Sleet, Rain, Snow OH MY!

Disclaimer:  I received a race entry to the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

photo credit @beardontherun

Well,  if there ever was a race that Mother Nature had her way with, it was for sure the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K in Minneapolis this past Saturday.   Weather reports were confident that the metro area was going to face serious weather concerns in the form of freezing rain, sleet and inches of snow.  Even as I write this post on Sunday evening,  it's still snowing in the Minneapolis Metro area.  Storm totals will reach 18 inches or more before it's all complete! 

I knew early on that my one-hour drive in to the starting line was in jeopardy; safety was my first concern.  It was also on the race directors minds as well because the day before the race, they alerted all runners that the 15K would be shortened to a 5K.  Runner safety was at the forefront of their minds,  and I cannot imagine the difficult decision they had.  But, indeed, it absolutely WAS the right decision!  I appreciate the timely notification of the race change and the communication from the team of people organizing this race!

Thankfully, a friend of mine who works near the expo, was able to pick up my race packet and I received this amazing 3/4 zip fleece-lined shirt.  With thumbholes and comfy material, this will be a favorite in my running wardrobe!  I had to snap a pic before the winter wonderland took hold.  Although you cannot see it in this photo, rain was coming down pretty hard at the time.  

Because I had trained for the 15K, on race morning, I was going to get those miles in no matter what.  Luckily, I own a treadmill and with lots of Netflix to catch up on, I completed my 15K right at home.  Safe and sound!  I was determined to make it happen! 

This was early after 2 inches of freezing rain and sleet!

Even though I absolutely wanted to race that day, I'm happy that I could race in spirit!  But, if you want to see a truly amazing finish line photo, here's my friend Casey!  He decided to make the journey to the race to complete the 5K and he did it in style!  Way to GO Casey! If you want to check out his blog, follow along here.  I'm sure he is going to be posting his race experience soon! 

On another note, isn't it cool that the race provides FREE race photos!  What a great perk!  Hopefully in 2019, Mother Nature will cooperate and I'll be able to toe the starting line!  Until then, Happy Running!!

Even though I won't have an official Athlinks finishing time, when YOU race, make sure to head over to Athlinks.com to claim your race results for your upcoming races. Don't forget you can also review any and all of your races on BibRave.com too! If you're wondering, my Athlinks profile stores results from all my past races, and I can even find friends who might be running future races that I want to do. Check out results on Athlinks and follow me so we can be friends (or maybe even rivals!)

Don't Miss Out on This Race!

Disclaimer:  I received a race entry to Festival Foods Grandad Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

The Festival Foods Grandad Half Marathon is just three weeks away.  It's my first half marathon of 2018 and my 12th overall.  This race holds a special place in my heart because it's run in La Crosse, WI; my hometown.   I know the course well, and it's nostalgic for me to run by some of the most beautiful parts of my town.

If you are looking for a very well run race, with a great post-race celebration and net downhill course, this is your race.  But,  just in case you need a bit more convincing, here's some fun facts about the race!

The race starts at the top!  The first two miles are straight downhill.  You are sure to have your fastest miles at the start.  Don't worry, your quads won't be too burnt out by the time you're done.  You will have gorgeous views of the entire city and if you look into the distance you'll see the iconic Missisippi River Bridge.  That bridge is your finish line! 

Riverside Park is where your race ends.  It doesn't get much more beautiful than running up the Mississippi River to your finish line.  Plus, the post race food does NOT disappoint.  In true Wisconsin fashion, you'll have beer from the local Pearl Street Brewery and a brat!  YUM.    There is plenty of wide open space to stretch and rest after your race and fun bounce houses for the kids too; make sure to bring your family with you!

Along the course, you'll also have plenty to look forward to.  The water stops are plentiful and are all themed.  You can vote for your favorites at the end of the race.  My absolute favorite is the Green Island Ice Arena water stop at Mile 11.  Just when you don't think you can run anymore, they are ready with a gigantic pile of freshly made snow.  Feel free to throw a snowball or just jump right in like I did! 

