You all may recall my work as a brand ambassador and member of Team4all with the fitness apparel company 4all by jofit. You all also hopefully recall that I like to keep things real. So, when I say I love a product, I really do love that product.

I received a knit workout skort from 4all over the weekend and broke it out for the first warm-weather run I could. I loved it!

It was so comfortable and extremely flattering. The material works magic, I tell you. Plus, it’s more fun working out in something cute. You look good; you feel good; you exercise good. Okay, that may be bad grammar, but you catch my drift.

Well, here is your chance! 4all will be giving away a knit skort to one of my fabulous readers! Perfect for many fitness activities. (Loved the little pocket for my key!)

Here’s how to enter:

• Tell me in what workout you would wear your new skort.
• “Like” 4all on Facebook by clicking HERE.
• Follow @4allbyjofit on Twitter.
• Tweet about the giveaway. MUST include @TinaFFF and @4allbyjofit.
• “Like” FFF on Facebook by clicking HERE. (If you already do, you rock…and automatic entry! Just let me know in a comment.)

5 ways to enter! Please leave a separate comment for each entry in order to have all your entries count! The giveaway will run until Monday, March 28 at 10 pm EST. I will announce the winner on Tuesday morning.

And if you want to secure a skort of your own, take advantage of a special promo deal for my readers. Enter the code SPRING11 from March 28-31 when ordering online and receive a 20% discount! Happy shopping/winning!

You know what I have learned about running in the past couple of months? It’s hard and provides a great personal challenge? Yes. Although, I’m not talking about the run itself. I’m talking about all the details to figure out for the strongest and most comfortable run! But first, a recap of the day.

I headed out to Group Power (a weights class) this morning after breakfast. I loved class today. A new instructor to our gym led part of the time and she picked the best music tracks. I also increased my weights a bit this week after just reacquainting myself with the class last week. I forget how killer these classes are. They work ya good!

After my weights, I headed out to a park to meet up with our friends from playgroup. I had a total mommy fail moment. I assumed the weather would warm up like it has been the past week. Um, no! It actually got colder and windier from when I left the house this morning. We hung out for about 20 minutes and then I had to call it quits because I didn’t want Makenzie or Braedon getting sick. 

Thankfully, it got warmer again as the day went on. Thursday means another run day for me! Also thankfully, I received a special product in the mail just in time.

My run Tuesday left me with some unattractive chafing in certain places that shall not be pictured. Namely, the underside of my “milk makers” and what the hip-hop group D4L calls “laffy taffy” (inner thighs, right?). Anyhoo…chaffing. That stuff hurts! I have heard all you runners talk about it, but I had no clue. Ouchity ouch ouch. Stingity sting sting.

The company 2Toms sent me some of their roll-on Sport Shield to try out and protect against chaffing. I tried it out on my 3.5 mile run today.

 I didn’t feel any pain from the current spots and don’t feel any additional chaffing either. It’s the first product like this I have ever tried, but I liked it a lot. Not only did it fulfill its purpose, but it did so nicely. It wasn’t greasy and didn’t make my clothes nasty. It felt light-weight on my skin, despite being a long-lasting and waterproof product. I also appreciate that the company 2Toms makes sure their products are non-toxic and contain no animal products. You should give them a try! Or you can enter their giveaway on Facebook for a YEAR supply of their products. Click HERE to learn more.

So, not only have I learned the joys of chaffing to worry about with running, I have also been working to learn the best pre-run fuel for me. I’ve tried a few different things.

All of these worked well, but I want to try a variety of options to see what really leaves me feeling the best. I know from past experience I like something with quicker carbs coupled with something that has some staying power (protein or fat). Today I tried another combo that fits that bill – mini PBB (peanut butter banana) sandwiches.

Mini PBB sandwiches sounds so much nicer than peanut butter smooshed between banana slices, doesn’t it?

It will still be trial and error to decide what works the best. I know I had the apple and yogurt before my PDR on Tuesday. Ideally, I think I would do best with a bowl of oats about 2 hours before a run. Yet…I run in the afternoons, too far away from lunch and before dinner, so snack it is. I will figure out the perfect combo soon enough. 

Question of the Day – How do you fuel before a workout?

*2Toms sent me their product for my own personal review. The opinions expressed are completely my own and not compensated for in any way.