Farewell February & Belated Blogiversary Contest

I don't know about you but there is something about the month of February that I really don't like.  I think the winter blahs officially kick in come February.  You've passed the hustle and bustle of the Holidays and in January you're generally pretty excited because you have all these awesome New Years goals.  Then February comes around and the excitement of your goals has worn off, and the weather is cold and grey. Yup the February Funk is a real thing.   G and I normally go away somewhere hot in February for that specific reason.  But this year we opted to do a training camp that my coach was heading up and that wasn't happening until late March so we have suffered through it this month  Although, in all fairness, G just came back from DUBAI for work and I stayed here. I suppose I could have gone with him but he would be working all day and then socializing with work people AFTER his work day ended so I'd be left to my own devices.  Not so much fun (not to mention the 13 hour flight - kill me now).  Needless to say, I'm happy that we're at the end of February.  Less than one month until we leave for Clermont!  I can't wait to see the sun and bask in the heat!!  WOOHOO!

Anyway, I just realized yesterday that I somehow managed to miss my 5 year Blogiversary on February 20th!  WTH??  I should probably have it marked in my calendar so I don't forget next year, ha ha.  Yes, I've been rambling on about running and triathlon for the last 5 years.  Not hard to do when it's something you're passionate about!

So in honor of hitting the 5 year mark, I thought I'd do a little giveaway.   The awesome folks at Momentum Jewelry have given me a 40% off discount code and YOU have the chance to win it!  They have so many awesome designs to choose from AND they currently have two special motivate wraps that are available for $10 each as part of their #ShareTheSpark campaign.

Entry is as simple 1, 2, 3 - just go to the Rafflecopter widget below and start clicking!

Contest is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.  Contest starts tomorrow and closes next Monday March 8th at midnight!  Winner will be chosen by a random draw and announced on Wednesday March 9th!


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It's the Bits! Recovery Bits Review & Giveaway!

Disclosure:  I was provided a sample of RECOVERYbits® in exchange for an honest review.

In the words of one of my favourite TV characters:  "Winter is Coming".   And we all know what that means.  Cootie season is upon us.  Followed closely by the Season of Overindulgence.  Scratch that.  They go hand in hand.   I don't know about you but I find when I over do it, I end up getting a cold.  Too much sugar, too much booze and too little sleep can only result in a visit by the cootie fairy in my world.

Enter RECOVERYbits®.  I'm sure many of you have probably heard of ENERGYbits®, right?  These are part of the ENERGYbits® line up.  You can check all the products out here.  Of all the products, I was most intrigued by the RECOVERYbits.   Given the amount I like to race, I'm always on the look out for new recovery products, especially supplements because compression socks can only do so much, ha ha.  According to the company website:

"RECOVERYbits® algae tabs are the most natural way to build your immune system.  RECOVERYbits® can aid your detox or cleanse by removing toxins naturally. They also help build your digestion, improve longevity and help reduce hangover symptoms.  With all these benefits it's remarkable that RECOVERYbits® have just one ingredient - chlorella algae.  Chlorella algae has been used in Asia for fifty years where it is prized for its many benefits."

Before I get into my review, a little bit about chlorella.  It's an algae that has the unique ability to pull toxins out of our cells and eliminate them through natural means (sweat, urine, etc).  It's packed with vitamins and nutrients like vitamin C, zinc as well as all the B vitamins.  It also contains 60% protein.  It has also been used to increase good bacteria in the intestine, along with a host of other things.   How's that for a super food?  A word of caution though,  not all chlorella supplements are created equal.  It all depends on how the crop used to make the supplement in question was cultivated, harvested and processed.   RECOVERYbits® are 100% organic non GMO so the quality is there.

The folks at ENERGYbits® sent me a tin with 2 servings in it. A single serving is 30 tabs.  They are fairly small in size but it took a good half a glass of water to get them all down.  They recommend swallowing them whole and not chewing them as they have a very "green" taste (I agree, I bit one to test it out and didn't really love the taste).   I kept them in my purse with me for about 2 weeks after I got them because I wasn't really working out hard and I didn't have any parties on the horizon but I figured there may be a day where I didn't feel good.  Work had been busy and I was feeling a little run down.  Sure enough, one Friday mid-day I felt like I had gotten hit by a Mack Truck.  I felt completely exhausted, I had a bit of a headache and my face was starting to feel hot.  Which is what usually happens when I'm fighting something.  Time to test out the bits!  I took one of the servings.  By the end of the day, I felt fantastic.  The headache was gone and my energy level had returned to normal.

A few weeks later after a particularly rough week of work, I started to feel the same way.  This time I only took half of the serving as I wanted to leave the other half for a Christmas party I was going to attend in a couple of weeks.  A few hours after taking them, I felt better.

