*Swooning* over Newtons

Totally digging the Newton Running site; there's so much to read.  I am in awe by the shoes.  Made for forefoot runners?  For real?  Oh goodness.  Maybe I can do better than my Brooks Adrenaline 9s. Also, the stick figure dude completely reminds me of my Uncle--not only because he runs on his toes, but he's extremely slim & fit.  I believe he actually runs in Newtons too. Maybe they modeled stick figure dude after him?  Perhaps.  Oh, and the best part?  Uncle Doug's favorite cat was named Newton, and his current cat's named Isaac.  See a pattern here?  It's a sign...

Image still from Newton Running - Run Better

When you have a chance, go check out awesome stick figure running dude.  You can make him run slower or faster. :)  Ah yes, it's the simple things that make me smile. 

I posted this back in August on twitter: @sirisaac Why Newton shoes? It would be a S.I.N. not to trust a physicist! #newtonrunning

 Does anyone get it?

Ok, enough of the swooning.  Today was a rest day off running (so tough! I want to run!)...so I lifted weights for 30 minutes instead. ;)

What a Weekend!

One word summaries (& pictures too!)

Friday:

Pasta - Carbed up for the long Saturday run with whole wheat pasta and some marinara sauce (& lots of black pepper)...still tasted like cardboard.

Bed - I actually went to sleep at 9:30 on a Friday night.  WOAH.

Saturday:

Fire - The sunrise was epic.  It looked like the Cascade mountains were on fire.  Amazing.  I took two pics while driving (I know)- one of the "fire" and the other of Mt. Rainier.

Mel - I got to the trail at the same time as Mel for the 8am 13.1 miler. She was wearing a matching blue outfit and cool patterned Bondi Band.  We rocked the mileage and our total time for this "training" half marathon was 2:02:20. G 

She didn't know I took this after the run! Sneaky me!

Freezing - Um, the temperature at my house said 45...apparently 20 miles south of me it was 34.  And I was wearing my capris, tee and vest.  No gloves, no hat, no sanity.  People thought I was a weird-o.  But, I warm up pretty quickly and I assured them by mile 2 I'd be toasty, and I was.  However, the first two miles I was moving my arms around and shaking my numbing hands kind of Phoebe-style. Nice.

Dye - Ah yes, the lovely purple Champion bra is awesome, so awesome that it left a little bit of its purple-ness on my favorite white Adidas tee (and I've washed the bra already).  Not so awesome. This post brought to you by SHOUT stain remover...

Lioness - Janna joined Mel and I on the run on Saturday and her hair is out of control funky, especially when her headband falls out.  Mel dubbed her the lioness because of her wicked "mane." :)

Janna's lioness look

Dogs - The same barking dog at a farm house (near the private water ski lake) was there and barking away again.  BUT, we saw the reason for the barking...about five or six cute little stumbling puppies were outside this time.  So cute!  No wonder!  Momma is just protecting her babes. Also, the owner of Fleet Feet (Paul) brought his canine companion with him again--a really pretty chocolate colored Doberman that runs jogs along with Paul for miles (they went 16 miles that day!). Guess what his name is?  Appropriately, it's Miles. :)

Sam - Hurray!  Sam made an appearance on this gorgeous day!  I think Mel and I guilt-tripped him a bit much for leaving us behind last week. Oh well, whatever works, huh?

What's up, Sam?

Butt - Janna has a glute injury and talked about her "butt" alot on the run.  So Mel and I decided to count how many times she said BUTT during the 13.1 miles.  Eight. And that was after she knew she was being counted. Heh heh.

Coach - One of Janna and Mel's Fleet Feet training coaches came up to us at around mile 7 making sure that their pace was on par.  Apparently we were all going too fast, and didn't realize that when the coach was around, our pace was 8:30 but should have been between 9 and 9:15. Oops. Guess we were trying to run away?

Murphy - My little "compression kitty" kept my legs warm after the long run and added that much-needed compression.  Oh, and I caught him sleeping on my Champion Fleece...he loves it too. :)

My little Champion compression cat, Murph

Epsom Salt (ok, two words) - Soaked in an epsom salt bath for twenty minutes. Good grief, I love that stuff.

Exploration - Ventured to the International District in downtown Seattle with Trav and Jeff.  Went to Uwajimaya to check out all the cool produce, noodles and meat they had.  Trav's yakisoba noodles were a wicked deal at this market.  He had to stock up. :)  I tried not to look at the roasted ducks hanging in the meat department.  I love ducks.  Sad.

Sunday:

Saints - WOW!  Awesome game!  I was rooting for the underdog Saints to win their first Super Bowl and it was impressive.

Friends - Had a great time hanging out with friends during the game.  Everyone came to our house and we enjoyed Lil Smokies, beer and chips/guac. Lunch of champions.

Calves - Holy hell, my calves are still sore from Saturday's run. Three Salonpas patches were on each leg, working their magic.

