The second half of the first day of FitBloggin’ included the perfect balance of conference sessions and time outside in Portland.
After the cardio dance and Zumba workouts in the morning, a bunch of us headed up to our rooms to shower and change into comfy workout clothes for the afternoon sessions.
I am so grateful to the folks at Reebok and FitFluential for sponsoring my trip to FitBloggin’ and outfitting me in their gear! The above teal top is the PWR wide strap long bra top that I previously blogged about and loved thanks to its extra long length and comfortable material. It’s form-fitting and the material is thicker than some of my other workout tops, making it more flattering, just like the the PWR fitted capris.
If you’re digging any of the Reebok gear you’ve seen pop up on this blog during this conference or in the past, stay tuned for an awesome giveaway at the end of this post!
The shoes I am wearing in the above picture (with Anne!) are Reebok’s brand new ONE Cushion Series running shoe. As a neon fanatic, you know I love the highlighter color. I’m pretty sure they’re bright enough to glow in the dark! If I’m going to go out for a longer run, I will still be running in my Mizuno Wave Riders that I’ve been running in since 2007, but I’ve had the chance to run in these shoes a few times (three miles or less) and thought they were really comfortable.
The first conference session I attended on the first day of FitBloggin’ day was all about how to find the perfect fitness shoe and Christopher from Reebok broke down some of the features of the company’s new running shoe for everyone.
He explained that the running shoe was built from back to front and while training shoes like Reebok Nanos or RealFlex Screams are ideal for those who need to move in any direction, the new running shoe promotes a forward motion that is ideal for runners.
Quite a few of you have asked me for more details about the Reebok Nanos and I personally love them for circuit and strength workouts that incorporate squats, lunges, burpees, etc.
Christopher explained that the shoe doesn’t have a lot of cushioning and since the midsole material is a flattened platform, it’s thinner which allows your foot to lay flatter and closer to the ground. This increases your stability, making it ideal for functional workouts like CrossFit.
Though I’m not an avid CrossFitter, I still love the Nanos for functional or boot camp-style workouts that I do on my own. I used to feel like I was a bit wobbly during certain exercises like lunges or speed skaters, but when I wear my Nanos, I honestly do feel a lot more stable and can tell a big difference. Just my two cents!
Happy Hour at Noble Rot
The sessions at FitBloggin’ passed quickly, and after spending a lot of time inside all morning, I wanted to get out and explore Portland and was happy when Gina, Tina and Anne wanted to go for a long walk along the waterfront. (Just FYI, if you’re a blogger and want to read some of the takeaways from the FitBloggin’ sessions, definitely checkout the FitBloggin’ website. There were live bloggers in nearly every session who did an incredible job recapping each session in detail.)
It was gorgeous outside! We actually worked up quite a sweat thanks to the warm sunshine.
After our walk, we headed up to our rooms to change and meet back up in Gina’s room for a hair party.
Then it was time to roll!
We had plans to meet up with a group of fellow bloggers and fun PR women from Porter Novelli at Noble Rot, a trendy restaurant and wine bar with a great view of the city.
Once our large group found seating, I ordered a glass of Malbec.
I sipped my wine while chatting with Anne and Ericka.
I also had fun catching up with Brittney, a super bubbly woman who works with The Laughing Cow. She and my sister know each other from college and I met her at FitBloggin’ last year. She’s a blast!
Dinner at The Farm Café
After happy hour, Tina, Anne, Gina and I said our goodbyes and met up with Allie from Fanscape, a social media marketing agency, at The Farm Café.
I actually worked with Fanscape last week when I went to San Francisco with Smartfood, so I had a good time chatting with her about her hilarious coworkers, Meeshel and Kimmy. They were a riot and I loved working with them.
The Farm Cafe ended up being a huge hit with our group. Everything was so incredibly fresh and vibrant. I raved about my kale salad and trout!
If I lived in Portland, I have a feeling it would quickly become a local favorite. It was fabulous.
And now, after that crazy long post, it’s giveaway time!!!
Reebok $100 Gift Card Giveaway
One of you will have the chance to win a $100 Reebok gift card that you can use toward anything on their website!
To enter this giveaway, simply comment below, telling me about what you’d like to buy with the gift card. Do you need a new pair of shoes? A cute workout top? Shorts for a hot summer workout?
For an extra entry, you may tweet some variation of the following: “Hoping to win a $100 @Reebok gift card from @PBFingers: http://ow.ly/mwwIn !” Just remember to leave a separate comment on this post telling me that you tweeted, so I can make sure your entry counts!
