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Zipfizz Energy Drink Giveaway and Thoughts on Caffeine for Endurance Sport Performance

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Baby, it’s hot out here! Another week of blazing hot temperatures is expected in Texas, so it was such a sweet surprise to open my mail box to find a sampler-pack of Zippfizz Energy Drink Mix waiting to quench my thirst. I’ve gulped my way through a variety of electrolyte replacement and energy drinks, so my interest was piqued by this product that touts itself as the ‘only healthy energy drink-mix powder in a tube.’

If I was an early-bird, I would have finished my workout in cooler conditions. But instead, I procrastinated and set off mid-day for a 6 mile round-trip run up the gym combined with a workout of 5 sets of 1k row, 10 wall ball, 10 ring toes-to-bar and 10 burpees. I mixed up some of the Orange Soda variety (they also offer berry, citrus, grape and pink lemonade) into the recommended 16 to 20 ounces of water and drank 8-ounces before I took off.

It did fizz, it did taste pretty darn good, although maybe a little too sweet-strong.  Since I prefer a lighter taste, I filled up the remainder of my bottle with water, effectively making it half-strength. Perfect, and now I can drink twice as much! My workout was awesome and I made it back home through the heat; don’t know if it was just an “on” day for me or the afternoon energy and caffeine pick-me-up courtesy of Zipfizz.

Those who know me are aware of my fondness for caffeine, it’s really my only vice.  Since I don’t drink coffee, I’m always looking for a way to get perked up in the morning. Plus, I’ve studied how caffeine can improve athletic performance in endurance events. Caffeine can aids the endurance athlete by convincing the body to decrease glycogen utilization by tapping into fat as a fuel source much earlier than it normally would. This means that glycogen, the human machine’s primary fuel source, spared in the beginning of a race becomes available for use during the later stages. In plain language, it means you can exercise longer until complete exhaustion.   Some studies also say that caffeine consumption can reduce ‘perceived effort,’ making the workload seem subjectively easier.

If you are really serious about using caffeine as an endurance performance aid, you really need to talk to your physician and research the methods carefully. There is much discussion as to how much and when to take in caffeine as well as other issues including developing a tolerance or suffering a negative side effect. And, the negative side effects are not without concern; some researchers suggest that too much caffeine can trigger a heart attack.  Basically, there’s a research study that supports every opinion. However, most middle-of-argument doctors today would advise endurance athletes to limit themselves to 200mg of caffeine on the morning of a race.  For comparative purposes, 200 mg of caffeine would be ingested in 2 regular-sized, regular-strength cups of coffee, or 1/4 of a tall Starbucks, or 4 cokes or 2 full servings of Zipfizz.

Now you may be wondering what else is in Zipfizz Energy Drink Mix besides 100mg of caffeine? The company reports that each little tube (1 serving) contains 9 vitamins (including C,E, all the Bs and folate), 8 minerals (potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium, manganese, chromium, sodium) Amino Acids (arginine and taurine), antioxidents (green tea extract, vitamins C and E) and the ‘Four Gs’ (grape seed extract, ginger, green tea and ginseng). Additionally, Zipfizz contains no sugar and is sweetened with Xylitol and Sucralose. Xylitol is a naturally occurring, low-calorie sugar substitute found in berries, fruits and birch bark. The average person actually produces 6-10 grams a day of Xylitol, a by-product of sugar metabolism.

To wrap it up, I must admit that I do like the product; it tastes good and delivers the moderate amount of caffeine I prefer. However, my suggestion to Zipfizz would be to develop some new, exotic flavors to keep my taste buds interested. Also, even though it’s cute, I’m not totally loving the packaging, it seems a little eco-unaware. However, I am happy to repurpose my tubes and fill them with pain-reliever tablets, bobby pins, and other teeny-tiny things I keep in my gym bag.

I’m having a giveaway so that one lucky reader can try out every flavor of ZipFizz in a handy BPA-Free, refillable water bottle.  Just follow the rules below.

Zipfizz Energy Drink Giveaway:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One winner will receive five (5) single-serving tubes of Zipfizz Energy Drink Mix and branded, 22-ounce, BPA-Free water bottle. (ARV $14.99)

Entry Period: July 19, 2012 through July 31, 2012

Entry Methods (6 different ways):

  • Like ZipFizz on Facebook and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘liked’.  (1x entry)
  • Like The Fit Fork on Facebook  and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘liked’.  (1x entry)
  • Follow @zipfizzcorp on Twitter and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘followed’. (1x entry)
  • Follow @thefitfork on Twitter and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘followed’. (1x entry)
  • Subscribe to email list found on right sidebar of The Fit Fork where it says ‘enter your email address’ – don’t forget to confirm subscription email that comes via Feedburner. Post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘subscribed’. (1x entry)
  • Post to ‘replies’ below with a favorite Zipfizz flavor or a Zipfizz flavor suggestion. (1x entry)

 Open to U.S. and Canadian entrants, 18 years or older. Void where prohibited by law. This Giveaway is brought to you by The Fit Fork and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. For complete giveaway rules please click HERE. 