The real test came this past weekend.  Our friends had their legendary Christmas martini party and I partook a fair bit.  I'm not a big drinker, other than my one Friday beer a week.  And I don't really drink hard liquor.  But these martinis were so good.  We had two parties that night and at the first one I had a glass of wine.  At the martini party I had 3 martinis.  For me, that's a LOT.  We rolled into the house around 3:00 am and I promptly took the remaining RECOVERYbits® crossing my fingers that they would help me feel somewhat human when I got up.

Amazingly, the half serving worked!  I didn't feel awesome but I felt a heck of a lot better than I should have.   My head was a bit foggy but other than that, I felt totally fine.  No headache, nothing.  I even had enough energy to go for a run a couple of hours after I got up.   I can only imagine how much better I would have felt if I took a full serving.

Needless to say, these are now going to be a part of my regular recovery routine.  If they can kick a hangover to the curb, I can only imagine how well they'll work after a hard workout.

Now for the FUN part!  The awesome folks at ENERGYbits® will be giving away a sample of RECOVERYbits® AND one of their brand new iphone arm bands to one lucky reader!  The contest is only open to U.S. residents unfortunately.  Sorry my fellow Canucks!

Entering is easy - just head on down to the Rafflecopter below and click away!

And, because the folks at ENERGYbits are so awesome, they are launching a special promotion starting tomorrow!  If you buy two bags of bits, you'll get a a complimentary gift bag that includes the following items:

* ENERGYbits® sports arm band
* ENERGYbits® sunglasses
* ENERGYbits® headband
* ENERGYbits® tin of bits
* RECOVERYbits® sample pack
* Candy canes and festive ribbons, all in a black organza bag.  The retail value is $50!  Not a bad little gift. 

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Long Weekend Fun & A Giveaway!

I can't believe it's the end of July.  Summer is half over.  Whaaaa.  But, all is not lost, we still have two holiday weekends left to enjoy before things return to "normal" in September (i.e bumper to bumper traffic for my entire commute).   This weekend marks Simcoe Day and since it's summer, my office closes on Fridays so we get 4 days off.  Woohoo! 

This weekend we are headed up to our friends cottage in Dorset for a weekend of swimming, biking, running, lounging and of course, enjoying some adult beverages.  Because really, what's a cottage long weekend without a few of those?  Anyone that follows me on Instagram knows I enjoy a frosty beverage, especially after a race.  Just because I'm an athlete doesn't mean I shy away from enjoying a few cocktails now and then.  It's all about balance my friends!

Needless to say I was pretty excited when the folks at skinnygrape contacted me and asked me if I'd like to participate in Iron Girl Canada in Grimsby on August 10th (they are one of the event sponsors) as well as host a giveaway for two of my lucky readers. They also provided me with a bunch of their products to taste test.  So, I've got my long weekend beverages covered!  I sampled their Key Lime Lemonade wine spritzer last night and it was tasty.   They have 3 different flavours:  Strawberry Pineapple, Blueberry Pomegranate (next on my list to try!) and the Key Lime Lemonade.   You can get a 4 pack at the Wine Store for $9.99.  The best part?  They are only 90 calories a 330ml bottle and are sugar free compared to other spritzers which can be up to 165-200 calories per 330ml bottle (ouch!).  They are sweetened with stevia, which is a natural sweetener.  They contain 4% alcohol which is similar to other spritzers as well as light beer (but really who wants to drink light beer?!?!) They also offer a line of wines at $11.95 a bottle:  Shiraz, Rose, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.   The wines come in at a mere 80 calories a glass compared to approximately 125 calories a glass for other wines.  A glass being 142ml (5 oz).  Let's be real folks, it's rare to find a 5 oz wine glass anywhere these days.  Most contemporary wine glasses hold at least 8-10 oz and most of the time, we're filling those babies up to the top, especially after a rough day at work.  So in reality, you're probably consuming roughly 250 calories per glass.  2 of those glasses would equal roughly 500 calories.  For me that's an hour on the bike at a moderate pace.  All undone with 2 glasses of wine.  

Tart and refreshing!

 Stay tuned for a full review of the product line as well as a race recap / review.  I'm really excited about participating in this event.  I heard about it last year but was already committed to racing that weekend.  This year I happen to have that weekend free so when they asked if I was interested I jumped at the chance.

Now let's get down to the fun part!  The giveaway!  The generous folks at skinnygrape have offered up the following items to 2 of my lucky readers.

• a skinnygrape green tin bucket
• a skinnygrape branded beach towel
• a skinnygrape branded umbrella
• and, the BEST part, a $25 gift card to the wine store! (note, hat is not included in giveaway, I just thought it looked good in the picture)

The perfect combo of goodies for lounging dockside!

