Running on Food and Water

CalNaturale Svelte Organic Protein Shakes are ready made, ready to go.

Wake-up Shake-up
Since getting my upgraded VitaMix, I've been making delicious smoothies and vegetable juices from the fresh organic produce available from our garden. Sometimes,  though, I forget and don't feel like waking up the house with the sound of a 2 hp motor buzzing away at 7 am.

CalNaturale Svelte Organic Protein Shakes-Portable Nutrition
That's why I was happy to find Svelte Organic Protein Shakes from CalNaturale. The French Vanilla and Cappuccino are especially delicious without being overly sweet. What I really like, beyond the flavor is the little resealable cap which means I can take it along for my morning walk or ride and not worry about spills.

My Svelte hitching a ride in my Basil bicycle basket, heading for a picnic.

It even fits in my Mountainsmith Dart TLS, lumbar pack's water bottle holder!  The Chocolate has 16 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, (20% of your recommended daily intake). Made with organic complex carbohydrates, it only has 9 grams of sugar as it is naturally sweetened with Stevia.  The French Vanilla can be modified into a banana, berry or apple shake just by whirling in a few extra fruits so it's quite versatile:

Add some fresh or frozen strawberries to your Svelte for a delicious treat.

Meal Replacement or Recovery Drink
What's great is that these little powerhouses can be a meal replacement, snack, recovery drink or anything you want. Thanks to the packable, resealable container, it can go anywhere you do. Hiking, biking, backpacking, camping or your morning run. It gives you a little extra energy to press in for your workout as it is made with fresh organic soymilk. 

Food + Water
Proudly made in the USA in sunny California, the Svelte shake also provides a portion of your water requirement for the day. Staying hydrated while working out is a challenge and a Svelte shake is better than an energy bar or power gel for that purpose.

Food + Water. Svelte Organic Protein shakes contribute to your daily water requirements.

Heat & Sun Awareness: Chill Your Workout

Heat & Sun Busters: Enduracool Towel, Sunblocks & Hydration Day Pack.

Now that the heat is officially on, it's time to prepare your strategy on how to keep cool while working out this summer. There are a few things I keep with me for running, hiking or bicycling that help me to be free from overheating and suffering sunburn. I LOVE a golden tan but I know too much unprotected exposure can ruin your skin. Check out my Heat & Sun Awareness Project on Pinterest for the best sunblocks, clothing and accessories to beat the blistering days to come. So before you head out, here are a few sun & heat survival items to pack for the road.

Running, Walking or Short Hikes

The Dart Lumbar Pack by Mountainsmith

If you are going for a 45 minute run or hike, you can get away with a minimal amount of water, 16ozs at least and pack a water filtration system in your car for refills. This is easy to do at state and national parks and resorts with a clean water supply (fountains). Otherwise, just take a small water bottle with you in lumbar pack like this Mountainsmith Dart TLS Lumbar Pack. It even has a zippered pocket for energy gels and lip / skin sunblock. I use Mission Athletecare's Ultra Hydrating Lip Protector with an SPF of 20. Moisturizing and paraben free, it offers both UVA/UVB protection. The Dart comes with its own little water bottle or you can pop in a Purificup in the holder and filter water on the fly if you know there are going to be clean water sources on your trek.

Day Hikes or Backpacking

CamelBak Antidote 100 oz Reservoir is easy to clean.

Front country hikes that are going to require walks or runs for over 60 minutes should have you taking more water or at least a water filtration system with a refillable bladder. I like the CamelBak Antidote as it fits in most any day-pack or you can get their Mule for minimum bulk & weight.  This is a 100 oz reservoir hydration system and has a very large fill port which allows for easy, thorough cleaning. 

My Rudy Project Hydration II Day Pack accommodates this reservoir with even more room for snacks, sunblock, extra socks and a light jacket. Look for fabrics with built in SPF which can help you stay cooler and burn-free.  I have quite a few new pieces at my Heat & Sun Awareness Project

Bicycle Commutes
Packing for a short ride from point A to point B should not be a problem in the summertime. You may need a little extra water but you can top off before you leave by drinking a extra water and then fill up again when you arrive at your destination. If it's under 4 miles or a short commute, a 24 oz bottle of chilled ice water should be fine. I take a thermal Polar Bottle and fill it 1/3 of the way with ice. It's stays incredibly chilly for the whole ride even on very hot days of 85-90 degrees.

