Eric Runs A Lot - Blog

ProdUct ReviEw: knockaRound suNglasses

7/13/2020

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Knockaround Premium Sport sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Back again with another great product review! It’s becoming more and more clear as I look back through my blog (and through my apartment...) that I have a thing for trying out new sunglasses!
Today I’m excited to review Knockaround’s Premiums Sport series.

Similar to other sunglasses I’ve tried out and reviewed in the past, the Premiums Sport line from Knockaround are made with active individuals in mind.

The first thing that I want to point out is the durability of these sunglasses. They are made from a high quality polycarbonate with a smooth finish. I’ve dropped these a few times, stuffed them into my bag, just put them through the ringer in general. However, they’ve stood up to all these inadvertent tests. I’m generally hard on sunglasses so durability is super important to me.

Other features of these sunglasses include the polarized lenses. Once again, another feature I really enjoy when I’m active. Further, the Premiums Sport line also feature rubber nose pads that I was unsure of at first, but found over time that it was a feature I never knew I needed so much! The Florida heat obviously causes a lot of sweating and the rubber pads on the nose area ensures the sunglasses aren’t slipping down your nose constantly. Once again, a feature I never knew I needed so badly. Add in the UV protection the lenses pack, and these are perfect for a runner or just about anyone active outdoors.

All the great features aside, these sunglasses just look sleek. They have a modern yet classic look that fits any face shape! The Knockaround brand has a number of different lifestyle lines and if you can’t find a style you love on their website, you can design a custom pair. And at a price point of $15-$25, these are affordable to most everyone. Generally my own personal rule is to not spend more than $25 on a pair of sunglasses just because of how hard I am on sunglasses. I lose them, break them, sit on them, etc. And, if you use code “BibRaveKnocks5”, you’ll score 20% off your entire order. I also noticed Knockaround is offering free shipping on all orders, too!

Product Review: Shady Rays

7/1/2018

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Shady Rays Signature Series sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Now, if you've followed my blog for a while, you know this is not the first pair of sunglasses that I have tested out. I've tried a bunch of brands over the years, so I was excited to try out a brand new brand and style.
The Shady Rays that I got to try out were their Signature Series. Shady Rays are made for an active lifestyle, so they were perfect for me. I live in Florida and place a lot of importance about protection from the sun's harmful rays. You will always find me wearing sunscreen and sunglasses anytime I am out of the house.
I immediately loved the casual look of the sunglasses. They are classic and stylish. A lot of times with sunglasses that are made for the active person, they can look a little rugged and can be hard to wear in a more casual setting. That isn't the case with these- I found myself easily wearing them out for a run then continuing to wear them to errands and around town.

Some of the key features about these are:

Durable matte black frame with metal hinges
Premium Polarized black lenses: 100% UV protection / shatter-resistant / salt water proof
Includes Microfiber Cleansing Pouch + vinyl brand decal
Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty & Free Replacements if Lost or Broken
Every order provides 11 meals to fight hunger in the U.S. through Feeding America

As far as out on a run, I noticed how they fit on my face well. The material they are coated with helps grip onto your face well, even when you are sweaty. Obviously this is super important!

Overall, I would definitely recommend these sunglasses! Shady Rays is currently running a sale- 50% off two pairs. Just use the code "BIBRAVE"!

Gatorade Endurance: For the Long Haul

6/24/2018

Disclaimer: I received Gatorade Endurance products to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews.

A super cool product specifically designed for fellow distance runners! Gatorade this month added a new Watermelon flavor to their sports drink line, as well as a new Mango flavored gel. I had a chance to test both of these out over the last few weeks before they made their debut to the public.
I was really excited about this one because I already LOVE the Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance formula and have used it to train for all of the full marathons I have run to date. For those of you unaware, Gatorade Endurance beverages are different than the regular Gatorade Thirst Quencher drinks that you would normally see at a grocery or convenience store. Gatorade Endurance is made for endurance athletes who generally have longer duration workouts or work out in more extreme conditions- such as extreme heat and humidity. So, as someone training for a marathon in the Florida summer heat, these products are exactly what I need. They have 2x as much sodium and 3x as much Potassium as regular Gatorade.
Now that my long runs are starting to creep up into higher and higher mileage, the new Watermelon-flavored drink came at a good time. I find myself going out for my runs when the temperature is around 80-85 degrees and the humidity is between 85-95%. This coupled with the beating sun means that there is no way I can run without constant hydration! Though the Lemon Lime flavor has always been a favorite, I loved trying the Watermelon! I was expecting a strong flavor like Lemon Lime, but couldn't (and still can't!) get over how incredibly light the drink was! All that it has packed into it and it tastes like a lightly-sweetened/flavored water. I enjoyed it so much that I had to start being more conscious of how often I was taking sips of it while running because I was afraid I would run out too soon! This is definitely a product I will continue to use during my training this year.

