Body Armour Review

My friends at Body Armour recently sent us a case of their sports drinks to try! Being an active family and living in the hot Arizona desert, we LOVE the chance to try some new sports drinks. 

These ones are awesome! I think my favorite was the Strawberry Banana and Brayden's was the Berry. although we both shared every flavor.

As a mom, who is pregnant too, I can appreciate what Body Armour does differently. Their natural drinks are made with more potassium packed electrolytes and even contain coconut water which is super refreshing a hydrating. 

I LOVED being able to refuel after a long run with these, while Brayden loves drinking them while practicing his sports. They are packed with natural flavors, natural sweeteners, and no artificial colors (thank goodness!)

You can find Body Armour nationwide. Locally, in Phoenix, we have picked up new bottles weekly at either Fry's, Safeway, or Target stores. There are even some great coupons here so you can save on your own bottles! 

What is yours and your children's favorite ways to refuel after your activities?

Pink Blush

When Pink Blush Maternity, wanting to send me a dress, I was so excited!! They make the most adorable, highly-coveted, and flattering maternity wear around. I had such a hard timing selecting what dress I wanted (I wanted them ALL!)

I finally chose this navy blue floral number! I thought I could easily dress it down during the day with flip flops and dress it up for date night with wedges and shimmery earrings.

It's the perfect length and has just the right amount of stretch to make it super comfy as my bump grows. I'm 22 weeks along in these pictures and wearing a size small. I would say their clothes run true to size (maternity wise).

Want to win a Pink Blush shopping spree of your very own? Head on over to my Instagram page, where the generous folks at Pink Blush have agreed to let me give away a $75 gift card to one lucky follower! What would you choose if you won?

Thank you so much Pink Blush for making me feel so beautiful!

Running in the First Trimester...What I Learned

Pregnant. One word, eight letters, so life changing! I confirmed I was pregnant about 5 weeks in, but about a week before that I just KNEW I was. I think as runners, we are already pretty in-tune with our bodies and I could just tell. We waited a week to confirm the good news and took a home pregnancy test on Valentine’s Day (immediately after I returned from a 12 mile run, I literally stopped at the drug store on the way home to purchase the test!) When the screen flashed PREGNANT I gasped! And then cried. And then jumped up and down  for a good 5 minutes in my kitchen with my husband.

Later when the news sunk in, I wondered, will I still be able to run? I started running 3 years ago so I didn’t run with my first pregnancy (my son is 6 right now). I had so many questions about how to run and what to expect as a pregnant runner so I wanted to share with you what I have learned (so far).

-Talk to Your Doctor. Talk to your doctor as soon as you get confirmation of your pregnancy. You’ll want their go-ahead to continue your running regime. Exercise is great for the baby and for your metal and physical health and they are usually super supportive about workouts unless your pregnancy is deemed higher-risk or there are other complications.

-Follow other pregnant runners on social media. This was a big one for me! You can find so many others who are going through things as you and seeing other pregnant running moms online can help serve as a great inspiration and motivation. Search popular hashtags like #PregnantRunner #RunningForTwo and #FitPregnancy and follow, comment, and support these other pregnant runners online.

-Go easy on yourself. I can’t emphasize this one enough! You are probably suffering from nausea or extreme fatigue (or both!). Slow down and listen to your body. The best thing I did during these first 12 weeks, was to not worry about distance or pace. I went out and ran for the joy of running and loved (almost) every stride! Some days and weeks you will feel so tired and sick and 3 miles will be a struggle. Its okay to stop and walk. Or take a nap instead. Other weeks, you may even forget you are pregnant because running will feel so good! Embrace those days! Listen to your body.

-Eat often and get something in your belly first thing in the morning. For me, this was vital for squashing my nausea! As soon as I woke up every morning, I’d sip on water, half a cup of coffee, and  eat half a bagel. I’d then work on my computer for about an hour to let that settle before going out for my morning run. It always helped me to have something in my stomach at all times. My doctor recommended eat 5 smaller meals instead of 3 big ones. I think I usually have about 8 smaller meals before the day is done, but that’s another story J

-Plan your running route around bathrooms. Pretty much as soon as the word PREGNANT flashed across that pee stick, by bladder became non-existent. I can usually make it through a shorter distance (4 mile) run without stopping, but after that all bets are off! I have a park bathroom that’s about a mile from my house, so I always try to run routes around that location so that I'm never far from a bathroom.

-Invest in a good supportive sports bra. Your boobs are growing at a rapid weight during early pregnancy and can be really tender. I usually wear tanks with built-in support, but found these weren't supportive enough during the early pregnancy stages, so I would double these up with a sports bra underneath and that seemed to do the trick! If you do find you need to purchase a new sports bra this early on, only buy one or two, because your chest and rib cage will both expand the further you get along.

