Costco for the Win

It's been a while since I have sung the praises of Costco workout gear. That's because it disappeared for a while. Trust me. I looked every time I went.

The reversible yoga pants are back. I still love my black and gray pairs. I may or may not have worn the black ones to work occasionally (and got compliments!). They are every bit as good as the Lululemon versions at a fraction of the cost. $19.99 vs. $98? Right. One pair of Costco pants more than makes my annual membership fee to Costco worth it.

The jackets are back too, apparently both online and in the warehouse. I still like the one I got last year, but I actually think this year's jacket is better. Here's why:

1. It has little reflective strips on the cuffs and on the back. Still has the thumbholes and cuff mittens.
2. It has a zippered pocket on one of the sleeves, in addition to two other zippered pockets.
3. It is longer and not as tight as last year's jacket. Covers my bum and keeps it warm ;-)
4. It has a double zipper. I am not sure what the technical term is, but there are 2 zipper pulls on the main zipper. Which is good if you want the jacket partially zippered from somewhere other than the bottom of the jacket.
5. Still $24.99. The Lululemon equivalent is about $100.

I got the reddish pink jacket because there was a blueish teal one too close to last year's jacket, I didn't need another black jacket, and I liked the reddish pink more than the purplish one. If I am going to wear this in the winter, I am going to wear it in the dark at least some of the time. Then I'd rather have a brightly colored jacket.

I took this jacket out for a run on the coldest day we have had this winter, and it is every bit as good as its older sibling.

Some pics:

Front


Back


The cuffs with reflective strips, thumbholes, and cuff mittens. The mitten folds over as far as the reflective strip.

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down: Liquids

Thumbs Up

Nuun - electrolyte tablets that dissolve in plain water. Not too sweet. Tastes better than plain water. Makes me thirsty just like Gatorade, though. One tablet is supposed to dissolve in 16 ounces of water, but I think it should be more like 12 ounces. I have tried citrus, orange, lemon-lime, tri-berry, strawberry lemonade, and lemon tea and like them all. Lemon-lime is my least favorite. Strawberry lemonade is my most favorite. Lemon tea has some caffeine. I can't run with orange-colored or orange-flavored anything, so the orange and citrus are just for pre-hydration or after runs. I will have access to public water fountains in DC, so I am looking forward to using Nuun in the summer. A girl can only carry so much water. I also use it as part of my pre-hydration plan a couple of days before a long run in the heat. So far so good.

Chemex coffee - Chemex is a method for brewing coffee, not coffee itself. A Chemex coffeemaker looks like a chemistry beaker. It's pretty simple. Boil water, put the filter in the top, add coffee grounds, pour the water over the grounds, and wait. Now, you need special filters. You need a ground slightly coarser than what you'd put in a drip coffeemaker. It is helpful if you have an electric kettle (which I do ... much easier than boiling water on the stove). Chemex ain't cheap, but oh man, it makes some tasty coffee. I intensely dislike Starbucks coffee, but I will gladly drink Starbucks coffee brewed in a Chemex. It is not bitter at all. Plus their customer service is excellent. I support any company that stands by their products and makes it better.

Thumbs Down

chocolate Muscle Milk - It has a note on the package that Muscle Milk contains no actual milk. That should have been warning enough. I thought I had a carton of chocolate milk (same size and colors ... go figure). I didn't realize it was Muscle Milk until I had already poked the straw into it. It was awful. Awful awful awful. Did I mention awful? It tasted like overly sweet chemical-infused chocolate cake batter. Yuck. I'll take chocolate milk any day.

Minimalist Running

Sometime in the past, I said I wanted to try minimalist running when I wasn't training for anything. Well, I am in between training cycles. Now is the time to try it.

I already had a pair of miminalist shoes, the Saucony Hattori shoes (review here). I have been using them to help my balance during strength training. For that purpose, they were great. I could feel the floor better without all the cushioning of a running shoe.

