Category: Reviews

Reviews

Fall 2021 Boston Marathon

October 21, 2021

So if you are reading this, you already know what an honor it is to attend the Boston Marathon. It’s the Olympics for any marathoner and often a dream race. Being a person who has gone a few times and even ran part of the course, no one so far has ever experienced it in the Fall, virtual and fewer attendees than before. There are a lot of changes that have been made since I have arrived. Besides it being a larger airport, it’s a lot of changes that have been made from where you can eat to just picking up a car share ride area. I hardly saw the usual sea of Boston and race jackets as I usually saw. I got excited to see a few on my flight from DC, but we didn’t high-five each other or anything before. The mood was different. The SEAPORT! I stayed at the seaport area, which was once where they had the expo. I like the seaport area, but it was much less busy clearly than I remembered. With no expo at the convention center and most people not staying there, it was just a regular weekend, and many were in for other things going on in the weekend, such as the Red Sox and Celtics games. This allowed me to at least find a place to grab some food, but like with anything, I recommend always making reservations because the seaport is the new up-and-coming district now. For Saturday, a significant change is my favorite 5k. I am not a fan of 5ks, but once I ran the Boston 5k, it was the Boston of 5ks. Folks are racing and all; it’s also my slowest 5k because I took all my race pictures, and you get on the actual course its self. This year, there was no 5k, which felt weird. But in the change, there was a lot of progress as BAA helped support the local chapters of black men run and black girls run, Boston in their first shakeout run on Saturday morning. This run was more like a historical tour with stops and information on various historical moments in Boston that have impacted African Americans. For example, many affluent African-Americans in the early 1900s were only affluent due to working around the tin. On the surface, this sounds great, but it was only because the owners and companies would hire blacks. After all, they were cheaper labor than any other race. These low-paying wages for blacks were considered high for them during this time, thus changing the lives of many families. Shopping on Boyselon and Runners Things From the expo to the runners’ lounge, I think the most significant change we’re seeing is the reduction of people there. I was able to make it through the expo and most lines without a wait on Saturday morning. I went to Tracksmith, Lululemon, and even the Nike store to enjoy recovery items, commemorative items, and lots of shopping because why not. We were able to meet up with many other folks in the area and grab a bite to eat to watch college football. The weather was perfect and excellent, and everyone was chilled. This didn’t feel like race weekend as most people were just there on a regular weekend, and the lines weren’t as crazy as usual. This was positive because I’m not too fond of lines and got the experience a lot that I missed before. However, I was sad because I thought about the amount of money lost during the typical Boston Marathon weekend for many local businesses. That evening, I ate with the Garmin group of ambassadors and team at Joe’s, which is very popular and by the start line. We had a great time, and I was able to help the Garmin team during their first time at Boston with where to go and what to do. This felt more like a business meeting, one of the most significant aspects of going to Boston. There are many brands there, so this week is an excellent weekend for networking and showcasing to both domestic and international people. It’s easy to catch coffee or schedule meetings to discuss business plans, which I did with Garmin for 2022. Sunday Shakeout Sundays are filled with everyone’s shakeout runs. Let me be honest. There were a million more shakeout runs, and all of them started close to the Fan Fest area, close to the finish line. From iFit hosting aerobic and yoga classes outdoors to the Boston pioneers and even Garmin hosting shakeout runs, Sundays are filled with tons of them. Frankly, I was tired of shakeout runs, so I did my usual and took pictures with everyone and met many people in real life. We also went to attend prayer over athlete services but could not do so as they were turning people away for the first service. In the past, there was always room at the first service, so that I would go to that. This is the first time I have seen them turn away people before they start service too. They did an impromptu and prayed over us outside. I loved this. We were able to say safe and still have a prayer. Prayer is needed no matter if you are running the following day or in your life. Black Boston Marathoners Event The event was a crazy one. We have grown this event from just a handful of people to a waitlist of over 60 people. We had a news crew and a room full of first-time 6-star finishers and sub-3 athletes. The shirts were a hit as since we weren’t able to deliver them to the Boston team locally to wear that weekend, we could give more to each person who attended. Adriene, who founded this meetup, will be announced as part of the new induces to the board of the BAA, which is a significant milestone. She continued to thank Brooks

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Garmin Fitness Tools To Keep You Healthy

