INKnBURN

Many of you know or have seen that I generally do not run in a marathon or train in any other gear except for INKnBURN! It has actually become a fun game for a lot of you know try to guess what gear I will wear to my next race! I love that :) So, you probably want to know why and how I became such an INKnBURN enabler and fan! Let me tell ya!

For people that may not know me, I am quite the fashionista. I mean, just because you are running 13.1 or 26.2 miles is NO excuse not to look fabulous in the process! I believe that when you look good, you feel good, which means you perform better. Although, looking good is only part of the equation. The clothes have got to work for your body. They have to draw moisture away and not get heavy or feel gross. They have to be able to stand up to multiple visits to the washing machine. And they have got to breathe! That is where INB comes in!

INKnBURN gear is made and produced right in my back yard here in Southern California (proudly made in the USA). It is a relatively small company, but the energy and passion they have for art and fashion is something I can almost bet you will not find anywhere else. They make endurance gear for both men and women with various designs, colors, and textures. I personally own just about the entire men’s catalog. I want to highlight some of my favorite things about INKnBURN apparel. I often wonder if INB gear is just gifts bestowed upon runners from Mt. Olympus!

The Tech Tee

The technical tees are by far my favorite of any brand out there on the market. The colors are vibrant and breathtaking at first glance. One thing I like is that you can look at some of the shirts and have no idea it’s an endurance technical shirt. Example, yesterday I went on a six mile run in Huntington Beach wearing the newly designed mens Camber tech tee, changed shorts and went to Disneyland to meet a friend for lunch. Not only did I receive a lot of compliments on the tee, but it continued to look great and translates from the train to the streets with ease! It’s really two shirts for the price of one if you think about it.

The Performance Shorts

Prior to starting my long-lasting love affair with INKnBURN I used to run in shorts with sewn in compression short liners. Still love those shorts nothing wrong with them. But I like to match and coordinate my outfits when I get ready to race so I invested in the INKnBURN denim shorts. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered them. When I got them, I instantly fell in love. The print on the shorts is so dynamic and high definition you would SWEAR these shorts were denim! Even up close it’s hard to tell. Of course, they are made of the technical material all of their shorts are made of, but it is a really fun illusion. Again, another piece of INB gear that can translate from the streets to the trail in seconds flat. I actually used some Under Armour compression shorts with the denim and LIVED for the performance I felt. They move great, they are comfortable, and I love the mini pockets in front of the shorts. They are great for holding an iPod, energy gels, keys, energy blocks, etc. (all things I have stored in these pockets with no problem). I love my performance shorts. I know own the Hollywood dragon, Run or Die, and Zen shorts to round out the collection! A guy has got to have options right?

The Handheld

When INB introduced the water bottle handheld I wasn’t quite sure what to think about it. Was this going to be just about water coolly jacket for my bottle? Was it going to be more of an annoyance than a help? This handheld is EVERYTHING! It has an adjustable strap for your hand, a hole for the thumb, keeps your water cold, and has that same vibrant color and comfort as their other gear! I own two. The Run or Die skull and the Wave. I HIGHLY recommend this handheld for your water bottle! It is literally perfect. A must have to round out your gear collection.

I literally could go on and on about INB all day long! But as for now, I will not wear any other athletic gear on a race day! I love their gear that much! Looks great, feels great, works great, just great! Their staff are some of the most awesome and sincere people I’ve met! Big shout outs to Holly and Megan!

So, what are you waiting for? GO GET YOUR GEAR! But before you go! The people at INKnBURN want me to share the love with YOU!

Go in INKnBURN and start shopping! But a new shirt, a camisole, a handheld, and headband, anything you want! Create an account on INKnBURN.com and use promotional code ‘LinzToldMe’ and receive 15% off your order! This is a one time use code so make sure you get something good! And when you do buy it, I wanna hear ALL about it! Also, keep a close eye on my Facebook and Twitter, I am ALWAYS giving away e-gift cards to my followers to INKnBURN!

What are you waiting for? Don’t get lost in the crowd! Distance Yourself, with INKnBURN!

