Archives for April 2014

Yurbuds Inspire for Women: A Review

OperationMove · April 30, 2014 · 3 Comments

I am an avid music listener when I run. Actually the last three words are unnecessary. I’m an avid music listener. I love though, that on a run I have all that time to myself to listen to music uninterrupted and undisturbed. Yes, I have small children, how did you know?

I have playlists for speed runs, I have playlists for long runs, I have playlists for races and I have a Christmas playlist which I listen to all year round, BECAUSE I CAN and it’s awesome.

I have gone through all sorts of headphones, the one’s Apple and Samsung gave me (depending on what phone I’m using), noise reduction headphones developed for Sport and pretty much any other kind of headphones that I saw that looked like they might be good, or pretty. I’m a fan of pretty.

You know what I’m also a fan of? Safe. As someone who does the vast majority of my runs on a highway in low light, safety is pretty important. Me running on narrow shoulders at dawn with cars zooming past keeps my mother and my husband up nights. Well maybe not up, but concerned at least. And one of the big things with safety and road running is not about reflective clothing, it’s about having headphones that will let in enough ambient noise that if a big mack truck is coming up behind you, you will actually hear it.

If I was to rate most important features of headphones they would go like this:

1) Ambient noise – noise reduction is great but it is no good for running and has anyone else noticed how if you use noise reduction headphones you can actually hear your own pulse. It’s very disconcerting.

2) Won’t fall out – any adjustment of headphones on a run is too much. You just don’t want to spend any time thinking about it. And once you are really sweating, that’s a pretty tough ask.

3) Sound quality – I don’t want to hear static (yep that has happened even with new headphones), have connection issues where the sound goes in and out (yep, that’s happened too) but I do want to hear nice, clear sound.

The Test Run

If you are going to test out new headphones, I figure that a 25km trail run with an 860m ascent is going to be a pretty good place to start. You need to be able to hear runners around you so you don’t cause a pile up situation, you are going to sweat more than you do on any road run and if anything would cause them to fall out it would be heartbreak hill. Which I have to say is a million times worse than it looks in this photo. Photos really don’t do gradients any justice.

The Verdict

Did not fall out. Not even once. Not even when I fell over and grazed both of my knees. I was able to hear all the runners around me with no trouble. On a tough 25km course it was nice to have my crystal clear music with me, particularly when I was having thoughts like ‘how do I even get up that/down that/across that’. Because no one wants to listen to their own hard breathing for four hours.

We have a pair of YurBuds Inspire to give away to one of our newsletter subscribers! If you are already subscribed you are in the running already. If not, join the team right here!

Ever do something crazy? ME TOO.

OperationMove · April 21, 2014 · 1 Comment

You know what a cool thing about people is? They are kind of hard to figure out. Complicated.

And so it is that me who is a really solid planner, who always follows a training plan and who doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in my body is prone to giant outbursts of doing batshit crazy stuff from time to time.

The last time I did that I was heading out for a 34km run having only ran 30kms before and I decided half way through that to just go for 40. Like you do. And this time it was somebody from my local area saying hey is anyone doing this trail run? And me saying well I have done zero training on trail, I just ran a 10km race last weekend, and I’m not going to pick the easier option, I’m going to run 25km up hilly trail with no real plan.

It’s kind of liberating though isn’t it? To do something so completely out of your reach on the hope that you might actually be able to do it. And then when you find out you can, well I won’t lie. You’re just going to use that as justification for doing the next batshit crazy thing that enters your head. But it will also get you through those walls. The next time I’m on a run and I hit a wall, I will remember hitting the wall at the 18km mark of that trail run thinking there is no way I can do this. I just can’t. But you dig deeper, you find another gear and prove to yourself, that actually you can.

A huge part of my running journey so far has been proving myself wrong. When I started I couldn’t conceive of every running an unbroken kilometre. And when I did that, I couldn’t imagine ever doing 2. And when I did that I couldn’t imagine ever running for an hour. And even when that was done, I was terrified of running outside. And then something clicked over and I did run outside and instead of thinking I could never run a half marathon, I thought I could.

