I have cold hands. They are the one thing I struggle with during cold weather runs. Legs, head, face, torso all are fine. I have no problem. But my hands, specifically my fingers, suffer. I’ve tried all brands and types of gloves. Thick ones, thin ones, orange ones, black ones. It wasn’t until this fall that I found two styles/brands of gloves that might just work for me. One of these is the Zensah Smart Glove. Zensah was kind enough to send me a review sample free of charge.
Sizing and fit
I wear a medium. My hand width is about just under 8 inches. Medium size range from the Zensah size chart is 7.5-8 inches palm circumference. These are true to size. The good test for me for a glove fit is to slip on a glove and then try to touch my thumb against my pinkie. If I have too much palm material bunching up, then I know I’ll have issues with holding things, adjusting hat or phone. These were perfect.
Features
Zensah bills this as their “smart glove” with three fingertips on each glove fitted with material that makes them able to manipulate smart phones with touch screens. These work wonderfully. I have no complaints and am happy they decided to have multiple fingers this way. I’ve seen “smart” gloves that only have the thumb or forefinger “smart phone ready.” They have silicon “grips” on each hand and the palm has the Zensah logo on silicon so that objects don’t slip out of your gloved hand. And each thumb has the softer micro suede nose wipe area.
Reflective material
The Zensah Smart Gloves have heat transfer application of reflective material designed to make you more visible on pre-dawn or evening runs. It works well and picks up light well, as you can see from my “dark bathroom” test below.
Performance
I’ve run in these gloves in weather ranging from 30 degrees F to 50 F. At 30F my fingertips are cold early in the run but the Zensah gloves do a pretty good job of withholding body heat so that after a mile or two my fingers and hands feel fine. They aren’t quite ready for temps below 30, a little too thin, but I’m pleased with their performance. They are the warmest light running glove I own (that’s not a mitten).
Final thoughts
The only design suggestion I have is the location of the reflective material on the glove, along the fingers. This is aesthetically pleasing, but if you think about the position of your hands when you run, with fingers curled in toward the palm, then the reflective material is obscured. A better placement would be on the back of the hands, not the fingers. Also, don’t dry these gloves after washing. Hang dry. The heat from the dryer can cause the reflective material to peel away.
The Zensah Smart Glove met all my expectations for a running glove. Not too thin. Not too thick. Warm enough for cold weather runs, yet not so warm my hands sweat. And the touch screen function is nice because there’s nothing more irritating in winter than having to pull off your gloves while answering a text.
Zensah is best known for compression, sleeves and socks. But they’ve done a really nice job with these gloves.
I first met Jamison Reynolds in 2011 when I became a member of Deb Wills‘ Incredible “Team AllEars” running and fundraising team. Long a supporter of the Avon Walk for Beast Cancer, Deb founded Team AllEars five years ago. In that time, this amazing group of runners raised $330,000 to help end breast cancer.
Jamison Reynolds played a key role for Team AllEars. Now that the team has disbanded, Jamison and friends started the Nerd Herd, a virtual race series to raise money for cancer research.
1) The Nerd Herd. Tell us how the Herd got started
That’s a two part answer to a one part question. The “Herd” is a bunch of friends that met over the past 5 years as members of Team Allears, an internet based running team comprised of Disney fans (which came to conclusion this year). Although some of us had known each other for years, during WDW’s marathon weekend in 2013 many of us stayed at the same resort and because of that we really came together. We started touring the parks and dining together and after multiple attractions where all we did was critique the attraction or start comparing our favorites someone said “we really are a herd of nerds.” It stuck.
Nerd Herd Running evolved from our ongoing relationship after that weekend. We thought it would be fun to start our own website to collect our thoughts on everything from Disney to running to cupcakes to beer. After we established the website we had the idea to hold a Virtual Race Series. Its now a year later and the website is constantly updated with new content, we have a robust following on social networks and we’ve raised over $17,000 for Stupid Cancer… having fun all along the way of course.
2. This is one of the most creative fundraising virtual race series I’ve ever seen. Where did you get the idea? And the medals that create a larger medal? Dare I say nerdtastic?
