The Seven Best Gifts for Runners This Holiday Season
With the new year fast approaching, the runners in your life will be setting their eyes on new goals—and probably some new gear. Whether you're shopping for a would-be runner with ambitious resolutions or that friend posting medal pictures every weekend, here are the gifts you should be considering.
1. Wool Runners
OK, you know how your runner friends are about their shoes. But Allbirds’ wool sneakers are gaining a huge following, and with good reason. These kicks are extremely versatile and durable. The company claims you can lounge in them, jog in them, and even hike in them. Benefits include a lightweight build and flexible fabric that is machine washable, moisture wicking, cool in heat, warm in the cold, and odor minimizing. They're also produced sustainably, so you can feel good about the purchase.
Buy it now! Allbirds | $95.00
2. Ice Runner Headband
Warm up with Coolcore’s ‘Ice Runner’ headband. For those brave souls who remain active outdoors during these colder months, this headband is prime apparel. Whether you’re going for a light jog or training for a marathon, you won't want to go without this once.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $15.99
3. Activity Tracker
Our digital world has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for runners. Free apps like Strava, MapMyRun, and Nike+, are great, but if you’re looking for a super special gift for someone who’s serious about running, you might want to try looking into activity trackers like a Garmin or Fitbit. Check out Runner’s World for a full list of suggestions.
4. Dr. Cool - Pro Wrap
Running is both great for and tough on your body. Sore muscles and aching joints aren’t exactly great motivators, but with the Dr. Cool Pro Wrap, you can get back on the road/track/treadmill ASAP. Cold therapy for the knees and calves is exactly what runners need to reduce swelling and shorten recovery times.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $29.99
5. FlipBelt Classic Running Belt
An incredible useful gift for short and long distance runners alike, the FlipBelt has room for your keys, cards, and phone, and is designed to lie flat on your waist so it won’t distract you from your workout.
Buy it now! FlipBelt | 28.99
6. Women’s Elevate Running Tight
These go-to Coolcore running pants are a staple of any workout wardrobe. Made from a premium blend of nylon and elastane, they provide a balance of performance and comfort that makes the runner unstoppable. They’re full length with an interior draw cord for fitting needs. Added bonus? Pockets!
Buy it now! Coolcore | $72.00
7. Ugly Sweater Collection
And if all else fails, surprise them with some running gear from Gone For A Run’s Ugly Sweater collection—funny and practical!
Buy it now! Gone For A Run | Price ranges
Seven Great Gift Ideas for Hikers This Holiday Season
Are you drawing a complete blank when it comes to gift ideas for the holidays? We know the feeling, so we put together this holiday gift guide for the adventurers in your life. Whether you're shopping for a novice hiker or someone who just completed the White Mountain Direttissima, they’ll appreciate and benefit from these popular hiking gifts.
1. Chair Zero
Helinox' Chair Zero design is light, easy to set up, comfortable, and packs down to the size of a water bottle. While a little on the expensive side, this camp chair is definitely a worthwhile splurge.
Buy it now! Helinox | Price ranges
2. Thermal Studio Headband
This thermal headband, which is a step up from the popular everyday Chillband, keeps you warm when you’re hiking in colder conditions. Give your friends and family a good reason to summit some peaks during the late fall and early spring months when the trails are less crowded. Available in two sleek colors.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $15.99
3. SingleNest Hammock
Eagle’s Nest Outfitters hammocks are all the rage for people who enjoy taking in everything nature has to offer. Their SingleNest hammock is super portable, comfortable, and practical. Whether you’re looking to get a full night’s sleep or just settle in and read a book, this hammock is the perfect place to literally hang out. Available as a DoubleNest, and comes in an array of colors.
