My mom always said that if you can smell your own perfume, it’s too strong. This is why I know that if I can smell my own stench after a run, then I know you can, too. Only it’s 10 times worse to breathe someone else’s stink than your own. But being stinky after a run is one thing. Being stinky before a run is a whole other ball of sweat. It’s sort of horrifying.

A while ago, I remember noticing that my workout clothes were not coming out of the laundry smelling clean. This is a big, fat embarrassing problem for someone who runs with friends. I upped the amount of regular laundry detergent I was using, but it didn’t matter. My running clothes still smelled like stinky sweat.

Recently, I discovered it’s not the sweat that makes my clothes stink, though. It’s the bacteria combined with the sweat, which is why regular laundry detergent doesn’t do anything. I switched to a sports detergent and now I won’t go back to the regular stuff.

I’m really excited to try 2Toms’ brand-new Stink Free Sports Detergent, which will be available Nov. 15. 2Toms says their sports detergent is scientifically formulated to target and kill the odor-causing bacteria that give me stinky gear, and that it is perfume- and residue-free, and safe on all high-performance fabrics and colors.

The sports detergent I was using is filled with perfumes that I know aren’t good for my high-tech (and expensive) running clothes. Also, if I breathe really deep, I can still get a whiff of stink under all that perfume. Plus, I don’t like putting chemicals against my skin.
So, no more stinking before a run! After a run? Well, let’s just see what the 2Toms’ anti-stink science geniuses come up with next.

Want To Try 2Toms Stink Free Sports Detergent!

Enter to win a free bottle through 11:59 p.m. Nov. 21, 2011.

Two winners will be selected.
How to enter (please leave separate comments for each entry):
1.) Follow the 2Toms Blog! Simply enter http://www.2toms.com/news in your Google Reader or your RSS feed, then leave a comment below that you did so. (1 entry)
2.) Follow 2Toms on Twitter. http://twitter.com/2toms and leave a comment you did so. (1 entry)
3.) Like the 2Toms Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/2toms and leave a comment you did so. (1 entry)
4.) Share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook, or on your blog if you have one, and leave a separate comment for each one. (total 3 entries)

No purchase necessary. Two winners will be chosen at random on Nov. 22, 2011.

Want to Learn More About Stink Free Sports Detergent? … Click Here!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the new Stink Free Sports Detergent.

The winners, as chosen by Random.org, are #23 and #4: Jen, and Jodi P. Please email your shipping information to sales@2toms.com so 2Toms can send your prize to you!

Okay, maybe that’s not always how it is. Maybe it’s no socks. Or maybe a flat bike tire totally squashes your hopes for a great ride (and workout). Or maybe you have a sick kiddo you need to take care of. I just always find getting to the physical activity much harder than the actual effort the activity requires.

A couple years ago, though, this would not have been a challenge for me. I would not have worried about it at all, in fact. And my dirty laundry certainly did not contain stinky running clothes still wet from a Saturday morning 8-miler in a downpour.

But then one day in the summer of 2009, I decided to get up off the couch and start an adventure. It began as a quest to run a marathon (and write a blog about it since that is what kept me motivated), and eventually morphed into being a way of life. In fact, staying physically fit is even infiltrating my writing career. How?

Well, I am beyond thrilled to announce I will be blogging here weekly for 2Toms! I plan to write about anything and everything in regard to working out, from balancing exercise and life to training tips and advice I’ve learned.

Over the past two years, I have managed my mom- and wife-duties, my job, and training for multiple half marathons, a full marathon and lots of other races, including the 2011 Hood to Coast Relay. You can learn more about me at Mom vs. Marathon, but I’ll be back here next week. For now, I think I hear the dryer beeping.

What are your tips for fitting exercise into your day? Do tell!

And, do you have a topic you would like to see covered on the 2Toms blog? Please leave it in a comment below!

~Kerrie

Well, this is the exact scenario Canadians have had to face for a long time with 2Toms products.  We are strong in on the West Coast of Canada and have some stores scattered throughout the rest of the country.   And even with that, our northern friends have had to struggle with the same dilemmas posted above, if they wanted to buy directly from us.  Not only high freight cost, but importation fees just for a prevention product, that could be the difference between a great day and a horrible one.

Well.. that problem is now finally SOLVED!  yes.. solved.  2Toms has partnered with Slipstream Athletics to distribute 2Toms line of products to all of our Canadian friends!  WOO HOOO!!

