runDisney’s Kids Races

November 15, 2013 by Meridith

If you read Scoot a Doot on the regular, you know that we surprised our kids with the trip to Disney. Well, the surprises just kept on coming throughout the week.

On Wednesday night I picked Aunt Victoria up at the airport, only to have her scare the living daylights out of them the following morning. Seriously, I wish I had video of her jumping out of the bed from under the covers and their reactions. I’m so mean. After their heart rates slowed, we surprised them with a breakfast at ‘Ohana.

And we also surprised them with the runDisney Kids Races on Saturday morning! Ever since the kids caught wind of mommy heading to Disney World and Disneyland for races, they wanted in on the action. I mean, duh, who wouldn’t?

While I was at packet pick up the previous day for the half, I also got their shirts and bibs. runDisney is really good about getting the whole family involved on race weekend, with Kids Races and 5ks (along with the longer races). The Kids Races had Donald as their mascot, wrapped up in Christmas Lights – the boys were thrilled to see this! Little was signed up for the 200, while Pooks was in the 400 (one of his favorite distances during Track and Field).

Each of the kids bibs had a little tear off strip for us to collect the kids after their race if they were running alone. The plan was for me to run with Little and for Pooks to run alone with Jay stationed near the finish line to take pictures.

It was a nice plan. It didn’t exactly work out that way. More on why in a bit.

We got there with plenty of time to spare so the kids danced to the songs and limbered up before they went to their respective starting areas. The plan was for all the 100 heats to go, then the 200 heats, and then the 400s (I believe the mile and diaper dash were to follow). I walked Pooks over to the 400 starting line and found a nice family for him to hang out with, pointing out the volunteers in the purple shirts.

Little Dude and I headed to the 200 start area and waited as the 100 waves started going. Then, in the midst of the 100 heats… the 400 group began to round the track! I guess one of the kids misunderstood, there was a false start, and they all took off. Whoops!

Little and I both cheered for Pooks as he passed our area of the track.

He was pretty focused as he made his way to the finish line but there was a bit of a snafu as some of the little ones doing the 100 were still finishing their race. Jay snapped this picture of him just before he crossed the finish line.

The rest of the 100 heats still needed to go and Pooks got a little worried when he didn’t immediately see Jay after his race so he went up to a grown up who looked nice and asked if he could use their cell phone. He was wearing his Road ID with our phone numbers on it so he called Jay’s cell and told him where he was.

Of course, while Jay was off collecting Pooks, Little and I were running the 200. So, there aren’t any pictures of that! The logistics just weren’t in our favor but Little couldn’t have been happier. This was his first race ever and he had big plans. “Momma, we’re going to hold hands during the run. And go really, really fast! And then we’re going to cross the finish line and put our hands in the air and then I’ll get a medal!”

Naturally, that’s exactly what we did!

I think that they did a part two of the 400 but Pooks was content having done it once and being awarded his medal. Yup, my kids are all about the bling.

While we were walking toward the car I asked them their favorite part of the races. Pooks said, “Running!” and Little proclaimed, “Holding your hand!” (Insert the “awwwww” here!)

Once we got home their bibs immediately went up on their walls and their medals were hung right along side. They’re already asking when they get to run another race again. Mission accomplished!

Wine and Dine Evening Meetup

November 13, 2013 by Meridith

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.

They're setting up a house for me in Innoventions, right?

They’re setting up a house for me somewhere around here, right?

Although I must say, EPCOT is pretty darn close to home at this point! Last week I was there all of Monday, Thursday night, Friday, and Sunday morning (1 am, to be exact). And while I’m back at home now, the whirlwind of last week is still fresh on my mind.

I got the unexpected but amazing email on Wednesday that I was invite to attend the runDisney Wine and Dine meetup the following night. Once I got my (Donald) ducks in a row, I was set to join in the meetup!

The evening started with a check in outside of the EPCOT gates; we handed over signed waivers and received a park pass, runDisney shirts to wear for the meetup (burgundy color – so fun!), a Test Track Fastpass and a wristband that allowed us in to the closed off area for IllumiNations.