Thanks. The idea of virtual racing was new to some of us in the Herd. Others had taken part in them in the past and really saw the potential. Last year the idea had been to do ONE race. Since I work with libraries I immediately thought Banned Book Week would be a fun race. Some the nerds wanted a “practice run” and we started researching other themes. May the 4th (be with you) was immediately chosen. Since there was 5 months in between races (and what good nerd doesn’t appreciate a trilogy) the Happy Birthday Harry Potter race was adopted and we had our trilogy.
The medals coming together started simple. We used our logo, decided to offer a bonus 4th medal and… well… there ya go!
One thing we strive to do with Nerd Herd Running is operate as a lean organization. A major tenet of lean organizations is GET THE FEEDBACK OF YOUR CUSTOMER. After our series was over last year we surveyed our finishers. Two of the questions were “Should the medals be more unique to the individual themes or should they continue to form a single image” and “What themes would YOU have?” The suggested themes were tallied and prioritized. The nerds than had 4 rounds of voting to get to this year’s themes… Revenge of the 5th (a follow up to last year’s May the 4th), the Lord of the Bling and the Rebellion Begins.
The feedback on the medals from our runners was almost evenly split. How do we go unique for each race while forming a single design? After looking at the themes that were chosen it was clear that they followed a classic writing device; the Hero’s Journey. When thinking of journeys or quests we thought of the classic Knights… and what Knight doesn’t have a shield? Thus the Hero’s Shield was born.
3. Tell us about how you settled on Stupid Cancer as the beneficiary. And while we are on the subject of money, let me say I am nothing short of impressed with your transparency and stewardship of race entry fees to benefit the charity.
We hate cancer. We know we aren’t unique in that regard. Many of us in the Herd have seen it up close and have seen it take our loved ones. We are also been inspired by those that fight it every day. Survivors are our heroes. We knew from the beginning we wanted to support a nonprofit that supported the fight against cancer. Our “Money Nerd” Sara asked a coworker who is a survivor for a list of the nonprofits that she would recommend to others. On that list was Stupid Cancer. Their mission is to support young adult cancer survivors and their families. We are all young adults in the Herd (Brad’s getting a little up there in age but we won’t hold it against him- and he can beat most of us in a foot race too) and we know that the 18-40 range of survivors is greatly underserved so we chose to support them. Its been an amazing relationship. They have been amazing partners. Imagine a nonprofit that when you ask them “Where did my money go?” they actually tell you.
When it comes to money we feel transparency is the key. We want you to know exactly how we are using your race fees. Since signing up for our events is not tax deductible we want you to know exactly how much of your fees are going toward Stupid Cancer and exactly how much goes to cover the cost of medals, printing, shipping, etc. We use Active.com as our race management system because they are a known name in the industry and even though they may not be the “cheapest” when it comes to race fees, that trust level we get from using them is worth it. Hasty Awards is our medal vendor and they have been amazing to work with.
We do not profit one cent from these races. We do not secretly own the vendors we use to gain a backdoor profit and we do not take out labor fees either. Because of that, instead of only 10%-15% of the proceeds going to support Stupid Cancer we are able to send them over 50% of the total race fees.
4. Your battle cry is “EARS UP!” Love it! How did you come up with it?
Ah. EARS UP. We actually wrote a post about the origin of Ears Up. In fact, I really suggest reading that to understand the full origin of the story. It has become our sign of love and our sign of acknowledgement to each other and to all our nerds out there. I have to say that during this year’s WDW marathon weekend a bunch of nerds set up a cheering spot at the Mexico Pavilion. We were screaming our heads off and yes we had a Nerd Herd Running Banner with us. The coolest thing happened. Runners we had never met before started running up to US and giving us EARS UPS!!! It was so cool!!! I can also say that after 11:30 am, runners who gave us an “Ears Up” got a margarita.
5. How can prospective nerds get involved? How do your virtual races work?
Surgery went well. Both hernias were repaired successfully and I am home recovering for the rest of the week.
Perhaps I’m still in a post-surgery drug fog, but I am ok so far with no running or cycling or anything for that matter for some time. Of course, I’m happy just to be able to get out of the bed and to the toilet unassisted, so my bar is set kind of low.
The endurance athlete in me wanted to show how strong I was by not taking pain pills at all during recovery. But the smart side of me prevailed. The drugs are nice.
In the long view of things, my body welcomes a total rest period. And I keep envisioning how I’ll feel when I return to running. What will that feel like exactly?
