Epic Bar review! A truly EPIC product!

I'm always on the look out for real food products that I can incorporate into my training. When I discovered that Epic Bar fits the definition of real food AND Paleo products, I was every excited for the opportunity to try them. 
Epic Bars was founded by runners. Runners that live a real food lifestyle.  Need I say more? They know what we are looking for to fuel our bodies. 
Here is how Epic got started: "Preparing healthy meals at home was a breeze, however we quickly realized there was a lack of conveniently packaged nutrient dense animal protein when we traveled, exercised, and worked. So, we set out to create the world’s first 100% grass fed meat, fruit, and nut bar. We call our product EPIC because it improves the lives of animals, regenerates our bodies, and helps heal the land.  Due to an ingredient label unlike anything else, EPIC epitomizes real foods and will always be humane, pasture centered, and most importantly, delicious." Read their complete story here.  Most impressive, is that they only accept the best from their suppliers. "We set the industry standards by sourcing our meats from ranchers that we deem EPIC. We mandate proof of certifications, which validate that our animals receive the utmost humane treatment. We believe that EPIC animals should always live pasture-centered lives where turkeys forage, pigs wallow, and buffalo roam. This is the way nature intended animals to be and we see ourselves as leaders in recognizing the value of sustainable and responsible animal welfare practices."

Epic has 3 types of products. "Bars", "Bites", and "Hunt and Harvest Mixes." The "Bar" is a meat, fruit and nut bar, packed full of protein. The "Bites" are bite size, similar to jerky, but better. Add in some fruits and super seeds, and you have the perfect snack. The "Hunt and Harvest Mixes" are the perfect combination of grass fed jerky, seeds, nuts, and berries.  Check out the full product line here. 

Over the last couple of weeks, I have sampled several of their products and flavors. Here are my observations:

• Texture: Don't let the word jerky fool you. Each one of these products, whether Bar or Bites, is very tender. Almost melt in your mouth tender. It may be similar to jerky, but without the jerky chew to it. This makes it the perfect mid run snack, since you won't be trying to chew it up over the next 10 miles. 
• Flavor: I haven't met an Epic flavor I didn't like. Some of the flavor combinations will give you pause. But, trust me, you need to try them. Bison Bacon Cranberry bar- the perfect combination of sweet and bacon salty. Yes, it sounds odd. Yes, it tastes awesome!! Chicken Sriracha bar- just enough spicy kick, without being too spicy (This one will be nice for winter Ultra training!)  Uncured Bacon bites: it's bacon. Everyone loves bacon! This one is getting added to my mid long run snack list. Protein and salt are two things I need during long runs. These are so tender, easy to chew, and portable with the bite size pieces. Chicken Currant Sesame BBQ bites- I'll be honest. I never had currents before I tried these, so I wasn't sure what to expect. They ended up being my favorite! My taste buds really enjoyed the combination of sweet, salty, and a tiny bit of spice. Beef Apple Bacon Bar- This was another delicious combination! Check out all the flavor offerings here. 
• Fullness factor: Each of the bars kept me full for a good while. I used them as a post long run refuel, and paired it with some fruit to make it a meal since we were heading off to church soon after my runs. I was plenty satisfied, and did not get my normal "must.eat.all.the.food" feeling, like I typically do. The bites were not as filling, but perfect for a snack. When you compare the protein between the bars and the bites, in most cases, the bars do pack more protein. Protein usually indicates how full I will feel after eating, so this was consistent for me. 
• Ingredients: It is so hard to find products out there that advertise as primal or Paleo, that ARE actually 100% Primal or Paleo. You won't be disappointed with Epic. Every ingredient is real food. You won't question what any ingredient is. 
• Price: When you are talking about quality grass fed meats, and organic ingredients, you expect to pay more. But, Epic Bars are actually very competitively priced. A box of bars runs about $30 for 12 bars. That's only $2.50 a bar! Bites are currently on sale for $50 for a box of 8 bags. Each bag is 2.5 servings. Again, you are looking at $2.50 per serving, or $6.25 per bag. 
• Availability: You don't have to order online. There are quite a few stores that carry Epic products. I have seen them at our local Earth Fare and Whole Foods.  You can also find them on Amazon.
• Allergens: Epic products are Soy and Gluten free. They do use tree nuts in some of their products. 

Chicken with Currant & Sesame BBQ Bites

Epic Bars are going to be a regular in our house. Not just for when I'm running, but when I'm on the run. Traveling, running errands, or just a day at the part with the kids. It's great to have a healthy, real food, convenience food that I can feel good about for the entire family.

Stay tuned for an "Epic Giveaway!"