While wandering into the park, Kristen and I found each other and became fast friends. Once we were sporting our new shirts, we headed over to Test Track to check it out. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve been on the ride but it’s completely different now!

runDisney gave us a lot of free time to wander the park and check out different things prior to the start of the meetup. After visiting some of the Food and Wine festival booths (Griddled Greek Cheese, for the win!), we made our way to the runDisney IllumiNations area. There we met other meetup attendees, including a fellow Meredith!

Me, Meredith, and Kristen

Once we all gathered in the roped off area, we chatted with the people around us and met Brian, a cast member attending his first runDisney meetup. I’m always a bit nervous about meeting new people but everyone at these events are always super fun, super friendly, and looking to connect with fellow runners!

IllumiNations

The show was incredible and once it was complete, the families visiting EPCOT headed toward the exits, while we made our way around the World Showcase to the America Gardens Theatre. Once we arrived we were treated to a spread of food, from hummus and veggies to the Terra Market’s Vegan Trickin’ Chicken Curry and Vegan Wine, both from the Food and Wine Festival.

Soon after we settled, runDisney’s Sports Media Director, Darrell Fry welcomed us to the event. Faron Kelley, joined him on the stage and they kicked off this portion of the evening with a couple of amazing giveaways.

They welcomed two favorites to the stage, Tara Gidus and Jeff Galloway, both of whom I had the pleasure of meeting previously at the Tink meetup. They discussed fueling for a night race, running in the evening and how runDisney races are really for every type of runner. It’s always great to hear from the duo; they play well off of each other and you can tell that they have a good friendship!

Tara and Jeff

We were treated to meeting a few of the chefs and a sommelier from the Food and Wine Festival. As the race is called the Wine and Dine, it was very interesting to learn more about the different food kiosks, in particular the Terra Market which is all vegan options.

w&dmeet5

Next up were the good people from New Balance! This partnership with runDisney was new for 2013 and it’s continuing next year. We got a sneak peek of the 2014 runDisney shoes and the super cute inserts they are offering next year.

New Balance showed off some of their new, highly visible in the dark apparel and then brought superstar Olympian, Jenny Simpson, to the stage (who actually hails from Brooke’s Florida hometown).

She, along with the New Balance rep, invited representatives from each branch of the Military as it was Veteran’s Day weekend. There was a standing ovation for these men (I was busy clapping and tearing up, so no picture).

After the presentations, the gang showed up! Goofy, Minnie, and Chef Mickey joined us for some shenanigans!

Thanks to Meredith for this pic!

Minnie was loving the Sparkle Athletic skirt I was sporting (thanks Kelly!) and showing me her own skirt. Adorable! And then the group of us joined together for a pic.

Brian, Meredith, me, and Kristen. (I’m sure you can figure out the others!)

Once the runDisney folks got the word that the park was completely clear, we were able to do our run around the World Showcase! The plan was to run the loop around one and half times, bringing us to the fountain at the end of the run.

Thanks to Mer again for this shot!

Prior to the run, I got a chance to chat with Jeff Galloway for a minute and let him know how well his run-walk method has been working for me, especially after injury. It’s what I followed when I got back into running during last month’s 10k race and have continued to use. He is seriously the most gracious person.

I happily joined the run-walk group for the run around the Showcase and we were off with 20 second intervals! I was dragging a bit by this point but since I’m usually in bed by 10pm at the latest, I figured I was doing pretty well. Plus, it gave me a taste of what the half would feel like!

When you’re running in the dark, you get pictures like this. Hence, not too many pics from the run!

The four of us stuck together during the run, joking and having a great time! Soon it was over and we took group pictures that runDisney was kind enough to send along.

The run-walk group

The whole group – 125 attendees!

Our night came to a close at midnight with a champagne toast and a wish for happy running over the weekend.

Champagne? Don’t mind if I do!

Cheers!

Have you been to a meetup (runDisney or otherwise)? Done a night race? Our Chick Chat of the Wine and Dine half is coming up in the next few days. Were you there?

Attitude of Gratitude

November 8, 2013 by Meridith

Every November there are trends that circle back around. NaNoWriMo for the authors and aspiring novelists. No shave November in support of the American Cancer Society. And of course, seeing many friends and loved ones share what they are grateful for each day on Facebook.