The first time I tried running in the Hattoris, I ran maybe about a quarter mile total. It wasn't exactly the greatest idea to test them up and down hills, although I didn't really have much of a choice. Still, I could feel the difference. My calves felt it. My footstrike was different, mostly. I still landed mostly on my heels, especially on uphills but ran more on my toes on uphills. My stride was shorter. Much shorter. A few days later, I ran about .4 mile in them. Slowly. Then .6 mile on a treadmill slightly slower than my regular pace. My calves still felt it but not as much. Then .8 mile total. It was different, but good.

I know you have build slowly to minimalist running, and I do not intend to stick with it long-term. But I would like to work up to a couple of miles. A wee bit by a wee bit. Try it out to see what it's like.

Sunday Thoughts O' Random

Dear Nike+,
We need to talk. It's not you, it's me. Wait, that's wrong. It's not me, it IS you. You are just not meeting my needs anymore. I am not happy about it. I work hard. Why do you not work hard? Oh, I guess I can see you on the side on the treadmill once in a while. But you better be on better behavior.
No love,
(mostly) former Nike+ user

Dear Garmin Connect,
Wow! I just discovered weekly and monthly summaries. How did I not know those were there before? It was nice to confirm that I actually have been getting faster over the last few weeks and months. My inner data diva is pleased.
Best,
me

Costco Does It Again

I should just rename this blog the Costco love blog. What isn't good about Costco?

I made my every 3 or 4 weeks trip to Costco yesterday. Costco still had plenty of the Lululemon Groove-like yoga pants AND they had coordinating jackets (in black, light purple, bright pink, or teal) similar to Lululemon's Define jacket.

The fit of the jacket was tight. If I had larger boobs, I don't think it would have fit well. The teal jacket jumped in my cart and came home with me because:
1. The cuffs are not tight. I often take off my outermost layer once I get going and have trouble getting tight cuffs over my Garmin. Not so with this jacket.
2. It has thumbholes AND an extra flap of fabric in the cuff that folds over into a mitten. Built-in mittens! My not-so-cold-any-longer hands appreciate this.
3. Two zippered pockets on the front.
4. A hole in one of the pockets to run headphones inside the jacket, and an elastic loop near the collar to keep the headphones in place. Not that I really need this feature. It doesn't hurt, though.
5. It matches the greenish tank top I plan on wearing for the Shamrock Marathon.
6. $24.99 pricetag. The Lululemon equivalent goes for about $100. The difference is my annual Costco membership fee and then some.

The jacket, and the thumbholes and cuffs.



I took the jacket out for a spin with a long-sleeve tech layer as a base this morning. Temps were in the mid-20s. I unzipped the jacket and tucked back the cuff mittens once I was warm enough. I gotta say, I don't often wear jackets, but I might be a fan now. I liked being able to unzip it to let my midsection stay cooler while I simultaneously had an extra layer on my arms to keep them warm.

Costco for the win. Again. Who's surprised at that one? Now if only Costco brings back those racerback tank tops in the summertime ...

There is a chill in the air

One of my least favorite parts of running in the winter is after the run. I get very very very cold after some winter runs. My fingertips are the worst of it. Every once in a while, my fingertips get so cold that they turn white and go numb. Not fun (or smart) if you need to hop in your car and drive somewhere. I am not sure why it happens, but I think it has something to do with temperature regulation. I find it is worse if I got from outside to inside without cooling down first (maybe because your body is confused and thinks you need to be cooled down). But it also happens if I stay outside too long. Interestingly, my hands and feet stay warm while I am running. As soon as I stop, it's a completely different story with my hands.

I am making progress on keeping the finger numbness to a minimum. If it's above freezing, I can get away with bundling up in several layers and walking for a bit. It is not unusual for me to put on 2 layers of fleece, my ski jacket, a hat, a pair of lined warmup pants and 2 pairs of gloves. If it's below freezing, I go inside, change out of my sweaty running clothes immediately, get into warm dry clothes, put my ski jacket on, make a cup of hot coffee (mmmm coffee), and walk around inside while sipping the hot coffee. The hot cup helps my hands to warm up. The caffeine helps my muscles to feel less tired.

One of my most favorite parts of running in the winter is dressing up like a ninja. Speedy ninja runner.


I go through so much laundry in the winter, due to all the layers. I sometimes wear things twice. Gross? Maybe. But if I didn't sweat too much in it, why wash it? I have 3 pairs of winter tights and only do laundry once a week. You do the math.

