3 Things I LOVE About Strava!

Disclaimer: I received an annual Strava Summit subscription and Strava merchandise 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 have so enjoyed learning all about Strava the past few months! I don't know why I didn't join years ago! I thought I would share with you three things I LOVE about Strava (although there are way more than 3 lol)!

• Kudos. I LOVE how supportive everyone is of each other! Just that little thumbs up can bring a smile to your face! 

• All the Data. I LOVE all the data Strava gives me with each of my runs and workouts! It will even tell me when a workout or run was harder for me than normal! So cool!

• Challenges. There are so many challenges on Strava! There are ones I've participated in each month and ones for special events like Global Running Day! And the fun part...Strava congratulates you when you complete a challenge!

Strava has a Summit subscription where you can get even MORE data (happy dance) and I'm really considering joining! 

Tell me...are YOU on Strava? If so....come find me! 

WIN With Win Detergent!

Disclaimer: I received WIN Detergent 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!

Being a run streaker....I have a TON of sweaty, stinky, yucky running clothes! And they're great...for a little while. But then it seems like no matter how many times you wash them....the stink still creeps back in. Why? I want my cute running clothes to last a long time!

This is where WIN Detergent comes in!

But first...let me tell you WHY our running clothes smell so bad...even after a wash.

• Wicking fabrics attract oils. 
• Those oils are home to bacteria....which leads to a yucky smell.

So WIN Detergent has active ingredients that most detergents don't have that remove the oils from the fabric! Removing the oils makes your clothes last longer and wick better! It's a WIN for everyone!!!

You use Win just like any other detergent! I love the instructions on how much to use that are written on the bottle. The blue cap is your measuring cup. Win gives you the measurements to use if you have a small, regular, or "super stinky" load lol! 

And of course I had to do a before and after sniff test lol! The after smelled the best (in case you weren't sure!) And yes...my entire family made fun of me for doing this post lol!

I'm definitely going to be using Win Detergent on all my running clothes from now on. And it's super easy to buy y'all! Because not only can you get it from their website...you can also buy it on Amazon! 

You can get your own bottle on Amazon (https://www.windetergent.com/)....use the code "WIN4RAVE" for 20% off until May 12th!

Here's to clean and fresh (and longer lasting) running clothes!!!

Strava (and Streak) With Me!

Disclaimer: I received an annual Strava Summit subscription and Strava merchandise 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 been running for years and run streaking for almost 5 years! So data from my runs is super important to me! I started out using Daily Mile for my runs. But once that shut down I just logged everything through Garmin. I really missed the interaction I got from Daily Mile! It was always so awesome being able to encourage other runners as well as meet some in reality!

I had heard about Strava from a few runners but I never really looked into it....until now! And it is so much more than I realized it would be! It reminds me of a facebook for runners lol! I LOVE the social aspect!

It's super easy to set up. You just create your free account and set up your profile.

Then you can link any of your devices to it. I linked my Garmin. So when I complete a run (or any other activity...even my loved BodyCombat workouts) it will automatically add your workout in Strava! So easy!

Then comes the FUN part! Looking at ALL the data and charts that it gives you! There is quite a lot of information but Strava also has a paid subscription called Summit that will give you even MORE data! It's hard to resist!

And another super fun part...KUDOS! You can give kudos to your fellow runners that you follow on their runs and workouts. You can even write comments! I LOVE this part!

You can also set goals for yourself and join challenges! I've joined the run a 5K and 10K challenges each month so far! You earn badges that show up in your Trophy Case in your profile when you complete the challenges. And there are clubs you can join as well! So fun and so motivating!

For the month of May, BibRave is hosting the BibRave Strava Run Streak!!!! From May 1st- May 31st you are encouraged to run or walk at least one mile every day and log it on Strava every day. Be sure to join the BibRave Strava Run Club here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/bibrave

And please follow me on Strava HERE! I look forward to following you back! And I look forward to figuring out everything that Strava has to offer!

Addaday Pro Massage Roller Review!

Disclaimer: I received an Addaday Pro Massage Roller 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!

As a run streaker, stretching and rolling are super important in helping keep my body healthy and 
injury free. So I jumped at the opportunity to review the Addaday Pro Massage Roller!

This roller is different than any other roller sticks I've seen. Addaday calls it the "Swiss Army Knife for a Massage Roller!" 

It has different colored rollers. The blue roller is the soft muscle roller. It can be used for kneading. And it's good on scar tissue. The gray roller is the medium muscle roller used to help flush out lactic acid and muscle fatigue. The small red roller is the pin point muscle roller that is used for shin splints, achilles, and other hard to reach areas. 

The red roller is so perfect for your shins!

