August, 2014 - AnnaTheApple

August 14, 2014August 14, 2014

High5 or Nuun for hydration?

Hello! I have the second part of my ProBikeKit review for you today.

If you missed the first one and are interested it was reviewing the Clif energy bars (find it HERE). As I got the choice of what to pick from the website (was actually really hard to choose, so many good products) I decided to do a little stand-off between the High5 electrolyte tablet product and the Nuun version. And with it being so warm and sunny recently it was actually a perfect choice.

The idea behind the electrolyte tablets is that it’s better than water in that there are important electrolytes added which help keep the athlete properly hydrating. Water is only good for so long and indeed if you have too much water it can be very dangerous as it effectively washes out valuable salts from your system. I’m no scientist so if you want to read more go HERE.

High5 Sports Zero X’treme Caffeine Hydration Tablets – Tube of 20 (find HERE)

Basically you add one of the tablets to around 500ml of plain water and let it dissolve (I vigorously shake my water bottle to speed this up). The flavour is very subtle – kind of like weak squash with a little bit of a chemical taste. I wouldn’t describe it as delicious but it’s not horrendous. There are two flavours available in this range: berry and pink grapefruit (I had berry).

It contains zero calories (hence the name) and this version contains caffeine. I’m a big believer in having caffeine before big races or parkruns. I need my morning coffee. But I dislike drinking coffee before my long runs because I want to just get out there and having coffee sloshing around is not good, whereas there is time before races for it to ‘go through the system’ if you like.

I would fill my bottle with this and take it with me during a long run. Sometimes I would drink 500ml the day before a race if I know it’s going to be hot to make sure I’m fully hydrated leading up the race, not just on the race day.

According to High5, it helps improve attention, concentration and reaction time. There’s added vitamin C (supporting the immune system) and magnesium to help with the “electrolyte balance, reduces tiredness and fatigue, whilst supporting muscle protein synthesis” (source). There are no artificial colours or preservatives and it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans. There are 20 in this tube and on ProBikeKit it’s £4.99.

Nuun Active Sports Isotonic Hydration Tablets – Tube of 12 Grape (find HERE)

Similar to above you add a tablet to 500ml of water and let it dissolve. Nuun seems to be very popular in American and I hear about it lot on different blogs so I was keen to see what it was like in comparison to the more widely known High5 above.

This product only contains 12 tablets and is slightly more expensive at £5.99 per tube. So obviously it’s more expensive than High5’s version.

Each tablet contains 360mg sodium, 100mg potassium, 12mg calcium and 24mg magnesium – and again very low calorie (6 per tablet). But there’s no caffeine added variation available. There are lots of flavours to choose from: citrus, lemon tea, lemon/lime, orange, grape, strawberry, fruit punch and tri-berry. Mine was citrus fruit flavour. It tasted OK, again kind of like weak squash but not unpleasant.

Thoughts

Which did I prefer? It’s funny because I prefer Nuun as a company but I prefer the High5 product. The added caffeine and vitamin C win me over. Probably taste-wise, Nuun is better but I’m not that bothered about taste. High5 is also cheaper, when considering how much you could be using this product it is a definite consideration. I think either though are fine to use and it’s just down to personal preference. I know that High5 also do a caffeine-free version if the caffeine isn’t your thing.

Hope you enjoyed the review! Check out the ProBikeKit website for more cool products (for both running and cycling).

Do you drink a lot of water when you run?

Do you use electrolyte tablets or sports drinks? I tend to avoid sports drinks as they are so sweet and it makes me feel ill when running. I like the fact that these have no sugar in them so it avoids that stomach issue. Ben however loves his sugary drinks when running and after a run.

Have you tried Nuun or High5 products before?

**Full disclaimer: I was sent these products for free to try. All opinions are my own**

August 13, 2014August 14, 2014

How much should you run?

Happy hump day everyone. I had Monday off this week so this week feels a bit odd (but the weekend still can’t come quick enough, am I right?)