Note: I was given this product in exchange for a review. This review is my own personal opinion of the product. I was not required to give a particular opinion on it. Please use any product I review at your own risk, and consult a medical professional if you have any health concerns. 

Hoka One One Clifton 2 Running Shoe review!

You've seen Hoka One One in the stores. They always catch your eye. If it's not the bright colors that you see first, then it is definitely the high volume midsole that make you think of moon shoes from back in the day. I've always been curious about these shoes. How would they feel? Would I feel like I'm going to rock over, face first? Will it feel unstable, like platform shoes?  I'm here to tell you that it's time to quit thinking about them and try them.
"Since 2010, Hoka One One has engineered unique performance midsole geometries, that feature higher volume, softer density, and greater rebounding foam than standard running shoes."
What does this mean in layman terms? It means that you are going to have a lot of cushion, excellent shock absorption, and a shoe that promotes good running form.
I started wearing the Clifton 2's a little over a week ago, and have put about 30 miles or so on them so far.

Here are my observations:

• These are very light weight shoes. You would not think so, with the amount of cushion, but they are probably the lightest shoe I own, and I own several!
• The Clifton 2 has a pretty decent height stack and a ton of cushion. I never felt unstable or wobbly in these shoes. My running form was perfect, and I never felt like I was going to rock over head first.
• My normal running route is on a country road, so these got tested on the road, and then along the side of the road when cars were going by. Making the transition from the road to the grass or gravel was smooth, and stable. 
• I did notice that when I was tired, my foot did drag a little a couple times. This happened when I ran later in the day, and again when it was extremely humid outside. But, the last few times I ran in them, I had no issues with it. I don't know if it was because I was not tired and hot, or if I became adjusted to the height of them and got better with my form. 
• I really like the flat shoe laces. I feel like the tie is more secure, and will not come loose, like I've experienced with other laces. 
• The size seems to run just a little bigger than all the other brands I have tried. I had to go down 1/2 size to get a good fit on these. 
• Over the last few months, I have noticed that the bottoms of my feet are sore after an especially long run, or in a race where I am putting more effort into the run. That is not the case at all with these shoes. I did a 6 mile run in them, and had zero issues. These are likely going to be my go to shoe for distance runs and races, especially with my ultra-marathon training starting soon. 

The brand name, "Hoka One One" is derived from a Maori expression meaning, "It's time to fly over the earth." When I run in these, I felt like I was running on clouds, so this expression is oh so true! If you are looking for a shoe with some extra cushion, these are the shoe for you. Stop glancing at them from afar at the running store. Pick one up, try one on, and "fly over the earth" on your next run!

Want more information on the Clifton 2? Check them out here. Or, check out the entire Hoka One One brand at http://www.hokaoneone.com/.


Note: This review is my own personal opinion of the product. I was not required to give a particular opinion on it. Please use any product I review at your own risk, and consult a medical professional if you have any health concerns. 

PaleoLife Bar review! Post Workout, Long Run, Refuel Ready!

You know that "hangry" feeling that hits after a long run? Must.eat.all.the.food!! It seems like I spend the entire day (and sometimes, next day) eating and eating and eating, yet never satisfied. I think this is the reason it's impossible to lose weight as a distance runner. While following a real food diet, it's even harder to find something that is quick and easy to grab after a run, with the right balance of carbs and protein to refuel our bodies.  
I was given the opportunity to try PaleoLife Bars as a post workout or post run snack. PaleoLife Foods is an ultra premium, natural, nutritional foods company that was founded on the Paleo/Primal diet belief system. This means that their bars are the highest quality, real, whole food, as close to nature, as possible. PaleoLife Foods started out designing the "ultimate post-workout recovery" and meal replacement foods for themselves, since nothing else met their high stands for Paleo-friendly, natural, and FRESH ingredients. 

Last weekend, I tried my first PaleoLife Bars. Saturday,  I was only going out for about 3.5 miles, but it was going to be lunch time, so I wanted something to eat as soon as I got done. CoCoaNut ended up being my lunch. The next day, I did a 6 mile, early morning run. As soon as I returned and cooled down, I had the Vanilla Nut flavor for breakfast. Here are my observations:

• Flavor: Sooooo Good! I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars. Some protein bars have a weird "healthy" flavor, but these taste like something homemade, and actually taste good. 

• Texture: Saturday, I carried the bar with me in my running pack. It was a little gooey, from being in the heat, but not melty or messy. These bars remind me of a thick, nut butter texture, but with some add ins. They are not too dry, either. It would be perfect as a mid-run snack, because it is not too chewy, and can easily be eaten with just a little water to wash it down. 