The other product I had an opportunity to try out was the new Mango-flavored Gatorade Endurance gel. I also thoroughly enjoyed this product! As my runs continue to get longer, I have begun to also bring fuel with me. In the past, I've used various brands of gels but really never could get used to their thick consistency. I was so pleasantly surprised that these Gatorade Endurance gels are completely different. I would compare them to a slightly thicker sports drink. But still something you can pour out of the packet rather than squeeze out. I seriously have found my new favorite fuel option in this product. I tried the Mango flavor but there is also Apple Pear and Vanilla flavors that I am excited to try out too!

All in all, I'm loving the new flavors of these products. Gatorade Endurance has spent years trying to find the best formulas for endurance athletes and these new products showcase the best of that hard work!

Track your running Stats with Athlinks

4/23/2018

Disclaimer: I am promoting Athlinks as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review or find race reviews.

This is a product I'm really excited to share with you all! I discovered Athlinks a few years back in their early stages and immediately fell in love. Basically, it's a super smart site that compiles races results auto-magically and finds YOUR results and presents them to you in a super clean and fun way. It revolutionizes race results in a way that ensures your results are never buried deep in some site you'll never find again. Let's take a look:

This is my profile. It shows my PR's on top and some general stats at the top. Below is the races I have indicated I am registered for and the goal times I have set for myself.
To add my race results, I was prompted to "claim" them as my own after a race. Basically, the site's engines constantly are searching the internet for races and then index the results. The site is smart enough to find my name and then it asks me if it was really me. I have a not-so-common last name, but I can see how this could be more frustrating if your name was Mike Smith, or something.
Below is what my results page looks like. So far, Athlinks has found results from 29 races I have run. It was fun to see that it found races from back in high school! At-a-glance, it lists my time and how I placed in my age group, my gender, and overall-- always fun stats to look at.

Overall, I really love this product. For years I have used an Excel spreadsheet to track similar data but often times would get behind and have to spend time looking up my results and recording them. That would take a LOT of time. (Plus, my memory is that of a goldfish!) I encourage all runners to register for this FREE site and enjoy it in all its glory! :)

Find my profile here and Follow me so we can compare results! And, comment below with how many results of yours that Athlinks unearthed!

Race REview: First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon

3/30/2018

"Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!”
First things first: I loved this race!! The city is beautiful and the race is well produced. Definitely a race I will run again.
This is a smaller race, so I enjoyed the small-town kind of feel. The packet pickup was small, in Miami on Wednesday and then in Sarasota at Fit2Run on Friday and Saturday. It was very quick and efficient. The race shirt isn't my favorite ever, but it is soft and I will certainly wear it. The folks at packet pickup were so nice and welcoming of an out-of-towner like myself, and it made me that much more excited for this race!
Parking on race day was a bit of a challenge, as the race start is in a congested area. This isn't as much of the race management's error as it is just the logistics they have to deal with. I recommend arriving an extra 30 minutes earlier than you might normally arrive for a race. We found parking on a side street, but after searching for a bit.
The start line was well-organized with the pace groups holding their signs to help organize where folks were lined up. The course heads out to St. Armands key briefly, which does mean heading over a pretty steep bridge at mile 2, and then coming back over it around mile 4. The rest of the race goes through residential neighborhoods and is well-shaded from the sun.
Aid stations were plentiful, but I was confused as some aid stations only offered water or only offered Gatorade, while others offered both. The cups it was served in often changed and a few times I didn't get the liquid I needed. It was a little frustrating. The racing rule of thumb is that Gatorade should always be first and water second, and cups labeled accordingly. Nailing details like this will help keep the field much happier, in my opinion.
The finish line was a welcomed sight! I received an awesome medal and a bottle of water and a bottle of Gatorade.
The First Watch buffet was one of my favorite parts of my race experience- it featured fresh pancakes (they were making them non-stop!), fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, a few other small items. I LOVE First Watch to begin with, and I remember reminding myself in the later miles of the race that the sooner I finished, the sooner I got pancakes!!
Free race photos and finisher certificates from Athlinks also are an incredible gesture and very much apprecated.
Overall, I had a great experience and would recommend this race to Floridians or those looking for a race-cation alike.

Race Review: Gasparilla Half Marathon

2/28/2018

"Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Gasparilla Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!”

This was an overall fun race right along the bay! A flat and fast course as you watch the sunrise -- this was a great experience.

The expo was fairly large with a lot of the usual booths and I found it pretty easy to park, get in, get what I needed, cruise around the exhibitors, and get out. Instructions about where to park, how much to expect to pay, how to navigate to the expo hall, etc. could have been more clear, but nothing too terrible.

