G-foxxx summer saviors

Despite the fact the summer is still "officially" like two weeks away, its hard not to feel like we're in the thick of it with so many 80 and 90 degree days already this year!  I just wanted to call out a couple things i have discovered this far that will be helping me survive the summer!


1.  I have always been a firm believer that anything over SPF 30 is basically a marketing gimmick.  That is, until i picked up this baby The Coppertone Sport Pro Series SPF 50-

I picked it up at Walgreens the night before the Rockford marathon because i forgot to bring sunblock to the 90 degree no shade marathon (who lets me pack my own bag??)  any way, i got this because i like the spray better than the lotion, and i figured that "Sport: PRO series" was obviously targeting me.  This stuff is awesome.  I was in full burning sun at rockford for like 6 hours, dumping water on my head and sweating like a whore in church, and i was STILL completely sunburn free, except for one little spot on my arm where i very obviously missed.  I used it again at Sunburst, (although only the second half was super sunny) but still - no burn.  This is a gingers best friend.


2.  Legends of my ability to both consume martinis and run marathons has spread far and wide.  The nice folks at Rebootizer sent some of the Sweat Pink ladies this to try, and i was a little afraid of it to be honest - it looks super hi-tech.  

But once i tried it, it was awesome.  Its basically like a super-duper vitamin detox drink.  So lets say I drank a few beers friday night and then had to run a half-marathon in the morning. You take one of these before bed, and wake up feeling fresh as a daisy.  Obviously, these are intended to be part of a healthy lifestyle and aren't miracle workers.  (you can't stay up all night taking tequila shots and then run a BQ in morning.  Well, maybe you can.  I can't.  Yet.)  I also took one every day after Rockford to help keep me from getting the post marathon sickies, because i knew i would have a revenge marathon in the following weeks.  You can get it online, but i just found out you can also get them at 7-11 too, so you can multi-task and just pick some up when you run in to pick up a case of Miller high life and a few bags of gummy bears (wait, am i the only one doing this at 7-11??)


3.  Salt Stick!  Oh how i love you salt stick.  

They actually have tons of salt replacement products available, and i am sure they all work fine.  I like the salt stick because you can buy a little pack of three at REI, and then just take the pack of three with you for a marathon.  I just wist the material of the little pack was more water resistant, because it always starts to disintegrate in my pocket.  They definitely have helped me with the heat though, and are much easier on my stomach than gatorade.


4.  Mission anti-chafe cream

I know a lot of people swear by body glide, but i like this better because it is thicker.  Its like vaseline only creamier and not so "globby"  I love this stuff, and it works.  I usually don't have many problems with chafing anyway, but in the summer when i start dumping water on myself sometimes things start to rub.  This is a summer staple for me!  I bought mine at Dicks Sporting Goods.  


I still haven't figured everything out- i have a handheld water bottle that i despise with a passion.  And i still am having trouble finding gel flavors that don't make me gag, so if anyone has some awesome summer staples, please feel free to contribute!!


Happy Summer Running!