Buy it now! ENO | $59.95
4. Travel Towel
Coolcore now offers a portable version of our handy cooling towel. It includes a reversible pouch and a carabiner for you to clip it into your pack. For those hotter hikes, just wet it, wring it, and snap it to lower the material’s temperature up to 30% lower than skin temperature! Available in three bold colors.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $16.99
5. Rambler 18 oz Bottle
Yeti’s drinkware selection is unbeatable if you’re looking to keep your hot drinks hot or your cold drinks cold. The science behind these miracle-workers comes down to a double-wall vacuum that insulates your drink. Comes in six different colors, and is a necessity for your nature outing.
Buy it now (for 25% off!) Yeti | $22.49
6. Interval Long Sleeve Tee
Coolcore’s ‘Interval’ long sleeve tee is ideal for being active in moderate climates. Early morning hike? Check. Multi-day trek? Check. The fabric keeps you cool while also keeping you covered. It’s available in both men’s and women’s fits, with an assortment of colors to choose from.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $19.99 - $45.00
7. Harmony House Backpacking Kit
If all else fails, no one dislikes having snacks on the trail. REI’s Harmony House Backpacking Kit supplies the hiker with 18 zip pouches of dehydrated vegetables and beans for a no-fuss, readily available meal on the trail. Concoct your own delicious meals with the mix-and-match choices!
Buy it now! REI | $49.95
The Seven Best Yoga Gifts You Can Buy This Holiday Season
Gifting season is here! A time when we could all use a little yoga, for sure, but don’t let shopping for your favorite yogi stress you out. This gift guide is perfect for the yogi, or aspiring yogi, in your life. We’ve rounded up the hottest yoga products just for you. Whether you’re self-gifting (hey, no shame) or racking your brain for gift ideas for friends and family, we’re here to help.
1. Prolite Yoga Mat
A high quality yoga mat can really help advance your practice, and this option has all the necessary qualities. Yogis who use it describe it as supportive and durable, and it's known for not absorbing sweat or smell. And, in the struggle to balance quality with affordability, the Prolite yoga mat from Manduka is one of the best options on the market.
Buy it now! Manduka | $82.00
2. Chillband Studio Women’s Headband
Twisting into complicated poses is no easy feat, especially when your hair keeps falling in your face. Cool down and stay focused with this stylish and functional “Chillband Studio” headband, available in ten different colors and patterns.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $13.99
3. Breathable Yoga Mat Bag
Say goodbye to tucking your mat under your arm at the end of class. At an affordable price, this bag fits most mats and is made of breathable fabric that allows your mat to air out after class.
Buy it now! Gaiam | $24.98
4. Chill Sport Cooling Towel
For the hot yoga fans in your life, this Coolcore “Chill Sport” cooling towel is made from organic, chemical-free material that instantly cools you off. The towel comes in 17 different patterns and colors and has a calming, cooling effect that they'll definitely want for their next savasana.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $14.99
5. Yoga Apps
With the gifting feature of the App store, you can now purchase an app and send it to someone else as a present. What’s more is that there are a ton of different yoga apps out there that would make the perfect little gift for a yogi. Check out Yoga Journal’s top picks!
6. Womens ‘Connection’ 7/8 Tights
There’s nothing worse than feeling restricted by your clothes when you’re trying to master some new poses. In Coolcore’s ‘Connection’ 7/8 tights, this won’t be an issue. Both flexible and breathable, these tights are what the yogi in your life is looking for.
Buy it now! Coolcore | $72.00
7. ToeSox
No, not those kind of toe socks. ToeSox has come out with five-toe grip socks for barre, pilates, yoga, and more. They offer non-slip grip and a hygienic barrier so you can really enjoy your favorite classes. They're especially helpful for holding extended poses.
Buy it now! ToeSox | $15.00 - $18.00
Summer Running: 4 Tips for Staying Cool on Your Summer Runs
This post is sponsored by Coolcore. I'm proud to represent this New Hampshire-based company as one of their ambassadors!
With running you get to witness the seasons shift in real time, feet on the ground watching the changes slow and subtle. Each season presents its challenges when it comes to running, but summer is probably one of the most challenging.
