Gear Up!

The more and more I train the more I realize how important gear is.  Being comfortable, being able to move, being "uninhibited" is huge when exercising.  I am sure this applies to the fellas too ~ but speaking from a lady's perspective if you wear the wrong bra you are hooped.  You find out super quick whether those new crops you bought can stay up while doing sprints or burpees.  You learn which shirt or tank shows a little too much boobage when you are doing mountain climbers.  You discover which runners kill your feet or give you wicked blisters.  Those new socks you bought that keep sliding down when running drive you crazy your whole workout!  It is almost unfortunate that you couldn't do one of your hardcore classes in different items to put them to the test before you buy ~ though I understand why that would be totally gross:)!  Either way ~ gear is important ~ plain and simple.

The activity also plays a big part.  I know when I did the Spartan Beast race last Fall I researched like CRAZY trying to figure out the right gear that would help and not hinder my race.  My husband's knowledge of articles of clothing came in handy ~ he is a PPCLI veteran and has trained vigourusly in a multitude of conditions like deep snow, in and out of water terrain like rivers, hot and dry Afghanistan desert and the list goes on.  I knew the Spartan race was a going to be chilly and wet ~ possibly snow.  I knew I would be doing obstacles where I needed to be able to use my hands and grip when wet, muddy and cold.  From his experience and my research online I put together my gear and went out a couple times running around and even went to the playground near my house when it was raining to try out my gear on wet monkey bars and playground equipment.  I made sure everything from my socks to my underwear to my gloves to my headgear was comfortable and had the dry quick properties that I knew would come in handy.  I will do a future post on gearing up for the Spartan come the start of September as I am running the race again with my stellar team of ladies at the end of August.  Needless to say ~ you get my point ~ gear to suit your activity is huge!

Sure, it is a personal thing and you find out super quick what works for you and what doesn't.  For example, the last three years that I have been at Excel I have gotten by wearing the most basic and cheap La Senza underwear ~ and usually a Lulu Lemon sports bra.  I have come to realize that the La Senza underwear is simply not cutting it anymore.  Yes it is comfortable ~ little to no riding up into areas you don't want riding up if you catch my drift.  But in terms of handling the sweat ~ I was super unsatisfied.  So I did some research and there really are not many options out there.  Lulu makes some but I have not been able to make it to Kelowna to try on in-store and see what they are like.  I hear good reviews and I hear not-so-good reviews so I am hesitant to purchase online.  

I literally called a handful of stores around town to see what options folks carry for the sweaty train-a-holic.  Once I found a store that carried something built for training or physical activity in general I then went on-line and researched the brand, read reviews, etc.  I wanted to make sure I did my background research especially since these undies would cost me more than the usual $5 a pair from La Senza.  

I discovered two brands that I went ahead and purchased one pair of each and now have put them to the test at a few of my awesome Excel classes including cardio, strength training and spin.  One brand is called Isis ~ here is the description from the site "Isis―a company founded and run by women―designs apparel to support your action-loving lifestyle, such as the Women's Sport Seamless Brief. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie, weekend warrior, or a busy mom, Isis understands the need for uncompromising comfortable, functional workout wear. This soft, smooth, stretchy brief was born to move, with high-cut leg openings and seamless, chafe-free construction"   These are sooo comfortable and the material is awesome!  

From what I have read online and heard from the folks in a couple of stores, cotton is not the way to go for workout undies.  It's fine day-to-day because of it's breathability but it is horrible at holding moisture from those sweaty workouts ~ all in all ~ no good!  

The second one I purchased was a brand you probably have heard of called Patagonia.

Patagonia Bikini Brief ROCKS!

 They make a lot of awesome gear and they did not cut any corners with their undies let me tell you!  They are made from a "recycled polyester/spandex blend in a quick-dry seamless weave."  Love these!  

The store I purchased my two pairs is called Wearabouts.  True Outdoors also carries a Merino Wool option but it was about double the cost I paid for my two pairs.   Otherwise, it was hard to find any other sellers.  All in all I am super happy with my discoveries.  I find as I get older (and hopefully wiser) having fewer items that are top quality is way better than having a bunch of cheap items.  The same goes for socks ~ I LOVE LOVE LOVE Smart Wool socks for training, race running and everyday use.  

Spend your money wisely on gear that is quality and you will be able to focus your attention on your form or making it thru the race rather than that constant wedgey or that sock that has slid down and the bulk now sits at your arch.  I know you all know what I'm talking about!  Now get training!

