Back to Active with Biofreeze®

I haven't mentioned it much here on the blog, but for the past few weeks I've been on a journey to be more active.  I was into sports from the time I could run, and I even did a couple of years as a college athlete.  And many of you know I'm a military Veteran; it used to be my job to stay in fighting shape.  But a few years ago, I fell off the wagon...  hard.  And every time I tried to get back on, I'd back off because it was hard to overcome the soreness and get back in the habit.

Recently, I've been trying to attend fitness classes at the gym near my apartment, including some pretty intense HIIT and strength training ones.  I'm using muscles I just haven't used before, and to be honest, OTC pain relievers weren't really cutting it.  My soreness even made it hard to sleep.  It's hard enough to get motivated to lose weight and exercise, only to have soreness happen to boot.  So when I had the opportunity to try Biofreeze® for my muscle soreness post-exercise, I say YES PLEASE.

I was able to try three forms of Biofreeze®, the roll-on, spray, and gel.  I was excited, because I knew each bottle could play a different role.  The spray, for example, was perfect for the spots (like my back) that I couldn't reach on my own.  The gel was perfect for rubbing on my sore areas after I showered, so I could apply a little massage and relief to key sore points.

Biofreeze® really is as effective as ice for treating my muscle soreness, but without a dripping towel or bag of melting ice.  I can totally pack it in my bag to take on-the-go!  My favorite for travel?  The roll-on!  It's the perfect TSA-friendly size.  I took it on a business trip earlier this week out-of-state, and I loved having it on-hand after using the hotel gym.  And it's effective; no NSAIDs needed for me, just a little of the menthol in these products for fast-acting relief for my aches.

Oh, and did I mention it's now available without a prescription, at retail stores near you, AND made in the United States?  This used to be something you could only get through a medical professional.  Now it's easily accessible for all of trying to get back into healthier habits.  Biofreeze® is also free of parabens and propylene glycol, never tested on animals, and available in dye-free formats.  All the good, without the bad.

Biofreeze® has been a great helper for me as I try to get back to fitness.  I push myself harder because I am no longer afraid of the painful recovery.  I can treat my sore muscles with a cooling, relieving gel, and move on.  That's definitely something worth sharing with you, to help overcome pain and push forward towards your health and fitness goals!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Review: ClassPass for Fitness Classes

Disclosure:  I received a month of unlimited access to ClassPass (and a tank top!) at no charge,  in exchange for my honest review.  You can skip the Nashville waitlist using my referral link and join ClassPass right away!  I do not get a kickback for referrals, this is just a benefit for my readers.

ClassPass is a brilliant concept.  I have a tendency to get tired of a workout "routine" and look for Groupons or newbie deals at different fitness studios.  I never stick with them for long.  That's why ClassPass is so great; you get unlimited fitness classes (up to 3 per participating studio) for a single monthly fee.  You make reservations for classes via web or mobile app; you receive a reminder e-mail about classes, as well as tips on what to bring and how early to show up.  If it's your first time at a studio, you'll want to go early to fill out waivers and whatnot.

The App

There is a $20 charge if you miss a class or show up late, which is how the studios participating likely mitigate risk from allowing you to join their classes.  I think this is reasonable (you can cancel 12+ hours in advance) and many studios already have this as a policy.  I also think it holds people like me accountable!
My favorite part about ClassPass, other than trying classes, is definitely the app!  You can browse and reserve classes either via web browser or the app.  Both methods are super simple and easy. You can browse classes on a map or by name.  The app allows you to add reserved classes to your iCal calendar.  I love being organized, and this helps a lot.

I've been attending a few different classes at various studios in my area already:  Jazzercise, Niki G's Fitness Bootcamp, and 100% Fit are some of my favorites.  (The links take you to Yelp, where I've reviewed them!)  All of them have helped me break a sweat for sure.  I know that to see optimal results, it's good to stick to a certain type of class multiple times per week, over time.  But for me, without variety and mixing it up, I'm more likely to quit.  ClassPass has allowed me to experiment with new techniques, as well as get to know studios in my area I had no idea existed.
I think ClassPass is ideal for:

• People like me who really enjoy variety in workouts, or trying something new.
• Someone new to a ClassPass city looking to try out different studios and meet new people.
• Business travelers who can use the membership in multiple cities.

Have you tried ClassPass before?

