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

Hey Hey Rock n Roll

Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Rock n Roll VA Beach race 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 over Labor Day weekend I was in Virginia Beach running the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. This was the 19th year of the race and it was a fun race. The course starts on Pacific Ave and finishes on the boardwalk right along the beach. It also goes through Camp Pendleton and passes the Virginia Aquarium.

Of course with it being the last "un" official day of Summer the beach is crowded so lets get some tips out of the way for next year. Book your room EARLY! Places at the beach sell out fast and it's hard to find somewhere to stay.

Allow yourself plenty of time getting to the Beach. If you're coming from the North you have to go through the tunnel in Hampton and sometimes traffic can get backed up.

That being said I arrived on Saturday and went straight to the expo as it is on the main road coming into VA Beach. Parking was easy and the expo was well laid out. When you first enter you get your bib and shirt. From there you head off to the Brooks merch area.

They have my size!

They have almost anything you could need from shoes and socks, to shorts and shirts. One cool thing about the Rock n Roll Series is they make a shirt that lists everyone's names that signed up for the race.

There's my name

The rest of the expo was your usual vendors, clothes, other races in the area to sign up for. After the expo I checked into the campsite and set up my tent. After driving for 4+ hours I went kayaking in the Back Bay. Afterward I headed back to the Boardwalk for a bit of shopping and dinner. One great thing, there's no shortage of places to eat. 

Race day was clear sunny and hot. When I woke up at 5:00 it was already in the 70's and it was only getting hotter. The directors decided earlier in the Summer to move up the start time to try to beat the heat, but the Virginia Summer thought otherwise. 

The race start was well organized with corrals and pacers and of course Rock n Roll. The good thing about a race at the beach is it will be flat. When I first signed up I was planning on a PR, but once race day came up and I saw the temps, I decided finishing at least under 2 hours was a better plan. Did I blow my chance at a PR? Probably not, I think the heat would've gotten to me eventually even though I train and run 2 hours away in Richmond, VA. IT's been a hot Summer and there's always the Fall. On course they had Gatorade Endurance and water and one gel stop. 

There are some twisty and turny sections when you get on the base, but overall the course is long straights along the main roads. The police and organizers did a great job keeping the roads clear for everyone and they also had Medical staff on course on bikes for quick assistance. 

The Bling!

The finish area along the boardwalk was fun. After you cross the finish and get your medal everything is spaced out for bottled water, Gatorade Endurance and food. If you run multiple Rock n Roll event you can also get your multi race medal. After leaving the finisher corral there was a sectioned off area on the beach for racers only which was perfect. The cold Atlantic water felt great on my tired legs.

all in all I had a great time running the Rock n Roll Half. If your looking for a End of Summer race at a beach I highly recommend it.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to give me a follow on Social Media. Or check out the Rock n Roll website HERE

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So Much TRAINING Going On!

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to Rock n Roll VA Beach race as part of being a BibRave Pro. I also am training with Gatorade Endurance. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

What is up everybody? It's that time of year when our Fall half and full training plans start up, or in my case, pick up in intensity. I am running the Rock n Roll Half Marathon on September first, and using this as a benchmark race. The course is mostly flat but there is some elevation halfway through. I'm will be trying for a PR, but the humidity and heat in Virginia will make that tough during the Summer. One thing I will be doing is fueling with Gatorade Endurance during my training for the Marine Corps Marathon in October. During your training it's good to run a race around half the distance of your goal race. This gives you an idea of where you are training wise and what you can work on. Also you can use my tips below to help your training.

Fueling is important in training, both when your actually running and not. Most people say eating a pasta dinner the night before helps aka 'Carb Loading', but I find two nights before helps me more. That gives your body time to digest and process the food. The night before I go for something high in protein, and of course eat the same thing I always before before my long run.

When training it's okay to miss a run or workout. I've missed loads of runs, especially during the week. Just pick up the next day with what's on your schedule. The same goes if you cut a run short. Don't try to make it up, just keep going with your plan.

Per Gatorade Endurance recommendations during a race or training you should consume at least 30g of carbs per hour. So if you plan on running a half marathon in 2 hours, then you should consume 60g of carbs during the race. Of course, these are recommended, you may find you need more or less. As a rule I usually take fuel at the 6.5 mark, but this year I am trying to take more so I don't crash or run out of energy toward the end.