Recovery - Went for a slow 3 miles before the Super Bowl festivities began. Felt great to get outside. Ahhhh.

Sleep! - Bed at 9pm again. Weekend zapped my energy. *phew*

Product Reviews: Champion Sports Bra & Zip Fleece Jacket

Get ready for a whole lotta pics (and me in a bra, sorry).

First up: The Champion Compression Vented Sports Bra

Product Description:  "At last...a compression sports bra that plays up your prettiest curves. Its secret? Contoured front seaming, designed to flatter your figure."

• Super-sleek stretch knit helps stabilize bust to minimize painful bounce.
  (High Support: great for high-motion workouts.)
• Double Dry fabric technology wicks moisture to keep you dry.
• Breathable mesh lining allows cooling ventilation.
• Mesh-covered keyhole back adds extra cool where it counts.
• Covered elastic bottom band gives added support and comfort.
• Tag free for non-chafe softness, with stay-put racer-back straps.
• Nylon/spandex

Description found HERE.  Normally retails for $30, on sale for $19.99!

When I first tugged/shimmied/wiggled into this bra I was worried I might suffocate.  I think I might have worked up a sweat just putting the thing on!  It was beyond tight, and my girls were smooshed into submission...but hey, it's about how the bra "works" right?  The straps are very sturdy, and despite being tight, it was not chafing me anywhere.  My only gripe was that my shoulder blades felt a little constricted by the openings in the back and the material was tight.

I've actually worn this sports bra a few times and noticed right from the beginning that there was limited "bounce" (an excellent thing for sure!).  When they say High Impact, they mean it.  This bra has quickly become one of my favorites and over some time has stretched out and fits much better than at first.  And, I'll be the first to admit that when I see something is "Moisture-Wicking" I kind of think it's gimmicky, but now I'm convinced it isn't.  Let's just say that after I took this off, my skin was completely dry, but the bra was wet from my workout.  Holy cow!  It does wick sweat!

Pros:

Breathable & moisture-wicking (!)

Snug, and actually keeps the girls in place

Tagless

Excellent price for the quality

Cons:

Shoulder openings: a little small for the "swimmer's" shoulders (My suggestion below)

Not really a con, but it's pretty hilarious to try to get in/out of!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up:  Champion Double Dry Microfleece Full-Zip Jacket

Product Description:  "Warmth without weight.  This sleek women's jacket keeps you warm and dry yet never looks heavy or bulky."

• 
  
  Plush microfleece fabric feels fabulous, inside and out. (It's brushed on both sides for unbelievable softness.)
• Built-in Double Dry system wicks moisture for quick-dry comfort.
• Shapely (non-chafe) seams flatter your feminine curves.
• Non-binding mock-neck collar protects you from wind and chill.
• Bar-tacked kangaroo pockets warm hands, hold small essentials.
• Stretch binding accents hood...reinforces cuffs and hem.
• NOTE: Fashion colors have contrast insets and contrast trim.
• 100% polyester microfleece

Description found HERE. Normally retails for $38, on sale for $18.99.

I don't normally run in fleece simply because I get hot and quickly.  But for the sake of science and to see how this jacket adds up, I took it out for a spin on Tuesday night.  Oh boy, it kept me warm even though it wasn't too bad outside temp-wise (about 45 degrees).  I ended up going 6 miles at a fairly swift pace of 8:09 for the majority of the run.  Quite personally, I'm not fond of the feeling of wet fleece (reminds me of a wet blanket), and this jacket saw a fair share of perspiration.  However, it did not chafe at all and stayed put throughout the miles.  Plus, it's incredibly soft and has a cozy, neck-warming collar.  If you like to run in fleece, then it's definitely an excellent buy for a great price...use the extra money you save for race fees. ;) 

Pros:

Extremely soft

Keeps you warm

Non-binding fit

Pretty colors

Excellent price for the quality

Cons:

It's just not meant for me for running purposes (it could work for you!)

This jacket is now my go-to cover up on any day, and looks great with my jeans and sneakers. I love it for lounging, just not for running.

For more information check out http://www.championusa.com/ or become a fan of Champion on Facebook.

Many thanks to the people of Champion for providing me with this great gear. :)

**Note: All reviews are based on my own personal experience with the specific product that I was provided with.  I received these products free of charge from Champion and was not compensated for my review.**

Bring on the Next!

Round Two for the shoe search.  New Balances did not work out...in fact, they wore out. Fast. As in the tread was pretty worn after three weeks.  Nope! Sorry NB's.  Luckily Road Runner has a 60 day guarantee and I exchanged them for some sweet Asics Kayano 15s, oh wait, they didn't have my size...crap.  Alright, how about the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9s?  Ah yes.  Let's see how these pretty babies go. And they were on SALE! That meant that I had extra moolah for an awesome Mizuno top that has "Breath Thermo" technology (that I sampled at Fleet Feet's diva night with Mel and Liz).  I'll describe it later.