Disclosure:  I received a month of unlimited access to ClassPass at no charge,  in exchange for my honest review.  You can skip the Nashville waitlist using my referral link and join ClassPass right away!  I do not get a kickback for referrals, this is just a benefit for my readers.

Walt Disney World Marathon

Perhaps I should call this, "How I survived my first marathon in spite of myself" or something like that. You see, last spring I registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon, because I'd gotten this wild hair at some point that told me I needed to run a full marathon before I turned 30... and this race would take place just a couple of months before my self-imposed deadline.  WOOF.  Thankfully, my parents jumped on board right away and committed to going with me.  Here's how it all went down.

At the Race Expo, and a photo of my race bib!

BEFORE THE MARATHON

• Training:  I didn't train like I should have.  I'd planned to follow the Disney Marathon "finish upright" training plan, and I completed three half marathons during my training months.  But I never built up to a distance beyond 13.1 miles, truthfully because ain't nobody (okay, ain't many people) got the time/motivation to run 3-5 hours straight on a weekend.  Yikes.  I effed up training.  And it made me a nervous wreck going into the holidays and Disney.
• Diet:  I let myself off the hook diet-wise the week leading up to the marathon, taking the online reco to carb-load and reduce fiber and protein.  I really think this helped a lot.  Seriously.  I didn't eat like a 3rd grader, but I did eat a good deal of pasta and baked potatoes.  I also focused on hydration, reasonable.  It helped me stay fueled during the race.
• Gear:  I am used to running with a Fitletic Ultimate II running belt, with whatever hydration and sunglass pouches attached that I choose.  I need something to keep my phone and inhaler, and this fits the bill.  For the marathon, I stocked my belt with Clif/Gu to eat about every hour (I only eat vanilla, Gu has caffeine but Clif tastes better to me), one hydration pouch, a pouch for sunglasses/chafing gel/chapstick, and my phone/headphones.  I wore my Garmin Forerunner 10 to keep pace, and the battery actually lasted up until my final mile.  I also wore Swiftwick Aspire Twelve compression socks.  All of this gear I was used to wearing during my long runs and half marathons, so I knew that I would be fine with them.  I chose to wear a Sweatyband I bought at the Expo in my hair for the race, similar to ones I wore before too.
• PANIC:  The number one best thing I did was digest this 6 1/2 Hour Marathon Survivor Race Strategy.  Because I was using a run/walk strategy to prevent injury (again, because I effed up training) I knew this would work for me.  I even made a little piece of paper with the times to hit and "laminated" it between some clear tape.  This little guideline became my security blanket, which I felt I needed to avoid being swept off the course for not meeting cutoff times.

THE MARATHON

Course Map, through all four parks at WDW!

I woke up at 3 am (blergh!) in order to get to the gear check and starting corrals on time.  There were literally 20,000 people running, so they had start corrals A through P.  Since the race started at 5:30, they wanted you in corrals by 5 am.  I wore a garbage bag over my clothes to stay warm, and many people wore "throw away" clothes that they tossed off at the start; Disney donates these to Goodwill or something.  There were portapotties, many with super long lines.   I was in Corral M, so I actually didn't start until almost an hour after the first runners!  They move you up like cattle as each group begins.

These are some Start photos Disney gave me when I purchased my marathon pictures. :)

MILES 0-5:

By the time we started (every corral got fireworks!), I had to pee within the first couple of miles; I felt funny joining portapotty lines so early on, but I am glad I did it.  I kept to a 14-minute per mile pace (4 minutes running, 1 minute walking) consistently to start, knowing I'd need my energy later.  I felt like I had to hold myself back in those first miles, because the energy is so high.  Every mile marker has a display with different Disney character images, which is cool.  There are also bands, cheerleaders, and ALL THE DISNEY CHARACTERS along the way.  For real, people queue up to take photos with characters.  I was too nervous to wait in lines, but I did run by the characters to sneak a peek when I saw them.  So cool!

MILES 6-11:

This was probably my favorite part of the race.  Much like in the Disney Princess Marathon, we run up Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, then through Tomorrowland and through the back of the castle.  It's super magical! You don't even realize you're running!  I knew that my parents were waiting for me in the Magic Kingdom, and I searched the crowd for Dad's bright orange hat.  I was honestly so happy and emotional to see them; Mom gave me a clementine and I left on my way.  I was bummed it wasn't still dark (they'd done up the castle in a Frozen lighting scheme at night) but I did get to see Elsa and Anna as I entered the castle!

