Trimarni camp swag

When you see or hear me promote a product, there is a 100% chance that I either currently, have used the product or know about the product, and recommend it.

Karel and I come across a lot of brands and companies with several opportunities to try new things that may or may not help us as health-focused, highly competitive athletes.

While what works for us may not work for everyone else (same goes for what works for Karel may not work for me), I would never endorse a product if I didn't believe in the product.

Among the many great things that come out of planning and holding a triathlon camp, I am able to reach out to companies to help fill camp swag bags for our campers.



Seeing that every triathlete loves free stuff, I am always on the hunt for a variety of products that our athletes can benefit from and use throughout (and beyond) camp. 

Here are some of the products that were used by our campers at our 2016 Greenville endurance triathlon camp.

CLIF BAR

Clif Bar made sure that our campers were very well fueled and hydrated throughout their 4-day training camp with a variety of products and sport bottles.

As a coach and board certified sport dietitian, it is always very important to me that my campers receive products that they can use throughout camp, taking into consideration the type of training that they are doing, the weather, the volume/intensity of the workouts as well as what they can use when they aren't training.

Our campers had plenty of Clif Hydration for all run workouts. I love the taste and texture of the Clif hydration powder and the two flavors provide just enough sweetness to make the mouth happy but in the right formulation to keep the tummy happy and the muscles hydrated and energized.
For recovery, Clif chocolate protein powder. If you have never tried this recovery powder, it is amazingly good, especially when mixed with cold milk.

Our campers were stocked with sport nutrition powder for all bike workouts but for our campers who needed some solid food during the long riders, I choose several flavors of Clif bars which would appeal to the taste buds.

To compliment the sweeter taste of the sport nutrition powder that was consumed on the bike, I selected a variety of savory bars, including MOJO PB Pretzel and mountain mix, peanut toffee buzz bars, crunchy peanut butter bars, coconut chocolate chip and LUNA lemon zest for a different taste and texture, when our campers needed something solid on the bike.

I also had a variety of gels and bloks, with a variety of flavors of both to prevent taste bud fatigue.

 Mg12

Before recommending this product to the public, Karel and I routinely used several Mg12 products for a few months in our lead-up to Ironman Austria. Whereas I tend to recover a lot faster than Karel (perhaps it is a combination of me being 6 years younger than Karel and that Karel can push a million times harder than I can in a workout), we both experience residual fatigue which is normal and expected in order to help us get to the next level with our fitness.

We have tried many different types of recovery creams and oils but I have never been impressed with any product due to food dyes, a strong smell or greasy texture turning me off from continuing to use a product. 

I was approached by Mg12 several months ago (which is a local company) and after learning about the product, I was excited to try a free sample of the salts, balm and roll-on oil.
Karel is a huge fan of creams, salts and roll-on's so I knew he would be really excited as his muscles can always use relaxing.

With Mg12, we felt immediate results. I was very relieved to see quality ingredients and no food dyes or chemicals and no greasy or sticky feeling on the skin.

Our campers received a goody bag of 1 ounce sport balm, 3 ounce sport roll-on and 2.2 lb salts.

As a special offer, here is your 10% off discount code on Mg12 products: 

trimarni 

Be sure to follow them on social media and share your positive feedback about the products.

New Wave Swim Buoy

Our campers received new brightly colored pink or orange silicon swim caps thanks to New Wave Swim Buoy. Our campers also had the opportunity to swim in the open water with a New Wave Swim Buoy. 

The New Wave Swim Buoy is a Trusted Companion for Open Water Swimmers.

It provides: 

- Visibility in Open Water

- Safe Place to Float and Rest

- Storage for Personal Items

New Wave Swim Buoy is brightly colored, lightweight, inflatable flotation device with a waist belt that visibly floats behind a swimmer in open bodies of water, making the swimmer more visible to lifeguards, boaters and other open water vehicles.

New Wave Swim Buoy can also be used as a flotation device, or to calm distressed swimmers.

New Wave Swim Buoy will not interfere with swimming, and now it is no longer necessary to leave valuables behind on the beach.