I will randomly select a winner on Tuesday. Good luck!
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I need new running shoes. My current ones are giving me blisters!
I would love to try out the Reebok training shoes!
I would love some new running shorts! I’m pretty sure they are getting tired of seeing me in the same 4 pairs at the gym.
I tweeted too! 🙂
I would buy a whole new outfit to work out in! I’m starting CrossFit in a couple of weeks and desperately need new workout gear!!
I am currently training for my first half marathon! Which means miles on my running shoes are starting run up! (I know you enjoy puns so I thought that was pretty funny!) The new cushion series running shoes would be perfect! I love the bright colors!
i would love to try some of the new running shoes Reebok has to offer. I’m always looking for new fun shoes 🙂
I would love to get some new workout clothes from Reebok:) Thanks so much for all these great give aways!!!!
I could use some cute new tanks!
New shoes would be great! Thanks for the chance to win!
I’d like to buy a new pair of shoes for functional workouts and/or cute workout tops that will keep me cool in the Florida heat!
I tweeted about the giveaway at https://twitter.com/bkkolota/status/351463143211413505.
Love the contrasting colors of the Sport Essential Long Bra Top.
I just signed up for a Half Marathon! I am in desperate need for new shoes!!!
I have been wanting to comment for awhile now and can’t pass this up! Your blog has truly inspired me to make fitness more of a priority. I would love some new running shoes! Huge fan of the neon 🙂
I could really use some new non-running shoes. I’ve heard such great things about the Nanos. I’d love to give them a try!
I would love the “who made the rules” tank – super cute! I’m also curious about the new running shoe too – just the colors alone are making me want a pair 🙂
I think I’d need to purchase some more running shorts and capris, can you ever have too many?
I need a new pair of nano’s in a BAD way! Haha but I’ve been dying for a pair of their windowpane board shorts as well!
I’d love those shoes…do they come in pink?
I would love to buy some comfortable workout tops!
I would go for a new pair of workout shoes!
i also tweeted!
https://twitter.com/kbrance5/status/351463610356219905
I would love to try one of the Reebok flowy tanks. They look super cool amd comfy for a long run.
PS – I tweeted about the giveaway via @amyhannah
I would love some new running shoes!
I would love to try out some Nanos for crossfit!
I have always wanted to buy a pair of Reebok shoes! So many bright colors! They look so cute on you and you have lots of good things to say about them. I own a pair of Reebok workout shorts and I love them too : ) Thanks!
definitely new shoes!!
I would love to buy a pair of cross trainers. I always wear my old running shoes for bootcamp, etc which I know is bad!
I would buy some new tanks and shorts!! It’s been getting so hot out I need more summer workout gear 🙂
I would love some new workout tops for hot summer runs!
Oops – saw I should leave a separate comment about my tweet! @amyhannah on twitter. Thanks!
I tweeted too!
I tweeted!
Shoes, baby. Shoes!
I would love to buy some new crossfit gymers 🙂 I hope to go to fitbloggin next year too, looks like a blast 🙂
i tweeted =)
I would love to win and be able to buy some new cross training shoes.
I would love some workout tops! I usually just use a t shirt but I am curious to try some!
I would get some new sneakers or some new tanks!
I really want to win the $100 reebok gift card because I need new shoes to workout in and would love some new tank tops to workout in! Especially all neon colored 🙂
Cute workout gear! Trying to break out of my old t-shirts and shorts getups 🙁
I need new training shoes! Boot camp in my runners causes cramps when doing side to side movement.
I am in desperate need of some new workout tanks!!! I love your neon shoes, btw!
I definitely need some more work out tops! Would love to buy some new tanks!
I need a new pair of shoes desperately! I am a newbie to Crossfit and would love to win shoes to go with my new addiction!
I would love some new running/working tanks!
I would get some cross-training sneakers!!
Hey! Being semi-new to the workout world (life-change started in January) I only have one good pair of sneaks and I have worn them out like crazy! Realflex Screams look amazing! I do a lot of step classes that require moving up, down, and side to side so i owuld LOVE to try something like that out although I’m in love with those neon sneakers you’ve got on in the picture! Thanks for the inspiration you give to us <3
I would love to put that $100 toward a new pair of running shoes. I’ve been aiming to get summer-fit by the end of August with really early sunrise runs 5x a week and these would be great 🙂
I’ve been loving your Fitbloggin’ updates. Portland has been on my must-see list for a while now.