Disclaimer: I received the Gatorade Endurance Formula and Gel 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!

The last time I reviewed this product (HERE) I absolutely loved it. I knew that this was exactly what I needed to train for my 50 miler coming up this Fall. I had already decided I was going to order some more product and continue to promote it because it is just THAT good, I swear!

The opportunity came up to test out another round of this Gatorade Endurance POWER duo and I jumped at the chance!

The endurance formula is delicious, light and everything I need on its own. I never feel the need to take huge gulps of water afterwards. For me, sports drinks have always dried my mouth out, left me with a thick taste in my mouth. So, imagine my surprise after tasting the Endurance Formula! I was hooked and haven't used anything else during my Tunnel Hill training!

Some stats about the Endurance Formula (SOURCE):

ELECTROLYTES : 300mg Sodium & 140 mg Potassium

"Farther takes more. More determination. More early mornings. And more nutrients. Gatorade Endurance Formula has nearly twice the sodium and three times the potassium of traditional Gatorade. Endurance Formula can help you stay fueled and hydrated from Mile 1 to Mile 40 and beyond."

CARBS : 22g

"Get a quick kick of carbs with Endurance Formula's specialized carbohydrate solution. It’s scientifically formulated to be absorbed into the bloodstream as quickly as water, so both the fluid and carbs are delivered fast while minimizing the risk for gastrointestinal distress during a long (2.5 hr+) training session or race compared to a single carb solution."

CALORIES : 90

"Calories are crucial to going the distance. Not only are they the foundation of an endurance athlete’s nutritional needs, they help provide muscles with the energy needed to go farther."

Now let's move on to the gels. As I've stated before, I don't do gels. Gels have always upset my stomach and been so incredibly thick that I can't get through a whole one in one sitting, making it difficult to rely on them during long outdoor runs. On the treadmill I could take a tiny bit at a time and set it to the side and pick it up later, not so much an option outdoors on the run!

These Gatorade Energy Gels break all of the molds in my opinion. They are light, they are airy, it's almost like taking a drink out of the gel pouch! The first time I opened one it went everywhere because I wasn't prepared for it to be more of a liquid as much of a sticky substance. I took it and didn't feel the need to drink a gallon of water, I took the WHOLE thing! Again, since testing this product out the first time, these are the ONLY gels I have used since then!

Some stats on the Gels (SOURCE):

CARBS: 20g

"It’s a simple fact of training. The longer and harder you go, the more carbs your body needs. Endurance Energy Gel has 20g of carbs per serving to help endurance athletes continue to perform at a high level."

CALORIES : 80

"You can’t go farther unless you feed the machine. Simply put, you need a steady supply of calories. Endurance Energy Gel has 80 calories per packet to help keep your muscles churning mile after mile after mile."

With all of that said, I stand by my statement last time around and again this time. I won't use anything other than Gatorade Endurance Formula & Gels. I do understand that everyone is different, so even though it's perfect for me, it may not be for you. I just ask that you give it a try, especially if you're anti-gels or sports drinks. These may just be what you've been looking for!

Also, a little fun note, if you're running in any of THESE RACES in the upcoming months, you'll have some of the Gatorade Endurance Formula on course!!!

*CHEERS*

Disclaimer: I received two pairs of Knockaround Premium Sunglasses 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!

For all of the people who know me, they know I love my sunglasses.

Sunglasses have been a weakness of mine since I can remember.

If I see a cute pair of sunglasses that are reasonably priced, I have to buy them.

When this campaign came up for me to opt-in for, it was a no brainer.

Not only were these sunglasses adorable, they were also affordable which checks off two of my three things I'm looking for in sunglasses.

The third thing that I always look for is comfort, after reading about these sunglasses I felt confident I would love them.

And love them I do!!!

I've been wearing these sunglasses everywhere, running errands, hanging out at the park with my boys and of course while running.

If you want to score a pair of these sunglasses yourself, head on over to their website and then use code "BibRaveKnocks20" for a 20% off discount!! So not only are these sunglasses affordable as it is, you can also get an extra 20% off!!

*CHEERS*

"Disclaimer: I received NuGo Egg White Protein Bars 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've had the pleasure of testing these bars for well over a month and I can say without doubt they have become a staple in my pantry for many reasons.