No more debate.  No more settling for 2nd or 3rd best.  Now.. you can get our products quicker and easier.  AND CHEAPER!

Slipstream Athletics will be selling to all the local dealers as well as in their own E-Commerce world.  Check it out for your self!

Simply, go to www.SlipstreamAthletics.com, click on the 2Toms product you want and add it to your cart! The products will be shipped from within Canada, which means no international shipping or delivery.

Slipstream Athletics is a Canadian distribution company created by athletes, run by athletes and designed to bring Canadian athletes the products that they desire. Slipstream Athletics distributes products to an independent dealer network across Canada.

So.. please welcome them to our family.  Spread the word.. far and wide!  We definitely will.

And , if you are planning to be at the Interbike show in Vegas this week.. You can meet the gang at Slipstream if you just visit us at Booth #36094!

With atleast 150 new stores in the last 2 months, you should definitely be able to find a location near you!  And thats the goal right?!  With the push to “Buy Local”, you need to support your local running, biking, hiking, specialty stores – including EMS, Olympia Sports or bigger stores!

So find a store near you and buy 2Toms thru them!  It helps out everyone!

Thanks for the support new dealers and thanks for the customers new fans!  We love to grow! 

What’s starting up, you ask? Well – me! My name is Amy and I will be your friendly, regular blogger here at 2Toms. And I intend, with your help, to add to what’s already here and continue to make it one great blog – offering information and anecdotes to all our awesome 2Toms customers. Let’s go!

First – I’d love to hear from you, dear reader. Like I just said, I need your help. I want to know – what can I do for you? Do you like reading the awesome product reviews here? Do you want more info on great things going on in New England – and around the country! – for runners, hikers, and general outdoorsy types? What about great recipes to keep up your energy and keep you healthy, focused and alert? Or do you just want some gold ol’ personal stories about what going on for me, my active family, and the rest of the 2Toms crew? I’m actually thinking a little bit of all this may be the way to go. You let me know and I will deliver! I’m here to entertain and inform you. And I’m so excited to begin!

I look forward to hearing from you throughout each blog post, so do keep those comment coming in. For now – I’ll leave you to your thoughts and activities. Hope to hear from you soon!

From the time SUAR said yes to reviewing our product to the time it arrived at her doorstep, she got hurt!!!  Yes, that just sucks.  But she did the review anyways and promised a giveaway to her follows.  Here’s what she said…

Butt Shield Giveaway

I know you think I’m going to talk about a fart-filter or something of that nature, but you are WRONG!

Having problems with your ass? It’s not uncommon (double negative) for us athletes. There are the bike seat blues. And, the running rubbings. The kayaking caking and the horseback riding hammering. All kinds of chafing, friction and irritation that gets up in there. Well, maybe not UP in there, but UP ON there. If you’ve experienced it, you know what I mean.

I do have a lot of problems with my booty, yet chafing has so far not been one of my issues. Although, with half ironman training kicking in, I could be singing and chafing a different tune.

If your butt is a sore spot, consider Butt Shield. Supposedly, this roll on product provides relief from your worst saddle sores, chafing and ass rashes. More importantly (as it says on the package):

1. It lasts all day. If you don’t like to rinse or wash after your workouts, then it will continue to provide protection all day at your kids’ soccer games or during date night with your lady/stud. Chris K. might like this since he is manly now.
2. It is non staining. Neat. As if you could stain your butt any more than it already is. Bleaching on the other hand…
3. It is unscented. Well, thank God. We wouldn’t want to try to mask any existing smell on the buttocks.
4. It is non-greasy. For those of you with greasy asses, this won’t add a second coat.
5. Also good for the non-athlete. Think long hospital stays, road trips, airline travel, waiting at the motor vehicles hell hole.

SUAR annouced the winners yesterday of the giveaway.  Congrats to Holly, Diana, Steve, LaVonne, & Jamoosh. Sounds like you ALL need our products badly.  Hurry, call now.. limited supply is running out!  If you order in the next 30 seconds, YOU can have free shipping!

Did that make you want to buy it now?  Isn’t that what they do on infomercials..

Well thank you for your entertaining review of ButtShield.  We all highly enjoyed reading it!  and we must say.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Hope your 44th year is even better than your 43rd…

The reviews just started rolling in from our outreach program.. so much so that I can’t keep up with them! I don’t want to overload our review section but I want you to be able to read what everyone says! So I’m going to post a few right now and wait for more..

