EverymanTri.com

Review: 1BandID is the easy to use and wear triathlete's safety net

You hear about it all of the time.  Some poor runner, cyclists or triathlete was out training and hit by a car.  More often than not, the driver will stop and assist, but you do have those rare instances where it may have been malicious or inattentive and the driver leaves the scene.

What are you going to do if you’re unconscious or incoherent after an accident?  How will your family be notified or critical health information be found if you’re not with people you know?  Simple.  Have some ID.

Road ID has been a life saver for many triathletes caught on a loan training day in an accident.  Without that ID, who knows what would have happened.  While Road ID was the pioneer, other players have thrown their hat into the ring.  There are many products out there, but 1BandID has come out with a unique ID that does not require additional gear to strap on with everything else we wear for training or racing.

Review: The FLEXR is a new & cleaner water bottle that makes hydrating easy

We all know how important it is to stay hydrated or to take on carbs and nutrition when exercising. The method of choice for most triathlete’s is to carry a plastic sports bottle filled with drink. Water, electrolyte drink, protein mix, they seem perfect for people with an active lifestyle, they’re light durable and we can take them to the pool, stick them on our bikes or take them on a run with us.

However these plastic bottles may pose serious health risks. Reusing sports bottles saves money and waste but is it safe? Studies show dangerous levels of bacteria can accumulate in the bottle making you feel unwell. After a few weeks use they become scratched inside making it hard to keep clean, it starts to taint your drink and frankly, they start to smell a bit!

A new bottle on the market, the FLEXR water bottle, addresses these issues. It is the first to use a disposable and fully biodegradable liner which ensures the bottle is clean every time.

So how does it work, and more importantly how does it perform?

Review: SIX is a solid nutrition supplement for the amateur triathletes

Usually “pill popping” and triathletes don’t go in the same sentence.  When someone says “pill popper”, you might think of someone addicted to prescription meds or Brett Favre hooked on pain killers.  But, when you stop and think about the true needs of a triathlete body for nutrients, then you can better understand how the triathletes start popping pills.
 
Elite triathletes to the average age groupers need better nutrients than you can get from today's processed foods.  Jason from CTER takes a look at food content with THIS post.  Cellulose isn’t going to help with muscle recovery and proper metabolism.  Jason is adamant about eating properly, shopping for healthy foods within a budget and creating healthy and tasty dishes in a timely manner.

Gear review: Bolt Faas 400’s running shoes are light and versitale

It’s not every day you get to run a 5k in 68 degrees in December in Kansas City.  That’s just what I did with 1100 of my closest friends in Kansas City for the 2011 Jingle Bell Run 5k .  It’s for the Arthritis Foundation and a great cause!
 
Why should you care about my brilliant 5k PR at the JBR last Sunday?  Because, I ran it with my new trusty Puma Bolt Faas 400 shoes.
 
Through my trials and tribulations as a runner, athletic type person and now triathlete, I had never tried out Puma.  That’s all changed.  I reached out to Puma to see what they had and I was actually pretty surprised.  They have a solid lineup of running shoes and names like Usain Bolt backing them.  And I just thought they were trendy and just for looks.

Review: Myorope for self-massage, trigger-point therapy and myofascial release

I've been a dedicated foam roller for a long time now. OK, I'll admit, I do slack on it every now and then because that thing can hurt, but overall I love what it does. I also use two tennis balls that are duct-taped together. So when I got word of a product that sort of combines those two things into one, I was intrigued.

It's called Myorope, and I likey! A good addition to the world of recovery as a tool for self-massage, trigger-point therapy and myofascial release.

According to it's creator, Neil, a triathlete who also strength trains, etc., Myorope was created to do what most self-massage tools can't: Target hard-to-reach spots that a big foam roller can't hone in on, and pinpoint those spots --including trigger points -- with multiple balls (that aren't covered in duct tape) vs. just one or two.