I saw my parents once more coming out of the castle and heading to the Speedway.  We actually got to run around the race track, and there were race cars and the Florida Corvette Club displaying cars.  Then we had to hit a long road with not much going on for a while.

MILES 12-17:

As we got closer to Animal Kingdom, there were actually some animals there to see us, plus cast members.  I have to say, it's awesome how many cast members come out to cheer on the race.  Your race number has your name on it, so people call to you by name.  The water and fuel point volunteers were amazing too!  By the time we got to Animal Kingdom, the park was open, so a lot of runners detour to ride the Expedition Everest roller coaster.  I get motion sick, so I didn't go, but it was fun to see people do that.  At some point we ran by a stinky water treatment facility (I think before reaching AK) and that was my least favorite part.  It also started a lightly rain around mile 17 for me, but it wasn't too bad as it had warmed up a little.

MILES 18-22:

These miles were the most boring.  Once we left Animal Kingdom, we headed for Wide World of Sports (where the Expo had been) and had to weave in and out of a track, soccer/baseball fields, etc.  We even ran around inside a baseball stadium.  The plus side to this chunk of the race is based on my strategy, I slowed down just slightly for each mile, and at mile 20 I switched to survival mode.  The best part of WWoS was that my Mom was there waiting for me!  She had orange juice and more clementines for me to eat.  I also grabbed an acetaminophen from a medical tent during this time.  I remember that this is where it all started to hurt.  The bottom of my feet hurt the most, from pounding pavement.  An experienced marathoner later told me she thinks Florida/Disney puts a lot of shells in their pavement or something that makes it feel even harder.  Well, I felt it.  Tons of people around me were walking a lot at this point, but I knew I was safely ahead of the sweepers by almost an hour.

MILES 23-26.2:

This is where we went through Hollywood Studios (the hat was still there, though fenced off for removal) to the Boardwalk resort to Epcot for the finish.  Hollywood Studios is where I burst into tears.  I just felt so emotional, and even though I had such a relatively little distance to go, I was just so distraught for some reason.  A gal from Texas named Misty (wearing a Team RWB shirt like me) stopped to pat me on the shoulder and tell me I was going to be just fine and finish strong.  Tons of other Team RWB people came up to me during and after the race, so I was happy I'd worn the Eagle shirt (instead of my original plan to wear a costume) for the extra encouragement!

With a few Team RWB shoutouts in that last chunk, I braced myself and could see the Eiffel Tower in the World Showcase in the distance.  Once I got into the showcase, I powered through as much as possible.  They had all kinds of princesses (Jasmine, Mulan, etc.) out but I just wanted to be done.  I pushed until we ran past Spaceship Earth and towards the finish.  Some people stopped for beer in Germany and margaritas in Mexico, which they ran with to the end!

I heard (and saw) my parents cheering, and I knew I was almost done.  As I ran across the finish line, I raised my arms up because everyone else was doing it.  I did it!  I finished in 6 hours, 6 minutes, right where I'd planned to be.  I'm not as fast as I once was as a college runner, but I was incredibly proud and felt so accomplished when I earned that Mickey Mouse medal.

I don't know that I'll ever do a full marathon again.  It was a significant emotional event.  It hurt for days afterward.  It takes a lot of freaking time.  It makes me almost start to cry thinking about how it made me feel, good and bad.  But I sure picked the right one to do...  the Walt Disney World Marathon says that "every mile is magic", and I think they're right.  You're never alone, you're taken care of, and you feel like thousands of people want you to succeed.  It was definitely a magical day, one I won't soon forget.

Santa Hustle Half Marathon Recap (Indianapolis)

During my visit to Indiana, I completed my 4th half marathon, my last before the Disney Marathon in January.  I registered for the Santa Hustle in Indianapolis, to ensure I got a good long run during my time at home.

The weather was cold, but the mood was festive, it was pretty cool to see people dressed as Santa and elves running all in a big group.  The wind and cold definitely impacted me on the run; the first 7 miles felt great (I was on PR pace!) then I hit a bit of a wall as the course got a little hillier and less interesting.  Blah.   But I still managed to squeeze out my best half marathon time anyways!

There was a particularly awesome sign along the way that I loved... RYAN GOSLING!

There were also M&Ms and cookies along the way that were good energy stops.  I didn't eat candy, but towards the end I did eat a cookie to keep myself going.  I learned that I can run and eat a cookie at the same time!  LOL
I'd say the best part was having Mom & Dad there to support me.  It was a nice training run, and I loved the sweatshirt I got from it.  Now I'm a nervous wreck thinking about doubling the distance for Disney!

