Masking Up with Body Helix

 Disclaimer: I received a Body Helix Ultra-Light Face Mask 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

So hey, this year has been a bit crazy right? There are so many things that have changed over the last few months due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. There are so many new terms added into our vocabulary these days: Zooming, Social Distancing, Blursday, Self-Isolating and of course, one of my least favorite, "New Normal".

Your New Normal can include any number of things that have become a part of your daily life since the pandemic has swept through that you never did before but now are considered "Normal". Maybe it is working from home, or virtual schooling. Maybe instead of your weekly dinner out, your New Normal is curb-side pick up. Another big one, is the wearing of a face covering while in public spaces.

Whether it is the desire to help protect other around you through voluntarily wearing a face covering, or maybe you live in an area where face coverings are mandatory in public, either way, face coverings seem like they are here to stay. I've tried a few, disposable, cloth, vented and so on. Of these, so far, my favorite in terms of comfort, protection and style is the Body Helix Ultra-Light Reusable and Washable Face Mask. It's also easy to care for and can be put right into the washing machine along with your regular laundry.

Quick Facts About the Body Helix Ultra-Light Face Mask*:

• Optional nasal bridge wire strip controls air leakage and glasses fog
• Flexible, closed-cell fabric prevents transmission of water, viruses, and germs
• Disposable filters reduce risk of transmission while maintaining breathability 
• Large over-the-ear strap design reduces ear discomfort during long-term wear
• Ultra-light, 0.5 mm ultra-thin fabric ideal for hot temperatures
• Unique non-slip fabric fits snugly to help reduce need for adjustments and minimizes contact between hands and face
  *from the BodyHelix website

For a Face Mask, this one is pretty darn comfortable. I've worn it all kinds of different places, both active and non-active, and never had any issues with breathing comfortably. Being able to choose a sizing based on measurements ensures that the mask fits snugly and the nose bridge helped keep the mask from fogging up my glasses and sunglasses. I also never had any issues with discomfort on my ears due to the wide straps and the material.

And when I say I wore it all kinds of places, I'm not kidding. 

These are the Top 10 Places that I have worn my Body Helix Ultra-Light Face Mask

10. On a Run

 9. To pick up Brunch after a Workout

8. To the Grocery Store

 

7. My local Coffee Shop

 

6. To Work

 

5. My local Brewery 

 

4. To Physical Therapy

 

3. To Burn Boot Camp (Gym)

 

2. To Run Club

 

1. On my Favorite Trail (Riverwalk) 

And right now you can order a Body Helix Ultra-Light Face Mask with a 15% off with discount code BR15 on orders if $40 on the Body Helix website: https://bodyhelix.com/product/ultra-light-face-mask/

Don't take just my word for it. Check out a few other of my fellow BibRave Pros' reviews:

Jessica - https://funsizeathlete.com/2020/08/31/bibrave-product-review-2020-must-have-body-helix-ultra-light-face-mask/

Steph  - https://bluegrassbamr.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/masking-up-to-runreview-of-the-body-helix-ultra-light-face-mask/

Erica - http://anotherhalfplease.com/2020/09/03/body-helix-ultra-light-face-mask-review/

Shannon - http://girlsgotsole.com/blog/product-review-body-helix-face-mask/

Brenda- https://brendaruns.tumblr.com/post/628369000239448064/review-body-helix-ultra-light-mask-disclaimer

Janelle - https://www.runwithnoregrets.com/2020/09/body-helix-face-mask-review/

Teddy - https://tmilesandrunning.wordpress.com/2020/08/26/lets-face-it-its-the-new-norm-body-helix-ultra-light-face-mask-review/

Charline - https://charbar1989.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/product-review-body-helix-ultra-light-face-mask/

Meredith - http://www.scootadoot.org/2020/09/01/road-tested-body-helix-ultra-light-face-mask/

Danielle - https://runningformylife2015.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/mask-up/

Moving Through It with Some Support from Body Helix

 “Disclaimer: I received a Body Helix Knee Compression Sleeve 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!”