While I don’t express my gratitudes daily, I sincerely feel them throughout the weeks, days, and hours. As you might already know (if you follow our Instagram/Twitter/Facebook) I’m in Disney World this week with my family, prior to running this year’s Wine and Dine. And somehow, Disney makes me feel ALL THE FEELS, in a big way. They’re good like that. My heart swells, my eyes well, and I can’t help but look at my family and think they’re mine, all mine.

I’m grateful for my children’s unbridled enthusiasm which is always authentic and never forced.

And I’m extremely grateful that I have a partner who knows exactly what I’m thinking with just a glance, who will go along with my off the beaten path ideas (like grilled cheese for breakfast), and will make certain things happen for me because he knows that they mean a lot, even if they’re not always the most convenient.

Being down here in Florida has given me the chance to see a few of my favorite people and I’ve got more in store for me. Having the chance to spend a day with Brooke and her family was amazing.

We’ve had a few opportunities to spend long weekends together but this was the first time we had our children together, although I feel like we’ve been planning it forever. We knew that they would love each other as much as WE love each other.

We were not disappointed!

I’m grateful for new things… and things that are tried and true and don’t change. I grew up coming to Disney World and while it keeps evolving and growing, it still feels like “home”. Perhaps that’s why there’s such a well of emotions that are evoked every time I’m here. I spent my family vacations here, a college spring break (let’s not talk about that), my honeymoon. I’m a Mouseketeer, a dreamer, and a believer.

At the end of each day my little family talks about what our favorite thing was of the day. The kids surprise me with their favorites often times because it’s usually not what I would expect them to say. For example, at Hollywood Studios, Little’s favorite was the rainbow that appeared in the sky after a light rain.

And Pooks’ was becoming an Honorary Citizen in the historical One Man’s Dream, the story of Walt Disney. One of the cast members overheard him asking me a question about a first rendition of Mickey Mouse and through a little scavenger hunt, he was award this badge and got to sign a ledger.

I’m grateful for their inquisitive nature, for them wanting to know all there is and all there isn’t. Their relentless pursuit of knowledge keeps me learning, thinking and growing. And seeing things that I might otherwise not notice for lack of observance.

Victoria and I grew up on Disney, although when we were teenagers, we never had the opportunity to share the parks together like we do now. I’ve spent much of my adulthood vacations in Disney and many of them with her by my side and I’m extremely fortunate that we have been able to do so. (I just noticed that we usually take pictures with her on my right! Creatures of habit!)

The other morning, I was in Animal Kingdom when I got an email saying that someone wasn’t able to attending the runDisney’s Wine and Dine meetup and that I was next in line for the spot! I am so very grateful for the experience that I had last evening.

More about that to come but a quick summary: it was amazing from start to finish and I met so many really awesome, really genuine people. It was good stuff and hey, you know ALL THE FEELS I spoke about earlier? Yes. Those were out in full force. I get so emotional, baby!

The emotions will keep on coming all weekend, I’m sure. Along with my gratitude.

Tomorrow morning my kiddos are running in the kids races and their excitement and energy is just feeding my excitement; even though our vacation is nearly over in days, it’s still rich in experience.

To say that I’m super excited for the next few days might be a slight understatement. People, there will be tackle hugs and tears and pictures (and we will lament that Jess and Bec aren’t with us). There will be meetings with new friends and seeing long-time friends, like Heather and Lisa. There will be squealing, there will be carb-loading lunches and light snack dinners.

And then, just when you’d think that it can’t get much better than that… it does. Because then, we get to run a half marathon!

Stay tuned…

I’ve got whosits and whatsits galore…

October 22, 2013 by Meridith

Welcome, welcome, one and all. This weekend I tackled a ridiculous feat…

The semi-annual cleaning of the running drawer. (It should really happen more than it actually does but let’s not make too big of a deal about that!)

I’m assuming that everyone has a drawer like this. It’s as messy as a “junk” drawer, but there’s NO JUNK in this drawer. It’s all gold, my friends, and it’s all extremely important when it comes to running.

Uh, except for maybe this. Not sure how this wound up in the running drawer…

Okay, so let’s get down to the good stuff!

I’m a big fan of the cinch bags that some race series give out at their expos. I use these bad boys to bring things to Track and Field practices and meets for the kiddo and at other races (way to publicize!). And every time I use one, much like a race shirt, it takes me back to that race. Memories, like the corners of my mind.

