nuu muu product review!

Ladies have I got a GREAT new piece of gear you need to add to your collection!

When I first starting running I was all about covering up, as most big girls are. You soon learn in distance running there is no dignity after mile 5. You just want to be comfortable and not have to worry about your gear rubbing you the wrong way.

I don't know about you but I find that just my running tights or shorts doesn't give me enough coverage. I have a running skirt to go over them to minimize the trauma to those watching me run. So my outfit usually consists of, unders, shorts or tights my running skirt, with it's own shorts attached and a shirt. In hot weather have 3 bottom layers is way too much.

At the Expo for the WHM I found the solution. What is it you ask? It is a running dress by nuu muu now don't get me wrong I passed the booth a couple of times before my mother in law joined me at the expo. I actually took the time to look at the product. See at most marathon expo's the clothes are for girls that don't have hips and curves.

These dresses are different. I ended up going back and purchasing one and wore it for my recovery run. Still chaffed and sore from the marathon I just wanted something comfortable. Ladies this dress was GREAT, no rubbing, no irritation, it stayed where it was supposed to for the most part I did have a little ride up in the front but I will chalk that up to wearing my hydration belt.

The material is snug, but not tight, supportive but it breaths. Most important, it fits us big girls and is modest you don't feel like your showing off to the world what your mama told you to keep to yourself.


I like the fact that this product is also made in the USA right in Boise, Idaho. The women I met from nuu muu were GREAT. They took time to answer my questions and inform me about the product and even encouraged me to try it on when I had doubts it would fit. Cathy Coulter and Enid Wilson and Lori Fuller were nice as could be.

Cathy Coulter, Me, Lori Fuller, and Enid Wilson of Nuu Muu

The company is owned by Ashley Fullenwider and Christina Nienstedt you can read their stories here.

The other best thing about these excersize dresses? They have girls sizes as well. What better way to encourage the girls in your life to get active? We all want to be girly even when we run 13.1 miles.

I think their philosophy says it all.

I give nuu muu:

Look Ma I made the news!

Women's Half Marathon Re-Cap

Wow were to start...

I've been staring at the post for several days now. Not slacking, just not sure how to put into words all the emotions and experiences of the day.

First off let me take a moment to send my regards to Lynn Manzelmann's family and those that personally knew her. Lynn collapsed at the finish line and was sent to the hospital, she passed away Sunday morning of a heart attack caused by a 90% blockage. She will be greatly missed by all those that knew her, ran with her or cheered her on Saturday the 25th. She was an inspiration to many. May those lives that she touched remember the impact she made on them and pay it forward.

My race was a struggle. It was a tough race, I knew the course was going to be up hill for the first half, and I expected the last half to be mostly down hill. That was NOT the case. Oh it did go down, up and down that is. Besides who's bright idea was it to finish coming off Korean Vets Bridge?

As I told many of you I only wanted to run this race for the finishers medal. It was the first one I've seen where it comes in two parts so you can wear the charm where ever you go. I like that part. I did not really train hard for this race and it showed. I was really strong time wise for the first 8.5 miles then the swelling in my feet and the irritation of the sock weave was getting to me. I was still doing okay. I met two other runners and stayed with them till about mile 9 then I fell behind.

Usually at this point I stop sweating, something I'm working on hydration wise, I make sure to drink twice at each water stop. If there is gatorade and water I take one of each. I just could not get enough fluids and my hands were swelling really bad. I knew dehydration was kicking in and I needed to get some of the fluids out of my hands so I got some salt and that seemed to help.

Around mile 10 my body stopped taking in fluids every time I put something in my mouth it came right back out not much just the little sips I was taking, but I KNEW I had to finish. I wasn't dizzy or light headed I knew where I was and what was going on so I keep going. The medic from Vandy was there on his bike making sure that I was okay.

As I came around the river side of Titans Stadium I knew that I had to finish but wasn't sure my body was going to be able to. I slowed way down and took inventory from the toes up. My feet hurt, my knees were okay but my calves and quads were starting to hurt. My lower back and shoulders were a bit sore and my hands were swelling and my knuckles were starting to bruise from the swelling.

Sitting here now and writing this recap I know I should have stopped I could have pushed my body way past the limit but I remember just feeling this drive to keep going, that one more step and I was closer than before. After inventory I tried to drink some more gatorade from the pace truck that was following me. It was different than what they had been serving on the course so it did not go over well at all so I kept drinking water. The course monitor that starting walking with me at the last water stop was nice enough to hold it for me.

I made it to the foot of the KV's Bridge and started the final ascent the last hill the last obstacle in my way and took it one step at a time and made it over, than the right turn at the bottom and the final left turn. I was just hoping not to fall flat on my face. Then I heard the announcer letting everyone know the last official runner had just turned the corner, and he was calling for everyone hanging around to form two lines to cheer me in. I teared up at that. See in my first half marathon the only people left at the end were the guys at the timing mat and my husband, the crowds had moved on. This was incredible the announcer was still there, the camera's were still there and the massage therapist were there as well as the Swiftwick bike team that paced me the last 4 miles making sure I was hydrating and doing okay. I in a split second knew I could not just walk it in, no matter how sore and tired and done my body was I had to pull together what little bit I had left and I had to run it in. I had to run across those mats because those people cared that I was still out there plugging along making my way to the finish.

So my third half marathon ended with me running the final block and a half and crossing the mats giving high fives to those at the finish line that came to cheer me in.

I will always remember every race I run but this race will always stick with me. It wasn't my first it won't be my last but it will be the race that I found out how far I could push my body and how far I could go and how little pain really matters when you cross those mats.

