When cold weather needn’t leave your run for the cold!
Disclaimer: I received a pair of Buff® DryFlx+ Collection 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’ve always dreaded running in the cold weather and my regular collection of buffs, skull caps, gloves have kept me going but I’ve always found them to fall short of what I wanted them to be and to top that I wear had to wear them in odd combinations. When I learnt about the opportunity to test Buff® DryFlx+ Collection, I immediately signed up and was fortunate enough to get picked to test out this wonderful product without which I wouldn’t want to run in the cold anymore!
I received the package with the hat and the neck warmer nicely packed and I couldn’t wait to try them out right on time for one of those cold morning runs during the season!
When recovering doesn’t need to be bland and tasteless with SiS REGO Rapid Recovery
Disclaimer: I received the Science in Sport (SiS) REGO Rapid Recovery Chocolate 17.6-oz container, shaker, and the Strawberry Packets to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) at BibRave.com/BibRavePro, and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!
I’ve come to respect Science In Sports as a brand for their Isotonic Gels. I’ve used them to fuel my workouts, long runs and races alike and When I learnt about their new product SiS REGO Rapid Recovery, I couldn’t be left behind and had to try them. I’ve used the REGO Recovery particularly after my long runs so far and boy, I must say that I truly feel replenished after those arduous around 2 hours workout sessions. And not to influence others, but chocolate is the flavor that I love of the two I tried!
With the shaker I received, mixing the drink with either 1 sachet or 3 scoops from the cannister was a breeze. A few rapid shakes and your drink is ready that is delicious and equally nutritious post workout. It does manage to keep me full post workout when I normally find myself literally turning into a bear, scavenge hunting the pantry and the kitchen and eating everything that catches my sight! LOL.
Nutrition
The REGO Rapid Recovery should ideally be consumed within 30 minutes of the workout. This is to ensure that the glycogen stores are replenished soon to prepare your body for recovery and the next workout. Speaking of nutrition, SiS REGO Rapid Recovery is packed with 20 gms of protein, 23 gms of carbs and other essential electrolytes, vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to refuel. The icing on the cake is how delicious this drink tastes. I’ve tried a few other branded recovery drinks and found none to come as close as this one does, to deliciousness!
It does feel that mixing REGO Rapid Recovery powder with Milk but Science in Sports recommends not doing that as it slows down the absorption rate. So, you might want to still do it for fun but not as an act for recovering post workout!
Gather your flock for a Turkey Trot
“Disclaimer: I received an entry into America’s Turkey Trot Virtual Half Marathon 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!”
Learning a bit of a history on Turkey Trot and the feasting on Thanksgiving, I knew I had to sign up for the Turkey Trot half when the opportunity presented itself for us BibRavePros. I grew up in India and I had no idea what Thanks Giving was until I immigrated to the States 2 decades ago. Being a vegetarian, I also don’t know about having Thanks Giving dinner that served Turkey, But hey, I could trot with those that survived (pun intended :-)).
My training for the race wasn’t anything out of the ordinary and I kept up with my regular running schedule averaging about 4-5 activities a week and around a 100 miles a month. My hydration and nutrition plan have been influenced with Science in Sports Isotonic Gels and SiSRego Rapid Recovery and I’m so glad I stuck to the plan.
I was pretty excited about this race from the time I received the packet in my mail with the amazing swag including the race bib, medal and a snug sweatshirt. I couldn’t wait to get on into them but awaited on the planned race day on the 26th Nov 2020.
The race being virtual, I had the luxury to choose the day to run and I zeroed in on Thanks Giving day itself. I dressed up appropriately, packed well for fueling and also mentally figured a route I’d trot on. After initial grind for a few miles, I flew through the route while feeling exuberant. As I came to end the race, I let me Son do the honors of presenting me with the medal and some photos ops were in store next. Overall it was a fantastic start for a great Thanksgiving this year!
Wonder Woman Virtual Race – My first ever virtual race
Disclaimer: I received a free entry into this virtual race 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!
2020 being such a strange year, IRL racing seemed a bit alien and too far fetched that I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to run a race and here came WonderWoman to the rescue. When we BibRavePros came across an opportunity to run a race virtually, get some amazing swag to do so and get an experience on how it would be to race on our own terms, I jumped on the opportunity! I signed up for a 10k.
WonderWoman is not a fictional character. Wonder Woman is a mindset!
Anonymus
Since the distance was one of my favorites, I stuck to my regular workouts during the week to train for the race. The greatest benefit of running virtually was that I could run on my own terms of schedule and route which, in itself is something during a pandemic which had swept up the whole world. To be honest, it is a privilege and what more inspiring could it be than running a virtual race themed after a Woman superhero!
You aren’t alone with your RoadId Sidekick!
Disclaimer: I received a Road iD Sidekick ID 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!
One of the many relevant reasons you should to consider to wear a Road Id is “It’s far better to have a Road ID and not need it than to need ROAD iD and not have it”. As scary and intriguing it might sound, it is a valid real life scenario that one needs to be prepared for and Road iD fits right in – For the scenario and into the fitness watch strap that I wear (pun intended there 😉 ). Road iD is an laser engraved steel plate that snugly slips into you fitness watch strap. You can customize what goes on it but it should ideally be information identifying you and your emergency contact information and any relevant health info for emergency situations. Its very well made and is guaranteed for life in case anything were to happen that would damage the steel engraving.