Review: PR Bar is a great option for fueling up for those early morning workouts

If you’re going to get up at 5am to run 18 miles before you get your 3 year old and 1 year old ready for church on Sunday, and want to be able to mow the lawn, walk the dogs and interact with people in general, you better fuel your engine right.

You can try and head out for tough workouts without food, but you’re asking for trouble. What do you eat? You can go for a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and a glass of orange juice, but you’re probably going to be walking a lot with a full stomach. You can grab a quick small bowl of oatmeal, cereal or some other “healthy” and quick option. The problem with the smaller meal options is that you may not get all the nutrients you need to get you through mile 16 to 18. The last thing you want to do is bonk on a training run.

Gear Review: We ask Craig Alexander about SaltStick in his nutrition plan

Toker Engineering, developer of SaltStick Caps electrolyte supplements, recently announced the launch of a second generation product called SaltStick Caps Plus.  The key to the new product is; a switch to a new form of sodium – known as sodium citrate (which is more stomach friendly) and then the addition of a proprietary formulation that includes; potassium, magnesium, calcium and, wait for it… an extra boost from 30mg of caffeine.
 
Add to this concoction - 100IU of vitamin D to help with calcium absorption, and voila, you have the SaltStick Caps Plus! Jonathan Toker, founder and developer of SaltStick, claims that his new ‘Plus’ product will take the electrolyte replacement market to a new level by offering athletes the latest ‘evolution’ in a capsule, that also be dissolved in liquid for those that dislike pill-popping.

Gear Review: Are the new On CloudSurfer running shoes style over substance?

Ok folks, I know, On running shoes look cool… In fact the pair of lime-green/black Cloudsurfers that arrived on my doorstep elicited many compliments from friends and
colleagues, which made wonder if these were yet another gimmick in the world of running shoes. You know, way to cool to be practical?
 
I had never heard of these shoes, and upon initial examination pressed down on the hollow green ovals under the sole. To my surprise they gave way really easily and I thought to myself, mmm…way too soft. My 180lb frame will beat my feet into submission in a few minutes running in these lightweight gimmicks. Well, I was about to find out.

Video Review: Recovery pump's recovery boots are not just for the pros anymore

One of the biggest trends in triathlon products is recovery devices. From massage sticks to foam rollers to compression socks, athletes are paying much more attention to recovering from their training and paying for a lot of products to help them do it.

This triathlon season I have had the opportunity to use and test one of the latest additions to the endurance sports recovery market, Recovery Pump. The inflatable compression boots have been used for years in Physical Therapy and rehab clinics for patients with circulatory conditions, but only recently began offering products to the athlete community.

Video Review: the FINIS Swimsense Performance Monitor watch makes swimming fun

Swimmers, how many times have you lost track of how many yards you just swam? What lap was that? What's my pace? How many strokes did I take to complete that set?  
The FINIS Swimsense Performance Monitor answers all those questions and more.

The FINIS Swimsense Performance Monitor really does help make sense of your swiim workout.  It has a built-in motion sensor which allows it to analyze workouts instantly; logging distance, splits, pace, stroke count, distance per stroke and calories burned.

It also automatically recognizes each of the four swim strokes; freestyle, back, breast and butterfly.  Its swimsense docking station allows you to sync with a free online training log so you can analyze your workouts plus when it's connected via USB, it charges your battery.  You must first customize the watch by choosing yards verses meters, watch position, right wrist or left, plus your age and weight.  Once you're done, you're ready to swim.  The watch face is easy to navigate and configure, nothing too fancy or complicated.

Gear review: the Saucony ProGrid Cortana provides a pillowy feel that doesn’t sacrifice stability & efficiency

Coming off of the six-day TransRockies Run, my body was beat up and fatigued.  My mind, however, knew that movement is often the best medicine. So in order to get my legs and feet to agree to a run, I had to pull out the big guns, something my feet could seriously appreciate.  Enter the Saucony ProGrid Cortana.
 
