Product Reviews! UA Compression Shorts - Red Lion Compression Socks

I rarely buy myself running gear, but the more and more I am getting further into the training and losing more weight I quite enjoy to. I do find that it can be rather costly and have turned to Amazon.com to fill the void of needs. Who ever said running was cheap must shake their head.. or maybe they make money off the products we all need....

I have always been uncomfortable wearing shorts up until this year, and definitely am over heating in this humidity without them! I've noticed a great lady on twitter who has been a huge inspiration, lives by compression shorts, sleeves and socks for running. I've done some reading on why this is a benefit, all that I have read states it assists in muscle oxygenation throughout the workout. We all know that the increase of oxygen to your muscles during your run is going to assist in your fatigue levels. I often find my calves for sure get crampy and tired quickly, so I felt I needed to try something to get over this.

I ordered Under Armour Ultra 7" Compression Shorts from www.amazon.com

The fundamentals (www.underarmour.com)

• Compression: This ultra-tight, second-skin fit delivers a locked-in feel that keeps your muscles fresh & your recovery time fast.
• Locked-in UA Compression fit increases muscle power and decreases recovery time
• Lightweight, 4-Way Stretch construction improves mobility and accelerates dry time
• Signature Moisture Transport System wicks sweat away to keep you cool, dry, and focused
• Wide, yoga-inspired waistband with hidden pocket to stash yours stuff
• Anti-Odor technology prevents the growth of odor-causing microbes
• Seamless front delivers women's workout clothing with superior comfort

 

Well the fit true to size, I don't feel poured into them and they are very comfortable. I have worn them out for 2 short runs and a outside bootcamp workout as well. The shorts did not adjust or ride up during any of the workouts, this is a HUGE plus for me! I hate having to adjust all the time. They also washed very well. I am quite happy with these shorts, I would have bought them locally had I been able to find them in a store here.

 

If you are in need of a good pair of compression shorts... I recommend a pair from Under Armour. They are made for real people, with real bodies!

 

 

Red Lion Compression Socks

(http://www.standardmerchandisingco.com/ProductRedLion.aspx?ProductId=3054&CategoryId=301)

Well these socks suck.. that's pretty much my full opinion. They aren't sized to the size of your calves, I have large calves and these are so tight around the top of my calf I could barely think of anything else. I also found the base of the sock very padded, filled up my shoe and very warm. The product reviews on Amazon were good, however finding more information on the product is like trying to pull teeth. Yes they were cheap, and maybe if my calves get smaller these will fit better. Until then, I'm going to stick with my well fitting CEP Running sleeves. They fit like a glove and you don't even realize your wearing them!

 

 

Do you have a favorite compression sock or short I should give a whirl?

 

Moose Jawg - Canada Day 5 km Race!

I had applied to the Moose Jawg race assuming I would be running the 10km part of this race.. Unfortunately that didn't happen. It wasn't due to lack of training but to some issue I am finding with my lungs. About a month ago I noticed that anytime I was running or out doing cardio under the great blue skies I would have shortness of breath and some discomfort in my chest. At this point, I was down 25 lbs and really confused by all of this. Our health care here isn't awesome.. surprise! Canadian health care isn't all that it is cracked up to be. I have been trying to find a family Dr. for months. I had one.. and she just spontaneously disappeared. So I am resulted in going to a medi clinic, the Dr. gave me ventolin inhalers which seems to be assisting. ( However, the Dr. just told me to lose weight and it would go away.. I'm going to drive 2 hours to my old family Dr. next week to see what can be done)

So I opted out of the 10 km run and continued on with the 5km. I had heard numerous wonderful things about this race, it is through the beautiful Wakamow valley in Moose Jaw Sk. Monday July 1st came and I was ready! The heat.. oh my.. I am NOT a heat and humidity gal at all! It was 25celcius by the time I finished the race, very humid from the river and NOT a breathe of wind. We started at 8:30 am, I wish we would have started at 7 am.

As you can see the route is all over, you go out and back and down and back. I found at the bottom loop in that heat, it was easy to get lost. There was only one station within 2.5 km and 4 kms through the bush. Yes it was pretty, but dangerous for anyone who had gotten heat stroke and couldn't figure out which turn to take and when. With the heat, I barely ran kms 2.5 to 4. I kept my time under my worst.. so that was a plus. No personal record but I did have a good time. I finished in 45 minutes which was 6 minutes longer than I had wanted, but the heat kicked my ass!

The swag we got from the race was pretty kick ass too, a nice tech t-shirt, some coupons ( one of which I used for a pair of compression calf sleeves) And the breakfast was wonderful! My whole family enjoyed the meal and it was very well organized.

The things that make a great race:
- great route ( easy to run, easy to figure out and lots of scenery) 3 out of 5
- great swag 5 out of 5
- great post race snacks 5 out of 5
- great timing for race 3 out of 5

Overall : 4 out of 5

Do you have a race in Canada or the USA that is a must run? If so, why is that?!