Entering is easy!  Simply complete the Rafflecopter form below before 11:59 pm on August 7th, 2014.  The contest is open to Canadian residents only.
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Sick Day (s) and A Passport for Change Giveaway!

So here I am, week one of my 70.3 training and guess what?  I'm sick.  Go figure.  I knew I was fighting something on Monday but I didn't feel bad.  I was just sneezing and stuffed up.  No aches, pain, fever or chills, nothing.  I went to bed early hoping I'd feel better Tuesday morning.  I did.  Sort of.  So I hopped on my bike and did my 1 hour ride.  I felt strong, my heart rate wasn't high (usually an indication for me that something is off) and I had plenty of energy.  Sure I was still sneezing and stuffed up but I felt ok otherwise.  That changed around 2:00 in the afternoon yesterday.  I thought some Neo Citran and another good night's sleep would help but I feel worse today than I have the last two days.  Booo.  I missed my run & weight workout yesterday and I missed my swim this morning.  Double boo.  Coach said I could pick up with easy effort stuff tomorrow if I feel better.  Fingers crossed!!

On to the FUN part of today's post!  I have a giveaway happening!  I am a little bummed that I can't attend this event but now that I know about it, I'll watch for next years.   Tonic Magazine has put together what sounds like a really interesting event. 

Disclaimer:  I was approached by Tonic Magazine to attend this show but due to a previous engagement, I am unable to attend.  So, the amazing folks at Tonic have provided me with not ONE but TWO VISA passes (a $90 value) to The Passport For Change Event that is happening this Sunday (Jan 12th) at Artscape at Wychwood Barns in Toronto.

Exactly what is Passport for Change?  It is a one day self-directed and personalized event, that combines seminars, social media support and elements of “speed-dating” into a one-of-a-kind, never-before-seen consumer experience where we will provide people who are looking for change with the tools they’ll need to fulfill their resolution goals for the coming year.  Unlike other consumer shows where you may wander around from booth to booth somewhat aimlessly, this is an event that you can completely tailor to yourself and your needs.  On the day of the show you can have as many as 8 six minute, one-on-one “Speed Meetings” as you’d like to schedule with the experts you think can help you achieve your health, fitness and wellness goals for the coming year.  If you've always wanted to talk to a Life Coach, now's your chance.  Or perhaps you were interested in speaking with a holistic nutritionist about your diet.  Here's your opportunity!  There will also be 20 minute "open" talks on a variety of health and wellness issues that you can sit in on in between your speed meetings.  Of course there will also be a wide array of vendors, carrying everything from supplements to food (Neal Brothers & Rise Kombucha are just a couple) as well as other health and wellness related items and services.  

Some of the guest speakers include Kathleen Trotter, personal trainer, Globe & Mail Columnist and Huff Post Blogger as well as my favourite, Dr. Bryce Wylde, Alternative Medicine Health Expert.

 The Visa pass is a $45 value that covers you for up to 8 six minute appointments with any of the experts listed on the Passport for Change website.  There are personal trainers, natural health practitioners, transformational coaches as well as life coaches.  It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with people that can help you reach your goals in 2014 and you get to bring a friend with you!

In addition you will also receive a sample pack of vitamins from Vitapath.

Now that's a whole lot of awesome, don't you think? 

The rules:  Contest is open to residents of Ontario, however you are responsible for your own transportation to and from the event.  

How do you enter?  Easy....

1.  Leave a comment telling me who you'd most like to meet with at the event.
2.  Follow Tonic Magazine on twitter and leave a comment telling me you did.  Include your twitter handle.
3.  Follow me on twitter and leave a comment telling me you did.  Include your twitter handle.

That's it!  Winner will be chosen the morning of Friday January 10th via random.org and announced on the blog.

Happy Hump Day folks! 
 

Giving Back & A Giveaway Winner

Happy Saturday folks!

First things first, I've got a winner for my Octaspring giveaway!  Congrats to Gillian Raymond!  Gillian look out for an email from me.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  I'll be hosting another wee one on my facebook page on Monday so watch out for that.  

I'm coming to the end of my leisurely week.  I'll be back on the workout wagon tomorrow.  I've quite enjoyed the physical and mental break but I'm looking forward to getting back into my routine as well.   I hoped to get a workout in on Friday but that didn't happen.  Thursday's late night took it's toll on me.  But it was SO worth it.  Totally one of the best shows I've seen in a long time.  And of course there was dancing.  Lots of dancing.  I'm sure that counts for a workout, right?

This morning I layered up and drove out to Sunnybrook Park to volunteer for the Toronto Women's 8km.  I love this race series and I figured it was a great opportunity for me to give back.  I knew a few people racing too so it was nice to be able to cheer them on.  I got to work the start / finish line area which was AWESOME.  Seeing the emotion on the faces of some of these women when they crossed the line was amazing.  I remember feeling that same way when I finished my first race.  Despite the horrible weather, there was lots of dancing and high-fiving at the finish line.  It was a lot of fun and it's definitely something I'll do again.