This Detours D2R Trunk Bag accommodates extra water for your ride.

Bicycle Touring
What's good about the Detours D2R Trunk Bag is that you can also use it for longer distance commutes or touring.  The water bottle holder in the rear of the bag allows you to double your amount of water if you also have a bottle cage on your bike. The D2R expands to hold a First Aid Kit, sunblock and extra sun protective clothing.  Add a set of panniers for extra storage and you are really ready for a day on the road.

The Wrap 
The summer heat can be brutal and heat exhaustion and stoke can sneak up on you in short order. Check out the new cooling technology built into clothing, towels and now arm sleeves which also block the sun. If you are running or cycling, wet them, snap them and pull them on. As your blood flows past them at your pulse points, you will immediately feel refreshed thanks to the temperature lowering polymers built into the fabric. You also might want to check the conditions before and while you are out.  Kestrel has come out with a Heat Stress Tracker which measures heat index, wet bulb readings and other important parameters to tell you when heat exhaustion is imminent. A weather meter with this sort of capability allows you to check the weather in your immediate area and alerts you to take the proper precautions to guard against heat stroke.

EnduraCool Cooling Arm Sleeves by Mission

Mountainsmith Dart TLS REVIEW

Just the essentials but really important ones!  Mountainsmith Dart TLS with waterbottle & gel pack pouch.

The newly updated Mountainsmith Dart TLS allows you to pack just what's essential for a short run, walk or hike when lightness is key.  The Dart weighs a mere 7 ounces!

The Dart is made of airy, recycled materials with a water bottle holder (comes with its own Mountainsmith BPA-Free water bottle).  However you can pop in your favorite water bottle such as the new smaller Insulated 12 oz Polar Bottle.  Filling a thermal bottle with ice and water helps keep you cooler in the heat not to mention hydrated.

The Dart TLS weighs only 7 ounces

Easy Access

On the left hand side is an easy to access zippered pouch with mesh inner separators and a key clip.  More than enough space inside for a couple of gel packs, your cell, some cash and an energy bar.

The Dart is easy to adjust with its perforated air-flow foam padding and Lumbar Control Point™ pad that locks the pack into the lumbar region of your back.  I ran with it fully loaded and did not notice any shifting or bouncing up and down. Really for such a small lumbar pack, it offers a lot of features:

• Diamond airmesh with anti-sweat DWR finish
• Lumbar Control Point™ pad
• 3M™ reflective piping
• Internal key clip
• Headphone port on front pocket
• Low profile side mesh pockets fit energy gels
• Internal mesh pocket holds iPhone, iPod or similar devices
• Airflow waistbelt
• Perforated interior foam padding for increased breathability
• BPA-Free Water Bottle is included

The Mountainsmith Water Bottle adapts and is easy to refill with purification systems like Purificup

Reflections

Firefly Supernova Blinkie

The Dart TLS has reflective piping all around for maximum visibility at night.  You can even clip on a Firefly Supernova LED blinkie to be sure you're seen when running after sunset or before sunrise.  As the weather heats up, these cooler parts of the day will be prime time for getting outdoors.

The Wrap

Ultralight backpacking is becoming more and more popular as most of us realize that the bigger our packs, the more tempting it is to fill it with stuff we really don't need.  This is especially true for shorter hikes and excursions when you can leave most of your gear at base camp or if you are front country daypacking, in your car.
  

I've found that I could fit my SOL Origin Survival Kit and Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter in the Dart.  This plus a container of water and some almonds would be about the bare minimum I would take on a short hike.  Water is SO essential that it is refreshing to see a lightweight lumbar pack like this include a water bottle. The water bottle even works with the Purificup Portable Water Filtration System for refills in the outback. In fact this pack impressed us so much that we included it in our gear collection for the Heat & Sun Awareness Project on Pinterest. 
The beauty of the Dart is that it can be used during very strenuous activities such as running and rock climbing.  People who have shoulder pain will appreciate the shift to carrying weigh in the lower back area.  All around this is a great little lumbar pack that you will appreciate for its many features and lightness.  Visit the Mountainsmith Website for more innovative designs in outdoor gear! 

The Dart can double as a survival belt.  It holds the SOL Origin Survival Kit and Aurora Firestarter.