A Q&A with Jenny Jurek + Handy 10 Review

You guys may have seen me post on Instagram recently that I was trying a new hydration product. I normally only run with water if I’m running for an hour or more (or it’s summertime and nasty), but I wanted to try out the Ultimate Direction Handy 10*. The Handy 10 is a part of The Jenny Collection — a special line of Ultimate Direction products designed by women for women. Y’all know how I feel about support women (ahem, my love for Oiselle, another female owned company – and I’m a graduate of a women’s college), so I was excited to learn more about Jenny and the collection.

Us Zooma Ambassadors had the chance to ask Jenny some questions related to health and fitness. Read on to see what Jenny had to say and see how I liked the Handy 10 (I’ll try the Meow belt out soon). Be forewarned it’s a bit of a long one, (and I only included a snippet of the questions – you can read the full q&a here) but I loved reading Jenny’s responses so much and I thought y’all would as well!

1. What do you use to hydrate on your long training runs?  – Kristin from A Mom on the Run (http://www.amomontherun.com)

   1. I use an Ultra Vesta with two 10oz bottles in the front and a non-hose Platypus bladder in the back with another 20oz of water.

1. What is your typical recovery routine? – Lisa from Lisa Runs for Cupcakes (http://www.lisarunsforcupcakes.com/)
   1. Scott’s more the expert on recovery so I drink what he drinks which is 20oz of Clif Shot drink mixed with 15g of protein powder within the first 30 minutes after my workout.  I like taking a Vinyasa Flow yoga class the day after a long race or a hard workout because it keeps me from getting too sore the next day.

1. Do you participate in any other sports such as cycling or triathlon either as a method of cross training or to keep running fresh? – Landi from Preserving Pollyanna (www.preservingpollyanna.blogspot.com)
   1. Climbing is my only other consistent sport.  I like to go for long rides and I swim, but not competitively or with any regularity.  I lift weights and do kickboxing twice a week, too.

1. As runners, we are constantly searching for ways to fit everything in. What tips do you have for balancing training and the busy schedules you and Scott have with family and life outside of running? – Jesica from rUnladylike (http://www.runladylike.com)
   1. Communication and routines are helpful.  Every morning we wake up and discuss our schedules for the day before we head out for a run.  We are big fans of errand runs where we will stop by the bank, post office, or grocery store on the way home to save some time.  Whoever gets home first starts making breakfast and we try to function like a team.

1. Do you have a favorite memory of a particular view during a run, or moment during a race, that has always stuck with you? – Cynthia from You Signed Up For WHAT?! http://yousignedupforwhat.com/
   1. I started trail running when I lived in Seattle so I have a lot of nostalgia for the Northwest.  One of my favorite races was my fist 100 miler, the Cascade Crest 100, because it was in the Cascades and my BFF Krissy paced me for the last 45 miles.  Just finishing gave me a huge amount of confidence in myself, in pursuing my dreams, and in life in general.  It was a big moment for me.

1. When you were conducting research to design the Jenny Collection, what was the most common complaint you heard from women about most distance running gear? (ex: chafing, bouncing, low quality, too heavy, poor fit, etc.) And how does the Jenny Collection address this issue? – Mary from Minutes per Mile http://minutespermile.com
   1. The biggest complaint I heard was about poor fit.  An ill-fitting pack or waistbelt will bounce around and can cause chafing.  I started the designs based on women’s bodies and curves and made sure there were plenty of adjustability options on the Ultra Vesta.

1. What is your favorite fuel to store in your ultra vest for a long run? – Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC (http://eatprayrundc.com)
   1. It’s hard to choose just one, but anytime I have a Bearded Brothers energy bar it makes me happy. (beardedbros.com) They are all organic raw vegan and amazing!  I also really like Margarita Clif Blocks, the saltiness is a nice way to break up all the sweet gels.

1. What are some techniques you use to get your head back in the game if you find yourself discouraged after not-so-great performances or injury/illness?-Jennifer http://runswithpugs.com

   1. I wish I was better at this but I still get disappointed with myself and question if I could have pushed harder or trained better or whatever.  But I try not to beat myself up and turn the disappointment into motivation for the next event.

Jenny sounds awesome and like a lady I’d like to hang with (maybe not on a 100 mile run, though!) 🙂 Okay, so on to the Handy 10 – I loved running with this. I tested it out on a 3.5 mile run with my buddy Julie and it was great. So comfortable and easy to hold and with it fulled filled, it felt extremely light. I would use the Handy 10 (or 20) on shorter runs where I don’t need the 70 oz of water that my pack holds. Plus, it’s so super cute AND there is a hair tie attached on the inner pouch for when you need one on the run. So smart! This is a great handheld and I’m excited about using it on shorter runs!

Have you ever used a hand held? 

*note: I was given a free Handy 10 and Meow as a part of my Zooma Ambassadorship but all opinions are my own as always!