NUUN: A review

Three of our Sole Sisters were given the chance to review NUUN!

Rebecca:

I gave my Tri-Berry Nuun a test drive on a 7-mile long run. I almost always bring along some sort of nutrition for long runs in addition to my water.  The tube of Nuun just fit in my Amphipod handheld water bottle pouch along with my key, so that was convenient, especially if it were to be a longer run when I’d need additional tabs for extra hydration/nutrition. The bottle indicates one tab per 16 oz. of water; however, I thought a full tab tasted fine in my 12 oz. bottle. The tabs do have an indented line down the middle that makes it easy to break in half if a full tab is too much for your size water bottle or you want to share with a running buddy.

I added the tab to my water bottle at the halfway point in my run…easy and convenient; working a lot like Alka-seltzer, and it was ready to drink quickly.  I liked the idea that it gave me a little extra boost and some tasty hydration for only 6 calories compared to the nutrition I often take. Honestly though, I don’t love the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners and it made me a little burp-y during the last half of my run because of the slight carbonation. I did feel good after my run. It didn’t bother my stomach after my run like many other products I’ve consumed on long runs.

Angela:
I've always been fond of water for hydrating, but I thought, "what if I could MORE out of my water?" So I tried a sample of Citrus Fruit Nuun.
The first time I tried it was after a cool evening run. The best thing about it is it comes in tablet form--no packets to rip open and spill! I dropped a tablet in my Nalgene and "plop plop fizz fizz..." 2 minutes later, I had my fizzy water. I don't run far so I don't carry water with me. When I get home, I hydrate like crazy, so naturally I chugged the whole 16oz. The taste was great, however the fizz didn't really sit well with my tummy. I was burping like crazy and actually had some mild reflux.
The next tablet I tried BEFORE my run. Again, nice taste, but I still wasn't too keen on the fizz. Did a lot of burping while running, which wasn't pleasant.
Third time's a charm, right? Hydration while running! I went for a bit of a longer run (which for me is about 3 miles) so I brought a bottle of Nuun with me. I found out fizzy water does not taste great while running.
I even offered it to my kids because lately they've been drinking less water (something I take full responsibility for since I serve their meals), but they decided the fizz wasn't for them either.
I don't doubt that Nuun is great at helping a body hydrate. "Nuun’s special formulation of electrolytes helps increase the amount of water that’s absorbed into the blood stream." Since I don't drink liquids as often as I should (somehow I can't find the time to sit down with a glass of water or milk or anything unless I'm having a meal) I think Nuun would actually be good for me. Just not while I'm exercising! The price is pretty reasonable for a hydration product as well.

Lora:
I love it in the evening with some fruit while watching a show. It has the right amount of bubbly and not too much flavor. (I don't like super flavorful juice drinks, sometimes I water mine down. If you like a burst of flavor, you'd probably want to use less water. I would buy it for the winter during cold season and the summer to stay hydrated in the heat. I wouldn’t want to drink it while running, but I enjoyed it almost any other time. I will definitely purchase this for myself again.

To see a list of products and nutritional information, visit NUUN's Website

Signing up for 2013

I'm signed up for two runs next year already!  Does taking advantage of early registration discounts for races that are 6 months to a year away make me a cheapskate or a dedicated runner?  I am looking forward to the Warrior Dash in June '13 as well as my first 10k (as well as it being my first destination race...Omaha doesn't count!) next August!

I'm a weenie when it comes to cold, so I've been taking advantage of our Y membership lately.  This means running on a treadmill, but this time around I'm careful with my speed so I can save my knees.  The first time I tried the Couch to 5k workout, my knees gave out on me and I quit running for 6 months.  Now I know my limits--run slow and easy.  I would rather run a good solid 2 miles in the time I have available to me while the kids are child watch than kill myself to go faster and farther.

I started running back in June, but I had my first "wow, I might be a runner" moment last Monday when I was run run running in place on the treadmill and it felt so good that I almost forgot to pick up my son from swim lessons!  I really wanted so badly to keep going and see how far my legs could take me.

Finally found the time to finish Train Like a Mother by Dimity and Sarah of Another Mother Runner fame.  I loved how personal it was and that they included quotes from other Mother Runners.  And their training plans sound excellent!  Easy to follow and very doable!  I've copied the 5k and 10k ones and stuck them next to my bed so I can remember what I'm training for.

Once a week...and proud of it!

I have gotten in this bad habit of running only once a week.  It's not something I'm particularly proud of, as I have still been eating like I'm running 2 or 3 times a week.  Part of the time it has been due to other obligations.  Part of the time it's due to a child who refuses to go to sleep.  And the rest of the time it's because I'm more comfortable sitting on the couch reading a book.

I fully intended to go for a run this weekend.  We went to visit my in-laws and Grandma has this (wonderful!) way of adding 10 lbs to my frame every visit.  My thought was that I would bring my running gear and counteract the extra dessert she lovingly encourages me to spoon into my bowl!  Of course it didn't happen.  I took a nap instead.

Tonight, when we got home and the kids were refusing sleep and I was losing my everloving mind, my fantastic husband stopped working, came up behind me and said gently, "go for a run."

So I did.

And I'm very proud to say that I ran the whole two miles and it felt good.

I was tempted to stop about halfway when I could see my uphill climb coming up in the distance, but then I passed my Sole Sister Meghan's house.  And I remembered her post from last week about owning it.  It didn't matter if I walked for a while, because that was ok.  But what also didn't matter was that I could run slowly and that's ok!  If that's what my body needs to do to keep going, then so be it.  I'm no less of a runner.  I'm shouldn't look down on myself if I need to slow down to keep going.

