Can You See me Now?

"Disclaimer: I received a Brilliant Reflective Family Pack to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

What's up everybody, Ben here and I'm back with Brilliant Reflective and their new family pack to help stay safe and be seen when you're out late. Or even when you are out early. Being a 'before the sun rises' runner, I started using Brilliant Reflective in the late Winter, early Spring on my shorts and shirts to add some reflection to my clothes. Most men's clothing is either black or grey so something that will help me be seen besides my headlamp is welcome.

This time around we had the Family stick on pack. This was a precut sheet of fun shapes you could apply to almost anything. My daughter put several on her bike helmet and it really stands out now. The shapes were easy to take out and are super sticky so they have really stayed in place.

 

Not much has changed with the iron on strips. Several of my shirts have them from the Spring so I know they last, however I have one pair of shorts they will not stick to.

It's better to be seen!

Light's Out!

For some reason, my Salomon shorts and the iron on strips do not like each other. I will apply them, but they only stay of about 3 or 4 washes. I'm thinking it's the fabric as all of my other applications on different shirts and shorts are still going strong, even six months later.

This is still on from the Spring!

The iron on strips are super easy to apply. Just place them where you need them and place your iron on top for about 40 seconds. I fold a paper towel in half and put it over top, per the instructions. Super easy to use and super easy to apply. Brilliant Reflective have produced a simple product that works well and does the job it's intended for.

Here's the video I made a few weeks ago on how to apply the iron on strips.




Anyway thanks for reading and watching, and go to Brilliant Reflective to get your own! Use code BRILLIANTBR for 25% off a little while longer and BE SEEN!

You can follow me on Twitter and Insta 

All Aboard the Training Train!

So we're about 4 weeks out from Freedom's Run Marathon and training is right on schedule. I am using the FIRST training plan that has me running 3 days a week and 2 days of cross training. For cross training I'm using an elliptical, I would rather bike, but I don't have one so elliptical it is.

I just wrapped up week 12, but made my long run 18 miles instead of 15 due to missing some miles last week. The FIRST method has you running less, but the runs are at a faster pace than normal and more high intensity. Looking at week 13 I have a 6 x 1200 track workout, that's pretty intense! One thing I have adjusted is I still run with a group twice a week, so I have cut back on my pace on one of those days, and just relax.

I also have one more 20 mile run at the end of week 13, then begin to taper on the long run, but keep up the track intensity and the tempo run varies until we get to the last week, when it's just easy runs with time over distance, just to keep up your fitness.

So why did I pick this plan? I had heard a lot about it and the fact it's 3 runs a week was appealing. I've done plans that were 5 or 6 days a week and could never get the workouts in and started working harder to make them up or skipped it all together. FIRST also allows us to have adequate rest between ours runs, even though we still have cross training days in between them, it's not a daily grind of pounding the roads.
 I started using FIRST about halfway through training. I was training with a group that already ran their target race and at my fitness level it was easy to switch over to the FIRST plan to finish off my training cycle.

I'll be back in 2 weeks for some final thoughts about how my training went and if I think I'm ready for Freedom's Run or not.

Spoiler: I'm ready. I've also been posting videos about my training over on the Youtube channel. Check it out and while you're there subscribe. Here's the LINK.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Insta @bwachter70


Remember, lace up and get out there

Ben

It's a Knockaround Life!

But first....

 I received a pair of Knockaround Sunglasses to test and review as part of being a Bib Rave Pro. For more information on becoming a Pro or to read and write race reviews, go to bibrave.com.

It seems like a lot of new sunglass companies are popping up offering affordable shades. You have the hip company that gives everything a funny name and then you have someone like Knockaround. No big name sponsers, no silly names, just good shades that fit and don't break the bank. I have owned expensive sunglasses before and lost them, it wasn't pretty, so I like that someone is offering a good quality shade at a decent price.

When I first received these, I was impressed with how light they were and was kind of worried. I was thinking that they wouldn't make it a week without breaking, but here we are, a month later and still going strong. And that's with daily wear. So for lightness we're giving a 10.

Next up is the reflectivity inside the glasses. Have you ever put on glasses and seen yourself inside the lenses, or at least a reflection of what's behind you? I never really thought about it until my wife put them on and commented about how there wasn't much reflection inside the lens. I never really noticed it before and started looking at other sunglasses and she was right. So we will go with a 9 for inside lens reflection. There still is some but I don't think anything can be done about it.

So I've worn my Knockarounds for quite a lot of runs, both short track workouts and long weekend runs training for Freedom's Run Marathon and they don't move. I set them on top of my head this past weekend until the sun came up and they stayed put. When I'm out running hard, they're staying put. These definitely are made to not move around unless you're doing the moving, even the time I wore them on the trails, the shades stayed in place. So there's another 10.

 The lenses come in your choice of polarized or non-polarized and are impact resistant and UV400 so that's an easy 10.

Overall, I would give Knockaround a 10 on my score. They are super light, stay put and have a classic stylish look that I love. If you want to give them a try, just go to Knockaround.com, and you can get some of your own. Use code BibRaveKnocks20 by 9/30/18 for 20% off.

Also you can check out my video review HERE. Subscribe while you're there to keep up with my goings on.

And you can always follow me on Twitter and Insta @bwachter70. While you're at it give Knockaround a follow @Knockaround.

Thanks for reading and lace up and get out!

Ben