LVL Hydration Monitor Giveaway

You may remember my review of the BSX Insight from last year. Well the folks that brought you that have a new product coming to market soon, the LVL Hydration Monitor.

In advance of the product launch they are running a giveaway where you can pick up some great prizes, here’s the scoop.

Whether your train to live or live to train, sweat with confidence and make sure you’re staying properly hydrated. Brought to you by our friends at Camelbak, Castelli, GU, Jaybird, Nuun, Outdoor Voices, Recon, Strava, Wahoo, and more.

One grand prize winner will be randomly selected at the end of the giveaway. Want to increase your chances of winning? Share with your friends for a chance to win one of 10 additional prizes (valued at over $200) from these same great companies. The more you share, the better your chances of winning!

To enter simply follow this link. Once there complete the form and you’re all set. Once logged into the entry form, you’ll be able to enter in several ways:

• Referring a friend
• Visiting them on Facebook
• Joining the Sweaty Summer mailing list
• Following them on Twitter
• Tweeting a message to them, just copy; “Enter the Ultimate Sweaty Summer GIVEAWAY http://www.onelvl.com/giveaway/ Win $2,500 in fitness products from @BSXtech Brought to you by @Quadrathon”

(Hint: you can boost your chances with additional entries!)

Five runner-up winners will also be selected from our greatest social champions to receive over $200 in goodies from the same great companies and other exclusive swag.

The giveaway ends September 12, 2016 at 11:59pm. When time expires, we’ll choose the winners, email them directly, and announce them on social media.

Good luck!

Headsweats Contest

Headsweats fans! Don't forget to enter the August Headsweaty Selfie contest! There is actually one a month throughout the year!

1. Take an awesome selfie in your Headsweats
2. Post to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #HeadsweatySelfie hashtag
3. Be entered for a chance to win a free piece of headwear!

Ths was taken back in August 2014 after racing the Bulldog25k, and no it’s not dirt on my nose, that’s the leftover road embedded from my bike crash in January of the same year! While I haven’t done any real running since Spring of last year it’s my go to headwear item when I do run and in fact I wear their Skull Cap under my helmet whenever I ride my bike!

If you can’t wait for the contest check out their website. Currently they have some new deisgns for the Rio Olympics as well as some new patterns in their Loudmouth collection, use quadrathon25 for a 25% discount!

Headsweats Contest

Headsweats fans! Don't forget to enter the July Headsweaty Selfie contest! There is actually one a month throughout the year!

1. Take an awesome selfie in your Headsweats
2. Post to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #HeadsweatySelfie hashtag
3. Be entered for a chance to win a free piece of headwear!

They will pick 2 lucky winners at the end of the month. Good luck!

Get out there this weekend and go for it!

Headsweats Contest

Headsweats fans! Don't forget to enter the June Headsweaty Selfie contest! There is actually one a month throughout the year!

1. Take an awesome selfie in your Headsweats
2. Post to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #HeadsweatySelfie hashtag
3. Be entered for a chance to win a free piece of headwear!

They will pick 2 lucky winners at the end of the month. Good luck!

Get out there this weekend and go for it!

Headsweats Contests

Headsweats fans! Don't forget to enter the February Headsweaty Selfie contest! There is actually one a month throughout the year!

1. Take an awesome selfie in your Headsweats
2. Post to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #HeadsweatySelfie hashtag
3. Be entered for a chance to win a free piece of headwear!

They will pick 2 lucky winners at the end of the month. Good luck!

Get out there this weekend and go for it!

#HeadsweatySelfie Contest May Reminder

Just a reminder for the month of May that Headsweats are running this great contest and it’s an easy opportunity to win some free stuff!

I am sure you are all up on how to take a selfie etc so here are the rules!

1.  Take an awesome selfie in your favorite Headsweats
2.  Post to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #HeadsweatySelfie hashtag
3.  Be entered to win a FREE piece of Headsweats headwear!
Yup that’s it…like all the best things in life it’s nice and simple!

