Cypress Half Marathon - 11/13/16 - Cypress, TX
Code: BIBRAVE to save 10%
T: @bchalfseries #CypressHalf
I: #CypressHalf
F: @bayoucityhalfseries
#CypressHalf
Destination Races Santa Barbara - 5/13/2017 - California
Code: BIBRAVE10 - $10 off the race.
F: https://www.facebook.com/sbwinehalf
T: @winecountryhalf
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Race Recap: Xterra Adventure Fest Maui
Let's make one thing clear from the beginning here, I LOVE trail runs and races! So any chance I have to run an Xterra you can bet I'm going to be there. These are some of the most challenging races but the most fun at the same. There's something about running through the woods that reminds me of being a kid again.
Speaking of kids, I'm a big supporter of getting kids active. This race did just that and it was awesome! They hosted a keiki (kid in hawaiian) 2K, separated into girls and boys heats. These kids killed it and had a lot of fun at the same time. Afterwards Maui Spider Jump, a bungee trampoline company, set up four stations for the kids to jump and burn off some extra energy.
Once all the keiki finished then the 5K began. There was a decent size of group of runners for this distance. What really bummed me out was we had to wait until all the 5K racers finished before they would start the 10K. So arriving at 7:00am for packet pick up, we were in the sun waiting until 9:40am for the 10K heat to start. That's a lot of time in the sun.
Once the race started it was all fun from there. The first mile was all uphill along a narrow path up the ridge which really dragged if you got stuck behind someone because there really wasn't room to pass without risking slipping down the cliff. I took what opportunities I could to pass people and was on my own for pretty much the rest of the race.
There were some really fun natural obstacles along the course that are pretty standard with an Xterra race. The path took us along a trail then went through a creek, lots of downed trees that we either had to duck under or jump over, one tree was so tall that I actually had to climb over it, and oh did I mention that the trail wasn't mowed so we were running with grass that was at least shoulder length is some areas. Definitely a good time!
In the final mile we made it back to the ridge and luckily this time we were running down it. But it presented some challenges as at one spot there is a sharp reverse switch back that was easily missed, and - I totally don't remember this on the way up - a bush in the middle of the path that I mistakenly went around on the cliff side instead of wall side, lost my footing and started to slip down the cliff. I grabbed the bush and it held my weight long enough to get my footing back. Nothing like a little boost of adrenaline to finish out a race right?
At the bottom of the ridge it was a straight flat run into the finish, great for a final sprint!
I managed to snag 2nd in my age group too, which was a pleasant surprise! After awards everyone quickly disbursed. We followed suit and made a stop for a nice rewarding brunch to celebrate the awesome race day that I had!
Let's not forget to mention how awesome the finisher shirt is! Not a tech shirt but super light cotton that's very comfortable. Can we all just appreciate this awesome logo? It's pretty damn cool!
Check out my Bibrave Race Review for more details about the whole race event.
Speaking of kids, I'm a big supporter of getting kids active. This race did just that and it was awesome! They hosted a keiki (kid in hawaiian) 2K, separated into girls and boys heats. These kids killed it and had a lot of fun at the same time. Afterwards Maui Spider Jump, a bungee trampoline company, set up four stations for the kids to jump and burn off some extra energy.
Once all the keiki finished then the 5K began. There was a decent size of group of runners for this distance. What really bummed me out was we had to wait until all the 5K racers finished before they would start the 10K. So arriving at 7:00am for packet pick up, we were in the sun waiting until 9:40am for the 10K heat to start. That's a lot of time in the sun.
Once the race started it was all fun from there. The first mile was all uphill along a narrow path up the ridge which really dragged if you got stuck behind someone because there really wasn't room to pass without risking slipping down the cliff. I took what opportunities I could to pass people and was on my own for pretty much the rest of the race.
There were some really fun natural obstacles along the course that are pretty standard with an Xterra race. The path took us along a trail then went through a creek, lots of downed trees that we either had to duck under or jump over, one tree was so tall that I actually had to climb over it, and oh did I mention that the trail wasn't mowed so we were running with grass that was at least shoulder length is some areas. Definitely a good time!In the final mile we made it back to the ridge and luckily this time we were running down it. But it presented some challenges as at one spot there is a sharp reverse switch back that was easily missed, and - I totally don't remember this on the way up - a bush in the middle of the path that I mistakenly went around on the cliff side instead of wall side, lost my footing and started to slip down the cliff. I grabbed the bush and it held my weight long enough to get my footing back. Nothing like a little boost of adrenaline to finish out a race right?