Running with Women’s Intuition – Altra Zero-Drop Shoe Review

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Altra Intuition zero-drop running shoe

I finally got to take my new Altra Intuition running shoes out for a sweet tempo run today. The only thing that would have made the experience better is if I didn’t wait until noon and 90+ degree temperatures.  First, thanks to Altra and Woman’s Running Magazine for hooking me up with these awesome “zero-drop” shoes, I’ve been eager to try them since I read that they were named “Best 2012 Debut” by Runner’s World and “Editor’s Pick – Most Innovative” by Competitor Magazine.  The big hype on this shoe is the “zero-drop” from heel to toe and female-centric construction — not just a “shrink it and pink it” strategy some shoe companies force on us ladies.

You’d have to be under a rock not to know about the barefoot / minimal running revolution that’s been discussed to death. You know, wearing absolutely no shoes or shoes with a “minimal” construction instead of thick heeled clunkers. The point is that a runner’s biomechanics  can be reverted to the preferred natural gait where the mid-foot strikes the ground first, etcetera, and so on.  Just check out Pose Running  for more on this technique.  I had the opportunity to be coached by Dr. Romanov himself a couple years ago.

Since then, I’ve worn quite a few brands of minimal shoes and had success with many (and fewer injuries) except for that one paper-thin pair (not going to mention the name here, but you can message me) that fell apart after 60 miles!  However, I have to admit, I miss some of the cushioning on long runs that most of these minimal shoes lack.  What I love about these Altra Inutitions is that they have a fully-cushioned mid-foot area yet are still surprisingly light (8.1 oz) with zero-drop from heel to toe. Based on my run today, I bet my feet wouldn’t feel beat up in the least after a marathon.   Plus, the roomy toe-box is perfect for gals with wider feet, bunions or both.

Altra warns that the Intuition model runs ½ size too small, but I found that not to be the case (at least with my feet) – so I had to deal with a dreaded return.  But, the customer-service department was very friendly and apparently has a “no questions asked” 30-day guarantee on “worn, unworn and defective” purchases – free shipping and returns too! BTW, the web site says the Intuitions are $99 retail, not bad. Really, my only negative on these shoes is that they aren’t the “coolest” looking shoes in town, but I’d much rather have happy feet, so who cares!

Say Goodbye to ‘Rank Stank’ with ShowerPill Athletic Body Wipes- A Giveaway!

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Athletic wipes that prevent eliminate germs, keep you fresh on the go.

A portable way to stay fresh and kill harmful germs on skin.

Hello, this is the mother in me speaking – I’m concerned about your personal hygiene. Whether you feel sticky, stinky or are worried about dangerous bacteria lurking in public places, ShowerPill is the perfect product for you. ShowerPill isn’t a “pill” at all, but instead an athletic body wipe designed to keep you fresh and clean while on-the go. These good-sized, thick 9×8 inch premium moistened antibacterial body wipes have the versatility to kill germs found on the dirtiest, smelliest wrestler yet are gentle enough for us more delicate ladies. The alcohol-free, moisturizing formula is proven to kill more than 99.99% of germs – the nasty Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) or Escherichia Coli (E Coli) don’t stand a chance.

It was hot and humid today in Austin, so I decided that a ShowerPill post-race wipe down was in order after my morning 5k – we had to leave to go straight to a lunch event. I was impressed with how soft and thick the wipe was (way more plush than a baby wipe) and it left me feeling clean without any overly-perfumed or sticky residue.  Now, I am in no way advocating the use of ShowerPill athletic wipes as a long-term solution to showering (but oh how my 9 year-old son would love that), but it does offer a quick, convenient fix for the ripe runner, sweaty cyclist or grossed-out gym goer.  You could also use these toss-away towels to freshen up after a long plane ride or a day at the beach.