Adapting to warm weather running is critical and a struggle for many-I know this is true of myself! Making smart choices throughout the summer can make the difference between enjoying the run and suffering through every sweat-soaked mile.
Here are a few tips that will keep you prepared for the warm weather and training hard throughout the summer:
Run Before the Sun
One of the best ways to stay cool and avoid overheating and dehydration is to run before the heat of the day. Set out your running clothes and head to bed a little earlier so you can get out the door first thing in the morning. Logging your run when it’s cool is not only beneficial in avoiding heat, but frees up the rest of your day!
Pre-Cool with Coolcore/Dr. Cool Cooling Towels
If you do have a mid-day training run planned or a race that happens to fall on a really warm day, try pre-cooling with Coolcore/Dr. Cool Cooling Towels.
Soak your towel in cool water and place in a ziplock bag in your freezer over night. Remove the towel 15-20 minutes before your run or event and place the towel on the back of your neck to help cool your body. Starting with a lower body temp will help negate some of the impact of heat on your performance.
Eat and Drink your Hydration
Staying hydrated doesn’t just mean drinking lots and lots of water. You can get creative and give your water a flavor-twist without added sugar by adding drink slices of citrus or cucumber to a large pitcher of water.
Then be sure to fill multiple water bottles at the beginning of the day with your water so that they are easy are easy to grab and go when you need them. You can also eat your hydration with fruits like watermelon and grapes, or veggies that have a high water content like cucumbers.
Stay Sun Smart
Be sure to wear sunscreen or UPF rated clothing like the CoolCore Crush It t-shirt which provides UPF 30+ sun protection. You can also try to pick a route that is mostly shaded and avoid running on concrete and pavement in high exposure areas.
Stay Cool and Happy Running!
Get 15% off your Coolcore purchase with code "RUNFARGIRL" at check out!
-Sarah
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National MS Awareness Month: Staying Active with Multiple Sclerosis
For many, March simply means the end of winter, the height of college basketball season, or the beginning of Major League Baseball. However, our third month of the year is also used to commemorate certain occasions like National Women's History Month, or bring awareness to important issues like National MS Awareness Month.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. It can directly affect an individual's ability to navigate through daily life, and impacts those who have it on a physical, mental, and emotional level.
While there are treatments and therapies designed to limit the effects of the disease, there is no known cure, which makes National MS Awareness Month so important to the people who live with it and their families.
While many people find ways to cope with the effects of MS in everyday life, trying to stay active while having the disease presents a different challenge. As the nervous system is affected by MS, it can be difficult to maintain sufficient energy levels, body temperature, and even body movement in general. While Dr. Cool's chemical-free cooling products can help solve some of the overheating issues that athletes with MS deal with, they still face challenges when trying to do the things they love.
However, there are many people with MS who choose not to give up. They realize their challenges and push their limits, and even though they have MS, they refuse to let it stop them. At Dr. Cool, we're incredibly honored to have three such people on our team of ambassadors.
Runners Marisol Beigert and Cheryl Hile, along with mountain biker Lindy Haaglund all battle multiple sclerosis. This March, for National MS Awareness and Education month, we sought their help in understanding what life is like as an athlete with MS, and how they resolve themselves to accomplish their goals while dealing with the disease's effects.
Stay tuned for more posts with insights from Cheryl, Lindy, and Marisol, as we celebrate our ambassadors and all others who find the strength to overcome their multiple sclerosis diagnosis!
4 Things Every Runner Needs This Spring
Spring is here, and for many, that means easier outdoor runs. For the treadmill-intolerant, spring is perhaps the best time of year for race training—no more sloshing through snow and ice to meet your goals, no more fear of slipping on hidden patches of ice, and no more loading up on layers just to get outside.
