RunnerBox Review and Discount Code

All I can say is HOLY COW does RunnerBox know how to put together a monthly subscription.  I got this beauty in the mail last week and we have been tearing it up ever since.  I wanted to get my review up as fast as possible as I have a discount code that is good till the July 13th and I wanted my friends to have a chance to use it!!

Here's how my wonderful package arrived at my doorstep.  It was shipped pretty fast and I was super happy when I found it in my mailbox.

Pretty packaging, everything tucked in nice and tight. Good thing when you see everything that came in this thing!!

And here it is!!  All the goodies tucked in so nice and neat!!  Here's a quick list of what was in the box:

- Honey Stinger Energy Bar

- Kind Bar

- Island Boost

- Lenny & Larry Muscle Brownie

- Click

- Sensible Food

- Nuun

- Leg Cramps

- Ion Design

- Shower Pill

- Run Guard

- Pure Protein Bars

- Knuckle Lights Coupon

- Probar Bolt Chews

So far my husband and I have managed to get through a few items in the box, I've only had it since Wednesday and we were away all weekend but here's what we got into!!  

Kind Bar- They are made from all natural ingredients.  Good for before/during/after your run!  These are my husbands favorite.  It was eaten almost right away!!  They are really good, nuts and chocolate, who could turn it down!

Island Boost-I tried this one before my 5 miler on Thursday.  Loved the taste, it's got coconut water in it, and is gentle on the stomach!!  It's a fuel that is full of electrolytes and goodness that promises to keep your tummy happy.  

Nuun- Active hydration tabs that came prepackaged, grape and lemon-lime.  Of course I took these.  I LOVE Nuun. Drank one on Sunday after my long run and one on Monday after my hot run!  These are my favorite hydration tabs out there.  

Ion Designs-  Reflective transfer that make you visible from the road.  This one came with three different transfers and I used the flower one on one of my running hats.  Transferred easily and I am testing it out tonight on my night run!

Run Guard- Anti-chafing bar, need I say more.  My husband tried it on his underarm area during his Insanity workout and I must say it definitely looked like it worked.  He said there was less irritation from his arms rubbing together.  

ProBar Chews-  Organic chews packed with electrolytes, carbs and vitamins to use during your run.  I used these during my long run.  They tasted good and had little to no effect on my stomach.  I got the energy I needed and finished off my long run!

So, I think we've done a pretty good job on getting through some of the products.  I am taking the Sensible Foods with me today for our trip to swimming lessons.  They are 100% crunch dried foods with no preservatives.  I have some Edamame and Tropical Fruit Blends to take with me to try out.  Along with all the products, I received coupons/discount codes for 5 of the products in the box which will come in handy when I go to order additional items from the companies!

Here's a little info about the company and the subscriptions.  

"A bimonthly subscription to RunnerBox filled with products geared towards runners.  The box will arrive every other month, shipped right to your front door!  Try out new products and get discounts on your favorites!  You may continue the subscription for as long as you wish, and cancel at any time."

"RunnerBox is a curated box of running & fitness products. It's a gift to yourself or someone else, that arrives at your door from energy drinks, nutrition bars, protein shakes, gels, chews and accessories. We search out great products, from tired and true to brand new, and send them to you in our custom box."

You can find them at http://therunnerrbox.com/ or On Facebook

Here's the code for 10% off your subscription or a giftbox for a runner friend. Type in LOVETORUN at checkout for this great discount.  

Has anyone tried RunnerBox or any other monthly/bimonthly subscription boxes out there?  Do you have a favorite?

Foam Roller Bruises??

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  We did over here in the Pamommy household.  My husband took the day off which NEVER happens and we got to celebrate as a family for once.  I set my alarm clock for 6AM for my long run but woke up with a bad headache and did not feel like getting out of bed, soooooo I stayed in bed and suffered through a hot/humid 10AM short run and moved my long to Sunday!  I'm gonna need a long run after a VERY quick trip to WV for a family baby shower.
This week I've put in 10 miles, I owe 10 more before the week is over and plan on doing at least 3 today and then 7 more on Sunday. I've done the abs challenge everyday and am enjoying that.  I have developed a little tenderness in my left hip so I've been rolling like a madwoman and have the bruises to show for it!!  Anyone else bruise from their foam roller??  I get them on my hips almost every time.
Well hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  I will be reviewing Island Boost and Power Paks after my long run this Sunday.  I had plans for that on Thursday but thankfully I can move some things around until the end of July when I have to get serious and start my half training.

Have a great weekend!!  Happy running!

