Apera Bag Review and Winter Training

This review is a long time coming, but I wanted a chance to get to really use the bag before I wrote my review. Sometime before the holidays, I was asked to review an Apera Bag. I love bags. I remember when I was a child, I saved for MONTHS so I could buy this awesome pink backpack that I HAD to have with tons of different zippers, compartments, and pockets. And it was as awesome as I thought it would be. So, when I was offered an Apera Bag in return for a review, I jumped at the chance!

The bag I requested was the Active Pack, aka backpack. Anthony and I are always looking for backpacks when we're traveling so I was thinking ahead to our honeymoon (wherever we end up going!) and thought this would be perfect for hiking/trips to the ocean, etc. However, I also thought it would be great to traveling to races. The bag can hold a lot of stuff and has many different compartments, including a removable bag (not pictured) that would be great for sweaty clothes or wet bathing suits.

As you can see, it has gotten a lot of use! Also I should have picked another color...

This could easily expand much more to hold many more items

This bag boasts that it has antimicrobial properties. I'm not exactly sure what this means, but it sounds clean & healthy so it must be a good thing! :)

My only issue with the bag is that the straps often don't stay in place. The material of the part where you adjust it (technical terms!) must be too slippery for the grip to catch. Maybe a knot would help keep it in place? 

The bottom is great because it's water resistant so keeps your belongings dry.

All in all, a solid bag! It has already come in handy for the gym and other day to day activities and will be making an appearance on our honeymoon as well!

Thanks to Apera for this great bag! If you want to win one of your own Apera bags, enter the February giveaway for a chance to win the Yoga Tote. (This one looks awesome- especially in pink!) To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is sign up for their newsletter. There's a spot to easily enter your email address at the bottom of their website. 

Good luck! Now, on to running!

Since I've been blogging so sporadically recently, I decided I should keep going while I'm already here!

I'm now in week 6 of Ottawa Marathon training. Yes, this will be a super long cycle, but if I'm not mistaken, I think I (accidentally) trained for the Philly Marathon for 21 weeks too! Derek has been making me awesome plans that leave me excited for the next run, not feeling burnt out. In February, I won't go above 14 miles, but will hopefully gain some speed, strength and even more determination! March will bring the NYC Half (and hopefully a PR!) and longer runs, I'm sure. 

Week 3 (January 12-18) included some mile repeats for the first time in a while, and an awesome long run along Kelly Drive in Philadelphia. It was so fun to run in Philly again! It was a cold and windy day but is so runner friendly and pretty. 30 miles for the week.

Week 4 (January 19-25) had speedwork that I was excited and scared about at the same time. My basic summary of that run is "nailed it!" and it felt freaking awesome. I think that was the morning of snow storm #98901823 that we've had this winter. Don't even get me started. 32 miles for the week.

Week 5 (January 27-February 1) included a treadmill run where basically the only thing I wrote about it was "BORING" The treadmill and I have (sort of) become friends, because the only other alternative this winter seems to be skipping ALL your runs. And really, that's not an option while marathon training! 34 miles for the week.

I did some mile repeats on the treadmill yesterday and didn't want to poke my eyes out, so I'll take that as a good sign! I also ran on it on Monday. And will probably have to use it again tomorrow. And maybe Friday and Saturday. Really, I'm very grateful that NYSC has a 30 day for $30 deal but WHERE IS SPRING?!?!?!?!?! I'M OVER THIS CRAP. But, I haven't missed a run yet! (knock on wood)

Happy training and here's to outdoor running!

How's your training going? What are you training for? What's the longest marathon training cycle you've ever done?