Half Marathon Recovery with CEP Compression Tall Socks 3.0

I received CEP Compression Tall Socks 3.0 as part of being a BibRave Pro (ambassador). Check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews. 

Race recovery is hugely important after any long distance race! What you do for your body after a race can determine how you feel the next day, or even for days afterwards. Heck, months afterward in the case of preventable injuries. Most runners have their own routine, and mine starts before the race even happens. 

Whether I am traveling for a race, or driving to it on race morning, I always put together a recovery outfit for after the race. It might consist of yoga pants, or my all time fave: oversized, cotton, men's pajama pants. I also pack a comfy sports bra (my current fave is by Handful), a tee in case the race shirt isn't comfy, Oofos, and compression socks. Let's be honest, a change of clothes after a race is life changing. Getting rid of that delightful post race stink is life altering, and being able to strip off every stitch of race clothing goes a long way towards repairing that fragile state of mind after you have finished a race! I have changed my clothes in the backseat of my car more times than I can count.

Back to my routine. Post race, the first thing I do is hunt up the food. Being hungry is no good, so replenishing everything you just used up is very important. Give me all the food and chocolate milk. Pronto. Once I've got that covered, I start stretching. My favorite stretch? Pigeon pose!

After I have done all of my stretches I go to my car and change my clothes. I have a towel that clips around my chest and I pretty much work my magic underneath it. It's a game change, for sure. Once I have changed my clothes, I sometimes head back to the finish to watch any of my friends who haven't beat me to the end. This honestly happened mostly when I have run a half that also has a full. I.am.slow. Once I have cheered my little heart out it is time to head home.

If I have a long drive, I will stop every couple of hours and walk around a bit. If I am close to home, I take a lap around the living room every hour or so. This is really helpful the next day, as it really helps with that soreness factor. You know, lactic acid buildup, blah blah blah.

So, why are compression socks so important?

 Wearing compression socks after a race increase blood flow and reduce swelling. After my half on Sunday my legs felt amazing! I wore my socks post race and for the whole drive home, until it was bath time.

The Tall Socks 3.0 have amazing padding on the soles, which was super helpful with my Plantar Fasciitis. They have high tech yarns, a more natural fitting toe box, and they help you recover faster while they reduce swelling and muscle strain. They also feature proprioceptive ankle and arch stabilization, so important when walking around on tired legs. 

Mine are blue, but they come in a variety of colors. 

CEP is so sure about their products that they offer a six month guarantee and 30 day returns, no questions asked. How could you not love that?!?

I have been obsessed with CEP since I met up with them last November at TRE. I even bought their PF foot sleeve. They make a lot of amazing products so be sure to surf their site!

What is your favorite recovery trick?

Tobacco Road Half Marathon Recap

I received entry into the Tobacco Road Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. (ambassador) Check out BibRave.com to read and write race reviews!

The adventure began entirely too early on Sunday morning when Lissa and I met up at the hotel to pick up fellow  BibRave Pro Ben before the race. I had a parking pass so we all went together. This way Ben's wife and Lissa's family could all sleep in! After one minor mishap (I read the map wrong and drove to the wrong location) we made it to the parking lot near the Start/Finish and stayed in the warm car until it was time for the group photo! Afterwards, we hit the porta potties and then made our way to the start line.

Lissa was running her first marathon, and she had a few jitters, but I knew she would be ok. One last selfie before she went to the front and I lingered in the back.

As I was waiting for the race to start, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Faith, a friend I met at Mirna Valerio's Slow AF Trail Retreat last summer! We started talking and it turned out that we were running the same intervals. We decided to stay together for as long as we could (which ended up being the finish line!)

 The anthem was over and it was time to run. I loved the enormous American Flag hanging at the finish! It is small in this pic, but stay tuned.

The first and last 2.5 miles of the race are on the road. It was mildly hilly, but nothing too crazy. Training in Charlotte has its advantages! I looked back during the first mile for someone reason and then full on stopped to get a pic of this sunrise!

