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Bad Poses and Iron Girl Power Bar Review

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“Oh hey, I can stand up straighter than you and rock my awesome tan lines. Jealous much?”

4 Miles in 31:59 [7:59 per mile]

8:21
8:05
8:05
7:27

Thoughts on the run

  1. Oucchhhhh kneee!
  2. My legs are really heavy today.
  3. I feel like I am a snail or maybe a turtle.
  4. There’s no way I’m going very fast.
  5. Where did all these cars come from?
  6. This intersection is never this crowded.
  7. Seriously!! I have to wait for the next light? UGH
  8. Guess I’ll take this time to stretch out.
  9. Hey buddy, you’re such a fast dog. See ya tomorrow!
  10. And this is the point where my toe starts to hurt. Wonderful.
  11. Just kidding, I see you again!! We’ll race again tomorrow I’m sure.
  12. Wow and the intersection is still busy. Missed that light again.
  13. I’m going to eat my new Iron Girl power bar after this!

[source]

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[source]

I bought two of these bars with this nice buy one get one free coupon. They are delicious. I got two of the Cocoa Crunch because well, I don’t really like fruit flavored bars.

They kind of tasted like cocoa krispies in a bar form. Like those cereal bars. I’m kind of sad I only have one left, because I want to eat it, but I don’t want to lose it hahah!

Q: Have you tried these bars?

Q: What’s your favorite bar? I love Clif Kids Z Bars and Luna Bars as well as their protein bar. Now I can add these Iron Girl bars to my list!

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Pearl Izumi Top You’ll Want to Own

The wonderful Outside PR (seriously they are wonderful) sent me some wonderful gifts including this Pearl Izumi Fly Top shirt. I decided to try it out because it was a bit nippy out this morning. Talk about 48 degrees. So a sports bra just wouldn’t cut it. Therefore, perfect opportunity for me to wear this shirt!!

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Things I love:

  1. This shirt material is so soft, I want to live in it forever. I want blankets and pillows made of this material!
  2. So lightweight! I didn’t even feel like I was wearing a shirt!
  3. Very breathable. Like I said, my body didn’t notice this shirt but it kept me warm and not too hot!
  4. Great with sweat. I am a heavy sweater, yes even in 48 degree weather, but it just wicked it away! I didn’t have that “ew my sweat is making my shirt stick to me” feeling. In fact I didn’t even notice I was sweating because there weren’t signs of it!
  5. The sleeves are wonderful because they are just long enough to be considered sleeves but short enough to “almost” be a tank top. If that makes sense!

Overall I LOVED This shirt. I want to wear it forever.

Here’s some information from Pearl Izumi’s website about the shirt

The Women’s Fly Top features our innovative In-R-Cool® fabric technology that cools the body for optimal comfort.

  • P.R.O. Transfer fabric provides optimal moisture transfer with a superior hand feel
  • Flatlock seams
  • Reflective elements for low-light visibility
  • Sublimated graphics
  • P.R.O. Transfer fabric with In-R-Cool® provides optimal skin cooling when you perspire

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I also love the back and how it scoops down. Some shirts are odd length especially running shirts but this is perfect because it scoops so the sides are shorter and it goes a bit longer in the front and back which is so nice because it doesn’t bounce around!

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So onto the run!

3 Miles in 24:19 [8:06 per mile]

8:20
8:06
7:52

thoughts on the run

  1. Man my legs are sore
  2. It’s so gorgeous out here
  3. I’m going to take this nice and easy today
  4. I really need a new running playlist. I’m sick of these songs.
  5. Was that honking necessary? Do I know that person? Oh well, I don’t care.
  6. I can’t wait to get more Nike Tempo Shorts today!

Yeah unfortunately I didn’t have many awesome thoughts today.

But on a high note, I got FIVE new pairs of Nike Tempo Shorts!! So exciting!! Open-mouthed smile 

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Q: What are your favorite songs at the moment? –I need some suggestions.

Q: What is your must have running item?