Monday was a funny day because I had originally planned to be doing the Ultra 12 event Saturday night so had taken the day after off to recover. However I didn’t go so obviously didn’t need to do much recovering Monday. Unlike my poor husband who didn’t have Monday off and did run Ultra 12. Funny how that worked out really…

I had nothing planned for Monday as I did manage to get my long run in on Sunday (despite the weather being appalling in the morning). I’m glad I got it done because it meant on Monday I could do a quick strength routine in the morning at home and then just do lots of walking instead.

Because I’d taken bit of time off running recently I felt it was stupid to jump straight into a really long run, so kept it to 10 miles. My average heart rate was 162 which was perfect for this run, meaning I was running nice and easy. Not that I really need my HR monitor to tell me that as I can usually feel how things are going. The run felt relaxed and easy. Though I’d stupidly put on a long top because I thought the weather would turn again. It didn’t until 5 minutes after arriving home. *Sighs* During the run I was actually praying for torrential rain I was that hot.

I did manage to get some nice walks in with Alfie, but when out running some errands I badly misjudged the clouds and got caught in a downpour!

Think the shorts might retire soon…

Recently I’ve read a few interesting articles that one of my running friends tweeted. A series of articles caught my eye: How much should you run? There are five parts to it (I’ve linked to the final part with the conclusions). Spoiler alert: it seems that mileage is unimportant in improving marathon times, running higher volumes of miles a week will lead to injuries (40 miles a week apparently leads to a 50% increase in injury rate) and elites are just genetically gifted supernatural beings (sort of).

Further articles talk about how easy runs are rubbish and you’ll still get injured (I am of course paraphrasing a little). By the end of reading a few of these articles I was ready to throw either my trainers or myself out the window. My scientifically-minded running friend (Kate – hello!) however assured me that these studies were very old and the research is therefore limited. But it did make me a little bitter and depressed, I won’t lie. I always feel with running I get so far and then get knocked down again with injury. I am hugely jealous of people who can do stupidly high mileage and remain uninjured.

I’m pretty sure I have a terrible running style but I am improving little by little with strength training and drills (I truly believe with each new injury I learn a little more and work harder to never repeat the same mistake). But I think I’m one of those runners who can’t run every day and trot along without issue. I’m hoping as the years go by I will get stronger but who knows? I’m trying to cycle more than I did before as an effort to maintain fitness but reduce injury with running.

I do think these articles are to be taken with a pinch of salt and that it really depends on the person, their biomechanics, their training, their genes…etc. etc. so I shouldn’t just dive head first into a Dark and Shady place.

Runners, how often do you run? Do you know where your ‘tipping point’ is with injuries?

What do you do to prevent getting injured (in any sport really)?

How often do you get injured (if ever – you lucky sod)?

August 12, 2014

The one with all the selfies…

This past weekend was quite a strange one for me. Ben was off camping for a running event called Ultra 12 (solo or relay runners running Saturday 7pm until Sunday 7am). I had planned on doing it as well and being part of a team of six with Ben but as it got closer I realised my time was probably better spent focusing on the marathon.

I didn’t feel too bad leaving the team because this actually meant they could get more laps in without me and they’d get a better running experience (I hoped) from it. Obviously I was sad I wasn’t going and being part of the team but I knew my decision was sensible (albeit boring). I’d get to go to parkrun on Saturday and do a longish run Sunday.

This past week or so I’ve had a few niggles I wanted to put to bed so have been focusing a bit more on cycling and hoping the niggles don’t develop further. So far so good. Just means I haven’t been able to run as far in my long runs as I’d want at this point. But I’m not dwelling on it or panicking.

Friday night I was on my own and watch the Dallas Buyers Club (a film I knew Ben wouldn’t want to watch) occasionally interrupted with a few selfies from the husband to keep me informed of all his good behaviour…

Preparing well for the race the next day

Saturday morning I cycled the four miles to parkrun and helped them set up.

Parkrun selfie

Then ran a nice and easy parkrun with a friend from my club. I just ran on feel and didn’t want to push it but felt good at the end and picked up the pace a bit (to the surprise of my running partner, whoops!) I would like this documented that this was my first ever royal flush negative split parkrun (I know it’s only three miles but still, this is something for me!)

