Week 8: Embracing the Process

Last week was week 8(ish) of marathon training.  I think.  I may have actually lost count of how long I have been training because it feels like it has been eternity.  But what I do know is that I now have 11 weeks to go, yikes!  In my post last week, I talked about ditching the excuses and working hard.  It worked for me and I had a great week of training last week.  My theme for this week, oh I'm trying to have a theme each week now BTW, is to try to enjoy the journey a little more.  This was especially important as I set out to run my longest distance of this training cycle with an 18 miler on Thursday.  I had a difficult time with my last two long runs so my goal for this one was, of course to push through and finish it strong, but to also enjoy it.  I have come a long way but I still have a ways to go, so I need to respect the process.

Monday: Spinning + Upper Body Strength
I have been feeling a little burnt out on teaching spinning. I have been doing it for over years now and it is especially tiring when I am training for a full.  But every time I get in there with my group, we have such a rocking time that I am so grateful to get to teach.  It also is great cross training, so I really can't complain.  Monday was no exception and I had an awesome time with my spin crew.  Though I usually do some leg and power exercises on Monday, I pulled back the reigns a little bit this week in preparation for my long run on Thursday.  All in all it was a fun and productive morning.

Tuesday: Easy Run [3 miles] + Core + "Speed Work"
Normally I do speed work on my treadmill on Tuesdays, but with the Achilles a little tight and my hamstring still somewhat tight also from the week prior, I thought it would be best to do an easy run. When my alarm clock went off at 5am, though I did NOT want to get up and run, at all!  But I reminded myself of my theme for last week (ditch the excuses) and my theme for this past week (enjoy the journey), I figured I owed it to myself and my commitment to get up and get going.  So I did an easy 3 miles with some core.  Definitely not ideal, but I felt it was what I needed that day and I accepted it for what it was.  Later that evening, I had actually considered making up for my mediocre run that morning by meeting up with my run group.  I was already dressed and ready to go when the group got canceled. So I suggested to my husband we go for a family walk around the neighborhood.  My 4 year old had other plans for our walk and wanted to run everywhere.  Of course his definition of a run is sprinting from here to there, and let me tell you, that kid is FAST!  So he certainly wore mommy out!

Wednesday: Upper Body Strength + Yoga
Wednesdays are my looooong days.  They start with work at 5am, a break to get the kids ready and off to school, work all morning, workout at lunch, work all afternoon, then I pick up the kids and head over to teach Yoga.  I'm pretty much non-stop from 5am until 9pm!  Honestly, it is pretty tiring.  Plus, I always get a little nervous the day before a long run, so this past Wednesday was especially exhausting!  But like my husband and I always say, this is the life we have chosen, so we embrace it, make it work and appreciate all it provides us with.  Managed to sneak in a light upper body work on my lunch break and some yoga poses with my class that night.

Thursday: Long Run [18 miles]
I approached this run with the most positive attitude I could muster.  I tried to convince myself I wasn't nervous, but I was definitely apprehensive.  Thanks to the insane heat and humidity, my long runs have been pretty rough and I expected this to be no different.  But not wanting to set myself up for failure and of course, honoring my theme for the week, I set out to just do the my best and try and enjoy it the best I can.  By no means was it great, in fact I'm still a ways a way from where I want and need to be.  But it actually did go much better than my previous long runs which was encouraging and promising.  Of course I had to hurry off to work as soon as I was done, so I had little time to sulk or celebrate the run anyway!

Friday: Upper Body + Core
I recovered really well from my long run.  Aside from slightly achy, restless legs Thursday night (due mostly to dehydration), I was actually feeling pretty good.  No major tightness or pain, even in the areas that have been periodically bothering me throughout training.  So yey for that!  But I still wanted to take it pretty easy in the weight room to give me body a little break, well that and I honestly just didn't have that much time.  So I squeezed in a quick little upper and core workout on my lunch break.