The cool thing about having the option of scheduling posts is that I can have this publish at almost the same time I go under for surgery today on my hernias. The Five will reappear in a day or so, and I’ll update on my progress
While I’m bummed about having to stop any strenuous activity for a few weeks, I know that this period will be good for me. I haven’t had significant time off from exercise a long while. My body can use the total rest period. I have some running related nagging issues that need healing, and my mind can use the time away.
There’s a scene in the 1980s teen angst film “Sixteen Candles” where Samantha (Molly Ringwald’s character) meets Long Duk Dong, Chinese exchange student who lives with Grandpa Howard. At dinner that night, Dong explains to the family that he pushes “the lawn mowing machine so Grandpa’s hyena don’t get disturbed.”
I am Grandpa Howard. And I have a hyena. Two actually. Inguinal hernias. The most common kind. The “turn your head and cough” kind. (For the record, I do not have a Chinese exchange student…yet)
I first noticed it a few months ago, in the middle of summer while using the Hanson’s plan to train for Fresno. The lack of rest days and adding a few double runs, I think, contributed to the acceleration of the hernia. Near the end of Two Cities Marathon in November, I really felt it. Not pain, per se, but irritation, enough to bug me and not let me relax. Recovery let the hernia subside a little, but it reappeared quicker than before. And near the end of last month’s Mtn. Mist 50K, I was not happy. Again, the pain was not severe, but irritating and enough to bother me. (Oh, by the way, I even researched ways to KT Tape hernias. Few people have yet to try that technique, and the KT Tape I used in the 50K didn’t help much.)
I finally had the guts to Google the symptoms and saw that I have the most common hernia, the inguinal hernia. Compared to some of the images I ran across, mine is MILD in comparison.
Left untreated, it could rupture the thin wall it rests behind and lead to a risky situation. I saw my doctor, got a surgical consult, and discovered that there is another hernia developing on my left side. The surgeon will repair that while he’s under the hood. And here I am. Outpatient Surgery is scheduled for Monday. The procedure lasts about an hour. The hardest part of all will be the 6 week recovery period of no strenuous movements.
I mentioned my running and cycling and the surgeon started asking me about my bike. Then he told me he had started running. I’m pretty sure he won’t do an equal exchange of surgery for running advice, but I offered to help him with running in any way I can. Feels good to have a doctor who also participates in endurance sports. I like to think that docs who run “get” it, you know?
Im ok with all this. The hernia had gotten to the point where it was in my brain more than anything. I knew it was there and even on days when I didn’t feel it, I expected to feel something and it became so difficult to enjoy the run. Yes, I know an untreated hernia is not good.
As a runner, I am looking at the longest non-running period since 2010 when I had a nasty case of ITBS. Good thing is I am a more mature runner and enjoy a broader view about my running life. Also, i have friends who’ve been out with injury MUCH longer than I. All things being equal, 6 weeks is not that long.
Until Monday, I’ll enjoy a last few runs and soak it in before its gone for a while. I will miss running, what it does for my mind and body. I’ll miss being an active part of the community of runners. But I’ll be here cheering you on, chronicling my recovery, and maintaining my sanity.
Run a few miles for me and be thankful that you have the run.
(This is the first post of new series called “five questions.” A vehicle for highlighting people I find interesting, inspiring, and intriguing. )
I’ve known Maddy since the early days of 2007, when I began to journal my new running life and found a few new running friends in the blog world: Maddy, Susan, Chris. Maddy and her hubby Darrell own Iron Sport Works and make the best medal displays on the market!
They also have a son with Type 1 Diabetes. From all accounts, Stone Hubbard is a pretty neat kid who has dealt with this condition with amazing strength and courage. If you will, please help Maddy with her fundraising goal.
1. You are raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) and the Walk To Cure Diabetes. Tell us about that organization and why you support it.
I support JDRF because I want a cure for T1D. I want my child to have a life without daily finger pricks and insulin injections, and the complications from highs and lows. JDRF is the only organization with scientific resources and regulatory influence (think FDA) and a working plan to better treat, prevent and eventually cure T1D. The advancements that have been made are incredible and the JDRF scientists are saying we are right around the corner from some pretty big game-changers.
2. Clear up a big issue. There’s a lot of confusion about T1D and T2D. I know in the past you’ve found people to be ignorant of the difference, which is a HUGE difference.