Each box of ShowerPill has 10 individually-wrapped wipes that can be proactively stashed in a purse, gym bag, suitcase, desk drawer or wherever! For you lucky, lucky readers I am offering two times the ShowerPill fun — a giveaway with two winners and a special discount code that can be used for 10 % off your entire purchase of ShowerPill via Amazon.com (click through below and enter claim code RUNNERS2  — offer valid until May, 17, 2012 )

Giveaway:

Two winners will receive one 10-pack box each of ShowerPill Athletic Body Wipes (ARV $12.50 each)

Entry Period: May 5, 2012 through May 20, 2012

Entry Methods (6 different ways): 

  1. Like ShowerPill on Facebook and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘liked’.  (1x entry)
  2. Like The Fit Fork on Facebook  and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘liked’.  (1x entry)
  3. Follow @showerpill on Twitter and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘followed’. (1x entry)
  4. Follow @thefitfork on Twitter and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘followed’. (1x entry)
  5. Subscribe to email list found on right sidebar of The Fit Fork where it says ‘enter your email address’ – don’t forget to confirm subscription email that comes via Feedburner. Post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘subscribed’. (1x entry)
  6. Post to ‘replies’ below with which sport or activity you’d use ShowerPill after. (1x entry)

 Open to U.S. and Canadian entrants, 18 years or older. Void where prohibited by law. This Giveaway is brought to you by The Fit Fork and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. For complete giveaway rules please click HERE. 

Boston Marathon and 26.2 Brew

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It was blazing hot at the 2012 Boston Marathon, temperatures reaching 88 degrees and no cloud cover in sight on April 16th race day.  But, one thing that kept me running toward the finish of this sweltering, semi-sadistic event was the reward of a tour at Samuel Adams® Brewery.  I had signed up for a ‘go and see’ of this popular craft beer maker and gosh-golly-darn-it, I wasn’t going to be late for the party.

Found out that Samuel Adams, brewer and patriot, really doesn’t have anything to do with the brand other than the company, founded in 1985, thought he captured the spirit of the flagship Boston Lager® beer. Another factoid, it turns out this little brewery is more of a research and development post, making only about 1-percent of the company’s beer – the remainder is produced in Cincinnati, OH and Breinigsville, PA.

In the tasting room, I got to partake in quite a bit of beer sampling including Boston Lager®, Summer Ale, and Boston 26.2 Brew, a ‘seasonal’ recipe. I really enjoyed the Boston 26.2 Brew, a special draft-only edition made to be served at official race events and at restaurants and bars along the race course. A real bummer, none of it was planned for bottling, so we couldn’t take any home – maybe they’ll change that next year!

After the tour, we considered heading to the pub straight across the street from the historic Granary Burying Ground, the final resting place of many famous colonial Americans. From the pub window you can actually see headstones and the joke is you can enjoy a cold Sam Adams beer . . . over a cold Sam Adams. Instead we walked over to Doyle’s Café, the first place to ever carry Sam Adams on tap, to enjoy a little more of the 26.2 brew . . . and much-earned pizza!

A Sweet, Smoothie-licious Giveaway!

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Happy spring! Spring has symbolically been considered a time of renewal, so it’s definitely time to kick off the birth of this blog (and the start of smoothie season) with a sweet, sweet giveaway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delight as the making of your morning, post-workout or bedtime snack smoothie becomes even easier than ever imagined. One lucky winner will get to frappe frozen concoctions with the help of a Hamilton Beach Classic Blender and 2 coupons for make-at-home smoothie kits from Jamba Juice. Just imagine how awesome this stainless-steel blending bad-boy will look sitting atop your kitchen counter top!  We’ve gone even more bananas — four runners-up will also each receive 2 coupons for free Jamba Juice smoothie kits for flavorful, fat-free fun at home.  Read below for all the skinny on entering and good luck!

Giveaway:

  • One (1) person receives a Hamilton Beach Classic 12-speed Stainless Steel Blender model #52277 (ARV $60) and 2 coupons for free Jamba Juice smoothie kits (ARV $6.58).
  • Four (4) runners-up receive 2 coupons for free Jamba Juice smoothie kits (ARV $6.58).

Entry Dates:  March 20 – April 20, 2012, midnight.

Entry Methods: 

  1. Like The Fit Fork on Facebook  and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘liked’.  (Mandatory 1x entry)
  2. Follow @thefitfork on Twitter and post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘followed’. (Optional 1x entry)
  3. Subscribe to email list found on right sidebar of The Fit Fork where it says ‘enter your email address’ – don’t forget to confirm subscription email that comes via Feedburner. Post separately in ‘leave reply’ below that you ‘subscribed’. (Optional 1x entry)
  4. Post to ‘replies’ below with your favorite smoothie ingredient. (Optional daily entry
Note: Facebook ‘likes,’ Twitter ‘follows’ and email subscriptions will be cross-checked.
Giveaway open to U.S. entrants, 18 years or older. Void where prohibited by law. This Giveaway is brought to you by The Fit Fork and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. For complete giveaway rules please click HERE.