Nashville Half Marathon

On November 8th, I completed the Nashville Half Marathon, benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  I'd been off my training game for two weeks due to bad congestion in my chest (and a horrid cough) but I still went through with it!

There were about 1000 less runners than the previous half marathon I ran, but there were still plenty of people around me to be able to push myself.  I also had both Mom and Dad there to cheer me on!  They helped me ditch my long sleeves AND provided some iced green tea around Mile 5/6 to give me an energy push.

Overall, I felt pretty good.  I did a run/walk like last time, but I missed a bunch of my walking minutes just getting into the groove running.  Not too bad!  This was also my first long distance in newer shoes (check out that neon!) but using the same inserts.  No blisters, no real hot spots either.  I wore compression tall socks again too.

My Mile 11, I knew I was on track to a PR, except I thought it would be over sooner than it was...  there were KILLER HILLS in the last 1.5 miles, so I definitely was sucking over that last bit.  I ended up beating my previous time by 3 minutes, which I can't complain about, especially having been sick.  We covered some similar ground as the other course (Music Row, the Gulch) but also crossed over around LP Field and all the way to Shelby Bottoms park.

My real (chip) time was a minute faster than the clock!

I preferred the Women's Running Half Marathon given all of the fellow women participating, more frequent water stops, and a little more everything in general... big expo, lots of activities, blingier medal.  But this was another good checkpoint for my marathon training, and I felt better than I have after previous long runs.  Overall, I experienced some stiffness in the days following, but by Tuesday I felt great.
Gotta keep on keeping on...

Wounded Warrior Project 8K

The Wounded Warrior Project 8K series came to Franklin, and I had to participate in honor of those who continue to serve and those who've sacrificed even more.  I was terribly sick, so I took it easy, but it was a great fall day for a run.  They kicked off a Soldier Ride bicycle group, had a great live band, and even provided a photo booth so you can have a souvenir.

LOL photo

I was a great course with a few Tennessee hills (of course), plenty of water points, and a good group of supporters along the way.  Lots of signs on the course too!  I ran in honor of my friend from West Point, Sal Corma, who died in Afghanistan in 2010.  He was one of the best guys...  and you should read more about him.
If this series comes to you, you need to check it out!  They're in Phoenix next month.

Women's Running Half Marathon in Nashville

Since I am training for the Disney Marathon in January, I figured that running a half marathon or two would be a good way to hold myself accountable in the meantime.  So why not run in the Women's Running Half downtown with 2000+ other ladies?  It seemed like a good idea at the time!

Pretty awesome course, right?

The course was hilly, but pretty incredible.  We started and finished at the Country Music Hall of Fame (soooo Nashville, right?) and the course included running on Broadway, through Midtown, Centennial Park, Music Row, and more.  I noticed so much about the city that I hadn't seen before.  And I actually ran about 15 minutes faster than I'd hoped to, in spite of warm weather and hills!  It was a fun race for sure, and I even ran into a coworker and two fellow West Pointers that I knew; the running world is a small world.  As it turns out, I knew about half a dozen of the women running!
There were junior cheerleaders, sororities, students, police, and even IHOP employees out on the course cheering us on.  There were creative signs and costumes too.

Running photos aren't glam... but I'm proud of this!

And the medal?  Sooooo blingy and Nashville!  I loved it!  They even had post-race mimosas.  I felt pretty wiped out afterwards, but the next few days weren't as bad for recovery as my ill-prepared half in 2012.  I have been wearing tall compression socks on my long runs, and I think they do help me recover faster.  I also ran with some goo and water at my disposal, which was helpful even though the water stops were plentiful.

I know my "fanny pack" belt is dorky, but it keeps my inhaler, phone, and more close at hand.

After those 13.1 miles, I was pretty much starving... so my friends Lindsey and AB picked me up and took me out to the original Puckett's in Leiper's Fork.  Back in 2008, it split from the rest of the restaurant group, so the concept is very different.  It's truly a Meat & Three, more casual, and sticks to the basics.  You eat, and then you pay on the way out!  The food is solid Southern fare, not as upscale as the rest of the restaurants, but still pretty good.  I had a breakfast platter that really hit the spot after my race.

AB, Lindsey, and me!

