Road ID

Earlier this year I ran across an advertisement for Road ID. It in it's pure essence if a medical alert bracelet on steroids.

They have several different options for your needs.

Their standard product is an ID that is called the Wrist ID Sport it comes in two different versions. One is what they call an interactive version and the other is the standard version.

When purchasing my Road ID I chose the interactive version because of some of my medications that I take that might interact with emergency medical care. The difference between the Interactive and the Original can be found here. The Original has more lines of customizable text allows you to put immediate emergency info right on the face of the ID. The Interactive version lets you maintain and Emergency Response Profile or as the company calls it ERP.

The first year of ERP Interactive service is free after that it's $9.99 a year. Not bad for a profile that the emergency responders can get your updated info such at your full name, emergency contact, current medications your home address and any medical problems that may influence emergency treatment. I like that I am able to change it if my medical info changes. It allows me to move my Road ID with me where ever I move.

I cannot tell you about any of the other styles because I have the Wrist Sport ID interactive. When I got it I was so excited that I felt safer on my long lonely weekday runs. Knowing that if something happen and I couldn't give my info that it was just a call away. All right there for emergency responders to know what I could not tell them.

Never in a million years did I think that I would need such a service so soon. In my last post you can read about me passing/blacking out at the St. Jude's Half Marathon. In the middle of the EMT's removing me from the vehicle I was in, to the gurney I attempted to give them my Road ID with all my info, some how after handing it over to the EMT's it got lost.

I waiting until today giving whom ever found it a chance to call the number on the front (my husband's phone) to return it. Not hearing anything I went to the Road ID member site www.myroadid.com and reported it lost.

I later received an email with a company number to call about replacing the ID. I was fully expecting to pay for the replacement. James the gentleman that answered my call asked what happen and how did I lose it. I explained he then asked if it was okay to put me on hold for a moment, I said of course I don't mind being put on hold when asked so nicely, he came back and told me that Road ID would be replacing my ID free of charge. I was taken aback. He then apologized for the EMT's not handling it properly.

I was not expecting for the company to replace my ID. He explained that sometimes EMT's are not trained properly and that it wasn't my fault they miss handled it. Still astonished he asked if it would be okay for the company president to call me back, explaining that he liked to call back when issues like this happen to customers.

I am now completely in love with Road ID as a product and as a company. Any company that takes the time to educate emergency response personnel about the use and purpose of it's product and then stands by it's product when NOT used properly is just simply amazing. This is really above and beyond just the basics.

One would expect for something this great to be expensive but really for twenty bucks and ten every year after that just to ensure I don't end up a jane doe if something happens is well worth the peach of mind.

This is one investment that I will be sharing with friends and family. The great news is that they are launching a child's ID sometime after the new year. Can't wait to get one for each of my niece's and nephews.

Please if you spend any amount of time running by yourself this is a must have product!

FCR

One More Step

One More Mile

One More Finish

St. Jude's Memphis 1/2 Marathon

Some of you know from facebook that I had some issues.

Had a great pre race pasta dinner with Cari and her family, Bob, his wife and K'Leetha. Felt really good about the next day. Not stressed that I could tell. Made sure that I drank plenty of water the night before and morning of. I wanted to make sure that I was hydrated and didn't have any problems with hands swelling and knuckles being black and blue this time.

Got up that morning nice and early so that we would have time to get to the parking lot close to the start/finish, and make sure we had the gear we needed, and to meet up with Bob and K that morning. We somehow missed them.

It was nice that we could place ourselves in a corral, we chose a bit of a faster pace than either of us run so that we would have time to get settled in before our actual pace group left.

Cari and I hugged and wished each other luck with our own races. And headed out.

Surprisingly I stayed with the main pack for about 5 miles. I was finding out that I needed to stop at the water stops and use the facilities more often but that gave me cause to pick up the pace and keep up with the pack. I felt really good other than that. at about mile 7 to 7.5 I was still doing okay I was at about 2 to 2.5 hours which I was happy with at mile 9 that would put me at about 3 hours with gas left to knock out the last 4 miles at a decent clip. That's when things fell off track.

I stopped just past mile 8 to adjust my laces due to swelling, this is a normal stop for me nothing new, then headed into the park. About mile 7 I picked up a friend to run with. Extremely lucky I did.

I don't remember much about running through Overton Park but I do remember coming out the other side and looking for directions on where to go next because all the race signs and such were gone. At about mile 10 I remember sitting down because everything was really wavy and getting dark around the edges.

The next thing I remember is waking up in an emergency runners transport truck with no idea how I got there from the point I sat down. Talk about terrified. The EMT's got me to the field hospital and check vitals and such, gave me a banana and asked me again where I was who I was and such. When they first go to the truck I was still hazy on what had happen and how I got back to Autozone Park.

Needless to say I did not finish this race. I am still hazy about parts of the final two miles I did complete. I remember music and smelling bread.

After talking to a friend in the medical field it sounds as if I my electrolytes were all messed up, the banana helped.

I guess as Bob said when I ran into him and K after they had finished it was a good day for a training run.

I am more upset about passing/blacking out than I am about not finishing. Because it means that I'm not doing something right. I'm going to spend the next couple of days working out just what I need to do to hydrate my body and keep my electrolytes in balance as well as finish strong.

I'm looking forward to the Frostbite 5k, The Fangtastick 5k and possibly Tom King again. I and rededicating myself to proper training and not slacking off by only doing the bare minimum miles. I am going to work on those first 8 miles, and push past that mile 8 wall.

FCR

One More Step

One More Mile

One More Finish

Training, racing and the Holidays.

I've gone and done it again. Life has somehow gotten in the way of training adequately for St. Jude's in December. I feel better about this race even tho I haven't put in major miles. My mentality about this race seems to be in the right place.

I have had a couple of really tough mental races. Country Music and the WHM was a bit defeating mentally, knowing I could do better and being blocked on one front or the other.

Country Music I was ready physically but as we know mother nature had other ideas. WHM I kept telling myself I was only running for the medal but in the end it was a tough finish.

For St. Jude's I am working on the mental portion of running. When I train I picture the course. For the first time I have a copy of the race posted near my computer monitor. I stare at it consistently I think I almost know the route by heart!

I am looking forward to this race. It is my last race of the year, and it is the end of Year One of racing and keeping a commitment I made to my self back in November of 2009.

Looking back I have realized several things about the running community.

Runners don't have anything negative to say about anyone trying to reach their running goal.

Runners who complete full marathons are just as in awe of those that complete half marathons.

Runners will stop their race to help another runner or check on a runner falling way behind.

Runners are only competing with themselves, sure the placing hardware is nice but so is the completion hardware.

Runners only really need two things to run, feet and good shoes.

Runners will cheer and yell for you even if your in the back and they are Elite runners. Some of the greatest support I've gotten is from professional runners.

Runners share the road they are on with anyone, even crazy drivers.

Runners are all a bit insane, why else would we run crazy races such as the Warrior Dash/Hood to Coast and Ragnar, or attempt to run Moab?

Runners don't care if your 150 or 300lbs they care that your out there doing it.

Runners know that the pain and all the sore muscles, the bruised toe nails and the blisters are so worth the feeling of crossing the finish line.

And my last realization is that yes I really am an Endurance Geek, a runner and I am loving it.

Till after Memphis!

FCR

Questions? Comments? Want to contribute?

contact us at:

DiaryOfAFatChickRunning@clearwire.net

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!