Relax, Recover and Rest with Nuun

Disclaimer: I received a 2 tubes of Nuun Rest 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!

Afternoon Speed Work in the SC Summer, of course!

As a runner, I have a lot of strong qualities. I can write a training plan like nobody's business. If I say I will meet you to run, you better the heck believe I will be there. I am the first person to say "Yes" to running a stupid number of miles if you need long run company. Cross training? I'm at Burn Boot Camp at 5:30 am pretty much every weekday morning. Pushing 100 degrees out? Lace up and let's go. Speed work? Hills? The more the better. I am willing to put in the work.

But where my true weakness lies is in an area that is just as important as putting in the work, REST. 

I suck at resting. I took a rest day this past Sunday because I honesty could not remember the last time that I had not either run or gone to Burn and when I woke up I felt like I had been beaten in the night. So I begrudgingly took the day off on Sunday, and totally felt guilty the whole day. And when it came time to go to bed, I just couldn't relax. I was so restless I ended up getting a crap night's sleep which lead to a crap day on Monday. Moral of the story - I should have had some Nuun Rest as a part of my bedtime routine! 

Nuun Rest, What's That?

I'm glad you asked. You may have heard of Nuun before. It is the go to hydration supplement for many a runner. It's awesome stuff that I've used for years. Basically flavorful drink tablets packed with electrolytes and other great things (depending on the type - vitamins. minerals, caffeine and other great things to keep you hydrated and performing your best). 

Recently Nuun introduced a new product to their line up, Nuun Rest, which is designed to help aid in recovery, rest and relaxation - all the things I suck at. So yeah, when given the chance to try it out, I was 100% in. Here are some basic facts about it:

• Nuun Rest is meant for recovery. It is NOT an electrolyte replacement like other Nuun varieties.
• The key components in Nuun Rest are Magnesium and Tart Cherry juice which help aid in recovery.
• Since this is a rest/recovery product it really helps with sleep...that means it also can 
  make you sleepy.
• Due to Nuun Rest’s high levels of magnesium (300mg) only 1 serving per day is recommended.
• 1 tablet = 10 calories & 1g of sugar. Contains no artificial sweeteners and Non-GMO verified ingredients.
• Nuun Rest should be mixed with a smaller amount of water than other Nuun products. It is recommended to mix with 4-6 oz of water instead of 16 oz like the electrolyte Nuun products. (I mix mine with warm water, it not only helps it dissolve faster, but also adds to the calming effect I think.
• Comes in two calming flavors: Blackberry Vanilla and Lemon Chamomile.

For more information from the Nuun website - check out their blog post here: https://nuunlife.com/blogs/news/introducing-nuun-rest

So Does it Work?

I've used Nuun Rest several times now as a part of my bedtime routine. I mix with warm water in a mug and drink it about 30 minutes or so before I hit the bed. I love the taste of both the Blackberry Vanilla and the Lemon Chamomile, but think I like the Lemon Chamomile a bit more - it is very tart and refreshing. I've used it the night before a race to help calm pre-race jitters and have used it on nights when I've had a stressful day to help me relax. I do really feel that it helps me to get sleepy and unwind better. I will continue to use it, especially on the days that I find I need a little extra help slipping into relaxation mode.

Want to try it for yourself? You can order Nuun Rest from the Nuun website here: https://nuunlife.com/ and use discount code "HYDRATEBIBPRO" for 20% off your purchase. (Excluding subscription options and bundles. Good through 10/31)

Cheers to a good night's rest!

Sleep On It! A Performance Pillow Review

"Disclaimer: I received a Bedgear Performance Pillow to use and 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!"

So I know a lot about Performance Products, both in my personal and professional lives. Not only am I a runner, I work as the Communications Coordinator for a company that makes equipment specifically for testing Performance Textiles. Seriously, I am up to date on everything Performance. At least I thought so until I heard of Performance Pillows. 

Bedgear offers a wide selection of Performance Bedding options, everything from Pillows, to Mattresses, to sheets and blankets. Their products were developed by a father who's son suffered from allergies and had a hard time sleeping on the hot, stuffy hypoallergenic products that were available on the market. He cut up some performance fabrics to make a pillow for his son and Bedgear was born.

Bedgear's philosophy is that sleep is a personal thing and everything from the temperature to the height of your pillow can greatly affect your sleep, and for that reason, they have several different series of pillows, all with options within each series so you can find your perfect fit. To find your perfect fit, they have a Pillow ID system that asks a series of questions to determine the best pillow for you. It asks questions about your size and sleep preference. I took the quiz and was paired with the Lightening 2.0 in the Storm Series. 

First thing I noticed when I unboxed my new pillow was how heavy it was. Seriously, if I decided to have a pillow fight with this bad boy, I would easily take down any opponent. This wasn't some dainty pillow that would be losing it's shape. Next thing I noticed was that it was really cool to the touch. The exterior fabric was silky and smooth and actually felt a bit chilly. This is due to the Ver-Tex® fabric which draws heat away from the body and stays cool to the touch. The heft comes from being made of several layers, all that offer cooling, ventilation, support and comfort.

I was seriously excited about using my new Bedgear pillow as soon as I received it. I am a notorious light sleeper coupled with a super early wake-up call - 4:30 am most days so I can put in a run or gym workout before having to be at work at 6:30 am. Anything that helped me to get better sleep would be greatly appreciated! 

Did I also mention it's super pretty? Look at that cool pattern!

So how did it work for me? Pretty darn great! The pillow was super comfy, soft, yet firm and amazingly cool. I use a ResMed S+ system to monitor my sleep each night and before getting my Bedgear Performance Pillow, my average sleep score was in the 70s-80s. My first night with my new pillow, I scored a 94! And I've consistently seen more and more 90s since. I feel like I've slept much better and more deeply. I've even slept right through my alarm a few times in the last month, which, while not optimal, was something I've never really done before. 

Can't argue with the numbers

All and all, I am fully convinced by my Bedgear Performance Pillow and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get the most out of their sleep-time.

Interested in trying it out for yourself? You can order online at www.bedgear.com and use discount code BIBRAVE15 good for 15% off your order, (excluding WOW Deals), valid through 11/30/18, online only.