At the bottom of the ridge it was a straight flat run into the finish, great for a final sprint!
I managed to snag 2nd in my age group too, which was a pleasant surprise! After awards everyone quickly disbursed. We followed suit and made a stop for a nice rewarding brunch to celebrate the awesome race day that I had!
Let's not forget to mention how awesome the finisher shirt is! Not a tech shirt but super light cotton that's very comfortable. Can we all just appreciate this awesome logo? It's pretty damn cool!
Check out my Bibrave Race Review for more details about the whole race event.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Did someone say more discounts?
We all love to know what's current in the discount world, right? We constantly have new offers coming to us and it's only fair for us to share them with our loyal followers. Think of it like a reward for you're awesome support!
Have you heard of Generation Ucan yet? They are a brand that using a Superstarch blend to fuel their products, which prevent energy crash and blood sugar spikes. They Offer pre-workout drinks, hydration drinks, and snack bars in tons of delicious flavors!
Check out their website for a complete list of products and more information on how it works. They are currently offering 15% off at checkout when using code: "BIBRAVE" so take advantage of that.
Check out my buddy Eric's Product Review of their pre-workout if you're looking for more info on some of their products.
Check them out on Social Media:
T: @GenUCAN
I: @GenUCAN
Generation Ucan
Have you heard of Generation Ucan yet? They are a brand that using a Superstarch blend to fuel their products, which prevent energy crash and blood sugar spikes. They Offer pre-workout drinks, hydration drinks, and snack bars in tons of delicious flavors!
Check out their website for a complete list of products and more information on how it works. They are currently offering 15% off at checkout when using code: "BIBRAVE" so take advantage of that.
Check out my buddy Eric's Product Review of their pre-workout if you're looking for more info on some of their products.
Check them out on Social Media:
T: @GenUCAN
I: @GenUCAN
Golden Gate Half
We have a great opportunity to save some $$$ if you're looking for a great November Half. The Golden Gate Half is offering 10% off using code: "BIBRAVEGG" at checkout when you Register for the race. The race is on November 6th with a 7:00am start time and the course looks so amazing and scenic that it's a race not to miss if you're in the area:
Stay tuned for more race and product discounts from me!
-Christopher
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Product Review: XX2i Australia1 Sunglasses
Disclaimer: I received a pair of XX2i Australia1 Sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a Bibrave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!
I'm super excited about this post! It's my first product review since becoming a Bibrave Pro, so strap in and join me for the ride.
Being on Maui let's just rip the band-aid off early and get it over with, it's paradise! Total and absolute paradise: temperate weather of 85° about 90% of the time, pretty much always in sight of the ocean, and the most important part - it's almost always sunny! Now I bet your wondering how life could be so bad here, to be honest it's hard to find things to complain about. However with it being sunny all the time it's crucial to always protect your eyes. Many people that live here are plagued with pterygium, or more commonly known as "surfer's eye." It's caused from over exposure to ultraviolet light, and causes blurred vision if it gets worse enough (remember though, I'm not a doctor. I've dated a nurse, but that doesn't qualify me at all. So consult your doctor about this kind of stuff before taking my word for it). The point I'm getting at is I always wear sunglasses to keep my eyes protected because I want to have good vision forever.
So being that sunglasses are a huge part of life here I was super stoked to be part of the pros testing these glasses. Some neat features about these sunglasses: they are polarized - bring on the colors - (like this rainbow on the right which was only visible through the lenses), the arms detach and can be replaced with a strap (shown to the left) for more comfort when riding a bike or in windy weather, removable pad for extra comfort - I like to use the pad when wearing the band, and with different color lenses that can even have your Rx added to them so you don't have to run blind.
Let's face it, with all this extra sun that means more heat which means more sweat. There is nothing more annoying than having to push up your sunglasses every few paces because they keep sliding down your nose. The Australia1's still stayed in place even with some of my worse bouts of sweating.
I took them on a day trip on a catamaran to the island of Lana'i and was in more love with them than ever! The high winds on the water didn't phase them at all, no worrying about them flying away. It was so nice to have piece of mind during the sail. Then we hung out of the beach for half the day and again I was really impressed with them. There aren't little cracks for sand to get stuck in, which was huge bonus points for me because I hate that part about sand. After this day they proved to me that they can fit my lifestyle with comfort and style at the same time.
