Giveaway - Half Marathon Entry

Since moving to Portland a year ago, we've been exploring new routes and new places to run. We discovered Pink Buffalo Racing a few months ago and love the races they put on. They've got one in a vineyard, a holiday themed run and their newest race - Monkey Face Half Marathon. You run in the shadow of the Monkey Face rock. It's got lots of support and is capped at 500 racers so you won't have to weave around runners. 

Want to win an entry into this race?  We are giving away an entry. To enter, leave a comment below telling us your favorite race destination.

Details:

When: Sunday, August 24, 9am start

Where: Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, OR

Register here

Dear Kate's Ultimate Thong for Every Runner Mom

By Jessica Green

The Hazel Sport Thong by Dear Kate is the ultimate thong for every runner mom (and every lady runner for that matter!).  Dear Kate is a company specializing in “a new kind of underwear with a built-in breathable liner that protects like a pantiliner.”  What I found is that not only is it breathable and protective against minor postnatal drips, but it’s extremely comfortable, fashionable and holds up on long runs. Other sport thongs end up soaking wet, bunched up, saggy and barely staying on after 10+ mile run. Not my Hazel Sport Thong!

After giving birth to a baby girl in August, I spent a lot of time making sure incontinence was not going to be an issue for me when I was ready to return to the world of running. Despite my efforts, five months after giving birth there’s still the occasional minor drip during a walk break or as I get more fatigued on the longer runs or if I forget to use the restroom before I start my run. Although it’s not a major issue, I didn’t love the way my sport thongs were holding up throughout all of this. Then a pair of Dear Kates arrived in my underwear drawer – the Hazel Sport Thong in black with green lining (see below) – and I am a new person!

 

I fell for my Hazels as soon I opened up the box and the card said “Hey, Gorgeous” fell out.  Everyone loves to be called gorgeous especially when about to try on a thong.

Next up was the material. When I took the thong out of the box, it felt super soft, but a little thicker than you might imagine a sport undie feeling. After a single wear, I realized the thickness was a benefit rather than a negative. Somehow Dear Kate managed to make it breathable yet protective – and comfortable! The material really does “wick” away moisture enough to hold up on long runs and leave those drips unnoticed by me or anyone else.

The fit is true to size and extremely comfortable as well as flattering. They are the kind of undies you want to prance around in before you put on your running tights and after you take them off.  The girl in the ad online actually makes sense! 

The cost of a pair of Hazel Sports is $32, which might be more than you are used to paying for your underwear, but let me tell you that every penny is worth it.  To help get your Dear Kate collection started (because it’s impossible to have just one!), Dear Kate is offering 25% off your first order until February 9th with the code “hotbird” at dearkates.com.

 

Designer Whey Review & GIVEAWAY

by Meghan Reynolds

*Disclaimer: Designer Whey provided these products to me. I was not compensated for this review, expect for my time. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm a huge fan of Designer Whey products. I use their Protein Powder and Protein2Go packs all the time (great tasting and convenient). I recently had the opportunitity to try out their new product - Sustained Energy Protein Powder. DW sent me the Vanilla Bean and the Chocolate Velvet flavors to try.

Over the course of about 8 days, I used their Sustained Energy Product (instead of their Protein Powder) in a variety of ways: morning smoothies, afternoon smoothies, post run pancakes and on-the-go protein drink.

The Sustained Energy formula provides more endurance and sustained energy because of the proprietary Endurance Blend™, a combo of "fast absorbing whey protein and slower absorbing soy and casein proteins, giving you a steady supply of essential amino acids while helping you control hunger with fiber" (via http://designerwhey.com/products/powders/sustained-energy/). One scoop of either flavor provides 16 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 19 essential vitamins and minerals and is only 100 calories.

6 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 19 Essential Vitamins & Minerals - See more at: http://designerwhey.com/products/powders/sustained-energy/#sthash.aPwaOJBB.dpuf

6 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 19 Essential Vitamins & Minerals - See more at: http://designerwhey.com/products/powders/sustained-energy/#sthash.aPwaOJBB.dpuf

Whey is pure so your body quickly absorbs it for maximum post-workout recovery and nutrition. • Whey is a “complete” lean protein with the right balance of amino acids and protein to help your immune system. - See more at: http://designerwhey.com/about-us/whey-benefits/#sthash.qykFznvv.dpuf

Want to try Designer Whey Sustained Energy?
The good folks at Designer Whey are giving me 6 cannisters of the Sustained Energy protein. That means, 6 of you will win!  This is open to US residents only and the winners can choose to try out vanilla or chocolate.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! And, yes, I'll check. (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count.) So, here's what to do:

• Follow us on Pinterest, or let us know that you already do 
• Pin the image from this post to share the giveaway on Pinterest
• Follow us on Twitter, or let us know that you already do
• Tweet about the giveaway: "Enter to win FREE Designer Whey product from @hotbirdrunning: http://bit.ly/17t8EKq"
• Follow us on Instagram, or let us know that you already do

FRS Review and Giveaway

by Meghan Reynolds

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of FRS.