Very pleased with that! Then I helped pack up and cycled back home.

Ben was away until Sunday lunchtime-ish so I’d planned on hanging with the parentals for Saturday until Sunday morning, where I’d planned to do a nice long run along the seafront (as my parent’s live closer to the sea than we do).

I took Alfie with me and we headed there at lunchtime. I enjoyed a nice walk down to the local village with my parents to pick up some supplies for the evening dinner.

Then we had a nice lunch and headed out for another walk, this time along the seafront to stop for coffee in one of the little tea rooms. The walk was very windy but lovely in the sunshine.

I do love being near the sea. And this helped take my mind off that I was missing out on all the Ultra fun and Ben 🙁

Sea-side selfie

I sent some selfies to Ben and he responded likewise so I sort of felt in the loop.

Ben and Nathan

The weather was looking to turn to the worst however…

Some less happy than others!

Anyway, back to the walk. Our plan was to have coffee and to also buy a slice of cake each to have after dinner. Well that did not work out at all after seeing the amazing selection and having worked up a bit of an appetite for a snack.

Yeah right I could walk a slice of cake the two miles back to the car without eating it!! We all agreed cake would be far better now than after dinner. Good decision, yes?

That absolute beast of a slab is red velvet. So. Damn. Good. My dad had an incredibly sized slice of carrot cake and my mum had the same as me. I think I need to return though for test purposes because they said they had a cinnamon bun cake and I’ve never tried one of those before.

Our walk back was powdered by cake; we were stuffed! As we continued to walk we all agreed our planned steak dinner was probably not a good idea anymore. It’s a shame because it was going to be Steak Diane and this is one of my favourite recipes my dad cooks.

Anyway we had a lazy evening of a snacky dinner (soup for me) and a good film, the Guilt Trip. This film is just made to watch with your mum. Seriously. It was very funny and the perfect choice for the evening…while Ben and the team were working hard in the night…

Head torches to the rescue?

The next morning I planned on running 10 miles down the beach…until I looked outside.

It was absolutely pelting it down and the wind was unbelievable. Hurricane Bertha was saying good morning it seemed. Running along the beach in this? No thank you! I’m not a fair weather runner (I’ll run in wind, rain and snow any day) but this was stupid. I’d get blown away! My parents agreed I shouldn’t go out so instead I enjoyed a bit of Xbox with my dad (geek at heart I’m afraid).

Then I made my way home and had the lovely company of my returned exhausted runner. The team absolutely smashed it and came first for the mixed relay runners – how about that! They were amazing and I’m so glad they all enjoyed it. Ben managed four laps (of the 5 mile course) so he was pretty spent for the rest of the day.

His well deserved medal still round his neck

I’m a very proud wife! He did amazingly. Though I don’t regret not going, I am sad I wasn’t involved and didn’t get to see them all do so well. Next year!

What films have you seen lately?

Have you ever done a relay race?

Do you enjoy spending time with your parents? My parents and me are very close and I’m not ashamed to say I like spending time with them. And Ben’s mother in law as well. I’m very lucky to have such a lovely family! (Cheese alert sorry)

August 8, 2014

OM Yoga Magazine July/August – my first steps into yoga

I’ve heard so many people talk about the benefits of yoga, both mentally and physically, but never thought to try it myself… Until I was offered the opportunity to review the OmYoga magazine and at the same time coincidentally found out about a local and fairly affordable yoga class with someone I knew.

Considering my past history with just focusing too much on running and getting injured all the time it was probably best I gave it a shot. I actually don’t know much about yoga at all. I’ve done Pilates but never yoga. I know you can follow videos online but for me doing something like that will never work. I’d get distracted and wander off somewhere to fold washing or eat an apple. So reading this magazine and then attending my first ever yoga classes really helped.

The latest OmYoga magazine is a double addition packed full of articles, information, yoga fashion and poses.

I’m a big an of running magazines (are you surprised?) so was fairly intrigued about what a yoga magazine would be all about. It’s got lots of interesting articles in which help me understand why yoga is such a craze. The mental (and of course physical) strength people seem to acquire to help them with their lives is incredible.

