try and wear bright colors and also take my headlamp, but sometimes it feels like I need more.

Photo source: https://www.brilliantreflective.com/pages/brilliant-reflective-for-runners

When I first heard about Brilliant Reflective I was so excited to try it out because I want to be seen! (If you’ve ever seen my bright neon Asics, you totally know what I mean.) I was lucky enough to receive not one product, but two; one iron-on reflective strip package as well as a stick-on reflective strip package.

Soon after receiving my packages, I grabbed my 12 year old son and together we went outside to add some reflective strips to our bicycles and helmets. I was amazed by how easy the reflective strips stuck to different surfaces of our bikes and helmets.

We then took our newly decked out bikes up to the levee located not too far from our house. We stopped and I set up my camera. I told my 12 year old, “Pretend that you like me” and this is what he did. (Yes, he’s a keeper.)

Here’s a few key facts about Brilliant:

Brilliant is a new start-up with a mission to reduce automobile based injuries to runners, bikers, walkers, children, and outdoor enthusiasts
Brilliant comes in four different colors: red, blue, purple, and black
The stick-on product is semi-permanent which means they can be taken off in the future if needed
The reflective strips can be cut and applied anywhere: shoes, apparel, and equipment!

You may be thinking, “Why do I need these reflective strips when many of my running / athletic clothes, shoes, and equipment already have reflective pieces on them” Well, did you know that there’s actually four types of reflective material? As stated on Brilliant’s website, there’s:

1. Cosmetic – No Visibility at 10 – 50 feet (most casual apparel)

2. Low Brightness – Low Visibility at 100 feet (typical running/cycling gear)

3. Medium Brightness – Moderate Visibility at 100 – 300 feet (running/cycling vest)

4. High Brightness – Significant Visibility at 300+ meters (Brilliant Reflective Strips)

Still not convinced? Here’s what other BibRave Pros had to say about Brilliant Reflective:

Nicole Lindsey Mark

Purchase your own Brilliant Reflective strips by visiting bit.ly/BRforRunners. Be sure to use code BRP35 to save 35%!

Find Brilliant Reflective on the socials:

Twitter: @Brilliant_Safe

Instagram: brilliant_reflective

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrilliantReflective/

How do you stay visible while outside late at night or early in the morning? Where could you add some Brilliant Reflective strips to your shoes, apparel, or equipment?

Stay visible,

Giveaway & Review: Smell Well

Posted on July 5, 2017 by runstrongrun

Disclaimer: I received two Smell Well packages to review (and giveaway) as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Stinky shoes and gym bags are two of the worst smells ever! If you’re like me and travel for races, then you’ve probably thrown your sweaty shoes / clothes in a bag after a hard workout. When you’re back home and ready to open your bag back up, you plug your nose because you know the bag is about to reek! Guess what? Those days are now over!

I recently traveled for the Utah Valley Marathon and had to throw my stinky, sweaty clothes in my suitcase after the race because I had a flight to catch. When I got back home, much to my surprise, my suitcase smelled pleasant and my clothes weren’t moist since I used Smell Well.

Besides making your clothes / shoes / gym bags smell fresher, here are the other benefits of using Smell Well:

Moisture absorbing
Removes nasty odors
Free from hazardous chemicals, non-allergenic and environmentally friendly
Available in a variety of colors and patterns.

After seeing one of my posts about Smell Well, a friend texted me and asked, “Does it really work?” I told her yes, it really does! I will confess that I sweat a lot. My feet sweat all the time, even in sandals! I like that Smell Well doesn’t just cover up the smell, it eliminates it while absorbing the moisture!

On Smell Well’s website, they have 7 ways to use Smell Well:

Everyday shoes / work-boots
In your training / gym bag
In boxing gloves
Sports / Fitness footwear
In the car
In Motorcycle Gear
In the house

Here are some other possible uses:

In your teenager’s bedroom
In your child’s sports bag
In your swim bag
Near the litter box
In your classroom (shout out to all my fellow teachers)

As stated previously, I’m excited to giveaway one package of Smell Well to one lucky person! Enter the giveaway below:
Smell Well GIVEAWAY

*No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries. Ends 07/07/17 at 11:59pm. Log back in to Raffle-copter daily for additional entries. Prize valued at $9.95. Entries open to US residents 18 and older. Winner announced on Instagram stories and this blog post on 07/08/17. (Congratulations to Katrina B.!)

Looking to buy your own packages of Smell Well? Buy 3 for 2 using code BIBPRO10 on Amazon. (Add three products to your cart, use the code BIBPRO10 at checkout, and the cost of the third package is deducted from your total.)