March 14, 2021

For me, I have embraced measurements and tracking. I am not a numbers person by nature, but I have become very goal-oriented. As a marathoner, I learned a valuable lesson and embraced the belief that “What isn’t measured cannot be changed or evaluated.” To change your lifestyle, it’s essential to look at habits. Habits are the cumulation of repetitive patterns, so we must substitute or break them to form new ones. Changing To A New You With The Right Tools Tracking and measuring your habits is easier when you have the right tools. Whether you plan a new year’s resolution or make an immediate life change, here are three easy tips to help you change into a new year with the right tools. Tracking Your Full Measurements Most people have a love-and-hate relationship with the scale, but if you want to change and improve your health, you must be aware of your weight and overall body composition. Looking back year-over-year, I weigh just about the same, but my body composure is very different due to the impact of the pandemic and my training. The Garmin index scale allows other areas of your physical composure to be tracked and adjusted, such as muscle mass and bone structure. Additionally, it syncs seamlessly within the Garmin Connect App. Simplify Your Habit Tracker When tracking and making new habits, it’s crucial to keep things simple. You can be overwhelmed with writing something in a journal or have too many apps to update your daily log. This is why I love the Garmin Connect App, which keeps everything within one app. Everything is within one app, from the scale to my Forerunner 945, which has unique connectIQ apps that help me keep track when away from my phone. The Connect App also directly connects with other apps like Strava, Tacx Trainers, and Apple Health, so whether I am cycling, logging my water, or weighing myself, having one app to save everything allows me to focus on being more mindful. Train to Your Beat There has been an increase in heart rate training from classes like Orangetheory to training plans focusing on heart rate zones and lactate thresholds. While the running pace stays the same, heart rate data will adjust and change based on my training and condition, making tracking a helpful metric. The HRM-Pro™ heart rate monitor transmits real-time heart rate data, whether swimming or on other fitness equipment. It’s neither bulky nor interfered with a sports bra or other clothing. Additionally, the HRM-Pro™ includes running dynamics that can help you improve your form. I like to think of this as a digital coach that adjusts and knows my every move. It also helps to track and monitor all the data for training metrics and overall physical and mental health.

Bras Brunch and Run Recap

March 9, 2020

Spring 2020 – Bra and Brunch Recap We kick off the first Saturday of Women’s Month with me for my 4th #brasandbrunch with @rei and @brooksrunning! This year, you all were in for a treat as attendees were able to get their first hands on the new Brooks Run Dare collection and I personally took everyone on an easy run/jog on a beautiful trial. These RunBras are created for just us runners in mind. I’ve got various sizes and includes the larger cup sizes. REI took care of the food in making sure we had something for our tummies and setup this super cute outdoor section so we could truly experience and enjoy nature. I shared the importance of the basics and how with running it is important to know your sports bras and running shoes are the foundations for success. Everyone was able to try on the new Glycerine shoes as well as test out the bras. Checkout the photos below and if you missed it, I have tons of upcoming events, sports bra guide and much more on the site. Bras, Brunch & Run Photos