Saturday: Fun Run [6 miles]
Between work, the kiddos and being so focused on my training runs, I haven't been able to meet up with my Moms Run This Town group as much as I would like.  I had really been missing my girls and fun we have out on the trail.  Though I wouldn't get the run in that I want and need (as far as pace and miles go), and I would have to wake up earlier than I would prefer on like the ONLY day I ever get to sleep in, I knew the group run would be more than worth it.  And it certainly did not disappoint.  It was so awesome getting to meet up with my girls, we got in 6 miles and had tons of fun in the process.  I am definitely going to make an effort to get out to more group runs!  After a long week of work and training, it was nice to get to relax with the family out at the pool that afternoon then have a date night with the hubster that night!

Sunday: Rest Day
Sunday was a much needed rest day that was spent at the beach.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky, it was super warm and the water felt great.  The boys had so much fun splashing in the waves and playing in the sand.  There's nothing I love more in this world than seeing their smiling facing and hearing their laughter.  They are my whole entire world and I could not have imagined a more perfect rest day after such a crazy busy week!

Week 7: Time to Ditch the Excuses

In my 7th week of marathon training, I had to have a HUGE pep talk with myself.  I feel like I have been selling myself short a lot during this cycle and giving in to every "reason" why training has been so challenging. I finally decided to ditch the excuses and start getting serious about my training if I want to reach my goal.  I have to admit, having come up short at a BQ in my last 3 attempts, I was kinda in a strange place heading into this training cycle. You see, I know what it's like to fail, I've come quite accustomed to that, unfortunately.  And as much as it sucks, let's be honest here, it sure is a lot easier to just give in rather than push through when it gets tough. But I am really freaking tired of taking the easy route because I'm freaking tired of failing (pardon my French).  I'm ready to finally turn my dream into a reality and this week was about taping into that desire and how it will drive me the rest of my training.

So without any further ado, here's a recap of week 7, one of my best weeks of raining thus far...

Monday: 60min Spinning + Strength Training
Taught my usual spin class and got in a quick weight lifting session before hand.  I focused a lot on power exercises in the weight room, incorporating single arm snatches, box jumps and split squat jumps.  And spin class was great, energy was through the rough, I had a blast and was drenched in sweat!

Tuesday: 5.5mi Speed Work + Hot Yoga

It has been very busy and hectic at work and often the only free time I have is between 5-7am.  So I decided to use that time to get some work done rather than my speed work.  I figured I could squeeze in a quick run on my lunch break or later in the evening if need be, work has to come first.  Luckily, I was able to sneak out for an hour before lunch and decided to do my speed work on the treadmill.  I was a little iffy about it at first, just not feeling it.  But that is when it hit me, I have been iffy and whiny and full of excuses all this time, it was time to put in work dammit!  So I sucked it up and ended up absolutely CRUSHING my speed work!  I ran 6x800's (I was only scheduled for 4 but felt so great I did 2 more) with a pace closer to my 400 rather than 800!  I know they can't always feel that great, but I definitely need a good, hard workout like that to get me back in the game.  Hot Yoga later that evening was a great accompaniment to my speed from earlier.

Wednesday: Strength Training + Yoga
Total body strength at Planet Fitness on my lunch break where I did a little bit of everything, including some much needed lower body exercises and core.  I don't do much for legs, though I know I need to, so I hit it pretty hard (which I ended up paying for as the week went on, uhoh).  It was back to work for the rest of then I picked up the kids, rushed over to LA Fitness and talk Yoga.  Oh the life of a working fitmom, 3 different gyms in a matter of hours!

Thursday: 5.5mi Tempo Run
Hunter and I ended up sleeping in until about 5:45 that morning, feeling as if we needed a little extra rest.  When we woke up, he went into the gym to workout and work, so I headed downstairs to get some work done too.  I originally planned to run on my lunch break but decided to knock it out before heading into the gym for the day.  Hunter took the kids to school as I rand around the neighborhood.  The heat and humidity got to me quickly and I kept thinking about slowing down or cutting it short.  But then I remembered the pep talk I had to give myself once this week already and pushed through.  It wasn't the pace I was shooting for but it wasn't too far off and I'm glad that I broke through some mental barriers.