If you like race bling, and who doesn't, you'll be impressed with this race!  Each year, they incorporate the iconic blue bridge.  It bridges the gap between Wisconsin and Minnesota and has really made La Crosse famous!  It's nice to know that we're not just famous for the worlds biggest SIX PACK.  Although, the six-pack is a sight to see, so if you want a short walk from the race finish, be sure to check it out.  

Here are the medals that I have from this race!

And... just because I think it's a great talking point; here's the World's Largest Six-Pack!

So, HURRY!!  You have three weeks to register.  I can't WAIT to see you there! Make sure to use code "BIBRAVE18" for 10% OFF your registration!

Who doesn't LOVE chocolate??

Disclaimer:  I received a race entry to the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

Who doesn't love a good theme race?  When you add in chocolate goodness and sweet and salty confections, it doesn't get any better.   It's been a few years since I've ran the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K and I'm very excited.  I ran the race for the first time in April of 2015 and due to scheduling conflicts I haven't returned in 3 years.   

I Finished!  15K  1:23:27

That was at the top of a blog post I wrote about my first experience running this race.  If you want, you can check it out here.  My average time was 8:58/mile.  Going into the race this year, I have a goal of finishing with a time of 8:30/mile.  1:19:14 would put me over the moon.  Challenge accepted!  I have been working hard with strength training and varying up my workouts.  I feel stronger and I know that I'm faster. 

So, WHY run the Allstate Hot Chocolate? 

The SWAG is pretty cool!  Just check out the awesome pull over!  I love purple!

The medals.  Don't they look good enough to eat??  I don't know about you... but I love running races that have nice looking medals!  It's a great reward at your finish line! 

It's a USATF-certified course that has been certified for accuracy.  Is there anyone that hasn't run the 15K distance yet?  It's just enough to feel like you're challenged, and in my opinion, a great race to really work on maintaining speed!  Here's the course map! 

The course winds through some of the most beautiful parts of Minneapolis with beautiful city-scape views most of the run!  It does have some slight elevation changes, but nothing too concerning.  If you can, train a few hills before this race as it's not flat.  

When you register, make SURE to use code  BRHCMINN18 at checkout for a special FREE baseball cap!

I hope to see you in Minneapolis on April 14th!  I'll be there anxious to cross that finish line and fill my belly with yummy chocolate goodness! 

Bringing home Medal #3 - The Festival Foods Granddad Half Marathon!

Disclaimer:  I received a race entry to Festival Foods Grandad Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

WOW!  It seems like it's been forever since I last raced.  And, in actuality - it's been almost 6 months!  To me that seems crazy and up until a few weeks ago, I didn't have anything on my 2018 race calendar.  To be honest, part of me didn't care all that much.  The other part, craved the finish line.  

My last huge race was Grandma's Marathon in June.  This was my redemption race; my 2nd marathon.  Same race.  Same course.  My finish resulted in a 23 minute PR and I was over-the-moon!  But, then came the runner crash.  The elation of not having to train with countless miles and hours on the road - the ability to just enjoy my running with no goal in mind.  

Life got super busy. I took on a new business opportunity that has taken my focus away from ONLY running and focusing on other areas of my health and fitness.   But, to my core, I am a runner.  I love it.  I crave it. 

Which brings me to the Spring racing season.  I went from no races on the calendar to three within only three weeks!  Normally, that would be too much but I start with a 15K in mid-April at the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K.   I will then be in New York on a getaway with my sister and my mom and I absolutely CANNOT, I say that in big letters, miss out on an opportunity to run a 10K race through Central Park.  It's a no-brainer right?  

I will end with my hometown race.  The Festival Foods Granddad Half Marathon.  I am SO excited for this opportunity.  This race takes place in La Crosse, WI and touches on so may nice qualities about my little town.  The race starts on the beautiful bluff that overlooks the entire city. It then meanders 1 1/2 miles down the bluff, through residential streets with the finish along the river just past the iconic blue bridges! 