I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a’plenty! Need a spoon on a string (and who doesn’t)? Check! That was from the Jog ‘n Hog this past summer.

credit: Jog ‘n Hog Boss Hog

Foot Rubz ball? We’ve got two; Jay has the other one squirreled away somewhere. I use it after every. single. race. Stickers! Blister Treatment! (Knock on wood, I haven’t had any blisters lately.) And of course, my trusty Road ID. Okay, well, the Road ID box. The actually Road ID itself doesn’t usually make it back into the box because I use it so frequently.

Ah, the cold weather gear. How necessary yet how unfortunate that it’s necessary. In my perfect world, I’d not need these. It would be lovely fall weather all the time. Alas, such is not the case here in New Jersey and it’s already getting to the time of the year when we have the windows down, heat up.

Rocking the $3 Target hat (notice the gloves in hand) at last year’s Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge.

When I began running Vic took me to Target, pointed out the men’s hats and told me to stock up. When you spend a couple of bucks on a hat or a dollar on gloves, you don’t get too broke up if you need to throw them to the side if you get too warm while running. The Lululemon ones? Those don’t get tossed (added bonus: they were a gift from Jess).

Not shown: Strong Mama Sox Box Socks
They’re in the wash.

I have a socks drawer but that’s not where my long socks live. Oh no, they have a special place of honor in my running drawer! And each time I pull out a pair of the socks, it brings me back to when I got them and where I’ve worn them. (My mind likes to retain random information that is pertinent to exactly nothing.)

Heart Running Skirts socks at runDisney’s Tangled 5k.

Thanks to Brandi for this group shot of us outside of the Septa station.

Red ProCompression Socks at the Broad Street Run

And finally…

I’ve got fuel! I’ve got arm warmers (that are actually Baby Legs)! Tissues! Safety pins! Handheld water bottle! SPIbelt! These are the things that float around the drawer, usually toward the top, because I need them more often than most.

It should be noted that the drawer stayed neat for maybe a day and a half before it got all messed up again. Yep.

What’s in your running drawer? Or where do you keep all your “Stuff” with a capital S?

Returning from an Injury: Atlantic City 10k

October 15, 2013 by Meridith

Let me start by saying, at the beginning of last week I wasn’t sure I was going to run this race.

Exactly a month ago, I injured my right quadricep muscle, right near the knee. Since then I’ve done everything to move the healing process along. Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. I’ve worked with my trainer (mostly upper body). I’ve visited a doctor and gone to Physical Therapy for two weeks. I skipped last week’s scheduled 5k because I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. But given that my leg has been feeling really good and I need to get back into running for next month’s runDisney Wine and Dine, I decided that I was going to give the 10k at one of my favorite race series a go.

To say that I was extremely nervous about it would be a vast understatement. Originally I’d planned to drive down to AC solo. However as race day drew closer, I started dropping subtle hints that I thought I might want my husband to come along for the trip. And by subtle hints, I mean bribery.

“You could GAMBLE while I run! Won’t that be fun, Jay? And I get a beer at the end of the race and I’ll give that to you. I mean, granted, it will be 10 in the morning but I’m a very good sharer. Hey, you can even drive!” I know, those are very convincing arguments and ones that could not be denied. Once I solidified my mom’s babysitting services, he joined me for both the expo on Friday night and race Saturday morning.

Just prior to the rain, we were having some entertainment.

The weather had been looking ominous the days leading up to the weekend. We were feeling the after effects of Tropical Storm Karen; the rain and wind had been bad in AC both Thursday and Friday and it wasn’t looking promising for Saturday’s race. And sure enough, soon after we arrived, the rain started. But as a wise woman always said to me, “You’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt.” Thanks for that, Gram.

Especially since the rain wouldn’t stop for the majority of the time we were running.

I ran on these boards during the April Fools half in both 2012 and 2013 so it was comforting that I knew the route. Prior to running I’d decided to follow the Galloway method with 3:1 intervals – three minutes of running, one minute of walking. Considering I hadn’t actually run for a month, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

If I was hurting, I knew I could walk or just turn around. I planned to listen to any cues that my body was sending. Sometimes I push through pain if it’s just a cranky hip or a tweaked knee, but if my quad even gave a little shout, I planned to call it quits.