Friday: 2mi Hill Repeats
Normally, I do upper and core on Fridays but Hunter sent me a text on his way back from out of town (he was gone for the night) asking me if I wanted to run this hills out in Apopka.  So of course I said heck yeah!  There are not many "hills" in this area, it's actually pretty flat around here.  I had heard about this hill out in Apopka that some of our NFL guys like to go run up and had been eager to give it a try.  We got out there around 1pm with the sun high in the sky and beating hard down on us.  We measured out a tenth of the mile uphill and began our work.  We sprinted as hard as we could up the hill and briskly walked back down, doing that 10 times.  It was definitely tough.  When I found myself slowing down or wanting to even stop, I would tell myself to push harder, my BQ was at the top of the hill.  Pushing through now, and all of the other times that get tough, is what it's going to take to get my that goal.  That's exactly what we did that afternoon, and Hunter and I were both pretty exhausted that evening.

Saturday: 10mi Treadmill Run

I thought I was finally going to get out on the trail with my MRTT mamas but thanks to my van needing some service it was yet another no go for me this weekend.  We had to get the car seats into Hunter's truck, drop the van off at the shop then drop Hunter off at work.  So the boys and I headed over to LA Fitness so I could get my miles in on the treadmill.  It could have been the hard lower body workouts of the week, exhaustion from hill work, or me just being mentally not there, but the run started off pretty rough.  I kept wondering, "it shouldn't be this difficult, is there something wrong with me?"  So there I was again, having to give myself another pep talk, reminding myself that if I want to race hard, I have to train hard.  It wasn't easy, in fact I had to fight pretty hard for the miles and the pace.  But I pushed through it, finishing up the ten miles with an average pace of 7:23 and my last mile the fastest one at 6:36!

By Saturday afternoon, my legs were shot, I was so tired but I was on another level mentally.  I had broken through some HUGE mental barriers this week, that I had been needing to break since this Spring.  I feel like moving forward, I have a much better attitude and I'm ready to give the rest of the training cycle my absolute all.  No excuses, just hard work to make this BQ finally freaking happen!

Oh, and Sunday: REST DAY!
Rest and relaxation with my favorite people was spent taking the boys to see The Secret Life of Pets (which is super cute btw) and then hanging out by the pool the rest of the day!  Exactly what I needed after a hard week of training.

Summer Running: My Tips to Beating the Heat

IT.IS.HOT!!!  It could be just my imagination, maybe global warming or maybe because it's the first time I've trained for a marathon this early in the summer, but I swear this is the hottest it has ever been!  Every time I come back from a run, regardless if it is a quick little 3-5 miler or long run, I am absolutely drenched and drained!  I wish I had some magic formula to totally beat the heat and have amazing runs year round, but despite all my efforts and experience, the summer months are still pretty tough.  I have, however, learned a few ways to work around and/or with the heat and humidity to survive these brutal summer runs and thought I would take a second to share...

Stay Hydrated

Although the most obvious piece of advice for summer running, and essentially for any activity year round, it certainly does not hurt to be reminded.  Proper hydration is key for performance and recovery so be sure to place a huge emphasis on it, especially as the temperatures rise!  I went into a little more detail in a past post about hydration, but I would like to point out a couple of things I to stay hydrated, especially during the summer months.  First and foremost, I make sure I am constantly drinking water throughout the day, and increase my water intake the day before, the day of and the day after a long run. And speaking of those long runs, I make sure to have some Nuun Hydration in my Orange Mud hydration vest.  Hydration of the utmost importance and should NEVER be neglected, so do not "stay thirsty my friends" and be sure to drink up!

Out Run the Sun

Summer time means earlier sunrises.  This means you can get even earlier for those morning miles, yey...or not hehe.  Though many may not be quite as bright eyed and bushy tailed this time of day, it may be the only time run in before the sun is up and scorching.  Getting as many miles possible in before the sun is fully up is not only a great way to beat the heat but the perfect way to start your day!  I personally love a good early morning run.  There is something so beautiful in watching the sun rise and getting to witness the start of a brand new day.  It also gives me a great sense of accomplishment knowing what I have conquered for the day before many are even out of bed!  If waking up early is not your thing right now, I can (almost) assure you that if you focus on the great things early morning runs have to offer, you'll soon grow to love it!