A dry pouch on one side holds smaller items such as a wallet and keys in the medium size, or larger items, shoes and clothing.

New Wave Swim Buoy is excellent for open water swimmers, triathletes, or anyone else who would benefit from added confidence in the water.
There are a variety of bright colors for you to choose from.
As a special offer, you can  use Amazon promo code TriMarni at checkout for 10% on any New Wave Swim Buoy on Amazon.

Offer ends September 30, 2016.


Veronica's Health Crunch

It was several years ago when Veronica came up to me at a cycling event (while I was watching Karel race) and told me that she was making a "crunch" that she wanted me to try. Veronica has worked very hard over the past few years and now you can find her crunch is a variety of stores and online.

Veronica has three flavors, the Original Flavor, Banana chocolate walnut and my personal fav (as I love anything cinnamon), cinnamon apple cranberry.

I will warn you that this crunch is addicting and you will yum louder than you have ever yummed before.
I like to snack on the original flavor while traveling, top my oatmeal with the banana chocolate walnut flavor and top yogurt with the cinnamon apple cranberry.


Oakley

You'll never see me or Karel training or racing in anything but Oakley sunglasses. We believe in their quality products and feel they offer the best products to keep our eyes safe, in our highly active lifestyle.

Oakley and Oakley women offer more than just sunglasses as you can find bags, backpacks, gloves, clothing, shoes, watches and so much more.

I absolutely love the Oakley packable backpack (which comes in a variety of colors) as it is perfect for traveling. I bring this bag with me almost every time when I travel as it is convenient and offers enough room (front pocket and big pocket) for everything I need when I am on the go. Plus, it folds up into itself for easy packing when you don't need it. 

Xterra Wetsuits

It's surprising how many athletes take poor care of an expensive wetsuit. Perhaps never giving it a proper rinse and cleaning after use or folding it up and throwing it into a closet, bucket or a drawer, only to be pulled out a few days before a race, looking distressed.

You should treat your wetsuit like any nice article of clothing, which means hanging it up after it is dry.

Xterra offers a wetsuit hanger which will keep your wetsuit in great condition, without worry that it will stretch or rip.

All of our campers received a wetsuit hanger for their Xterra speedsuit and wetsuit.
I hang both on my hanger, as well as my race day goggles that I only wear on race day.
I highly recommend ordering yourself a hanger as they are very inexpensive and will help you keep your pricey wetsuit in great condition.

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I'd also like to send a big thank you to the following companies who support Trimarni:

Boco Gear - for making our custom Trimarni visors and trucker hats
Canari Clothing - for making our custom Trimarni kit items
OOBE  - for helping us with our camp t-shirts
Run In - for helping our athletes/campers with their running needs
Carolina Tri - for helping our athletes/campers with their triathlon needs

As well as the other Trimarni sponsors.

Trimarni Greenville camp - Pre-camp

Even though our camp didn't start until Thurs and ended on Sunday, a few of our athletes wanted to arrive on Tues so we rented the Swamp Rabbit Lodge from Tues until Monday. This gave our athletes a little extra time to relax before the camp and to not feel rushed after the last workout of camp. We had athletes drive and fly-in for camp so the lodge was just perfect to accommodate our great group of campers (a mix of non-Trimarni coaching athletes and Trimarni athletes). 

The lodge was in a perfect location for our camp - just off Roe Ford road and right next to Furman University, we could start and finish all workouts at the lodge which eliminated the need for our athletes to drive anywhere to ride or run. Our house is just 2 miles down the road so it was perfect for me and Karel as we were just a short car ride or bike away. 

The lodge had everything - a big kitchen with 4 Keurig Coffee makers (plenty of Starbucks pods provided) and a huge counter for all of our campers to congregate around. 

There were 2 rooms of 8 oversized bunk beds which was perfect for the girls at camp to all share rooms. Since we had 5 doggies at camp (6 counting Campy), there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out. 

There were 4 bathrooms (2 of which in 2 of the bedrooms) and 3 big bedrooms. In all, the lodge can sleep ~29 people so it was plenty big for our small camp. 

