Running — Mamavation

Mamavation 5k: The Run Across Twitter

June 30th was an amazing day for Mamavation. Members of the sistahood and Mamavation fans agreed to each run a 5k and then post a sweaty post run picture on Twitter. In Mamavation fashion, it didn’t matter if you walked, jogged, ran or did something in between. The only thing that mattered was that you did.

Throughout the course of the day more than 38 people participated in the 5k from at least two countries. Some of us ran in the heat, others in rain, and even one in mud. The thing that kept us tied together was Twitter. We didn’t just run, we tweeted our hearts out in support of one another. Our tweets and those of people cheering us on helped to trend #Mamavation5k. That is an amazing anniversary gift!

Everyone who completed the Mamavation 5k is a winner in my book, since for many it was their very first 5k. Alas, there can only be one winner. The winner was randomly drawn from the list of all who tweeted out their picture, her picture was quite humorous. Congratulations ResaMichelle!

Running Gear: Compression Socks

You would think running would be simple – just put one foot in front of the other, no?

But, today’s runner is bombarded with high tech gear, fancy clothes and more! Over the next couple weeks we’ll talk about what gear is available and what you really need. This week it’s Compression Socks and Sleeves.

Compression Socks (or sleeves) are socks that have graduated compression up your legs. They are supposed to help with circulation and blood flow. Some people wear them while running, others wear them for recovery.

Pros:

Encourage blood flow to your calves which may help in recovery
Discourage blood pooling in one area of your legs or feet
Can be cute to wear if you like that “knee highs” look

Cons:

Expensive! Cheap ones are around 50 bucks a pop
Not necessary if you don’t run hard or long distances
Isn’t a cute look for everyone and they can be hard to wear in the summer or under clothes.

Overall: If you have issues with recovering after a run, sore calves or poor circulation these may be helpful. But, not everyone needs them. It’s a lot of money to spend if you are just a casual runner so think before you buy.

Tip: Some drugstores have compression type socks that are marketed toward people with circulation issues. They are a lot cheaper and easy to find (just not as cute). Start with these if you’re not sure you need them.

Monica is a certified Personal Trainer from Southern California. You can read more from her at her blog, RunEatRepeat

Filed Under: Running