My Heart Races

Marathon Blog

  • Home
  • Races
  • Kids
  • Travel
  • Eat
  • Fashion
  • She Runs Around
  • Gear
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Newsletter
  • Shop

Feetures!

May 8, 2015

The only sock I have put on these running feet for over five years are Feetures (click here.)  I found my first pair at Road Runner Sports and have been wearing them ever since.

I struggle with blisters big time, and switching to Feetures Ultra Lights reduced them significantly.

They are the perfect balance of compression and comfort.

Some Feetures features:

-A ventilated top so they don’t make your feet hot.
-Made with Lycra so the entire sock hugs your foot.
-Moisture wicking fabric keeps your feet dry.

Best of all, they last forever.

Head to Instagram to win a pair for you and your running partner!
Good luck!

1 Comment
Filed Under: Gear, Product Review, Road Runner Sports, Running Socks

Road Runner Sports and Their Genius Shoe Dog

May 8, 2015

I always tell beginners that finding the right shoes is essential.  When they ask how to find the right shoe, I always point them towards the nearest Road Runner Sports.
I’ll never forget the day the Road Runner opened in Tempe.  It was while I was training for my first marathon.  I’m pretty sure I was one of their first customers. #runnerd
Their shoe matching process is called Shoe Dog and it’s awesome.  It tells you what kind of shoe you need (neutral, stability, etc.) and if there are any concerns with pronation or arches, they’ll custom fit an insole right there for you. (Insoles cost $80 and the man helping me said they’re not as expensive and involved as orthotics, but heads above non-custom insoles.)
I had to wait my turn when I got there.  As I waited they were helping a marathon/trail runner and an elderly man who needed better walking shoes for his nightly walk- the full spectrum.
First they analyze your weight distribution on your feet.
Then you hop on the treadmill with no shoes (he had to see my feet- yikes!)
They record you running on the treadmill so that later they can analyze every little motion your legs and feet make while you run.

This guy was super knowledgeable.
Even though I had no need for the custom insoles, they fitted me for some anyway, so that I could experience what they felt like in a shoe.  
After all of these steps, they narrow down a few choices of shoes for you to try on.  As I was trying on the shoes, I was asking this poor man a million questions about other shoes they carry (many were pretty technical) and he knew every answer! Pretty awesome considering how many pairs of shoes they have!

If you are in the market for the *perfect* pair of running shoes, Road Runner is your place.  I’ve been a fan since marathon number one.  They have 40 locations nationwide, but if you don’t have one near you, they have an awesome website (click here.)
Now for the fun part.  Road Runner is giving away one pair of running shoes to my readers!  Head to Instagram to enter!!  Good luck!!

1 Comment
Filed Under: Fashion, Finding Running Shoes, Gear, Product Review, Road Runner Sports

What I’m Wearing: Reverb Active Series Bluetooth Headphones

April 15, 2015

Big news today guys. The impossible has happened. I have been running for over two weeks with a pair of Reverb bluetooth headphones and they don’t fall out.
Reverb is a company started by a couple of guys who knew the struggle of finding a pair of bluetooth headphones that don’t fall out, have amazing sound, and were designed for being active. #thestruggleisreal

The first time I saw a pair of Reverb bluetooth headphones was at the Phoenix Marathon expo.  I walked past their table with curiosity, and the man behind the counter invited B and me to try them on.  B tried them first and said they sounded great.  Then I put them on.  Yes, the sound quality was outstanding, but then I started jumping up and down.  And B and the man behind the table were probably confused, but I wanted to see if the bouncing affected the sound and if they fell out.  Neither happened. 
Fast forward to these past two weeks that I have been using them and it’s true- they really don’t fall out!  They don’t move at all.  The sound is great and I can zip my pocket in my phone before my runs and control my audio through the buttons on the headphones. The only problem I have with these headphones is that B and my boys keep stealing them.

The nice guys over at Reverb were so glad to hear that I loved them that they have an offer for all my blog readers for 15%.  Woot woot!
Click here to visit the Reverb site.
Discount Code: MHR15

Happy Wireless Running!!