The lodge also had a basement which was great for athletes to store their bikes with several Feedback Sports Rakk bicycle stands provided. There was also plenty of towels so essentially our athletes didn't have to bring anything but their training gear. 

I knew our campers would love the outside covered patio (with a fan).

As well as the outside grill and huge patio for plenty of outdoor seating. 

The house sat on many acres which was great for the doggies and since it was tucked away from the main road, the house felt very private. 

Campy and the doggies loved the 1-mile dirt walking and MTB path. 

On Tuesday, we had our first camper (Justine) arrive and her cute puppy Otis. With so many doggies it was hard to not smile every time you saw a camper....and a doggy by his/her side. 

We were so happy to receive our recent Canari order which included my Kona race outfit (my first short sleeve tri suit) and our new run tops!

Love the loose fit and longer length of these run tops!!

We are also so thankful for our sponsors who sent lots of goodies for our campers. 

Thanks Veronica's Health Crunch!!

Swag Bags!!
Thanks Run In, Xterra, Veronica's Health Crunch, Balega (From Run In) and Clif Bar!!

On Tues and Wed, Karel stayed busy with RETUL fits for Justine (re-fit), Taryn and Kelly Fillnow (our guest professional triathlete on Thurs). 

On Wednesday, our campers who arrived on Tues started their day with a long course swim at Westside (workout provided by me whereas Karel and I and Trimarni athlete Tricia did a different longer workout) and then explored Greenville throughout the day and loaded up the kitchen with lots of local food. 

On Wednesday, all of our campers arrived and it was beginning to feel a bit more like camp. 

On Wed evening, Karel and I gave a short talk about what to expect for our jammed-packed day of camp on Thursday. 

And then it was time for everyone to get some sleep before 4 challenging days of swimming, biking and running. 

Stay tuned for my recap of Day 1 of Trimarni Greenville camp. 

2014 Trimarni camp - swag bag shout-out!

This was a long time in the making and required a lot of time, money, brain power and communication but the Trimarni triathlon endurance training camp is finally just a few days away from actually happening!!!

It's always hard to leave my furry child and best friend on four legs and believe me, I tried everything possible to have Campy be part of our training camp to bring joy to all the campers but the logistics just didn't work out. 

But not to worry....Campy and I drove 3.5 hours this morning and he just checked in to his week-long stay at "Resort of grandparents" and when he is not laying by the pool, working on his tan, he will be chasing birds in the sky, going on long walks with my parents and enjoying all the foods that "accidentally" falls from the table. 

As an endurance athlete, I use a lot of products, gear and equipment from great companies that I support and believe in so that I can stay consistent, healthy and happy when I train/workout. Additionally, many companies help me keep my body well and nourished.

Many companies that I support are not large and perhaps some of the companies you have never heard of. Other companies are big brands and have been around for a while.

Above all, I believe in quality in order for my body to function well and I only want the best for my athletes and for those who email me with gear/product related questions.

As a small business owner, I am proud to support my own brand...my own logo and my own philosophy.
Therefore, when it comes to "sponsors" I have many connections but instead of asking for more products for myself, there's nothing I love more than introducing others to companies that have supported me at one time or another.
As a professional, I do not want to come across as one-sided or biased when it comes to any one brand so  it's important to me that I do not promote brands that would force me to treating every person the same. I realize that not everyone can use the same nutrition, not everyone can wear the same running shoes and not everyone prefers the same goggles, bike saddle or clothing.  The human body is unique and I enjoy working with the individual body in motion.

There are shoes, sport nutrition, gear, etc. that work for me and when I love something you will naturally see me using it. However, I never want to be forced to promote something that I do not personally believe in (or that I would use). 

The car is loaded .....

And the bags are packed and I would like to introduce you to the companies who have generously donated products for the 15 campers at the camp. 