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may remember that I have what I refer to as a dodgy knee. The technical term for what my issues is actually, Osteoarthritis, which I was diagnosed with about 15 years ago, so I am no stranger to various methods of both knee support combined with varying degrees of pushing though the pain and denial. But mostly, I try to be a good girl (hi Mom) and take care of my dodgy knee so I can keep running. So yeah, finding a good knee support is something that has always been important to me to keep me moving through it. 

It became especially important to me in the last few months because I was training a lot on trail for an Ultra and the extra wear and tear of elevation changes and uneven surfaces have been havoc on my knee. I'm not gonna lie, I've struggled a bit, even with using my usual Kinesiology Sports Tape (which has actually started to really irritate my skin lately - has anyone else had this problem?.

Anyway, with a really aggressive race season coming up (seriously, I have WAY too many races on my Spring Calendar 9 races of varying distances in the next 2 months) I was getting a bit worried about how I would hold up. Enter Body Helix Full Knee Compression Sleeve to the rescue! 

First off, I have to mention just how fast my order arrived. I received an email from Body Helix confirming my order. The same day I got another saying it had shipped. I received it 2 days later, which was awesome, just in time for my weekend long trail run. It actually came on a Friday, so I decided to take it right out for a run to make sure that it would feel good before committing to wearing it for a 15 mile run. And how did it work for me?

What about you? Can you tell which leg
has the Knee Compression Sleeve on it?
Let me know in the comments.

Pretty darn awesome to tell the truth. First off, it's super easy to slide on. It stretches a lot, but once in position compresses and stays in place. There's a handy sizing chart on their website to make sure you order the correct fit. It's also super thin, which I was concerned about when I first ordered the sleeve. See, it's winter right now and my running wardrobe consists mainly of tights currently and I wondered how bulky this would be under tights. Not at all! In fact, you wouldn't even know I was wearing them. I actually posted a pic of my legs on Twitter asking people to guess which knee had the sleeve on it and it was pretty impossible to tell. 

The first thing I noticed when running with it was that it seemed to generate a sort of heat. Like not in a distracting way, but in a, hey that feels nice kind of way. It provided awesome support, wasn't awkward when bending my knee and I felt pretty great throughout the run. 

Anticipating no issues, I was enthused about taking it out on the trails the next day. And it worked out great! Snug, supportive and a much better option than tape. Plus, a serious added benefit over tape is that the sleeve is reusable. In fact, it is machine washable and dry which is a HUGE plus for me. 

I've been using it regularly for about a month now, including my trail training and a super HILLY road race last week, and have been really impressed with how it works for me. And my run bestie, Kim, recently clued me into using it for things other than running, which, duh, hadn't occurred to me for some reason, so I have started using it on heavy cardio and lower body strength days at Burn Boot Camp as well. 

Body Helix makes a wide variety of compression products so if you have an injury, recurring pain or a joint disease like osteoarthritis like me, no matter what part of your body, odds are they have something that will help you. Check out their wide product range here: https://bodyhelix.com/shop/. And for a bit of added incentive, you can use this discount code to save 15% off your order: BH15BR. Plus, not that it is important really, but let's be honest, it low key is - they come in all kinds of cute colors. I just love my pretty teal sleeve! Super cute and super functional. 

Some of my other BibRave crew have tried out other compression products as well and you can read their reviews here:

Kim - https://barkingmadaboutrunning.blogspot.com/2020/02/living-with-osteoarthritis-body-helix.html
Corey - https://husbandfatherathletemarathoner.blogspot.com/2020/03/my-body-helix-arm-compression-sleeve.html

Michelle - http://www.runningwithattitude.com/2020/02/body-helix-thigh-compression-sleeve-review.html

Two of the smiling BibRave Pros are rocking Body Helix Knee Sleeves, Kim in the middle and me on the right