Slow Down

Probably not what you want to hear when you're training so hard to get ready for your Fall races.  But pulling back on the intensity of your runs (especially the long ones) may be what you need to get through the hot summer months.  The intense heat and humidity can certainly take a toll on your body and pace, so don't get discouraged if you find yourself feeling a little sluggish out on the trail.  Pace may need to be adjusted by up to a minute or more depending on the temps and humidity.  So don't beat yourself up if you have to slow down a little in order to still get the miles in. Although I must admit, every single summer, I get a little frustrated when my long runs are slower the other months, and I even have a "freak out moment" as if it were my new norm.  But then I'm reminded that despite my slower pace now, I know what I am capable of and that if I stay dedicated to my mileage and training plan, it will pay off.  Always be sure to train hard, but more importantly, train smart!

Take It Indoors

Though you may not be a fan of the treadmill, sometimes it is the necessary evil when the weather is just not conducive for an outside run.  As a runner down here in Florida, I have grown to love my "dreadmill" when I need to get some mid-day miles in during the summer time.  (Also, as a working mom, sometimes it's the only way I can get a run in).  Whether it is the one in my den or a trip to the gym, I actually (somewhat) look forward to hitting up the 'mill for some miles and me time.  I personally LOVE music, so all I need for an enjoyable treadmill run is some good tunes (and water of course).  While at the gym, I have TV's in front of me so it is a great time to catch up on the news and sports (and the occasional talk show).  Other ways I have passed the time on the treadmill is listening to podcasts or books on tape, watching some NetFlix on the iPad, or even chatting with a friend on the treadmill next to me at the gym.  Of course it not the same as running on the trail, but when that trail is pushing 110 degrees, that treadmill doesn't seem so bad after all!

Why Not Tri?

A triathlon may not be your thing, but cross-training with some biking and running is a great way to beat the summer heat.  Taking a dip in the pool or whizzing down the trail on your bike is certainly much cooler than pounding the hot pavement during a run.  It will provide great cross-training, a new challenge, and potentially a new love in multi-sports!?!

Embrace the Suck

Last but not least, it is freaking hot and there ain't nothing we can do about it.  And with several weeks (actually months for us Floridians) of summer to go, it's only going to get hotter.  I hate to say it, but we just need to suck it up and push through the best (and smartest) way we can.  Be grateful you are able to do what you love, even if it a little warmer than we prefer, and know that all your hard work now will pay off in the Fall!

Good luck and happy training everyone!

Yes, I'm Still Training For Chicago!

My blogging has falling off a bit but my training for the Chicago Marathon is still in full force.  These past two weeks have been hectic to say the least, with the holiday and our little family vacation, not to mention work is INSANE, which is a good thing when you own a business but it sure can be exhausting!  But I have still managed to squeeze in my training runs, including a 16 mile long run, so here is a quick recap of the past two weeks of training mostly told through pictures...

Week 5

The week started off with the usual of me teaching spinning and weight training.  I had some decent treadmill runs during the week including a good speedwork day and an average tempo run.  Strength training has been going really well and I'm feeling much stronger.

This week, we celebrated our two year anniversary of opening our own facility!  It's crazy how quickly this time has flown by and how much has changed.  Hunter and I have learned so much about business, each other and even life since embarking on this journey together.  It has not always been easy, but it has been totally worth it.  Dream big, work hard and never give up!

Got in a little cross training on my bike on Thursday.  I hadn't been on my bike since my triathlon in May, so it was nice to get back in the saddle.  My legs were pretty spent from my strength training and back to back runs, so it was definitely a little tough out there especially with the heat.  But I love to ride and hope to do more of it, and maybe even "tri" again soon!