110% PLAY HARDER

https://www.facebook.com/110playharder

@110playharder

#playharder #110playharder #triharder

I have been using 110% play harder gear ever since the company was created and I absolutely love the quad sleeves, shorts, compression socks and the entire idea about the mobile ice bath. If you are looking for an easy way to recover post workout, I highly recommend checking out the line of gear from 110%. The company is based in Jacksonville and it has been so exciting to see this company grow over the past few years. 110% has been part of my many IM journey's and with 3 big races this year, I will be using 110% as part of my recovery regime to keep me training injury free (that's always the goal!) 

VERONICA’S HEALTHCRUNCH

https://www.facebook.com/VeronicasHealthCrunch?fref=ts

@Vhealthcrunch

Once you have a bite of this delicious nut mix, you are going to have a hard time stopping - and this isn't a bad thing. The ingredients (which are free of anything that is not real in nature) taste incredible and I love that Veronica was training for an Ironman when she wanted to create something yummy and nutritious for her active body and healthy lifestyle.
It's been so great to be part of Veronica's journey to see her dream come true and her crunch mix, which is hand made in Florida, can be found at Whole Foods, Native Sun, Fresh market and many other places that showcase real, natural and wholesome foods. 

WASA NORTH AMERICA

https://www.facebook.com/wasa

#WASA

If you know me, you know I love WASA crackers. Over the past few years, I have tried many different types of pre-training snacks (and for races). I stopped the bagels and whole wheat breads a few years ago because as I trained for longer races, I needed the carbohydrates without the extra residue or volume in my GI tract.
I gravitated toward WASA crackers (as well as rice cakes, pita bread) as I found that even oatmeal was a bit too heavy in my GI system. Oatmeal works great for many athletes and Karel almost always starts his morning with oatmeal or waffles or cinnamon raisin bread, but for me, I needed the carbs without the volume. I love the simplicity of WASA crackers because I can dress them up with a little PB, and my extra carbs like honey, raisins, granola, banana slices. Plus, WASA makes great snacks w/ cheese, hummus or just alone for a little crunch. 

NOOTCA

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nootca/284906391555747

@nootcanews #nootca

Discount code:  “ trimarni “  to receive 15% off and free shipping.  The coupon is active on the 23^rd of this month until the March 31^st . Feel free to share via social media and to friends.

If you are looking for quality in your goggles, check out Nootca. I was introduced to Nootca a few years ago as a Florida based company who has received a lot of attention over the past few years for their line of comfortable and clear-vision goggles. If you are a triathlete or swimmer looking for a competition style of goggles, I highly recommend checking out Nootca. Also for newer swimmers who are looking for a smaller lens this may also work well for you. The company is super nice so any questions don't hesitate to email them.
I only wear Nootca caps, they are so comfortable!

FLAP JACKED PROTEINPANCAKES

https://www.facebook.com/Flapjacked

@proteinpancakes #flapjacked

I'm so excited that the athletes at my camp get to enjoy samples of this delicious and healthy mix.
Here's a blog review I did on flap jacked protein pancakes. 

OAKLEY WOMEN

https://www.facebook.com/oakleywomen

http://www.oakleywomenscollective.com/

@Oakleywomen

#madeformore #oakleywomen

I don't think I need to go into how much I love Oakley Women. As the only sunglasses company I would EVER recommend active bodies to wear during exercise/training, I absolutely love being an ambassador for Oakley Women and supporting a company that loves a body in motion.
Karel was the one who turned me onto Oakley when we met for he has been an Oakley fan even before he came to the US. We both love the Oakley company and how they are 110% dedicated to innovation, style, quality and performance. 

TREK BICYCLES

https://www.facebook.com/TrekBicycle

@Trekbikes #trekbikes

Even though Karel is no longer working as the GM of the Trek Bicycle store of Jacksonville (which he was the GM for the past 5 years before becoming a Trimarni employee), we both love Trek. We love that the company is based in Madison Wisconsin and the history behind Trek.
Karel and I both ride Speed Concept Trek tri bikes with Di2 (electronic shifting) and we both have stages power meters on our bikes. I am rather lucky to have a bike guru like Karel as my hubby and bike mechanic and I am so proud to ride Trek. 

