Let me just start off by saying, I have been eyeing these Orange Mud Vests for the past year or so. I had been researching and settled on this brand, I knew I was going to be training for a 50k so figured I would wait until that training started to take the plunge. Little did I know the universe was going to align and as part of the BibRave Pro Family, I was chosen to test one out! Talk about your perfect timing!

The second I received this vest in the mail, I was extremely impressed. The simplicity and the minimalist features make this gear vest the perfect for absolutely any type of runner. Yes, minimalist but also it can carry anything you could possibly need. Seriously, it almost defies science if you ask me! Minimalist AND extremely great storage?! Yes, please!

I trained for AND RAN my 50k in this vest and knew it was going to be a game changer. I fit everything I needed and then some into the pockets of this vest. The 1L bladder was also perfect, I was able to fill up at the half way point easily and quickly and was on my way! I was able to carry my extra water bottle with sports drink (I didn't want to put the sports drink in the bladder itself, I have read mixed reviews but decided to go just water!), all of my fuel (which included sport beans, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, energy bites and some pretzels with peanut butter!), as well as tissues, toilet paper, chapsstick and my ID, because you just never know! Do NOT let the size deter you or scare you away from this pack, it's small but MIGHTY as all get out!

I 100% stand behind this gear vest and think it is absolutely worth the investment! I look forward to wearing it on every one of my training runs for my upcoming half marathon in June!!

To score your very own Orange Mud Gear Vest head on over to OrangeMud.com and use code "BRGV15" to get 15% off your order!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

*CHEERS*

It's been a week and a half since I raced in the Double Chubb 50k.

I'm still a little shocked to know that it's already over.

So many weeks of training, long runs, trail runs, worrying about every little detail.

Thankfully I had another race to jump right into training for, otherwise I know I'd feel pretty lost right now.

Race week I was a bundle of nerves and anxiousness, ask my husband, I was a mess!

Also, both boys were sick on and off the week before the race as well.

I was worried about them, worried about what they had gotten and of course that little thought in the back of my head that said I would contract it as well and be out on race day.

Disclaimer: I received the Orange Mud Gear Vest to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I did my best to pack as much as I possibly thought I would need.

 I used my Orange Mud Gear Vest to hold all of my fuel for race day, also it held my ID and Insurance Card (you just never know!)

Let me just say, this vest was a life saver. 

The one I had before was much larger and heavier and I was a little worried about having to carry it for 30 miles.

The second I received this vest and tried it out, it was a huge game changer!

It's light but holds SO MUCH STUFF at the same time. 

(if you're interested and want to try it out for yourself, use code BRGV15 for 15% off at OrangeMud.com)

I obsessively checked the weather, it was calling for rain and with each passing day I kept telling myself, "It'll change, It'll be fine."

The entire week leading up to the race the weather was excellent, I was super thrilled about this because the course gets really tricky when it's been rained on. I figured even if it rained on race day, the fact that it didn't rain the entire week before would be reprieve enough.

Night before the race, it stormed, and it stormed a lot!

Race morning I was just ready to go, get the thing started.

We got to the starting line.

The race started.

I definitely shot out way too fast, I always do that and regret it big time later on.

The course starts out on a pretty intense uphill, so there's that as well.

The second I got on the course I realized the rain from the previous night was going to have made things very interesting.

Mud, there was mud, huge puddles everywhere.

Navigating the course was definitely more difficult that it had ever been on any training run.

Due to the fact that my legs were fresh I went harder than I should have, a lot harder than I should have, that coupled with the mud my legs were shot really early on. Having to run and navigate through thick mud took a lot more out of my legs than running or jogging on flat land, again I was not prepared for that.

I hit the 25k mark with 20 minutes to spare, I stopped briefly, talked with Andrew and then was off again for loop #2.

Before leaving he asked me if I wanted my rain jacket, the weather had been fine up until that point, a tad chilly but in all honesty that made running a lot more enjoyable. Anyway, I turned down the rain jacket and by the time I reached the first aid station, roughly 5 miles in, I highly regretted not taking that rain jacket with me.

Temps seemed to drop crazily AND it was raining.

THANKFULLY that aid station had the greatest people ever, and one of the men had an extra poncho and he let me have it for the remainder of the race. Seriously, that one rain poncho really made my day and gave me the drive to keep going.

My hands were numb, the rain was coming down and I hadn't even tacked the muddiest and muckiest part of the race yet!

I was miserable, I was wet, I was cold and I was tired.

I made it to the turn around point and it was really hard to put myself back out on that course for the 4th time. (the course is a series of 2 out and backs so you're running the same stretch 4 times total)

Again, that aid station was incredible, filling up my water bottle, handing me every type of food they had, packing a PBJ in my Orange Mud Vest (even though I tried to turn it down & let me just say I've never enjoyed a PB&J more than that one, these aid stations were the BOMB!)

The entire way back I walked almost all of it, I was spent, and my watch had died right after the 25k point so I had no idea how much time I had to finish, I had no idea how far I had gone.

Mentally and physically I was drained of almost everything.

I cursed the course on many many occasions!

I fell at one point and my hands were covered in mud.

There were so many times I thought I knew where I was, thought I was about at the end of the trail then I realized I wasn't. Tears may have been shed at those points.

So where the trail ends, about a mile before the finish line, there's a port-a-potty that you can see a little ways off, kind of like a beacon that says "YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!"

Let me just say, I've never been so happy to see a port-a-potty in my entire life! Once I got to the port-a-potty I knew I was just about done, all I had to conquer was the HUGE hill that the course has at the end.

I knew, though, I was going to finish at that point, which made that hill not as unbearable.

I got to the top, I texted Andrew and said I was on my way down the hill.

I was almost there.

The emotions started to set in.

I saw the clock and knew I was going to complete the race in time.

I had done it.

I had completed my first ultra in extremely crazy weather conditions.

I was a muddy mess but I have never been happier to cross a finish line, have a medal placed over my head and knowing that I finished what I had set out to do.

This race, that day, is something I will never forget.

The support from all of the volunteers and race staff was incredible.

I have never felt so supported on a course in any other race.

The aid station volunteers were so knowledgeable about what I needed even before I knew I needed it. They cheered, high fived and just kept my spirits alive throughout one of the most excruciating experiences I've ever gone through (child birth not included, because let's be real, nothing can really compare to that)

I plan on tackling the 25k next year, and I can say with certainty I will always partake in the Double Chubb race (whether racing or volunteering), it will forever hold a special place in my heart and I plan on supporting it from here on out!

And if you're looking for a challenging 50k or 25k to race and you're going to be in the St. Louis area April-ish next year, come on by and check it out!!! It's worth it!!

*CHEERS*