Tuesday, September 22, 2009

New Stuff!

Alright, I have all kinds of stuff to tell you about. Bear with me as I squeeze everything into one post, so that every other post this week can be dedicated to my upcoming marathon... which is in 5 days!


Solixir



Scott Lerner sent me a generous sampling of these sparkling botanical beverages to sample. Available in Awaken: Orange Maté, Restore: Pomegranate Ginger and Relax: Blackberry Chamomile, Solixir is all natural, sugar-free and caffeine-free.

I have a bad habit of cracking open a diet coke every day around 3pm when I need a little break from good old h2o. Solixir seems like a great alternative, promising to hydrate and nourish both body and soul without unnecessary additives. With a nutritionist and herbalist on the team behind Solixir, I'm confident that this product is good for me.

I enjoyed a can in lieu of my usual diet coke yesterday afternoon and it hit the spot. I didn't even miss my caffeine and aspartame fix!

And how do they taste? I'm having a very difficult time describing the actual flavours in each beverage (I'm not the kind of person who can identify the fruity, nutty or woody taste in a good glass of wine - sorry!), but they are all light and refreshing with a distinct taste to tickle your tongue.

My personal favourite is Pomegranate Ginger.




See what Frayed Laces and The Happy Runner had to say about Solixir.


SPI-belt

I recently ordered a SPI-belt in the hopes that I could use it to carry gels and other essentials during the marathon. (I have decided to carry my 10-oz handheld water bottle and not wear my fuel belt because it drives me crazy.)

The "small personal item" belt promises sleek appearance, expandability and most importantly, not to bounce.

With an enormous colour selection, it took me a while to decide on black w/ turquoise zip.

I love how the pouch is itty-bitty when empty.



And here it is full of stuff. The fabric is super expandable and the zipper is sturdy.



I've had the opportunity to take my SPI-belt out for a few spins (crammed full of gels to simulate its use at the marathon) and it did not disappoint! It sits comfortably on my hip and does not bounce.

(Don't mind the "creative" self-portraits in the mirror.)


While I have read some mixed reviews (and Chic Runner prefers the iFitness Belt*), it seems to do the trick for me.

*Moments before publishing this post I received an email from iFitness in response to a request I sent a few weeks ago. I'll be picking mine up at the marathon expo this weekend, so I'll be sure to post a comparison review ASAP.



Moving Comfort




I've been on a mission for the perfect running bra for a while now. Moving Comfort recently sent me one of theirs to test out. The enclosed note and even the tag said it was a Dori, but in fact they sent me a Fiona. Oops! (I only noticed this when I wanted to include a link in this post and didn't recognize the bra shown.)

What I like:
-super soft fabric
-double layered

What I don't like:
-velcro adjustable straps
-straps slipping off my shoulder (I prefer racer back)

Unfortunately, Fiona is not the bra for me. It's designed for C-DD cup, which I am not. It was really comfortable, but the straps were constantly slipping off my shoulder, which is why I prefer racer back sports bras. I think the Dori would be a suitable replacement, so I'll have to try that one next.

See what Runner Leana had to say about Moving Comfort.


Thanks for reading this LONG-WINDED post!

One more thing: drop by Tall Mom on the Run and Busy Running Mama to win some Thorlo Socks!

35 comments:

Meg said...

Good to know that pouch worked! I have a fuel belt and find that it kills my back when I have my water, phone and keys all in it. I'm on the hunt now for a new water-carrying-mechanism-thingie (as well as a phone carrying thingie).

I'm eyeing these...ever try one?
http://gearjunkie.com/gracies-gear-sports-bra

I'm gonna do a post about them now...lol

Anonymous said...

I might have to check out that belt - I'm in need of something for my half! Thanks for the reviews! Drop by my blog for a giveaway!! :)

Mark said...

I'm interested in that belt...looks like a perfect ride, I'm planning on carrying a hand held also. I'm pulling for you this weekend!!

Sarah said...

That belt looks awesome!

Yeah I wear The Fiona......so not so much good for you LMAO!

Anonymous said...

Thansk for all the reviews! and GOODLUCK on your race!

Toni said...

That belt looks great. I have a fuel belt which I use on long runs but I wouldn't want to wear it at a race. I keep thinking of trying a handheld bottle but it seems like it would be a annoying.

Jenn said...

I love love love Moving Comfort bras. I bought two last year at the Scotia Bank expo - one Fiona and the other is a Phoebe. I do have the C-DD boobs, and love them both, but I especially love the Phoebe (which looks like the Dori - maybe the Phoebe is higher cut??). I picked up another one of them at the Ottawa expo this year and also a different one (not sure the name, but it's just an over the head with no closure at the back) which is less supportive but still pretty great.

