Tiux Compression Socks review

I had the awesome opportunity to try out a pair of Tiux compression socks over the last few weeks. After wearing them during and after my runs, I have nothing but positive things to say about them. I'll start with the company first.

Tiux is a small, start-up company that sells premium, technical compression socks at an incredible affordable price(only $35!!!).
They skip the middleman process and eliminate wholesalers and distributors by selling directly online to their customers so there's no inflated mark-ups like other brands.

Not only are the reliable, high quality compression socks, they're also for a great cause. Tiux donates 1% of all it's profits to MAGS(Mines Advisory Group) to help save lives and protect communities from landmines and other weapons remaining after conflicts.

 I am in love with the bright pink and yellow. They're also available in black/yellow and yellow/blue.
They're surprisingly warm, which is perfect for fall/winter running but also breathable since I'm a heavy sweater when I run. My favorite thing about these socks would probably be the padded footbed. It almost feels like a normal sock then the rest of the sock is stretchy and fits like a glove. They're my new go-to sock for recovery after a long run or keeping my legs from feeling fatigued especially during a fast paced run.

For the cost and value of these socks, I highly recommend you give them a try. I'm hosting a give-away on my Instagram for one lucky person to try them for free!

Apera Bag Review!

Totally can not lie, I absolutely LOVE my Apera Bag! They are not just normal gym bags...they are healthier(and way cute too) Here's my review of the Performance Duffel Bag.

Apera launched in June of 2012 wanting to sell a bag that was more geared toward athletes and give them an alternative to just your normal, everyday gym bag. They wanted to give athletes organized, pure bags and protect athletes from odor and bacteria that can grow and linger inside a standard gym bag. Apera bags have ventilated compartments, wipeable linings, and washable inserts to ensure that your bag stays clean, odor free, and healthy. The inside and outside of the bags are treated with anti-microbial protection which works around the clock to help prevent the growth of bacterial odors which is good for the lifetime of the bag. Not only do they have amazing bags for social athletes, they donate one bag to a Special Olympics athlete for every 3 bags they sell. Who doesn't love putting their money towards a fantastic cause?!

Like I said, I absolutely LOVE the Performance Duffel Bag. I can not even begin to talk about all the POCKETS in this bag! There's a pocket for everything. A pocket on both sides of the bag to carry shoes, a pocket on the front and back to carry a tablet or IPad, several ventilated pockets on the inside of the bag to neatly organize anything and everything and keep your items nice and dry. There's also smaller sized pockets on the very top of the bag for quick access to a cell phone. I love the concept of having a water-proof, washable insert inside of the bag, to pack away any wet or sweaty clothing and keep it separate from any clean clothes. The whole idea is allowing the bag to breathe and wash easily while staying super organized. It's a great bag for on the go, especially when you have small kids and need to pack A LOT of stuff. 

washable insert

so many pockets!

If this amazingly healthy, stylish bag is something you're interested in, now is the time to buy! Check out all the Apera Bags on their website, www.aperabags.com 

They are having a great anniversary sale right now just until July 31st. ALL bags are 20% off! They also have a 40% off sale on their entire line of Blue bags. Any style of Blue bags, including this awesome Performance Duffel, and all of the Duffel Packs are 40% off plus FREE SHIPPING! You can't pass that up!

Detour Smart Bar Review

The following post is sponsored by FifFluential LLC on behalf of Detour Bar.

I had an awesome opportunity as part of a FitFluential campaign to try these delicious Detour Smart Bars. A lot of us are on the go and sometimes it's hard to find healthy, wholesome snacks.  Here's a great choice if you're looking for natural ingredients and a boost of energy.

Detour Smart Bars are made with organic whole oats that are certified gluten free and contain whey protein to fuel your body and feed those muscles. 

*All natural and sweetened with Stevia

*130 calories and 10g of whey protein

*gluten free

*only 3-4 grams of sugar

*good source of fiber

*DELICIOUS and kid approved!

My 3 year old daughter loves them!

They come in 4 yummy flavors:  Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Cranberry Flax, and Peanut Butter Chocolate.  I've sampled the Apple Cinnamon and Blueberry flavors and both were great! I'm definitely trying the other 2 flavors too. They're chewy, not too sweet, bursting with tons of flavor, and have Greek style yogurt drizzled on the top of the bars....just plain SMART!

See how they compare 

Nutrition is SO important especially during heavy training cycles and I'll definitely be using these bars to fuel my body and keep me going.  Check out the Detour Bars website and try these bars out!  

www.detourbar.com

Facebook.com/detourbars

Twitter.com/detourbar

Instagram.com/detourbar

Cocogo Review

It's no secret that I LOVE to run and compete in races such as 1/2 marathons or marathons, so hydration and nutrition is huge to me, especially when I'm training in the summer heat(I sweat A LOT!!)  So when Cocogo asked me to review their product, I was more than willing and excited to try.  I'm always experimenting with different forms of fuel and energy sources to see what works best with my needs as an endurance athlete that runs 40-50 miles a week. 

First off, I'm sure you're asking, "What in the world is Cocogo?"



*It's a super convenient packet thats power packed with electrolytes and energy.  Perfect for when you're on the go, just slip it in your pocket and pour it into a water bottle when your ready. 

*It's all natural, gluten free, and made from real coconut water and freeze-dried fruit.  It comes in 3 yummy flavors:  Lemon-lime, Raspberry Passion Fruit(my personal fave) and Grape.  It's a light tasting, refreshing drink so it doesn't go down thick and heavy and sit in your stomach...which is so important in the middle of a 20 mile training run.

*It has less sodium and more electrolytes like magnesium, calcium, and potassium which is a huge help in preventing muscle cramps.  With only 34 calories a package and loaded with Vitamin B12, B3, B5, B6, D3, and Vitamin C(which is essential for recovery and immunity) you can't go wrong with this drink.

*It's pre-packaged and pre-measured for easy pouring and control of your hydration needs.  Mix 2, 3, or 4 packets in 14 ounces of water depending on how hard your workout is or how much flavor you want.  It's easy on the stomach, not too sweet like a lot of other artificial sport drinks, and will not give you that queasy feeling. 

So how did it work for me?

I personally LOVE the product and highly recommend it for any kind of runner. Whether you're training for a marathon or 5k, it's a great, natural source of energy and hydration.  I took it out with me on my last 15 mile training run. I had no issues with nausea and no heavy feeling in my stomach.  I felt strong, focused, and full of energy.  I definitely plan on incorporating it into my summer training as I prepare for my fall marathon. 

Bottom line, I truly believe this is an amazing product!  It's great tasting, easy to use, and nourishes the body with just what it needs during training to keep me going.  Thank you, Cocogo for the opportunity to try it!