Gobie Water Bottle

I would like to preface this post with an important disclaimer - I did not pay for this bottle, I actually won it at a Girls on the Run Coaches Appreciation Event.  But I wanted to share about it because I love it!

Here's the bottle.  Very simple looking.  One downside - it only holds 22 ounces of water, which means you have to refill it on a frequent basis.  The neat thing about this bottle is that it has a filter!  When I won the bottle, it actually came with three replacement filters.  The company recommends that you swap out the filter every 3 months or every 100 gallons.  Since I'm not OCD about water drinking, and have no idea how much water I really drink everyday, I think I'll stick to the every three month replacement schedule.  

Here's why I love it: I work at Camp Pendleton and the water there is iffy at best.  They keep coming out with studies about the water on base and warning us not to drink it...but they don't provide anyone with filtered water, so we have to pay for it.  This means that now I can feel safe about drinking water right out of the faucet!  The water tastes great from the Gobie bottle!  

If anyone is looking to buy a new bottle, I'd definitely recommend this one!

Hooray for Holiday Giveaways!

Nope, this is not a giveaway from I RUN, THEREFORE, I AM...but it is an awesome chance to win a Garmin Forerunner 405!!

This sweet piece of flare will give you accurate readings on distance, pace, calories burned, and elevation...and so much more!  I'm hoping to win because right now, I just tote my iPhone along on every run to use the free RunKeeper app. And while it provides me with great running log info, it's not exactly the best piece of gear to have to carry while on the move.  

So, what are you waiting for, go here and sign up!

Surprise: An Early Christmas Gift

Yes, I know it's mid-November, but since Jessica is deploying to Afghanistan sometime in December, she sent me an early Christmas gift. She had always been a generous person. Whenever she finds something great, she typically buys two and sends me one! It's great to be the same size as someone else:)

This year, she outdid herself! We are always talking about getting the latest gear for running because in the back of our minds, we think that someone out there has created a product that will make us faster, make us run longer. And though in reality, we both realize these products don't exist, there are some things on the market that can improve our overall performance (or just make us look cooler).

Here's the loot:

Test packets of Ultima drink mix which provides electrolyte replacement with no sugar. Brooks bag for race day supplies. A tube of nuun drink tablets which we're giving away but I've never tried. Honey Stinger wafers and chews. Running Skirts arm warmers in an awesome paisley pattern! Full-fingered biking gloves. 2XU compression socks.

Seriously, BEST SISTER EVER! And I'm definitely going to be faster now!

Can't wait to try these. Jessica says they should be relabeled as "Crack Waffles" because they are that good!

I recently purchased what I thought was a pair of compression socks from Under Armour. When I put them on fairly easily, I thought it was a bit strange. Then I tried these 2XU socks and WOW...what a difference. I immediately noticed a huge difference in the level of compression. So here's a tip: save yourself the $20 on the great deal for Under Armour socks, and splurge for the real deal.

With or Without an iPod

There is a great debate among runners as to whether you should or should not run with an iPod.  Let’s look at the argument from both sides:

Pros

• A good beat gets you motivated.
• Music can be a welcomed distraction from negative thoughts that tell you it’s time to quit.
• Great tunes make the time pass by faster for long runs that seem to never end. 
• Your running partner has an especially irritating breathing pattern or loud footfall, you can block it out with tunes (if I run with any of you readers...I promise, I'm NOT talking about you).

Cons

• If you have headphones on, you cannot hear what is going on around you, which presents a safety  issue (there are a lot of distracted drivers out there and people who wish to do innocent people harm).
• If your favorite song is distracting you, there is potential for your good, strong running form to turn into slumped shoulders and cross body arm swinging.
• A lot of races ban runners from wearing headphones during the race.  If you train with headphones and then find out you can’t run with music on race day, it can do a number on your PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)!!!
• Sometimes the music moves you to break out your latest sweet moves from Dance Dance Revolution, and let's be honest, that's not going to get you a PR in your next race.

I would say that on at least 25% of my runs, I definitely have my iPod with me.  After reading several articles about running with music though, I’ve had a change of heart.  I try to hit the road/trail with just my thoughts and the scenery around me for entertainment. 

Which side are you on?

Tools to Help you Succeed

A calorie-tracking tool that has an application for almost every mobile device. This makes it easy to keep a log of what you eat all day long. This tool will assist in helping you determine how what you eat affects your running!!!

http://www.livestrong.com/calorie-counter-mobile/

The Daily Mile is a website (it also has mobile apps) that helps you keep track of all the different workouts you do! It gives you the options to choose from different activities, comment on distance/time, weather, how you felt, and much more. This tool makes it easy to keep track of all those miles you log!

http://www.dailymile.com/

If you haven’t discovered the foam roller yet, you need to check it out! Once you get one, visit this website to find extremely useful video instructions on how to perform different stretches. Trust me, your body will thank you!!

http://www.bodyspex.com/Exercises.aspx?ExerciseArticleID=4

RunKeeper not only helps you keep a log of all of your miles, but they provide a mobile app that acts like a GPS. You just start the app and off you go on your run! Once you finish the run, select finish and save and the information is automatically uploaded. And you can choose to share it with others via social media websites!

http://runkeeper.com/home

RazzyRoo Headband Giveaway

There are hundreds of types of headbands out there for runners, and we’ve tried them all.  Unfortunately, that’s a lot of money down the toilet testing products.  But we’re here to save you the trouble and some money!  Mentioned in a previous post, the RazzyRoo headbands are not only effective, but they are also stylish!  And we have linked up with RazzyRoo to giveaway two free headbands!!  Enter our giveaway and we promise you will NOT be disappointed.  In fact, we believe you’ll start spreading the word about how great this product is!

(Photos courtesy of RazzyRoo.com)

How to enter: (one entry per requirement met)

1)  Follow our blog and leave a comment. (REQUIRED) 

2) Go to the RazzyRoo Facebook page and like (http://www.facebook.com/pages/RazzyRoo-Headbands/144809755566808)  (REQUIRED) 

3)Follow us on twitter @irunthere4iam 

4)Tell us what your favorite running gadget is.

We will select TWO individual winners to receive 1 RazzyRoo headband each.  Giveaway ends 10/24.

Gadgets Galore

One of my favorite things about running is that all you really need are shoes, shorts, a good sports bra, and a t-shirt.  It's relatively inexpensive if you stay away from all the fancy gadgets out there.  However, that being said, a part of me does love to geek out in the running store and over time I've acquired some "favorite" running items.  In no particular order, here they are:

The Garmin Forerunner 305 (or really any other model).  It can do pace, distance, heart rate, elevation, lap splits, and probably make dinner too!  This is a great way to log and track mileage.  It comes with computer software so you can plot your routes and build an electronic running log.

For anyone who has those tiny fly-aways that always seem to poke you right in the eye when your hair starts to fall out of your ponytail, the RazzyRoo is a perfect solution!  This nifty little band stays in place for as long as you want to hit the road.  

And lastly, Zoot makes a compression sock that really does assist with post-run recovery!  I wear them for about three hours post run (usually after a sprint workout or long run) and they keep the blood flowing, which keeps the soreness down.  

What are your favorite running gadgets?