SportShield Review and Giveaway
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Kristin, a marketing manager representing 2Toms [HERE]. 2Toms was founded in 2002 by two athletes (can you guess what both their names are?) and offers several successful products, including BlisterShield, SportShield® and ButtShield®. 2Toms’ mission is to provide the best comfort and care to athletes by offering the most technologically advanced products available anywhere. Their products are made in the USA.

Look, maybe you’re lucky enough to not have any chafing issues and that’s cool for you, but I’m not that girl, so I was excited to try out SportShield and add it to my arsenal of raw skin fighters.

My Experience
Wanting to put it through a tough test, I decided to try out SportShield this past weekend on a 10-mile run. Since we snagged a 65° day in February, I was wearing a running skirt, and despite my best efforts to tone the thighs, they still touch, m’kay? Normally, I use Body Glide because that’s all I’ve known about up until now, but the first thing I noticed about SportShield is that application is super easy because of the roll-on applicator. Love it! It went on really smoothly. The product is silicone-based with aloe vera and promises to:

* Eliminate friction that causes chafing and blisters.
* Last all day – even under the most extreme conditions.
* Be waterproof, non-staining, non-toxic, non-greasy, and contain no animal products.

I liked that it wasn’t sticky. Honestly, because the consistency was so thin, I wasn’t sure how it was going to hold up, but it really performed well and completely protected my legs during the entire run. I’m a fan!! One super cool thing about SportShield is that is also comes in towelette form, which I think would be convenient for emergency situations on long runs or races. The small packet seems to be a perfect size to stick in a pocket or fuel belt. I didn’t receive a sample of the towelettes for testing, but I would love to try it out.

Overall, I am a fan of SportShield. It did exactly what it promises to do, and was smoother and easier to apply than Body Glide. I recommend it!

Thanks Jill for your Review.  Jill lives in Tennessee with her family and “tries to” run as she puts it!….  Let us know who wins your giveway!

In an effort to hear more from our users, we have asked people to review our products and give us their honest feedback! We want to know what you think.. The good, the bad and the ugly. Obviously, we think our products are great – beyond great.. FABULOUS! But we can’t just tell you that can we.

Yesterday Kerrie T., of Seattle,  posted a review on the 2Toms products, SportShield & ButtShield. Kerrie runs a blog called Mom vs Marathon.

Here’s what Kerrie thought -

Your Thighs Will Thank You…and Me (Review and Giveaway)
One of the things I didn’t realize about having a treadmill in my home is how much more I would sweat on it than I did on the ones in the gym.

Why is that?

The first time I ran on it in my bedroom, I ran in capris and a tank top. I almost died. The second time, I ran in a running skirt and a sports bra. My inner-thighs almost died. They looked like I rubbed sandpaper all over them then doused them with scalding McDonald’s coffee.

Even with minimal clothing, I sweat like a…well, like a chick running on a treadmill near a heating vent in her house in the winter.

So it was a complete blessing when the company 2Toms asked me to review their anti-chafing products, ButtShield and SportShield. Learn more about them HERE.

The first thing I noticed about the products (other than the word “butt” is in the name, which made me snicker like a 6-year-old), was that its consistency is different than any other anti-chafe product I’ve used. It is more liquid than solid, but not like a lotion. In fact, it’s slick like oil, but not oily, and you apply it by rolling it on. It didn’t ruin my clothes or the wood on my dresser (when I realized I’d gotten some on there). And it washes off of my skin easily with soap and water.

Be warned that the roll-on bottle must leak a tiny bit (which is how it got on my dresser), but I was happy that it didn’t leave any marks or stains! Just wiped it off with one of Mr. T’s socks. No worries.

When I put SportShield on for the first 3-mile test run, I was ready for it not to work. I don’t know why. I guess I’m a skeptic.

I love being proven wrong. Wait. No I don’t. But I do in this case. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve tested both products up to five sweaty running-skirt, thigh-rubbing miles on the treadmill and have had no chafing. In fact, not even an inkling of a chafe.

The true test, however, came on Sunday’s 10 miles. My toes. (Insert climactic music here.) I get a pretty nasty blister between my big (freakish toe, as Mr. T says) and second toe on my right foot for whatever reason. I used ButtShield between them on Sunday. (Hehehehehe. I said “butt.”)

When I got home and removed my sock, I could see that the little blister I already had there was puffed up a little bit, but it didn’t hurt and it wasn’t any bigger than it was already. Then, after my ice bath and a shower, and once my feet dried, I saw there was NO NEW blistering and NO PAIN. Hooray!

I definitely give ButtShield and SportShield a big toes- and thighs-up.

And, check, it out: I have three prize packs from 2Toms to give away! Three of you will get a 2Toms care package including 1 bottle of ButtShield, 1 bottle of SportShield and 1 bottle of Stink Free (so your shoes won’t smell like something died in them anymore). There are lots of ways to enter:

1. Become a Virtual Running Buddy of Mom vs. Marathon (follow) and leave me a comment below about your worst chafing experience. C’mon, I want details!
2. “Like” 2Toms on Facebook HERE and/or follow them on Twitter HERE, come back here and leave a comment saying you did (leave a separate comment for each – total of 2 entries).
3. “Like” Mom vs. Marathon on FB HERE and/or follow me on Twitter HERE, then come back and leave a comment saying you did (leave a separate comment for each – total of 2 entries.
4. Enter the 2Toms Chafed Cheeks video contest HERE (worth 3 entries) and leave a comment letting me know you did.
5. Spread the word about this giveaway (FB it, Tweet it or post on your blog), then let me know for each one by leaving a separate comment here. Here’s a sample Tweet, so you can just copy and paste: Run more, chafe less with @2Toms #giveaway @momvsmarathon http://bit.ly/h0GlXv #runnerds

Thanks Kerrie for the great review.   And now you should do one of the 5 options to enter her drawing!!!  Maybe you’ll win and you can do your own review!

We’re looking into the leaking she mentions!  I promise.. that isn’t the norm.

Stay tuned for more..

The Lesson: Mild dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, sluggishness, poor concentration and constipation. Severe dehydration may result in cramps, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion.

Sip water frequently throughout the day, and, while running, always carry water or energy drink. “Take four to eight swallows (a swallow is about one ounce) every 20 minutes,” says Cara Marrs, a registered dietitian in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Hyponatremia

Mistake: Despite drinking copious amounts of water during a long, hot-weather race, your quads begin to cramp, you feel nauseated and have a piercing headache. Mistaking your condition as dehydration, you guzzle more water. The problem is in fact hyponatremia (or “water intoxication”), a potentially dangerous condition caused by low sodium levels that can even cause seizures, loss of consciousness and kidney damage.

Quick Fix: Restore your sodium level with supplemental electrolytes (such as salt capsules) or a one-time emergency dose of ordinary table salt in water. “One teaspoon contains 2300 milligrams of sodium,” says Ryan Kohler, a sports nutritionist at Carmichael Training Systems in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Long-distance runners lose between one to two grams of sodium per liter of sweat (and sweat up to a liter per hour), but recommended sodium intake levels vary significantly. “Athletes may need anywhere from 400 to 1200 milligrams per hour, so experimentation is your best strategy,” says Kohler.

The Lesson: While hyponatremia can result from consuming too much water, limiting water intake does not entirely protect you from the condition, since dehydration can also trigger hyponatremia. Experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend that athletes drink “only as much fluid as they lose due to sweating-usually no more than about 34 ounces (about 1 liter) of water an hour during extended exercise.”

Underlying medical conditions (such as hypothyroidism or kidney problems), certain medications (including ibuprofen), recreational drugs (such a ecstasy) or dietary considerations (such as a very low-sodium diet or drinking diuretic beverages such as beer) also make you more susceptible to hyponatremia.

Runner’s Trots

Mistake: The night before a big race, you load on up on veggies, whole grains and legumes, then have a bowl of steaming oatmeal on race morning, only to find yourself making frequent stops in the bush and port-o-lets.

Quick Fix: Slow your pace to help you body digest those high-fiber foods. Besides causing the release of gastric hormones that stimulate intestinal movement, running causes the “runs” by jiggling the gut and drawing blood away from the digestive tract to service working muscles, which further slows digestion.

Also, temporarily cut back on your sugar intake (but continue to drink water), as ingesting too much sugar also makes digestion difficult.

The Lesson: While fiber is an important component of a healthy diet, before a long run or race, stick to easily digestible, low-fiber foods (such as a white-bread bagel with peanut butter and sliced banana or non-whole wheat pasta with chicken) that pass relatively quickly through the digestive tract (a little coffee may speed the process along).