For now I'll be spending the afternoon on the couch with my feet up in front of the fire, watching the rain.  Maybe there will be some cooking this afternoon, we'll see.  I've been on a bit of a roll testing out recipes from the new Runner's World Cookbook and I'm due for a good meal prep session.

What did you get up to this weekend?

Have you volunteered at a race before?  

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This: Dormeo Octaspring Evolution Plus Pillow - Review & Giveaway

 Disclaimer:  I was given this pillow by Dormeo Octaspring Canada in exchange for a review.

As an athlete, I think that most of us forget that sleep is one of the most important things required in a successful training plan.   If you're pushing your body day in and day out and not getting adequate amounts of quality sleep, your performance will suffer.  Guaranteed.  So many things can affect our sleep quality, from what you've eaten before bed, to your stress levels.  Even something as simple as your pillow can also affect how well (or not) you sleep.

I'm a picky person when it comes to my pillow.  I don't like anything too soft and squishy.  There needs to be some support and firmness to it.  That being said, I don't like overly firm pillows either.   There has to be a bit of give as well.  Not an easy thing to accomplish in a pillow.  My current pillow is getting up there in years so when I was offered the opportunity to review this pillow and I checked it out online, I jumped at the opportunity.  Do you know how expensive a good quality pillow is??  These pillows retail for $159.99.  That, my friends is a pair of running shoes and maybe a gel or two if your shoes happen to be on sale. 

I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical about this pillow but, I'm always game to give new things a go.  I've used a memory foam pillow before and I wasn't a huge fan.  It made my head hot and I didn't find it to be all that supportive.  But the technology in this pillow was different than traditional memory foam pillows.  Most memory foam pillows are a solid block of foam that is contoured accordingly depending on what position you sleep in.   The Dormeo Octaspring pillows are actually filled with memory foam springs that are shaped like honeycombs and vary in firmness throughout the pillow.  It was this technology that made me think hmmm...this might actually be good!  You can get the inside scoop here.

This is what the pillow looks like inside:

Octaspring describes their pillows as having "comfort zones".  They use a firm memory foam pillow spring to give support under the neck and soft breathable memory foam pillow spring for under the head.  The pillow case is also designed with mesh end panels to allow for air circulation. Talk about the best of both worlds!  You get the support of memory foam without the hot sweaty head.  Win / win in my books.  The brochure I received also said that "this pillow respects the natural contours of your vertebral column thus providing a good sleeping posture so you wake up ache free and well rested in the morning."  If there's one thing I have problems with it's that.  I cannot tell you how many times I've woken up with a sore neck or shoulders from either the lack of support from my pillow or the way I've slept on my pillow.

So.  Let's get down to the nitty gritty.  What did I think?

First Impressions:

It comes in a box.  I am pretty sure I've never bought a pillow that comes in a box.  A box means business!

The pillowcase is incredibly soft.  I could probably just sleep on that alone.  I always put an actual pillowcase over my pillows.  It's one more layer that my drool has to get through.  I may try sleeping on it without one just to see what it's like. 

It's been a while since I've slept on a memory foam pillow so when I first lay down on it and my head didn't sink in to it immediately I was a bit sad.   I love plopping my head into a big fluffy pillow just because I love the way it feels.  I don't love the way they feel when I wake up sore and achy in the morning though so I was willing to trade that for a good nights sleep.

Normally when I get a new pillow, there is a bit of an adjustment period until my body gets used to it.  Probably because I've never stuck with the same pillow, ha ha.  I slept like a baby that first night and I woke up totally fine the next day.  No aches, no pain, no muscle tightness, nothing.  Same with the second night.  And the third.  I've been using it for two weeks now and I haven't woken up with any sort of soreness or discomfort no matter what position I sleep in (back or side). The other thing I noticed was that my pillow always felt slightly cool.  This is a big deal because I am a furnace at night and I usually wake up at some point during the night and flip my pillow over to the cooler side.  I haven't had to do this once with this pillow.

Final Verdict:

I'm sold.  This is my pillow of choice.  And when it dies, I will probably go back and actually purchase one.  These pillows actually come with a 2 year warranty as well!  Gotta love that.

Now the fun part!  I get to give one away to a lucky reader!  I was really hoping to be able to open the contest up to folks in the US but unfortunately it's for Canadian Citizens only.

Contest starts today and ends at midnight next Friday October 25th.  Winner will be announced on Saturday October 26th.

What do you need to do to enter?  Go to the handy Rafflecopter Giveaway and get clicking!  It's as simple as that. 

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