The ProGrid Cortana is like a cushion shoe without all the baggage.  It treats your legs to a luxurious landing without the wasteful or harmful lateral movement that typically comes with it. As a forefoot runner, I especially appreciate:

Gear review: Pioneer's new water resistant earbuds just run and wash

I hate treadmills.  They serve a purpose, but I just cannot endure anything over 15 minutes without a change of scenery. 

Sure, it’s good to have a treadmill when it’s 100+ degrees or -30 wind chill.  Unfortunately where I work it’s just the facts that if I want to be able to “run” and shower at my gym, I have to use the treadmill or I cannot get my workout done in a timely fashion (I hate it when work gets in the way).

I’m sure everyone read my take on wearing headphones and working out HERE.  I’m not a fan.  I believe it detracts from your goal of the workout and places you in an unsafe environment when you are outside in the elements with traffic, other people training and the creepy guys that lurk in the woods.
 
I do think they have their place, however.  It’s a marriage made for TV.  Well, it’s a marriage that allows you to watch TV while you workout.  If your gym is like 90% of the gyms, they have shortwave FM transmitters hooked up to TV’s so you can get your ESPN highlights while grinding out a sprint workout on the dreadmill.  You can always bring the ubiquitous iPod and jam out on the ‘mill or pumping iron.

Gear Review: The Saucony Ride 4's are comfy, cool, light and very neutral

I’ve never run in a Saucony shoe. So the arrival of a new pair of test shoes was cause for some excitement in the EverymanTri com gear review department. The spiffy new Ride 4’s are billed as your ‘go to’ shoe for everyday training by the maker. Coming off a trail running injury, my trusted PT had instructed me to only run on level surfaces, which means pavement!

So, this being said,  Saucony’s everyday neutral training shoe would be the perfect shoe to evaluate for this purpose. Let me start with aesthetics. Out of the box, the Ride 4 looks fast. The mix of red, black, white and silver trim was definitely appealing to those that laid eyes on my new runners - judging by the comments I received.

Review: Compex Muscle Stimulator the easy way to workout & recover

The idea of electrically stimulating your muscles with strategically placed electrodes on your body may seem strange at first, but that's exactly what many top athletes, including Ironman Champ Chris McCormack and champion runner Josh Cox do to help them recover from (and train for) their big races.

Recently EverymanTRI's contributing editor Dave Erickson had the chance to test and review the Compex Muscle Stimulator to test the device. Dave filed this video review. Please check it out below.

Review: The Scicon AeroComfort Plus bike bag for when you have to fly your ride

Are you bored with racing local triathlons?  Tired of the same nasty pond water that geese regularly poop in, resulting in high bacteria counts?  Ready to hit the open road or friendly skies in search of that ultimate destination race?  So was I.  My target was Ironman Boulder 70.3 and I was freaked out.  Not about running a half ironman, I knew I could at least finish, but getting me and my stuff there.
 
These days airlines hit you wherever they can.  Bag fees, bike fees and ridiculous flight prices are just a few.  Some airlines charge you upwards of $200 EACH WAY to bring your tri bike and treat it like a caber toss in the cargo bay.
 
Stay thirsty, my friends.  If you are ever vigilant you can find a way.  Frontier airlines went bike feeless and all you pay for is the regular $25 fee as long as you stay under 50 pounds.  Find a bike bag, pack my tri stuff and I'm off!
 
My venture is your gain.  Here's a few tips about traveling to a triathlon with your gear and the bike bag I used.

Review: Push Endurance is a worthy addition to the endurance supplement market

You can't run endurance events on water alone.  You might get by in a 5k or super sprint triathlon, but if you aren't looking, using or debating nutritional supplements, then you are staring at the entrance to the pain cave.
 
Gels, liquids, bars, chews and powders are just a few options out there for endurance athletes nutrition.  Some athletes may only use one form but the majority use a combination.