My first experience with FRS was a few years ago after a hot, hot, hot run in Chicago. The race finished on the beach, there was no shade and we were spent. FRS was a vendor and their drinks were like a mirage – cold and surprisingly tasty.  I think I had about 3 – one might have been used as an ice pack to just cool my face!

About a month ago, FRS asked me to review a few of their products - Healthy Energy beverages, chews and powered drink mix. And, added bonus, giveaway their (??) on our blog. Since I’m training in Florida (hot, humid, hot) for the month and knowing how their drink saved me in Chicago, I said yes.

FRS sent me 6 Healthy Energy Drinks. I used the drinks after workouts (hot, humid and sweaty runs) and in the afternoons as a pick-me-up. I brought the orange powder with me on a trip- I love easy access powders when I’m traveling that I can just drop into a water bottle, shake and drink. I made the mistake of drinking one of the drinks when it was only somewhat cold – big mistake! These drinks need to be ice cold (kinda like coconut water in my opinion). My stomach was upset after drinking it. When it’s cold, I loved it.

FRS produces a full line of products, including ready-to-drink beverages, chews, powdered drink mix and concentrate. Their products deliver energy and immune system support. It’s made with vitamins, green tea extracts and the antioxidant Quercetin, which is found in the skins of blueberries, red apples and grapes. What’s cool about this product is that is was originally developed by a team of health scientists for chemotherapy patients.  The main ingredient, Quercetin, has been demonstrated, in multiple clinical trials, to provide sustained energy, increased endurance, and immune system support.  FRS products are available at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and FRS.com.

What I think is great:

-The ready-to-drink Healthy Energy drinks – great variety of flavors and little aftertaste.

-Flavor variety – there’s a bunch of different flavors and I liked them all.

-Easy access – shake, open and drink or pour!

-Sustained energy – no crashing 20-60 minutes after drinking.

What I think could be improved:

-The orange powder – the aftertaste wasn’t my cup of tea.

-The color -it’s neon yellow, which kinda freaks me out so I didn’t look at it!

-The soft chews – Overall, the taste was okay – a little chalky for my liking though. I’m not a fan of a lot of chews or gels in general because my stomach doesn’t handle them very well. 

GIVEAWAY

Ready to try FRS? If the answer is YES, go here for a coupon: http://www.frs.com/coupon

And, enter our giveaway for a FRS trial pack worth $30. Open to US residents only. To enter, visit http://frs.com, check out their products and leave a comment telling us which product you would like to try. We'll pick a winner on Friday, June 28 at 9am EST. Good luck!

Giveaway - Free Month to Barre3 Online Classes

We love being outside - running, biking, working out or doing yoga in the park. We create our gym in our local parks - using dog free lawns, benches and stairs. This is great if you know your area and park (the dog free lawn is key!) but what to do if you are traveling, short on time and still want to get your strength work in? We found Barre3, based out of Portland. Their online classes are one of our go-to workouts when the weather is bad, we are traveling or short on time and just want someone to tell us what to do!

We've been using their online classes since February. (You can read our review here.) Their workouts combine ballet, yoga and Pilates principles so you length and tone. They update their classes regularly and offer classes that range from 10-60 minutes with different focuses: total body, core, lower body, upper body, and pre-natal. It's only $15/month - much less than other products out there and the instructors are very knowledgeable. They offer modifications and show different levels. (As a disclaimer, we've taken just about every barre class you can image in NYC)

Barre3 was kind enough to give us a free month to giveaway to one of our lucky readers. See below for ways to enter. We'll pick a winner on Monday, June 10th at 9am EST and notify you via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Disclaimer: Barre3 is giving us the free month to raffle off. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Giveaway - Free Spartan Race Entry

If you know me (Meghan) and Jessica, you know that we are pretty much up for any type of fitness class or activity: Kanga class at Crunch? Check! Trapeze Class? Check! Spartan Race in the middle of Times Square? Check! I got to experience the Spartan Race on a mini scale a few months ago in Times Square, of all places! I climbed under barbed wire in mud, over obstacles, manuevered the monkey bars, climbed the rope, hauled tires and finished with a smile. What I loved about my mini experience was the atmosphere and the people. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was extremely supportive, nice and happy to be there. I was on a high when I finished and couldn't wait to find a park to practice my monkey bar skills!

The Spartan team contacted us and asked if we'd be willing to share our experiences and, this is the best part - giveaway a free entry into ANY Spartan Race in the continental US. See below to enter. We'll pick a winner on Wed, June 5th at 9am EST.

Spartan Race is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life. Their events are all about challenging today’s perception of normal.

Spartan Race now introduces a level for everyone beginning with the entry level Spartan Sprint, intermediate level Super Spartan, the advanced Spartan Beast, and the ‘99.9% need not apply’ extreme level Death Race. Whatever your level, Spartan Race will test your strength, stamina, and sense of humor.

If you aren't a winner, you can still save a bit of money with a 15% off code: http://bit.ly/spartanwarrior Happy training!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Spartan Race provided the free entry; opinions are our own.