After all, *real* girlfriends pick you up from your half marathon and feed you biscuits.  Of course!  :)

Bicycle (Mis)Adventures

Almost a year ago, I bought my first adult bicycle.  Now I'm to the point that I want to ride it more.  I even took a couple of informal classes from some volunteers at work (for National Bike Month or something) to try to work up the courage to do an occasional bike commute.  Still working on that one, but all in all I'm just trying to drive less and ride more.

With the best of intentions, I decided I would take my bicycle to Indiana with me for my MBA residency.  I knew I could ride my bike with Mom at least once.  Dan installed my trunk rack and off I went.  I'd never driven my bike more than 2-3 miles before, so getting onto the Interstate was a whole other story.  My rack was not a great fit with my women's bike and its adapter, so it kept coming loose.  SCARY STUFF, people.  On my third forced exit off the highway, I called Dan almost in tears trying to figure out how to get either to Indiana or back home in defeat.
YOU GUYS.  I removed the front wheel of the bike.  I KNOW THIS IS SUPER EASY BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW.  I had to Google a YouTube video.  You have to unhook the brake thingy and stuff, y'all.  But I did it, then attempted to get the bike into the Corolla.  No dice.  I removed everything I'd packed for the week from the car, put down the back seat, then managed to cram everything back in.  WHEW.  I felt so accomplished!  Then I drove through the worst traffic and construction ever and finally got to Bloomington.  (Note: It was Friday the 13th.)
The next day, I rewarded myself with a new trunk rack that works much better (from our local shop, Bikesmiths) and a ride on the B-line with Mom.  I knew I needed a new rack to get me back to TN.  I'm hoping to have a chance to ride again before I go home.  It felt really good despite the terrifying car trip where I thought I'd lose my first real bike.  So I suppose that's progress.

@Fabletics - Outfit Review v.5

Note:  After five months of Fabletics, I still love it.  I won't be doing a review post every month, but I am very happy with the service and don't see an end in sight yet for it!  You'll see my pieces in my Budgeting Bloggers post.
I had one last credit lingering on Fabletics, so I was able to order the "Cheeky" outfit for just $10 total.  I loved my previous running skirt, so I went for another one.  The outfit also included the first bra I tried from Fabletics.

Overall, this tank top is one of my new favorites!  It doesn't even look like a workout top, the cut is so nice.  The skirt, same as my other one but in another pattern, is a winner too.  They go well together and as separates, which is what I am going for these days in workout clothes.
The bra was not to my liking; I prefer a seamless band like the ones I get from Target.  I sent it back because the fit wasn't quite right for me.  It was a great quality material, but the thick bottom band and padded cups were not my style. Overall, another great quality outfit from Fabletics!  I seriously recommend it.
Disclaimer:  I subscribe to Fabletics on my own dime, and did not receive anything in exchange for this review.  I earned this outfit for FREE using referrals!  If you're interested in signing up for Fabletics, I would LOVE if you'd use my referral link!  For every two friends of you who purchase, I can earn an outfit.

@Fabletics - Outfit Review v.4

I look forward to the 1st of every month, when I get to pick out my next Fabletics outfit!  (Please check it out using my referral link!)  This month, I was sitting on outfit credits and some store credit, so all three of my pieces were FREE again.
Since I need black capris, but I also love graphic prints, I chose the Rotunda outfit (graphic tank plus capris) and the awesome-looking Carmo skirt.

I can't believe I've finally found a subscription service I love! Every other one I've tried has ended up a disappointment after the first or second round. 
With these new black capris, I was finally willing to part with an older pair that was becoming threadbare.  The running skirt is fantastic, because I feel like it prevents thigh rub while still allowing for some warm weather shorts.  I think I'll be ordering more of these in the future.

The tank top surprised me.  In my rush to order this fab print, I neglected to see that it was a support top... i.e. it had a built-in bra.  I typically avoid these tops, because the thin double layer of fabric doesn't usually hide my, um, assets.  This top, however, features soft cups.  I haven't run-tested the top yet, but the "hop tests" make me confident enough to wear these to the gym for classes.  I'm keeping all of these items!
Disclaimer:  I subscribe to Fabletics on my own dime, and did not receive anything in exchange for this review.  I earned this outfit for FREE using referrals!  If you're interested in signing up for Fabletics, I would LOVE if you'd use my referral link!  For every two friends of you who purchase, I can earn an outfit.

P.S.  There's still time to enter the vintage cookbook giveaway!