Cool Stuff

Success! The StrideBox 2 Week Marathon

The first StrideBox 2 Week Marathon is complete! We have had so much fun putting this virtual race together and are looking forward to the next one.

This was our first time putting a virtual race together and were blown away at the response we got. We hoped for 250 participants and when we hit 400 we decided to call it. For anyone who wasn’t able to join in, we will not hold back on the next one!

We were able to raise $2,500 for Warfighter Sports!

We are very grateful to be able to partner with an organization that provides wounded warriors with the ability to be athletes.

They were able to present the check at their last surfing event:

We had the opportunity to bring the StrideBox community together and provide some motivation.

We even received emails like this one from John:

Thank you for the wonderful products you send out every month. I want to thank you even more for starting this virtual two week marathon. This is the motivation I needed to run more. Heck, this was the motivation to get me to run. I still have 5 days left but I only have 7.2 miles to reach the minimum. It hasn’t been easy, I remember when running wasn’t so hard. I realize I let myself become lazy. I never was a stellar runner, but I could at least keep a ten minute mile. I hadn’t run for so long I couldn’t even run half a mile without stopping to walk. After a while I realized I could, I just had to get it in my head to push past the soreness and my head telling me I couldn’t. I finally ran a ten minute mile again without stopping. I know this is a big accomplishment for most people, but for me being 6’7″ 290 pounds that meant a lot to me. Yeah, it was painful, but it was worth it. It was more of a mental victory for me, and that’s what I needed in order to want to keep running. Since I’ve started running again and I actually need new shoes to run in, I finally bought the pair I tried on over two years ago. Again, thank you so much for this race and motivating me to run and be a healthier person.

Thank you John for sharing your kind and motivating words with us!

Shirts, bibs, and medals are on their way out to everyone!

We hope you enjoyed the challenge and we can’t wait to put the next event together.

Sincerely,

The StrideBox Team

5 Gym Bag Essentials

The gym bag can be a seemingly black hole in which you can never find what you want. Keep it simple by only bringing what you really need. Here are our top 5 essentials for any gym bag:

1. Body Wipes: For when you just get off the track and you realize you have a meeting in 15 minutes. Skip the shower and just use a wipe to speed up your gym to work transition.

2. Ribbon Hair Ties: These hair ties stay in place, look good, and leave less bumps in your hair. They also double as a pretty bracelet when you aren’t using them.

3. Reusable Water Bottle: If you take your water with you to the gym you will likely drink more throughout your workout. Don’t slack on your post sweat hydration! Our go to bottle is a Hydroflask that keeps your water cooler longer.

4. Chapstick: There is nothing more irritating than having chapped lips. Getting too dehydrated during a workout can dry out your lips so remember to pack some of your favorite chapstick. We put Joshua Tree Lip Balm in the February Box.

5. Music: If you workout with music don’t forget your phone or iPod and headphones. Headphones can be tricky so if the ones that you are using just aren’t working try out a different style or brand. Check out our latest music mix with Rock My Run!

What We Loved This Month: February

Oh February, the shortest month of the year. With March right around the corner we thought back on our favorites from this past month.

1. Even though the temperatures are balmy here in Bend, cold season is still upon us. We have been combating the symptoms sans sugar with Ricola Sugar Free. Hopefully we will all be up and running again soon!

2. Wonder what we listen to in the office? We have been all about Waves (Robin Schultz Remix) Radio on Pandora. Upbeat enough but not distracting from our very serious StrideBox work.

3. Stuck inside a little more than you would like this winter? If you can’t run, might as well read about running! Eat and Run by ultra runner Scott Jurek is full of tips and tricks for runners, and a lot of tasty vegan recipes. Try the chili recipe for a hearty and healthy pre race dinner.

4. Nothing like some new gear to make you want to run. Brooke got the new Patagonia Women’s Velocity Capris this month and can’t stop wearing them. The midweight fabric is perfect for this time of year and with plenty of pockets you have room to bring some StrideBox fuel along on your run.

5. Read all about it! Chances are if you’re a runner, you’re built like a runner. Going to the store to buy jeans may well be the worst day of the year for you. Writer Jen A. Miller tells how she deals with this problem in her recent Runner’s World Article.

6. Some of us need a little competition or community to fuel our running habit. Strava is a fitness app that can be used on your phone or with your Garmin that tracks your run and ranks you against other runners. Join the StrideBox Strava Club and try it out.