As race season approaches, the temperatures will only rise from here. It's important to have the right gear for all four seasons so you can comfortably stick to your training regimen and prepare for your 5K's, 10K's, half marathons, or even full marathons. So the Dr. Cool team got together and made this list of essential springtime gear for runners!
1. Long Sleeve Running Shirt
Yes, spring means warmer weather, but the lingering cold and wind from winter may stick around for the first month or two. Because of this, many runners seek a balance between lighter summertime gear and something insulated that protects against the elements. For us, long sleeve running shirts fill this void.
A long sleeve offers the freedom of a t-shirt as well as the insulation needed for your arms (or even your hands). At Dr. Cool, we've taken that delicate balance one step further with our long sleeve cooling shirt—warmth when you start your runs, then a cooling sensation as you start to sweat to avoid getting too warm. The result is a top that's perfect for outdoor running in spring or fall.
2. Fitness Tracking Technology
Many predict 2016 is going to be the year of wearables in fitness. Some even say that nanotechnology implanted in your clothes (a little crazy, if you ask us!) is going to be popular. For those training for a race or another kind of event, it's crucial to chart your progress and make adjustments as necessary.
Luckily, there are several solutions out there! Fitness tech products like FitBit wristbands and Garmin vivoactive watches will help you track useful statistics like distance, speed, heart rate, and more.
3. New Kicks
Every runner needs to take care of their body. Improper or old gear can lead to injuries like plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. Shoes are the most important in this regard, as they're the first line of defense against the high-impact exercise of running.
Spring can be a good time to make an upgrade in the shoe department, as many popular brands often release new products as runners return outside. Shoes like Brooks' Transcend 3 and Topo's Tribute are receiving huge amounts of praise right out of the gate, and are guaranteed to give you the comfort and stability you need this spring.
4. Ice Wraps
As your training increases—especially on hard surfaces like pavement—injury prevention is vital. Training too hard can be rigorous on your body, and the last thing you want before a race is a nagging flare up of runner's knee. Listening to your body and getting the appropriate rest are good solutions, but there is an even better one.
Dr.Cool ice wraps are made to treat common running injuries like those mentioned in this blog post. While they're ideal for recovery, World Marathon Challenge champion Becca Pizzi used them to prevent injuries during her training to run 7 marathons in 7 days. Simply wet, freeze, and wrap, and you'll be giving your body the treatment it needs to stay healthy until race day!
What gear do you plan to stock up on this spring? Let us know in the comments!
Taking On New Challenges!
The beginning of the year is a time that most people decide to make a commitment to health and fitness, but really anytime is the best time to start! Pick a time when you know you can dedicate the time and effort without being over whelmed. So don't wait until next year, begin a new challenge today! Many people do not prepare correctly or set their goals too high and quick early on. So we have a few tips to help you succeed and achieve your goals when you’re ready!
- Prepare!
- Make sure you are ready! If you are looking to give up a certain food, make sure it isn’t in your house. If you want to work out, buy yourself a new comfortable workout outfit like one of our new cooling shirts to keep you cool while you burn some calories! Check in with yourself and make sure that you are ready to take on a new challenge for yourself, if you aren’t then wait till you are ready! You can start a new challenge at any time.
- Break it up!
- Don’t try and jump right into running a marathon or losing 30lbs in the first week, make a plan and take it in realistic steps. If you want to run a marathon but haven’t ran a 5k yet start one mile at a time! Break up your big goal into week by week smaller goals. This is more realistic and you will be more likely to achieve what you set up to be!
- Be flexible!
- Be kind to yourself! You are making a decision to challenge yourself, so if you hit some bumps don’t give up! You can do this! Just keep on keeping on and stay positive! Life is unpredictable and plans change so take everything as it comes and do your best.
- Buddy up!
- Don’t think you can do this on your own? Grab a buddy! Having someone else to hold you accountable can make the world of a difference. Plus, you’re in it together which makes everything easier! Don’t have a buddy? Don’t worry about it! Social media is another great way to be held accountable. You can post your progress and use relevant hashtags to find others who are working towards the same goals!