The Tobacco Road Trail isn't your typical trail with roots and rocks and things that jump up at you to trip you. It is hard packed dirt, and mostly flat. It was positively delightful. There are multiple entrance points with parking lots, plus you cross the road a few times, so there were plenty of spectators. The water stops were on point. They all had water and, I believe, Gatorade. It was some electrolyte drink anyway. Some had gels and some had Stroopwaffles. OMG I had a chocolate sea salt one and it was heaven. Because the trail portion was an out and back, you passed each of these stations twice. 

For some reason, I really enjoyed running through this tunnel. Twice. I had to snap a pic!

The great thing about an out and back course is that you get to see of your marathon friends out on the course! I saw just about everyone I knew running past me at some point. The marathoners had to run further on the trail before turning back, but that didn't stop the race winners from passing us before we finished! Soon we were back on the road and feeling the pain. We managed to push through and finish somewhat strong.

Fun fact: The RD is at the finish and he shakes the hand of every finisher. I didn't know this and slapped him five instead. It wasn't at all awkward or strange. Truly. Anyway. There was water at the finish and then when you walked around the corner to the finisher area, there was pizza (which I cannot have), chocolate milk (which I can only tolerate after a race, score! and a beer garden. Inside the tent they also had Irish Soda Bread. YUM!
There was also a live band and they were really good!

After I changed my clothes I went back to watch Lissa finish. I found out that they gave anyone with a BQ a special finisher shirt that has Boston Qualifier on the sleeve. How cool is that?

I loved watching the runners finish and cheering for them. Very inspiring! And Lissa rocked it!

And, as promised, a close up of the awesome flag at the finish! So beautiful!

Next year's race is on March 15, 2020 and you can register here.... who is in??

Flat Mama Friday, Tobacco Road Half Marathon Edition

I received entry in to the Tobacco Road Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro (ambassador). Check out BibRave.com to read and write race reviews!



This weekend is going to be a little crazy, because I am coaching and then going right to the expo for the Tobacco Road Half Marathon. I will be riding my bicycle to coach, and then changing my clothes, collecting the water jugs (coaches take turns putting them out) and then I’m hitting the road for the race!!

Once I’m done coaching, I will change into my BIBRAVE Gear for the expo, but will change into my running club shirt afterwards because we are all getting together for dinner.

Race day outfit is all put together, with my Bib Boards and my Handful Bra, and my kicks. I also have some cute clips for my hat to celebrate the holiday! I also put aside my comfy Handful Bra and my CEP socks for after the race.

Staying Active on Spring Break

My daughter is visiting us from NJ and we are trying to stay as active as possible while also eating all the food. Let’s see if we were successful....
She arrived on Sunday...

We mostly just ate on Sunday, I’m not gonna lie. 

Monday, we went to the zoo. We also went to Sky Zone and had Chuy's for dinner.

Tuesday, we were pretty lazy. We had planned to go axe throwing; but they were only open starting Thursday so that was out.

Wednesday started with yoga. I taught and Morgan attended. Then we hit Panera for breakfast, shopped a little, killed some time reading at Starbucks, and then saw the Wizard of Oz at the movies.

Today we hit Charlotte for a late lunch. (I ran this morning,but Morgan slept in)  We had ramen and some other delectables at Futo Buta. After that we walked a mile to Amelie's by way of the Green to celebrate Pi Day.

After we had pie... well, tarts.... we rented scooters for about an hour and zipped around the area of the Light Train. SO FUN. 

After that, we went axe throwing. I perfected my Flick Throw and the coach said I should join the league! What an ego boost that was! I am actually considering it, although it's a bit of a drive each way.

All in all, a successful week, I think. Morgan goes back to NJ tomorrow, and I go to the Raleigh area for the Tobacco Road Half.

What has been your most active vacation (that was not a race-cation)?

Packing for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon