I am so glad you guys are as excited about this morning’s giveaway as I am! I can’t believe we’re already at 1,000+ entries. Amazing.
New Nikes
Around lunchtime today, I took a break to run to Sports Authority to hopefully pick up a new pair of my favorite running shoes since I’m getting into longer runs again as I train for the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon.
Sadly Sports Authority doesn’t carry my specific shoe, so I was out of luck.
I didn’t leave empty handed though!
I finally found a pair of shoes to wear to the gym on days when I focus on strength training.
(I had a gift card so they were free. Score!)
I’ve been wearing the same pair of running shoes for both running and weight training ever since last June when I bought them and figured my new running shoes will last longer if I save them for only running (once I actually buy them, of course).
Sadie thinks the hot pink is ridiculous.
She’s all about au natural running.
The shoes are super comfortable thanks to the plush Nike Comfort Footbed.
Lunch
Once I arrived home from my little errand, I fixed myself a fast lunch that included a smoothie and a toasted English muffin, topped with a bit of butter.
I actually meant to make the smoothie thin enough to slurp out of a straw, but it came out pretty thick, so it became a smoothie bowl, topped with chia seeds.
In the mix:
- 1 1/2 frozen bananas
- 1 heaping scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup 2 percent milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 large handful fresh spinach
Inhaled!
Question of the Afternoon
- Are you loyal to a specific brand when it comes to gym shoes?
- Do you wear different gym shoes for cardio and strength training?
I am very, very loyal to Mizuno when it comes to running shoes. They’ve been fantastic running shoes and have carried me through two half marathons with minimal blisters. As far as weight training, I pick shoes based on how snazzy they look. 
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Mizunos all the way! Be careful to read reviews on the new model of wave riders, as I’ve read that they are completely different than previous models..
that is a SERIOUS bummer. i love the old wave riders. 🙁 thanks for the info about the new models. i’ll read up!
Love the hot pink shoes! I’m all about fun and exciting sports equipment 🙂
The smoothie also looks fantastic and extremely chocolatey. I’m so going to miss smoothies as the weather turns colder.
That’s a great idea! I love Asics, I have an awkward step so they’re more comfortable when I’m running and I don’t have to buy inserts.
Love the shoes! I just started running recently and I’ve tried new balance and nike.. I actually think I like new balance more. Or those ones were broken in more… I need to work on breaking in my nike ones to know for sure!
Love the pink running shoes! I always say I want to get a different color running shoe but always end up still buying pink!
Asics GT-21 series always! They are the best! I reorder a new pair every year from Zappos. Super fast shipping.
Adidas forever! I have been running in them since I was 15! I can’t wear anything else. I always wear the same shoes when I strength train (which isn’t often :/).
Oh, and I’m all about the looks! Gotta be cute! 😀
I was super attached to Nike, and then to New Balance. THEN I got fitted at a running store and they recommended Aisics. I will never go back to anything else!!
When I started running earlier this year, I went to a running store not far away to get fitted for a good pair of shoes and left with a pair of Mizuno Wave Riders. I absolutely love them, everything about them fits perfectly, I imagine I’ll keep loyal to them. 🙂
I’m also pretty loyal to adidas (love their running shorts) and I used to wear their shoes for a long long time.
I wear my running shoes for running and have a pair of New Balance all around shoes for other work outs. Love your hot pink Nikes! My Mizunos are pink!
wave riders are my running shoe, too!
I found my favorite pair of running shoes – bright green Saucony Kinvaras last winter, and I really need to get a new pair. I wear my old running shoes for other cardio + strength training because they’re still fine, just have been used for running too much.
I like Brooks for running. I have the Ghost 2’s now and I really like them. They’re super light weight. I have high arches and a narrow foot. Picking out running shoes is tough for me. I’ve been known to try on 8 pairs and leave the store with nothing. But, the Brooks are a no brainer. This makes me very happy!! I was a loyal Nike girl during my XC days in high school though.
I’m not exactly a running professional YET, but I love asics. I’ve never tried mizouno’s (only the cleats).
I’ve been doing my marathon training in a new pair of Brooks, to be honest I don’t really like them all that much.