At the end of each month, we will pick 2 #HeadsweatySelfie winners to receive the prize.  It’s ongoing throughout the year so set yourself a reminder!

Race, training, golf, beach, whatever…make it fun!

Not sure exactly what a HeadsweatySelfie is?  No worries – I’ll start you off!

Review; The Runner’s Choice – Foot Massage in a Bottle

So the good folks at Trusted Health approached me to see if I would be interested in reviewing their foot oil “Foot Massage in a Bottle”. Sounds a bit hokey I thought but I was game. This was underwritten by the fact that my feet were taking a pretty good beating with 3 to 4 months with mileage well in excess of 200+ miles and with many of those miles on trails.

Becca was also very enthusiastic. She was much more familiar with the benefits of essential oils which was what many of the active ingredients are.

Here’s my experience;

• First of all my initial worries about putting oil on my feet were unfounded, it is absorbed super-fast, even quicker if applied after a shower, I guess as the pores were opened? Anyway concerns about having to walk about on tip toes etc went out the window.
• Your feet actually feel “refreshed”, kinda tingly clean, it’s nice!
• It smells nice, not over powering just clean I assume that the eucalyptus, eucalyptol, wintergreen, peppermint, and spearmint oil doing its thing.
• A little goes a long way, the bottle lasts forever! Using those make-up-pad-removal-thingys you just dab it on, the instructions actually specify not to wipe. A bottle lasted well over three months.
• It doesn’t sting! When you have a cracked heel putting something on there that stings is not conducive to making me put it on there! It doesn’t sting! Enough said!
• It actually works, angry cracked heels be gone, well mostly. Significant improvement though!

So all in all it works, I like products that work and that are simple. The only way this could be improved is if the application was easier, something like a deodorant roller would make this perfect and of course reduce waste.

Retailing for just under $20 a bottle and with discounts on bulk (3 bottles of more) orders this is definitely one of those things a runner should keep in their bag of tricks!

Now I have two bottles to give away to two lucky folks, to win one is easy just tweet the following:

“I am entered the @quadrathon contest to win a Foot Massage in a Bottle from @OraMD”

I’ll draw a winner on the May 15th

#HeadsweatySelfie Contest

Headsweats are running this great contest and it’s an easy opportunity to win some free stuff!

I am sure you are all up on how to take a selfie etc so here are the rules!

1.  Take an awesome selfie in your favorite Headsweats
2.  Post to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the #HeadsweatySelfie hashtag
3.  Be entered to win a FREE piece of Headsweats headwear!

Yup that’s it…like all the best things in life it’s nice and simple!

At the end of each month, we will pick 2 #HeadsweatySelfie winners to receive the prize.  It’s ongoing throughout the year so set yourself a reminder!

Race, training, golf, beach, whatever…make it fun!

Not sure exactly what a HeadsweatySelfie is?  No worries – I’ll start you off!

Review; i Am – Not Your Average Shirt!

I was approached a couple of months ago by “I Am shirts”, and with most things I am running behind on writing up a review. I was offered a free shirt and having looked through their website I choose the High Mileage one, ‘cos you know I am!

The shirt arrived and I have been able to wear, wash rinse repeat for the last few months now. My verdict…pure awesome. In terms of fit they have really nailed it! Broad enough across my shoulders to avoid that seam pull from your armpit, they are fitted so you avoid that baggy shape that you end up with when you size up and they are plenty long enough to fit my taller than average 6’1” frame,

The shirts are pitched as vintage and they have then super soft worn in feel, there are a blended fabric including rayon. The designs are dyed into the fabric, rather than on top, which means that they will not fad over time, in fact the shirt feels better the more you wear and wash it. But wait rather than let me go on and on about them here is a quick video that tells you all you need to know!

i Am - Not Your Average Shirt from i Am Brand on Vimeo.

Another thing I like about this brand is that it’s a small home-grown company, based in Louisiana, they don’t take themselves too seriously and they have plenty of unique designs. They are not all running based and they should appeal to your inner Geek, Musician, New Orleanian or Pilot!