Stick around for more training post and if you want to run a Rock n Roll Series race check them out HERE.

For more information on Gatorade Endurance go HERE.

You can follow my training on Insta or Twitter @bwachter70
Also check out my YouTube and IGTV channel Run Bigfoot Run

Until, next time, lace up and get out...

Ben

Science in Sport for Your Tummy

"Disclaimer: I received SiS isotonic gels 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 to talk about race nutrition.

'But Ben, I'll just use what they have on the course and be fine.'

Um, no you will not! First off your body needs to be used to what it's taking in or you could wind up on the side of the course throwing up or with stomach cramps. One marathon I almost choked on a gel, it's not a pleasant experience. In 8 years of running I have tried, beans, chews, gels and all sorts of other nutrition but Science in Sport have done something different. They are the first gels I have used that can be taken without water.

So how exactly can you do that, you ask? The gels are Isotonic. Don't worry I had to look it up too. What this means is they are the same consistency as what's floating around in your body so you can adsorb it quickly. When you're active you burn carbs, right? SiS Isotonic gels are the same consistency which helps your body take them in quicker and is also the reason you don't need water with them.

I've been using them for about a month now and so far have enjoyed the flavor, except the espresso, it has a good coffee taste at first then gets a weird sweet taste. The lemon and mint is by far the best one I've had so far. Salted Strawberry is a close second, then the apple. I'm not a huge apple flavored fan so that's why it's third for me.

On my long runs I will use a SiS before I start and take another around 6.5 or 7 miles, which is just shy of an hour. If needed I will take another around mile 13. It's been super hot on my runs so I have been drinking water during my runs but when I use these gels I don't feel like I have to. They are that super easy to take.

I'm not sure what else I can say so you want to read some other reviews just look below. As always follow me on Twitter and Insta @bwachter70, and check me out on YouTube and IGTV Run Bigfoot Run.

Thanks for reading and if you want to try Science in Sport (even though they are partnered with Man U) use code TRYSIS25 for 25% off your order. The code is for a limited time.

Lace up and get out,

Ben

https://runbeckyrun.wordpress.com/2019/07/08/giveaway-science-in-sport-isotonic-energy-gels-six-pack/

http://themarathonlady.com/index.php/2019/07/09/science-in-sport-gel-product-review-and-giveaway/

https://bluegrassbamr.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/instagram-giveaway-time-science-in-sport-go-gel-contest-ends-july-12th

http://kookyrunner.com/science-in-sport-product-review-and-giveaway/

https://alastairvance.com/2019/07/13/science-in-sport-isotonic-gels-review-giveaway/

https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2019/07/for-gel-of-it-sis-gels-review-giveaway.html

It's Cooler in the BUFF!

"Disclaimer: I received a BUFF Coolnet UV Headband 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 is happening everyone? I'm back in the buff to talk about the Coolnet UV headband from BUFF. Actually I have on clothes so we're safe there. If you're a regular reader or follower of me on social you will know I always have a Buff on. I wear them almost every time I run, and usually when I'm not running so when I get the chance to test something from them I tend not to pass it up.

The thing that was appealing about the Coolnet headband was the cooling fabric and shorter size. Most of the Buff's I own are full sized and I have a few that I've cut in half for Summer running in the heat. The Coolnet worked well on the hot humid Summer morning I used it compared to my normal Buff. It stills wicks moisture away and keeps the sweat out of your eyes, but the cooling fabric gives it a little something extra. When a cool breeze comes along I could feel my head cooling off. This has been washed at least 4 times so far in testing and is still holding it's fit and cooling ability. Just make sure you air dry your Buff.

The fit was nice, just the right length to hold my hair back, but it felt like the headband was slipping the first couple of times I wore it. I'm used to wearing a longer Buff so that may have been part of it, but the fabric does feel slicker than a normal Buff. That may just be the Coolnet fabric. I have worn other Repreve fabric products and have not noticed that.

Buff has started using Repreve fabric for their head wear and like the tag says, the headband is made with 1 plastic bottle. The full length Buff saves 2 bottles from the landfill or oceans. I really like that Buff is using this fabric but not doubling or tripling their prices like some companies do when using reclaimed or recycled products.