There’s always going to be an argument in your head between the part of you that wants to stop and the part of you that wants to keep going. There’s always going to be that conflict between the part of you that says you can’t and the part of you that says you can. There’s a quote that I like. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right. Even more than that though, I’m in the business of teaching myself that I can, so most of the time my brain agrees with me.

Should you run a 25km trail run with no training?

OperationMove · April 16, 2014 · 3 Comments

Being prone to random explosions of batshit craziness has its perks. I end up doing things that I would never, ever, ever consider otherwise. I head about this trail run that was happening in 1 weeks time. I had been vaguely thinking about starting to do some trail training but I would need to drive to get to them so laziness won out and I had just kept running on the road.

I saw the Nerang trail run come up and it was local (only two hours away), how could I resist? Now I could have done the 9km or the 17km option, but I picked the 25km one. Couldn’t just pick the 9km or 17km like ANY NORMAL PERSON who has never run even a teensy bit of trail before in her entire life.

But it was just 25 kilometres. How hard could it possibly be? And I had trail shoes that I had never worn, because before we run – we shop, right? So how hard was it?

Well, running 25 kilometres of relatively steep trail with no experience is stupid. On the road, I am used to essentially not having to worry about my feet. They do what they do and I can look around and basically tune out. Not the case on the trail. It’s slippery, there are rocks everywhere and roots so you actually have to pay attention to what your feet are doing the whole time. Paying attention to your feet for four hours is really mentally challenging.

Exhibit A.

I did have a couple of things in my favour. One is that after all of the road training that I have done, I did have the physical fitness to finish the course. And the other thing was that I have done a 5 hour run before.I hit that wall at about the 3 hour mark and really felt like I couldn’t keep going and was thinking Taz was so right. Why didn’t I do the 17km course. WHY?! But I’d done it before, I knew the wall was temporary and magically a couple more kilometres in I had my energy again.

I think the approach is important too. I knew I wasn’t going to be setting any records for speed, so I intentionally was relaxed about my pace. I stopped for photos and occasionally my GPS to make sure I wasn’t lost. And although I knew that I was going roughly twice as slow as any other runner on that course, I was ok with that.

Towards the beginning when I was facing my first steep descent thinking there is no way I could do this, I stopped to take a picture and have a chat to some Operation Move people. As I was doing that, a couple of runners came past. It was clear that although the man was experienced on trail, his girlfriend was a road runner and like me had no idea how to get down the hill. At that point he said to her a few times ‘just trust your shoes’ and gave me an apologetic smile like I knew what the hell I was doing. Flattering, but completely misguided. I took that advice for the next 20kms. Just trust your shoes.

Aside from the technicalities, I’ve spent a bit of time trying to find the right words for the run. It was incredible and not just because of the beauty of the forest around you – a pleasant change from the highway with passing trucks honking at you.

I saw a lot of people in groups or couples doing the trail run, but there was something really invigorating about being completely on my own in the middle of nowhere. Having the challenge of having to pick my own path through the rocks and roots and heading downhill in a way that was somewhere between running and falling.

I’ve always loved the feeling of freedom on a run, but being on this run I felt like that feeling was just a diluted version of what it could really feel like. Any run will improve your body and mind, but this one really uplifted my spirit. It reminded me of being a kid, before all the responsibilities of life make you forget who you are. Remembering is something I should do more often. But next time, I will train for it.

Sports Bra Review – Berlei Ultimate Performance

OperationMove · April 11, 2014 · Leave a Comment

A group of Operation Movers were invited to experience the unique fitting system and fantastic service offered at She Science. Each Mover was prescribed the best sports bra for their needs, and in the coming weeks we will share their thoughts on the products.