First a little general information to set the stage: Our bodies need insulin so the glucose in our bloodstream can enter our cells for growth and energy. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate amount of insulin to transport the blood glucose into the cells, which results in lower blood sugar levels. When glucose in the bloodstream does not enter the cells (at all or not enough), glucose builds up until levels are too high, which is very dangerous and can be deadly.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the person’s own body has destroyed insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Quite simply, a person with T1D does not produce insulin. The only treatment for T1D is insulin via injections or through a pump delivery system.
Type 2 diabetes is generally one of two problems, and sometimes both:
Not enough insulin is being produced.
The insulin is not working properly – also known as insulin resistance.The majority of people (but not all) who develop type 2 diabetes are and have been overweight and unfit for sometime. T2D is often treated with pills and less often insulin.I feel that the confusion between the different types of diabetes happens because approximately 85% of all diabetes patients have type 2. When you combine this with shows like the Biggest Loser that mention “diabetes” without the type specification, it’s easy to see why no one knows the difference. Education is key to helping people understand what diabetes is and how type 1 and type 2 are different.
3. Tell me a little about the crazy kid of yours, Stone. What’s life like for a kid with T1D (Type 1 Diabetes).
Stone is really good kid. He’s pretty typical for a 17 year old high school junior. He plays tennis, he likes video games and technology. The only thing that is different for Stone than other kids is he has T1D. This is where things get complicated.
Before he eats he has to check his blood glucose by pricking his finger and using a glucometer. Then based on his blood sugar and what he’s planning on eating and drinking he has to determine how much insulin he needs, which requires an injection in either his arm, stomach, or thigh. For every 8 carbohydrates he consumes he gets one unit of insulin.
Let’s talk about milk. What teenaged boy doesn’t drink milk? Stone drinks about 4 gallons a week by himself. Most kids would grab a glass, fill it up and go on their way. Stone knows that each cup of milk has 11 carbs. Before he can have a glass of milk he needs a shot of insulin to prevent his blood sugar from being high.
4. March 2011 you guys found that Stone had T1D. Being a parent is hard enough, but now Stone has T1D. I can’t imagine the initial feelings you had. Could you talk a little about that. How was Stone when he found out?
Stone was in 8th grade. Throughout the school year there were many occasions that he called either before lunch or right after lunch saying that he wasn’t feeling well. We live a mile and half from the middle school and my husband works from home. We thought he was looking for an excuse to not be at school because his symptoms were never more than he didn’t feel good. Finally we got a letter from the school saying he had a lot of unexcused absences (who knew that when you check you child out of school it wasn’t excused) but we still didn’t make the connection.
One night Stone starting throwing up. This kid has never been a pucker and we chalked it up to the stomach flu. I was afraid we were going to be in trouble if he had another unexcused absence so my husband took him to the doctor. While there they checked his blood and it was well over 400 — it should be between 80 and 120 — They sent him straight to the ER. He had diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This potentially fatal complication is often the first symptom of undiagnosed diabetes. Due to a lack of insulin, the body starts to burn fatty acids and produces acidic ketone bodies.
I was about 40 minutes away when my husband called to tell me what was happening I rushed to the ER. I was scared for Stone, but I also knew he was being taken care of. At this point, I had so many questions. I didn’t really understand what it all meant. I remember asking a nurse at the hospital if he would need insulin shots. I figured out quickly we all had a lot to learn.
Stone was transferred to a children’s hospital in Orlando and spent a few days in ICU before he was moved to a regular room. He was really a trooper through the whole hospital stay. With the insulin he so desperately needed he was feeling better and back to his old self.
The doctors said that he most likely had diabetes for six months. All of those times he wasn’t feeling well at school, he was truly sick. Talk about feeling like Mom of the Year.
From the very beginning, Stone has been amazing. He manages his new lifestyle very well. Checks his blood and gives himself insulin injections when he needs to. I really couldn’t be prouder of the way he deals with T1D. Does he have highs and lows? Of course he does, but he works hard to try to keep things in range and that’s tough work for a teenager.
5. How can we help?
Donations to JDRF events like the Walk to Cure Diabetes will help fund the breakthroughs that will change the life of not only my child, but of everyone with T1D. We’re right there! http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/maddyhubba
This Running Life 