Laundry pile of a winter warrior. This is from one long run last winter. See if you can spot: 2 pairs winter tights, 1 pair pants, 1 fleece pullover, 1 jacket, 1 pair arm warmers, 2 shirts, 1 baseball hat, 1 lightweight hat, 1 fleece headband, 1 lightweight balaclava, 1 pair gloves, 1 pair socks, and my running shoes

More Sunday Thoughts O'Random

I need to remember to not back up my computer at a time when I need to use my computer. Planning fail. Oops. At least I have an extra copy of my music, photos, and other assorted files.

I am seriously thinking about racing a half marathon. On a treadmill. Crazy? Maybe, but I've done crazier things. I'll take a half marathon on a treadmill over a half marathon in a nor'easter any day.

Costco rocks yet again for carrying Lululemon knockoffs. This time, it's yoga pants similar to the Groove pants. Same fiber content, same feel, same functionality. I've already worn the Costco pants to a yoga class and couldn't tell the difference between the Lululemon pants and the Costco ones. They seem true to size but with long inseams (they had short, regular, and tall). I am not particularly short, and yet short fits me fine. Thank you, Kirkland Signature brand.

Shoe Review - Saucony Hattori

I had been looking for a minimalist shoe for a while. Not to run in, although I am not against trying it at some point. I wanted minimalist shoes for strength training so that I can maintain my balance more easily. Nike Frees appealed to me, but Nikes don't really fit me properly. I knew about Vibrams too, but they don't fit me properly either. The five toes thing in particular didn't work well. Sauconys have treated me well over the years, so I researched and set out to find Saucony minimalist shoes.

Enter the Saucony Hattori. Saucony's zero drop, very light and slightly cushy minimalist shoes. Added bonus for being on sale.



I had to size up a half size from my regular running shoes. The fit was slightly better in my regular size, but there was a seam that I could feel under my toes. Yeah. No. I'll take a half size larger, thank you very much.

I have a feeling the soles will wear out quickly. I have some concerns about the stretchy material on the top of the shoe ... not sure how durable it is. But, for the price, they seemed worth a try. I like them so far. They are very comfortable for walking around, very light (3.8 ounces for the women's model, compared to 10.4 ounces for my Saucony Guide 4 running shoes), and almost slipper-like. In comparison, now my regular running shoes feel extra cushy. Interesting. I was not expecting that. I wore them around the house for a few days because they are so light and better than walking around barefoot. They've worked well for doing lunges with one foot on a stability ball. And for doing squats against a wall with the stability ball. And for standing around doing upper body exercises with free weights. I can feel the floor much better. I just have to make sure I don't drop the weights on my feet ;-)

I still don't plan on running in them. I'd have to try it out sometime when I am not training for something. The risk of injury is not worth it. But I won't rule it out. I once said I wasn't sure I'd run a marathon, and look at what happened. If I get another pair, I will order them online where there are more color choices. The white/purple combo is cute, but I like some of the other colors better.

Both shoes on my feet


And off

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down: Winter and Darkness Stuff

More stuff. All good stuff this time.

Thumbs Up



1. Single-bulb LED flashlight keychain - I have no idea where it came from, but I want another one. I think it was a freebie? It is small, flat, and light so that I can tuck it away in my Spibelt when I no longer need it (unlike my larger 7-bulb LED flashlight which is round, too heavy, and makes the Spibelt bounce like crazy). Perfect for illuminating those dark spots and flashing at drivers so that they can see me.

2. Old Navy performance fleece quarter-zip pullover - scored this on sale for $7 last week. Used a $20 Groupon that I paid $10 for to buy this and another pullover in a slightly different style in dark pink and 2 pairs of fleece gloves. Not bad for $10. The light peach/light orange color is so bright that it glowed through a plastic bag. That's kinda the point. This is not a color I would choose on my own, but it works for low-light visibility.

3. Illuminite reflective vest - Bright yellow, has adjustable Velcro ties at the waist, and is more than just a reflective strip. I bought this at the Rock N Roll Providence Half Marathon expo from a woman in my area who sells Illuminite samples. The funny color is from the flash reflecting off the reflective pattern all over the front and back. Without the flash, the vest is bright yellow.