After the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and a quick countdown, we were off! Jay waved his “I’m so excited, I made a sign” sign and bid me farewell.

The rain was both a blessing and a curse. It forced me to put my phone in my SPIbelt and not be tempted to take pictures during the run, which I believe was a good thing. Jay was tracking my phone so he knew where I was at any given point in time, which was comforting. The curse, of course, was slick boards, wet glasses, wet clothes, and feeling like I was going to be blown away at certain parts of the race.

The out-and-back course is entirely along the boardwalk with the start at Bally’s casino. The rain really started pelting us about a half mile in. While the conditions weren’t ideal, I was just happy to be moving! I felt good and while I might have gone out a wee bit too fast (caught up in the excitement of the start and being able to actually run without pain), I soon fell into a comfortable pace with the intervals.

I “hung out” with my friends, Blue Pants Minnie Shoes, Pink Jacket, and Orange Hat the majority of the race; they were both doing intervals as well and we would catch up to each other throughout. I chatted a bit with them, mostly about the weather and Disney. Soon enough we were at the 5k turn around and a good amount of the runners peeled off, heading back to Bally’s.

I was totally jealous of those 5k runners, for the record.

Although, I suppose I shouldn’t have been TOO jealous. The wind was at our backs on the way out… the 10k turn around brought more wind and rain to the face.

Not so much fun.

I tried to curl a bit so that the top of my head was getting the majority of the wind, but it was difficult to run that way. The volunteers were out at the water stops with smiles and encouraging words. It helped to continue on and not just say “Screw this, Jay come get me.” That thought might have passed through my mind more than once. Also, I was singing “The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain” repeatedly to the tune of whatever song was on my iPod.

The mile 5 marker had a clock indicating I was slightly under an hour, which was promising. Promising in that I had arrived at mile 5, there was only 1.2 left, and that I was going to finish in just about the same amount of time of my last 10k.

Right around that time, I spotted Orange Hat a bit ahead. Orange Hat reminded me of my friend, Moe, who I’d run the April Fools half with in the spring. I was missing Moe hard at that moment (I always miss Moe, but more so in that miserable rainy moment) so I caught up with Orange Hat and said, “Let’s get this done” and we fell into pace together.

I fell back at one point, then she did. But we kept meeting in the middle, pushing each other to the finish. And finally, I saw the glass walkway that indicated we nearly were at the end! She said, “I can hear the announcer!” We picked it up a bit and brought it home.

You can see that I’ve spotted Jay and it’s the finish line and HOORAY, I can almost go inside and out of the rain. Because while I’m not made of sugar, my clothes were sticking to me and I couldn’t see very well (rain and glasses = muy mal), and oooh, I get a medal!

I wore my SKORA Cores for this race – was afraid they might slip on on boards but they were awesome!

After getting our medals, I walked over to Orange Hat to thank her for motivating me throughout the race. I then found out that her name is Emily and she and her family are attempting to do a 10k in every state! Go Emily! (And seriously, if you’re reading this, thank you again! You really helped me, especially in that last mile.)

Wore my Chicago Marathon hat as a shout out to Moe (who ran this weekend) and all the other marathoners!

I was able to maintain my 3:1 intervals the entire race and finished in 1:13. Given the disgusting weather and coming off an injury, I’m very content with that! If I can maintain that pace for the Wine and Dine half, I’ll be golden. I think doing the Galloway method helped me stay consistent throughout and that’s my goal for Wine and Dine too!

Tell me, have you come back from a “time out” from running? How did you get back into running? Do you do run/walk? Who will I see at Wine and Dine next month?

The Need For Speed

October 4, 2013 by beewhobabbles

I try not to pay attention to my pace. No, really. I try. My primary focus is adding to my mileage, and I know that I’m not setting a PR at Wine and Dine or any other races I’m doing this year. After taking a year off to have a baby, I’m just not there yet. And I’m okay with that. Mostly. It’s not easy to see the numbers on my garmin and know that I can do better. A lot better. For that reason, it’s just better for me if I don’t pay too much attention to it.

Typically, I run with a garmin, but I don’t check my pace until I finish. I log it into Daily Mile and that’s about it. (Okay, I also text my husband if I’ve had a really good run. Gotta celebrate the little things, you know?)

