BODYGLIDE WarmFX Review and Giveaway

Let me think back to all the things I have done in the past couple of weeks...

• 10K race
• Start of speed work
• 5K race done on very lumpy grass
• 11 mile long run
• More speedwork
• One power yoga class
• 16 mile run
• Two power yoga classes
• More speedwork - which included 100-yards of lunges, 60 squats, 40 one-legged squats

The result?  I think I hurt myself.

So, this is what happens with me: I feel good, I do more and more, I think I am invincible, and then reality hits and I find out - no - I are not invincible, just incredibly stupid.

So, what went wrong?  I am not exactly sure, but I am thinking it is either high hamstring strain or the piriformis since I feel it across the hip, near the sit bone and down the hamstring a bit.  When I do yoga (halfway lift), I feel it in my high hamstring.  When I run, I feel it just about everywhere.

Needless to say, I have taken a bit of a break from running the past two weeks.  I haven't completely given it up, but out of the past 14 days, I have had fully NINE days of no exercise.  In normal times, I would only have two days off.  C'est la vie.  It's been busy anyway, so the breaks I was giving myself probably weren't a bad idea anyway.  When I have gone running, I have been able to do about four miles with only mild discomfort.  Anything past that, though, and it's more of a crapshoot.  Oh well, slow progress is better than no progress.

Warm FX Review and Giveaway

......In the meantime, if there is a silver lining in this at all it would be that this finally gave me the chance to test out a new product that the makers of BODYGLIDE were nice enough to send me.... WarmFX Anti-Pain Balm - heat therapy for muscles and joints.

I have to say that when I first got this, I was a little dubious.  I am not one to take anything for pain relief - internally or externally.  In fact, usually when I am injured I don't even take Ibuprofen.

However, when my hip and hamstring came up sore last week, rather than to continuously reach for the Advil, I thought this might be a nice time to try out the WarmFX.  For some reason, applying a topical analgesic appeals to me more than taking a systemic one internally.  So, I opened the package and rubbed it on.

So, according to the packaging, WarmFX offers non-greasy anti-pain relief for over-exertion, simple backache, arthritis, bruises, strains, sprains, and cramps.  You can use it before activity, after activity, when needed, where needed.  Active ingredients include menthol (15%) and methyl salicylate (30%).  Considered safe for daily use, the package does say not to use it if you are allergic to salicylates, which I am not.  It is not to be applied more than four times in one day.

Now that I had aches and pains to rub away, I was eager to try WarmFX out and what I was most interested in were its claims to warm up faster, relieve minor aches and pains, and all this without mess.  So, does it?

The first thing I noticed about WarmFX was the applicator.  It comes in the same kind of container as BODYGLIDE, so to use you just have to take the top off and rub it on.  There is no mess.  You don't get it on your hands at all.  While I consider this a plus in any way, shape, or form, it is especially nice considering the nature of the product.  There can't be much worse than trying to wash off a waterproof-feeling, warming menthol product from your hands.  And, who wants to take a chance that they are accidentally going to rub some in their eyes?

Once applied, it takes a minute before you notice the WarmFX working.  In fact, I might have overdone that first application a bit because I wasn't sure it was working.  What I did notice right off, though, was that it definitely offered a non-greasy feel.  I had no qualms about wearing clothes over the product for fear of grease stains appearing through the material.  Once the product does kick in it offers a nice warming, icy-hot type sensation, which continues to warm for quite a while after application.  The warming effect lasts for at least an hour.  (I know, because I looked at the clock.)

The best part is, of course, that it does seem to offer temporary relief of aches and pains - something I appreciated especially after the crazy lunge and squat day I experienced two weeks ago.  Everything felt a bit looser and pain-free.  As the package says you can use WarmFX before a workout, too, I thought it would be remiss of me not to try it.  Heading out for a run just this morning, I knew I still had a bit of tightness in my hip, so I applied a thin smear of WarmFX to that area.  Honestly, I can't say if it was the WarmFX or not, but my hip didn't bother me during the run at all.  Only at the very end did I notice a slight tugging/tightening sensation in the hip, so I consider that test a success.

WarmFX does have a menthol scent to it, which I actually find kind of pleasant.  If that is not your thing, though, know that it doesn't linger forever - at least not so as I would have noticed.  I felt very comfortable applying WarmFX and then going about my business, even if that business took me out into public.

So, final word?  WarmFX receives two thumbs up for temporary relief of muscle aches, no mess, easy application, and for the fact that it makes it easy to target your problem areas.  I like that you can target a sore spot on your body without turning to Ibuprofen.  I liked WarmFX well enough that when I went on my nine-miler this past weekend, I stashed the tube in my car in the event that any ache or pain crept up on me.  (As it turned out, everything hurt, but that is another story.)

So, here's the best part - the giveaway!

If you would like to try it yourself, then you are in luck!  BODYGLIDE will give out two .45 oz. tubes of WarmFX for you to try! This is the perfect size for traveling and carrying with you!  To enter to win a WarmFX for yourself, all you need to do is:

1. Follow my blog via the Join this site button at the right and let me know in the comments that you did so.

For additional entries to win, do any or all of the following and let me know that you did in separate comments:

1. Follow Tales from an Average Runner on Facebook.
2. Follow me on Twitter.
3. Go to BODYGLIDE's website and let me know what you find most interesting.
4. Follow BODYGLIDE on Facebook and let them know I sent you.
5. Follow BODYGLIDE on Twitter.
6. Spread the word of the contest via blog, Facebook, Twitter or any other cool sites I don't know about.  Don't forget to let me know you did!

I will select two winners via random.com on Monday, July 16.  Note: The contest is limited to those in the U.S. only.  That's it! Happy Running!

* Please note that although I received a sample of WarmFX to review, I was not otherwise compensated in any way for my review.  My review on this product represents my own opinion.