4. Smartwool Ph.D. Ultra Light running socks - These socks knock my socks off so much that they are worth mentioning again. They both 1) keep my feet cool in warm weather AND 2) keep my feet warm in cold weather. How is that possible? Magic socks, I tell you.

5. Saucony Hattori shoes - Saucony's zero-drop minimalist shoes. Full review coming soon.

I seriously need to stop buying exercise clothes and gear. I go through socks and shoes pretty quickly, but other than that I don't need anything. Of course, now that I have said that, I'll probably come across some new clothing or gear that I need. Such as Lululemon Wunder Unders ....

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Some new finds:

Thumbs Up

Clif Kid Z bars - the kid-version of Clif bars. The Chocolate Brownie kind is pretty close to a chocolate brownie. Yes, I am not-so-secretly 5 years old.

Roasted salted sunflower seeds from Trader Joe's - these little guys pack a lot of calories in a small portion, but that's exactly why I like them. I portion them out into a little container with a handful of dried cranberries or dried cherries. Easy portable snack.

Half Thumbs Up/Half Thumbs Down

Old Navy hooded long-sleeve running shirt - I like that it has thumbholes, cute ruching on the cuffs, a small zippered pocket, and a half zip so that I can zip it down if I am too hot or pull over my head easily. I don't like that the hood doesn't stay up while running. It would be better with a drawstring. ON claims it has a reflective strip on the hood, but I don't think the strip is reflective. It's a decent running shirt, though. Worth the $15 I paid for it on sale, but probably not worth the $30 regular price.

Thumbs Down

Nothing, really.

Running in the Cold

It was unseasonably warm last week and the last few days in my neck of the woods. But don't let Mother Nature fool you. The cold weather is right around the corner. There is no reason why you can't keep running outside in the cold, as long as you are prepared.

Here are some tips on how to run in the cold:

1. Finding the right amount of clothing takes trial and error. Everyone has different hot spots and cold spots. You don't want to be drenched in sweat, but you also don't want to be too cold. You have to find the right balance. Removing and replacing items as necessary can help.

2. Layers. Layers. Layers. I go with anywhere from 1-3 layers depending on the temperature, wind, and precipitation.

3. Hats. They are good. Any kind will do. Baseball hat, knit hat, fleecy hat, hat with a pompom, or a Santa hat. All work. I stay warmer and can wear less clothes when I wear a hat. Who doesn't like a hat with a pompom?

4. Plan for needing to stop. Yes, you don't intend to stop. No one does. But what would happen if you were several miles from your car, home, or shelter and you got hurt or just could not run anymore? Make sure you have enough clothes to keep you warm. Carrying your phone doesn't hurt either.

5. Start your runs later in the day so that the temperature warms up a bit.

6. You still need to stay hydrated, even though it is colder.

7. When you are done, change out of your sweaty running clothes immediately into a complete set of warm, dry clothes. This helps if you are prone to getting very very cold after cold-weather workouts.

Clothes Favorites

1. C9 pullover fleece - scored this for $3.97 on Target's clearance rack. Yes, it wicks nicely. My LL Bean Pathfinder jacket is too warm 99% of the time. The pullover fleece is just right. Along with 2 base layers, it kept me comfortable on a 20-mile run on a 15 degree winter day.

2. Under Armour coldgear compression tights - Tights that fit like a second skin. They make me feel like a speedy ninja. I have another pair in solid black.

3. Under Armour college t-shirts - I am a Boston College and University of Rhode Island alumna. The URI shirt is from the green line made from recycled materials. The fabric is really soft. It's unfortunate that URI now carries Adidas. Go Eagles! Go Rams! (except for the rare times they play each other, and then it's go Eagles!)

4. Lululemon Groovy shorts - I like them because they are functional. Lots of places to stash things. 2 small pockets in the front, 1 zippered pocket in the back. Very comfy waistband with an internal drawstring. This pair has come along with me on two marathons. Sadly, these shorts have been replaced by the Turbo shorts. Boo hiss.