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Review & Giveaway: Three Sisters Cereal + Oatmeal

While I was home over winter break I went shopping at Whole Foods of course. While there I saw Three Sisters Cereal for under $2 a bag! I have been reading about their products and threw Marshmallow Oaties into the cart with excitement.

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[image from website]
Three Sisters products are only sold at Whole Foods. Sad smile
I ate the whole bag and didn’t want it to end. Because I attend college 2 hours away from the nearest Whole Foods, I emailed them asking if they would be so kind to send some products for review.
Not only did they send products for review but they sent coupons for a giveaway!

 

Review

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I really don’t have much to say besides the cereal is my absolute favorite. The Honey Oaties are better than Cheerios and the Marshmallow Oaties are better than Lucky Charms. This is a huge plus because these cereals are much better for you and environmentally friendly too. My favorite part is the price tag. They are extremely affordable!

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I’m not a huge oatmeal fan but my boyfriend Alex is. I tried the Brown Sugar and Maple oatmeal and thought it was really good and had a good texture and taste. He tried the Cinnamon & Apples and absolutely loved it! He said it was amazing and we need to get more of it.

My favorite part of the oatmeal is the pouch! You tear the top off and empty the oatmeal into your bowl, then fill it up with water. Instead of measuring water out, the pouch is pre measured for the water. How convenient!
Other flavors available:

Cereal
  • Sweet Wheat (want to try!!)
  • Cinnamon Sweets (want to try!!)
  • Graham Crackerz
  • Honey Puffs

Oatmeal

  • Plain Grain
  • Dark Chocolate (want to try!!!)

Giveaway


Win Free Cereal for a Month!

Better known as: 4 coupons for free Any Three Sisters All-Natural Cereal
 
All you have to do is:
Comment: What’s your favorite cereal?
 
It’s as simple as that!
 
No need to have a blog or be a follower.
 

You can gain extra entries by sharing this giveaway:

 

3 easy ways to enter, and you definitely should if you haven’t tried this cereal!


 

Giveaway will end: Saturday, February 12th, a week from today.

***Although Three Sisters provided the prize(s) for this giveaway they are not sponsors, endorsers or affiliated with the giveaway.

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Review: Wendy’s Natural Cut Fries with Sea Salt

**As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received two $10 giftcards to try Wendy’s new Natural Cut Fries with sea salt

This post is a bit late because it slipped my mind. Apologies to everyone. I took Alex and Brent to Wendy’s and we all tried the new Wendy’s Natural Cut Fries with Sea Salt. We went two different times and here’s why.

Our first time was a disaster. It was late and I guess the fries had just been sitting out and were overcooked/burnt, therefore we had an awful experience and thought the fries were awful.

Second time we went and decided to give them another shot because there’s no way they were that awful.

Glad we went again because the fries were pretty good. I wouldn’t say they were the best fries ever and neither would Alex or Brent, but they weren’t awful. I wasn’t a fan of Wendy’s fries to begin with so I can’t really judge which is better the new ones or the old ones.

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So you should probably give them a try yourself and see how you like them!

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Brent modeled for us. Open-mouthed smile 

Q: What are your favorite fries and from where?

Q: Have you tried these fries yet, what did you think?

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New Shoes, New Shoes, I need New Shoes.

snacks

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Clif Z bar with some gatorade to fuel for my long run.

I bought this little pitcher for 2 dollars instead of buying a water bottle to keep my gatorade in to drink out of.

Savvy Shopper. hah

run

Long run.

7 Miles in 59:00 [8:25 per mile]

splits:
8:31
8:47
8:33
8:26
8:35
8:21
7:48

This run was miserable because I need new shoes. I switched to some of my old asics that still have some miles left on them, but because I overpronate and need support shoes, the neutral shoe that I have just did not work. My ankles hurt so bad as did the balls of my feet and eventually both my whole legs.

My new shoes are basically just chillin’ somewhere because the rep hasn’t sent them? It’s all confusing and everyone is frustrated, but coach is going to try to find me some temporary shoes hopefully.

breakfast2

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Put two pieces of cheese on my hashbrowns then they had omelettes today! Woot! I got mine with turkey, ham and cheese.

