Ready or not, here I come.

Ready or not, here I come!  That’s the feeling I get as soon as I lace up my running shoes every morning. I’m geared up to take on the world.  As a vegan athlete, avid runner and outdoor endurance junkie, I sweat. Which brings me to the reason I’m writing this article, have you ever heard of the Handana? After you read this, I assure you that you will want one!  For anyone that is active and sweats, this is a must have. 

I took the Handana out for it’s first test on a 10-mile Run and was very impressed.  One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss is:  “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” That’s what came to mind when I put on my Handana for this first run. Basically it’s built around the natural body behavior of removing sweat from our face and eyes when we are in the moment of our adventure.  It’s designed to serve a similar purpose as wrapping a bandana around your hand to wipe sweat away from your eyes, neck and forehead. I have never thought that something so simple would be so incredible. I’ve been waiting for this my entire running career!

Handana was developed by a fellow athlete, so the product does what it claims.  It’s very easy to see that a lot of the effort went into finding the right product. No matter what you are doing from long trail runs to practicing hot yoga, you will be amazed with how quickly it absorbs sweat and odor.  The Handana is machine washable and is made of the softest Supplex ™ fabric so it can be used over and over.

I’ve used about everything from sweatbands to microfiber headbands to visors to keep sweat out of my eyes. Sweatbands have always been awkward to maneuver your wrist around your nose and neck. Plus they are not always sensitive to your face. The Hanada is a comfortable, practical sweat absorbent glove.

Where else do I use my Handana?

Besides using the Handana on my daily runs, I also use the Handana during my hot yoga practice.  It solves all of my problems around dealing with sweating in the past that seemed to interrupt many yoga poses.  It actually acts like a slip resistant glove that is extremely lightweight. I’m thinking about getting another one so I will have one for each hand during my yoga practice. 

How to get your Handana:

You can purchase your Handana on Handana’s website for just $14.99 – it comes in a variety of sizes (xs-xl) and colors.

BEVEGAN® Nutrition Tips

Nutritionally, there are a few things to plan for before you head out the door and when you return home.

Consider the following:
1.     How you fuel yourself before & after your run
2.     Timing of your nourishment
3.     Eating the right types of essential nutrients

Fueling Tips:

Pre-Run Essential Nutrients should include a quality complex carb and an essential fatty acid. I recommend quinoa and hemp seeds.  Both are extremely easy to digest. This means they offer more energy and are more diverse in usability. Hemp seeds give a healthy dose of EFAs (essential fatty acids) too.

Post –Run Essential Nutrients (hydration and muscle replenishment) should include EFAs, essential minerals, vitamins and protein. Hemp seeds are the best option. They are a true nutritional powerhouse because they are a complete protein, including all of the essential amino acids. Ideally, you would consume hemp seeds within one hour after your run to ensure maximum muscle recovery. Personally, I consume these nutrients within 20 minutes of walking in the door.

An easy way to consume protein after your run is in a liquid form like a smoothie.  Refueling with liquids is great because it requires less digestive energy (energy you need for quicker recovery).

Lastly, eat a larger meal about two hours after your run and be sure it is full of essential fatty acids, complex carbohydrates and complete proteins. This will gear up your body so it’s ready to give it everything you've got during your next run.

Hydration Tips:  

After a tough and/or long workout, you should begin hydrating within the first 10-15 minutes after stopping.   Even if it was cold or freezing outside, you still sweat a significant amount and need to replace fluid loss. Plain water is sufficient for shorter workouts but endurance drinks become more important as workouts get longer.  Opt for healthy electrolyte solutions and drink around 16-20oz.  Here are two to try at home:

Simply Coconut

• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan rock salt

 Lemon Twist

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 orange, juiced
• 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan rock salt

Disclaimer:  I was provided a Handana to try out and review on my blog.   I was not compensated for doing so.  All opinions expressed are my own.