Race morning was similarly confusing, with vague instructions on parking and how to then navigate to the start line. Though not publicized other than a blurb in the pre-race booklet, I utilized the gear check inside the convention center. I found my way to the corrals area, which was extrememly confusing. The announcer actually was giving instructions of where each color bib should line up by giving street names, but as an out-of-towner, I struggled to understand where the correct place to be was. The announcer, at one point, apologized and said he had actually been giving out the wrong locations for lining up, adding to my confusion and frustration. I quickly figured it out by seeking out folks who had the same color bib as I did, but I was dissatisfied with this process overall.

The race starts on Davis Island and is rather neat! It begins with a brick road that was in pretty good condition. The route then continues around the island past some beautiful homes and in the view of some of the docked cruise ships in port. The race then heads back toward the bay where the rest of course is run. It is a beautiful view and as you go along, the sun rises to your left. It being so close to the water meant that when the sun came up, there was no shade to provide relief from the heat. I admit that I got a little bored of this since it was out-and-back for mile 5 through Finish.
The finish line finally came and I was so excited to see it! It had begun to really get warm. I received a bottle of water, an ice cold rag (heaven) and one of the sweetest medals I've ever received. There were no race goodies or food to be found. I know a plate of food was supposed to be somewhere in addition to beer, but I never was able to find it? If it was in a different location, there was no signage or information pointing runners in that direction. I gave up looking after a short while.

My last note is that while the festival Gasparilla is held in January, this race is held about three weeks later. Other than a brief photo oppurnunity with a busty pirate, there was no Gasparilla theming to this race.

Aside from my few greiveances, none of these would stop me from running this race again. This was its 41st anniversary and it definitely draws a loyal crowd of runners who come back year after year. I will still recommend this race to those looking for a fun and fast springtime race.

Product Review: xx2i Bahamas1

6/17/2017

Disclaimer: I received the XX2i Bahamas1 sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews.

Another fabulous pair of XX2i sunglasses! I am excited I got the opportunity to test another pair out. I love this company's products because they are always top-notch quality. This time, I got to try the Bahamas1, which is part of their casual line.
Apart from looking sleek, something I love about these (and all XX2i glasses) is that they are high quality polarized lenses. They have 8K optical technology which helps cut down on any glare. I have found I like wearing them while driving especially because they make my surroundings really clear and allow me to focus better. They also protect from UVA and UVB rays, which is obviously really important!
I also took these out for a run, since that is a big portion of the time I spend wearing sunglasses is out on a run. I found they stayed snug on my head and didn't bounce around at all. Perhaps it would depend on one's head shape, but they fit my head perfectly.
Overall, I really liked these glasses. If I had to choose between these or any of the other three pairs of XX2i glasses I've tried, They'd tie with the Brazil1. Though they are casual, I found I had no issue integrating them into my running as well. These have definitely found their way into my regular rotation of sunglasses!
Want to get yourself a pair? Head over to xx2i.com and use code XX2IROCKS for 50% off! You won't be disappointed!

Product Review: RunnEr BOX

1/22/2017

Disclaimer: I received the Runner Box to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews.

I was lucky enough to try out a new subscription box! I've always been a fan of the subscription box concept and have tried a couple different genres of them. This one obviously piqued my interest since it is built just for runners!

The box contained ten items. My first note is that almost all of them were food. I definitely understand and agree that nutrition is paramount in endurance sports. However, I would hope (and don't know if they do this) that they mix the contents up a bit and make sure a lot of runner-specific items are added in each edition of the box. My next critique has to do with the food options specifically-- I couldn't have some of the included items because of my nut allergy. I also didn't see this option on the website when signing up. I get the sense that all boxes are the same for every runner on the months they go out. I don't believe it is possible to request specific profiles for this subscription box.
Now, don't be discouraged. I had not heard of any of the included items in the box, and was very eager to try them each out. I especially liked the Zest Tea because I am a tea drinker. Again, I was just excited to get to try out items I hadn't heard of before.

Runner Box ships on a bi-monthly basis. Keep in mind they do charge you for shipping in addition to the box price (which is somewhat uncommon for subscription boxes) but for what is all packed into that box, I can justify it!

All in all, I would definitely be interested in trying out this product over time and seeing what kinds of fun things it would bring. Check them out here!

Race Review: Rise & Shine 5k

1/6/2017

"Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Rise & Shine 5k as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!”

I loved getting the chance to be part of the first year of a new Chicago NYE tradition! It was a 5k course starting and finishing in Millenium Park.