5. Kirkland Signature/Costco tank top - knockoff of Lululemon's cool racerback tank that was carried earlier this year. I still can't tell the difference.

6. Nike Drifit Freakishly Amazing tank top - the "uniform" shirt for me and my running buddies. Light fabric that dries quickly.

7. Balega Hidden Comfort socks - Very good to preventing blisters. Good performance in the rain too. The tab at the heel keeps the socks from falling into your shoe.

8. Smartwool PhD ultra light micro running socks - Similar to the Balegas but with arch support and made out of wool. Not itchy. I wear these year-round. Keep my feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are not cheap and I admittedly did not like them at first, but I've come around.

Gear Favorites

1. Spibelt - For those times when you need to carry stuff and don't have pockets. Don't let looks fool you. Its capacity is deceptively large. Expands to the size of the items in the pouch. Has held 1) phone, key, iPod nano or 2) weight lifting gloves or 3) 2 packs of Shot Bloks, chapstick, and tissue. Doesn't bounce at all when items are positioned right.

2. Zensah compression leg sleeves - feel like hugs from angels for your lower legs. I only wear them for recovery/overnight. They have made a big difference in preventing shin splints. And they just feel good. Get the size XS/S if you don't have man calves.

3. Clif Shot Bloks - My current preference for fuel. I outgrew sports beans and didn't particularly like Gu. Strawberry, cran razz, black cherry, and tropical punch are my favorites.

4. Chica Bands/BIC Bands - thin or thick ribbon headbands with a non-slip velvety surface on one side. BIC Bands donates money to a different charity every month. Sometimes worn as a regular headband. Warning: addictive. I have so many that I can match ANY outfit.

5. Bondi Bands - It took me a while to come around to these. I just needed to figure out that I like to wear them folded in half. They work well as sweatbands in the summer. They're also good in colder weather when I need something to cover my ears. Plus Bondi Bands does custom designs. Thumbs up from me!

6. Illuminite hat - Picked this up at a sample sale a few years ago. Lights up in a direct light source. Made of a lightweight material. I keep it in my car, because you never know when you will need a hat.

Shoe Review - Saucony Progrid Guide 4

I switched from the Saucony Progrid Guide 3s to the Saucony Progrid Guide 4s when I got new shoes a few months ago. I was hesitant. The various pairs of Sauconys I've had over the years have treated me well, but I'd heard so-so things about the Guide 4s. Such as changes to the toebox and poor construction. When I got refitted, my running store recommended not changing my shoes. OK then.

From left to right, the new Guide 4, old Guide 4, and old Guide 3.


The heel wear was about the same.


I haven't noticed a big difference between the Guide 3s and the Guide 4s. I ran a half marathon in the rain about a week after getting the Guide 4s. No problems at all. Thumbs up on that front. I used to get soreness in my toenails after very long runs, generally anything longer than 15 miles or so. I don't have that problem with the Guide 4s. So the toebox seems to work for me. Thumbs up on that front too.

Buuuuut, there's a problem. The Guide 4s are not the same quality as the Guide 3s. My first pair of Guide 4s lasted for a whopping 2 months. My Guide 3s had be lasting 3-4 months. Granted, my mileage increased, so the Guide 4s should have worn out faster. But it wasn't just the cushioning. The shoes were starting to fall apart. More wear than normal on the soles. The inside of the shoe around the heel and ankle were disintegrating. That didn't happen with the Guide 3s. I'm not sure I'd go as far as call it poor construction, but it is definitely lesser quality. Thumbs down on that front.

From left to right, the old Guide 3, old Guide 4, and new Guide 4. Those are some worn treads.


Inside the shoe. The Guide 4 didn't hold up as well as the Guide 3.


I bought another pair of Guide 4s, so I guess the Guide 4s are mostly good. We'll see if the second pair holds up any better.

Aaaand, no sooner did I buy another pair of Guide 4s than I found out the Guide 5s are coming out in November. Huh. Maybe there is a reason for that? The Guide 4s only came out in February, so they did not last very long. I wish I had known about the Guide 5s, though. I would have waited.

Running in the Dark

Who's not ready for Daylight Saving Time to end this weekend? *raises hand*

It will be nice to have more light in the morning. Sun up after 7am is not a good thing. But darkness in the evening guarantees running in the dark. Sun down well before 5pm is not a good thing either.

