This is a sponsored post on behalf of Babbleboxx.com. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting FootballFoodandMotherhood.com.
Training for a run shouldn’t be hard. But like anything else you want to excel in in life, you have to put in the effort. Since a lot of you ask me what my necessities are for training season, I thought I’d make a little list to give you some insight but basically it comes down to 5 essentials:
- good shoes
- a good sports bra
- good headphones
- nutrition/eating properly
- recovery
Babbleboxx reached out to send me some test products for this upcoming training season (we’re doing the Charleston Marathon in January 2020), so I dove in to see how these stand up to the test.
Sports Bra from SHEFIT
Big boobs or small boobs, you need support. I recently attended an event for another fitness company who did research to find out women actually lose time/strides with a floppy bra. Yes, that means you’re actually running a LONGER marathon. SHEFIT helps with this and gets you back in the race (literally). Made for all shapes and sizes, it’s engineered to provide maximum support. Plus, it’s uniquely adjustable in the back – which is a huge plus for me because I hate feeling like I’m strapped in and can’t breathe.
Bonus: Get 10% off using code “Babble10″ here.
Report from Genopalate
I’ve been really hesitant to do a lot of these genetic tests, but Genopalate snagged me in. It’s a genetics-based report that will show you the best foods for your body, aka DNA testing nutrition. It will help you personalize your nutritional habits to optimize athletic results, weight loss, and even help with disease prevention. You do the usual cotton swab test and send it in to learn your results. In about 3-4 weeks you’ll get your customized report showing what foods can harm you and which are better. Like, maybe you don’t need to force yourself to eat Brussels Sprouts anymore. Their evidence-based research from high-impact trials is pretty concise, and it looks directly at your specific genotypes. I haven’t gotten mine back yet, but will report on it once I do.
BONUS: Get $20 off your report using code “FFM” here.
Rosewater and Rosewater Facial Toner from Heritage Store
I’m (sigh) getting older and like any lady out there, concerned about aging and skincare. Recovery and prevention is huge for me because this skin isn’t reversing like Benjamin Button. I spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, and while I love the Vitamin D, it’s still damaging and drying (especially when you have all that salt caked on your face). I love to start an early morning run with a quick spritz of Rosewater from Heritage Store. I even keep mine in the fridge so it’s icy cool and invigorates me to run.
Aeropex from Aftershokz
Some people can run without headphones. I am not one of them. I would cry and probably quit a race (maybe kidding?) if I forgot mine. I even bring a back up pair with me on anything over 6 miles. With that, I put a lot of wear and tear on them, and I go through a lot of pairs. So I am constantly trying new ones for best quality sound, fit and feel. If they feel weird, it’s a no go. These Aeropex from Aftershokz are different – they sit OVER your ears, not IN them. They are made with bone conduction technology that leaves your eardrums open to your environment – so you can still hear all the city streets around you. Sometimes you want to tune out the noise, busy city streets with lots of dangers aren’t one of them. These have become a real lifesaver (literally) when doing my training runs in NYC. Plus, they’re also waterproof AND they last for 8 hours. That will get you through a lot of miles.
Bonus: Use code “BOOTCAMP50” for $50 off all bundles here.
Manitoba Harvest
Again, how you eat is really going to dictate how you run. If you eat crap all day, you feel like crap. If you are trying to be skinny and NOT eat at all, you’re not going to run well. You have to eat – and you need to eat well. Since I’ve gone plant-based, I incorporate a lot of new grains, seeds and hemp has become one of my favorites. I love hemp seeds sprinkled on my salads and in my smoothies. I also have jumped on the CBD train because I’ve seen it work well for a lot of my ailments due to running. Manitoba Harvest has been at it for 20 years, so hemp isn’t something new to them even though it might be to you. They’ve been working to advance hemp agriculture for years in a sustainable way and a champion for the plant in healthful ways. You can try Manitoba Harvest for everything from hemp seeds to CBD to hemp granola bars and snacks.
Healthy Choice Grain Free Power Bowls
It’s the the first time I’ve talked about Healthy Choice – I’ve been big fans of their power bowls since they came out. They’ll extremely helpful to have on-hand for those days you’re running behind and just don’t have the time or energy for a simple, healthy meal. With 18-20 grams of protein and 5-7 grams of fiber and grain-free, they’re full of nutrient-dense greens vegetables and proteins.