This gym mirror selfie is from last Saturday after my 8 mile treadmill run at LA Fitness. I had three group runs to chose from all with wonderful runner friends and I was so excited to join one of the groups that morning.  But by Friday evening, with work, training and the kiddos, I was practically a zombie.  As much as I love pushing myself and staying super committed, I cannot kill myself doing so either.  So I made the decision to turn off my alarm, sleep in, miss the group runs and do my thang on the treadmill.  I did NOT regret my decision at all and ended up having an awesome morning with my boys, a great run then a relaxing afternoon with the family.  Sometimes we just need to listen to our bodies!

Week 6

Fourth of July!  The kids were out of school and we closed the gym down for the day.  It's actually the first time we have EVER completely closed for a holiday and we were so excited to have a full day off and spend it as a family.  We decided to take the boys into the gym with us while we worked out.  They had an absolute blast cheering on mommy and daddy while we "got swole" and even went through a few little exercises themselves.  I think we may have a new little family tradition forming here!

The rest of the day was spent celebrating the holiday with friends.  The weather was absolutely perfect for spending time at the pool but unfortunately our fireworks experience got rained out.  Which actually turned out ok because we were exhausted and ready for bed!

All the excitement of the holiday had me sluggish the next morning.  I decided to use my 5am wake up call for work rather than working out and put off my speed work until lunch time.  I had 8x400's planned for that day and though they were tough, I got it down and felt great!  Right calf gave me a little trouble but other than that, I was relatively pain free and feeling good about my long run coming up on Thursday.

To say those 16 miles were rough is a total understatement, they were downright BRUTAL.  I got a later start than I would have liked and was out there right around sun up.  The temps were already pushing 90+ and the humidity was close to 100%.  The first 6-7 miles weren't terrible, I kept a pretty steady pace I had hoped to keep the entire time.  But as I approached the turn around, I just completely ran out of steam.  The heat totally got to me, I was chaffing bad from my hydration vest and my iPod died.  I ended up doing walk run intervals for the last several miles just to get finished.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in my performance.  Having these ugly long runs are really starting to make me nervous about Chicago.  Fortunately I do have several more to go, so it gives me the opportunity to make adjustments but more importantly, get more mentally tough!  I used my 24 hour rule for the run, quickly put it behind me and had a great upper body and ab workout Friday before heading out for vacation.

We had a little mini vacation with the family at Bonnet Creek this past weekend.  We stayed here last year so I already had my run mapped out for Saturday morning.  With that ugly long run from Thursday behind me and a fun filled day of family time ahead of me, I just wanted to get in some easy miles while enjoy the beauty of the resort.  I knocked out 5 sunrise miles around the property without any care or concern of my pace and ended up having a pretty good run!

The rest of the weekend was dedicated to family time and making sure our boys had an amazing vacation.  They sure seemed to enjoy themselves in the several pools, splash pads, water slides and lazy rivers!  They also loved getting ice cream, going to the arcade, playing putt putt and riding around the resort on a golf cart!  Family is everything to my husband and I, and maximizing the time we have together is of the utmost importance.  We were totally exhausted by the end of the short trip but it was all totally worth it to see our babies have the time of their lives!

Well, that in a nutshell is what I have been up to for the past two weeks of training.  The summer heat and humidity are definitely getting to me as well as my crazy busy work schedule.  But I try my hardest to make it all work, keeping a good balance, a positive attitude, staying motivated and having a little fun in the process!

Week 4: Chicago Marathon Training

Um, that cannot be right, I'm already 4 weeks into my training for the Chicago Marathon!?!  It's crazy how quickly time flies, especially when you're having fun.  Though I have a HUGE goal for this marathon and want to do everything possible to make it happen, I also want this to be a fun and relatively stress free training cycle.  And so far so good.  Despite having some Achilles issues the past few weeks and the heat and humidity being insane, things have been going well, mostly because of my attitude.  Attitude is everything and I will not let the small stuff and/or the stuff that I cannot control ruin my training and race day experience.

