The Jen & Lola Show "Foggies Review"

Ok...so Lola is swimming like a fish and using goggles like a champ. She has been using SBR Sports TriSwim line since she was a baby (remember the "stay pretty" video??) and it's time she now uses Foggies!

We did TONS of swimming yesterday and decided to do an impromput review for you!! Here it is...

He Speaks: 5k's and Virrata

Hey Folks,

If you have been following Jen's blog for a while I am sure you have seen her post about Project X.

Let me introduce myself. I am Casey, otherwise known as Jen's husband and the subject in Project X.
For years, I had zero interest in this craziness of running (or any of that other stuff SHE does) but this fall I had a wake up call, an epiphany if you will. Now, I get it. I understand the hours of training, the quest to the finish line, the thrill that comes with challenging yourself and testing your limits. Now I am happily by her side and along for ride. I have my own journey and I am just happy that we can do this together!

Not only is Jen my wife, but she is also my Coach and has helped me shed 50lbs and go from a 40" pant size down to a 30! Jen is teaching me about the right way to train and race (and I think she picks on me the most out of all of her athletes).

When an opportunity came up to review a pair of men's running shoes from Saucony, I happily volunteered to be the guinea pig. I have been running in Saucony shoes since I started running and have been happy with the fit and comfort that the shoe provides. I started running in the Guide and recently tried the Fastwitch, a much lighter shoe. When I read the specs on the Virrata, I was very intrigued.

• very light and weighing in at 6.5 oz
• ZERO drop
• bright colors 

The bit of information that was of most interest to me was this-
Built on a 0mm offset, this shoe lets your feet do the work while providing plenty of protection from the road.

photo from saucony.com

I have been looking to gain more speed with my running and as I learned more about run mechanics and shoes (and still being a fairly new runner), it was important to me to have some cushion and protection yet a shoes that would allow me to run with the most efficient form.

I had a 5k coming up on the schedule and the Virrata arrived just in time, giving me a few days to get out and run before racing in a new shoe. The shoe immediately felt great-very comfortable like it had already been broken in to fit my foot. On my test run (5.6 miles) I could appreciate how light and springy they were! There was a sufficient amount of cushioning and I liked the way my feet just rolled along the road. I did notice a bit a calf tenderness after this first run but I was told by Jen that this was normal since I was moving into a more minimal shoe that I have been running in.

My second run in them was a short, easy run (Coach Jen had me on a mini-taper to get ready to race!) and they felt even better this second run. I had no other discomfort and liked the shoe even more.

Today was race day, it was a cold and windy day for sure. We got in some warm up miles before lining up and it was time to GO!

At the start line, we were all talking about new shoes and there was a guy next to me wearing the same exact Virrata's! We both agreed that we really, really liked this shoe!

At the race start, Im in blue (left, #946) running next to Jen in Rev3 blue (right, #947).
This was our first race running together!

My legs were warmed up and ready to run. Honestly, I could not even feel my shoes during the run they were so light and comfortable. I ran my way to 1 minute and 30 second PR today.

Thank you to Saucony for the chance to participate in this review.
Thank you Coach Jen for guiding me and being my cheerleader.



DISCLOSURE: All opinions expressed in this blog review are those of Casey and not Jen. The Saucony Virrata shoes were provided at no charge in exchange for Casey's honest evaluation of this running shoe.  All opinions expressed here are his own. 

I Roc(tane)-You can too!

I have been a big fan of GU Energy Labs for quite some time and just this year started using GU's Roctane as part of my training nutrition plan while training for my first half Ironman.

My bowl of GU LOVE

Now I am sure you are wondering what is the difference between regular GU gel and GU Roctane right?

Well, I think this excerpt from GU's website explains it very well:

Let’s paint a picture here – you’ve been training and racing for years now. You’ve got general endurance nutrition nailed and you know what power intervals do for you. You stay away from junk food unless it’s after an Ironman in which case you may consume a truckload. Bricks have become fun and you’ve rationalized a training schedule that should get you committed to an asylum, or therapy, or both. And you know what wires get crossed in your brain after 10 hours in the saddle or on the trail, and what the effects are on those around you – or the voices you hear from imaginary people… So where do you go from here?


We created the first gel in the early 90‘s and hopefully that has helped you progress in your racing career. But at this point you’ve got all the low hanging endurance nutrition fruit picked which means that recovery, both during and after the effort, is likely your critical training and racing challenge. Recovery after a workout or race may be coming along nicely. But how about active recovery during the race or workout? That’s a lot tougher to get right. That’s why we took the original GU Energy Gel and cranked the dial on all the good stuff, especially what you need to recover en route.



OKG is an amino acid complex that inhibits the body’s tendency to break down muscle fiber while also inhibiting tissue damage. This is critical when training and racing for multiple hours. In ultra-distance events, delaying fatigue is the name of the game. So that’s why OKG is in Roctane. You’ll also find histidine which slows down the nasty effects of acid build up in the muscles. Oh, and there’s a ton of other ingredients to help with ultra distance events:


•More branch chain amino acids – limits production of serotonin to lessen fatigue and increase mental focus.

•More citrates – speeds the conversion of carbs into energy. That’s really good at hour 8.


So less fatigue, delayed acid build up, more focus, faster energy conversion, and delayed muscle tissue breakdown – all things that make a difference in ultra endurance events. If you are doing shorter, less severe efforts there are other gels and chewables in the GU lineup to support your goals, namely the original Energy Gel and Chomps. But if you are going long, go with Roctane.

