Cool Runnings: Carve Designs

Carve Design's new Zipper Line Hoodie in Graphite is cool cover for hot workouts.

I really love this time of year. It's so unlike the summer heat when I have to get up before dawn to workout because it gets blazing hot by 10 am.  Usually a tank top is perfect but I want to be sure to keep my skin protected from the harmful rays of the sun.  I use sunblock but sweat and rubbing often leaves you less protected than you think.  So I've found walking, running and cycling in the hours of predawn and twilight to be my best bet at beating the the sun and heat.

Taking Cover: Carve Design's Zipper Line Hoodie

Zipper Line Hoodie & Pearl Izumi running shoes.

I don't just mist...I sweat during my workouts.  Most of my hoodies and cover ups are just too thick and heavy for any serious exercise.  That's why Carve Design's super lightweight cotton Zipper Line Hoodie was such a cool change.

Zipper Line in Thistle

Carve Designs of California specializes in surf-wear for active woman.  So they know a thing or two about staying comfortable despite the sun's heat. In a slub jersey knit, it's just the right weight with a semi fitted cut that looks feminine.  The Zipper Line Hoodie is very soft and sheer, so it lets the breezes through.  It can also be used as a beach cover.  One of the lovely accents of this piece is the contrast print lined hood.  Just taking a walk in the Zipper Line was so comfortable and NO sweat buildup underneath.  I came home refreshed, not damp from perspiration.  The full length zipper allowed me to regulate my body temperature while the cover itself gave me some sun protection.  This is where fashion meets function. 

Road ID's Firefly Supernova - visibility before dawn, after dark

See the Light: Road ID's Firefly Supernova
 
As the season heats up, you may find yourself walking, running or cycling before the sun rises or after dark.  Aside from being comfortable, the one thing you want to be out there is visible.  Walking or running near traffic can be much safer if drivers can see you.  That's why in addition to reflective panels on my athletic shoes, I would recommend clipping on a blinkie like the Road ID Firefly Supernova.

It is small so it can clip onto your wrist, hoodie, cycling jersey or helmet.  It is also VERY BRIGHT.  You can see this thing from about a mile away.  Available in clear, blue, green and red, you decide which colors to attach to what.  It uses a little watch battery that runs for about 250 hours on flashing and weighs only 1 ounce. Be sure to have a few of these on board and your Road ID Medical / Identification tags.  It could save your life.

Road ID Fixx ID Tags

Road ID's Blue Firefly Supernova wrist model.  Be seen out there!

Ribzwear Front Pack

Ribz Front Pack stowed neatly in its own compact sack.

Two of the main issues with day packing and hiking is packing too much and then not being able to access what you've packed without taking the pack off.  Sometimes you just want the lightest pack possible because you've made plans to leave most of your gear in the car or at base camp.

When first I saw the Ribz Front Pack, I knew they were definitely on to something.  Not only did the size insure that you'd only bring the essentials (similar to a lumbar pack), but the positioning of the zippered pockets up front was revolutionary.  I've hiked the NJ Pine Barrens with the small sized Ribz and had full access to my binoculars, camera, snacks and water bottle (clipped on by a carabiner).  Other hikers commented & complimented me on my packing gear and I was much more comfortable on the trek than the others.  I also enjoyed the hike more because I could quickly get out my camera and binoculars when I needed them.

The Ribz Front Pack can be worn by itself or with a traditional backpack.  I've used it both ways and it was very comfortable, allowing quick access to things I needed along the way like that Clif Bar!  The big zippered compartment pouches are next to the body with a smaller outside zippered bag.  I stow my tissues, Mission Skin Care SPF 15 Lip Balmer, an Ultralight Watertight Medical Kit .3 and other comfort essentials in the larger sectioned part.  My camera and cell phone go in the outer pockets.
You can tighten the padded straps to hold the pack close to the "ribz" when doing activities or loosen them for more casual hiking.  Having the straps loose allows for better air circulation, thus lessening sweat.

Packing Your RIBZ

Here is the Ribz folded down into it's sack which is about the size of a coffee bean bag.
Shown here being worn with a backpack, it allows you to balance the weight of your gear more evenly.  My digital compass easily clips on the straps so I can take frequent readings.  