My treadmill running is a completely different story. I have to pay attention to my pace- it’s right there, after all. There’s also the urge to finish my run as quickly as possible, now that I’m running longer distances- who wants to be on the treadmill for over an hour? (I can’t believe that I once ran 12 miles on the ‘mill. There aren’t enough My Drunk Kitchen episodes in the world for me to do that now.)

Lately, I’ve been doing at least one treadmill run a week. Sara and I are both in half-marathon training, but we also have a five miler coming up soon, and for that, we have a time goal. Hooray! Treadmill days are speed days.

Speedy runs require fast beats. I danced for most of my childhood, and later taught aerobics, so my internal metronome still tick, tick, ticks to most sounds. I can’t help but try to match my feet to the beat! I also dig faster tunes on the ‘mill because it motivates me to run faster more naturally, instead of just keeping up with whatever pace I’ve selected.

My current favorite run-faster song (there are times I will listen to it twice during a run) is Church by T-Pain featuring Teddy Verseti. (I’ve said it before, but the Step Up 2 soundtrack is king.)

There are websites that list songs for a specific pace, but what’s the point of having running buddies (and blog readers) if you can’t ask them for advice? I turned to some members of Team Scoot A Doot to find out their speed jam recommendations.

Mer-
B.O.B. – Outkast
Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes
American Girl – Tom Petty

Brandi-
Let’s Go – Neyo
Applause – Lady Gaga (even though I am not a Gaga fan)
Where The Streets Have No Name – U2

Kyle-
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor. Because it’s hard not to run fast when the music is telling you to be like Rocky.
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson. Self-explanatory.
Applause – Lady Gaga. This one is new and since I still really like it (and it hasn’t been played to death on the radio) I get excited when it comes on and I always go a little faster.

Megan-
Dog Days are Over – Florence and the Machine
Red Hands – Walk off the Earth
Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
Cruise (Remix) – Florida Georgia Line, featuring Nelly
Some Nights – Fun
The Idea of You (Live) – Dave Matthews Band
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake (featuring Timbaland)
More – Usher
Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO (yeah, what can I say…)
The Truth about Love – P!nk (featuring Nate Ruess)
I Will Wait – Mumford and Sons
I Know You Want Me – Pitbull
Stronger – Kanye West
Let it Rock – Kevin Rudolf

I didn’t ask Vic, because she runs sans music, but I did get to pick her brain about pace plans for upcoming races over breakfast yesterday. She’s in my ‘hood for the Disney Tower of Terror 10 miler, and she skipped a morning at Magic Kingdom to hang with me and my little dude. That’s real friendship, y’all.

Vic and Brooke

I’m ready to hit up iTunes, so please share your speed jams with me! Are you racing this weekend? Good luck!

Road Tested: SKORA

September 24, 2013 by scootadoot

Earlier this month, we shared that Vic and Mer scored SKORA shoes to rack up the miles during our September training. Mer received the SKORA CORE, while Vic tested the FORM model. How did we fare? Read on!

Mer:

I’ve heard about minimalist shoes since before I actually started running. A friend of mine (hi Jen!) raved about her minimalist shoes and I have to admit that while I was intrigued, I was also scared as well. I’m a wee bit – what’s the word? – clumsy. Therefore, I’ve always been under the assumption that the more substantial the shoe, the better off I’d be. Au contraire, mon frère!

Let me take a moment to talk about the shoes themselves. The box is pretty. The shoes are prettier! They are super light-weight (apparently mine average 6.7 ounces). The width of the toe-box is something that really stood out to me because usually the front of my foot feels a bit confined. I really like how my toes are able to spread with each step; I feel like it helps improve my stride.

Hello, my light and airy pretty!

I committed to a running streak for the month of September for our Million Mile Run team; I also planned to give the month to testing out the SKORA shoes. I started with a couple of miles on the treadmill doing intervals. It was raining the first couple of days of the month so I figured it was the perfect time to see how the shoes felt on a flat and, well, monotonous surface.

The sole of the CORE shoes are 11mm, according to the handy dandy comparison chart, and I could actually feel the tread on my treadmill. Crazy, right? The sensation was different than what I was used to but during those first couple of interval runs, I felt really good and was itching to get outside!