The post-race celebration will be sure to include beer and bratwurst and there is always activities for the kids too!  If you'd like to check out my last race review check it out here.

The medals are amazing and I'm very excited to add a third to my collection! 

I have been really focusing on my strength training over the last 6 months and I have definitely noticed a difference in my speed.  My comfortable runs are now in the 8:50's so I hope to push myself for this race and PR this course.  My best time for this race was a 1:59:00.  My half marathon PR is 1:54:45 - I think I can do it!  

If you want to join me, reach out!  I will have a discount code SOON for you at registration!  

Super Connected, Zero Gravity! My review of the Under Armour HOVR Sonic

Disclaimer:  I received the Under Armour HOVR Sonic running shoes to use and review as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

Runners are a specific breed.  We like our running gear to be perfect;  especially our shoes.  After-all, it's our shoes that can make or break our performance in a run.   When we find a running shoe that works for our very particular feet it's certainly hard to get us to sway our opinion or even glance an eye at another shoe brand.   

Over the last seven years, I have been very loyal to one brand.  However, I must say, after wearing the Under Armour HOVR Sonic exclusively for 6 weeks,  I think I've found a new favorite!  

A few characteristics that makes a running shoes appealing for my tastes and specifications are: 

• Comfort
• Light-weight
• Breathability
• Cushion
• Durability
• Style

 
These shoes check off those boxes.   PLUS!  Later in the post, I will talk about the technology INSIDE these smart shoes that make them appealing! 

Upon receiving these shoes I was, in my 'girly-girl' fashion, very pleased with the color.  They are a vibrant coral color and look very sharp!  Don't worry if this color isn't your favorite, of course they have different colors to choose from.  I noticed that they were incredibly lightweight and the zero gravity technology helped me feel light on my feet.   They are constructed of mesh material and fit snug but not too tight.  I ordered true to size and I always size up 1/2 size.  These shoes fit perfect. 

I immediately took them for my first run on the treadmill and was happily surprised at just how comfortable they felt.  

What gives these particular shoes an edge up on the competition is the RECORD SENSOR technology inside the shoe!  Did you know that these shoes have the ability to give you detailed metrics of your runnning?  They sure do!  The idea behind this shoe is so that every runner can be connected with an individulized training plan that uses your own specific stats.  The shoe works hard for you so you can get your best results!  

With the UA MapMyRun application these shoes sync effortlessly and you are on your way to finding out ways to improve your running.  How cool is that? 

To get started, you are asked to perform a jump test.  The directions are simple and once your jump test is completed, you are given a detailed summary of your training options and your fatigue reports.  I found that when I was consistent with doing my jumping tests before my run,  the results for how hard I should push were spot on!    As you can see from the data below, I had a range of fatigue reports where some days I was told to run easy, and other days I was told to run hard!  

When my runs were completed, I was also provided with data that included my pace, cadence, stride length and distance.  This is the area that I would say does need to fine-tuning.  Although I'd like to tell people I can maintain some of these paces, I found that the data had me running about 15-30 seconds faster than I actually was.  I  didn't find this to be burdensome because I'm always relying on my watch for particular pace goals anyway. 








I DID however find the fatigue reports and training schedules a VERY helpful tool.  One feature I really enjoyed was your goal race time.  You can plug into MapMyRun your goal race and time and the shoes will help you train by giving you your own personalized training plan and adjust as necessary depending on your individual fatigue reports.  Now THAT'S smart technology. 

Now let's talk performance! 

Due to the insanity that is the Minnesota Winter, it's been bitterly cold with temperatures far below zero for most of the month of January and into February.  This left me with most of my miles on the treadmill this month.  However, I did get to test the shoes outdoors on several occasions.  A couple of occasions even after fresh snow!  I was pleasantly surprised at the traction control these shoes had and the road felt amazing under my feet.  No blisters, no hot spots, no rubbing.  A+ for comfort. 