July Goals!!!

Happy July..... quite possibly my favorite month of the year. This is the month of my birth and ALWAYS the month of my vacation to the beach!!  I am not a HUGE fan of running in the heat but it really doesn't bother me that much.  I've decided to try and set some goals for this month as I did a few months ago and didn't hold myself accountable.

Here's July's goals/challenges:
1. Complete HIIT Challenge (Big HIIT)
2. Complete Ab Challenge (Busy Body Ab Challenge)
3. Run 75 miles (get 20 mile/week base set for training)
4. Foam roll 3 x week

I think these are all doable goals but they always are on the 1st of July.  I have a couple of reviews coming up.  I just got a HUGE box from VitaCost, a Runner Box, some more info and reviews of Kindrunner.com , Swirlgear review and a few others that I can't wait to get!!!
I continuing to work on this process and feel like I am a three time a weeker!!!  Sorry people, I love my kids more than my blog and it's the summer and I need to spend as much quality time with them as I can while they are little.  I know everyone will understand and I am so grateful for the support in the blogging community that I have received!!  I still have yet to let my family and friends know my blog address but I am getting more comfortable with this process and confident in my blogging that I think I may introduce them to Pamommy soon!!!

Week accountability and current giveaway!

This week has been surprisingly calm. Lots of thunderstorms in the evenings canceling events that we had planned allowing for us to have more family time.  I started to run the number of days that I will be running once my training plan starts and so far, so good.  I am running a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday schedule with Wednesday and Saturday being my rest days.  I work weekends so unfortunately I have to do my long runs on Thursday mornings at 5.  This is always a challenge for me because I am a night owl and have no interest being up at that time of day.  It has proved to be helpful with the heat and the humidity FINALLY making it's way to VA. I did all my runs this week but only one day of Insanity which I took it easy on because when I was doing some of the jumping, my left knee started to talk to me.  Not in the same place and only when I was doing high impact stuff.  I was fearful for my long run on Thursday morning, but it gave me little to no trouble but I am restarting my glute exercises to try to keep whatever it is at bay.
On a fun note..... my mom called me and said she needed to get a pair of running shoes. We live a little over two hours from each other but can meet in the middle in Fredericksburg, VA where they have a running shop, VA Runner.  She wanted me to go with her and truthfully, I wanted to make sure they didn't sell her a pair of Newtons to start. The gentleman that worked with my mother was SPECTACULAR!!!  He did everything that I wanted him to do and she decided on a pair of Mizuno Wave Riders and she LOVES them.    She has two weeks to try them out and return them to the shop if she doesn't like them. I am so proud of my momma, she is running every other day and is so happy.  I hope she keeps it up and we get to run together in Myrtle Beach!!!

Anyone training with their mom or run a race with their adult mother?

Here's my giveaway.... don't forget to enter!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Energybits review and giveaway

Energybits.... strange but GOOD!!! I recently contacted the company after hearing some buzz in the running world about these small green things.  The company graciously sent me a sample and I got to try them out.  I opened the package and was surprised to what I saw.  I had read about them and how they were 100% algae and 60% protein but was not prepared for this.  

Here's a little product info:

"100% algae 60% protein & ONLY ONE CALORIE each! Healthy little snack and natural source of ENERGY to supercharge you, leaving you mentally and physically stimulated for any activity!"

Mission

We started our company because we want you to have an easier, faster way to be healthy and energized. We also want to make the world a better place. So we decided what ever we did had to be completely natural, good for both you and the environment, high protein, low calories, fun and stylish! After four years, we finally found the answer. Algae. 

Description

Want more energy, more mental vitality, or a healthy high protein snack you can grab on the go? How about a quick way to boost your athletic performance, supercharge your run or crank up your endurance while working or working out? If so, ENERGYbits® are for you. Made from 100% organicallly grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, ENERGYbits® algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) all for just one calorie per tab. Endorsed by the United Nations as the most nutritious food on earth, spirulina algae has been a favorite of Olympic gold medalists for decades and is a super food in every sense of the word, delivering instant and enduring energy to your brain and body.

Check them out at energybits on the web or on Facebook at energybits.  

Now onto my experience with it.  I have been having dead leg days around here.  I decided I would try them before my mid-week run and took around 20 "food bits" as they are called. I took them with water because truthfully I don't think I want to have all that algae stuck between m teeth while I'm running around!!

