I get Knockaround, but I get up again...

"Disclaimer: I received A pair of Knockaround Premium Sport 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? It's Ben and I'm back talking about the new Knockaround Premium Sport shades I've been trying out for the last month or so. I've reviewed Knockaround before and I really like the stuff they are putting out. Great quality, great designs, and a great prices. Notice I didn't say good, yeah theses are better than good.

The big difference between the Premium and the Sport are the rubber pieces on the nose to help hold them in place. The regular Premiums worked well, but the Sports really stayed in place.

rubber on the nose


The frames are super light and fit my head well, so if your head is shaped like mine they will fit really nice. Side vision is good and the lenses are rated UV400 and polarized. I've worn the premium and the Fast Lanes, and the premium are definitely my favorite frame style, it's a very classic frame.


I'm not sure what else I can say that I haven't already, so if  you would like to read one of my older posts go for it.

My Fast Lanes  review or my Premium  review.

If your wondering what happened to my old Knockaround's ask my family, they "borrowed" them. You can use BIBRAVEKNOCKS3 for 20% off your order for a little while longer (like the beginning of October) to get a pair for yourself.


As always, thanks for reading and give me a follow on social Insta, Twitter, Youtube, or IGTV

Turtle Power, or the lobster ate my hands

"Disclaimer: I received Turtle Gloves Turtle Flip Mitt 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!"

The fun has arrived!

What's up everyone? Ben here with my review of the Turtle Gloves Flip Mitt. I was able to test these at the perfect time, in Winter when it was cold and rainy. Normally in Winter I run with either just gloves or tucking my hands in my shirt sleeves since they have thumb-holes. I really enjoyed this product and the colorway they sent me should be called the Lobster.

Great for cleaning cars!

In a turtle shell we have a flip top mitten that will turn into a finger-less glove, one step further and you can stick your thumb out the side. And if you go a little more they become arm sleeves. The materials are a soft fleece that felt good on my hands and face and didn't snag on anything. You will need to stick out a finger or thumb to use a touchscreen with these but with the flip top that's pretty easy to do.

Mitt and arm sleeve

I tried these out in 30 degree down to the teens and never felt cold and they extend up your wrists so that area will get covered unlike gloves that stop short. I think anything warmer and a fleece glove may be too much for me.

After a few miles into my run I would get hot and it's a simple flip to open up the gloves and let in some air. This puts the soft fleece side on the back of your hand, perfect for wiping sweat or snot (the first 2 S's of winter) off your face. I did run in the rain with them, they will get wet but not heavy as you would expect. The mitts do a good job wicking off moisture. I was able to run in the snow and sleet (2 more S's) and never felt it on my hands.

As arm warmers, they did a good job, just twist them so the thumb-hole is on the inside of the elbow. Or try it on the backside of your elbow. It may fit better.

Best fact about Turtle Gloves? They are made in the USA in Michigan. I know it gets cold up there so I trust them to make something that would keep you warm!

You can check out Turtle Gloves HERE and use code TurtleBibRave for 15% off your order for a limited time.

Also give them a follow on Twitter and Insta @turtlegloves they post some funny stuff.

Give me a follow on Twitter and Insta @bwachter70 and check out Run Bigfoot Run on IGTV and Youtube for reviews and other things I do.


So lace up and get out,

Ben

Find out if Zwift is right for you.

"Disclaimer: I received a Zwift RunPod 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!"

It's a pod!

What's up everybody, Ben here with a review of the Zwift RunPod and app. This will be a different kind of review as the pod I received had problems and I could never actually get it to work. So I will put up some links to  other BibRave Pros that were able to get the pod working.

@blackbeanqueen review

The RunPod is small and lightweight so you will barely notice it. It attaches to your shoe via a twist on piece that goes under your laces. When you lock it in you will hear a 'click' so it's locked in. It doesn't matter what shoe you put it on, either will work. My first mistake was to connect to my phones Bluetooth, when you want to connect to the app itself, just make sure your Bluetooth is on when you start the app.

@pktirish review

I see you RunPod!

Once you click 'OK' you will go to another screen where you will calibrate the pod to Zwift. Here's where my second problem occurred.  Although the app could see the pod it would not register that I was moving when I tried to calibrate it.

Okay, so maybe it was the device I was using. I tried my phone, which is a Galaxy 8, an iPod, my wife's Samsung Tablet and my laptop. For the laptop I also tried using the Zwift Companion app, but to no avail. Several of my fellow Pro's gave me tips and suggestions, like trying a new battery, and going to a different Wi-Fi network but I could not get the Pod to calibrate.

@azsungoddess review

Me getting warmed up.


I am currently working with Zwift to see what went wrong and why my RunPod was unable to register me running on the treadmill. As you can see, the other Pro's that tested the app and Pod didn't have problems, but I feel this was a good opportunity to try and work with a company to solve a problem.

If you want to try out Zwift yourself go HERE to download the software and purchase a Run Pod if needed. I know a lot of people that use Zwift especially during the Winter when they cannot get outside to make the Dreadmill bearable. Hopefully, with Zwift I can get this working and join you on a run.


Until next time,
Lace up and get out there!

Ben

You can follow me on Twitter and Insta @bwachter70
Check out my YouTube Channel Run Bigfoot Run
Or join me on Strava or Athlinks Ben Wachter

Chafe Free, it's the Only Way to Be

So I'm a sweaty person when I run. During the summer I go shirtless and my shoes are usually soaked by the end of it. It's gross but it's the way it is. I have used a stick anti-chafe solution before and it never worked that well. You know the scream you let out when the shower water hits your chafe.

"Disclaimer: I received pjuractive 2Skin 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!"