And yes, I do all my weight training in my cool and light nike’s, and my cardio in my Brook’s. I thought I was the only one 🙂
Your new shoes are super cute! I’m pretty loyal to Nike, for both running and strength training. I wore Nike LunarGlide +2 for my running shoe and it got me through my half-marathon with no blisters at all!. And I use Nike Free XT Quick Fit for all my strength training. Love them! I’m currently testing out a pair of Asics because well, I got them for free, and so far so good, but I miss my lightweight Nike’s 🙂
Mmm…that smoothie looks so rich and decadent…love it! 😀 So cool! <3 Love smoothie bowls…they're so refreshing, fast and easy, and yours always sound scrumptious.
Loving your sneakers! I'm not really loyal to any one trainer maker, because I don't really run – I just do the gym like the elliptical and spin bike, or rebounding, or yoga and weights, and none of those are really high impact or require specialist shoes as much as running.
When I used to run, I would always get my gait analysed and find the best shoes for me that way, rather than focusing on brands like nike.
Enjoy your sneakers! <3 xyx
That smoothies looks delicious. I love how chocolatey it is.
I always use Brooks shoes for running. They’re the only ones that fit my feet well and don’t cause injuries or blisters.
For other cardio and strength training, I love New Balance cross trainers. They never let me down!
i love mizunos for running as well, but have a pair of lightweight nikes i love for walking the pups.
I have been running in nikes for the last three years. I get terrible blisters on the sides of my big toes, and nike tennis shoes give me the space I need to alleviate that…plus they are narrow in the middle for my canoe feet. Love them. Love yours. Love you.
I’m an Asics girl, and I have two pairs – one for running and one for everything else.
I’m like Sadie! Natural running’s my thang–Vibrams all the way for trail running and at the gym.
Pink shoes will make you run faster/ workout harder…. I’m pretty sure it’s a proven fact 🙂
I’m an asics girl all the way!
hahaha i <3 that rationale.
I’m pretty loyal to New Balance for walking/running. For other activities, I’ll wear Asics or Nikes.
I used to be absolutely loyal to asics, but after having a so-so pair, I now just try different shoes and whatever feels the best is what I go with!! And seriously, your smoothies always look awesome- you should open a smoothie shop 🙂
I’m partial to Nike. I had my first pair for something ridiculous like 6 years and my current pair is going o 3 years and still strong!
I <3 Asics! I had the same pair of shoe in 3 different colors before they discontinued it. I have a different pair now though and love them too!
I love those Nikes. I am a pink girl, so that works. I love Asics. I have one pair of Mizunos. I have come to enjoy them too. I am in NEED of new running shoes. Both pair of Asics have seen their share of miles. My Mizunos are fairly new. But I always like to keep at least three pairs. I try not to wear them accept during my workouts or runs.
My first pair of running shoes were New Balance, and I wore them for years (whoops). The shoes I have now are Mizunas, and they’re working out fine. I don’t think I’m loyal to a brand; I just want what works best with my feet!
I have short and fat feet (fred flinstone!) so I stick to new balance!! nikes are too skinny for me haha
i think nikes are small all over. i always have to buy a whole shoe size bigger when i buy them.
Woah, that smoothie looks like black beans! ha… I recently bought Asics and use those for running–and then my old new balance shoes for strength training, elliptical, and tennis
Are those pink runners the ones that Nike donates money to Breast Cancer with each purchase? Saw them in O magazine I think.
i’m not sure. but i hope so!
Ha- I am the exact same way with my shoes- Mizuno’s for running & whatever pair is the cutest for weight training 😉
Oh, and I’m glad that other people have let you know about Mizuno’s- how they have changed the shape/ sole of them. It sucks. I almost bought a new pair, but then did some research first (thank goodness) & found out about all of the changes.
what show did you end up buying instead? i’m so bummed about the changes!
The ‘wave nexus 5’s’
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G607H0
I bought them off of Amazon- but did a ton of research & reviews on them before I bought them. Runner’s World has them as one of their top shoes & I read a bunch of other reviews too- pretty much everyone loved them! So far I love them too- and they are SUPER light…which is another plus 🙂 (& they are purple..which always helps sell me 😉 )
I’ve heard great things about Mizuno! I love Aasics for running. I am a one pair of sneakers type girl although I will often wear older worn out pairs for lifting days. They say its better to have less cushion for lifting… instead of buying separate shoes, I figure why not wear my old running shoes? I never have much luck with Nikes but I am always a sucker and buy them for their awesome colors.