I think Brooks had a chat with Mother Nature and said "let's give Zoë a real NW greeting on this trial run with our shoes."  The run started off ok, a little windy, but not bad.  Then it was gusty in crazy spurts.  Then the rain started pelting me and I thanked Ron silently for the hat I was wearing.  What can I say though?  The shoes are local and they needed to be tested in the right environment. :)  And they passed!  Now, if only they can hold up for four weeks...

Post-Run---my Mizuno ad pic

By the way, I'm taking suggestions for possible marathons this year.  What's your favorite?

Also, today's funny word of the day is douche. Check out the Saturday Night Live skit about sports commentary on a Ladies' Darts tourney. Hilarious!  "When your man's in a coma from your panty aroma." OMG. I love SNL.

And the Winners Are...

Oh!  The excitement!  I can't contain it!

Thanks to Random.org

Ally - The Shabby Princess

&

Christie - Cooking to Run and Running to Cook

Congrats!  Please send me an e-mail (zoe @ runzoerun.com) with your address and I will ship the bags ASAP. :)

Thank you everyone for participating!  110 entries is no joke to me, and I appreciate everyone's interest. There will be more giveaways soon.  In the meantime, here are some giveaways from other amazing peeps:

Tricia at Endurance Isn't Only Physical - Oiselle Running Shirt, RunningSkirts.com Skirt

Mel at Tall Mom on the Run - Recovery Sock Giveaway

Teamarcia at Running Off at the Mouth - Nathan Handheld Bottle

Lauren at Adventures in Running - Bondi Band

Katye at Long Legs on the Loose - Raffle Fundraiser Giveaway

Product Review: Champion Body Balance Top

A little while back I received some products from the awesome people of Champion to try out and review.  I took this peppy lemon top out for a long 12 miler on the trail a week ago and am happy to report that it did not disappoint.

Product Description: "It's so comfortable you'll want to live in it. And so flattering you'll wear it everywhere. It's our curve-conscious women's T shirt, combining sleek style with cool performance."

• Blissfully soft fabric feels great against your skin. (It's seam-free, too, so all you feel is softness.)
• Special fabric finish wicks moisture for constant cool.
• Knit-in mesh adds ventilation exactly where you want it: under arms, along sides, at V-neck.
• A touch of knit-in stretch ensures maximum ease of movement.
• Feminine tonal pattern trims left sleeve and center back.
• Semi-fitted styling, with tag-free collar and raglan sleeves.
• Polyester/spandex

(Description for very similar, if not the same, product found HERE.  Normally retails for $34, on sale for $16.99!)

The description cannot be more accurate.  This lemony yellow (banana?) top feels like butter and has the perfect amount of stretch.  As you can see it isn't skin tight and has a little give in the midsection and arms.  The knit-in mesh was one of the first things I noticed about this top, and the fact that it has minimal seams.  No rubbing!  WIN!

However, right before I went for my run I noticed this:

See the little "nub" where the v-neck comes together?  I was worried it was going to chafe a little, so I used some BodyGlide just in case.  I don't think I ended up needing it at all though because the little nub didn't rub (hee hee).

The condition outside for the run was perfect: slightly overcast with some sprinkles, about 50 degrees, and the sun trying to make its way through the clouds.  Once I got into some mileage, I pushed up the sleeves as I normally do because I was getting warmer, and the sleeves stayed up fine.  A few times I had to tug down the bottom of the shirt because it rode up a little, but I'm putting some blame on the Nathan Hydration Belt I was wearing.  The fabric really felt fantastic and a couple of times I felt like I was not even wearing a top...it was that soft.  At the end of the run I was surprised by how cool I stayed and how quickly the top dried once I took it off.  Only one small problem with this fabric: the fuel belt rubbed it and caused a it to fray just a little.  Otherwise, this is a gem!

Pros:

Moisture-wicking

Soft "like buttah"

Nearly seamless and non-abrasive

Reflective "C" logo

Tagless

Dries quickly

Cons:

Fabric doesn't work well with abrasive fuel belts (like a swimsuit rubbed by the edge of a pool too many times)

Overall, I loved this top and plan on wearing it a lot during these colder months.  The color makes me happy and it's so soft it's not even funny.  Seriously, it's like suede.  Ahh.

For more information check out http://www.championusa.com/ or become a fan of Champion on Facebook.
Many thanks to the people of Champion for providing me with this great gear. :)

**Note: All reviews are based on my own personal experience with the specific product that I was provided with. I received these products free of charge from Champion and was not compensated for my review.**

It's Official

I'm signed up for the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle 1/2 Marathon!

Use coupon code NIRVANA2010 for $10 off the registration fee & be entered to win a drawing for a VIP Package including a 3 night stay at a premium hotel.  Sweetness.

Who else is running Seattle in June?