Reviews – New Stuff
I’ve gotten a lot of new stuff over the past few months, so I wanted to take the time to share some thoughts about everything.
Garmin Forerunner 10
I had been thinking about getting a Garmin eventually, but I was nowhere near ready to purchase, when the wonderful @girliea offered me her old Garmin Forerunner 10. I started using it in late August, and I use it for all my runs, for both GPS tracking and run/walk intervals.
Pros:
- Easy to see display, information is all readily available during run, including the lap time at the end of each lap
- Website interface & data collected are amazing
- Much easier to use for GPS tracking than phone because it’s always on my wrist (and doesn’t require being taken out of my belt to start/stop)
Cons:
- GPS sometimes takes a while to find location
- Beeps aren’t very loud and it took me a while to get used to hearing them
- Need to plug it into computer to sync (my Fitbit syncs via Bluetooth or dongle (which I always keep plugged into the computer), which I find much easier)
Overall Assessment: I love it! It’s not perfect, and I think there are probably better models out there, but for the time being, this really suits my needs and its working out well for me. I really love the Garmin Connect website and the information it provides. I wish I could sync it wirelessly or via Bluetooth, because it is annoying to plug it in after every run, but that’s really a pretty minor concern. I’m also really looking forward to not having to take off my gloves to start the GPS when the weather gets cold (touchscreens are not fun in the cold).
Also, I don’t know if you can make friends on the Garmin website or whatever, but if you want to add me so that you can keep track of my running (assuming it’s not private, which it might be right now, but I can probably figure out how to change that), here’s the link to my profile: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/Sarah_L_K.
Running Skirts Spirit/Kosher Skirt
Running Skirts is one of the few companies that makes running skirts that cover the knee. I bought their Runbow Spirit Athletic Skirt on sale a few weeks ago because I wanted a running-specific skirt (instead of just running in an old skirt like I usually do). I’ve been wearing it for about a month, and always wear it with either capris or leggings underneath (it has compression shorts attached).
Pros:
- Long enough to cover my knees!
- Moisture-wicking – it doesn’t get gross like my other skirts
- Even though I haven’t used them much, I like the pockets on the side
- Matches one of my shirts perfectly
Cons:
- Sometimes the shorts are uncomfortable
- The back of the skirt always feels like it’s falling down – I have to adjust it a lot
Overall Assessment: I like it. It gets the job done and even though it does feel weird sometimes, it’s great for runs of all lengths. I don’t love it, but I like it enough to buy another one on sale.
Raw Threads Hoodie
I was already a Raw Threads fan before this purchase. Cute, comfy, Disney-inspired part-bamboo (and part organic cotton) running clothes? Count me in! When they had their recent Shelf Sale 2.0, I bought hoodies for me and my sister. I’ve worn mine a few times, for long and short runs, and I generally wear it with a short-sleeve tech shirt underneath.
Pros:
- So comfy!!! I don’t want to take it off. Ever. I’ve worn it for not running too, that’s how comfortable it is.
- Like with my short-sleeve Raw Threads shirt, it definitely shows sweat, but I don’t feel sweaty when I’m wearing it.
- Adorable color (I got the blue Princess Half Marathon Training Hoodie … it was the cheapest)! And Beth’s is a super cute design (Evil Queen).
- The thumbholes are the perfect size and are really comfortable (and I’m usually not a thumbhole person).
Cons:
- I want more, but they’re too expensive to buy full price.
- The design I have is not something I can wear for anything other than training right now
Overall Assessment: As you can see, I have a lot more pros than cons on this one. I really love Raw Threads, and this hoodie is amazing. I can’t wait to get more during the next sale! I highly recommend for anyone looking for cute & comfy running clothes (although if you’re afraid of looking sweaty, I’d advise you to stick to darker colors where the sweat may not show as much).
Clif Shot Gels
In an effort to refine my pre-run nutrition strategy, I tried eating a gel before my long run (instead of my usual crackers). I tried two flavors of Clif Shot Gels, Chocolate and Razz, and I tried each flavor once before a long run.
Pros:
- Gave me some extra energy and allowed me to postpone my mid-race refueling by a few minutes
- Don’t need to worry about giving it time to digest before the run – if I have it before I refill my water bottle, that’s about 15 minutes before the run, and that’s all the time it needs
Cons:
- Consistency & texture are a little weird (Chocolate was better than Razz, but they were both a little strange), and it was a little hard to get down
- Expensive! At $1.50/gel and 1 gel/week, a 6 month supply will cost me almost $40. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s at least two years’ worth of crackers. Plus, I don’t know if I will need to start having a gel mid-run when I get to longer distances… so that would add to the prices.
Overall Assessment: Definitely not my favorite thing in the world, and I don’t think the chocolate flavor tasted quite as much like chocolate pudding as the internet led me to believe. But also a definite improvement over choking down crackers, so these are my new default pre-run fuel. I didn’t love the Razz flavor and may not get it again (unless I don’t have other options), but I’ll get the Chocolate again and look at some other flavors next time I go to the running store.
Hammer Gel
This was another attempt to try a pre-run gel. I tried the Apple Cinnamon flavor (I’m basically a cinnamon addict, and who doesn’t like apple with their cinnamon) before one of my long runs.
Pros:
- Don’t need to worry about giving it time to digest before the run – if I have it before I refill my water bottle, that’s about 15 minutes before the run, and that’s all the time it needs
Cons:
- Texture and taste were pretty bad, and I had a hard time getting the whole gel down.
- Didn’t seem to give me any energy – I needed to take an earlier nutrition break than usual
Overall Assessment: I did not like it. It was disgusting and hard to get down, and I don’t think it helped me at all. This is not something that I would try again (although my sister does like one of the other flavors).
So … there you have it. Reviews of all the new stuff I’ve gotten lately. If you’re interested in trying any of this stuff and have any questions, please feel free to ask!