Registration opened in November and prices increased every few weeks up until race week. I did feel like the peak pricing was steeper than I would normally pay for a 5k. I also feel like lots of people don't make their NYE plans until much closer to the actual day than they might plan for any other race.
Packet pick-up was offered the day before at Fleet Feet - Old Town. Since I couldn't make that, I was pleasantly surprised that race day packet pick-up was offered. It was very quick and I only waited in line less than five minutes.
Instead of a shirt, the swag item was a hat and gloves with the race logo on them. They were exceptional quality for an otherwise giveaway item. They were really warm and cozy! I have so many race shirts, so I'm happy to get something I know I will get a lot of use out of!

Before the race began at 9:00 am, there was a stretching session lead by an instructor from a local gym. Then, when we lined up, the emcee was very energetic and did a good job at getting everyone psyched up to start! The corrals were organized by pace, which helped keep this small (1,025 runners this year) organized quickly and efficiently. The race started down Randolph and lead to the #ChiLFT (lakefront trail). It was a sunny day, so it was nice to be able to enjoy the view along the lake. The course eventually found its way past an aid station (water and Nuun were offered) and then into the relatively new Maggie Daley Park. Beautiful park to run in! The finish line was back in Millenium Park and was very energetic. Some snacks and bottled water and Nuun were handed out.

All in all, I really enjoyed this 5k. It was light and fun-spirited. I would definitely do this race again!!

Race Review: Honolulu Marathon

12/17/2016

"Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Honolulu Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!”

The HNL Marathon is an incredible experience! A marathon through the beautiful city of Honolulu is a perfect way to end the year.
Race registration starts 11 months in advance. Register early to get the best pricing.
The expo is moderately-small. It includes a lot of vendors that aren't even running-related, which was a bit odd. Bib pick-up was quick, and I was a little annoyed that they were not checking identification as promised. This is important for a majority of the running community, especially after we were told in emails constantly that ID would be checked.
You also pick up your gear check bag, which you would need to drop off the day before the race if you were to use it-- the start and finish lines are not in close proximity, so they transport them in advance. It makes sense to me, though I've seen other runners complain about this.
I was impressed with the huge variety of official race merchandise. There was literally anything thing you could think of branded with the race name on it!
Day of the race, I was staying in a hotel near the finish, so I took one of the shuttles to the start line. That was really quick and efficient! The start area is easily the biggest opportunity for improvement. There was no security, which I think should be in place for a race of this size. There were no seeded start corrals. With almost 25,000 runners, you simply cannot get away with not organizing the runners by expected finish time. I'll be honest, I was really frustrated by this. No matter where you squeezed up to, this made it really difficult to avoid walkers in the first 400 meters even(!). This alone makes this course not a PR course. I spent the first mile weaving and I was pretty far up.
Once you begin, the course winds through some of the downtown area before heading down to Waikiki, which was beautiful! The course then heads up High-Five Hill around Diamond Head, which was just so awesome. Countless volunteers every few paces for more than a mile just there to give high-fives and cheers of positive energy.
The course eventually winds to a highway, where most of the race is on. This part seemed to last forever. There are some pretty views along this out-and-back stretch, but I have to say it is still quite boring. I wish the course took you on some more "local" streets and neighborhoods just to mix it up and keep it from feeling too monotonous. On the way back in, I remember feeling beyond relieved I was done with the highway portion. Finally, you end in a park right near the beach to a beautiful shell lei and a gigantic and wonderfully designed medal!
Aid stations were plentiful, but a few more couldn't hurt, especially with how hot and humid Hawaii weather tends to be. Not all aid stations had water and Gatorade, and they weren't always in the same order. It was quite confusing at times. As other runners have pointed out, the Gatorade was incredibly watered down to the point that it was almost not worth it. I was really disappointed in that. Some aid stations also had ice cold sponges, which was always a treat to see! One aid station in the last third also had a few GU flavor options, which I happily accepted.
Overall, I would do this race again. I was running this race just for the experience, not to PR. I ran an overall good race, but did need to increase my hydration to adjust a bit, but that is to be expected. The views and spectators make this race worthwhile. It's Hawaii, after all!!

Special Note: Though every effort is made to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, I cannot be held responsible for misinformation. This site contains many of my personal points-of-view and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, the American Cancer Society, Bank of America, Chicago Marathon Office & Staff, Chicago Endurance Sports, or Fleet Feet Sports. This page is not endorsed by any third party. All content is my intellectual property, unless otherwise noted, and All Rights are Reserved on my content. You may request to quote me or utilize the information herein only by obtaining my written permission. Please use the Contact page to do so. If you suspect any information is incorrect or it appears to be your intellectual property, please notify me via the Contact page. Eric Blasius, All Rights Reserved 2018.