Back to the training...this was a big week for me.  It was my first long run, I got some new inserts for my shoes to help with my Achilles/Plantar issues and I got to pace a 5k (yes, pace a 5k) for an extremely important cause.  So here is he recap of week 4...

Monday: Spinning and weights are the name of the game on Mondays.  This past Monday, I had forgotten my cycle shoes (they were in my car that was in the shop), so I had to teach in my running shoes.  I'm not a fan of having to use the cages, I prefer my clips, and just as I suspected, the change in foot position flared up the Achilles.  Luckily, with plenty of stretching and rolling, my ankle felt much better.  I was able to get  a few weights in but I had to rush off to work, it's a busy day at The Athlete Factory!

Tuesday: Track, ahem Treadmill Tuesday for some speed work.  Though I want to throw my phone across the room and shatter it into pieces when the alarm goes off, ok maybe a little dramatic but I would much rather get a little extra sleep and/or get some work done.  But once I get going, I'm good.  And of course I feel so awesome when it's done.  Went a little light on my speed work this week because every time I push it, I could feel my Achilles scream at me.  I feel like there is a fine line between honoring my body and pushing it.  So I'm doing my best to listen to my body and train smart.  Like I've said, I've got some big goals, but I can guarantee you they won't happen if I'm hurt.  Got to train smart!

Wednesday: I spent a lot of time stretching and foam rolling on Wednesday and did mostly upper in the weight room.  I went to Fleet Feet that day to get fitted for some inserts.  The lady at the store was so awesome and helpful.  I tried several pairs, took them for a test run around the store and settled on what I'm hoping to be the answer to my Achilles and plantar issues  It was back to work for a bit then off to teach yoga.  Though I teach one class a week, I really do not get to practice yoga as much as I would like.  My goal for the coming weeks, and for this training cycle, is get back to more classes.  I feel much stronger and healthier with a regular yoga practice.

Thursday: I had to flip my schedule around to be available to pace a race on Saturday, so my long run had to be Thursday.  It was my first official "long run" of the training cycle and I had a lot of nerves and excitement leading up to it.  My expectations were not terribly high for this one because A. it was my first long run since the half I paced a month before, B. it is insanely hot and humid outside and I knew that would be a factor, and C. My Achilles and plantar issues were still questionable.  The run started off pretty slow.  The humidity definitely got to me in the beginning and it took several miles to find my stride.  By the turn around, though, I had settled into a good pace, albeit still a little slower, but more consistent.  The last few miles were in the sun with little to no shade or breeze, so they were a little tough.  I ended up taking a couple of walk breaks in the last few miles to hydrate and loosen up my calf.  But I pushed through the final mile to finish strong.  Average pace ended up being around 8:35.  In the past, I would have been incredibly disappointed and beat myself up for the rest of the weekend.  But this time around, I am doing my best to stay positive and keep focused.  I have several more long runs in my future so I will need to make some adjustments to have better runs and ultimately a great race.

On a positive note about my long run, I got to test out my new hydration vest by The Orange Mud and I absolutely LOVE it.  (Click here to read my review)

Friday: Recovering from my long run, I decided to do a light upper body and core workout over at Planet Fitness.  It's sled day at The Athlete Factory (I will have to make a post just to explain the awesomeness of that one of these days) so though I wasn't working out there, I got my fitness on coaching and moving around 45lb plates.  Then Hunter and I grabbed some lunch, picked the kids up early to ride the SunRail and then spent a relaxing evening a home.  It was an early wake up call for this pacer!

Saturday: After the tragic shooting at Pulse night club earlier this month, so many people felt compelled to do something to help out.  From giving blood to donating money and time, to showing up to various vigils, our community really came together to show support.  Final Mile Race Management wanted to involve the running community and decided to set up a 5k.  In two short weeks, the race director, fellow runners, sponsors and volunteers came together to organize and fund an event that raised over $100,000 for those affected by the shooting.  Thousands of runners at the actual event and virtually participated in the Orlando United 5k this past Saturday and it was truly one of the most inspiring and emotional events I have ever been a part of.  The running community is like no other and that light shined so brightly this weekend.  The love, acceptance and respect for one another out there was truly a beautiful thing to witness.  I was so honored to get to be a pacer for this event and got to meet a lot of really awesome people.  In a time of such a tragedy it is amazing to see people come together to love and support one another.  Love truly does conquer hate!