It’s far better to have a Road ID and not need it than to need ROAD iD and not have it!
Road iD
I’ve heard about and known Road iD products earlier from some of my run buddies and wanted to get one of my own especially during this time and age when running outside could potentially pose life threatening risks (smh)! Its unfortunate, But that’s the world we live in. It’s better to be prepared than be sorry and since the day I got my Sidekick, I’ve never run without it! It definitely gave me a sense of safety during those wee dark hours when the day is about to break and I’m out for my runs.
I have my personal identification details and emergency contact details of my Wife and my Sister along with my favorite running quote engraved on my Road iD Sidekick, but as I mentioned the information that goes on it can be customized and you may include medical information such as allergies, blood group etc.
Running is the answer, The question is pretty much irrelevant
anonymus
I normally don’t run without my Garmin Vivoactive 3 Sports watch and now won’t run without my Road iD Sidekick either and the added convenience is that I don’t have to exclusively remember to wear it! My Sidekick goes where my run takes me now and beyond!
Oh what are those Energy Gels? Don’t stop at just reading the review, Try them yourself!
Disclaimer: I received SiS isotonic gels 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 tried Science in Sports gels before and they are the only energy gels that I liked amongst a few other known brands. When I knew that I could opt-in to test them, I was really excited not only because I like the brand, but also because this would be my first product review after becoming a BibRave Pro! The best part that I like about these gels is that they are pretty mild on the stomach and quite tasty for the energy that it supplements for relatively intense physical activities. I was sent a generous number of these gels in three boxes of six gels of each variety and I’m sure they will last for at least a good few weeks of my runs
The Science
Keeping up the name of the brand, there’s some real science that goes into the ingredients of these gels and I learnt about them while trying the three varieties. You too can enrich yourself with the knowledge and decide the gel that you might want to use for the activity you plan on doing by reading up about it here Which gel, When?
The Favorite
I’m quite unbiased and open by nature, at least when I’m in a group setting. But when it comes to products that I use, review and recommend, I’d have to be honest that I’m highly opinionated. Of course, backed by the facts and in this instance the “Science In Sport”. Of the flavors I tried, I loved the Caffeine gels in Cola and Double Espresso flavors. Want to know why? Check this out here – Give Your Body a Head Start With Go Energy + Caffeine Gels. I tend to have terrible migraines after an intense long run or when I run in hot temperatures due to dehydration. I’ve come to find that I don’t get migraines when I used the caffeinated gels and I learnt that its due to the Electrolytes and the attention enhancing caffeine in it. I love how they taste and the great feel even after the run, A win-win situation!
Are you ready to try Science in Sport gels yet? you may use “BIBRAVE20GEL” for 20% off your order (not applicable to already discounted products or special offers.)
My First blog post!
I’ve been contemplating writing for many years and on just about so many different things and perspectives. Time has passed but I haven’t gotten around it, Well, not until today! To be a bit more kinder with myself I’ve narrowed the choices I had in mind to write about and that is my experiences with one of my favorite activities, Running! If I were to start writing, I needed a blog and also a name that’s perhaps a bit relevant. What’s in a name, I might have thought, but I still needed it to be relevant. Choosing one wasn’t that hard to be honest as I’ve pondered enough on it over several runs, Since the time I thought about running. “Runirvana” it is and I might sound a bit philosophical, but, running has started to become the necessary daily potion, For me to be me, without complicating it much and keeping the sanity of my mind :). I’ve also come to discover that at this time and age of my life, Running, in a way is giving me a sense of self worth, If not for anything else – That I too can do something useful with myself and experience the bliss of it! And that is enough of my brief philosophical rant about “Why Running” and over to the more interesting, “How it all started”!
I started running about 6 years ago. It was 10K without any training that I did first and it couldn’t have gotten any wilder than that. My best friend was running the race and insisted that I should join him and I did and completed it so painstakingly. That is when I realized how bad my fitness levels were. I had cramps that wouldn’t go away for several days and that was when I seriously considered that I should do something about it! As a child I remember winning running races at school and also have those precious mementos and recognition certificates that I won to cherish and those memories helped me get started. I started slow, ran few miles once in 2-3 days or so and mostly kept it recreational. I tracked my pace and distance using my iPhone at that time and also got into conversations about them with some very serious athletes who I knew from work. I remember thinking that I would never be able to run as much as they do nor could even think about doing longer races – But isn’t that how everything is like to begin with? Slow or fast, If things are kept up with, Miracles are meant to happen. Today, I run at a pace that I didn’t think I could, at that time and have run a few half marathons, 10 milers and more 5Ks. I have signed up for my first full Marathon scheduled for March 2019 and this will be my gift to myself right before I turn 40. I am also on the course to complete my first 1000 miles this year and I’m so grateful for that. This wouldn’t have been possible without my running buddies from my local run club called Morrisville Run Club or MRC. My runs, pace and the miles wouldn’t have been so consistent, hadn’t it been for this amazing group.
Its been a journey that I’ve come to cherish and look forward to as I cross the streets, greenways, hills and the trails every time I run now and beyond.
runirvana 