And I'm planning to head to the expo on Friday or Saturday [even tho I'm not racing] to get me a fitness belt and hopefully a 10oz water bottle I can hold. You loving the SPI belt is making me wonder whether to go for the ifitness or the SPI - I guess I'll let the cuter (or cheaper?) win!

Gotta Run..... said...

velcro straps... who would think that would be a good idea??

Keep the reviews coming!!

btw - cool belt. I love my hand held bottle over a fuel belt.

joyRuN said...

I lurve my spibelt. I finally found that sweet spot (behind my left hip) where it sits perfectly for me.

Between that & my handheld - all set to go!

No Longer Using said...

wow lots of reviews! i did not like solixir.. it tasted funny to me!! i am glad you like it, def a good switch up from diet soda. hopefully you can stick with it :)

neat about the spi-belt!!! i think i will also be carrying my waterbottle. i could never wear a fuel-belt.

Diana said...

Like the look of the spi-belt, especially the color! Will be looking into that.

Jen Feeny said...

I've been meaning to try Solixir but I have no clue where to find it.

I have the SPIbelt as well but got sick of it fast, I think I'm going to try the iFitness belt and see if I like it better.

Great reviews!

5 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Denise said...

I was checking those belts out at a recent expo, seem pretty cool. I have a moving comfort bra that I'm really happy with.

Go get focused!!

N.D. said...

Thanks for the reviews - I cannot believe the marathon is only 5 days away!!!

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

YIPPEE 5 More days. I HOPE that the card I am sending you will make it in time. My cards were at the office and I was at home sick. If it is late I am SORRY!!!

Hugs to all the fun new products..

RunningLaur said...

You have some good stuff there! I have friends that really like the spibelt, and have been thinking about one for me as well. Maybe one day.

Happy almost marathon!!!!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

5 more sleeps! YAY! :) Great reviews, not sure I've seen Solixir, but sounds like a great alternative! :) Saw some of the Moving Comfort products at RR last night, I may have to buy something one of these days!!

Being Robinson said...

yaya for almost marathon day. rest up. that spibelt looks perfect, i might have to try one of those!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the SPI-belt review. I have been contemplating one myself and I'm glad to hear you like it.

Laura said...

I'm jealous Moving Comfort sent you a sports bra to try out. Thanks for the review.

X-Country2 said...

That belt is pretty sleek looking. Not nearly as "fanny pack" as most.

Aron said...

i have a spi belt too! i only use it for my phone, whenever i put gu in it, it bounces and makes me mad! maybe if i *only* had gu and not the phone too it would be better :)

Runner Leana said...

I have a spibelt and it works okay. I found that with my camera in there it bounced around too much though. Good if I just wanted to carry some gels and keys.

Too bad that you weren't able to test out the other bra!

Chic Runner said...

interesting about the spibelt! I can't wait to see your side by side comparison and thanks for the shout out. That drink looks pretty bomb too. I have seen it in a few places, I'll have to try it out!

J said...

I just added the spi belt and moving comfort to my list of "things to buy when I start running again" lol!

Anonymous said...

Lookin' Good, girlfriend!!!!

Yum, those drinks actually sounds pretty good! I'll have to check them out!!

Anonymous said...

Gosh, now I am so undecided regarding spi-belt vs. i-Fitness belt. I want to use it for my upcoming half. Thanks for the review!

Anonymous said...

Yesss thanks for these! I've wanted a Spi-belt for a whiiile now! Nicole told me about them and it sounds Perfect for me (not into the "bulky" stuff)! :) Interested to see what you think about the i-Fitness one too....

EndorphinBuzz said...

5 days (now 4?) until redemption, it is so exciting. Thanks for the drink review, I'll give them a try next time I see them in a store.

Lindsay said...

glad the spi-belt works out for you! the drinks sound like my kind of thing. i am crazy about bubbled/carbonated flavored water so i will have to give solixir a whirl.

A Toronto girl out West said...

Thanks for the awesome reviews!

I haven't seen those drinks in stores (are they available in Canada?) but I will be on the lookout for them. :o)

PS: You look super cute in the pictures!

Boris T said...

Thanks for the reviews, I haven't heard of those drinks before. If I run into them I'll have to try em.

Irish Cream said...

Oooh, thanks for the reviews . . . I have a bad diet soda addiction, so I might have to try out solixir.

And if you ever DO discover the perfect running bra, let me know! I'm really sick of being eaten alive by each and every one of mine! :)

RW said...

i have been trying to decide between a spibelt and an ifitness belt. in the end have you decided which you prefer?

dailone said...

MY wife exercise at least 6 times a week. She personally wear nothing but front closing sports bras most of the time simply for the sheer comfort they provide.