 

Sunday: Finally a rest day.  We decided we wanted to take the kids to the beach so packed everything up, drove down there and discovered a random storm was coming through.  So we turn around and came back to the pool.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky at our house so it was a super fun afternoon for the fam at the pool.  Then it was back to the grind.

Product Review: The Orange Mud Hydration Vest

We all know the importance of proper hydration, especially during the hot summer months.  I've always been diligent about bring water and electrolytes along with during my long training runs, but unfortunately have never been a fan of how I have been able to do some.  From belts to handheld bottles, I have yet to find anything that seems to fit right, not drive me insane and of course hold enough hydration for me.  That is until now.

After seeing several of my Instagram "friends" post runfies with these water bottle backpacks, I decided to do a little research to see exactly what it is they were wearing and if it would be worth a shot.  I discovered that these backpacks were actually hydration vests made by The Orange Mud company.  I had a little bit of a sticker shock at first, and wondered if it was worth the price.   Like I said above, all the other belts and packs I have tried over the years were rather uncomfortable and/or did not hold enough water for my longer runs.  And since I have wasted quite a bit of money on said apparatuses, I was pretty leery to purchase yet another item that could potentially be equally disappointing.

I read through the product descriptions, skimmed through the reviews asked a couple of friends who use them their opinion, and I was sold.  With my training for the Chicago Marathon in full swing, I was desperate to find a product that would keep me well hydrated during this hot Florida summer and this seemed to be the answer.  Before I knew it, I had the credit card out and ordered the HydraQuiver Vest Pack.

From the second I placed the order, the communication from the company was top notch.  I received a confirmation email as well as a Facebook direct message from Orange Mud.  The very next day, I received messages letting me know my item was ready to be shipped, along with a tracking number and when I could expect my vest.  I also received an email with information and an instructional video on caring for and how to use the pack.

In just a matter of days, my package arrived and, as I always am when running stuff comes in the mail, was as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning!  As soon as I opened the packaging and removed the vest, I could told why the higher cost, it was really high quality.  Very durable, but lightweight, great padding where it needed it most, plenty of pockets, multiple adjustable straps to get a good fit, and a nice big water bottle.  I couldn't wait to test this puppy out and see if it lived up to the hype, but I had a feeling it would!

I had a 14 miler scheduled for this week and I figured that would be the perfect time to take it for a test run.  I cleaned the bottle the night before and filled it up with my Nuun hydration tablets and water in the morning.  I put a couple of Honeystinger gels in one of the large front pockets and my GoPro (gotta get that runfie) in the other.  In one of the shoulder pockets I put my key.  I made a couple of quick adjustments to the straps and was off for my run.

About a mile or so in, I had to readjust the side straps, but the chest strap was a great fit.  After that, I was good to go.  Unlike many of the other belts and packs the ride up my hips, bounce and rotate around my waist and slosh around on my back, the snug vest stayed right in place.  Despite wearing a vest I was not used to wearing in insanely hot temps and high humidity, the breathable material and great fit had me forgetting all about it at times.  Well at least until I needed something.

I was able to reach back whenever need be, grab my bottle and take a few sips of much needed Nuun water.  When I needed my gel, it was right there in my chest pocket.  And when it was time to snap a photo of it all, my GoPro was easily accessible!

So to sum it all up. here is a quick little recap of the vest...

Pros
Great fit, easily adjustable
Good sized water bottle (I purchased single barrel but they also offer a double)
Very easy to clean
Plenty of pockets for gels, phone, keys, etc.
High quality materials and stitching, very durable
Free and fast shipping
Plenty of communication and helpful information from the company

Cons
I did hit the back of my head a couple of times on the top of the water bottle while looking up
Forgot to put some glide on my chest so I experienced a little bit of chaffing (lesson learned)
It was a little pricey, but it is totally worth it
Wish it had more color options (only comes in Orange and Black or Grey)
No local retailer, had to be ordered online, but again, free and fast delivery so can't complain

All in all it was a great purchase that will certainly get much use.  I am so very grateful for this product and know it is going to help me during these hot summer training runs as I prepare for Chicago.  If you are in the market for a new hydration belt or back, I highly recommend checking out an Orange Mud hydration vest!

