"Disclaimer: I received a pair of 2XU Mid-Rise compression tights to participate in the 2XU Resolution Campaign as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"
 
Coming back from injury is a very daunting task.  It’s like being a newborn calf on wobbly legs.  Whether you hurt your knee, ankle, hip, whatever – it can be a really scary proposition, even though you’ve been dreaming of the moment you can return to running. I replay rolling my ankle in my head in slow motion and can visualize it happening again.  But I'm super excited to be back from the sidelines!

After spending 6 weeks on the sidelines, my one goal for this year is to run as much as I can WITHOUT GETTING HURT AGAIN.  When I think about how to go about doing that, I want to go with what I can trust to feel safe & secure.  Some of that includes:

• Running shoes I trust that aren’t going to hurt but will provide good solid support for my fragile ankle. 
• Gear that will give my legs the chance to harness whatever power I can to get out there and train for my upcoming races and recover well
  
• Technical running clothes that I feel good in and look forward to running in

One key item I have chosen to help me move forward is my new 2XU mid-rise ¾ compression tights in PINK!

I have come to depend on 2XU for all things compression.  I have previously reviewed the #MCSRUN tights and #runyoptik ¾ length thermal tights and have loved them.  I wore the Hyoptik tights for my first race back from injury recently - the Rock n Roll Arizona 10k.  They gave me lots of confidence and helped keep me going (and warm!).  Depending on the tight, you can get gentle compression or full compression.   This is my 4th pair of 2XU compression tights, so you know I am onto something!  Below are the different models I currently own:

I have a busy race schedule planned in the first 3 months of the year – 2 Half Marathons, a Ragnar Relay, a 15k, 10k, 8k and 5k!!!  I’m trying to get back into the game safely, and treating my rusty legs with great care.  Rest and recovery are going to play a greater role in my comeback, no more runstreaking for me for a while!  I’m going to listen to my body and provide it the support it needs to help me reach my running goals. 

I really feel energized and supported while wearing these tights. And c’mon…they are PINK!  They scream fun and put you in a good mood right away!  The compression helps with increased blood circulation, fighting fatigue, improving recovery, and something called "heightened proprioperception" - which helps you be more aware of limb placement - now that's exactly what I need! I need to be super careful of where and how I step after my fractured fibula, so this is a cool feature!!

Thank you 2XU and BibRave for helping me return to running safely and in style!  2XU wants to help you reach your goals, too!  Use code “Run20″ to get 20% off all their gear! Hurry, because the code expires February 29th.

This blog post is part of a series on resolutions. Check out my fellow #BibRavePros posts this week:

Katherine
Heather
Chadd
Jeremy

"Disclaimer: I received a pair of 2XU Run Hyoptik thermal compression tights to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

People who don’t live in Arizona often don’t realize that Arizona does get cold weather in the winter. In fact, in November and December this year, there were many, many days where the temperature was cooler here in AZ than in the Midwest/Northeast.  I hate being cold,  so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try thermal compression tights.

When I first put them on, I was really surprised by how soft they are.  They don’t quite have the full compression feeling of regular compression tights, so you feel like you can really move. It was nice that they come in 3/4 length, so you don't overheat after you do finally warm up!
 
The first few times that I wore them, I walked in them since I was recovering from a fractured fibula and couldn't run yet. They kept me warm when it was 30 degrees out. They are called "Hyoptik" - the writing and logo on the tights is all reflective, so that’s pretty cool if you are an early morning or late evening runner to help you be seen in low lighting. A big safety plus!
 

When I was finally cleared to run again, I was excited to wear them in my first race back – the Rock n Roll AZ 10k.  They were the perfect amount of warmth and coverage.  Even though I hadn’t ran that far in months, my legs felt energized during the race, and I do attribute part of that to wearing the tights.

The tights provide light compression and protect key leg muscles to help prevent muscle soreness and fatigue and long term overuse injuries. Graduated compression provides greater blood flow and assists with improved warm up and faster recovery post exercise. Yay!

Another feature is that they are antibacterial and offer UPF50+ sun protection! Kind of a nice benefit for Arizona runners :)  I did have to ride public transportation back after the race and I noticed that I didn't have my usual post-race aromas, I wondering if the antibacterial feature had something to do with that?

The bottom line is that I love 2XU products! I have become a big fan and customer of their high quality technical wear. I recommend them to anyone. They are a little on the pricey side, but they do run plenty of great specials.

Give them a follow to get all their great promos:
Facebook – 2XU
Instagram – @2xu_usa
Twitter – @2XU_USA
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/2XUNorthAmerica
Website – http://www.2xu.com/us

So 2016 is here and it’s time to put my money where my mouth is!  After 6 ½ weeks of not running, plus the holidays and a weeklong work trip, I gained 5 pounds (and that is in addition to what I already needed to lose)!  It’s time to tackle my health & fitness goals for 2016 and beyond:

Reeling in the calories
This is week 1 of my fitness re-boot.  I’m back using My Fitness Pal and tracking all my calories.  This worked for me in 2013 when I lost 20 pounds and I know it will work again.  I’m dirtying every one of the measuring spoons and cups in my house, and I’m thrilled.  I’m two days in, and am loving it so far.  I have been under my calorie limit both days!