The Transition from Road to Trail

Running on roads is fairly simple. I emphasize fairly because we all know that simply getting out the front door for a run can be tough. But once you’re out there, the possibilities for running routes are limitless. Besides a bit of curb-hopping, roads allow the brain to run on auto-pilot. But while many of us have found comfort on asphalt, running on trails can challenge you in ways you never thought possible.

I’ll never forget my first trail half marathon. I was fresh off my first road marathon finish, and with all the confidence of the “marathon runner” title under my belt, I signed up for a race on some local mountain biking trails.

I was bottle-necked on single track at the beginning of the race, and the trail switch-backed up steep, rocky hills. A few brave souls would attempt to pass others by hurdling logs and bushes, but the majority of us were just trying to stay upright. For this first timer – It. Was. HARD. Turns out, running on trails is a completely different sport from road running or hiking. So here are some tips to mastering the elusive trail run:

You’re running on dirt. This is easier on the body than pounding pavement, but you’ve got uneven footing which works muscles you probably haven’t used much (and will test your ankle flexibility often). And there are obstacles – rocks, roots and other natural landscape await, so keep your eyes focused about 10 feet in front of you, and be prepared to adjust your footing.
You won’t find street signs here. Unless you’re running on an urban trail, maps can be your lifeline. I tend to bring a one when running in the forest – unless I’m really familiar with the trail or running with someone else who is.
The more the merrier. I have friends who run on trails alone, but I recommend bringing a buddy along. Having someone out on the trail with you can be your key to safety if you miss a turn or find yourself needing assistance. Plus, it’s always nice to share an adventure with someone else.
Better to be safe than hungry. Don’t forget your fuel. You’ll be working hard and likely running in remote areas. A hard bonk might render you weak and unable to run; nothing a gel or two can’t fix. Hydration is also key – you never know when the sun might decide to shine, zapping all your energy.
Be aware of your surroundings. This is probably the most important advice I can offer. Running trails in the middle of summer on a hot day requires enough experience and preparation that you’ll want to be aware of what kind of terrain awaits you on your run. Be smart and think ahead. With the proper fuel and hydration, you can literally run up mountains.

What used to be a love of roads for me, is now a deep desire to hit the trails as often as possible. The challenge of running up steep single track, or winding through a forest with a thick canopy of branches overhead gives me something to dream about while I’m at work sitting in front of the computer every day. Exploring new places while running on trails can open a whole new world, and instill a desire to challenge your body in ways you never thought possible. I’m a convert – and I guarantee you will be too.

Written by: Amy Clark

Amy is a runner, writer, mama of twins and founder of the website, RunningBend.com. Living (and running) in Bend for over 14 years, she takes advantage of all the trails Central Oregon has to offer.

Podcasts To Get Your Brain and Body Moving

I love running with friends and chatting, but I can’t always make the timing work. Many runs I end up going solo, either listening to music or podcasts. Podcasts keep me entertained, and sometimes I even learn something. If you haven’t listened to podcasts while running before I very much recommend it.

When you think of podcasts for runners, music may be the first thing to come to mind. While running with music is never bad, sometimes you just want a little something extra to keep you entertained.

Here are a few of my favorite podcasts:

Serial: This is an obvious one. If you haven’t heard of Serial you are seriously missing out. This podcast follows the reevaluation of a 20 year old court case in which a highschool boy is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend. You will get sucked in, you will feel confused, and sad, and mad, and scared. Basically you won’t notice you just ran the fastest 6 miles of your life! http://serialpodcast.org/
Radiolab: Science and philosophy mix in stories on any and every subject. With full hour length episodes and “Shorts” of about 20 minutes, it can fit with any run. http://www.radiolab.org/
Dirtbag Diaries: These are short stories of adventure. Good for quick runs and for giving you the motivation to get outside. http://dirtbagdiaries.com/
Snap Judgement: Storytelling with a beat. These stories will surprise you, make you laugh (or cry), and transport you far away from your tired legs. http://snapjudgment.org/
Freakonomics Radio: Answers to the questions you didn’t know you had. This podcast tells interesting, loosely economics based stories. http://freakonomics.com/radio/
Planet Money: Time is money, so why not learn while you run? It’s not always the most riveting material but you may just learn how to short a stock! http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/127413729/podcast/

To download podcasts on your iPhone all you do is go to the podcasts app and search the ones you are interested in, download, and go.

Once you find one that you like it will quickly become your running motivation (along with your StrideBox of course).

Written by Brooke

Brooke is the Community Manager at StrideBox and has lived in Bend, OR for 20 years. In her free time she is an active runner, snowboarder, yogi, and cyclist.