The first day of school was midweek and once both of my boys were on their respective buses, I was ready to run. Being that it was the first test run outside with the SKORA, I decided to do an easy mile. Once I hit the turn around, I was feeling so good that I happily continued on, rounding out the run at 3 miles.

From there, it was on! I was blessed with good weather so my outdoor running streak was a go. The CORE shoes are good for “light trail running” and that’s good because I’m not lucky enough to live near many trails. However, when I ran the Electric Run DC, we went from paved road to gravel to grass to gravel to road. Not what I had expected but the COREs did great (and I had a blast!).

One thing I do wonder about is that the COREs feel a smidge big on my feet. I fluctuate between sizes 6.5 – 8, depending on the shoe. When it comes to running shoes, I usually go big with a size 8, since feet can swell during runs. However, I think I probably could have gone with a 7.5 with the CORE model.

With that knowledge, I will say that I’m a SKORA shoe convert. As you might have read, I’m currently waylaid by a quad injury but once I get the all-clear (fingers crossed!) from the orthopedist this week, I plan to return to running. And to my SKORA.

Vic:

When I first ripped open my box of SKORAS, I couldn’t believe how fun they looked. Super cute, right? I tried them on immediately… and was smitten.

Bad-ass girly camo!

I honestly was confused by minimalist shoes well before I heard of SKORA. I only ever pictured those hideous five-clawed contraptions that remind me of the awful water sandals from the mid-90s. You know what I mean, maybe you even had a pair. They were all the rage. *Shudder*

So I first tried my zero-drop FORMs at the end of a 5 mile run. My first few steps really threw me for a loop! My feet fell close to the ground. I thought I’d done something horribly wrong and would soon trip over my own feet. I kept expecting to land higher, and quickly adjusted my stride to avoid “missing” the pavement.

Alas, I did not fall! My feet carried me along and felt incredibly light as I ran. I tripped over nothing and felt like my feet were floating.

The FORM pair boasts a 13mm sole — 9mm if you remove the insole — and are meant for roads or trails. If you are a klutz like me, you want to avoid trail running in the FORMs because while you may feel light on your feet, you may also feel some rocks and roots.

On the road – where I typically run – I didn’t feel small rocks or anything amiss. Bonus points for you, SKORA! I also got lots of compliments from other runners and walkers on the road. Double kudos, SKORA!

The top portion of SKORA shoes are made of goatskin leather with a water-resistant coating and a soft feel (they actually feel grippy). The soles are tough rubber.

I noticed that when I ran in the shoes on a hot day my feet became rather warm. Apparently, the leather warms up, resulting in some rather sweaty feet. This might actually be a bonus in colder weather! Stay tuned.

Minimalist running shoes aren’t for everyone. You will likely have to adjust your running style and build slowly – by walking and running short distances first — or your feet may regret it. Don’t test them out while training for a big race. Wait until your training cycle is over, in case something goes awry.

Since I AM training for NYC Marathon, I only wore the shoes for short runs and walks. I’m a fan! They feel incredibly different than my usual shoes — Mizuno WaveRiders and Adidas Supernova. But different can be good. In my case, It was worth it! I look forward to logging more miles in my FORMs!

We each received a pair of SKORA shoes for review. No other compensation has been given. Our opinions and words are our own.

Road Tested: PocketFuel Whole Food Fuel

September 19, 2013 by scootadoot

I’ve always loved peanut butter, but my nut butter obsession reached new heights when I first visited Meri for the Rothman 8k two years ago. Meri made us whipped oatmeal for breakfast, along with a mini buffet of topping options (she’s an excellent hostess), including different nut butters. Who knew there was more out there than plain old peanut butter? Not me, that’s who.

Fast forward to today, when I currently have 5 different jars of nut butter in my pantry. I love it in oatmeal, on fruit, toast, pancakes, a spoon. So, when PocketFuel sent us their selection of nut butters, I elbowed my way to the front of the line for the opportunity to try them. I let Meri join me- because I’m such a good friend- and because she got me started on all this yumminess in the first place.

Nut butter heaven

PocketFuel Whole Food Fuel is made from 100% natural, whole food ingredients found in nuts, seeds and fruits. It provides a natural energy boost before or during your workout by delivering a balanced combination of simple and complex carbohydrates. It boosts blood sugar immediately but also helps to sustain energy for hours.

