HEX YES: Cleaning My Running Clothes With Hex Performance Products #GIVEAWAY

One of the important aspects that people grossly underestimate when they take up running is the attire. Not for looks, per se. But it's really important to make sure you are wearing the right type of clothing when working out. Why? Athletic wear allows for movement and helps your body to breathe. Certain materials cause sweat to "wick" up to the surface, keeping moisture off your body so you stay cool while you work out.

I run in all kind of weather. And whether it's freezing or 100 degrees, I sweat. Which is why I'm amazed by the wicking technology of athletic clothing. But I quickly learned something about this kind of workout gear: when the material wicks your sweat off your skin, it hangs out on your clothes. All of the stinky, grimy, bacteria-ridden sweat gets embedded into the fibers of your clothing. 

So you can imagine what happens next, right?

Friends: let this be a cautionary tale.

After a few months of regularly using my workout clothes, I noticed a...smell. Now I regularly washed my clothes, and never wore them for more than one run or workout at a time. But after a while, even after washing them they smelled unfresh. I didn't let it bother me much. I mean, they are workout clothes after all.

But then it got worse.

I was on a run with some of my friends bright early one hot and humid summer morning. I threw on my running clothes, making sure to wear my favorite sports bra (which we all have. You know the one - it supports you the most efficiently, neither painfully squishing your boobs or leaving them out to hang) since it was going to be a 10 mile run.

Mid-way through the run I kept coming across a gross stench. Something cheesy, maybe a little earthy. At first, I assumed it was one of my running buddies, so I let it go. But then I noticed it even when I broke away from the group in short spurts. I looked around. Was it something in the environment? I didn't notice anything, and if it was part of the landscape, it was surely following me over the miles. The sweat was starting to pour into my eyes, so I quick lifted my shirt to wipe away the drops when the stench overwhelmed me.

And I realized that the stench was me.

Or, rather, my sports bra.

My most-beloved sports bra had gone with me over many runs and still kept my chest supported. I had been so good about washing it diligently after ever run. But the sweat bacteria built up over time, wicking up the stinky moisture and trapping into the material with each run. No amount of regular washing took care of it. After a few attempts with various cleaning agents, I had to surrender the bra to the trash because it was just too far gone.

If only I'd known about HEX Performance then.

Since I learned about HEX performance products, I've been in love. HEX performance is not your ordinary laundry detergent. HEX Performance has developed the first and only system designed specifically to clean and protect today’s performance gear and apparel. 

And this is where the geek in me gets all giddy.

They broke down the science behind sweat and created the first high performance detergent with a long-lasting odor eliminating technology, all while staying gentle on fabric and skin. Even better? HEX Power+ Laundry Detergent is also free of dyes, perfumes, and optical brighteners. My skin can be sensitive sometimes, so the freedom of those additives means a lot to me.

Now that it is summer (read: HOT AS HADES), my clothes have been pretty rank. But they have been NO MATCH for HEX. I've been using the HEX Performance laundry detergent in combination with the HEX Enhance+ Performance Booster to not only clean the crap out of my clothes (literally), but to leave them smelling fresh (as well as soft without compromising their wicking ability). (Note: the Enhance+ Performance Booster is not a stand alone detergent. You use it in conjunction with the HEX Performance laundry detergent. The instructions directed me to put it where I would normally put my fabric softener, and it works like a charm!)

So, as an avid runner, I am sold. No more cautionary tales. No more throwing away unsalvageable sports bras. No more being the stinky running buddy that everyone is embarrassed for. 

Ready to give HEX a spin? Use this link to download a HEX Performance coupon for $2 off any HEX product exclusively from Wegmans!!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

The good people of HEX Performance want to give ten (10!!) of my lucky readers a coupon for a free HEX product. To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below. The giveaway will run until next Tuesday, 6/23.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and happy winning!

Learn more about HEX Products on their website, Facebook and Twitter. HEX Performance products are available at all Wegmans stores or you can purchase online here: http://hexperformance.com/shop.

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post by HEX Performance. All opinions are my own.

Neutral Running with the Mizuno #WaveRider18

Strong, supported feet are pretty essential in the world of running.

I shared about my experience running in very old shoes a few years ago (and the injuries that subsequently followed). I had just received a spot in the Philly 10-mile Broad Street Run day before my injuries, so I kept thinking the injuries would resolve itself and I'd be good to go. As the pain continued, I realized this was more than just "running aches." I took myself to an orthopedic doctor, who diagnosed a strained ligament in my left foot. The cure? No running for 8 weeks at minimum.