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Coach got jealous of the bracelet I made Jenny. Remember?

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So he wanted one made with royal blue and orange. Of course I made him one.

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You can also take this one off and on :)

If anyone is interested in one, maybe I could make some extra pocket change haha! Let me know :)

snacks

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My dad makes his own trail mix out of various things. He made me some to take home last week.

It’s basically been my main form of snackage during the day!

review

I won a giveaway of FitSok’s and oh my goodness they are amazing.

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They are thick and extremely soft and comfortable. I have worn the two pair I got almost every day last week during my runs.

Definitely check into getting a pair, you won’t be disappointed. They have become my favorite socks for sure.

Then I was contacted my Soleo Organics to try their sunscreen.

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I put this baby on for our drill/core set because that is at 3:30pm and it’s usually really sunny and hot.

Of course it decided to rain and when it says on the packet “very water resistant” it truly means it.

I got into the car after and I had rain drops still formed on my arms and legs until I wiped them off about 10 minutes later.

The only thing I wasn’t much of a fan of was the smell. But other than that it definitely was nice!

 

todolist

* nutrition homework
* make 3 bracelets
* Watch Video Music Awards!
* log my diet for nutrition class
* Watch Hellcats and see if it is any good

 

Other important news: my first collegiate 5k race is this Saturday! I’ll definitely fill you all in about it!

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Busy Bee and Bad Cheesecake Factory Experience

Man I have been so busy! So this is going to be a quick post because I have a TON to do because I leave Wednesday first thing in the morning for school!

Yesterday I spent a few hours organizing and packing various items and getting things gathered.

Alex came over and we got unpictured sno cones

We both got small “swamp monsters” – cherry, green apple and blue raspberry

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Then we went to Cheesecake Factory which was actually an awful experience.

Alex has never been to the Cheesecake Factory, so we decided to go for a late lunch to celebrate our anniversary from the day before.

We get seated and our waitress tells us “I’ll be your waitress for the first half of your meal, or however far we get along”

We ordered and our waitress told us she’d go grab us some bread.

At least 20 minutes pass and we still haven’t gotten our bread or even seen our waitress. Mind you we were eating a late lunch at 3:30 and were hungry for bread.

We then see her pass and look at our table 3 times and we still don’t have bread. She finally comes and brings us bread and says “your meal will be out in a few minutes”

The bread was not even near warm and felt colder than room temperature. We were very disappointed.

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Our meal is brought out by someone other than our waitress.

I got the special of Tomato Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta.

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It was really good! Our main courses were the only good part of our experience.

Our glasses were empty of water and finally got filled by a different waitress.

So obviously by this time we figure our waitress is gone. But nope! She returns to fill up Alex’s glass of water and because we had no idea when we’d see her again we got my meal boxed up and the check before she disappeared.

ugh, definitely had awful service and won’t be going back anytime soon.

So Alex’s first experience to the Cheesecake Factory was a bad one.

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Afterwards we bolted to Build A Bear because it took so long for our meal and we had plans to run at 5pm.

Alex and I built a Tiger and we named it Mo!

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run

Then it was time for one of the worst runs of the summer.

Run: 5 Miles in 41:50 [8:22 per mile]

basically the whole run I was getting cramps from my food and burping it up. Wonderful. Once I turned around to come back 2.5 it was awful. The wind was so strong I barely felt I was moving. :(

dinner2

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Beefy 5 Layer Burrito from Taco Bell!

Alex and I both got one to eat on our way to bowling.

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We bowled 3 games!!

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I only got pictures of the first and third game.

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Poor Jenny bowled a 131 the second game but I didn’t get a picture of it!! :(

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Girls!!

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intense concentration!

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Alex!!

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Crazy bowling!!

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Regular bowling!!

 

Now that is it because I got home around 11:45 and passed out in bed.