Brooks Hyperion Elite Line Review

February 29, 2020

I had a lot of chatter on Facebook about the Brooks Running Hyperion Line, particularly with its release during the Olympic trials and the elite runners running in them. So with anything, I had to stop and chat finally about these shoes I have had since last year. So, I had a few minutes to review some of my notes and share about the shoe. As always, I am a Brooks RunHappy Ambassador, but my views, opinions, and such are my own. I keep it real. Brooks Hyperion Elite & Tempo Running Shoes Honest Review and Thoughts About the New Elite Shoe First, things First. The Hyperion Elite sold out within an hour or two. Yes. These are sold out. So if you were looking for a hookup, keep that moving. …. At this time, I’m unsure of the next release. It might be a minute to see how those who have this first batch respond. Higher demand for the shoe often pushes up production. Who are the Hyperion Elite Shoes For? Hyperion Elite is For Elite Runners… End of Subject. Thanks for Reading. .. This shoe is not for everyday runners like myself. In short, unless you are training to BQ (Boston Qualify) or regularly BQ, leave this shoe alone. For real. It’s a 300+ shoe. That’s like a a 6 month supply of Chipotle. The Hyperion Elite is not for training but specifically for race day. The Elite was designed for a maximum of 100 miles. Less depending on the runners’ weight and built. So in short two races and they are done. Yep! I won’t spend time on this review discussing the shoe’s detail, foam and all that jazz. The site does a great job of doing that so I am going to keep it on the things most folks aren’t discussing and give other insight into it. Wait !The Shoes You Have Are All Black, but They are White and Yellow Online? I have a black unicorn version because I’ve had the shoe since last year when I went to Brooks Headquarters for their Innovation Summit. All the more reason why you should be keeping up with me on the IG. Due to a nice embargo and me not trying to get sued, all you saw was a group pic of us in the shoe and no up close pics. They had just finished the color of the shoes during that time; thus, why we don’t have them in white and yellow. Also, it’s hard to keep a secret about shoes when you have pictures of bright white shoes with neon yellow in them for 30+ people. The Hyperion Elite Have Been Around For A Bit For Real? While at the Innovation Summit, we worked out with them and knew about the shoe in Boston when Desi won Boston the previous year. We couldn’t take pictures of the shoes that she signed, but if you ever visit HQ, they are there signed, and you can compare. The shoes we have in all black are the same that Desi and Shaddy ran in for Boston 2018, aka the Hurricane, Tsunami, hail, and my DNF year. (If I had the shoe maybe I would have finished too. But hey…) They are all black. She spoke about having brand new shoes on that year and never wearing them before. They were delivered the day before the race to both runners and the rest you can find out on Google. The color scheme is now white and yellow because of the Spring colors, and the focus on how “looking good” affects us as runners. A good outfit can boost our moods basically, so the shoe has a little style as a result. What Does the Hyperion Elite Feel Like When Running It feels like walking on air but curved. It sounds weird, but if you look at the pic, it’s shaped in a bow or C shape. This helps your naturally his the ground in a more efficient state with stability that’s natural to you. Instead of forcing you to spring, or run a certain way, The shoe and Brooks in general, are helping the body guide into a natural pattern to you. This is seen in the elite shoe but also all shoes. Their marketing has shifted to “guide” and “what’s natural” to you. For elites, this is the same. This reduces injuries and causes you to be a more effective and efficient runner. How Light Is Hyperion Elite and Tempo Shoe? It Looks Heavy My phone is heavier than the Elite running Shoe. I have an iPhone 10. That’s the best way I can describe it. The Hyperion Elite Shoe Compared to Other Shoes I’ve seen a side-by-side comparison of elite runners in other shoes versus running in the Elite. It was eye-opening and clear as day on the benefits of the shoe. You saw how unstable a lot of different shoes made the runner, and eventually, this instability is what causes a lot of injuries and or weakness in the runner. While we aren’t elite athletes, we can always learn. I highly recommend this for all runners to do because you can see visually how much energy is lost and the instability one has without the proper shoe. Most running shoe stores offer this. If not, you can record yourself on a treadmill and see how your form is when running on different shoes. So what about the Hyperion Tempo Shoe? Is that a good purchase for me? This shoe is a training shoe for elites but I can recommend it for those who want a super light training shoe and are faster runners in general. The Hyperion tempo and the entire Hyperion line are all made to wear without socks so keep that in mind when buying. The sizing is about 1.5 in difference for most. So I wear at 9.5 and I have a size 8. It fits like a glove and rather breathable.

Toronto Marathon Guide & Review

June 28, 2019

This year, I set out to do my second international race. I went to our neighboring country of Canada to tackle the Toronto Marathon for a weekend run-girls trip on a budget. We travel, shopped, ran and conquered new records in Tonrot and had a great time! Here is your guide to traveling to Toronto and running the Toronto Marathon. Where to Fly I flew both American and AirCanada and honestly because AirCanda is so large, I recommend flying it. It’s much better in service, food, and cost. Additionally, the AirCanada terminals are way better than what I experienced with American Airlines, which I was returning from Toronto to the USA. The American area was depressing and barely had anything for us. Toronto’s airport is very nice, organized and clean. Additionally, they allow you free carts for your luggage and various accommodations for those traveling with families/kids. For my United States folks, this is International so I recommend having global entry or at one of the other international trusted travel programs like Nexus if you have that to avoid the customs lines. Because I have global entry it took me 90 seconds to get through customs compared to my friend Alex which was over an hour. Where to Stay in Toronto for the Toronto Marathon Since this right before the summer break, flights are cheap and tons of options for traveling. So your hotel won’t cost nearly as much as most races ($200-$300 a night) During my stay, I choose the Hilton hotel, which was also the host hotel. The main reason is due to the service and also centrally located to everything. The shuttle for the race also picks up outside the front of the hotel and thus you can roll out of bed easily and without much stress. You will have to pay the additional $30 bucks or so for the shuttle to make sure you do ahead of time. It’s cheaper and seems to be less of a hassle. Pricing was affordable and it’s connected to a variety of other areas within the area to walk too. I picked out a few other popular housing that many runners also recommend and close to the city. Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Residence Inn Toronto Downtown City*Stay Condos – Simcoe Street The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar Toronto Luxury Accommodations – University Plaza Where to Eat & Dine In Toronto for the Toronto Marathon Don’t forget that your dollars go a lot longer as the currency situation works to our benefit. For one American dollar is equal to .70 Canadian cents. This means you can budget very easily on everything from hotel to dining especially when splitting it between two people. If you get lost, one thing I noticed is that we consistently hit the street Queens so when in doubt, try to head on this street and you can venture to most places from or to there. While you are on Queens don’t be surprised to see fries being served everywhere. It’s a thing in Toronto. Titos: Since this race takes place around or during Cinco De Mayo, you must have a margarita, or tequila or some chips and salsa. Go here to have it all and a band and much more. Vegandale Brewery –Toronto’s Only All Vegan Brewery and Restaurant. This was a great pre or post race place for the race. Donatello: We went here for our pre-carb/race meal and had a great authentic pasta. Juice: There are several juice spots and bubble tea in the city but one popular place is Revitalize. Fresh juice was amazing there and a great variety of flavors and sizes. Bacon Nation: When you finish a race and want to demolish all your calories, this is one place that you can indulge. Candian Comfort food is the slogan and thus it lives up to it. Assembly: Don’t know what to eat? Go here. We went at least twice because we didn’t know what we wanted. From vegan cupcakes to the Gnocchi that Beat Bobby Flay, we ate everything we wanted while surrounded by great DJs, a nice projector displaying the latest news and sports and loads more celebration. Toronto’s City Hall: On our way to the Mall, we ran into Oosege hall, which is a part of Toronto’s city hall. It’s a great place to quickly learn some history and a nice area to get on the streetcar. What to Do & See In Toronto For Toronto Marathon Biking: Easily grab a bike and ride around town, which is great before or after the race. The Mall: Enough said. Everything you need and then some. Great mall within a few blocks of the hotels downtown. We shopped, ate and even had bubble tea while there. Diverge Virtual Playground, which is awesome to do if you can plan accordingly with a group. Sports: You have a variety of sports to pick from such as baseball, basketball and the beloved hockey. Take a day to enjoy and celebrate! CN Tower: Completed your race and then head over to the CN Tower the following day. Take the tour and then take the picture of your medal over the entire city. You gotta do it for the gram! Bricktown: Shop, chill and eat in this cool part of the city. This is also a great spot for local “relaxation” if you get my drift. Chinatown & Kensington Avenue: These two places are next to each other so grab your wallets, put on your shoes and take a walk up and down these two unique towns. Don’t forget to grab your camera to stop and take tons of photos for the gram. Graffiti walls around all around these towns as they are truly town art. Toronto Marathon Review, Tips & Recap No matter when you go to Toronto, I highly recommend the Toronto Marathon race in May. It’s the perfect weather for anyone traveling to Toronto and the best times too. For runners, the race