Bloated Belly

Mistake: Determined to avoid the dreaded bonk, you squirt a gel into your mouth every 20 minutes and wash it down with a sweet energy drink, but after about an hour, your belly is aching, cramping and distended.

Quick Fix: Eating more carbohydrates than your gut can absorb results in the accumulation of undigested food that leads to bloating, diarrhea and nausea. Lay off all fuel types and sip only plain water until the excess sugar clears from your stomach, which may take at least a half hour.

The Lesson: Since you cannot replace all of the 600-plus calories per hour you burn while running, plan to eat about half that number of calories, depending on your body weight, fitness, exertion level and personal tolerance.

While most athletes have success with a single energy source in short-duration events, in longer events, avoid stomach distress by eating a variety of calorie sources including solid foods and sports bars, gels and drinks made with complex carbohydrates and/or protein.

Hitting the Wall

Mistake: When the pre-race nerves cause an unsettled stomach, you forgo eating until your energy level nosedives and you’re staggering to the next aid station.

Quick Fix: As soon as possible, consume a gel or energy drink containing slow-burning complex carbohydrates (such as maltodextrin) and, if you can stomach it, a little solid food.

These carbohydrates not only restore blood glucose needed to fuel working muscles, they also boost the central nervous system, which affects your mood and mental alertness. “Bonking means your gas tank is running on fumes,” says Kohler. “Shift your focus to restoring your glycogen levels so you can get back in the race.”

The Lesson: Your muscles and liver hold about 2000 calories worth of glycogen-enough to fuel a couple of hours’ worth of running, but unless you take in additional calories during exercise (200 to 300 calories or 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour), that finite amount of energy is used up before your run’s end and you hit the wall.

Nausea

Mistake: Your trail marathon was going well until suddenly, you nausea forces you to stop in anticipation of a vomitous event. The awful feeling subsides-until you try running again.

Quick Fix: Eat ginger candy (such as The Ginger People’s Ginger Chews), crystallized pieces of dried ginger, capsules of powdered ginger root or drink homemade ginger tea made from crushed fresh ginger root. (Most ginger ales do not contain real ginger.)

Natural ginger root (dried or fresh) has been proven to alleviate nausea in those undergoing chemotherapy, suffering morning or motion sickness. Ginger’s relief is attributed to its ability to promote the secretion of digestive juices, which neutralizes stomach acid. “Always have a nutritional plan B,” suggests Kohler. “If carbohydrate-rich gels start to make you feel bad, switch to protein-rich cheese.”

The Lesson: Nausea often accompanies the nutrition issues discussed in previous “Mistakes”, and while frustrating, nausea needn’t be race ending. Since running’s up-down motion often exacerbates the urge to vomit, take a timeout by sitting or lying down and avoiding solid food (soup is a good alternative) until the worst has passed.

On the other hand, Tim Twietmeyer, 25-time Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run finisher, says that vomiting is every ultrarunner’s rite of passage. “If you’re going to puke, get it over with and keep moving,” he says.

More Culprits of Stomach Distress

· Race nerves. Nervousness can cause you to breathe too quickly or gulp air, which can cause cramps.

· Carbonated drinks. Let the gas settle out of soda before drinking.

· Lactose and/or gluten intolerance. If you suffer stomach issues even when not running, there may be certain foods you cannot properly digest.

· Hot weather. Heat stresses all your body systems, including digestion. Slow down and apply ice packs and cold water to your skin to keep cool.

· Coffee. This acidic beverage can cause cramping, diarrhea and heart burn.

· NSAIDs (Ibuprofen). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs boost the risk of hyponatremia and can cause cramps, nausea, diarrhea and bleeding in the intestine.

]]> http://www.2toms.com/company-news/great-article-by-trail-runner-magazine-important-for-all-athletes.html/feed 0 http://www.2toms.com/company-news/happy-new-year.html http://www.2toms.com/company-news/happy-new-year.html#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:08:46 +0000 Steve Williams http://www.2toms.com/?p=465 HAPPY NEW YEAR! from everyone at 2Toms!  It’s that time of the year again, when everyone sits down to evaluate the past year and set goals for the upcoming year. What are your goals for the upcoming year? Hike the Appalachain Trail? Run across country? or just stay healthy and enjoy the little moments?

Here at 2Toms we will continue the development of new products, continue the pursuit to bring our products to stores near you, and hopefully see you at many events throughout the country! We are excited to see what the new year has to hold and hope that we are with you on every run!

Make sure to stay tuned for knew news at our website and facebook!