We Are ALL Runners Today

What was suppose to be the biggest day in endurance running, turned into a day that no runner will ever forget. The Boston Marathon is a the holy grail of marathons, think of it as the World Series for baseball, or the Super Bowl for football. This isn’t any race. You have to earn your place in the field of 25,000 runners. You have to train hard, and qualify to even apply to run this race. This race is now in it’s 117th year. It is the oldest marathon on the planet. What started as a day of excitement and positivity, sadly turned into a day of tragedy. Two bombs were detonated at the race today, one near the finish line and another two blocks away. At least two people were killed and many others were wounded.

I was in such a state of shock and disbelief I actually had to go home from work today. I have friends that were in Boston today, running and spectating. I have dreams of running this historic course! And for some people, that dream was cut short.

As endurance athletes, we all share many things in common but this one is for certain. We have endurance, tenacity, the drive and will to succeed. When things get bad or we feel we can’t go on, we keep moving! We all came together via social media and comforted one another. We checked on our friends! We offered support however we could. That is what this sport is about! We may compete with one another, but even though I may not ‘know’ you, YOU are my family. You are a a runner and I respect you. I respect your struggle, your training, your tears, your accomplishments! And today, members of our running family were attacked and had their dreams stripped from them.

Do not run scared. Do not be afraid. Stand up in the face of this tragedy and say with confidence that you are a runner. That is YOUR finish line, and no one will keep you from it!

To my friends that were in Boston today, I salute you. You are brave. You are strong. You are a runner. Be proud. We will recover from this and we will be stronger than ever!

And Then A Hero Comes Along

Not many days go by that I don’t sit back and think about what I have set out to do and accomplished in such little time. I mean, I haven’t even been at this running thing a year and the influence that I have on people is one of the most humbling things that can be described. So to all of my readers, tweeters, and Facebook likers, I want to first start by thanking you. If my blog, tweets, and posts help at least one person then it is not for nothing. This is for YOU!

So tonight, I participated in my very first #FitBlog chat on Twitter. Essentially, using hashtag #FitBlog you get to answer questions about wellness, fitness, and the impacts social media has on the community as a whole. I actually stumbled across it tonight by accident and I am so glad I engaged in the fantastic chat! There were athletes of all skill levels on the chat tonight, answering questions, sharing stories, seeking advice, and just having a grand ol’ time. I sat back and read many of the threads that came across my laptop and I actually pin pointed a common theme…many of the folks online felt that there were so many fitness blogs out on the Internet that if they started or continued it wouldn’t make a difference because cyberspace is so saturated with blogs.

Well, I find this to be a very valid concern. I however interjected and shared my perspective. I consider myself an intermediate runner. I have run quite a few half marathons and only 2 marathons. I do not profess to know everything there is to know about running and truthfully, I don’t even think elite runners know everything there is to know about running. Running is a personal journey that takes you on a roller coaster up and down…with a few loops thrown in there. Everyone has their own story and that was makes this community so unique. Running has so many different areas of interest and expertise. runDisney, Ultra Running, Trail Running, Marathoning, River Boat Casino! You name it, it’s probably out there. And you want to know the best part, there is someone out there that shares your interest! I guarantee it.

A blog should be a place to share your thoughts, your feelings, your successes, your opportunities, your good and bad days…everything! No one has a perfect training. No one runs a perfect race every time. Your strength comes from the times you aren’t the strongest. Don’t be afraid to share that with the world. I have had some terrible races, you’ll find my recaps range from extremely happy and energetic, to the ‘well that sucked’ range. But that is okay! We are humans, not machines and we have limitations. What counts is how we push through look forward and say, yeah I had a bad day but tomorrow I am gonna kill it!

You as a person have way more influence that you think. This is a lesson I learned. So many people are interested in what I have to say…and I am just a normal guy just sharing my feelings. I am no celebrity, I am not famous, and I haven’t graced the cover of a magazine…unless I was thinking it. The point is, influence is key. Someone, somewhere is looking at you and watching you succeed. Someone is cheering you on and hoping you do a great job. There are also the haters, and I have no energy to spend writing about them. Throw them shade and do the best you can. Remember, you’re running a race, what will they be doing while you are collecting your bling and creating a memory that will last a lifetime…probably sleeping.

You are a hero…and as Wreck-It-Ralph taught us, only heroes can earn medals! You don’t even need to go Turbo to get one…