The Runner's Palate: ProductReview

Monday, January 14, 2013

Running Skirts Clothing Review & Giveaway!

Morning, everyone! I have a pretty cool post for you just because it's Monday and also because I love my readers...it's a product review and giveaway! When I attended the Runner's World blogger events back in October here, here, and here, I had the opportunity to meet many new people in the running world. One of the exciting vendors that I connected with were the girls from Running Skirts.

Their specialty is the running skirt, which comes in a plethora of awesome patterns and colors. But they also have running tops, tanks and jackets as well as a new yoga line.

Recently, they sent me a few items to test out and I have to say, these gals aren't just about their namesake. I'm in love with their new yoga line, including this Performance Lifestyle Gathered Neck shirt.

It fits loose around the torso and gathers nicely around the hips with a wide band. Plus the thumbholes are a bonus and this color in particular is a vibrant shade of red. The shirt is perfect for yoga, or just hanging out like I did on Christmas day.

They also sent me a pair of pants from the yoga line. Their relaxed fit pant features an extra-wide fold over waistband with a leopard drawstring, which I totally love. There is even a hidden pocket too...perfect for a key or yoga ID card.

If you're in the market for new, comfortably fitting yogawear {or clothing to run in}, make sure to check them out on their website for more colors, styles and selection.

And now for the good part...I get to giveaway one of their products to one lucky reader!

The winner will have their choice of either a running skirt OR the Performance Lifestyle Gathered Neck long-sleeved yoga shirt {as shown above}.

Here's the deal...there are a few ways to enter. The more ways you enter, the better chance you have at winning. Make sure you comment once for each of the following things you do.

1. Leave a comment and tell me your favorite Running Skirts product and the pattern/color it comes in.
2. Tweet about it: "I want to win @runnerspalate's very cool @runningskirts giveaway!" http://therunnerspalate.blogspot.com/2013/01/running-skirts-clothing-review-giveaway.html
3. Follow me on the following:

The contest ends on Wednesday 1/16 at 6pm EST. The winner will be announced Thursday morning. Good luck!

Note: I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Product Review: The Stick

Back in October I had the opportunity to attend several blogger events hosted by Runner's World in conjunction with their half marathon and festival races. While there, I connected with some amazing sponsors such as Altra Zero Drop footwear, Running Skirts, FreeMotion Apparel, among others. I got quite excited for one sponsor in particular because I've been wanting to try out their product for a while. If you aren't new to running, then you've probably heard of The Stick.

What is The Stick?

The Stick is a long cylinder with circular rollers that turn when rolled over a muscle. It is a tool that athletes {and runners} use to sooth sore muscles, prevent injuries, shorten recovery, and increase strength and flexibility.

Who uses The Stick?

The Stick is used by hundreds of hospitals {such as the Mayo Clinic} in their physical therapy departments, as well as by most professional sports organizations. Many staffers from Runner’s World, including Bart Yasso, have been "Stickusers" for years. In addition, my chiropractor is a fan of The Stick and uses it on his patients when needed.

Which Stick was best for me?
Because I'm a runner, I chose the Sprinter Stick since it is the most versatile of their shorter Sticks. It provides a light to deep massage depending on the amount of pressure applied by the user.

After all of the RW events, a representative from their company {Patrick} followed up with me to see if I had any questions. Because this product was new to me, I told him that I would use it for at least two to three weeks and then report on my findings and observations.

During those several weeks, I made sure to make The Stick a part of my daily routine, which included using it before and after most runs. This time also happened to fall in between chiropractor visits and I have to say, The Stick really did a nice job keeping my stiffness at bay. If you read my blog, you may know that I suffer from IT band soreness in the hip area and The Stick made a difference in my level of pain and degree of soreness. Normally I am a huge fan of the foam roller, but The Stick was a nice alternative.

Why use it before a run? When used before a workout, muscles will be warmed up and feel lighter. Makes sense, right? I related it to warming up with a light jog and completing my drills before a hard session because those things are necessary for healthy running.

Why use it after a run? Just like a foam roller, if The Stick is used after a run, muscles will recover faster and will not be as sore the next day.

Patrick also said that if there are doubts of the benefits of The Stick, just roll out one leg after a run and not the other and you will be able to notice an immediate difference. Overall, my experience as a Stickuser was a positive one and I plan on incorporating it into my daily recovery routine.

For more information, check out their website: www.thestick.com. There you will find a variety of types and sizes that are suitable just for you.

Please note that I received this complimentary product from the makers of The Stick, but all of the above opinions are my own. If you missed my recaps of the RW Blogger Events and my 10k race, feel free to take a look using the links below...