With the Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday upon us here’s a good opportunity to push out their discounted weekend deals and offer a freebie to one lucky ready.

Between now and Monday when you order on line and use the Coupon Code “BLACKCYBER” you’ll get 30% and free shipping on orders over $25. One lucky reader will win a free shirt, all you have to do is;

• Like them on Facebook = 1 entry
• Follow the on Twitter = 1 entry
• Tweet “I just entered the @quadrathon contest to win an awesome @theIamBrand t-shirt, you can too here http://bit.ly/127KXdh #quadiambrand”

Tweet this once a day between now and December 5 gets you another 7 entries for a maximum of 9, a winner will be drawn over the following weekend and you can choose your own shirt!

This shirt was provided free of charge by the good folks at theiambrand See previous gear reviews in the sidebar on the right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at quadrathon@gmail.com.

Headsweat giveaway…

Click on image to enter, contest ends October 15th

Clif Shot; Electrolyte and Recovery giveaway winners!

Drumroll…and the winners are!

• Mike Hebert
• Joseph McLean
• Frank Malott

Send me you mailing addresses and Clif will be sending you your goodies!

As always a big thank you to Clif for the SWAG!

Clif Shot; Electrolyte and Recovery giveaway

Summer is in full swing…so much so that the kids go back to school in 23 days, not that I am counting really.

Fortunately we have been spared the scorching temperatures that we have had in recent years although Summer can extend through September and even October if we’re unlucky! I am not going to harp on about the importance of hydration and post run/bike etc recovery! Of course if you’re reading this you know all about that! So the good folks at Clif have have given me me 3 CLIF SHOT Performance Drinks packages to hook you up with, each pack contains; the entire CLIF SHOT Performance Drink Portfolio: CLIF SHOT Electrolyte Hydration Drink Mixes in Cranberry Razz and Lemon Lime-ade and CLIF SHOT Protein Recovery in Chocolate and Orange Mango. So here’s the giveaway, I am sure you know the following by now;

• Like Clif on Facebook – 1 entry
• Follow Clif on Twitter – 1 entry
• Tweet the following – I just entered the @quadrathon giveaway for @clifbar Hydrate and Recover#QUADCLIFSHOT you can too here http://bit.ly/1nSMuuB – tweet everyday between now and Friday for one entry per day!
• Leave a comment on this post telling me what you have done - 1 entry

That’s a total of 9 possible entries

Winners will be drawn on Friday and announced!

Whatcha waiting for…

Headsweats Giveaway…the Run

It’s the last week to enter…plenty of prizes left!

Headsweats Giveaway…the Bike!

Introducing the Headsweats Elite Collection. Enter their SWIM, BIKE, RUN Giveaway for the chance to win amazing prizes! Like them on Facebook.

Even if you don’t win treat your self to a new Visor and use quadrathon25 to get 25% off…works on sale items too!

Headsweats Giveaway...the Swim!

Introducing the Headsweats Elite Collection. Enter their SWIM, BIKE, RUN Giveaway for the chance to win amazing prizes! Like them on Facebook.
Even if you don’t win treat your self to a new Visor and use quadrathon25 to get 25% off…works on sale items too!

Clif Bar Toolkit winner!

Mike Hebert you’re the man! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email me you mailing address to quadrathon at gmail dot com and I will get it on it’s way to you asap!

Save the date…and win Clif Shot products

No I am not getting married again. This time save the date for a Q&A with two kick ass Ultra Runners!

You are invited to join Clif’s Facebook chat Wednesday, April 30 at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT hosted by world champ ultrarunners Scott Jurek and Ellie Greenwood.

They will answer any and all questions related to running (from first-time 5k to ultra-distance racers). Ask questions and win prizes including:

- One winner will receive a 30-minute 1:1 consultation with Scott Jurek to discuss how to prepare before, during and after race day. Scott will choose his favorite question at the end of the Q&A.

