CEP is my savior…let me save YOU!!

If you read my blog religiously, which you all should and better, you know that late Spring/Early Summer I suffered some form of hip/IT band injury. It’s really my first running “injury”, awwwww. Some days it didn’t bother me, other days I felt like I was 80 years old.

But as you know, I’m a brokey broke broke person to the extreme this year and I couldn’t even afford to get to my Dr’s to have it properly looked at (past due balances, co-pays, blah blah blah) so I took to my own diagnoses which included lots of ibuprofen, stretching, foam rolling, ice, heat and excessive laziness.

Compression is what I needed I was told by all my fellow running nerds on zee Twitterz and DailyMile. Compression socks, which I own a pair, are a godsend but compression shorts seemed to be a good solution to my hip/It Band/Quad problem (yup, the issues grew).

Since I couldn’t pull $100 out of my ass to go buy some compression shorts…I sat and sulked...until one day, when the email fairy put a little note in my inbox…

CEP Compression wrote to me asking me if I would be willing to review their product. Ummmm….HELL TO THE YEAH!!!! Here’s the funny thing…they knew nothing about my injury. It just so happened to be a twist of luck thrown my way and the timing could not have been more perfect.

I was signed up to run the Turning Stone Races ½ marathon and I knew that would be the perfect place to test the gear. Of course, I gave it a test run BEFORE the race (never try anything new on race day…the only training tip I listen to). And well, let’s just say…I tweeted multiple times about how fabulous my booty looked in the shorts…

I wore the socks and the shorts out on my runs for about 2 weeks leading up to the race. I couldn’t believe how comfortable they felt. The compression was just right. Not too tight…not too loose. I didn’t do any long runs in them…I was saving that for race day (or at least that was my excuse).

Race day came and WOW!! I couldn’t believe how great I felt even after 8 miles (7 miles was usually my limit this summer with the hip). Of course, there was still a little bit of soreness but nothing compared to before. And my left quad felt great…something that really bothered me at the Utica 15K Boilermaker.

And don’t get me started on the socks…I am in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with CEP Compression socks!! I have always suffered on and off from shin splints and Achilles issues (even before I was a runner) and these help SO much. I wear them during AND after. And sometimes for fun ;) (pink compression socks anyone??)

CEP is by far my GO TO product for compression gear, and I am not just saying that because they sent me stuff to review. Many of you know me…I tell it how it is. If I thought this product was crap, I would say its crap and then try to pawn the sweaty, used garb off to one of you suckers for some moolah towards the good stuff.  I love you guys…really. I don’t get anything special by sitting here telling you all how wonderful their stuff is and how it’s well worth the money. I’m telling you it’s great because IT IS!! Because it truly has helped me with my injuries and with my overall running comfort. I can’t imagine running races without it.

Hence why I am running my very first full marathon in these socks and compression shorts!! I have kind of created a marathon alter-ego for myself called ‘Black Widow’…I have a black shirt, black CEP Compression shorts, black CEP Compression socks, Black Brooks Adrenaline 11’s and a black New Balance Water Belt, Black homemade arm warmers made from socks, and my gorgeous Black hair…Bring on the Black Widow!!

I know for a fact that the CEP Compression gear is going to help carry me those 26.2 miles!!

So, as a thank you to all of you, my fabulous readers, I have been allowed to do a giveaway featuring a CEP Compression product…

Since the CEP Compression shorts have really helped me out so much, just like all of you and your kind words, encouragement and inspiration to go ahead and tackle these 26.2 miles, I am happy to say that CEP Compression is allowing me to do a giveaway for a pair of YOUR VERY OWN PAIR OF CEP Compression shorts…Here is how to enter (IMPORTANT: You must leave a SEPERATE comment for each thing you do):

1. Follow my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter (@SuziStorm) Yes, I’m a private account but I do accept
3. Follow me on Facebook
4. Like the CEP Compression on Facebook

Extra entries could include:

5. Leaving me a comment about how fabulous my bootay looks in the shorts
6. Send me a farewell, inspiring message for the marathon

I’m sorry but this contest is for US Residents only. But you know I got mucho love for all my international peeps.  This is open to the ladies and the gentlemen.  I will accept all entries from now until Midnight on Wednesday, October 5th, 2011. I will announce the winner sometime after I’m done waking up from the marathon.  If I die…please contact The Frank…he wont know what to do, but it will be a fun conversation I am sure.

I have to take a minute to thank CEP Compression for this amazing fortune and for letting me do this awesome giveaway.  I didn’t want to just give away “socks”…you all mean so much to me…I wanted to offer something special.  I can’t do a whole lot myself, but god knows I try to give back the great gift you all give to me!! Hopefully you take this as a thank you for all your support leading up until my death marathon.

Now if you excuse me, I have a pillow to go cry into and a surplus of carbs to drink… eat.