I finished my 2 miles at an 11:45 min/mi pace.  But I finished it running.

And I couldn't be more proud of myself.

Night Time Running

 My husband came home from a meeting last night and said "It's beautiful out, you should go for a run!"  So of course I did!  And man, was it gorgeous.  It was the best run I'd had in a while.  I only went 2.11 miles at with an average pace of 11.10min/mi, but it felt good.  I haven't felt good running lately so to have a run like this was important to me.  I did have to stop and walk up a hill but other than that, I ran the whole time with a fairly consistent pace (thanks RunKeeper for showing my pace/elevation throughout the course!), which I am very proud of.  Plus, I got to try out my new running shirt!  I picked up a Brooks Versatile long-sleeved running shirt at REI when we were in Colorado and have been dying to try it out.  I LOVE it!  It kept me warm without making me feel warm, and it has awesome moisture-wicking action.  It's also very lightweight material.  I would highly recommend it!

Now I just need to hit up Road ID and get a bracelet and some reflective gear or a light so I feel even more comfortable and safe on my night runs!  I never feel nervous when I'm out running by myself at night, but with all the concern I have been receiving from friends and family and after reading some of the testimonials on the site, I think I should probably take some precautions.

I also followed in fellow Sole Sister Jenni's lead and went for a bike ride/walk/run with my 5 1/2 year old son tonight!  It was great!  He has been so hesitant to ride his bike for whatever reason, so when I offered to run with him and he took me up on it, I was overjoyed.  It didn't take him long to get excited about his ride, however my 2 1/2 year old daughter insisted on going with us on her plastic bike.  I can't wait to see my route on RunKeeper because I was running back and forth between my fast son and my slow daughter.  The first part of our excursion ended with me running after my son (who was careening down a slope whooping excitedly) while carrying my daughter (who was cackling with laughter) and her plastic bike.

After dropping her off at home with Dad, my son and I headed to the bike path through our park.  It was a pretty quick pace because his comfort level on the bike skyrocketed the second he realized he is actually good at biking. ("Maybe I could do this as a job, Mom!")  I had a hard time keeping up--I got a nasty case of shin splints halfway through his ride.  I haven't had shin splints in a long time; was it because I was stopping and starting so much on the first part of my run?

How do I get past the insanity?

I need to get back into a routine of running but I'm finding it hard to do so when my children don't cooperate.  Finding a balance between being a full-time mom, a part-time accountant, and my own person has not been easy.  Struggling with a 5 year old who is fed up with Kindergarten and a 2 year old who is asserting her independence in ways I cannot cope with has put stress on me that I haven't found a way to alleviate.

I was hoping getting back into a routine would counter my stress, but it's the "getting back into a routine" that I haven't been able to do.  Part of the problem is that my 2 year old is refusing to go anywhere, get dressed, have her diaper changed, etc.  When I try to force her to go, she screams and cries until she throws up, and by the time I get everyone and everything cleaned up, the last thing I want to do is go anywhere.  I'm scared to take her to the Y because even if we make it there, my assumption is that she will freak out until she vomits and then I'll have to retrieve her and go back home anyway.

I know I could run at night.  I know I should run at night when my husband is home with the kids.  But after a day of fighting, I don't want to do anything.  I feel like the Queen of Excuses when it comes to running these days and I need to get out of my rut.  I tried running at the lake yesterday, but running in sand is really not as fun as it looks in the movies and magazines.

How does one balance being a Mother and Runner?  For me the term Mother Runner seems counter intuitive right now.  What should I do?  What can I do?

I'll go for a run.  Wish me luck...

**EDIT**  1.64 mi at 11:12min/mi pace

A New Running Experience

I am not a runner. I've never been a runner.  I'm not sure I'll ever be a runner at this point.  But my goal is to get to the point where I actually enjoy running because everyone I know who likes running seems to have this zen attitude and I could really use some zen in my life.  Currently, I run because I want my legs to stay toned and I want to keep eating dessert. Are those good reasons?  My current motto is: "I may come in last but at least I'm doing it!"

I am loving this Sole Sisters group, though!  I am amazed at how much farther I can go when I am running with someone!  So when I got a chance to visit a friend in Colorado (who is a "real" runner), I took her up on her offer to run with me.

Ignoring the fact that I had biked approximately 6 miles that morning, (with a tag-along, no less!) Julie and I set out for a late run in the beautiful Colorado night air under a waning full moon.  Sounds pleasant, right?  Well it turned out to be less so when I started running up a hill.  Ladies, 24 hrs is not enough time to acclimate to a different altitude! I was huffing and puffing before I even went half a mile.  Again, though, running with a friend made it all better--talking while running ate up the distance.  Unfortunately, I made her turn around shortly after a mile.  A 2 mile run at about a 12 mile pace.  Not my best, but "at least I'm doing it!"

I also learned that running shoes are not the best shoes for hiking.  Or at least not my current pair, which are Adidas ClimaCool shoes.  For running, they are fantastic--the name says it all.  They are lightweight and breathable, so I don't feel like I'm clomping around when I run and my feet stay dry during my runs.  Also, they fit my flat feet well because they don't have much in the way of arch support.

Looking forward to cooler Fall weather so I don't have to wait until 10pm to run!  Of course it will start getting dark sooner.  What do you wear to run at night to stay safe?  Recommend some running wear/safety gear!