I have to say that training for a half-iron distance has been so much fun and I have been using Roctane the entire time and I have yet to have a bad workout...until yesterday.

While sitting there trying to analyze what went WRONG with yesterday's brick, it hit me.
It was the first time I was doing a workout longer than 90 minutes that I did not use Roctane. SERIOUSLY!!

I used another gel product that I had on hand in my bike pack as I forgot to grab some GU Roctane heading out the door. Remember that GI pain, bloated feeling I had during yesterday's run? Ummmm, yup. Epic fail.

Lesson Learned.
GU recently launched a new Roctane flavor-Chocolate Raspberry.

I have been using Cherry Lime (definitely my favorite!), Blueberry Pomegranate (very good!) and Pineapple (awesome!) so when I got the Chocolate Raspberry flavor I was a little unsure. I did not think I would be a fan of a chocolate flavored gel-I know that when it is 90* and humid, I'm working hard and needing a boost, a sticky sweet chocolate flavor is the last thing I want. BUT, I was actually surprised at how good the Chocolate Raspberry was! Not toooo sweet with a refreshing berry flavor--it reminded me of my favorite truffles!


I have even tossed a couple in the freezer for a bit before heading out on hot days-and by the time I am Re-Roc'ing they are nice and cool. A great treat while out on a hot day.

So I am going to keep rockin' the Roctane and training hard for Timberman! The super awesome folks at Outside PR want you to Roctane too so they will hook one lucky Miles Muscles & Mommyhood reader with their own GU package.
How do you enter to win this fabulous GU Energy Labs package?

You MUST be a follower of my blog. Not a follower? Easy-just click the FOLLOW button to the right side of the screen. Once you have done that you can enter several ways.
Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.

1) Check out the GU Energy Labs website -  tell me how you are fueling your long workouts and how would GU Roctane help you? What Roctane flavor would you most like to try? What other GU product do you find intriguing?

2) Like GU Energy Labs on Facebook.

3) Follow GU Energy Labs on Twitter! Tweet about this contest and please include @milesmusclesmom and @GUEnergyLabs in your tweet.

4) Spread the word about this giveaway! Link on your blog, share on Facebook, etc.

5) Tell me your worst BONK story!!

I will accept entries for this contest until Sunday, July 31st at midnight. One random winner will be selected and announced shortly after that date.

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY TRAINING!

The GU products review on my blog were given to me. All opinions expressed here are my own and were not influenced in any way, shape or from by GU Energy Labs or Outside PR.

I'm Streaking!

Meet my new loves

The Streak II running shoe from Pearl iZUMi

When Outside PR told me that there were sending me a pair of Streak II's from Pearl iZUMi to review, I could NOT WAIT. I have been a fan or Pearl iZUMi cycling gear for a while and was quite excited to try their running line.

After a couple of weeks of stalking my UPS guy, THE box finally arrived. I tore into that box with the excitement and eager anticipation of a 5 year old opening gifts on Christmas morning. 
It was certainly LOVE at first sight--I immediately started planning on a test run as soon as hubby got home from work.

I mean, seriously-look at this shoe. So good looking.

The new women's Streak II has been completely overhauled this season to be even faster, lighter and more performance-oriented than ever. With a new lower profile midsole and lightweight upper, the Streak II is light enough for a 5k, but cushioned enough for a marathon. This is your new go-to PR shoe.

When I picked it up out of the box, I was surprised at just how light it was (just under 7 oz) and I was excited about the low heel drop (about 9mm).

Now, I want to back up a bit here--if you recall, back in January I suffered a minor knee injury (PFPS) and after seeking the advice of a professional (Jared at Orthopedic Associates PT), one of the issues he wanted to correct was getting me OUT of those big, built up shoes and into something lighter.
The Streak II fit that Rx!

I have been moving into more of a minimal shoe since my experience in PT and the Streak II did not disappoint. The shoe is comfortable, responsive and provides some cushioning while still allowing me to run properly (no heel striking in these!). There have been no compromises in comfort or style with this shoe. I also liked that the toe box was not narrow, it a bit more generous than some of the lightweight performance shoes I have tried in the past. I had no issues with tightness, rubbing or blistering at all. The laces do not come untied all the time like some running shoes I have worn, I did not even have to double knot them! I also like the that once you adjust the fit over the foot, it tends to stay put. This shoe is also very breathable.

I kept my first couple runs short (3 miles) to give my legs time to get to know the Streak. After a couple short runs in the Streaks, I tried adding some miles and was still pleased on how they felt in the 5-6 mile range. I ran in them for speedwork and I suffered no knee pain, no shin pain or any other type of pain anytime while running with these.
 

I do not have anything negative to report about the Streak II but I do want to note that in general this shoe runs small. I normally wear a ladies size 9 in a majority of running shoes and did go up to a size 9.5 in the Streak II as the Pearl iZUMi website suggested and it fit perfect. I would recommend going up a half size in the Streak II.
From the Pearl iZUMi site about fit:

RACE LAST- Note this shoe fits 1/2 size smaller than our standard fit. Please order accordingly.


I also noticed that while I have not put in a ton of miles on this shoe yet (~100 or so), the sole seems to be wearing down easily. So I will be see how many miles I log in this shoe.

Now that my body is getting used to a minimal shoe, the Streak II will not only be my choice for a racing shoe but also a training shoe. This is the perfect lightweight performance shoe that I have been seeking.
Sorry to say Kinvara (collective gasp!) but...I'm now Streaking!!