Oh, and I almost forgot.  About my run... Well, it was a little slower than I would have liked but I am grateful to have pushed through and gotten the miles in.  I have been battling a bit of an Achilles issuesfrom an injury last fall and also decided to pull back a little bit because of the heat.  But despite those two concerns, it actually went fairly well.  It's definitely going to be a loooooong hot summer of training, but thankfully I have a new hydration vest to help with that!

Yoga For Athletic Performance

Yoga isn't just about stretching, breathing and relaxation, although those aspects are incredibly beneficial to athletes and well, anyone for that matter.  But yoga has much more to offer athletes at any age, level and sport.  Across the world, countless athletes are engaging in regular yoga practice to help improve their athletic performance.  Anyone from youth, novice, collegiate and professional athletes are seeing the benefits of yoga translate to improved training and increased performance, giving them the competitive edge.  Below is a list of some great benefits of incorporating yoga into your training regime and how it can improve athletic performance.

Injury Prevention
Regardless of the sport, all athletes put a lot of repetitive stress on their bodies, and over time, this stress can cause muscular imbalances.  When muscles become tight due this imbalance, they become more susceptible to injury, not just to the muscle but the surrounding tissues as well.  So it’s to the benefit of any athlete to have more pliability and flexibility to prevent injuries.  Yoga is designed to work the muscles around the joints for stability as well as to gain full mobility and rotation in the joints, making an athlete more fluid with their movement, thus preventing injury.

Improved Body Awareness
There is quite a bit of focus on balance during yoga.  Improving our balance helps improve our proprioception.  Proprioception is the awareness of our body in its position in space, as well as the direction and speed of its movement.  During yoga, we continually gain an understanding of our bodies and how we move in relation to other parts of our body and our environment.  This understanding of anatomy and body mechanics not only improves our balance, but also helps with reaction time and aids in injury prevention.

Improved Core Strength
A strong core not only protects our spine but also provides a solid foundation for the functional movements used in the weight room and on the playing field.  Through focusing on breath, movement and poses, yoga helps strengthen these core muscles, which of course helps improve overall strength and power.

Increased Power
Proper form is key in the weight room and during any athletic event.   Power, strength, and speed are directly related to proper body-mechanics.  When our body is properly aligned, we can transmit force much more efficiently and perform better across the board.  Yoga places so much emphasis on optimal body alignment, thus helping increase power and force production during training, practice and of course during competition.

Improved Endurance
Regardless of whether you are a marathoner or football player, stamina plays an important role in all types of sports and athletic events.  Yoga has been known to help improve circulation as well as increase respiratory capacity, which translates to improved endurance.  Having long lasting energy is important to finishing healthy and strong, whether that is crossing the finish line or outperforming your opponent in the fourth quarter!

How to Incorporate Yoga Into Your Training Regimen
Because yoga uses your own body weight and no external load, it can essentially be performed every day.  I often suggest to beginners to start with a simple DVD at home or in a gentle yoga class at a studio.  (Of course always be sure to consult your physician and coach prior to engaging in any new physical activity).  Due to school, sports practice, work and training, many of our athletes who train in our facility are not left with much time to practice yoga.  So we incorporate various poses and sequences into their workouts to focus on key areas for athletic performance.  If time is an issue for you, consider doing a few poses during your warm up and cool down.  Even if it is just 1-2 times per week, incorporating yoga into your training regimen will offer benefits listed above, helping you to perform at the top of your game!

If you have any additional questions on yoga for performance or run training, contact Coach Christina today.  Also, be sure to follow along her journey and stay up today on her latest blog posts on her Instagram page.

Namaste