Category Archives: Uncategorized

Endorphin Warrior Bracelet, A Feel-Good Giveaway!

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UNBREAKABLE! Sixteen pull ups in a row, callouses to prove it!

As part of my recent boondoggle to run the Hood to Coast Relay, I was gifted with a bunch of fabulous swag by running and fitness related companies. One of the goodies that really made an impression on me was the warrior training bracelet by EndorphinWarrior.com.

I really appreciate the fact that this accessory isn’t too ‘girly’ (in fact, there’s no reason a guy wouldn’t dig one of his own) and is ready to withstand all the salty sweat I can dish up whether running, CrossFitting, paddle boarding, racing or just sitting on the porch reflecting over the day’s accomplishments. Made from natural leather, this snap-close bracelet is developing a nice patina and proving to get better and better with age. Plus, it’s so lightweight and comfy that even a girl as fussy about stuff on her wrists as me will hardly even feel that it’s there.

But the coolest thing about this bracelet is that I get to give one to you!

You could win an awesome bracelet like this!

One of you lucky readers gets to pick from a selection of positive and powerful keywords such as focus, persevere, breathe, strength, believe, courage, relentless and more for their bracelet. The selected word is engraved on a nickel-finished metal plate and serves as a reminder of what drives and defines you. I chose the word unbreakable to be a visual prompt to keep me from going to that dark, dark place in the last quarter of a race where I am filled with self-doubt and want to give up.

Need a little motivation of your own? Just enter the Endorphin Warrior Bracelet giveaway below:

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Helping You Stay Hydrated Giveaway – Nuun Electrolyte Drink Tabs & Swag

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In honor of my recent participation in the Hood to Coast Relay on a team sponsored by Nuun Hydration, I’m giving away some sweet swag to keep one lucky winner hydrated for the remainder of the summer. If you’re not familiar with Nuun, you’ve been missing out on an awesome product that features essential electrolytes, no sugars and a light, refreshing taste! Nuun is used by some of the best athletes on the planet, armies of weekend warriors and the crowds of spectators cheering us all on.

Just plop one tablet into a 16 to 20-ounce bottle of water and in about one minute you have a refreshing beverage containing the proper balance of water and electrolytes like sodium and potassium.  Each tube of Nuun is portable and the quick-dissolving tablets make it simple to hydrate on the go. Use of Nuun reduces the needless use of toss-away water bottles and the Nuun container itself is recyclable to be mindful of our beautiful Mother Earth.  Make your water count!

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Why I Love H-E-B & 2013 H-E-B Slim Down Showdown Contestant Search

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I love H-E-B grocery stores! One of the main reasons for my fondness is their solid corporate commitment to health that encourages the entire community to eat better, move more and live well.  Plus, the aisles and aisles of product make me all smiles.

Eat Better: As the mom of three boys, all with crazy sports and after-school schedules, I’ve come to depend on the H-E-B Brand Fully Fit™ line of foods (healthy meal starters, snacks, cereals, desserts and more) which are definitely more nutritionally sound and even more convenient than driving through a fast food joint. In particular, I’m a fan of the H-E-B Fully Cooked Reduced Sodium Chicken Breasts and H-E-B Fully Cooked Lean Burgers, both tasty and so easy that my kids can make their own meals.

Move More: They just don’t talk the talk; H-E-B walks the walk when it comes to encouraging exercise with both employees and the community. A team of nutritionists, health specialists and wellness coaches( like the dynamo Suzanne Parker) work together to provide a comprehensive plan to get folks up and moving around for at least 150 minutes per week. Plus, they are a huge sponsor of one of my favorite races, The Statesman Capitol 10,000, as well as a supporter of the Texas Beef Council’s group of runners, triathletes and health enthusiasts, the Beef Team.

Live Well: Who doesn’t want to live better? H-E-B knows that when you’re eating right and exercising, healthy living becomes a habit and subsequently living well falls into place. But sometimes, you need a little more help; that’s why the store offers all sorts of immunizations, health screenings and special events that focus on your comprehensive needs. The perfect example is The H-E-B Slim Down Showdown, a contest that helps participants lose weight, become more active and live healthier.  And, hurray, the 2013 contest is now taking applications!

Enter for your chance to be the next H-E-B Slim Down Showdown Participant!

H-E-B is looking for 25 people to participate in a 12-week program that will set them on the course for a healthier lifestyle. If selected, H-E-B experts will teach you about cooking, nutrition and exercise while wellness coaches will help you lose weight, become more active and live healthier. The grand prize is $10,000!

Application Period: August 1 to September 30, 2012

To enter, fill out and submit the attached application before September 30, 2012. Contestants will be announced in January 2013.

Mail (before September 30, 2012) to:
H-E-B
Attn: COMMUNITY H-E-B Slim Down Showdown Contest
646 South Main Ave.
North Building – 1st Floor
San Antonio, TX 78204

Have questions? See FAQs

No purchase necessary to enter or win. See Official Rules for details. Must be 18 or over and Texas resident to enter. Must enter by 9/30/12.

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!