-Kegels, Squats, and Planks (oh my!). Pregnancy is not the time to slack on your cross training, especially in a few key areas. If you only do one extra move everyday, do kegels, your post-partum self will thank you immensely. Another great exercise to incorporate is deep squats. Stand facing a chair, legs spread shoulder width apart and squat down as far as you can, then squeeze your pelvic floor muscles on the way back up. Core is still king too, even when sporting a baby bump. A strong core will help support your back and help your abs recover faster after your baby is born. All plank variations are an excellent choice to keep your core nice and strong.

-Remember, you are in survival mode. Now is not the time to chase PRs, or sign up for your first ultra marathon. You can still work hard, but most doctors recommend listening to your body and keeping your heart rate under 160 BPM. A good rule of thumb is that if you are winded or your heart rate is racing, chances are your babies is too. Enjoy, appreciate, and embrace your changing body every step of the way and you will have a happy and healthy pregnancy filled with lots of running!

I’ll be back in the Second Trimester talking about what to wear as your body changes, running a half marathon while pregnant, and support bands. Happy Running my pregnant friends!

Amy

@GoFastMommy

Thunderbird Bars Review

I recently had the opportunity to try Thunderbird Bars.  I love whole food natural bars and have one every day either for my morning or afternoon snack (haha yes I have multiple snacks a day, you don't?!).  Anyway, I love bars that contain real food ingredients and so I was very excited to try these Thunderbird Bars.

The company hooked me up! I got to try each of their nine yummy flavors.  They have two main categories of their bars, fruit & nut and nut & seed. I loved the variety of fresh and simple ingredients in these bars.  I also really liked that these weren't too sweet, all the flavors just had the subtle natural sweetness from the fruit flavors.

My favorites were Pineapple Mango Papaya, Cherry Walnut Cinnamon, and Almond Apricot Vanilla. I loved the mixtures of fruits and nuts and appreciated that the nutritional info was in big bold type on each wrapper so I knew exactly what I was eating at a glance.

The consistency of the bars was amazing. Almost like a fruit leather that made them so fun, with the visible nuts and seeds in the bar. I love when I can "see" exactly what I'm consuming.

Not only do Thunderbird Bars make great snacks, but they also make great fuel. I plan on taking a bar or two with my wen I tackle my first trail race next month, the Lake Pleasant 13k!

You can shop Thunderbird Bars online on their easy-to-use website. If you try them, let me know what flavor you like best!

Laces and Leashes

Our little family grew from 2 to 5 about a month ago!!  Not only did Bray and I eagerly welcome Adam and his almost 11 year old yellow lab, Tate, into our house, but we became the proud parents of a new black lab puppy, Ovi!

Peek a Boo Ovi, I see you!

 

I like to tease Adam and tell him that I had been looking for a running partner dog, longer than I had been looking for a boyfriend, but it is entirely true!  The only person to get more excited for some fresh air and outdoor exercise than me would most definitely be a dog!  I had actually looked into volunteering at a local animal adoption center, offering to run with their dogs, until I could get one of my very own!

I got the guy and the puppy.   #winning 

 

Deemed as the “rowdy” puppy of the litter we knew he’d be the perfect addition to our family’s active lifestyle.  Since its still blazing hot outside now, we do our best to give him all the exercise he needs (aka wear him out!) by taking him on a 15 minute walk in the morning and evening.  We finish up every walk, by running a block or two towards home and this little munchkin is FAST!!  His vet said that as soon as he was ready and could keep up, we could continue to add time to his running jaunts.  We are thinking he will be ready for a 5k in about 6 months. 

We LOVE our nightly runs and walks together!

 

Speaking of 5k’s, I am beyond excited that two of my passions, dogs and running, are colliding with the Laces and Leashes Virtual 5k Run this September.  The coolest folks over at Run Eat Tweet are hosting this run and all proceeds are going to benefit the Arizona Humane Society! 

 

Laces and Leashes is a VIRTUAL 5k, which means there is no official location or route. Participants can join from around the globe as one in the effort to help thousands of homeless pets find a home. Why a VIRTUAL race? Since we don’t have any of the costs associated with putting on a traditional race, the entire registration fee goes to the Arizona Humane Society! You also get to pick when and where you’ll run your 5k, and how fast or slow you’ll go.

 

Here is the direct link to register for the Laces and Leashes 5k. I just think this is such a great cause for all the animals out there that are still hoping for their forever family.  So many dogs love and need a ton of exercise, and as runners, we have the means to give dogs the physical activity that they crave and need daily. 

This is the event medal!  Love!!

 

 

You can run this Virtual Race at ANYTIME during the month of September. But why not join a group of like-minded friends if you can?! Come out to OHSO Brewery- Arcadia on September 12th for a 5k Run/Walk. Bring your dog along for the fun! (You MUST be registered for this virtual run in order to attend. Kids run free)

Afterwards, we'll be eating brunch on OHSO's dog-friendly patio, where 20% of sales will go back to Arizona Humane Society! All you have to do is tell them you're with us.  RSVP for the in-person fun on your EVENT PAGE.   There will be tons of giveaways, pups, and new running friends so join us for the #LacesAndLeashes5k group run to help homeless pets in need.