First and foremost, the taste. These protein bars come in above all others because of their texture and consistency. They aren't too stiff or gooey in my personal opinion, which says a lot because most protein bars are just inedible due to their texture. I can say without a doubt these bars are extremely superior in the texture department!

Second, flavor, they are FULL of flavor and not just muted forms of what the package says. This is also a big deal for me because if I'm going to be snacking on something I don't want it to be bland or blah. I take my calories seriously so it's a no-go for me to have a snack or mid run fuel to be bland.

Third, the nutrition factors. I love that they strip everything down to the basics. I love to eat real and raw foods, I'm happier knowing where my food is coming from, start to finish. NuGo Egg White Protein Bars deliver in this aspect, I feel good about what they represent and the product they are putting out. "The love our consumers have for NuGo bars comes from the perfect balance of quality, taste, and nutrition they find in every bar. Our bars are light, bakery-style snacks packed with nutrients and protein, and free of unnecessary, dense-tasting calories. " (Source)

Now through August 3rd you can go to NuGo's website and use code BIBRAVE at checkout and enjoy 15% off!! You really won't regret it!!

*CHEERS*

"Disclaimer: I received a free sample of Gatorade Endurance Formula (Watermelon) and Gatorade Endurance Gels (Mango) as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRavePro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

Fueling has never been my strong point.

I'm much more of a fly by the seat of my pants type of runner.

It hasn't always panned out, let's be real, it's been a struggle.

Gel's have always been weird on my stomach so I stopped using them.

Gummies are great but just the fact that I have to chew them *yeah I know, I'm insane* bugs me on my road runs.

I was super excited when this campaign was brought up with BibRave.

I've always loved Gatorade in general and it seemed like it would be right up my alley.

Then I learned more about what exactly Gatorade Endurance was all about and I got even more excited.

I'm an endurance athlete (yeah it feels weird saying that).

Anyway, I run for long periods of time and know that if I have any chance of completing my 50 miler this Fall, I need to be smarter about what goes into my body.

I want to try anything and everything possible to get my body into top performance shape.

Gatorade Endurance Formula has jumped to the top of my list.

I won't ever go on any long run without it from here on out.

HERE'S WHY...

"Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink with nearly twice the sodium and more than three times the potassium of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to help sustain hydration, maintain proper fluid balance and replace key electrolytes lost in sweat during training and racing. Reformulated in 2017, Gatorade Endurance Formula contains no artificial sweeteners or flavors and has a lighter flavor designed for athletes training and racing for prolonged periods of time. In addition, Gatorade Endurance Formula now offers a multi-carbohydrate blend to help endurance athletes maintain performance and lower the risk of stomach discomfort during a long (2.5+ hour) training session or race."

Source

Starting in July I'm training for a huge race, so these past few weeks I've been testing out products I may want to incorporate into my race day kit and this Gatorade Endurance Formula is a no brainer.

It's light and easy to drink, I don't feel like I need to guzzle a ton of water post drinking it. It's such a great change from other sports drinks that are thick and super sugary. They all have always left me wanting more during my workouts, not with Gatorade Endurance Formula!!

On top of the Endurance Powder Formula, we have the Gatorade Endurance Gel packs.

Guys, this is WHERE IT'S AT!

I don't do gels, seriously, ask any of my running people.

I despise them, they're thick, sticky and I need about a gallon of water to just get back to normal after taking one, not to mention that my stomach just can't handle them. I always feel super sick after taking gels.

Needless to say I was skeptical when testing out Gatorade's Gel Packs.

I honestly thought, "Yeah, yeah, yeah... I've heard the song and dance before, I'm not expecting anything spectacular."

Boy was I wrong, these are so light and easy to take, when I opened the first one I wasn't prepared and squeezed it everywhere on the track!

I couldn't help by laugh at myself.

Then I tried what was left and was shocked.

I tested it out on some short runs just to make sure and then eased into a little bit of a longer run, again still not entirely convinced.

After a couple weeks of incorporating these gels into my plan, I'm sold.

These will absolutely be a part of my kit for the Fall and from here on out!

Bottom line, I'm bad at fueling, I need to fuel better and I needed a reason to try out new products because my stomach is sensitive.

Gatorade Endurance has passed every single test with flying colors.

Even my sister comes over to workout and immediately goes, "So I'm stealing some of your Gatorade powder before we start."