PocketFuel also works as a recovery fuel, as carbohydrates replace the energy lost and protein begins to repair and strengthen muscles.

PocketFuel is a natural powerhouse of electrolytes; it contains sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride to refuel and rehydrate your body. But most importantly, how does it taste? Meri and I, along with our husbands, put these to the test this month.

Mer:

I’m a routine driven person. Especially when it’s five in the morning and my brain is struggling to catch up with my body. I lay my gym clothes out the night before (although there has been a time or two when something – usually my bra – winds up inside out). My keys, towel and wallet are always in the same spot but a few weeks ago, I also added a PocketFuel the night prior.

During the summer I joined up with the Rise and Run Club and although the sun is not rising nearly as early as it was over the summer, I’m still trying to tackle a couple of miles before my hour weight training session. (Or I was before I hurt my quad last week.) But as you know, working out for a couple of hours requires fuel! Vic had told me of her love for PocketFuel so I was really interested in giving it a try. Usually I grab a banana prior to my workout so I went with the Banana Blueberry PocketFuel to try first.

Squishing the almond butter around in the packet, I read over the nutrition label; since there were two servings I decided to have half prior to my run and then eat the rest in between the run and weights, during my stretch. I don’t usually bring “snacks” to the gym, but hey, why not?

The Banana Blueberry was delish! I love almond butter as is, but wasn’t sure what I’d think of the fruit taste. It was the perfect mix of the flavors, nothing was too overpowering and I LOVED the crunchy texture from the almonds. Additionally, I really liked that I was able to eat it in two servings – it was easy to recap and take along with me.

Since I devoured the Banana Blueberry, I decided to go the dilution route for the Chocolate Haze – hazelnut butter. After another training session, I headed home, ready to give the Chocolate Haze a whirl… with almond milk. The PocketFuel folks suggest a 1:1 ratio of liquid to PocketFuel. I had a bit of a heavy pour on the almond milk but the mix was tasty!

Of the two, well, I’m an almond butter girl, through and through. Hazelnut butter is delicious but I feel like the almond butter was more filling. As I said earlier, I’m a routine driven person, and I’m planning on adding PocketFuel to my routine.

Since sharing is caring, my husband, Jay got to try the Pineapple Coconut almond butter and Vanilla Haze hazelnut butter. Generally speaking, I don’t like coconut, so he said he’d take one for the team (because he doesn’t particularly like pineapple or coconut. That’s a good man right there).

Given that bit of information, it’s no surprise that he tried the Vanilla Haze first. He had it prior to a training session. After he returned home he reported back that his head was clearer and he was more awake during the session (he works out at 6am too).

Two days later, he tried the Pineapple Coconut. He was a bit hesitant, given the flavors, but he was pleasantly surprised with the almond butter. He said there were only mind hints of pineapple and coconut, they were not overpowering at all. He actually enjoyed that more than the Vanilla Haze!

Only downside? He could feel where pieces of coconut got stuck in the seams of the pocket and no amount of squishing he did could free them up.

Thanks for sharing with us, Brooke!

Brooke:

Josh and I are both working out several days per week. I’m in the middle of half-marathon training, and he’s just getting back in to running (and training for a 5 miler). I’m an early morning runner, so adding some nut butter to my oatmeal is the perfect breakfast because it gives me some extra protein and a big boost in flavor. I love that the fuel package is resealable; it’s incredibly convenient. Even better, the ingredients are all things I can pronounce. All things that occur in nature. My favorite flavor is the Coconut Cherry. I love coconut, and I could have squeezed it straight from the package into my mouth. (I totally did that. Sorry, not sorry.)

Breakfast of champions. Or busy parents. You know.

Josh is always on the go- he takes one of our girls to school, heads to the gym, and then he eats post workout. He tried the butters on toast and oatmeal, and he loved the Chia, Goji & Honey in his cold oats. He told me that he felt full and energized through lunch time, and for a guy who usually skips lunch in favor of work- well, that’s a great thing.

PocketFuel provided samples of their nut butters for free. All opinions expressed are our own.

PocketFuel wants to share their natural, whole food energy with you! One reader will receive a sample pack of nut butters. Please click the link below to enter. We will verify the winning entry via Rafflecopter. This giveaway runs from now until 9/25 at midnight.