• Post refuel hunger rating: 5 out of 5 stars. It is the perfect balance of protein and carbs to refuel the body, and keep you satisfied. The first day, this ended up being my lunch, and I was not hungry again until time for supper. The 2nd day, after a 6 mile run, this ended up being my breakfast. Again, I was not hungry until the next meal. This is a big deal for me! No crazy binge eating all day, trying to refuel and heal my body. 

• Nutritional Stats and Ingredients: Most people who are following a Paleo or Real Food diet do not watch calories, but if you happen to, these bars are 290-340 calories each, depending on the flavor. Because they are so filling, they are great as a meal replacement, so do keep that in mind.  These are a truly Paleo food. I've seen so many products that claim to be Paleo, but have added ingredients that are not part of the Paleo food lifestyle. They do use rice protein as a source of protein, but it does follow their idea of the Paleo diet, as explained here. Other ingredients are nut butters, seeds, coconut and coconut oil, as well as cocoa and cacao nibs. For the full ingredient list, see here for CoCoaNut and here for Vanilla Nut. 

• Allergen information: As a food allergy mom, this is always a big factor for me. They do contain tree nuts, which is common with Paleo Foods. However, the allergen statement on the packaging also states that they may contain traces of Peanuts, Egg, Soy, Milk and Wheat. For this reason, I use safe practices of hand washing, after eating them, to avoid exposure to my food allergic child. 

• Price: A box of 8 bars is currently $29.48 on the PaleoLife website, and $33.48 with free Prime shipping on Amazon. This averages out to be $3.69 to $4.19. Again, looking at this as the cost of a meal replacement, it's not a bad deal. PaleoLife also offers several discount codes on their website. You can find those here.

I have to say, that I am impressed with these bars, and they will become a regular in my pantry. Not only as a post workout meal, but I can keep them in my bag for running errands, or while traveling, to always have a healthy, REAL FOOD, option on hand! To see more information about PaleoLife Foods, please see their website, Facebook page, or Amazon Store. 

Note: I was given this product in exchange for a review. This review is my own personal opinion of the product. I was not required to give a particular opinion on it. Please use any product I review at your own risk, and consult a medical professional if you have any health concerns. 

NoxGear Visibility Vest coupon code!

Check this out, y'all!!! NoxGear has these super awesome night time visibility vests for you nocturnal or early morning runners! They are offering a 20% off coupon just for my fans! See how lucky you are to follow me!? Through September 30th, use code RUNNERMOM on their website https://www.noxgear.com/, for the Tracer360 or Tracer360+ visibility vest. Let me know what you think about it! I can't wait to get mine and hit the road early!!!

Homemade Sports Drink- Nothing artificial!! Paleo, Real Food Friendly

I think summer has hit with a vengeance all around the country. The highs in NC have been upper 90's to 100 for the last week, with no end in sight. Proper hydration is critical right now, whether you are working out, or just out in the heat all day. Even when you are out by the pool with the kids, you should make sure that you are all drinking plenty of water. But, when you are really sweating it out, you need to replenish the electrolytes, carbs, and salt your body is using up. Sports drinks are full of refined sugars and artificial ingredients, so my family avoids them. Making your own is so easy, fuels your body, and tastes great, too! Coconut water is a natural source of electrolytes and has more potassium than a banana, so it's perfect for runners! Pair it with your favorite fruit for some added sweetness and carbs, and it's perfect. If you're one of those runners that needs some extra sodium, a pinch of sea salt will do the trick.

This year, when I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon and the Kings Mountian Marathon, I carried my Camelback hydration pack with my own homemade recipe and it fueled me perfectly for both races! It is definitely my go to fuel!

Three simple ingredients is all you need.

11 ounces of plain Coconut water

1/2 cup of your favorite fruit*

1 small pinch of salt (optional)

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend 2 to 3 minutes, until thoroughly blended.

How easy is that!?

*I like to use frozen fruit, so the drink stays cold longer in the heat. 

Some of my favorites are:

Pineapple

Mango

Strawberry

Watermelon

Combine flavored and see what you like! 

Additional tips and tricks:

Get the kids involved to teach them healthy habits, and let them come up with their own flavor concoctions!

Stick with fruits that are easy in the stomach, especially if you are going to run with it. 

If you're in a hurry, keep a few baby purée pouches of your favorite fruit on hand. Put it all in a bottle and shake it up with the coconut water to mix it.

If you have some fruit at home that you need to use, put it in the blender until it's puréed. Then put into ice cube trays and into the freezer. Once it's frozen, store it in a ziplock freezer bag until you need it. One to two fruit cubes will be perfect for 11 ounces of coconut water, depending on your tastes.

I'd love hear some of your real food sports drink ideas! Leave me a comment and let me know what works for you! 

