Find Your Strong and Win a Pair of Saucony Sneakers!

Posted on June 21, 2012 Written by 173 Comments

Many of you Saucony fans out there are probably familiar with their recent Find Your Strong Project.  Saucony is running a 12 week long contest based on the different ways you Find Your Strong. This week is the last week of the contest and the chance to win free Sauconys!

You have two chances to win a FREE pair of Saucony sneakers. Visit the contest website and follow the directions to submit an entry. Ten winners will be chosen to receive a free pair of Kinvara 3s!

Saucony helps me Find My Strong!

There is another chance to win by entering my giveaway below. I want to know what your favorite Saucony shoe or apparel item is.

Strong can be found in every runner. Personal. Powerful. Insanely motivating. We find strong in others. We find it in ourselves, and when we share it, we all get stronger. Saucony Presents The Find Your Strong Project – giving runners the chance to share their strong. To find inspiration, find a challenge, or (even) a kick in the butt. Because the more we all run, the stronger we all get. Strong is out there … what’s yours?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Gear, Giveaways Tagged: ,

Where to Find Great Deals on Running Gear

Posted on February 21, 2012 Written by 14 Comments

I was so excited yesterday when I scored not one, but two Saucony running tanks for $40 with free shipping. This impulse buy prompted me to write a post on where to find great deals on running gear.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I love supporting my local running store, however, sometimes there are deals that are just too good to pass up.

I was wasting time perusing Facebook yesterday when I saw a note about one of Saucony’s last chance sales (click on Men’s or Women’s and then “Last Chance” in the left hand sidebar). For those of you who haven’t checked them out, you definitely should! Saucony will run them occasionally, and they are a great way to pick up running staples for up 50% off (sometimes even more!).

Another site that I like to check out periodically is the Running Warehouse. Running Warehouse has just about everything you could possibly need for running, at a good discount. The discount varies according to product, but you can definitely find some steals.

Holabird Sports is a site that is similar to the Running Warehouse. You can find great deals on gear and closeouts on running shoes. I kind of prefer Running Warehouse though, because you get free two-day shipping on ALL orders and free return shipping. You can even overnight an item for $9.95—about the cheapest overnight shipping charge I’ve seen!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I have found a lot of great deals on workout gear at these stores, from running skirts to Fuel Belts (I got mine at TJ Maxx for $10!). Although these stores can be hit or miss with their selections, I think they are always worth checking out.

Filed Under: Gear Tagged: , , ,

Compression Sleeves or Socks?

Posted on February 15, 2012 Written by 12 Comments

Compression sleeves or socks? That is the question. I have always worn compression socks, but I have wondered about calf sleeves and the reasons you would choose one over the other. They are both great options for reducing muscle fatigue, but it was still a matter of curiosity for me! After a little investigation, I uncovered a very simple answer…

It comes down to your own personal preference. There are no added benefits offered by the socks, although some of the socks do come with additional padding on parts of the foot that get a little beat up on long runs (heels and toes). I like this feature of the Saucony Elite compression socks I have.

The compression socks are an all in one deal, so if you like the ease of one article of clothing for the feet/legs, they probably make more sense for you. Alternatively, some people are really partial to a certain type of sock and therefore would rather have the ability to keep their favorite socks and still get the benefit of compression.

Interestingly enough, there is a difference in the compression grade of some socks and sleeves, so you should check to see if your apparel is recommended for activity and/or recovery. There is also a thought that compression socks may be better for longer runs because calf sleeves could cause more blood to pool in your feet. I think I would tend to agree with this and use the compression sleeves for shorter runs and the compression socks for longer runs.

Do you use compression socks and/or sleeves? If you use both, do you prefer one over the other?

 

 

Filed Under: Gear, Training Tagged: , , ,

What to Wear When It’s Below Freezing

Posted on January 17, 2012 Written by 17 Comments

On Sunday, I waited until about noon to head out for my scheduled long run because it was cold, as in the coldest day we have had yet here in Providence. We are talking below freezing temperatures, which is why I chose to go a little later in the hopes that it would warm up.

My hopes were dashed when it was noon and still a measly 15 degrees (-1 with the wind chill) when I set out on the Blackstone Valley Bike Path. I usually don’t run outside when it’s this cold, but I have decided that I loathe long runs on the treadmill so much that I am going to buck up and learn to enjoy running outside in the super cold temps. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gear, Training Tagged: , ,