 

Adam ran with sweet, now 11 year old, Mr. Tate for about 7 years, and said that those were some of the best memories he has shared with his best buddy ever.  Simply nothing compares to running with a dog.  I can’t wait to bond with Ovi over daily runs together!!  Hope to see you all at the Laces and Leashes 5k or out on the streets of Phoenix, running with your best 4 legged friends, soon! 

After we run, we nap, of course!

 

CLIF Organic Energy Food Review and Giveaway

I was super excited to try the new CLIF Organic Energy Food pouches through my awesome local AZ Run Group, RunEatTweetAZ.  Clif is my most trusted brand for fuel during my long runs.  I have a very sensitive stomach, but one of CLIF's other products, is my go-to for long run nutrition (their Shot Bloks) so I was stoked to see if their new product would be another fueling option for me.

According to thr brand, these new energy food packets were "Inspired by the home recipe's of our Team CLIF Bar athletes."  They created a "line of performance food made with real, organic ingredients...Each recipe is designed to deliver a combination of nutrients, giving you energy to perform your best."  These were designed to be eaten DURING runs as an alternative or addition to gels and chews.

The ouches themselves look like those squeeze fruit sauce pouches that have become common over the last year or so (my son LOVES them!)  The sizes of the CLIF foods range from 3.17-4.23 ounces. 

I first tried the Banana Mango Coconut flavor during a particularly hard session of mountainside hill repeats.  It hit the spot and went down so smoothly.  The all Organic ingredients were amazing:  Organic Banana Puree, Organic Mango Puree, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Coconut (there were small coconut flakes in the puree!), Sea Salt, and Citric Acid.  Calories came in at 100, 2.5 grams of fat, 15grams of sugar, and 65 mg of sodium.  This was in a 3.17 ounce pouch.

I also enjoyed the other Banana Beet and Ginger flavor.  I tried this one chilled and took it with me for a long 10 mile run this last Sunday.  I found that these smaller 3.17 ounce sizes fit well into the side packet of my Orange Mud Handheld water bottle that comes with me on every single run I take.

CLIF made two other flavor, Margarita Pizza and Sweet Potato with Sea Salt.  I think these pouches would greatly benefit long distance ultra and trail runners because they contained more volume (4.32 ounces), calories ranging from 160-200, and sodium ranging from 540-600 mg). 

As I continue to train in the heat in hopes of a big PR for my Fall Race, I will rely on the CLIF Organic Energy Food to help me reach my goals and run strong!  RunEatTweetAZ has an awesome giveaway on their Facebook page right now so you can try all the flavors for yourself, head over today.  Which flavor are you most excited to try?

Go Macro Bar Review

Thanks to my awesome local Arizona run group RunEatTweetAZ, I was able to sample some GoMacro Bars recently. I was super excited!!

Could you tell how excited I was to try the GoMacro Bars?!

 I had seen these bars at my local Sprouts store, but had not tried them yet because I couldn't see what they looked like through the package. Is that weird?  Am I the only one that likes to know what their food will look like before purchasing/eating it?  Any, stay tuned, I'll show you what they look like so you too will have no excuse to try them too!

Two things I loved about these GoMacro Bars even before trying them:  their small size (they sent a box of the mini sized bars which were perfectly sized and about 100 calories each) and the very simple, real food ingredients, nothing fake, nothing weird.

Loved the mini sized bars!

I have been focusing lately on having me and my son eat whole clean foods. The kindergarten he is going to in the Fall is a strict, junk food free campus (LOVE this!) and I am starting to enforce the healthy habits now.

There were about 10 different flavored bars to try.  My son and boyfriends favorite was the Peanut Butter Chocoalte. I loved the Granola Coconut, cherries and Berries, and Banana and Almond Butter.

Alllll the flavors!! 

 Together though, we devoured out box of mini bars, either paired with a banana as a quick breakfast, slipped into my purse as the perfect min morning snack, or eagerly eaten in the afternoon as an optimal pre-workout snack. We are a huge on the go and snacking family and these smaller sizes were just perfect for us!

Oh, and the bars LOOKED as good as they tasted too!!  you could see all the real food ingredients like berries, seeds, nuts, and butters in the bars.  Nothing fake or weird, only good wholesome ingredients, LOVE.

See?  Awesome real ingredients!

I can't wait to get more!!  The super generous folks over at GoMarco have allowed RUNEATTWEETAZ to host a giveaway on their FB page and have also extended an amazing 40% off coupon code (BLOGGER) on the GoMarco website!!

 Good stuff, I recommend the mixed box of mini bars, you and your family can have fun sampling and choosing your favorites too!