Training Week 4: My Favorite Summer Products from Swanson Health

Summer!!! It's wonderful, decently chaotic and fast-moving.

The kids have cute little farmer's tans, veggies are being eaten straight out of the garden, and I saw a couple combines in the field already today.

Saturday brought my first long-long run (18-miler) for Wild Hog Marathon training and only 2 months remain between now and my last race of the year!

Speaking of running, I have had the privilege of reviewing some amazing products from Swanson Health while training for my 8th marathon coming up in September and I would love to share my experience with you.

Swanson Health Products, located in Fargo, North Dakota, sells natural health and wellness products from their website Swansonvitamins.com and they happen to be the United States' largest privately held vitamin catalog retailer!

Let me introduce you to a few of my favorite Swanson Health products:

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen

The Hawaiian Sunscreen smells great, like lotion rather than sunscreen, and feels light and refreshing on my skin (not caked on!). Alba Hawaiian Sunscreen, with aloe vera in SPF 30, is perfect for everyday outdoor activities but not ideal for super sweaty workouts. I tested it out on a hot and humid long run and the sunscreen started dripping down my arm.

Hawaiian Sunscreen: Perfect for long, sunny days outside.

Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara (Espresso)

This mascara has a lightweight feel without clumping my eyelashes together! The Truly Natural Mascara isn't waterproof but I made it through a run with it on and it didn't run down my face. I ran, the mascara didn't :) Personally, I prefer the non-waterproof mascara because it washes off with a shower.

Truly Natural Mascara Espresso: It's a win!


Nuun Electrolyte Enhanced Drink Tablets

In the running world, I have heard quite a lot about Nuun tablets but had yet to try them. I tried the Nuun Citrus Fruit and Tri-Berry tablets from Swanson Health's website and have been very impressed!

These tablets make a delicious sports hydration drink and they are sweetened by Stevia Leaf Extract and Monk Fruit Extract. The Nuun hydration tablets have been perfect for Fall marathon training because most of my running is in the hot, humid weather. Extra sweating = extra electrolyte replenishment needed. I am not a fan of most sports drinks but these Nuun tablets have won me over!

Nuun Electrolyte Enhanced Tablets: Essential for Fall marathon training! Tri-Berry is my favorite flavor.


Navitas Naturals Chocolate Cacao Nibs

I like chocolate pretty much anything and little did I know chocolate could be "healthy"! Cacao features antioxidants, magnesium, dietary fiber and many other essential minerals. I have used these cacao nibs as a topping for my yogurt and have added it to my mint cocoa smoothies! Great flavor but make sure to check your teeth for black specks of cacao afterwards. That could be embarrassing... #doihavecacaoinmyteeth

Chocolate Cacao Nibs: Perfect ingredient to jazz up any cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, cookies, smoothies or coffee.


Disclaimer: I received products from Swanson Health Products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

.....

Wild Hog Marathon Training Week 4:


This was a "recovery" week in the first phase of training for the Wild Hog except I had to swap out the shorter long run this week for next week's 18-miler. That negates the whole idea of this being a recovery week. Oh well. Life before training!

Monday, July 26

Rest!
Strength: 6 x 1:00 plank variations, side leg raises, hip hikes.

Tuesday, July 19

"Easy-Effort" Double Stroller Run: 6.53 mi, 01:00 @ 09:14 avg pace.

This "easy" run certainly didn't feel easy! Hot and muggy mid-morning run with the kids. They seemed to enjoy the ride... As for me, I was sweating buckets!

Wednesday, July 20

Speedwork: (Treadmill) 4 mi, 00:31 @ 07:40 avg pace. WU, 3 x 1k @ 6:38/mile pace with 2:30 recovery jog in between, CD.

Thursday, July 21

Strength: Mowed the lawn (yes, it counts!)

Friday, July 22

Tempo: 5.01 mi, 00:39 @ 07:50 avg pace. WU, 3.5 miles @ 7:25/mile, CD

Saturday, July 23

Easy-Effort with double stroller: 2.32 mi, 00:22 @ 09:33 pace. Easy miles before tomorrow's long run
Strength: 6 x 1:00 plank variations, bridges with leg raise.

Sunday, July 24

Long Run:18.01 mi, 02:38 @ 08:45 avg pace.

 Practicing negative splits... Need lots of practice in this! I broke this run up into three 6-milers for pacing practice. 9:00, 8:43, 8:33 averages.

Total Mileage:  35.86 miles


Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Comments

  1. Great week! This is tough weather to get negative splits in! I am a big Nuun fan- I have used Swanson before- great shopping!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, MB! I have been SO impressed by Nuun AND Swanson Health! Seriously, check them out :)

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  2. I love Nuun tablets. Looks like your marathon training is going well!

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  3. Wow! Great drinking and good training! I think that you will run better in the future. Good luck! I like...

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  4. I like dividing up my long runs into segments too. Mentally, it seems easier to handle. You had incredible negative splits! I'd really like to try the Cacao Nibs. I've never heard of Swanson Health. I wonder if you can find their products in the South? Thanks for linking, Amy!

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    Replies
    1. Swanson ships all over the US, Holly! Pretty cool. The Cacao Nibs are so tasty :)

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  5. Great training week for you and great job on the negative splits! It's not easy in this heat! I love Nuun and the tri-berry is a favorite but so is Watermelon!

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    Replies
    1. Ooh, I have yet to try Watermelon! I will put that one on my list next time :) Thanks, Tricia!

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