Zensah Sports Bra

As promised, here is my review of the Zensah Sports bra.  Please note, this is my own personal review after buying it after hearing good things about the bra.  I'm not partial to any one brand, but I am willing to try things out when they come with good reviews.

Why did I decide to buy the bra?  Well, I absolutely love my Moving Comfort bra, and nothing was coming close.  I don't know the name of the MC bra because it's not on the bra and I don't remember the name from 3 years ago.  I've looked on their website and while there are ones close to it, I can't find THE bra.  After following a review link to Zensah, I saw this style is very, very, very similar to my MC bra and I was willing to give it a try.  I'm also flexible when it comes to styles and brands because, let's face it, I was not blessed in the bosom department.  I do not need, as my aunt put it once, a "harness and tackle."  Just a simple but good sports bra.

To start off with, the price is $35.99, which is a good price when I compare it to other sports bras.  I do have limits on what I will spend on fitness gear, so unfortunately there are some companies I won't go near.  The sizing is also easy to follow: S/M, M/L/ L/XL.  I went with the yellow because I'm looking to add more color into my fitness wardrobe.  I have the typical sports bra colors of white and black.  Boring!

The material is a little bit heavier than the Moving Comfort bra, but it doesn't feel heavy.  It feels good on the torso, and it's not chafing (yet?).  There's a spot on both sides of my torso, just below the arm pits, where new sports bras tend to chafe, but this one hasn't yet.  I've worn it for 3-4 hours on two occasions, and nothing so far.  It also has "compartments" for each of my girls, so it doesn't produce the uni-boob like a lot of sports bras do.  The neck line is a little bit higher than the MC, but it's not restrictive.  It adds a pop of color underneath my shirts and tank tops.

Since I'm still injured, I haven't really been able to really test this bra out, but I've used it for elliptical cardio and weight work.  It's feels great, and I'm trying to decide which color to get next.  I'm thinking either neon green or aqua.

Random Sunday Musings 6/16

Happy Father's Day!  I'll be Skyping with my parents tonight to celebrate Father's Day with my dad.

This week was a busy one.  Tuesday was the USMNT qualifier against Panama, Wednesday was Spirit of the Marathon II, Thursday was lunch out with friends, and Saturday was busy busy.   I had a sports massage in the morning, and though I still have kinks to work out, she's making progress.   I still cringe when she's working on the knots, but at the same time I'm trying to stay relaxed so she can work them out.  Saturday afternoon was full of soccer games - Brazil/Japan, FC Dallas/Portland, USWNT/South Korea.  The FIFA Confederations Cup started yesterday, and there are two games today.

I'm continuing to stretch out my IT band, and I seriously hope I'm making progress.  I stretch three times a day and ice after each one when I can.  When I stretch during lunch at work, I don't have access to ice.  I've worked my way up to 3 sets each for the exercises, the first at 30 seconds, the second at 35, and the third at 40.

I also received the Zensah sports bra I ordered.  I'll have my review up of that this coming week.  To sum up real quick, I like it :-)

Spirit of the Marathon II

Last night I saw Spirit of the Marathon II, which focuses on runners participating in the 2012 Rome Marathon.  2 are first time marathoners, 2 are veterans of the Rome Marathon, 1 is doing 52 in 52 weeks, and 2 are pros.  I guess my race shirt gave me away because even before I was able to give my ticket to the usher, he told me which theater it was showing on :-)

It's very inspirational and makes me want to run a marathon, but I have to say, I'm no where near ready to commit.  That 26.2-mile distance is rather intimidating.

The format to this one is different than the first Spirit of the Marathon.  I feel the first SotM focused more on the history of marathon running, which is only briefly touched on in the second, and then the focus is the training leading up to the race.  II starts with the runners already in Rome, waking up on race morning and getting to the start line.  The narration picks up there, cutting away from the runners on the course to their back stories, back to the race, back to their training.

It was fun again to see all the sights in Rome, and I was sort of repeating what I did when I saw Angels and Demons (been there!  saw that!  did that!  went there!)  It makes me wonder if I could choose a marathon, any where in the world, where would it be?  I'm honestly not sure.  Would I choose somewhere I've already been or go someplace new?

Spectating the Wounded Warrior 10k

Well, it was certainly interesting Sunday morning.  I woke up at 5 to get down to the race and find parking with plenty of time.  On my way to Irving I saw lightning in the clouds, but no rain.  No rain until 30 minutes before the half marathon was supposed to start, with lightning and thunder to match.  It was 77 when I got in my car, and by the time the races started, an hour late, it was 70.  I don't know what I'd rather deal with, rain or heat.  Heat slows you down, but wet shoes and socks create blisters.  The weather certainly made me feel better about opting to rest my IT band.  I spent most of my time under cover, waiting out the storm.

Thankfully, about an hour after the 10k started, the rain lightened up a lot, so I decided to brave it and wait by the finish line for my friends.  Marines were also there, selling merchandise to raise money for their Marine Ball.  I bought a shirt and found out the regiment's headquarters are up here in Ft. Worth.