- Several lucky participants who ask questions during the Q&A will receive a CLIF SHOT Toolkit featuring CLIF SHOT products, gear for training and race day and CLIF’s marathon training and nutrition guide.  

I also have a Clif Shot Tool kit to giveaway, this is all you have to do!

• Leave a question on Clif’s Facebook page for one entry
• Leave a comment on this blog post for one more entry!
• Tweet “I entered the @quadrathon @ScottJurek @eLLiejG 90-to-0 Preptalk Competition to win a @clifbar toolkit at http://bit.ly/1mEmpAa #quadclif”

Tweet as much as you like, every tweet is worth one entry and then the winner will be drawn and posted the evening of April 30th!

Easy peasy!

TrainerRoad giveaway winner

Roy, congrats you won the one month free trial, email me at quadrathon at gmail.com and I will send you the code!

TrainerRoad 102; software, set up and a giveaway!

Following the 101 hardware step up post, this one will go through the setup of the software and connecting it all together. As before lots of screen grabs, that saves me from typing…a lot!

First thing is to head over to the TrainerRoad website, I use a PC (not a Mac) so this will focus on setting it up on that system. You need to create an account, (I already have one so I can just log in), from there you are prompted to install the USB Drivers and Software. There is a 30 day no questions asked refund policy when you sign up and stay tuned…there is a Promo Code giveaway coming up.

 

  

 

I am sure you have done this a million times…but hey I work in IT and have SnagIt!

  

After installing the USB drivers you do the same with the TrainerRoad application, neither applications are big but TrainerRoad takes a little time to install so be patient.

Go and make a cup of tea…

…put the kettle on…

 
…water is boiling…

 
…tea is steeped!

 

Perfect timing!

TrainerRoad is (for now) based on Adobe Air so if you do not have that installed you will be prompted to install that too. Once that is all installed the Application opens and you’re prompted to Log In, use the same User Name and Password that you created when you set up your account online.

The application then downloads the Workout Library, 600+ workouts…that a different one every day for nearly 2 years!

  

Once the Library is installed or while it’s installing if you’re impatient you can set up your profile; most of this is common sense but here’s some handy definitions;

Ok we are nearly there….next we have to get everything to talk to everything else. Remember TrainerRoad is taking your ANT+ data and displaying it on the PC screen.

The are two main workflows here that I have used, (I do not have a CompuTrainer so I cannot speak to that). The two I have used are “Enable” Virtual Power and using my Stages PowerMeter for both of these I still use my Ant+ Heart Rate strap (Garmin Premium HR strap 010-10997-07 ) and my Garmin Speed and Cadence Monitor (010-10644-00) so this is the same for both workflows

I’ll go through each of them one at a time, first Virtual Power

This is pretty simple, actually it’s very simple. Check “Enable Virtual Power” and then scroll till you find your Trainer, in my case I have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. Ok that’s it, like I said pretty very simple!

If you have a Power Meter you need to get that talking to the Ant+ receivers. In this case do not check Enable Virtual Power. Again it’s very simple, for my Stages Power Meter crank motion is the on/off so I simply pedal which turns the wheel, this will also set off the Speed and Cadence Sensor too! Mine are already paired, you will need to hit Search. As you can see it provides you the Device ID as well as a comment on the Signal strength and Hours since new Battery, as mentioned in my prior post I use an extension lead to get the Garmin USB Ant+ dongle as close to my bike as possible. I am to have the signal Strength Good or Excellent.

Ok at this point you are; Logged in and your Ant+ Devices are ready to to receive and Display the data. The next step is to choose a ride. Now in between me starting this post and completing it a new Version (2.6.1) has been launched which provides you with an easier interface to choose rides, so I am going to cover that in another post but I don’t want to leave you in a state of prepared excitement so the next steps will get your rolling on a simple ride! I would suggest you do this anyway just to get a feel for the set up and screens etc, there is nothing more frustrating than start-stop-starting a workout

On the workout Tab search bar type “free” this will present a series of rides with fixed durations 30 mins, 45 mins, 60 mins and so on. Choose the duration you want and Click on Open Workout. This opens the TrainerRoad Window.