Bottle 

So 2skin is a gel. It comes in a bottles or moistened towelettes. I have the towels in my gear bag for racecations so I haven't used them yet. I was also sent a travel sized bottle that will come in handy.

2skin is colorless and odorless, so if you get into a battle of wits best stick with the iocane powder.

I've used this with three different pairs of shorts and have had no issues with stains or discoloring so we're good there. After applying just wash with soap and water and your good to go. When I first received 2skin I was in my car and put some on my hands. 

DON'T DO THAT!

It's slick.

As far as runs, I have tested on runs from 7 miles to 18 miles and in various temps, from freezing to 60+.

2skin has held up and I have not needed to reapply during my run. I'm not sure how I would apply more during a run, but where there's a will there's a way.

At the most just a squirt in my hand is sufficient enough to provide coverage to the places that tend to chafe but your needs may differ.

So I have to give 2skin a big 2 thumbs up, this is a great product and I look forward to a chaff free summer this year, and many years to come.

Lace up and get out....

Ben

If you want to check out the website, click here

Last 5k and The Big Announcement!

So this weekend was huge! Not only was it my first and last 5k of the year, but I also had 2 reveals I made over on Twitter and Instagram Sunday and Monday.

 First the race. This was the local Toys for Tots 5k which I have ran for the last 5 or 6 years so it's my streak race. Over 600 people came out and filled a van several times with toys for the Marines to give out as part of Toys for Tots. Since the entry was a toy there were no shirts or medals but the directors do give out ribbons for age group awards. The course is a lollipop out and back with a hill coming back around mile 3. This is also a goal race for several local Girls on the Run groups so there were plenty of reasons to stay after and cheer.
 It was a 5k so I don't have a lot of details but I finished 2nd in age group and beat my course PR by about a minute, so I finished the year strong. I plan on having a year in review after Christmas and talk about some goals I will carry over to 2018.

The other bit of news that I already posted on Instagram and Twitter is that I was accepted as a Bib Rave Pro and a Nuun Ambassador. I consider this a huge privilege and look forward to sharing the experience with everyone.
 As another bonus I will have a page for race discounts up this week and sharing product discounts with everyone as well.


Until next time, keep the laces tight

Ben

Buff Pack Run Hat

 So I recently won a new Buff Pack Run Hat and figured the least I could do is write up a 30 mile review.

  First thoughts are the hat is super light. The fabric and bill felt really flimsy when its in your hand , but once you put it on the bill stiffens and forms to your head. The sides of the hat are vented to let the heat escape so this is not something to wear when it's cold out. The back is open and adjustable with a pull cord that surprised me and stayed in place. I'm used to running hats with a Velcro or snap adjustment but the simple elastic pull cord works well.
 
   The bill seems short but does a good job of keeping rain out of your eyes and pulling the sweat away from your brow as well. I've ran twice with a head lamp on and it will sit comfortably and not bounce around.



So far, I've put 30 miles on the hat, sweated quite a bit and it doesn't stink. I wish I could say the same for my running shirts, most of which didn't make it through the summer.

All in all, another great Buff product and I am very pleased with it.

Maybe I'm Just Half (Marathon) Crazy

  So Saturday the 17th I woke up at 2 a.m. and drove three hours to run a half marathon. I was the 2:15 pacer for the Race 131 half in Roanoke , VA and it was a lot of fun. The drive really wasn't that bad but I don't think I would do it again, not driving to run, the getting up at 2 a.m. part.

  In the past I never was a fan of half marathons. They just kind of felt off, and I was too busy signing up for 10 and 5 k's to bother with them. This was half number four.

  Race 131 always put on a great race. They are fun low key events and perfect for beginners and advanced runners alike. Good aid stations, well marked courses, and a fun after party all make for a good environment. The out and back course followed the Roanoke River along the Greenway and had a hill at mile 5 and 9.

  I completed right on time and cheered the runners I was pacing that had fallen off due to the hill and then headed home. About an hour into my drive I realized my legs were not as beat up as they are after a full marathon. I felt great and in fact felt like I could make it a double day. I decided at that time to stop running marathons. I am pacing the Richmond Marathon this year and it will probably be my last. My last 2 fulls were rather hard on me and if I can go out and put in a good effort at the half and feel good after then it's a good decision for me.

  Plus my wife likes that I will not be spending half of my Saturdays on long runs training for a full.

  So go ahead call me half crazy. I don't mind.

Couple of updates: I'm not running the Marine Corps Marathon in the fall but I will be running the Crawling Crab Half and Hershey Half, so there will be plenty to talk about with those and training.

Allow myself to introduce myself

Welcome to Run, Bigfoot, Run. My attempt to get my thoughts and experiences out about running and whatever else comes up. I thought this would be a good time to introduce me so you're not wondering who this random guy is.

 My name is Ben and I live in Central Virginia. I've been running going on six years now and have tried everything from a 5k up to 50k. Like others I thought running was stupid and pointless but after my first 5k I was hooked with improving and making myself better. The weight loss didn't hurt either.

 I decided on the name Run, Bigfoot, Run as I wear a size 14 shoe and always have a shaggy beard. It actually looks nice for once in the photo above. 

My favorite distance is the marathon even though I have ran more 5k's, but that's probably true of most runners after awhile. I enjoy the pace and seeing what's around when doing a marathon. This year I have 3 marathons, maybe 2 half's, and several 5k's so I will have a lot to talk about, but first up is entering the Marine Corps Marathon lottery and running the Monument Ave 10k. 

I figured entering the lottery and tracking my training if I get in would be a good series of blog posts so we shall see.

Until next time,

Ben

You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @bwachter70