This tag took a little bit of looking. The Hohenstein Institute is a Company that tests and researches fabrics. That they list the Coolnet Buff as cooling and give you the test number. Hears a link to their site to read about the cooling test. HERE

To check out Buff or pick up your own visit them HERE

As always give me a follow on Twitter or Insta @bwachter70

Gettin' Trekie with it!

"Disclaimer: I received Aftershokz Trek Airz 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 is up everybody! Ben here with my thoughts of the Trek Airz by Aftershokz. This is my second time reviewing these, so if you would like to read that review go HERE or watch my review HERE. THis time I figured I would talk about some things you can do with your Treks that you may not know.

I'm an Android phone user and I am able to take photos and video with my Treks, by talking to Google and can unlock my phone as well. Just go to settings and add your Trek as a trusted device and they will unlock your phone. For setting up the camera, you can go into your camera settings and look for shooting methods, then turn on voice control.

Did you know you can also connect 2 devices to your Trek's? This is great as I have a work phone and a personal phone. Instead of 2 phones and 2 headsets, I can just use one. Here's how it works, taken from the Aftershokz website.

To pair multiple devices through multipoint pairing:

1. Start with your headphones turned off.
2. Enter pairing mode by pressing and holding the volume+ button for 5-7 seconds, until the LED light flashes red and blue.
3. Press and hold the multifunction button and volume+ button for 2-3 seconds. Audrey says "Multipoint Enabled."
4. Pair first device. Audrey says "Connected."
5. Turn your headphones off.
6. Re-enter pairing mode by pressing and holding the volume+ button for 5-7 seconds, until the LED light flashes red and blue.
7. Pair the second device. Audrey says "Device Two Connected."
8. Turn your headphones off.

The multifunction button lets you answer calls, skip and pause music. 

The volume controls turn on the Airz, set the EQ, pair to your phone, and of course control the volume.


That about wraps up the blog for today. I hoped you enjoyed reading and be sure to check Run Bigfoot Run on IGTV or YouTube fora video review soon. 

You can follow my exploits on Twitter and Insta @bwachter70, and follow @Aftershokz to hear more from them.

Now lace up and get out there!

Ben

The Cure for the Hydration Blues

"Disclaimer: I received Ultima Replenishment 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!"

Go Ape For Grape!

What is up Everybody? Ben here and I'm back to take about running in the Summer.
Firstly it's hot.
And humid.
And sweaty.

But first a science joke. Want to hear it? Na

Lolz!

Normally I drink whatever my group is offering during our runs. We take turns with SAG stop so usually it's Gatorade or Powerade. Problem is, they bother my stomach. Maybe it's the chemicals, maybe it's the artificial sweetener or color. I'm not sure, but even cutting it with water and I can feel it. I was glad when Bib Rave offered the chance to try Ultima Replenisher.

The first thing I liked about Ultima, is they use Stevia as a sweetener instead of sugar or some chemicals. With other products you can taste the artificial sweetener in them. Secondly, they are plant based colors, not dyes with numbers. 

And what is up with the dye numbers? Are there different shades?

But you're here for the flavor, and I can say they didn't disappoint. Personal favorite is the Cherry Pomegranate. Followed closely by the Raspberry, Lemonade, Grape and then the Orange. The best is when you start to mix and match. The Raspberry Lemon is highly recommended. 

Nothing against the Orange, it's just growing up playing little league, it was either Lemon-Lime or Orange flavored sports drinks.  Gross!

Want to hear a joke about Potassium? K

Har-har!

Well anyway I'm not sure what else I c an say about Ultima. It tastes great, is not full of chemicals, and provides your body with the electrolytes it needs to preform. One cool thing was in the sample pack where they talk about how a 150 lb person can lose up to 3 pounds of fluid weight during  an hour of activity. I never realized that. I do sweat a lot, especially in the Summer, but 3 pounds is a bunch.

As always thanks for reading. If you want to check out my IGTV, or YouTube review, just search for Run Bigfoot Run. 

Give me a follow on Twitter or Insta @bwachter70

Check out Ultima HERE or follow them on all platforms @GoUltima