How to Run in the Dark

1. Get as much reflective gear as possible. There is no such thing as too much reflective gear. You want to light up like a Christmas tree.

2. Wear light or bright colors. Colors that could be highlighters are good choices. Avoid black and earth tones.

3. Use active lighting as well as passive lighting. While reflective gear (passive lighting) is extremely important, it only works if a light source shines directly on you. Carry something that creates its own light (active lighting), such a blinky or non-blinky light or a small flashlight. Or both.

4. Those little LED flashlights are perfect for runners. My local discount store carries them for a few dollars each, including batteries. They're small, bright, and not heavy. Some have wrist strap. Even the small single bulb keychain flashlights are pretty bright. You can shine it on your path so you can see where you are going or flash it at cars to make sure they see you.

5. Do not assume drivers see you. This applies anytime but especially in the dark. The only close call I've had was in a poorly lit area with no sidewalk. I had no choice but to be on the road. The driver clearly did not see me. Now, I knew the driver didn't see me, so I got out of the way. You better believe it was the last time I went on the road without my blinky red light.

6. If you are on the road, run against traffic. Always. This applies anytime as well.

Garmin makes it right

My Garmin stopped working properly in late August. The GPS worked fine, but I had to do a soft reset (press and hold lap/reset and mode button) twice every time I wanted the silly thing to turn on. It would charge but wouldn't transfer my workout data to my computer or Garmin Connect.

I got in touch with Garmin support. As suggested, I cleaned the contacts on the watch and charging cradle with alcohol. Still didn't working. I updated the Web Uploader and reinstalled the unit software and USB drivers. Nope, still didn't work. After a few email exchanges, I got the info to send it back for repair/replacement. It was still in warranty (1 year from date of purchase), so all I had to pay for was shipping to Garmin.

Garmin sent me back a brand new GPS. Thank you, Garmin, for your 1-year warranty. Turnaround time from first email contact to replacement GPS in my hands was 11 days. A company with good customer service who stands behind their warranty and makes it right? I'll take it.

I purposely waited for my running hiatus so that I would be without a Garmin at a time when I didn't need one. The only downside is that I "lost" all of my data from late August to mid-October. No Chicago Marathon data. No Amica Half data. I manually entered data into Garmin Connect during that period, but it isn't the same. Oh well. I guess it's better than no data, and it's still massively better than Nike+. I created an Excel file with my times, paces, and mile splits for all of those runs. Some data is better than no data. I needed the mostly functioning Garmin for the Chicago Marathon. I would have had a much different race without a Garmin.

I need a new name for my second Garmin. Goodbye, Rhody G. Hello ... what now?

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down: Food Stuff

Thumbs Up

Starbucks Via instant coffee - I was pleasantly surprised at tasty instant coffee. Good for traveling or stashing in my desk. Pricy but less pricy than going to Starbucks.

Chocolate Raspberry Luna bars - The only place I've found them is Target by the vitamins. Tastes like a raspberry-topped fudgy brownie.

Zico Chocolate Coconut Water - tastes like a less creamy version of chocolate milk. Best served ice cold.

Tropical Punch Clif Shot Bloks - 1/2 caf. My race/long run fuel of the moment. I've tried strawberry (no caf), cran razz (no caf), and black cherry (full caf). All good. I like the tropical punch kind best for the combo of flavor and the right amount of caffeine. Sometimes I mix half strawberry or cran razz with black cherry to get the same amount of caffeine. But then I can never tell which bloks are which. All the red ones look the same. Tropical Punch is easier.

Thumbs Down

Vanilla Almond Luna bars - It was OK but just eh. Kinda like the White Chocolate Macadamia Luna bar (which I like) but too sweet.

Vitacoco coconut water - I do not like non-flavored coconut water. At all. Tastes like sweaty socks. It's better with a little fresh lime juice but still not something I'd consume on a regular basis.