I took them about 15 minutes prior to my run.  I felt good, legs were not dead.  I have tried the "food bits before Insanity and have made it through the workout with little fatigue. They seem to work.  I have a few left and am going to try again before my long run.  I am always VERY hesitant of what I put in my stomach before runs as I have a sensitive stomach and don't want to ruin my longs!!

So here's the part everyone has been waiting for..... the giveaway.  Energybits will be sending one of you lucky folks some of these precious "food bits"  Follow the rafflecopter and good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Running plans and upcoming review and giveaway!!

MIA again, back again and trying to do a couple of posts this week including an Energybits giveaway!!
This week was a busy one even though there was no gymnastics or sports class AND I backed off running a little this week.  Some weeks, especially when you're not  in a training plan these weeks can happen. I think I did 15 miles this week, 7 being my long which felt pretty good.  This week I am starting to do mock weeks for my training plan which kicks in the second week of July.

Here's this weeks schedule:
Monday: 3 miles/ abs/arms
Tuesday- 3 miles/ Insanity
Wednesday- abs/arms
Thursday- 8 miles (long)
Friday- 3 miles/ abs/arms
Saturday- REST
Sunday- 3 miles/ Insanity

I'm going to start out without speed work and then incorporate that when the training plan begins as I HATE speed work!!! Who am I kidding, I've never really done speed work but the thought of it makes me nervous.
Update on my mom...... she is still running.  She is disappointed because she can only run a song, walk a song.  She makes sure she is running at least 30 minutes and is trying to get adjusted to running outside in the heat!!! I'm so proud of her!!
Hope everyone had a great weekend.  Happy running this week, hope I can stick to my plans.

My awesome week so far!!

Oh what a wonderful week!!!! Last Friday I started the process of becoming a Swirlgear Ambassador and later Monday afternoon, I found out that I was now part of this amazing team of women that get to rock out some of the best looking running apparel that I've seen in a long time. The concept of Swirlgear started in 2006 when their founder, Lacie Whyte,  was running Grandma's Marathon. She was having a hard race and started looking around at the women's running apparel and decided that there had to be something better out there, better option for running apparel. Swirlgear was born at that moment. She uses moisture-wicking fabric, flattering cuts and spray-dyed colors that inspired its name. In 2012, Whyte decided to take on a partner  to expand the brand and bring it to where it currently is now. A new line is coming out this fall and I personally love the items that are offered. Check them out at Swirlgear.  If you see something you like, like I did, enter code 915 at checkout for free shipping.

The next FABULOUS piece of news that I got was from Girls Gone Sporty. I was accepted into their Ambassador program Tuesday.  Here's a little about the group that I am so happily a part of now!!

Girls Gone Sporty, LLC

Helping you “Live the Sporty Life!”

The “sporty life” is more than just fitness and nutrition, it’s an attitude that’s focused on embracing fun and adventure. The sporty woman says, “I can do anything I put my mind to, I just need the resources to do it.” That’s where Girls Gone Sporty comes in.

Girls Gone Sporty is dedicated to sharing the top products, trends and ideas for advancing the fit and adventurous lifestyle. We know that sporty women work hard, play hard, compete and eat, all with the intention of being their best, most positive selves. Our commitment is to provide positive, informative and encouraging content that’s based on science and experience.

We know that healthy living is contagious and that healthy living is about more than weight loss. We encourage women everywhere to embrace whole health and an attitude of adventure – body, mind, spirit and lifestyle – right where they are now. As such, we’re committed to creating a community of encouragement through social media and our own forum.

Check them out at Girls Gone Sporty.  I look forward to meeting all the amazing women in the group!!! 

**** The most absolute fabulous part of my week is from my family. I got a call from my mom this past week that she ran for 35 minutes straight on her treadmill.  She was so happy and excited that she could DO IT!! I've been trying to get her to run a 5K with me for years now and I think she has gotten the bug.  She has run two more times since our initial conversation and loves it. She ran outside and was a little disappointed that it was more difficult the treadmill.  A friend of mine and I are running the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon in October and they have a 5K option the day before the half. I told my mother I would run it with her, probably ruining my chances of PRing the half but I would rather encourage my 50-something mother to run and get healthy than PR a race!!

Training this week has been far from extraordinary  I've been mentally and physically preparing myself for the monster training plan I am going to use for the Myrtle Beach Mini. I have been running ow mileage (staying right around 18/mpw) and doing Insanity in the evening with my hubby, hoping the cross training will help with the IT band issues I had after my marathon.  

Anyone doing or done the Insanity program? What are my chances of PRing (sub 1:50)my half after running a 5K the day before?  Let me know how I'm doing, I love feedback, good and bad!!