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!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I would love to win the gift card to purchase some new workout tops. I especially like the Who Makes the Rules Yoga tank!
just tweeted too! 🙂
I love your long tank tops! I definitely need long tanks because my torso is so long, but I have such a hard time finding the right fit.
New shoes! 🙂
new shoes!
Just started crossfit, would love to get some nanos!!!
I would love to win the gift card for new running shoes. My old shoes are terrible!
I would definitely buy some new shoes! I have a pair of Reeboks currently and I’m in the market for a new pair!
Goodness what a fun giveaway! I would love to use the gift card for some cute new workout gear-like your long tanks! Cute workout gear always helps motivate me to workout!
I would definitely put it toward some nano’s! Glad you had such a great trip 🙂
I would love to buy a pair of nanos for circuit training. The teal top you are wearing at fitblogging is super cute too!
I am dying for a new pair of cute running shoes! Loving all the funky colors lately!
New shoes for training for my first Triathlon!
would love a new tank for summer workouts!
I have my first Tri in 2 weeks and I think I have caught the bug. I would love to win to buy new shoes for training and comfy light weight workout gear for training in the hot and humid Houston heat. Thanks for all your motivation!!!
I would definitely get a new pair of tennis shoes! Need some bright colored running shoes!
I would love a new workout top!
Would love a new pair of shoes!
I will buy some new workout tops for summer!
I would love to buy some new tights which you seem to wear all the time and some looser tanks – unfortunately form fitting ones really irritate me when I workout!
I just started crossfit yesterday and would love a new pair of nanos!
I love the “strength is beautiful” tank and would love to win it!
I need new tanks, and running skirts for summer
I would love some new sports bras and workout tops!
New workout shorts…
new shoes for sure 🙂
After hearing about how much you Fitbloggers loved the Nanos, I think I’d like to score a pair for myself! I bet they’d be awesome for some of the MMA style training I’ve been doing.
I could definitely use some sort of cross trainer. All I have are traditional running shoes, but as I’ve been mixing in more adn more strength training, a pair of mroe functional shoes would be awesome! I’m also in love with the wide strap, long tanks.
I would love new shoes!
I would definitely a much need new sports bra! (The girls are big and need better support!) Also I would by a pair of great running shoes….lmine are about 12 months old and need replacing! I just started back into the 5k field and working my way to 10k’s!!!!
I would love new workout shorts and sneakers! I just signed up for a TRX class that starts after the 4th of July and I know the gift card would definitely go to use!
I recently just lost 35 pounds! I plan on buying some new clothes (smaller) that fit! I’m so excited to get new apparel that isn’t in a bigger size for once!
shoes, shoes, shoes! I need a new pair badly!
I really need to get some new running shoes before my half marathon in October!
I teach exercise clothes and could use a new pair of sneakers! Extra tops don’t hurt either 🙂
Love your blog! I need some new running tank tops! It gets so humid in New Jersey in the summer and I cannot run in anything but tank tops! All mine are too short – love the ones you have on your blog from reebok!
I would love to get some long workout tanks but new shoes sound great too!
Workout bra, workout bra, workout bra! 🙂 Did I say I needed a workout bra?!
New shoes
Those new Reebok shoes would be perfect for BodyPump class (and maybe a sports bra or two?)!!
New shoes! My beauties have been discontinued 🙁
A new tank would be cool!
Shoes!
I’d love to buy some tank tops! I’ve never worn them to workout in before, always just old t-shirts, but you’ve shown me that it’s possible to look really cute while working out!
I would love new running shorts and tank tops to deal with this heat!
The weather is getting hotter and hotter. I need some cute new tanks to keep my cool and dry!
I would purchase some cute tanks for outdoor summer running! 🙂
I could really use a new pair of cross trainers! 🙂
I would get some workout clothes for my daughter who just turned 26 today.. She is taking boot camp classes 3 days a week and just set a goal to run 1 5k a month…..
Ahhhh I hope I’m not too late! I could really use a new pair of running shoes as my current ones have more holes than shoe fabric lol. Full time special needs T.A. + full time psychology grad student = no time for shopping and no money.