- Have fun!
- Making a positive change in your life should be exciting and fun! It isn’t about punishing yourself but about lifting yourself up and achieving a goal for yourself! Enjoy every step of it! Make it fun! Reward yourself as you make steps towards your goals.
Make your commitment to living a healthy life a happy one! Make it fun and make it about you! You deserve it!\
Workout Of the Week: Swimming!
The holidays are over and the dreary mid-winter days are now upon us. For those who love the winter months there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy and keep in shape, such as skiing/snowboarding, ice skating, snow shoeing and more. Of course, not everyone though loves to spend their time in the frigid air. For those who aren’t fans of the cold this can be a tough time. If you are one of those people longing for the warm months to return we’ve got a workout of the week for you! We’re talking about an icon of summer, tied together with childhood nostalgia! Swimming! Now I know if you are like us in New Hampshire the idea of swimming when the temperature is a chilly 20 degrees or worse seems pretty ridiculous, but we aren’t trying to get you to jump into frozen rivers. Many towns and cities have indoor pools at local gyms and we encourage you to try it out.
Swimming is one of the best workouts for the body and is beneficial for pretty much anyone. Swimming is especially good for those who are recovery from sport injuries or those who have physical limitations such as arthritis. Swimming is a full body workout that works every major muscle group in the body. It is also both a cardiovascular and strengthening workout, which is a combination that is hard to find among any other exercise. The best part of this workout is that with all of these benefits it is also considered a low impact workout. Swimming has the ability to work out your body without the harsh impact. This means it isn’t going to put stress on your joints like the impact of running does. This is why swimming is the perfect activity for those with ailments such as arthritis or weight limitations, athletes rehabilitating from an injury or those who just want to try something different. Recover without stopping!
New to swimming and not sure where to start, don’t worry about it! For beginners the freestyle stroke is where you’ll want to start. It’s simple and not as strenuous as the aggressive butterfly stroke! You may notice Olympic swimmers doing flip turns when they swim but you don’t need to do then on your own free swim. We advise just touching the side briefly with both hands, turning, and kicking off with your feet instead. This way you save yourself from the risk of bumping your head against the wall! Another fear many people have are the dreaded speedos and swim caps. Don’t worry, if you aren’t comfortable you don’t have to go out and get the tightest speedo around, a normal bathing suit will suffice, and for women consider a sports bra top or a one piece. Also, it is totally up to you if you want to wear a swim cap. Speaking as someone with long hair that gets tangled easily, I like them and it’s easy to pick up a cheap one at a sports store. Most importantly don’t forget goggles, those are necessary to keep that chlorinated water out of your eyes.
Swimming can be both an incredibly fun and relaxing workout. As we get older many of us get stuck in boring gym routines running miles on the treadmill and neglect to switch things up. This can leave many of us loathing workouts or quitting all together. Make working out fun again! Another big change swimming brings is a relaxation factor. Many people find the absence of headphones and loud music replaced with rhythmic sounds of each stroke matched with breathing to be relaxing.
So this week we challenge you to try out something new and head to your local swimming pool! Always remember to keep your workouts fun and enjoyable! Check out the links below for some tips of strokes and water workouts!
Freestyle tips:
http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/beginners-guide-swimming-freestyle-stroke-6947.html
Water Workout:
http://toneitup.com/2014/10/lets-go-for-a-dip/
The Best Adventures in Portsmouth, NH
Often times we take for granted the many adventures right in our own back yard. Being based out of a city in Northern New England certainly has its perks! Our love of Portsmouth, NH grows greater with each passing season. It's been a long and snowy winter here in the North East and we feel it's time to get outdoors and enjoy the fruits of our winter labors earlier than usual this year!