Im a Vibram girl all the way! I will never go back to wearing normal shoes!! Since i do lots of pylo moves during my workout i like to be as agile as possible to reduce the risk of falling on my face;)
I love my Nikes!!! I wear them for everything!!! Wooops. I know I should really have to pairs, but I do not.
My gym clothes are always Nike dri-fit as I love them. Your gym shoes are so cute!
the guy at sports authority told me for running that aasics were a good shoe because its designed for that activity and are long lasting. He also said that nikes are more of a “fashion” sneaker rather than functionality.
the guy i talked to today basically said the same thing… and he used to work for nike!
That’s so funny, he is definitely a traitor!
I wear the Wave Riders too, although when I first started running in them I injured my ischium (tendon between your pelvis and femur). Not sure if it was from outdoor running (I usually train on a treadmill) but they’re nice and worked in now with a 15k, a half marathon, and plenty of training runs under their belt.
I used to love my Sauconys, might go back after my October 15 half in Hartford.
Oh I did try the Nike Frees and they felt WEIRD! I don’t think I’m going to be able to jump on the minimalist bandwagon 🙁
Love the new kicks 🙂
Love your cute new sneaks! I always use the same sneakers for both (Mizuno and Brooks I adore but Asics really has my heart), but it’s smart to have two different pairs.
Protein smoothie/Shake question: I made one for the first time this morning (you can see it on my blog) but it did NOT fill me up! What are the keys to success for making one last as a filling bfast post workout, etc.?
totally loyal to brooks. brooks adrenalines, to be specific. i never even try any others anymore because nothing else works. 🙂
my fave gym shoes for zumba and weights are hot pink too! but they are adidas! i love my adidas for everthing…also love my five fingers for running….and now i have a pair of new balance that i’m using to train for my half marathon that are great! i think they are 1080s. (oh, and my vibrams are hot pink as well!)
I love those shoes!!! I like wearing fun clothes/shoes to the gym. Makes me look forward to my workouts even more!
I love the hot pink! I’m working with a tight budget (poor college student) so usually my running shoes are whatever is on sale at Dick’s or whatever my dad is willing to buy me haha I have been wanting a pair of Mizuno running shoes though because I have heard such great things about them! I wear my running shoes for both running and weight training 🙂
Hi! Learning how to make smoothies. When you say “Frozen banana,” is that a banana you’ve frozen yourself? Do you freeze it in the peel, or in a baggy with a few other peeled bananas? Thanks for your input!
About shoes: I’m loyal to my feet and what feels best on them 🙂
As you know I run 6 miles M-F and 12 miles both Saturday and Sunday. And I have tried EVERYBRAND, but keep coming back to PUMA! Hands down the best running shoe around. They form to your feet after only a few runs, and hold up longer than any I have come across. I cant believe your question wasnt how much are you willing or have you spent on a running shoe! 😉
Ive never been brand specific when it came to workout clothes, but more like type. For example, flat sneakers work best for me when lifting. I like converse. But now since I’ve started running, I went straight to VFF, and I love using them for both, although the converse were slightly better for lifting. Lunges are awkward in the VFF’s.
I am totally stealing your idea for having separate shoes for gym days/running days – I have (un?)fortunately super normal feet so I get the most boring looking running shoes – I always get Asics. All the really cute shoes seem to be for people with “problem” feet! Now, however, I am going to go get me some funky bright colored shoes for weight lifting!!
I love those…too cute! Pretty much anything pink is good.
I have Nike’s now and I’ve also had aesics in the past…I really don’t notice too much of a difference, but then again, I have never run a 1/2 marathon!
Super cute shoes!! Love the hot pink!
Can’t say I really have loyalty to a particular shoe, since I’m only on my 2nd pair. I wore a pair of Nikes that I got at a Nike Outlet until I could feel the ground through them. After that, I was fitted at an actual running store and ended up with some Mizunos. I really like them, but these days I don’t get the chance run as much as I used to back when I had my Nikes.
I LOVE those pink sneakers. I have been looking for a new pair for the past few months, especially pink ones (my favorite!) I might have to stop by the Sports Authority near me. What is the name of the sneakers? I will have to look them up. 🙂