I was crushed.

My dreams of running Broad Street were dashed, so I gave up my ticket. Which was smart, as it ended up taking an extra 4 weeks after the initial 8 to get back on track (pun intended). 

Needless to say, I take my feet, and that which covers my feet, very seriously.

I had never considered neutral running before, as my #1 goal as a runner was to keep my feet supported. But one of my running buddies had recently bought a pair of neutral running shoes and during one of our runs we discussed the benefits. A neutral running shoe is a shoe halfway between barefoot running and a supportive running shoe. There are the benefits of cushioning but not being overly cushioned. I was always under the assumption that anything less than "supportive" would mean Injury City. But my friend explained that neutral shoes help build muscles in the feet that supportive shoes cannot. Case in point: she suffered for a while with painful plantar fascitis, and since running in her neutral shoe, she has had no symptoms.

After our talk, I decided that there might be benefit in having a neutral running shoe in my rotation. Having more than one pair of running shoes has been the advice of the owner of our local running store. Since every shoe offers different and varying support, swapping out shoes every couple runs also works different muscles, strengthening our feet and legs. 

My pick for a neutral shoe?

The Mizuno Wave Runner 18

I added this pair of neutral shoes on some of my shorter runs (3 miles or less), and I have been very surprised by the outcome. They are very comfortable, with the perfect amount of cushioning to not jolt my legs every time I pound the trail. Their U4ic midsole offers great shock absorption, which I immediately noticed on even the first run. 




I also love how light they are (30% lighter than other shoes in their category). Mizuno is known for their Wave Technology®, which provides runners with a stable ride throughout their run. The Wave Rider 18's feature the Double Fan Wave, which is offers the perfect blend of shock attenuation and flexibility. These shoes offer enough support for neutral and supportive runners alike, hitting the "sweet spot" for  a variety of runners!

Also?

They come in super cool colors.

(I know. I'm such a girl.)

Mizuno Wave Rider 18 retails at $119.99.


You can connect with Mizuno on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Are you a neutral/minimalist runner? 

What are YOUR tips for easing into this practice?

Disclosure:  I was provided a pair of the Mizuno Wave Rider 18 shoes through a campaign with FitFluential LLC and compensated for me time. All opinions in post are, as always, my own.

Tips for Running in the Summer

Spring and Fall are the seasons runners live for. The thermometer is friendly, the humidity is low and the changing landscape of flowers and leaves make for a nice distraction during an especially long jaunt. I love that I can wear shorts and a loose long-sleeved shirt or running pants with a short-sleeved shirt and be completely comfortable. Running during these seasons is invigorating.

Then Winter and Summer come along.

And it's brutal. Mother Nature brings the extremes: scorching or sub-freezing temperatures, drenching humidity or frostbite-inducing wind chills. We had a brutal Winter this past year in the Philly suburbs. The temperatures dipped to record-breaking lows, and some area schools closed due to wind-chills (and frozen pipes). We even had a crazy ice storm that put people without power for almost a week!

And yet?

And yet I ran. I ran consistently 4-5 times per week, regardless of the weather forecast. I ran on icy sidewalks. I ran in 0 degree weather. I ran even though I couldn't feel my nose or my toes. Even though it can be brutal, I can dig running in the Winter. Why? Because it's much easier to make yourself warmer than it is to make yourself cooler.

Which brings us to Summer.

I struggle with Summer. Yes, I still run in the Summer. I may not run as fast or as far (but who knows - maybe I'll challenge myself this year!). But I run. Running in the Summer is difficult for the exact reason I mentioned in the previous paragraph: it's hard to cool yourself down. It can actually be dangerous, as your body is working extra hard and the excess of sweat dehydrates you so quickly. I almost fainted during a race last Junebecause it was 90+ degrees and I hadn't hydrated properly!

Not all hope is lost, though. Runners, it is possible to run consistently in the hot Summer months. Here are a few of my tips to have a successful running season in the heat:

Proper Attire

When I first started running, I threw on whatever gym gear I had lying around. Most amounted to old cotton t-shirts and lacrosse shorts. While cotton may be a comfortable textile to wear, it does you no good while you are running. Cotton keeps moisture against the body. In the Summer, your body sweats as a reaction against the heat: it's the body's way of cooling itself down. When that same moisture is kept against the body, it works against the cooling down function. It also makes your clothes heavy and gross.