2 Comments
Filed Under: Gear, Product Review

Long Distance Running in Nike Free’s

April 13, 2015

I get asked all the time what shoes I run in, and when I give the answer- Nike Free’s, most people are shocked.  Nike Free’s are a minimalist shoe, and probably the most minimal of all minimalist shoes (aside from those weird frog-toe shoes that were cool 7 years ago.)

I mentioned this in my FAQ briefly, but many years ago, after I had run a few marathons, I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  Chapter 25 had me believing in the minimalist movement, so I decided to give it a try.

I did not dive right in and start running everyday in my Free’s.  I decided to make the switch right after a marathon, because this is when my mileage is low and slow.  I began by running in them once a week for a while, then slowly increased my mileage in them.  Running in Free’s felt like a whole new experience when I was transitioning.  I was using completely different muscles.  While I slowly increased my mileage in them, I noticed my muscles- specifically in my lower legs- doing more work and feeling more fatigued.  Eventually, I was running all my miles in them and my legs didn’t feel like they were working as hard.

I have been told (by Nike employees even!) that the fact that I have trained for and run 15 marathons in Nike Free’s is unheard of.  My take? If it ain’t broke…..

Do I think that Nike Free’s are the reason I am injury free? I don’t think it’s 100% the reason, but I do think it’s a big contributing factor because reading Chapter 25 of Born to Run just made sense to me and it still does.

Here’s what the Nike Free Website says about running in Nike Free’s:

“Nike Free shoes are specifically designed to let your feet move more naturally
and freely than traditional athletic shoes. Because you’ll be using some muscles
in your feet more than you might be used to, it may take some time for them to get
used to all that freedom. To give your feet time to adapt, we recommend you transition
into using your Nike Free footwear gradually.
As you increase the use of your Nike Frees, you may experience some muscle soreness,
just like when you exercise other muscles in your body. This shows that your
Nike Frees are working. Keep in mind that everyone responds differently, so your
progress may be different than others wearing Nike Free.
And of course, running and training in any footwear is never without some risk
of injury. So listen to your body, your trainer and your physician—and don’t feel
bad if you need to stop or rest if necessary. After all, we want you to
run Free and train Free— but we also want you to run and train smart.”

{I ran in Nike Free 3.0 until Nike discontinued them.  I now run in the standard 5.0. I have a few pairs of Flyknit 4.0 that I wear for running errands and doing mom stuff.}

Sooo… does all of this mean that I think every runner should switch to Nike Free’s? No.  I think that the best shoe for any runner is the shoe that feels natural and keeps them injury free.  There are runners out there who are hardcore FOR or AGAINST the minimalist movement and although I see both sides of the argument, I believe every runner should figure out what’s best for them, not what’s best for someone else.  If, after reading this, you decide to give a minimalist shoe a try, I say go for it! But, make sure the timing is right and make sure you have a plan.

Shop Nike Free’s here:

8 Comments
Filed Under: Fashion, Gear

I Need Friends (on Nike+)

March 27, 2015

(Outfit details: Sunglasses– tortoise, Sports bra– black, Tank– black (size down), Shorts– seaside silver fox alberta lake/naval blue, Socks– my long time favorite, Shoes– definitely need to make a trip to Road Runner Sports and pick up some trail shoes.)

My hike/run yesterday on San Tan Mountain with my sister-in-law Rachael was HARD.  Now I can’t stop thinking about going back so many times that it becomes easy.

I forgot my watch so I used my phone to see how long the trail is.  Which reminded me that I have ZERO friends on the Nike+ app.  If you have a Nike+ account and use the app on your phone to record your runs, please request me to be your friend! Username: Maury Harris.

Lastly, who’s ready for the weekend? I have a 15 miler in the morning, then Posey has a dance performance, then a little league game for my boys in the evening.  If I you see me drinking a Red Bull at 4pm, pass no judgement.

Happy Running!
XO

5 Comments
Filed Under: Gear, What's On My Mind

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

About Me

About Me
I am a wife and a mother to four busy kids who is seeing the world one marathon course at a time. I invite you to take a peek into my life, read about my quest to complete a marathon on each continent (with lots more traveling races in between), and learn how to race with your heart. Read more...

Connect With Me

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Search The Site

Marathon Training Guides

Marathon Training Guides

Shop My Favorites

Instagram | @myheartracesblog

Newsletter Sign-up

captcha


site design by designer blogs