KIND:

https://www.facebook.com/KINDSnacks

@kindsnacks #Kindawesome

If I am traveling or need to keep a bar in my car for an emergency, KIND bars are my first and only bars that I have on hand. So simple you can make them in your own kitchen, it's nice to know that I can continue my love for real food no matter where I am at. I always travel with KIND bars because I think we all need emergency foods so I am so happy that my campers will have a variety of KIND bars (and granola) to enjoy throughout the camp. 

CHOBANI
https://www.facebook.com/Chobani
@chobani #chobani 

Greek yogurt is part of my daily diet. It makes my tummy sing with happiness and it is a great source of protein for my plant strong diet (as well as calcium to keep my bones happy). I contribute my lack of tummy issues on a daily basis (and training) due to a real food diet but the probiotics in greek yogurt certainly help my GI tract to stay in good health. Although I am a fan of dressing up plain yogurt with real fruit, nuts, seeds, raisins, figs, honey, maple syrup, granola.... I feel that the flavored Chobani is a great pick if you are trying to introduce yogurt to your daily routine or need a sweet treat that can also nourish your body after a workout. I am so happy that my campers will have chobani available at our camp. 


HAMMER NUTRITION
https://www.facebook.com/hammernutrition
@hammernutrition #hammernutrition
Discount code: 97495 for a 15% discount off your first order.  

As many of you know, I have been a proud Hammer Nutrition athlete for the past 4 years. I absolutely love a company that has natural, wholesome and quality sport nutrition to fuel my active lifestyle. Although some may assume that I would continue my love for real food in training and racing, this is far from the truth because I have studied sport nutrition and exercise physiology and understand the body and sport nutrition products enough to know what the body needs and doesn't need during training. I believe in quality sport nutrition products during training to provide my body with liquids, electrolytes and carbohydrates in appropriate amounts to meet my bodily needs as adequately as possible.....all in a bottle - no chewing needed. Also with our train smart approach to training, we do a mix of workouts at various intensities with intervals that are designed to train our bodies to get faster and to be more efficient as we progress with training. I try to keep my sport nutrition as simple, safe and effective as possible and that is why I am very supportive of sport nutrition companies that have quality products to keep a body healthy when it performs.
There are many products with Hammer that I use in my daily training regime (Tissue Rejuvinator, Aminos, FIZZ) and have used in the past as well. This year I will not be using Hammer as my primary nutrition during my training but I will continue to recommend Hammer Nutrition to individuals who can benefit from their line of products (and I will continue to use the Hammer products that work best for me and Karel). I have recommended Hammer to cancer patients (ex. Fizz, bars) as well as to young athletes (FIzz, Heed) and I think that's so great that a company can be so versatile with their products to meet so many different needs. 

INFINIT NUTRITION
https://www.facebook.com/InfinitNutrition
@theinfinitloop #infinitnutrition
Discount code: “Trimarnicoach” for a 10% discount

Last year I created a custom INFINIT formula for Karel and he used that formula for IM Placid as well as his other races and he really benefited from the specific combinations of ingredients that I put together for him. I enjoy that I can customize formulas for athletes with INFINIT for it is a great company that has great ingredients to support the metabolic needs of athletes. I will be using INFINIT this year for my training and racing and I will be discussing more about this in the future. I am so excited that INFINT will be the main sport nutrition company at our camp and I am so happy that my campers will have a great fuel source for their body during their 4-day camp. I only want the best for my athletes and I take sport nutrition very seriously. If I am going to have my athletes perform and recover well at my camp, I want to be sure they have their sport nutrition needs met. I am very excited to do a presentation on sport nutrition at my camp to help athletes learn how to fuel smarter and to understand the specific nutritional needs of athletes during training/racing. 


GEAR FOR MULTISPORT
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gear-for-Multisport/214214098639332
@clermonttrigear #NTC #gearformultisport #shopsmall
Discount: mention Marni and receive 10% off any of the non-sales shoes 

Lastly, I am all about supporting small businesses so I want to give a shout-out to my friends Kevin and Kimberly Grogan at the National Training Center and their tri store that has everything you need if you love to swim-bike-run in Clermont, FL.