I'm super excited about this post! It's my first product review since becoming a Bibrave Pro, so strap in and join me for the ride.Being on Maui let's just rip the band-aid off early and get it over with, it's paradise! Total and absolute paradise: temperate weather of 85° about 90% of the time, pretty much always in sight of the ocean, and the most important part - it's almost always sunny! Now I bet your wondering how life could be so bad here, to be honest it's hard to find things to complain about. However with it being sunny all the time it's crucial to always protect your eyes. Many people that live here are plagued with pterygium, or more commonly known as "surfer's eye." It's caused from over exposure to ultraviolet light, and causes blurred vision if it gets worse enough (remember though, I'm not a doctor. I've dated a nurse, but that doesn't qualify me at all. So consult your doctor about this kind of stuff before taking my word for it). The point I'm getting at is I always wear sunglasses to keep my eyes protected because I want to have good vision forever.
So being that sunglasses are a huge part of life here I was super stoked to be part of the pros testing these glasses. Some neat features about these sunglasses: they are polarized - bring on the colors - (like this rainbow on the right which was only visible through the lenses), the arms detach and can be replaced with a strap (shown to the left) for more comfort when riding a bike or in windy weather, removable pad for extra comfort - I like to use the pad when wearing the band, and with different color lenses that can even have your Rx added to them so you don't have to run blind.
Initial thoughts
When I first put them on I was immediately blown away by how comfortable they felt. They slid right into place, so I gave a good head shake and guess what? They didn't move, slip, or anything! I have to say I was concerned that the nose didn't have any padding, just the frame. But to my surprise it's more comfortable than any pair of sunglasses that have pads. It was time to give these babies the run test now!
The Run Test
Once I played around with them enough it was time for the true test, taking them on a run! It's one thing for something to feel comfortable when you are just hanging out, it's another to feel comfortable when you're engaging in physical activity. As stated earlier, these sunglasses barely budged from shaking my head, and they stayed true during a run as well. Let's be frank, I run in intense locations: coastal cliffs, forest trails, beach walks, and roads so I get exposed to many different elements. These sunglasses were with me during the height of the winds from a tropical storm, down pouring rain, and contact with vegetation on the trails, and they still were comfortable on my ears and nose the whole time.
Let's face it, with all this extra sun that means more heat which means more sweat. There is nothing more annoying than having to push up your sunglasses every few paces because they keep sliding down your nose. The Australia1's still stayed in place even with some of my worse bouts of sweating.
My next test was the ultimate test for me, seeing how well the sunglasses and my headphones played together because I can't run without music. Just like children with toys I wanted to make sure that my ears got equal loving from both the sunglasses and headphones. I run with two different types of headphones primarily: my Sony (above) and my Aftershokz (right, just barely in the pic). The Sony headphones go into my ear, where my Aftershokz go over my ear so it was important that they worked well with both types. To be honest they are more comfortable with my Sony as they don't overlap, however even with the overlap they still caused no discomfort on my ears. So it had passed in all areas in regards to running.
Everyday Life
By this point in my relationship with these sunglasses I promoted them from performance sunglasses to everyday sunglasses. I literally where them everywhere because they are so darn comfy! While driving the car, to work, even shopping.
I took them on a day trip on a catamaran to the island of Lana'i and was in more love with them than ever! The high winds on the water didn't phase them at all, no worrying about them flying away. It was so nice to have piece of mind during the sail. Then we hung out of the beach for half the day and again I was really impressed with them. There aren't little cracks for sand to get stuck in, which was huge bonus points for me because I hate that part about sand. After this day they proved to me that they can fit my lifestyle with comfort and style at the same time.
Conclusion
These sunglasses would make a perfect addition to anyone's wardrobe, running or casually. They protect your eyes from harsh ultraviolet light, look great (the most important part), and stay in place even when wet. They can handle impact from tackling hills and intense wind gusts without budging. I've still found no downside to them to this day.
Interested in more XX2i products? Check out their website: http://www.xx2i.com
Check them out on Social Media:
Twitter: @XX2i
Instagram: @XX2i
Tune in and join #bibchat on Tuesday August 16th for a chance to win a pair of these Australia1 sunglasses!
Use code: "XX2iRocks" to save 50% at checkout.
Much love and good vibes,
Christopher
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