This First Aid kit is the perfect size for the Ribz Pack

First Aid First
I definitely would recommend taking along a small first aid kit.  No matter how light you're packing, always make room for possible medical emergencies.

The Ultralight Watertight Medical Kit .3 by Adventure Medical Kits is small but very complete and waterproof should you be fly fishing, boating or trekking across streams of water.  Having it in the Ribz Front Pack will give you quick and easy access to first aid in case of an emergency.  Seconds are important and you don't want to waste precious time rooting through your pack.

Fired Up

Along with a small, waterproof first aid kit, you'll also want to have a good, dependable fire starter along.  I have a whole survival package that contains Adventure Medical Kit's SOL Origin, a small container of Vaseline petroleum jelly and an Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter.  The ability to build a fire is one of the essentials of survival and the Aurora is small and light enough to fit easily in the Ribz Front Pack.  Use it to build a fire to cook, dry your clothing or keep warm. Use it to boil water to make it safe for drinking, (the Origin comes with a piece of aluminum foil for just that purpose).  You can see in the video below that the Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter is extremely easy to use.  The rubber sealing band keeps water out and this type of fire starter works even in wet conditions.  Weighs only 1/10 th of a pound so there is no reason not to have one on you.  Really this is one piece of gear in your Ribz that could save your life. 

Natural Pain Relief

Curamin, a safe yet effective alternative to NSAIDs like Celebrex.

One thing every athlete faces is pain.  After a hard workout, you can almost expect sore muscles and sometimes even joints. We've all learned the RICE method.  You know the drill: rest, ice, compression and elevation.  You also know that the earlier this is implemented, the better you'll do at controlling inflammation.  Still, what if you could head off the episode by having inflammation under control before the event?

The truth is, oxidative stress and inflammation account for nearly 90% of all diseases including but not limited to coronary aliments, cancer and arthritis.  This is basically how NSAIDs or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work, (i.e. Celebrex or Celecoxib, Aspirin, Ibuprofen), by inhibiting compounds that cause swelling called prostagladins but at a price. Prolonged use of NSAIDs have been found to cause heart as well as kidney damage and stomach upset due to internal bleeding .

Safe and Effective Solutions

I can speak from experience when I say that cross training stresses your body tremendously.  My doctor prescribed a variety of NSAIDs but I would never stay on them due to fear of side effects.  I found Celebrex worked best out of the medications but once again, I would not take it for more than 3-4 days.
While researching natural inflammation suppressors, I came across Terry Naturally's Curamin and found the literature compelling.  I knew about the anti-inflammatory benefits of rhizomes like Ginger and Turmeric (found in curry), but also know you'd have to eat a truck load to receive any therapeutic benefit. Curamin is formulated to make the plant isolate, curcumin more concentrated and bioavailable...up to ten times more so than standard 95% curcumin extracts.  Looking at it from a pharmaceutical standpoint as far as supplements go, bioavailability is everything so I was excited to see it packaged in capsule form.


Celebrex vs Curamin

My previous experience with Celebrex showed that nearly all of my aches and pains would be gone after taking it for about three days.  I tried Curamin at 3 capsules a day, and surprisingly noticed pain relief in about the same amount of time.  Unlike the Celebrex, however, there are no side effects even if taken on an empty stomach, (something you should NEVER do with a NSAID)!  I also sleep better without waking up constantly due to stiffness after working out.  If I've really overdone it I topically apply Mission Skincare's Maximum Muscle Rehab. If I've had an injury or sprain, I combine the Curamin with a Rainbow Light PhytoKinetic Calcium or open the capsule into some juice and add a packet of Totally Calcium powder. Even just taking two capsules of Curamin daily has given me benefits of less stiffness and recovering more as I did when I was younger.



More Than Just Pain Relief

The benefits of Curamin go above and beyond just pain relief.  The active compound in Curamin, namely BCM-95 is a powerful antioxidant benefiting the heart, digestive system and brain.  It is also indicated in normalizing blood sugar and the suppression of cancer cells.  It is rare to find a product that is safe yet effective and improves your health in other areas.  If you have arthritis, joint or muscle pain, I recommend that you give Curamin a try.  It can make a huge difference in your ability to perform and recover..safely.  If you'd like to learn more about food, herb and drug interactions / side effects please reference my book: How Not to Kill Yourself With Deadly Interactions  - Xlibris

Available now at Amazon.com