favorite things

Many thanks to all for the blogland love and support! :) I'm going to try and write about my 'journey' as best as I can........until I feel like I'm complaining, then I'll find something else to write about. ;)

So I have been meaning to do a post of some of my favorite tri/training 'things' and I thought that today was as good as any. Please feel free to share some of YOUR favorite training items/accessories.

Fav bike shorts: I have only tried three brands, but my theory is once you find something you like, stick with it. My favorite brand for bike 'bottoms' is She Beest. A-W-E-S-O-M-E, imo. I have the shorts and the pedal pushers and love both. They are comfy and cut just right. Plus they hold up well with regular washing. One thing I love about the company is that it was created by a woman and she still heads up design. Check them out!

Fav trail socks: I know I've gushed about these socks before. Balega trail socks are my fav by far. I'm not a fan of thick cushy socks and these are thicker than what I would normally wear but I love them! They wick great and keep your feet feeling warm and snugglely no matter how many miles you walk/run. I have taken to wearing them for everyday use.

Fav running socks: I stick with the cool max and dri fits that New Balance and Nike have to offer here. I have a couple pairs of cotton Nike dri fits that I workout in sometimes, but for runs the thinner the better! Oh I have a couple pairs of Smart Wool socks too but I haven't raced in any yet.

Fav trail shoes: North Face W Ultra 103 XCR. I love these shoes for more than just trail runs. :) They are super comfy and the Gortex keeps your tootsies toasty warm and dry. I've even been ankle deep and still had dry feet; wet calves but dry feet. ;) I will say though that E-Speed recently reviewed a pair of New Balance trail runners and I might check those out this fall.

Fav running shoes: I'm a New Balance girl myself and have been sticking with the 1060 series for a few years now. The current shoe is the WR1062. They offer the right amount of support I need, are reasonably lightweight and the new insole is better than ever, eliminating the need for extra arch support.

Fav sports bra: Nike doesn't make my fav sports bra any longer but the replacement, which I have yet to own, but have tried on is just a good if not better. Sports bras have been a 'problem' of mine for the majority of my life. I was one of those girls that went from no boobs to c cups overnight. And unfortunately, when you are a d cup there isn't much you can do to keep things comfortably in place while running. So I'm always on the hunt for a great sports bra. Recently, there is this trend to lift, support AND separate which is something relatively new. The Nike Revolutionary Bra, has three ways to customize fit making it more accommodating and providing the possibility for uniboob to be a thing of the past. :)

I know this is probably not ANYTHING that any of you guys are interested in (if you even are reading still) but it is a very important part of any training or race day attire. Here is my biggest pet peeve about sports bras: I'm short, hence I have a shorter torso than most which is measured from the shoulders to the hip, therefore I need adjustable shoulder straps. Why more sports bras don't come with adjustable straps is beyond me. The other thing that is beyond me is the 'one fits all' approach to measuring. Whether I'm being measured for a regular bra or a sports bra, by a regular sale clerk or someone from the company, the measuring tape always lies. By about 4 sizes. They bring in the bras and they never fit, so I end up trying on like 20 bras before we finally get to the size I need. *sigh*.....

Fav sports foodie item: SportBeans hands down. Oh and dried cranberries. It is amazing what a kick a handful of dried cranberries can provide on a hot and humid August run!

Fav recovery snack: Chocolate milk or sugar free carnation instant breakfast. Nuff said. :)

Since Morris has his own mini speed races through the house, I figured he could share his favorite things too. Just in case any of you cat owners are interested. ;)

Fav toys: Morris is a bit of an angry drunk so he doesn't get any catnip. However, honeysuckle provides the same 'feeling' without getting into his blood stream and making him even more crazy than he normally is. Coventry Cats has these great honeysuckle pillows, which we lovingly refer to as happy pillows. For days when Morris wants something a little more interactive and challenging we reach for GO-CAT's Da Bird or Wild Thing. Both of which need to be kept hidden away in the linen closet or he will destroy them. If you haven't tried Da Bird yet, seriously get one!!! You can check youtube for video of people's cats playing with this wonderful invention.

Fav treats: Liv-a-littles from Halo. He prefers salmon or chicken. These are only given rarely because Morris will eventually go on a hunger strike and cry by the fridge to get some, which makes me want to throw him out of the window. So for both of us these are only given on special occasions.

Fav dinner: My homemade cod fillets. I bake the fish with a little Morton's Seasoning Salt and Paprika and viola! I have to give him a small amount at a time otherwise he eats it too fast and then throws up all over. Which is BEYOND gross.

Fav ordinary item toy: This is a tie between brown paper bags and the down comforter.


So there you have it my friends, some of my favorite things! Please share some of yours. I love hearing about the products that others use. It helps me find other fun goodies out there! :)