"Disclaimer: I received a pair of Aftershokz Sportz Titanium Headphones 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!" Last year, I had the opportunity to try the wireless Trekz Titanium headphones from Aftershokz. They sit just outside your ear, not inside them, and conduct sound through your bones. You can read my review here. So when I had the opportunity to try their Sportz model, I wholeheartedly agreed! The Sportz headphones are wired with a microphone. The main reason I wanted to try these so badly is because I work from home a few days a week and do a lot of conference calls on my cell phone (no land line). The idea of having clearer sound than what comes from regular earbuds was very appealing. My box arrived with a Aftershokz aluminum water bottle, carrying pouch and charger. I first tried them sitting on my front porch on a conference call. There is ambient noise like cars,birds, etc. I could hear my call very clearly and they could hear me! Technology – The totally unique aspect of these headphones is the use of bone conduction technology. The sound is just as great as if they were sitting inside your ears, honestly. But your ears are left open to hear approaching cars, etc.
I wanted to try these on a run. Honestly I am used to wireless so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about using these. I took them for a 5.5 mile run and it worked out great. The sound was awesome. I was running in a high traffic area so it was good to still be able to hear my surroundings. I also took them for a walk to listen to a podcast. I received a few phone calls while I was listening to the podcast, and it was easy to answer,hear and be heard. Setting up was easy, I made sure to charge them right away. The hardest part was trying to figure out how to open up the little charging port.
I did want to use the headphones a few days later for a conference call and they were dead. I guess its really important to hit the power button when you’re done and make sure they are charged when you want to use them! When you purchase them at this special link, they will bundle it with an aftershokz aluminum waterbottle! They retail for $59.99, and come in blue or black. Right now you can score a free water bottle when you purchase at http://bibrave.aftershokz.com!
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"Disclaimer: I received a complimentary race entry for the Sedona Marathon 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!" If the Sedona Marathon Event isn’t on your bucket list, it should be. I ran this race last year (see review) and loved it enough to come back for more fun this year! There is a 5k, 10k, half and full marathon. I chose to stick with the 10k again since I am still working my way back after knee surgery and the courses are tough! Bonus: My husband was totally on board to make a weekend out of this again. So cool. It’s pretty rare that I get my family to join me at races these days. Packet pickup was at the Elks Lodge this year, it’s a tiny expo, but I was able to buy myself a cute Sedona Marathon Event tank top! The volunteers were SO friendly. One of the best things about this race (other than the scenery) is the late start time. My race started at 9:20. I could take my leisurely time. Although the race offered free shuttle service, my hotel was close enough for me to walk. Yay! The full marathon started at 9AM, with each race starting every 10 minutes after that. I met my fellow BibRave Pros for a team photo and wished everyone well. We were all running different distances. Look at all that beautiful Orange!!! Once again, the start backdrop was inspiring. There were record crowds this year, it was noticeably busier in the start area, especially as the half marathoners were getting ready to start. The course has rolling hills,with the worst one for me at the 10k turnaround. Because you have to turn around the way you came, you have no momentum going into that gigantic hill. It takes the wind right out of your sails. They were offering a “free” race tracking app, Race Joy, and I decided to give it a try so that my hubby could track me easily. Downloading it and setting it up was fairly easy but I was getting concerned that there would be a charge. Race morning I had to activate it 30 min prior to start, and then hit start as I cross the line. Well I couldn’t get a signal at the start (it just kept spinning). So I fumbled around with that for a few minutes, gave up, and definitely lost some time there. Frustrating. I also stopped twice to text my husband to let him know I wasn’t able to use the app and how much longer I’d be. More time wasting. And it appears that I was charged for the app :( I enjoy the second half way more than the first. I was able to make up a little of my lost time and ended with a 1:04:12 time, 2 min faster than last year! The medal is part of a series where each year is a piece of a 4 year pie. I was disappointed to see that everyone still gets the same exact medal and ribbon, no matter which distance they ran. This is one of my pet peeves and something I hope they will consider changing for future races. Even a customized ribbon would make it more unique and special to the runner. The 5k runners actually get something different entirely, which is kind of strange. The weather was warmer this year (low 40’s) at start, and it warmed up into the low 60’s by noon.
We extended our stay and went hiking (amazing) and to a nearby winery for wine tasting.There really is a lot to do. I highly recommend this for a destination race getaway! "Disclaimer: I received a pair of Legend Compression Sleeves 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 become a fan of compression socks (and sleeves) over the past few years. I haven’t been loyal to one particular brand, but I heard about this new brand, Legend Compression, and wanted to give it a try. The first thing I noticed was that they were larger than your average compression socks/sleeves. At first I started to panic that I ordered the wrong size, but then as I started reading up on them, I learned that their motto is #rightnottight, meaning it should be gentle compression but not uncomfortable. LEGEND's philosophy is that moderate compression is more effective for athletes. They are designed to provide calf support, shin splint relief and decreased fatigue. LEGEND’s Graduated Compression Technology provides maximum blood flow for muscle performance and endurance. They were a breeze to get on; no contortion necessary! I did order a SM/M, just like with other brands. My mileage has not been high lately, but I’m alternating between running and spinning. I especially enjoy wearing socks or sleeves after run. I wore them during and after this 5.5 mile run. Honestly, I don’t even know that I’m wearing them but they are incredibly soft and have more “give” than your typical compression gear. Legend compression is designed to:
The creators behind LEGEND have over 30 years of medical experience and have a strong understanding of how compression works. You can read more about the science behind compression here. Overall, I would say they are very comfortable, but maybe TOO comfortable for compression socks/sleeves? They are definitely effective - but I’m used to them being tight. The tightness reminds me that they are working. But if you are someone who finds regular compression socks too tight or too hard to get on/off, this might be just the ticket for you!
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Hi, I'm Emily! I'm an avid runner in Arizona with a passion for travel and racing around the country! FOLLOW ME!
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