WHM Nashville Inaugural Expo

I have been looking forward to this race and expo since I saw the booth at the Country Music Marathon Expo. The draw for me was the idea of the two piece medal and the fact that it was a race especially for women.

The Nashville Medal is unique to Nashville. Each of the races has finishers medals that are specific for that race. You can find the concept art work here at their home page Women's Half Marathon.

They also advertise the "ultimate goodie bag". Again the artwork for each bag is different dependent on which race you are running. The let down of this "ultimate goodie bag" is that the ultimate thing about it is the specially designed bag. It is special and unique but not what I would really call "ultimate". I was looking for something from the major sponsors of the race in the bag and found only the following items:

Dole Real Fruit Bites yogurt and whole grain oats covered pineapple chunks these I was looking forward to and they did not disappoint.

Shave Secret tried this when we got it in previous goodie bag it's not that great

Real Foods Corn Thins uber thin corn cakes I added some Nutella to mine for some flavor

Rohto Redness Relief eye drops different version than I had received in another race bag, but still can't use do to contact use, tried this version after taking out my contacts not a pleasant experience it made my eyes burn even more

ViOLOGIE sample of shampoo and conditioner with a coupon

It would have been nice for them to include a chain of some sort for the charm that detaches from the finishers medal. It could have been a leather cord or just the same chain they sold for $10.00 since the draw for many participants was the idea of being able to wear your medal where ever you go.

The tech tee is cute, the graphics, style and feel of the shirt are nice. These are NOT real women sizes, my XL was more like a large or medium and there was no offer of any sizes larger than XL. After talking to several other ladies at the expo that were not itty bitty, there was a general feeling of letdown that they would not be able to wear the shirt due the small sizing.

For a "women's" race one would think that they would want to cater to the "real" women. This race series has seemed to draw quite a few "first timers" this would be a GREAT opportunity for them to showcase that not all women are built the same, I think they might have dropped the ball in that area.

The sizing of race apparel and tech shirts is something that I have found to be an industry wide problem for men and women. The tech shirts all seem to run small, sure this FCR could compromise and buy a guys shirt but I don't want a guy's shirt. They are cut differently and just don't seem to fit correctly.

The Expo was laid out so as you entered the area you first went through the branded apparel, there were some really cute head bands and tee-shirts with the race logo. Then you begin a serpentine walk around past the vendors, the drawback to this lay out is that you had to go all the way around the booths to get to the tee-shirt pick up area. Not a bad marketing strategy but for those participants that had to pick up their packets and leave it caused a bit of a bottle neck during the "rush".

Michelle Stone, Dawna Stone, FCR and Ellen Heise.

I got to spend some time talking to Michele Stone and Ellen Heise about the expo and goodie bags and they explained that the bag was considered "Ultimate" because it wasn't the typical throw away plastic bag that you get at most of the races across the country. I can give brownie points for that. They also explained that they were very picky about what was put in the bags more points here. Taking that in to consideration is a nice sentiment that you don't come home with a bag of fliers that you never read and just toss away.

Over all the expo was nice, filled with your typical race vendors, from this FCR's experience, there was of course Spibelt and Gu, our Fleetfeet friends and our local Acme Multi-Sports guys and girls at the Oakley booth, Brooks made and appearance with Fleetfeet, and Muzino was there with Sports Seasons. There were some new to me vendors there as well. The gang from Nuu Muu was awesome. And the Concerta staff was very nice as well. RungirlRun and GypsyRunner.com were also in attendance.

Next up we will review product from Nuu Muu, rungirlrun and Gypsy Runner, as always we never review product that we have not personally tried.

Know of someone or something we need to feature just send us a note and we will check it out.

Till Later

FCR

First time Halfer's do's and don'ts

As many of you know I will be running my third half marathon this coming Saturday. I am by no means a "pro" or seasoned runner. I do have a list of things that I have learned this year that just might help some of you tackle your first half marathon with a bit more success.

We will start out with the Do's

Go to bed early you probably will not sleep much or even very well but by being in bed your body moves into relax mode.

Eat a light dinner the night before, if your race is on Saturday eat your BIG pasta meal on Thursday and a light meal on Friday night.

I made the mistake of consuming a HUGE burger and fries meal the night before my last half and was miserable the morning of.

Lay out what you are going to wear the night before. You should have already found comfortable socks, shoes and running gear prior to the day before. These should all be items you have trained with and now how they feel and fit your body. Nothing worse than running in new gear the day of your big race. Put your socks IN your shoes if your not wearing your shoes to the start line, put on your shirt and pin your bib on the night before. If your running in Nashville plan on some sort of rain gear, every long race this year has had rain.

Do some light yoga and stretching before you get dressed it will help loosen you up and calm your nerves.

There are so many more do's but you have to find what is right for you. It is the don'ts that can cause you problems and hinder your race.

Do Not's

No new anything the day of the race, foods, clothes, shoes, socks, wear what you train in. What your body is use to.

No pedicures at least two weeks prior to a race. You are going to be asking those rough ugly feet to do so much the day of the race. Let them have the callous' it will prevent blisters.

No massages the day before unless you have experience with getting them the day before a race. Deep tissue massages can make your muscles sore and unwilling to co-operate the next day.

No big heavy meal the night before

No new gu, sports beans or electrolyte replacement products. Why you ask? Digestive problems are one thing you do NOT want to experience your first time running long distance.

Remember this is your race, for you! Have fun, enjoy and best of all that feeling when you cross the finish line is like no other in this world. Besides you will be part of the 1% of the worlds population to do this.

As always,

FCR

One more step, One more mile, One more finish, My race for me