Mom in the Mtns

Hi everyone!  So I’m going to get real for a second: living in Alaska is tough sometimes.  I mean, it’s gorgeous and has perfect weather and the best running trails ever, but it’s also really far away from the Lower 48.  Which sometimes means that things are slow to make their way up here into our stores, and when they get here they’re really expensive because of shipping.  And since we only have one running store, it’s hard to get the chance to try new running products as soon as they come out when you’re on a budget.  So sometimes I read blog posts about awesome new products that people are trying and I’m just up here wondering when I’ll get the chance to try it out too.

The Alaska Highway is gorgeous, but long – so things take forever to travel up here!

Last month, I shared my dilemma with a fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador, Alyssa.  And luckily for me, she had an awesome solution!  She actually just started a new company called RUNLOVEBOX, a monthly subscription box for runners.  I know there’s already a few out there, but this one was different – you actually get 4-6 full sized running products each month for a really low price!  Here’s what Alyssa had to say about her company:

I’m a runner/triathlete and family medicine resident in Vancouver. I started this company because I was too busy to run out and buy new products when I heard about them, and because I wanted to be able to try samples of things before I committed to buying an entire package. A subscription to a box that would deliver samples right to my door seemed like the perfect solution. I couldn’t find a company that seemed like they could provide this, so I started one myself!
Since I work full time as a resident (like on Scrubs or Grey’s Anatomy), I operate RUNLOVEBOX totally on the side, and it’s been so much fun to see it take off.
We’re currently based in Vancouver, and we ship to subscribers all over the US and Canada. Every month has a theme, and includes 4-6 products based around that theme. If you love something in the box, you can check the product insert for information about how to purchase more. Sometimes, we also include things like race discounts or other special offers for our athletes.
Mostly, I like helping runners try new things, getting companies to connect with the runners who support them, and sharing some run love along the way!

The coolest thing about the box is the price – it’s $15 (Canadian) a month and that includes shipping!  That’s a huge deal for anyone who lives in a remote area and is used to paying a lot for shipping.  I’ve spent $15 just in shipping alone for some items, so this was a big win for me!  As soon as I heard that part I knew I had to try it out.  Alyssa is awesome and let me try a box out for free, but all opinions in this post are my own.

I got September’s RUNLOVEBOX last week, so it was a bit late – but honestly it had to come through customs and then make its way up to Anchorage, so I wasn’t surprised at all (you know how Amazon Prime has 2 day shipping?  It’s more like 5 days to Alaska!).  Once I opened it I started screaming – you won’t believe what came in my first box!

Yes, that’s a full sized bag of coffee!  It smelled amazing and immediately got me excited about the rest of my box!  Here’s what I got this month (and you can check out each item here on the website and learn where to buy each item if you want to try them out too!):

Origins Coffee:  This is a full size bag of coffee, and it’s probably not going to last me really long because it’s delicious and I can’t stop drinking it!  As a non-morning person, this is an absolute necessity for me if I plan on running at all during my day.

Paper Shower:  Remember that time I did Ragnar?  And the Klondike Road Relay?  Showering is sometimes not an option after running, and this awesome little product actually allows you to “shower” anywhere!  There’s a wet side and a dry side so you can use it in any situation.  I’m saving this item for a time when I really need it – like maybe after a “runch” when I need to get back to my office and don’t have time to fully shower?  I’ll be sure to let you all know how that goes!  (FYI before both relays I looked for shower wipes everywhere and couldn’t find any – not even at REI!  If this product works I’m getting a whole bunch shipped up here!)

Nuun:  I’m the biggest Nuun fan ever, so it was great to see one of my favorite products in this box!  I love that these are single serving packs because they’re portable and easy to pack.  I’m definitely taking one (or both!) of these in my suitcase next weekend for the Columbia Gorge Half Marathon!

Go Macro:  So you all know I’m doing a whole foods challenge right now, and I’m really trying to be conscious of what I eat.  Although these bars do contain some coconut sugar so I can’t try them yet, I actually am really impressed by the ingredients and fully plan on digging into these once the Whole Life Challenge is over in November.  This is definitely something I’d feel comfortable using as fuel before or after a long run because all of the ingredients are healthy!

Burt’s Bees:  Now that it’s getting colder out on my runs, I like to put on chapstick before heading out the door.  My lips get so chapped running in the cold!  I’m currently keeping this in my car for last minute use before each run.

So what do I think about the RUNLOVEBOX?  Well, let’s just say that it’s really easy to cancel this subscription, but I chose to keep it!  I’ve never actually tried a subscription box that I thought was worth getting every month, but I loved every single product in this box and I’m pretty excited to see what’s in the October box too.

Things I loved:

• It’s super cheap and includes shipping – I have no idea how that’s possible but I’m not going to question it!
• The box was really cute and all of the materials were really well put together.
• I could see myself actually using each product either before, during, or after a run.  Literally all of these items will get used!
• It was a mix of big name products that I could possibly find in Alaska mixed with some new products from smaller companies, and I loved that there are links on the website so I can buy more of each product online.
• Alyssa is so sweet and I love supporting small business owners like her!

What I wasn’t super excited about:

• Honestly, the only issue I found was a temporary one – I’m eating super clean right now so not having an option to share that information meant that I got two bars that I couldn’t eat right now.  For most people this won’t be an issue at all, and in fact by mid-November I’m going to be chowing down on those bars once I can have coconut sugar again.  But if you do have any food issues, this box – and almost every other subscription box out there – will probably not be able to accommodate that.  That being said, trying out new running fuel is complicated and I’m actually looking forward to being able to try any goodies I get in the next box because I’m always on the hunt for new running fuel!

Overall this is a great product for people who want to try out new running goodies, live in remote places where new things aren’t always available, or are looking for a new subscription box to try.  If you’re interested, you can use the code “RUNAWAYK” for 20% off of your first box!  Let me know if you sign up and we can get excited about our mail together!

Do you get any running-themed subscription boxes?  How did you choose which ones to sign up for?  How do you try out the newest running goodies without spending a ton of money?