My only negative is that once I took these shoes to the road, and with our sloppy conditions with snow and slush, the front toe box of these shoes became dirty quickly.  I'm someone who tries to keep my shoes as clean as possible for as long as possible, so this bothered me a bit.  In one particular run, the wetness did seep onto my toes.  A suggestion I would have is to increase the covered area of the toe box to help with splash-up during the run.  You can see this by my photo below.   

All in all, these shoes get an A.  I appreciate all of the extras but most of all the breathable comfort.  As you can see below, I was able to log a significant amount of miles and I will most definitely continue to run in these shoes often.  

In addition, the price point on these shoes in my opinion is accurate.  At $100 and FREE website shipping and returns, you can't go wrong with this zero gravity, super connected shoe!

Bibrave and Athlinks are Partners!

Exciting News!  Bibrave and Athlinks are now working together to deliver the best in race experience!

Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

If you're anything like me, you have hundreds of race bibs that you've carefully preserved in a special spot in your house.  Each bib with it's own unique story.  It's own unique journey.  Until recently, when I staring using Athlinks,  my race bibs also were the spot I recorded all of my individual race stats; pace, time, ranking. 

Here's where the new partnership with Bibrave and Athlinks comes in.  You now have the capability to get your race stats for hundreds of races all in one place.  Plus - if your race is not there on the app, that's OK.  You can add any race you choose! 

So what is Athlinks?  It's a destination to view, save and share every finish time for every finish line you’ve crossed. You can connect with other runners across the world, discover new challenges and races and store your stats for the best in data comparison.

The first time I downloaded the application on my Iphone, I was connected with past race results in minutes! I had 31 races that were listed, some I had even forgotten about! Here are some fun race photos of races that were already loaded and ready to GO!

This is a pretty cool app! I really enjoy that I can compare all of my race results in one place. At the top, it also lists your individual race PR's and it averages your race results for a race you have run multiple times! It is easy to use, and will definitely be a fun platform for data geeks like me! Hop over to their page and give it a try!

Also, Athlinks is running a giveaway!! Just follow this link and complete a NEW athlinks registration to be eligible! You could win a FREE race entry!

BOCO GEAR - Review; Your GO-TO performance Visor!

Disclaimer:  I received the BOCO Gear Visor to use and review as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave 

to review, find and write race reviews.

I have to admit, I am slightly obsessed with this visor.  It is hands down THE most comfortable visor I have ever owned and I wear it for all of my races and running events.   Plus, I don't know if you've noticed, it's sporting the coolest name in the running business!  

I have been blessed to be a member of the BibRave community for three years and over that time, I've tested some pretty cool gear.  When I was asked which BOCO Gear item I would like to review and use, it was a no-brainer choice for me.  I love visors! 

What's great about any visor is that they usually have a lot of breathability on my head.  And, I really like wearing something on my head to wick sweat.  Headbands are great, but they don't keep sun out and I'm no very comfortable running in sunglasses.  I especially like the wicking fabric on the forehead.  It's very comfortable and doesn't get sticky and hot like some visors do! 

The band is a silky stretch material that holds it's strength.  This is an important feature for me because there is nothing worse than getting a visor you love and then after a few wears it stretching out and not fitting snug on your head!  Way to go BOCO Gear! 

Crossing the finish line this October - Twin Cities 10 mile

Here are some of the other features of this very cool visor:

• Lightweight wicking woven or dry tech polyester outside
• Wicking internal sweatband to move sweat from your forehead
• Soft brushed elastic back for comfort and fit 
• Relaxed fit front panel for a better performance and comfort
• Black underside of the bill to reduce glare
• Curved Bill
• Machine Washable 

I find this hat very stylish and comfortable to wear.   And, just like the specifications say it IS machine washable.  It's holds up very nicely after several washes too!  

I jump for joy for BOCO gear and I think you should too!  At $24.00 the price is right to add to your collection!  Make sure to check out our #bibchat on Twitter every Tuesday at 8 PM CST.