My friends finished not that long after I found a high spot past the finish line so they could see me.  They now have times they can submit to Disney!

*****

Speaking of Disney, today is the day the Princess weekend registration opens.  Good luck to all who wants to run any, or all, the races.

Random Saturday Musings 6/8

I switched it up by a day since I'll be out Sunday cheering on friends in the 10k I can't run.  I'll take pictures and blog about being a supporter for this race instead of a runner.

A few weeks ago I asked if I should run to 80s or Patriotic music, which is moot now, but I thought I'd post the playlist that won, 80s.  If y'all think I should add any songs, please feel free to comment.

Jump For My Love - Pointer Sisters
Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
Like a Prayer - Madonna
Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Jesse's Girl - Rick Springfield
Simply Irresistable - Robert Palmer
Walk Like an Egyptian - the Bangles
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
Boys of Summer - Don Henley
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
We Built This City - Starship
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) - Journey
We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Underground - David Bowie

Coping With an Injury

I'm not good with this whole not running thing.  I knew I wanted rest after Eugene, but this forced rest is too much.  These Jimmy Buffett lyrics sum up how I feel:

This morning I shot six holes in my freezer 

I think I got cabin fever 

Somebody sound the alarm

As y'all know, I'm trying to rest and get my IT band to heal.  That wouldn't be a problem if I could sit back and relax, but most of the time, I can't.  To try to fight the cabin fever, I'm brainstorming playlists and building up a retail therapy list of running gear I want.  Here's my list so far:

Yurbuds: Inspire for Women - Pink of course

Distance Running Skirt - purchased to celebrate National Running Day

runDisney In Training shirt

Zensah sports bra - I'm thinking yellow

Suffice to say, when it comes to Christmas and birthdays, I can normally come up with a few things for this running adventure.

The Liebster Award

My blog was nominated by Lauren at Lauren's Glass Slipper for a Liebster Award.  Thank you Lauren!

Here is how it works:

1. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you.
3. Create 11 new questions.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post.
5. Thank the person that nominated you and tell the people you’ve nominated. 

My 11 Questions for Others:

1. What race is at the top of your running bucket list? The BolderBoulder 10k.  Given the altitude difference, it would be a challenge
2. If money was no object and you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Monterey, California 3. What is your current running goal that you are working towards? A faster half marathon time 
4. What is your favorite food to eat after a race? I can’t eat right after a race so it’s really whatever the race provides
5. Of all the blog posts you have written, which one is your favorite? Probably the difference in Disney races: http://arunnershenanigans.blogspot.com/2013/01/walt-disney-world-races-vs-disneyland.html
6. What is your favorite movie? The Princess Bride 7. Who is your favorite Disney character? Captain Hook, ever since childhood.  I love the villains, the stories would be boring without them.
8. Dogs or Cats? Cats, though I love dogs too.
9. What is one thing you REALLY want to do in the next 5 years (does not have to be running related)? Travel to Ireland or Spain
10. Best piece of running advice anyone has ever given you? Run your race, no one else’s
11. What is your dream job? Travel host on the Travel Channel

11 facts about me:

1)      I love love love chocolate!  My first adult food was chocolate pudding – thanks Grandpa!

2)      I’m stubborn to a fault, but it has its perks, like completing a race after an injury pops up

3)      My favorite holiday is Halloween

4)      My favorite movie director is Tim Burton, and I love the Nightmare Before Christmas

5)      My favorite color seems to be red.  All but one of the sports teams I follow wear red: the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Red Wings, Liverpool FC, FC Dallas, and the Allen Americans.  The Patriots used to wear red, and will sometimes wear the red throwback jerseys, but now wear blue.

6)      I’m an absolute Disney nut.  I did my high school American History thesis on Walt Disney

7)      I hate baseball.  I had to put up with the Red Sox circus for 12 years, and I was only a passing fan before then

8)      Even though I did not go to CU, I love their mascot Ralphie.  Don’t forget, Ralphie’s a she.  Female buffaloes are smaller than males.

9)      I will not stop to use port-a-potties during a race.  Real bathrooms yes, but not port-a-potties, unless I'm absolutely desperate.

10)   I’ve been to Scotland once and would love to visit again

11)   I have heritage from 8 different countries and 2 Native American tribes

Most of the blogs I follow have already been nominated, but these are my 11 questions.  If any of you readers would like to answer, please feel free.

Questions for bloggers:

1)      What has been your favorite race to date?

2)      What is your must-have running accessory?

3)      If you run with music, what is your favorite artist or genre?

4)      What do you like to do while not running?

5)      If you could participate in any race in the world, which one would it be?

6)      What is your favorite running distance?

7)      If you could run a race for any charity, what would the charity be?

8)      Favorite sports team?

9)      What is your race-day routine?

10)   Lord of the Rings vs. Harry Potter vs. Game of Thrones?

11)   Local races or destination races?