Find moisture-wicking clothing: shirt, shorts, sports bra. They even make moisture-wicking underwear. But the most important is the moisture-wicking shirt and sports bra , as that these articles of clothing are closest to some of your sweatiest areas. If you can't afford the bigger brands, I really like C9 by Champion at Target.

Time of Day

This is short, sweet and to the point: run at the coolest times of day. Afternoon (12pm-4pm) is the hottest point of the day. Humidity will feel worse and the sun is beating down on you. If you have to run during these hours, try to find a shaded route or trail. 

Otherwise, aim to run first thing in the morning (even though it stinks, I like running at 5:30am or 6am). If I can't kick my butt into gear that early, I may run after I put the kids to bed (at 7:30pm or 8pm). Dawn and dusk are cooler and humidity is lower since the sun is not overhead. Daylight works in your favor during the Summer. Take advantage of it!

Hydrate

That seems obvious, right? I've talked about hydration in previous posts, and I can't stress enough how important it is. I try to hydrate properly all year 'round: 64 ounces per day. In the Summer, though, we need to overcompensate. With heat and humidity working against you, it's so easy to become dehydrated. Often, we don't realize we are dehydrated until we're very dehydrated.


In the Summer, make sure to hit at least your minimum of 8 cups of water per day, and to hydrate before and after runs. I also hydrate with electrolytes after most runs in addition to extra water.  

Protect Your Skin

Can I confess something? I'm really bad at taking care of my skin in the sun. I tend not to burn easily (I chalk this up to my Italian heritage), so I kind of forget to put on sunscreen.

I KNOW. BAD, Steph. BAD!

Running is a harsh reminder. Since we are moving when we run, it's easy to think the sun isn't hitting you directly. Until you find, post-run, that the 30-60 minutes you spent running resulted in some unexpected sunburn (and wicked farmer's tan)!  

If you have long hair, pull it straight back in a ponytail. There is nothing worse than burning your part/scalp!  It may seem geeky, but a running hat or visor is a great way to protect your face. And above all, slather on the sunblock!

Watch Your Ankles

There are two things that affect a runner in the Summer that are not present during Winter: shorts and plants. What do I mean? In the Winter, we wear long pants to run. When the weather gets warm, we turn to shorts, which leaves our legs and ankles exposed. 

At the same time, plants that were dormant in the winter are now blossoming with life. This includes thorny plants as well as poison ivy. Some parts of my runs, on both trails and roads, are not tended to. Plants and bushes billow out into the path. If you are not alert and careful, you could be brushing against plants that leave you scratched or with a rash. Keep an eye on what your bare legs are running against!



Summer doesn't have to put an end to your running days. Persist! Face the challenges of Summer, and you may enter the Autumn a better runner!


Time for #CSHMRealTalk:

What are YOUR best tips for 

running in the Summer?

2 Must-Have iPhone Products for the Runners in the Summer

We live in a techy-world!  From computers and smart phones to earbuds and speakers, we use digital items on a daily basis. Sometimes the best gadgets are ones that help me better utilize the digital devices I already own. 

Summer brings with it a set of circumstances that require us to take better care of our devices: heat, dust  and sweat. As a runner, I work my iPhone hard. Although I try to avoid really hot runs, it's inevitable. Between the sweat and grime from holding my phone to abusing my ear phones, it's a wonder any of my tech devices survive!

I had the chance to check out two great products that are must-haves for runners during the Summer!

Neon Glow Earphones from iLuv

One of the tips I gave on my Running in the Summer post was to avoid running during peak heat hours. I try to run in the early morning or late evening on hot summer days. The sun is low on the horizon, which staves off the heat and humidity. It also means it is darker. The Neon Glow earphones from iLuv are colorful and glow-in-the-dark. The earphones offer a durable design as well as outstanding sound quality, ideal for running!

Dust-Off Fashion Collection Mobile Screen Cloth

Let's face it: running with my iPhone (even with a great DualTek case on for protection) makes my screen a filthy mess. The Fashion Collection Mobile Screen Cloths from Dust-Off are double-sided microfiber cloths are made of a durable microfiber material that cleans sensitive surfaces of dirt, grime, fingerprints, facial oils and makeup. Yes, that includes the sweat and grime from running! These screen cloths come in cute patterns and are the perfect size for your purse, briefcase or your glove compartment.

What are some products would YOU

recommend for runners in the summer?

Disclosure: I was provided these products for review, but was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are my own.