What really took my eye though was the article “Yoga Meets Physiotherapy”.

Hello, hello, hello. My kinda thing completely. This is exactly what I’m looking for. Apparently this practice of blending yoga and physiotherapy together is called “physioyoga”. It’s all about using the teachings behind yoga – the poses, the stretches, the breathing – to help overcome pains or issues you might have within your body. Purportedly yoga can help blood flow, digestion, and even hormonal imbalances as well as reducing stress. These can all help towards creating a healthy and injury-free body.

It’s interesting because a lot of the stretches I’ve come to learn through physio or from other people’s advice to help loosen muscles and up my flexibility I’m coming to realise are actually from yoga. Like the pigeon pose to open up your hips, downward dog to lengthen those calves and hamstrings, and loads more. Fascinating stuff!

Another article that caught my eye which is highly interesting to me at the moment is the “Yoga for Cyclists” article.

OK I’d say I’m more a runner than a cyclist but I do enjoy a good cycle and recently have been doing lots of cycling to help refresh my running and get my head into a good space. So these stretches are perfect for me at the moment. And actually perfect for runners too as there is a lot of crossover with muscles used between the sports.

As for me actually doing yoga? Well I’ve been to two classes so far and I’m really enjoying it.

I’m glad I have the class because I get to be told what to do and how to do it, and I’m motivated to do it in a class full of yogis. With the magazine as well it’s really opening my eyes to the fact that not everything I need to do needs to be fast fast fast or that I need to be ‘the best in the class’ (believe me I am quite firmly at the bottom of the class!). Yoga isn’t like that and I love that about it.

Do you do yoga?

Do you have the drive and need to be good at everything you do?

What’s your favourite yoga pose?

**This post includes affiliate links**

August 7, 2014

Clif Sports Energy Bars Review

Hey there. I’ve recently been sent some Clif Sports Energy Bars for review from Probikekit.co.uk. Probikekit is primarily an online cyclist shop, selling cycling gear, fitness clothes and nutritional items but it has also branched out into the running world.

I’ve seen Clif bars about all over the place. Other than sports shops (online and real), you can sometimes be lucky enough to get one in a race goodie bag or they might have samples going at different events. For instance, we saw them at the Portsmouth Marathon expo and at Endure 24.

Runners were like bees round honey at this free samples tent

I’d only tried little samples and found they were extremely moreish and very filling (a dangerous combo perhaps…).

Anyway I was sent a box to trial. Being the good wife I am I let Ben try some as well. He’s been enjoying them for breakfast and the occasional snack – he loves them. I’ve been having them as afternoon snacks (that awkward hungry time between lunch and dinner) and also for times when I know food is going to be a while round the corner, like bridging the gap between a race and a proper meal.

Before I get on to the nitty gritties about the taste and nutritional value, I must mention the ethos behind the company:

“Good food provides health, joy, and energy, and is a delight to the senses. And food, made right, can make the world a better place.

That’s why we use wholesome ingredients in all our products. And all our food is free of hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup.

We recognize that food matters to our families, our communities, and our planet – as our food choices affect the physical, social, and environmental fabric of our lives.”

Source

For these energy bars, they use 70% organic ingredients, they’re GMO free, vegan and a powerhouse of energy and nutrition: each bar (depending on flavour) contains 9-11 grams of protein, 4-5 grams of fibre, they’re free of trans fats and contain 23 vitamins and minerals.

There are several flavours available on the site: chocolate chip, chocolate and almond, peanut butter, white chocolate and the one I picked – oat, raisin and walnut. This bar contains 243 calories and tasted divine. A brilliant chewy texture with lots of flavour. It is nice and filling as well due to all that protein.

I would definitely recommend these as emergency snacks to keep with you day-to-day, or to fuel you during a long walk or cycle or even cut up and used on a long run if you’re able to stomach something as chewy as this (I tend to get a stitch sadly, but for walking and cycling these are perfect for me).

Have you ever tried the Clif products?

What snacks do you have to tide you over between meals?

What’s more important to you: calories or protein content?

**Full Disclosure: I was sent this product for review. All opinions are my own**