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Erios Ristorante and Phiten Necklace Review

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Alex and I LOVE italian food. So when my birthday was getting closer, I started to think about where I wanted to go. I used the UrbanSpoon app on my phone to find some italian places nearby that I’ve never heard of before or know about. You know, some mom and pop shops!

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So I came across Erio’s Ristorante!! Read the reviews and thought it was the place I wanted to go.

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(picture from website)

Let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

 

Right when we get there we are seated and only two other groups of people are dining. (we ate a bit early at around 5)

erios inside

(picture from website)

It’s a very small restaurant but those are the best!

We ordered:

cheesy garlic bread
toasted ravioli
Alex ordered the cannelloni
I of course ordered the tortellini

I didn’t take many pictures of the meal because since it wasn’t very busy, I didn’t want to look odd haha.

The ravioli was handmade and delicious! probably some of the best I’ve had. The cheesy garlic bread was good but not as good as some that I have had!

Alex really liked his cannelloni and the tortellini was so good! The sauce was thick but not so rich and heavy. Very delicious and makes my top 3 list of tortellini so far!

The staff was pleasant and they always ALWAYS had our cups filled with water. We never had to ask for anything and they even asked to refill our bread multiple times!

I would love to go back when I am back in town for awhile.

 

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I’ve gotten some questions about the Phiten necklace I received for my birthday.

Alex got it for me because he ordered his over a month ago and really likes it so he got me one as well.

I wanted one once I saw Kara rockin’ it and read her interview over at Phiten explaining her favorite Phiten products.

Kara and Paula Radcliff have been wearing phiten products for years.

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Apparently Paula introduced them to Kara. So of course I had to check it out for myself!!

You can read the article on Kara and Phiten products here

Taken from Phiten’s website here is some information on the technology behind Phiten

“Phiten products work with your body’s energy system, helping to regulate and balance the flow of energy throughout your body. Proper energy balance helps to alleviate discomfort, speed recovery, and counteract fatigue. Athletes find that they tire less easily and recover faster from intense physical activity. Further benefits of Phiten’s exclusive technology are more relaxed muscles leading to less stress and a greater range of motion that can be of great benefit to an athlete or anyone in any walk of life. At Phiten we are proud of our products and proud to increase the health and well being of the people that believe in our products.”

So I’ve been wearing mine and really like it, but I’d love to try some of their other products! Especially the bracelets and socks.

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You can also find Phiten necklaces on Amazon and the tribal one I wear I have in my amazon shop here!

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Phiten Titanium Tribal x30 Necklaces – White – 18″
From phiten

Price:
$31.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

  Buy now

 

 

 

You can get the tribal one for 31.95 in the amazon shop instead of the 35.00 on Phiten’s website.

Definitely a product to check out!!

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GoLite Gear 93 days of Giveaways!

Sounds like you guys really liked the Alex Goot cover of “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz I posted. Told you it was gooooood.

 

dinner

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Today

snack

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Outfit

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hahaha give me a break, I had already ran and this was a “whoops forgot to take a picture…it’s really early and I’m tired” look.

Run

Ran with my friend Jackie from high school. She’s just getting back into running so it was a slower run but just what my legs needed after yesterdays run and my workout tomorrow.

4 miles in 34:50 @ 8:42 pace per mile

mile 1: 8:44
mile 2: 8:36
mile 3: 8:37
mile 4: 8:45

 

breakfast

I made scrambled eggs for the first time ever. I’ve never made them myself before. I added salt and pepper, and cheddar cheese! So good.

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Then of course a smoothie to go with it.

Mixed Berries
Bananas
Sunny D with calcium
Spinach

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othernewsNot sure if you guys know but GoLite Gear is having 93 days worth of giveaways! All you have to do is signup once and you are entered everyday. It’s really easy and you can win some cool gear.

You can win anything from a $700 tent to a $300 jacket to running gear and hydration systems.

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Today is day 30 I believe and they choose the daily winner and announce it on their facebook fan page here

 

Definitely something to check out if you love free stuff and easy ways to get it!