It’s no secret that Portsmouth and its surrounding areas are filled with fun places and events to check out. It’s an area filled with a rich history and scenic view and, not to mention some great adventures. The first place that comes to mind is Portsmouth Kayak Adventures. Like the name says, they offer kayak tours and rentals, but they also have a lot more! They offer paddle board rentals and tours throughout the bay and they have bike rentals. Another place that offers rentals is Cinnamon Rainbows, located in North Hampton. They offer surfing, paddle board lessons, full day and half day rentals of equipment. Prices range from $20-35. It’s never too late to pick up a new sport!
The Portsmouth harbor has an abundance of different boating tours to try. You can choose from deep sea fishing trips, harbor cruises, whale watching tours or even take a trip to the Isles of Shoals. There are also plenty of sporting events to check out. Portsmouth houses their very own baseball team, called the Seacoast Mavericks. They are a non-profit, collegiate summer baseball team that competes in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. The Mavericks play at the historical Leary Field right outside of downtown Portsmouth. There is also the Piscataqua Sailing Association, which is a group of experienced sailors who share an interest in racing. The group also opens up to outside boat owners who are welcome to join and race with them, no matter your experience level might be.
There are plenty of free beaches and trails to visit! Prescott Park right in Portsmouth holds many free concerts and plays during the summer months, and even if there is nothing going on it is still a beautiful place to walk around. Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine is another great place to explore and it’s located right next to Long Sands and Short Sands beaches. There is also Odiorne Point, which has a small $4 fee but is open year around. Odiorne Point offers 330 acres are open year-round for boating, fishing, hiking, biking, nature walks, cross-country skiing and picnicking.
There are five beautiful state park beaches located along the New Hampshire coast, Hampton Beach, North Hampton Beach, North Beach, Jenness Beach and Wallis Beach. Take a scenic drive along Route 1A that hugs the coastline, passing by each of these beaches. If you want to take your adventure a little further you can make your way over to Lake Winnipesaukee located in central New Hampshire. It has beautiful beaches, fishing, many hiking trails, shops and restaurants. If you’re looking to take your adventure to the mountains then make your way up to the White Mountains in Franconia Notch. There you can try hiking some challenging mountains like the Franconia Ridge and Tuckermans, or some easier hikes at Bald Mountain and Artist Bluff. There are plenty to choose from!
When you’re done with all of your adventuring for the day, or just looking to relax, check out some of the breweries located in Portsmouth for a local beer. There is the Portsmouth Brewery located right in the heart of downtown, Redhook Brewery and Smuttynose Brewery (just to name a few)! Now if those aren’t enough ideas for you, check out Portsmouth's Trip Advisor section...there are plenty of adventures right in your back yard waiting for you!
Exercise As Meditation
It’s not exercise exactly, it’s more like meditation — a trail run so often there are no longer any unknown turns, mysterious hill climbs or descents. It’s a place where the rhythm of each footfall echos to the core, where thoughts go silent, movement takes over, and body does what it was
born to do. It’s a trail that feels like home: more restful than sleep, more refreshing than the sea, a place to come back to year after year.
It’s not just runners. Rock climbers have the route where every movement flows, growing from the last like a melody, a climb where every handhold hangs familiar, and the anchors, like an old friend, wait above.
Cyclists have a road where every turn is etched in memory, where the banking bicycle bounces from side to side, a dance that no longer requiring rehearsal. Back country skiers all know a trail that arcs and curves its way forward from some distant memory. Skis greet each pitch effortlessly, winding their way through the snow like pigeons bound for home, free of thought or pilot input. Mountaineers have a peak where every step feels etched in the ice, familiar and secure, with a summit vista that no longer needs no camera.
These days aren’t about exercise. They aren’t about breaking personal records, pushing the grade or improving the pace. They are visits to old friends, a way to unwind, to let go. These laps are not about mileage or numbers; those may matter on different days, but not here. Here, it’s just about movement, about rhythm, about home.
Lace up, it’s about time for a visit.