Thoughts O' Random

Smartwool socks work equally well in cold or heat. Wool socks in summer? Who would have thought that would work? I had to buy those socks because they said PhD. PhD socks for a PhD. At first, I didn't particularly like them. They weren't bad but they weren't best-socks-ever either. But I came around and got to like them after more washes and wears. I even bought a second pair.

My narrow-mouthed flip-top Nalgene bottle needed a good cleaning. I bought a baby bottle brush from Target to reach inside. Ew. That bottle was so nasty, I don't even want to think about what I was drinking. It is sparkling clear now. Wow, I didn't realize I had a clear bottle.

One of the benefits of being in academia is free books. Well, "free" in exchange for reviewing a book proposal. Seemed like a fair deal to me. I got a book on applied sport psychology. Sport psychology is not at all related to my work, but the book looks like it has some helpful and interesting information. My nerd self is more excited about that book than the 4 other books on statistics, research, and teaching that arrived in the same shipment.

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

I have to give Skinny Runner credit for recommending both of these. Thanks, Skinny Runner!

Thumbs Up

Zensah compression leg sleeves - I've been thinking about getting compression socks for a while. My shins tend to give me problems, so I figured compression socks or sleeves would help. The sleeves are like getting hugs from angels. They were so comfortable from the second I put them on that I almost wore them to Costco. Almost. I got the XS/S size. Perfect fit. My sports store had red and pink in stock in my size. I went with pink.

Kirkland Signature/Costco yoga tank - Attention Costco members. YOU MUST BUY THIS TANK. NOW. It is identical to Lululemon's cool racerback. Both shirts quickly wick sweat but don't feel wet. Both tanks stayed put on runs. The fabric gets softer after washing. I am convinced they are the exact same tank. Same feel. Same neckline. Same contrast stitching on the inside. Same smell. Same flat seams. Same fiber content. Same functionality. Except you can buy 3 Kirkland tanks for the price of 1 Lululemon tank.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Lululemon and Costco are in the same shopping center. As usual, I went to Lululemon right before I went to Costco. I came very very close to buying another cool racerback at Lululemon, but my wallet is glad I held out for Costco. A wicked good deal at $12.99. I got two.

Which one is the Kirkland Signature tank and which one is the Lululemon tank? The answer is at the bottom.



Also, I though this was a good place to stick in a dud product review.

Thumbs Down

Fuelbelt Wedge bottles - single Fuelbelt bottle designed to clip onto your waistband. Good idea in theory but poorly executed. I originally bought 2 to bring to Mardi Gras Marathon and attach to my Spibelt. At 2 am race day, I decided to scrap the clip-on bottles and go with my Fuelbelt. It was a smart decision. The clip-on bottles would have been a disaster. The cap leaks, I think because of the metal clip part. The clip is hard to work. The bottle is supposed to tuck inside your waistband with the clip on the outside. Maybe I just haven't gotten the hang of them, but I am not a fan.

The pinkish orange tank is the Kirkland Signature tank, in case you're curious.

My new toy

I've used Nike+ for nearly 3 and a half years to track my runs. It was the best Christmas present of 2007. I was sold after using it twice. It was reasonably accurate out of the box. It gave me extra motivation and accountability. I ran with my iPod anyway. It had a slick website with a mini me. The more I ran, the more active the mini me was. I can go back and look at all of my runs since January 2008.

As much as I have gotten tremendous value out of Nike+, I just got a Garmin 305. Reasonably accurate wasn't cutting it anymore. I calibrated my Nike+ sensor recently, which improved the accuracy a lot. There was a very small margin of error (2%) between Nike+ and Garmin distances when I took both devices out on the same run. But I think I have outgrown Nike+. The Garmin is better for where I want to go with my training/running. Accuracy aside, the Garmin provides so much more data. Such as mile splits, elevation, maps, and more info on pace. The display is bigger and can be customized to show the data I want. My not-so-secret inner data diva is pleased.

Oh, I will not completely abandon Nike+. I alternate between the treadmill and outside, so I will still use it on the treadmill. Although Garmin's website is more useful, Nike+'s website is more fun. There is a way to add Garmin runs to the Nike+ website (not automatic but fairly easy to export the Garmin run, convert it with a website, and upload it to Nike+), plus my running history is on Nike+. And so I will continue to track my runs on Nike+.