 

Reading

So I’ve been reading “The Extra Mile” by Pam Reed, an ultra runner. This book is really good and last night I was super tired but wanted to read and I read over 20 pages because it was so good I couldn’t put it down. I had to wake up early to run though so I only got 20 pages in, otherwise I would’ve kept reading!

 

Q: What books have you read that were so good you couldn’t put it down?

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Running Playlists and Running Breakdown

Q: Do you listen to music when you work out?

I was contacted by the 5 FOR SPORTS–Team about a campaign they are doing.

They are collecting 5 songs from each person that enters.

These songs are songs that motivate you to run, workout and train.

When you enter your 5 songs you are entered into a drawing to win prizes.

So not only will you get a chance to win awesome prizes but you’ll get to see other songs that motivate people when this is all said and done.

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So go check it out!! http://www.5-for-sports.com/

This website is also really cool because you can find Running Songs based on Running Speed and Musical Genre. Not only can you do that but if you have a song you really love to run to, you can enter it as your “reference song” and it’ll come up with other results like it.

I submitted my 5 songs that I’ve currently been listening to on my runs.

myplaylist

 

Speaking of 5 songs that motivate runners, my mom was reading fitness magazine and found Kara Goucher’s 5 songs that keep her “pounding the pavement”

Here they are:

1. Let’s Get It Started – Black Eyed Peas
2. Timebomb – Beck
3. Say Goodbye to Love – Kenna
4. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
5. For the Girl – The Fratellis

 

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Month Miles
January 96.84
February 111.11
March 125.25
April

77.74

May 49.28
June

86.54

July so far

69.85

 

 

As you can see March was the highest mileage because April was my half marathon. Then of course the next month of May was my time off from running to recover.

Now onto mileage for the week.

weekly running

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Playlist Monday

 

Because of my love of music and I love listening to it while working out, I’m going to start a playlist monday!

Playlist Monday is going to be a series where you enter some of your favorite songs at the moment.

This way everyone can see maybe what new songs came out that are good to workout to.

So post your favorite songs! It’s Playlist Monday!!!

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Running, Race and Giveaway

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Saturday – Day Before Race

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Did an easy 4 miles.

Then Alex and I watched Youth Revolt

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Pretty good movie, but I wouldn’t watch it again. Just one of those one time views was pretty good but not worth buying.

Sunday – 4th of July – Race Day

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Big River Running Company has a mile downhill race called the Macklind Mile.

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Race Outfit:

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Gatorade sent me the G-Series earlier in June and I wanted to save it for Race Day.

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So before my warmup I had the Prime Pre-Game Fuel.

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Alex and I agreed it kind of tasted like Liquid Orange Jello. Wasn’t awful but drinking from the pouch was kind of odd.

Warmup:

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Race:

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Wished I would’ve turned my laps onto 1/4’s and not miles. Then I could’ve got my 1/4 splits.

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Here’s my timing chart from my Garmin.

After the race I recovered with the Perform since I still had more to run.

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Of course it was good because it’s the regular gatorade :)

Cooldown/Training Run After:

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When I got back I had the Recover Drink

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Absolutely awful. I took two sips and the only way I can describe it is “taste’s like cough syrup” Alex also couldn’t even drink it and he even diluted it with some water to take out the strength of it. Still not good.

So overall impression: Wasn’t impressed and won’t be purchasing the series.

However, that was just mine and Alex’s opinion and everyone has different taste buds, so I’m giving YOU a chance for some Gatorade products that were also sent with the series!!

You can win:

One Gatorade TShirt – Size Large
One Gatorade USB stick – 512mb

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Front and Back

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How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry – Tell me what is your favorite recovery food/drink. Whether it’s after a workout or just a long day.

Add a comment for each additional entry.
Extra Entries – Become a Follower +1
Link Back to Giveaway (twitter, facebook, on your blog etc) +2
What’s your favorite gatorade flavor? + 1

There you go, 5 chances to enter!

Contest ends Sunday the 11th and winner will be chosen on Monday!

Good luck!!

Next Post Contains:
4th of July Fireworks
Daily Life etc

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