Here you are presented with the screen with gradient lines on the Y axis of Watts and on the X axis of Time. The interface is really simple, there are only 6 (or 7) buttons. At the bottom left hand corner are two of them Always in Front (or not) toggle, this lays the window…well always in Front (or not)! The other is a % with an up or down chevron for Workout Intensity; in case you need to dial it down or up.

At the top in the center is a Toggle for Vertical and Horizontal. For those workouts that have Video (Sufferfest, Cyclefilm etc) there is a third Toggle “Video” (the 7th button). Vertical fills your whole screen. Horizontal reshapes the grid to fill only the lower portion allowing you to overlay it onto a movie, DVD or TV, my TV of choice is cycling.tv

Closing stages of the Dwars door Vlaanderen in “Horizontal Mode

 
Closing stages of the Dwars door Vlaanderen in “Vertical” Mode…it’s just not the same!

There are six data fields that are presented in a central (in Horizontal mode) Dashboard; Power and % FTP on the left, in the center Interval Time and Total Time and on the right Heart Rate and Cadence. Remember it will only display based on what you have so if you do not have a HR strap then you will not see any HR data and the same for Cadence. To the left of the Dashboard is the total workout on a timeline and to the right To the next 5 minutes. In a Free Ride situation neither of these are that meaningful. When you are riding it’s useful to know what’s coming up…sometimes. This photo shows what the hell I am trying to explain!

 
Scene from the Fourth bike interval of The Sufferfest Chrysalis 

There is a difference between a Free Ride and a Program Ride  (one where there is defined structure) which is on the Power section as the Program Ride shows Target Power instead of % FTP. To get started simply Click the Play button and start pedaling! At the end of the ride it will sync to your account and show up under your Career, if you need to finish early hit Pause “||” and then Sync; the circular arrows and it will upload it!

Voila you are set up and have completed your first ride!

Ok so this is enough to get you set up and pedaling…clearly I could go on and on and I will in another post. Now to get you started here is a contest for a free month or TrainerRoad!

For the giveaway I am working on the honor system

• Liking them on Facebook gets you one entry
• Follow them on Twitter gets you one entry
• Tweet “I entered to win the 1 month free of @trainerroad from @quadrathon you can too, enter here http://bit.ly/1rGR2pd ” at least once a day between now and Thursday April 3rd will get you up to seven more entries;

Leave a blog comment on or by Friday April 4th telling me what you did and that’s another entry for a total of 10, I will draw a winner on Saturday April 5th!

A ride with Vamovo.com

Ride a bike, like stuff for your bike, then you should check out Vamovo.com

It’s a pretty simple concept they post challenges; typically ride XX hours or YY miles within ZZ time to get ABC discount (a current example is ride 160 miles by March 24 to get 36% off Twin Six clothing) pretty simple! Generating the data is pretty easy too! Personally I am entrenched in the Garmin device model so I simply upload my rides into their system and they do all the hard stuff like keeping totals etc.

Challenges, easy to see and enter

Ride inside no problem you can use your Garmin data which shows distance and duration as long as you have a Cadence/Speed Sensor. More recently you can integrate with your STRAVA account and let that do all the legwork…figuratively, you still have to do the actual legwork, you know the pedaling!

 
See your uploaded rides easily

So what happens when you finish you ask? Well having completed a couple of challenges I was provided a Discount Code to the relative websites; one for 25% Bike lights and the other for the aforementioned Twin Six Challenge.

 Want your own Prize…get on your bike!

And that’s kind of it! It’s really a no brainer as such and given that I upload my data to Garmin Connect, Training Peaks and Strava another upload is neither here nor there!

What I would say is that more people that sign up and make purchases the more traction they will get with retailers so give it a go! There is currently a survey on their website asking for suggestions on what’s next…gotta be in it to win it!

Current challenges include; Twin Six clothing, Gatorskin tires, Primal Winter Apparel, 20% off at bikebling.com and various Winter Gloves.