Making Healthier choices
Breakfast is an egg white scramble, and I’ve had smoothie bowls for morning snacks.  Lunches have been soup & salad or an awesome veggie stir fry with cauliflower “rice”.  Dinner has been zucchini noodle “pasta”with meatballs and a fantastic greek salad topped with a Mediterranean chickpea burger patty.  Heavenly. I’ve even snuck in dessert both nights of strawberries and a ½ tbsp. of NuttZo Power Fuel.  I haven’t had any alcohol or chips (both big weaknesses for me) – but it’s only been 2 days! 

Gaining Strength
I have a brand-spanking new gym and it is cool to have a fresh start there.  I’ve made it twice this week, and boy am I sore from lifting weights.  I have some idea what I’m doing, but it is still very intimidating. In fact, my next post is going to be on the subject of “gymtimidation”.  I typically avoid lower body strength work, which probably sounds ridiculous.  I don’t like to be sore, it makes me not want to run – and we all know that running is a top priority for me.  However, I know in the long run that it will make me a stronger runner, so I need to suck it up.  I did squats with a weighted ball and boy do I feel it. Starting next week I am going to add in some full body cardio & weight dvd workouts into the mix, too.

Being a cardio machine!
I saved the best for last – I am cleared to run again so I’m back at it (slowly).  I feel very sluggish like I’m clearing out some cobwebs, for sure.  I’m running but don’t feel like I’m running well yet, but I will get there soon I am sure! When I had my weight loss success a few years back, I was working out multiple times a day.  Either 2 runs a day or a run and a cardio/boxing dvd.    I need to restart my engine and become more efficient at fat burning.

Here’s hoping I can keep it up! How are you doing with your health & fitness goals for the new year?

"Disclaimer: I received a pair of xx2i polarized sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

I have terrible luck with sunglasses.  I tend to lose them or break them, so I generally buy cheap ones. Obviously that is part of the reason I break so many – they are poor quality to start with.  I was excited to try some nice sunglasses and see if I could handle them.

I was sent a pair of XX2i USA Sport Polarized glasses.  I was very impressed with the packaging they came in.  It was in a hard case with lots of cushioning and a spot for the lenses to fit in and be protected. They also came with a soft pouch to carry them in, as well as a strap and 2 additional arms and nose pieces in other colors to customize your glasses to your mood or outfit.  Mine came with red or blue.  Truth be told, I was happy with the white frame/black arms that it came with, and probably wouldn’t use the other colors. Now if it included my favorite color, ORANGE, or something more girly, (PINK!)  I might be down for the change.  These seem a little skewed towards men.

One of the problems I have, since I normally buy cheap glasses, is slippage.  They just don’t provide a tight fit, so after I’m running, they slip when I’m sweaty.  I’m currently recovering from a fractured fibula, so I haven’t been running, but I’ve been walking a lot outdoors.  I haven’t been able to put it fully to the sweat test.  Here I am testing them out while walking the dog.

I immediately felt like the fit was great. No problems slipping while I was out walking.  I tested them in both 30 degrees and 60 degrees, and didn’t experience any fogging. They have vents at the top to let air in and not fog up. I do tend to wear them back on my head when not in use, and was worried about stretching them out that way, but I didn’t notice any change in fit after doing this several times.

Now came for the big test – changing out the color. The glasses did not come with any directions for changing it out.  I started pulling and yanking on the arm to change it out and could not get it to budge.  I googled it and it said to “twist the arm to break the seal”.  This was not working either. The nose piece change was also a bit difficult, it comes with a tiny screwdriver to adjust.  It took about an hour (no joke) but it worked once we used pliers and twisted at the connection point and in the middle of the arm we were replacing. The screws are teeny tiny, make sure you are doing this over a counter or surface that you can easily find if you drop them. There was a bit of a challenge getting the screws in but we got it to work!

I did not experience any glare and liked their “sporty” look.  I LOVED that they did not get tangled in my hair, which seems to happen a alot with the cheap ones that I buy.  Some other perks: Lifetime Warranty!  For someone sunglass-challenged like me, this is a really important plus.  You just have to pay a small shipping fee. They also let you try them for an entire year – 365 days – and if you don’t like them you can get a full refund. Say what???

These particular glasses retail for $99 on xx2i.com.  They are offering a killer 50% discount with code “xx2iRocks”.  Personally feel like it’s a great deal for solid, sporty glasses for running.

Want some other opinions before you commit? Read some reviews from other BibRave Pros Angie, Rachel, and Mark  or tune into #bibchat this Tuesday, January 12 at 8pm Central for a discussion.