King's Mountain Marathon "Review"

A friend of mine has his own running blog. While training for my Marathon, he asked me to do a guest post on his blog about my first marathon experience. I was honored that he asked me to do it, and also excited to be able to put that entire experience into words. I will always be able to read and remember it. You can check out my "Lessons of a Mountain Marathon Mom" post here:
http://runningwithoutinjuries.blogspot.com/2015/06/lessons-of-mountain-marathon-mom.html

While researching a race, and finding this marathon, I only came across one blog review. I read some short reviews on a marathon finder website that almost scared me off. When I read the blog review, I knew without a doubt that this race would be my first marathon.

So, for anyone else looking for more information about this race, I've put together some of my thoughts.

1) If hills scare you, don't do it. These are not just hills. This is a MOUNTAIN. It's not just one little hill here and there. It is a MOUNTAIN with one really, really, really big hill, lots of medium hills, and a billion little hills. (The tree line on the medal is the elevation chart. Yes, mile 19 was really bad.)
       With that being said, I will remind you that I am not an experienced marathoner. I am not fast, but I'm not really slow. I'm average. I'm not a muscular, toned athlete. I am a work from home my with 2 very small children, and the post baby belly to show for it.  I have only done 2 half marathons. But, I did this. I did not die, I'm still here to write about it. I can't tell you what a normal marathon would look like for me, but I did this race in 5 hrs and 42 minutes. I would like to think I could do a "not as hilly" race in 4.5 hours. It was not easy, but I did it. If I can do this, I promise you that anyone can.

2) There was no time limit for this race. To quote their website, "You could crank out 26.2mi in cartwheels if you wanted to!"

3) This is a small race. If you need a large crowd to keep you going, this is not the race for you. If you don't like getting lost in the shuffle of runners, or competing for your "space" you will LOVE it.

4) The scenery is beautiful! When you are running through the woods, there's a decent amount of shade to keep you cool. You might even come up on some deer, or other wildlife. The hills that are making you stronger, (or making you use some nasty language), are providing a great landscape. 

5) It's an open course. This means there is some traffic, but very minimal. This also means that your friends and family can meet you anywhere on the course, drive along beside you, run with you, or make their own aid stations. This was one of my favorite parts. Having my hubby and friends there to greet me along the way, and run with me when I needed it was THE BEST! 

6) The race organizers do a great job with this race. They are friendly, helpful, and brutally honest about what you are about to take on. No sugar coating it!

7) I can't really put into words what a great, small town, friendly, beautiful race this is. 

I don't know that I will be there next year, but this is a race that I will never ever forget. I'm so glad that I made it my first one.

Want more information about it this race? Check out their website! http://www.kingsmountainmarathon.com/
If you are not ready to tackle the full, they have a half marathon, too. I was told it is uphill both ways. :)

Sparkle Mail!

I am so excited about this skirt. I haven't even ran in it, and I'm excited about this skirt. This little beauty is a game changer. No more running belt, no more hydration belt or hand held for shorter runs. The cuteness of it is just a bonus. Welcome to SparkleSkirts, friends! No ride shorts, with two HUGE side pockets. The picture shown has a 16 oz water bottle in the pocket. My IPhone 6, in a case, also fits great.  The waist has a decent size zipper pocket, that my phone fits in, as well. 

They have tons of great patterns, too! One for everyday of the week? Yes, please! The one I bought is Swing Style in the pattern Wild One. They make a Slim fit skirt, and they also make a Hiker that is 2 inches longer. I think that will be my next purchase. I can totally see myself wearing one of these out and about! http://www.sparkleskirts.com

Note: I was not paid or given anything in exchange for this review. I'm a paying customer. :) 

Inspiring my Boys

I really, really love to run. I'm home all day with the kids, and I work a full time job from home. Running is my release, my sanity saver, and by taking that time every day, I can continue to be a good mom. My 4 year old loves to run, too. He's been my miniature running partner since he was 2.5. I want to encourage it, but sometimes I feel selfish when I leave him behind. I told myself that this summer, when I'm not training for anything, I would let him join in.
We just moved a month ago, and we have this huge, flat, beautiful yard. I decided to take advantage of it, and map out the distance so I could use it like a track for speed work. My hubby had the boys in the back yard, so I was able to watch them as I ran by. My first lap around the yard, and S had other plans. He was determined to run with me! So, I let him join in. He's actually pretty quick. We did a mile in about 11 minutes! My littlest one, who is 2.5 also joined in for a lap around. I didn't get much speed work done, but taking the time to inspire these boys is all my heart needs. I've got at least one little running partner in the making. Happy mom, Happy kids, Happy heart.