Sunday, February 10, 2013

The RSG1 Valentine's Day Race & A Giveaway!

There is something wildly appropriate about getting into your car on a 20-something degree morning to run a race & the first thing your hear is Britney Spears singing "CRAAYYYY-ZEE" on your radio.

I ran another winter 5k this weekend in North Park. Pittsburgh has had a few really beautiful 50 degree days this winter, but none of them have landed on a race day. Every time the freezing wind blew on Saturday, it was like mother nature cackling in my face sarcastically screaming "RUN, KELLI, RUN!"

The race I ran was the RSG1 Valentine's Day Race that benefited advancements in metabolic therapies. Since one of my big health anxiety concerns used to revolve around brain tumors, I really like to run races that benefit research towards fighting them.

Getting ready for winter races is all about the layers. Even though you definitely could not see the socks I was wearing underneath my compression leggings and my trusty "swishy pants", I took comfort in knowing they were down there. As you can see, they were a little bit of an ego-booster:


The "bad ass" print is on the back of the calf area. Seriously, they crack me up. I got them from Proud Runner (only $9.00) along with another pair that has a red lightening bolt on them (channeling my inner super hero). They're not exactly "compression" socks, but they're way more high-quality than your traditional knee sock. They stayed up really well during the entire race & they're pretty soft for a pair of socks :) I'm really going to love wearing them in the spring during theme races. 


I tried out a product called the Cool-Cat Pro during this race, as well. They're technically multi-function wraps that can act as headbands, neckies (keep cool in the heat, warm in the cold), full head covers, and gaiters. I kind of used it as a combo of both a neckie and gaiter and I was really happy with it. The material is extremely lightweight (lighter than a t-shirt) and there are three snaps in the back that allow you to adjust it. This ensured it was never too baggy and that it stayed put whenever I pulled it up over my nose/mouth.


Like so.

It's designed to wick sweat away, and it's honestly just a comfortable product. I was really questioning whether or not I would get annoyed with it, but I was thrilled with it from start to finish. It'll be great in the summer to keep my neck & head cool and dry, and I'll probably be using it during the rest of my outdoor winter runs this season just because it was a huge help in dealing with running head-on into the frigid Pittsburgh wind. They're also only $20 which is fantastic compared to the price of most gaiters alone. I also don't like how thick most gaiters are, so this is a great alternative if you're not into suffocation.


At the start of the race we were looking at about 26 degrees (another scorcher). The race itself was relatively small, but there were some nice goodies available for runners like complimentary hot hands, protein bars, a chinese auction, and food afterwards. While the chicken noodle soup from Eat n' Park was delicious, it was more like chicken noodle lava & my mouth is still paying for it today.


I have to say, I was extremely disappointed whenever I went to scope my race results on the website the next day. My name was nowhere to be found - what the HECK? I did email the woman who was in charge of the race, and she told me she would look into ASAP it for me. They used chips, and I heard a beep when I crossed over the finish line - so what gives? First experience I've ever had where that happened, and it's definitely a bummer. Looking at the times, too - I am pretty sure I'd have easily been top 5 in my age group. Sad face, sad face. I'm pouting.

Either way, it was a nice winter training run & I definitely enjoyed it. The terrain was mostly gentle slopes, and there were no insane hills in there. 


So to celebrate those of us who power through runs in both the winter and the warmer months - Cool-Cat Pro has decided to be awesome & give one of my readers a chance to win their awesome product. You can use it now to stay warm during your winter runs, and it'll be fantastic in the spring/summer when you need to keep cool.

All you have to do is "like" Cool-Cat Pro on Facebook (just click the link) & comment below with your email. I will make sure the winner is a fan of their page - so don't try and be sneaky, bro. Winner will be chosen on February 18th. Good Luck to you all!!

p.s. if you're having trouble locating the comment form - just click here!


Keep Running,
Kelli