Reviews, homemade arm warmers, giveaway, training...oh, my!

REVIEWS
About a month ago Outside PR gave me several products to review on this blog. Thank you, Outside PR, I enjoyed using some old favorites and trying some new things out!

1. GU gels- I think every runner/triathlete has heard and used this product before. I have tried other gels in the past, but Gu is my favorite by far. In fact, it is the only gel I use. Some of the GU flavors I received I had used in the past - Vanilla was my go to for all my marathons thus far due to its simple flavor and ease to the stomach; Chocolate Outrageous was my preferred snack for the bike, and I've been known to open up a pack in the wee hours while watching a movie or working; some of the flavors I was sent I had never tried before - Lemon Lime, Mandarin Orange -taste OK, but not my favorite flavors; espresso love - a bit bitter for me; and triberry - nice flavor which I will use again.

I was also sent 3 flavors of Gu Roctane. This is a regular GU with histidine, which is an amino acid and "helps with muscle recovery and prevents acid buildup in the muscle". I knew and have been in love with the Pineapple Roctane for a while. This stuff is delicious and so easy to digest. But, I am a caffeine gal and the other Roctane flavor I had tried in the past, Vanilla Orange did not taste good to me. I was sent 2 other newer flavors of Roctane GU, cherry lime and blueberry pomegranate which have 2X caffeine. I love them both and will most likely use a combo of these 3 Roctane flavors in my next HIM and my next marathon.


2. Road ID - I was very excited to be able to try a new road ID. I had purchased one several years ago, but since then we changed our phone numbers and we moved, so the old one was useless. There are several types of road IDs out there, some for the wrist, some for the shoe. I chose the Road ID elite, which looks like this.


On it, I have my name, address, 2 phone numbers, a play on words combining my work with running (feel free to guess!), and "go to MGH", which is the hospital I want to go to in case of emergency. If you have an illness, or allergies, you can write those things instead. The ID is super comfortable, and much needed on the run, but even more on the bike. It is nice not to have to carry my driver's license with me any more. You can read more about the various types of road ids here. In my book a road ID is a must have for athletes. You never know what can happen and who wants to be a John/Jane Doe?

3. Ryder glasses - OK, so I used to make fun of runners or triathletes and their sun glasses. I still do when I see them with sun glasses in the middle of winter when there is no sun:) When I first looked at these glasses, I thought they looked cheap. When I put them on, I realized that my first impression was driven by the fact they are super light. There is no "consistency" to them. Then it dawned on me that they are supposed to be light, since they are meant for running and riding. A little slow on the uptake here. I wore them on a ride and on a run. They fit perfectly, they stay put, and are very comfortable. They are also on the less expensive side, at $39.99 for the pair I have. You can read more about the Ryder sunglasses here.








HOMEMADE ARM WARMERS

Meet my new arm warmers. They used to be socks. I had these socks for over 2 years, and have worn them twice. A few weeks ago I could not find my arm warmers, and I came across these socks while looking for them. And then the though came to mind. Just cut the end off, and they can become arm warmers. They are super comfortable and way cheaper than regular arm warmers. Plus, they are so much more fun, don't you think?



















GIVEAWAY

A few of you asked questions about the E21 recovery pills, so I was given permission to do a giveaway with this product. You can read what others have to say about the pills (and do it much better than me) here and here and here. Let me know in your comment if you want to be entered in this giveaway. If you want an extra entry, leave another comment letting me know that you went here and read more about this product. Simple! You have until May 1st to enter. I will select 3 winners. The winners must be willing to write a short review on their opinion about this product on their blog.

TRAINING

I am exhausted. Being a triathlete is hard work. Running and using swimming and biking as cross training are much easier.
Today ended my first week of serious training aka build. I had a monster weekend (for me), which included a 1.5 hour ride+13 mile T run with 5 sub 7 miles in the middle and 1.5 miles hills at the end, and a 1.5 mile swim with 3X500m at race pace. The run was done in the pouring rain and I came home frozen. Today I had a 48 mile ride where I pushed the pace to an average of 18.1 MPH (I know this is slow, but it is the best I have ever done, and I used my aero bars for less than half of the ride, so I am happy) + 8 mile T run easy. The weather was beautiful and I had a blast. I keep having epiphanies on the bike, like how much more stable the bike is when I go faster! Then I tell Chris these things at home and he is like, duh!!!


HAPPY EASTER

In honor of Easter we painted toenails in our household. I painted Petru's, Chris painted mine, and Petru painted Chris's. Chris was opposed to this, but Petru and I made him go for it. I resisted the dots. Here we go. We also painted a few eggs, and then our hands, and faces, and...Chris left the kitchen and Petru and I did some coloring experiments. The Easter bunny came this morning, and we've been eating candy ever since.
The family toes! And yes, Petru's toe nail painting skills are in evidence here.