I seem to always have super tight IT Bands and I've loved using this roller to help with that! (Don't let my smile fool you....it was hurting so good lol)

The Addaday Pro Massage Roller has become part of my daily routine! It really helps my muscles! It's essential...just like my coffee! :-)

This roller is perfect for all runners! I highly recommend it!

Addaday has so many different rollers to choose from as well (even though I think this one is the best lol)! Be sure to check them out!

Run With Zwift!

Disclaimer: I received a Zwift Runpod 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!

Who likes running on a treadmill? If you're like me then you only run on a treadmill when you have to.....like when it's thunder storming outside or it's extremely cold outside. I've always found the treadmill super boring because there is nothing to look at. So when I first heard of Zwift I was intrigued!

Zwift is basically a platform that allows you to run virtually with other runners! And you can run in other parts of the world! It makes treadmill running FUN! Yes...I said FUN!

And the best part....it's super easy to set up and use! All you need is a treadmill, footpod (or a supported Bluetooth treadmill), and a device to run the Zwift platform (cell phone, tablet, or computer). You attach the footpod to your shoe. You open the Zwift app on your device and the footpod will connect via Bluetooth. You pick your route and workout plan and then you are ready to RUN! You can choose to run the mileage you want or you can choose from one of Zwift's many structured workouts. Your avatar starts running when you do! It's so cool!

My first run was a short one. But I got to run in London!!! At first I had a hard time getting my avatar to start running. But then I realized I needed to pick my feet up a little more and it worked! Not sure why this was an issue that very first run because all the other runs I didn't have this problem at all.

I saw Buckingham and Knightsbridge during this run! So awesome!

During your run you get options on where you want to turn. Here I could go to straight to Buckingham, turn left to run the main loop, or turn right to Knightsbridge. If you don't choose it will just route you to the one that is already selected.

Throughout your run you unlock certain achievements.

And you also get motivation while running!

You can also choose multiple views. I like the one that showed my back the best. But you can see yourself from the front. You can see yourself from the side. Or you can take your avatar out of the picture altogether and just watch where the road is taking you.

On my second run I ran through Watopia....which is Zwift's fantasy island. There I got to run near a volcano and on the beach! 

If you look carefully you can usually spot the Zwift blimp during your runs!

On this particular run the weather changed from sunny to rainy and from daytime to nighttime! 

I also got to run in New York City one day! 

At the end of your run you get a run report that updates you on your training plan. It also congratulates you on your run and any achievements you've made!

Zwift allows you to run solo but they also have options where you can run with the Zwift community. You can run with your real friends in the virtual world! They offer several events you can choose from. Three of the most popular are Monday Run Club, Workout Wednesday, and Saturday Run in the Park!

Overall, I highly recommend Zwift! I've actually found myself wanting to run on the treadmill! Before Zwift I dreaded the treadmill!

If you want to give Zwift a try (and you know you want to) you can use the code "BibRave15" good for 15% off the cost of the Zwift RunPod at Zwift.com. It is good for 1000 Pods only.

Happy running y'all!!!

Happy 2019!

Hey y'all! I know it's been FOREVER since I blogged! I've missed it for sure! Hopefully you have been keeping up with me on Instagram and/or Facebook! But in case you haven't....here's what I've been doing the past year and 9 months!

I'm still doing my run streak! Today was actually day 1698! I'm still loving it! And I'm still very very thankful that God is allowing me to run everyday!

I'm still a preK 4 teacher! I am only teaching 3 days a week now and LOVE it! I have the sweetest little class this year (but I say that every year lol)!

Not only am I running but I've also fallen in love with the gym! Specifically....I love group fitness! I love having others working out with me and having an instructor push me. My favorite classes are Les Mills BodyCombat and BodyPump!

My boys are now 11 and 13! What??!! Hayden has found a passion in music and being in the band! He plays the trumpet and he is amazing at it! He's also still a Boy Scout and working on becoming an Eagle Scout! And yes...he's taller than me now!

Sawyer no longer does gymnastics. He has found a passion in theatre! He loves acting (and has been dramatic his entire life lol) and singing so theatre has been perfect for him! He just played Charlie the head elf in Elf The Musical Jr!

My sweet hubby is still an engineer! And just in the past few months he has developed a love of running! We actually went to Disney last November for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. He ran the 5K and 10K! I, of course, ran the 5K, 10K, and half marathon! It was so much fun doing runDisney with my hubby!!!

We still have our precious cat Cullen!

And we still have our lab mix dog Archie!

But we added a new fur baby to our family a year and a half ago....our lab mix dog Deena! She's quite the princess and has been such a joy to have in our lives!

I know I could tell you a lot more but I will cut it short! I promise to blog more often! I just became a BibRave Pro so there will be some product reviews coming your way! And of course I plan to recap any races I run from here on out! Thanks so much for reading! Leave me a comment below so I know you're there and I'm not just talking to myself lol!