Interview with Cincinnati Reds Prospect, Mikey O'Brien - Part 2
This is the final installment of our 2 part blog series with Cincinnati Reds prospect, Mikey O'Brien! Read Part 1.
From superstitions to recovery routines, Mikey O’Brien, a pitching prospect for the Cincinnati Reds, sat down with us to give us an inside look at Spring Training 2014. This season has been a long time coming for the Roanoke native, who was traded to the Reds in late 2013. A life-long baseball player, Mikey has been a highlighted prospect since being drafted by the Yankees right out of high school. Today, we get to learn a little bit more about the man himself and the reason why he wears the number 8.
DC: What do you usually include in your post-game recovery routine?
MIKEY: For me it's… Running, shoulder strengthening, and then ice on my shoulder and elbow. Sometimes hoping in the cold tub really helps as well. Hate doing it, but it really does work. 
DC: Having been in the minors since you were 18, what has been the most rewarding moment in your professional baseball career?
MIKEY: I would say just being drafted was the most rewarding… Growing up all every ballplayer dreams about is playing professional baseball. Just having the opportunity to put on a uniform every day is a reward in itself.
DC: This spring training season is big for you, how has your game changed since you were drafted in 2008?
MIKEY: I've have just learned so much about all aspects about the game, not just pitching. How to carry yourself on and off the field. The true meaning about being a professional.
DC: As a pitcher, you must have a routine before you take the mound – what does it look like?
MIKEY: All of us ballplayers are very superstitious… For me, I listen to my favorite song (Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack) before every game I pitch, when running out to the mound I jump over the foul line and always land with my left foot first, whenever I finish my warm-up pitches I look over my right shoulder then the left just to make sure my defense is ready (a habit a learned at a young age), then step on the mound and get ready to pitch. I'm weird...
DC: : Lastly, if you could play any player (dead, alive, retired, or current) who would it be?
MIKEY: I'd have to say Cal Ripken Jr., since he was the reason I wore #8 all my life.
HUGE Thanks to Mikey O'Brien for spreading the word of Dr. Cool Recovery-On-The-Go™, check him out on the Cincinnati Reds roster this year when he mows down every batter he faces!
Interview with Cincinnati Reds Prospect, Mikey O'Brien - Part 1
From superstitions to recovery routines, Mikey O’Brien, a pitching prospect for the Cincinnati Reds, sat down with us to give us an inside look at Spring Training 2014. This season has been a long time coming for the Roanoke native, who was traded to the Reds in late 2013. A life-long baseball player, Mikey has been a highlighted prospect since being drafted by the Yankees right out of high school. Today, we get to learn a little bit more about the man himself and the reason why he wears the number 8.
DC: This is your first season with the Cincinnati Reds after being traded from the Yankees – how has the transition been?
MIKEY: The transition has been great so far. It's been different that's for sure. It’s almost as if I'm a new draft guy having to get a lay of the land, meeting and getting to know my new teammates and staff members.
DC: As you are in the midst of Spring Training 2014, what is one thing you wish fans knew about this part of the season?
MIKEY: Spring Training is a lot of fun, being away from the game all offseason; it's always good to get back on the field with guys that love the game just as much. However, it is still very stressful, with pressure of going out and performing at your highest level trying to make a team, injuries can prolong that, also with teammates/friends getting cut. It's a true "grind" every single day and all day long.
DC: Looking back at what you’ve learned and experienced, what advice would you give to younger baseball players?
MIKEY: Just to stay positive… Baseball is such a mental battle within yourself. Try to take something positive out of every single day, good or bad. Also, to let someone know if you are hurting.
DC: Speaking of injuries, how important is recovery after a game?
MIKEY: Recovery is the most important part of this game if you want to have a long successful career. Every player has a different routine what they like to do and to help them recover. Some it's running to get blood flow, cold tub, ice, shoulder strengthening programs, etc. Just depends on the player and what works for them.
Check out PART 2 of our interview! >>