Hilary Says:

In January I had the privilege of going to She Science and having a sports bra professionally fitted. I have to tell you this was smack bang in the middle of Melbourne’s heat wave and the very idea of hanging out in an air conditioned store had me sold, as sadly we have no air con at home. But the She Science ladies are nothing if not about moving, so into a new sports bra I was and onto the treadmill. At the start of my fitting Tish asked me if I knew my size, I replied 14C fairly confidently. She measured me and shook her head. My heart sank – I’m a 16, I thought, how did I let this happen and why does it seem I’m the last to know? Unfortunately it seems I still do a lot of my thinking out loud and my new BFF quickly informed me that I wasn’t a 16 or even a 14, but sitting somewhere between a 10 and 12. I also wasn’t a C cup, I was a DD or possibly E. In one morning I was refreshingly cool, skinnier and had larger breasts – go to She Science! They make you feel good!! As someone who is fairly shy, but usually covers it up by talking – a lot – (sorry guys), I loved how discreet the fitting was. Tish would bring me a bra, explain its benefits and leave me to put it on, while being close enough to assist if needed. She would then come back and I would hop on the treadmill to see how it felt and looked while exercising. This system allows you to compare different bras on the same screen and gives such an interesting and accurate picture of how much your breasts move while running. It also allowed me to see the ridiculous faces I pull while exercising which I am attributing wholly to treadmills, reinforcing my decision to quit the gym and focus on outdoor running. I think I would have spent at least 40 mins with Tish, tried on 4 different bras and settled on the Berlei Ultimate Performance. As well as feeling awesome and keeping the girls beautifully in place, it has a inbuilt mp3 pocket – I love it! The other thing I loved is that at no time did I feel rushed or pressured.

I am a massive online shopper and love a good recommendation so left to my own devices would have gone for the Juno Moving Comfort ( in the wrong size). But while being a great bra for so many movers, this didn’t suit me. I loved everything about She Science. It was a really positive shopping experience and I will definitely be back. I especially love that their range covers everything from the teeny weeny to the larger lady, something I know can be difficult to find in the sports apparel.

Music to your ears – Yurbuds review and giveaway

OperationMove · April 4, 2014 · 22 Comments

This is a review for Yurbuds Inspire Pro.

I run with music. It’s a personal thing that started because I didn’t want to hear my breathing as I struggled around the block.

But then I got hooked on what a powerful motivator music is to me. The first few bars of Back in Black will always get me moving, no matter how dark or how cold it is outside.

Pharrell, Kings of Leon, Robyn, Beyonce, Calvin Harris and more – finding music to run to hasn’t been the challenge, it has been finding the headphones.

Small ears, sweaty ears, wanting to hear traffic but still hear Kelly telling me to ‘work it’. Wanting something light, a pair that wont fall out, something that looks good.

I don’t ask for much really, do I?

Then after trying many pairs that let me down, my love affair with Yurbuds began and that is why I jumped at the chance to try the Yurbud Inspire with microphone and volume control.

Designed with women in mind, the headphones are smaller and have the huge selling point of Twist Lock technology, which is guaranteed never to fall out.

Other selling points are the soft silicone material used for a comfortable fit, the sweat resistant dry-mic and, sweat and germ resistant inserts, the colours are fabulous and my favourite feature…… the inserts come in 2 sizes, sizes that actually fit well for my delicate feminine ears 😉

Over the past three days I have done two runs and about 20 very sweaty kilometres (Melbourne you have been a very sultry companion this week) and no, there was no budging and no slipping. Not once. I put the Yurbuds in, screwed them into position and that’s where they stayed.

The volume control was easy to use once I worked out where it was and the cords could also be clipped into place with an additional, removable clasp.

Because of the inbuilt mic I have also been testing the Inspire Pro on phone calls and I’m giving them a massive thumbs up. The sound is clear as is the microphone.

It’s always nice to test products that have been sent to you. However I have been a Yurbud fan for a while now and have to admit I am up to three colours. Testing the Inspire Pro has been a pleasure and I will continue to be a loyal fan.

Emily’s aim is karaoke her way through 4 half marathons this year wearing her OpMove top with pride each time. She also talks a bit of bollocks over at Mrs Sabbatical.

To win your very own pair of Yurbuds Inspire Pro valued at up to $89.99, simply use the from below and leave a comment telling us your fave tune to move to. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Archives for April 2014

The Test Run

The Verdict

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