I am in no way, shape, or form endorsed by any of the brands or stores shared in this post.   

Working it out~vacations and babies!

As you may or may not know I have two awesome little people named Marley and Jonah.  Marley is 3 and Jonah will be 2 at the end of August.  Being a parent doesn't have to put a cramp in your health and fitness.  Yes I know ~ we lack sleep, work our lives around our kids and are crazy busy.  Don't let that stop you!  Use your kids as a starting point of getting exercise everyday ~ it doesn't have to be a super high intensity workout but you can do a whole bunch of little things during the day to get that body moving.

Here are some examples of what I do:

• Hike up at BX Falls and I put my 30lb son in my Mountain Equipment Co-op carrier backpack ~ doing the stairs with this cute little sandbag as extra weight is awesome!
• Bike to the beach ~ I have a 2 seater child bike trailer so I bike my kids to Kal Beach and then pull it thru the sand.  Set up and play, swim, etc.  Pull the trailer back thru the sand loaded with kids.  I do a jog pace as well.  Man I tell you ~ once you get off of the sand you are one sweaty mutha!  One man even commented as I went by (he was sitting with his family and no he didn't offer to help push haha) ~ "Nothing better than mom-ercise!"  Yes sir ~ you are correct ~ being a mom is good exercise and nope I don't need your help to get this heavy trailer thru the deep, hot sand:)
• Use the kids playground as your gym!  If I see monkey bars I do them!  Chasing the kids around is a good workout too but it is neat to do some other body weight exercises.  I have done pull ups, push ups, box jumps (jump onto the metal levels) in addition to doing the monkey bars or rings.
• Carry your kids up and down stairs for pete's sake!  Oh my goodness ~ this is a crazy workout in itself!  There are great sets of stairs around town ~ over near Fulton, the bird sanctuary side of Polson Park, BX Falls and the list goes on! 

Having kids is not an excuse to avoid exercise ~ use them as a your little personal trainers and a REASON to exercise.  Seeing mom and dad being active will do nothing but good for your babies!

Hopefully you will also have the opportunity to go camping, travelling, cabining, etc. this summer.  Don't go sloth just because you are on a vacation.  Use the new surroundings to give yourself a little (or big) workout.  For example, this past weekend my family went all the way down south to Princeton to "camp" with extended family.  Side note * "camping" in this case was staying at my husband's aunt's 'get away home' on the Tulameen River ~ not technically camping but that is what my daughter called it!  I did a RYDE class at Excel on Thursday night and was driving Friday so by Saturday I sure was feeling the itch to get moving.

I grabbed my runners and went for a run around a town that I had never been too.  It was fantastic!  I tried to stay along the river and ended up finding some wicked trails to get some trail running in.  Half way through I stopped at a bench and did 30 burpees ~ yah I guess maybe some chick wearing a neon pink tank doing burpees in the middle of town could appear strange to the non-training type folk but that's ok:)  I then ran back home and proceeded to do a lunge matrix and an ab matrix before doing a good stretch beside a river on some super green grass.  Did I have this all planned?  Nope!  I brought my runners so I would have the option to exercise if I wanted.  Once I started it pushed me to extend it to something more than running.

On Sunday I went for another run ~ same loop I discovered the day before and then this time when I got back I did 2 minutes of "Hell" (burpees for 30 seconds, star jumps for 30 seconds, mountain climbers for 30 seconds, spilt lunges for 30 seconds).  Marley was a big help and held my iPhone so I could see the timer!  Bonus side note * You really get to see way more by getting out and taking a run.  I would have never known some of the cool things I saw in Princeton if I was just lounging in a hammock over those couple of days!

I am at the point where I NEED to exercise daily or I get super cranky.  Like on that Friday ~ travel day for our trip ~ sure I was busy bustling around, packing, loading, driving but I didn't get a good sweat on.  Let's just say I was a wee bit moody by that evening.  After my run I felt waaaayyyyy more rejuvenated than I did after sitting around that night "relaxing".  It's just the way I am now.  I need to exercise and I need to sweat everyday ~ how I do it can vary but it needs to happen.  Have your "rest" days too ~ they are super important but don't let you week long camping trip turn you into a lawn chair potato.  Babies and vacation won't stop me! and I hope it doesn't stop you either:)