I'm a customer from here on out.

This product will come up in my posts from here on out, you can count on that!

If you're like me, or even if you're not, I would HIGHLY recommend checking them out, give them a try... I can almost guarantee you'll thank me!

What flavor of Gatorade Endurance Formula are you most excited to try?!?!

HAPPY MONDAY!

"Disclaimer: I received a free sample of Luvo Flipped Bowls as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRavePro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

So to say that we're beyond busy right now would be an understatement! Summer is always full of fun activities with the kiddos, however on the flip side that leaves very little time for meal prep and sticking to any sort of healthy eating regimen.  We do our best but often fall short.

When we got the option from BibRave to opt in for Luvo meals I was all about it! After reading about their products I couldn't wait to try them. They use three simple principles when creating their meals:

1. The right balance of protein, whole grains and veggies

2. Not too much sodium or added sugars

3. No artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Also, their poultry and beef are raised without antibiotics

(source)

We were sent samples of their Flipped bowls, flavors included Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Basil Sauce, Chicken Meatballs in Garlic Wine Sauce, Chicken Meatballs in Creamy Stroganoff Sauce & Chicken Meatballs in Creamy Pesto Sauce. Every single time I ate one of these meals I swore that  particular one was my favorite. They are just so delicious and full of flavor!

While Luvo offers a wide variety of meals, these flipped bowls are at the top of my list personally and the meals I would recommend to those looking for a wholesome, plant based twist on these familiar meals. Packed with so much protein, 16g in which 1/3 of that is plant based, they are an easy and quick way to fill up without the guilt of other, less desirable, prepacked meals!

Head on over to Luvoinc.com and you can use code BIBRAVE at checkout which will score you one free meal when you order 7!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Happy Monday!

*CHEERS*

Captivating.

That's the word I would use to describe this documentary, absolutely captivating.

I have never been so moved by a documentary before. I really wasn't aware of what I was getting myself into so I cuddled up on my couch and went in with an open mind.

From the start I fully grasped the idea of what these two men, Jerry Schemmel, noted author, speaker and sportscaster for the Colorado Rockies and Brad Cooper, a four-time Iron Man triathlete (source), were doing. They had formed a 2 man team to bike across America to raise money for the orphans of Haiti. I'm so passionate about running or doing any endurance sport in the name of a great cause and this absolutely took the cake in my opinion.

This journey, covering 3,000 miles of deserts, pedaling 168 hours non-stop across 12 states from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans (source), is no small feat. These men are superheros in my opinion, embarking on this journey for someone other than themselves is beyond admirable and touching!

I was immediately entranced in their journey, the hardships that they had to overcome in order to complete this race was astounding, from the heat to severe storms across the country it's incredible what the human body is capable to withstanding.

Not only were these two men competing in this race they also had their crews along for the ride the entire time. Their team, Enduring Hope, rode in vans and cars following these men, picking them up after they switched riders, making sure they were properly fueled and rested the entire seven day journey. Their team also made sure to communicate among each other and make the best decisions when it came to the well being of their riders. The dedication these individuals had was inspiring to say the absolute least.

I had no idea the history of the Race Across America until this documentary, I had no idea that not only was it a thing but that it is also such a huge deal every year for the past 36 years! Starting in Oceanside, under one of the longest piers in California, RAAM spans 3000 miles, climbs 175,000 feet, crosses 12 states and finishes at City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland, the east coast sailing mecca. (source)

This race is open to both professionals and amateur racers on relay teams of 2, 4 or 8 riders and has become a huge platform for racers to raise awareness and money for charities of their choice. Racers have raised over $2 million per year over the past 5 years. (source)

So now that I have talked your ear off about how incredible this documentary is, it's time to share how YOU can go see it on the big screen like I will be, this Tuesday, May 22nd!

CLICK HERE and find a theater near you that is showing this movie FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, MAY 22nd!

My mom and I are all set and ready to see this movie tomorrow night, yes I am SUPER PUMPED to see this movie again on the big screen (I was not sponsored or paid to go see the movie in theaters, it's just really THAT great of a documentary that it wasn't even a question as to whether or not I was going to go see it!)

PLEASE consider going to see this film tomorrow night and let me know if you do, I'd love to start a conversation surrounding this documentary!

*CHEERS*