Bermuda Travel Guide For Runners

March 17, 2019

Bermuda is an island literally in the middle of the ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean as most folks think it is. This means it’s closer to North Carolina and year around the weather is pretty nice. The coldest month is February, which in Bermuda the winter season consist of the low 60s degrees but watch out for the hot and humid summers.

Bermuda Marathon Weekend Review

March 8, 2019

Bermuda is known for the’s Bermuda Triangle challenge where you run three different races and distances throughout three days. This is awesome and challenging because the competition is crazy hilly. What the race will challenge you in hills will reward you in views. Plan beforehand by just taking it easy and doing most sightseeing during the run instead of paying for a tour. Here is my review of the Bermuda Marathon Challenge.

Bras And Brunch Recap

February 1, 2019

I am so excited that I was able to host my first Bras and Brunch event with Brooks & REI. We had a blast in both Dallas and Fort Worth locations. Thank you to everyone who came out to hear me speak and also try on shoes and get fitted for sports bras.

Boston Marathon Race & Review – A Happy DNF

December 31, 2018

Let me first by stating if you are reading this, it has taken me over 6 months to write this blog post because the Boston Marathon was the best memory and achievement of my life for a race AND also the biggest disappointment and sadness at the same time.

Tips for Running At Night

November 12, 2018

Long gone are the days of sunlight until 7 or 8pm. There is nothing but darkness for most of the day, which for many can impact your outdoor activities. I hardly run on the treadmill, and a preference to run outdoors. You don’t have to avoid outdoor actives just because it’s dark. Here are a few tips for running at night and in the dark. Safety Tips for Running At Night or In the Dark Be Aware: The easiest way to be safe is to stay aware of your surroundings always. This includes not running with earbuds, making sure you can see clearly around you, and running with others during. Wear Bright Colors: I know black is always easy to grab and go, but it’s harder for people to see most of the time when driving. Wear light and bright colors like a neon yellow or orange, which can be seen from yards away. Invest in Reflective Gear: Reflective gear is a type of clothing apparel that reflects lights when shined upon them. Reflective gear is critical for running at night because folks can see you while moving!! I am embracing reflective gear a lot lately thanks to the Brooks Nightlife line. So The apparel is both stylish in the light, as is reflective in the dark.The attire helps drivers and cyclists distinguish your movements at a glance by providing 24-hour safety and 360-degree visibility. You can learn more about the brooks Nightlife Line and what I am wearing here. Utilize lights: The cheapest way to be seen is to light up. From headlights, blinking clips to slap on wristbands, utilizing lights will ensure you can see and also be seen everywhere. Here are a few extra safety running tips from the folks over at Brooks Running that I wanted to share as well.