Plantronics BackBeat Fit

Sponsored Review

As a self-proclaimed runner at the age of 42, running doesn’t come as easy as 1-2-3. To help in the motivation factor to run, I realized that music plays a big part. I used to think that running with music is not something I would like. How can I hear the traffic? What if someone calls out to me? Can I hear??

In comes the BackBeat Fit wireless earphones.

First thing first, why wireless? This is a no-brainer for me. I cannot imagine running with tangling wires all over the place. With wireless earphones, the problem is solved and running is more pleasant.

Unpacking the earphones, and I have the red version. It comes in blue and neon green colors too.

 

The earphones come in a sleek pouch that holds the charging cable.

 

Turn the pouch inside-out and you get the double use as a reflective running armband.

Battery life is 2.5 hours charge for 7 hours use. I realized for a 10km run, typically I can use the earphones for about 6 runs, pretty close to the estimated given battery life.

Download the BackBeat Fit App and follow through the easy steps to register your earphones and even set up the link to find your earphones when you misplaced it.

  

 

Putting on the earphones was simple and easy, no difficulty. Tried calling out to my wife with siri and the earphones worked perfectly. We can hear each other clearly and no disturbance. I’m a happy man if my wife can hear me.

 

One of the best feature of the earphone and I have successfully recommended to at least 4 of my friends so far, is the contoured eartips which allows the wearer to hear your surroundings. This is extremely crucial for me as I prefers to run at night and with my old earphones, I usually cannot hear the surrounding traffic or even the bicycle just behind me. This usually resulted in me hooking on only one side of my previous earphones.

But with BackBeat Fit, the safety aspect is well taken care of.

 

With at least 4-5 runs with the new earphones around my neighborhood, I took the earphones for a real test in the recent 10km race I have signed up for. This is the first time I am listening to music on a long run.

The earphones are nicely tugged in my ears and you can hardly see it from the front view. My before and after look with the earphones.

 

Points noted:

#1 the earphones didn’t move much at all, I did not have to adjust or was afraid that it will fall out.

#2 as you can see after the run, I was sweating crazy but there was no issues with the sound quality.

#3 I was totally aware of my environment when running, I could hear the heavy steps of the runner that was about to overtake me, and allowed me to keep to my side and not bang into him.

#4 related to the point above, I was still able to enjoy my music without having to adjust the volume.

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Now, the earphones are the first thing I look out for in the morning when I leave the house for work or at night when I go for a run. Totally loving it!

Last but not least, for all my readers, I have good news!

If you are interested to purchase the Plantronics BackBeat Fit wireless earphones, I am going to extend a 30% discount to you, courtesy of the people from Plantronics!

Just go to this website (https://epshub.com) to place you order, and when you checkout, key in this special discount code jdad3d.

This offer will only be valid till 8th Sep 2016.
The 30% discount is valid for ALL Plantronics products on the website.

Comeback Run

So it was, on a random night out with friends, one of them casually mentioned about a railway race, and I thought it would be interesting to give it a try. The following day, a group of 4 runners were formed, whatsapp group created, we submitted our particulars. Viola, the race is on!

Winding the clock back almost 4 years to the year 2012, when I ran my last race before I gave up due to a knee injury. I was 38 then and had a dream to complete a Full Marathon before 40. I have done 3 Half Marathon races, a couple more 10km runs, so I thought I was on track to fulfill the dream. Never a person to run for personal glory (aka best timing), but if I can just finish a 42km run, the achievement will be something.

However, age caught up faster than I expected. My knees, especially the left knee has been giving me problems and pains for a while. To cut the long story short, after a MRI and several physio sessions, my doctor advised me to stop running totally. I can still play certain sports but running will bad for my knees, and in the worst case scenario, surgery is needed. So end of running, end of dream. So I thought.

Coming back to just last Sunday. I overcame the hurdle of my knee injury and completed my first 10km race in the last 4 years. Thanks to Benjamin, Yong Siang and John, we bashed through the Compressport Rail Corridor Run 2016.

To be honest, I was enticed by the idea of running along the Rail Corridor route. I have been to the stations at Bukit Timah and Tanjong Pagar for photo shoots, but never travel on foot along the former railway tracks. It could bring back memories of the past when we were still kids, taking the train from Singapore to Malaysia.

Among the 4 runners in the group, I am probably the only one who has not been running as much, but the irony started right from the race pack collection day. All 3 of them totally forgot to collect their race pack. Only me who is the most excited (like a child), did the collection.

The race pack is a simple one, with the usual drawstring bag and some pamphlets inside. The new thing was a pair of Compressport socks. This will be my first pair of running socks, so pro.

 

Since the day we signed up for the race, I have been running pretty regularly, 2-3 times per week, each run is about 4-6km. During these runs, my stamina is still okay (thanks to the gym workouts and spinning classes), but the worrying thing were  the knees. Every time I ran, the pain will slowly surface when I reach the 5km mark. But amazingly, the last 2 runs 2 weeks ago, I was able to complete 5km without any pain, and break in between each run was only 1 day. I think I have cleared the psychological barrier.

Final week before the race. I was planning to keep my routine runs simple and light. Then on Tuesday, I was down with fever, flu and cough. It dragged on till Saturday night. I was even contemplating to skip the race. How can I complete the race with fever and a cough?

Well, the fact was, I recovered from the fever and flu in time for the race. But the cough is still my biggest challenge.

Super charged up just to see the thousands of runners getting ready. From the host, we knew that there were a few Kenya runners and Singapore’s own best Marathon runner, Mok Ying Ren were all present. So what he was trying to tell us was to give up on the podium places. Of course right? What a joke?

The weather was great, in fact too hot for a run. Starting at 9am was not a good plan. Organizers, please take note.

Starting point was at Bukit Timah Railway Station and the ending point was at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. So all who brought along bags will have to deposit at the “truck” stations, where it will be transported to the ending for us.

The before flag off photo. We looked fresh and ready to go.

 

Starting Point. Can you see the muddy roads? That was what we are going to run on for the entire 10km race. I pity myself and my shoes, becos I will be washing it after the run.

 

The first 3km was the toughest. I seriously thought of quitting when I reach the half way point. The heat was merciless and adding on my constant cough, I was running with heavy breathing right from the start. But the word “discipline” popped up in my mind and I knew immediately that was the purpose of this run.

Taken nearing the 4km mark.

Slowly the hot sun relented a bit and we had some wind. Just when I thought everything will be fine now, the course started to show us its true self. Little did we know because of rain 2 days before the race date, the road will be so muddy and ponded. Needless to say, my feet were soaked with mud water for the last 3km.

Along the way, we passed by some shelters like under the bridge or roads, and this particular under bridge shelter had a very nice wall graffiti. Pardon the tired face.

After 1 hour 33 mins 11 secs, I completed my 10km run. According to my Runkeeper app, the total distance covered was 10.99km. So that means I reached my target of running 10km within 90mins!

Oh, did I mention that my knee started to give me problem on the 6km mark? Guess, I have to do more strengthening in future. On to the next run!

Cold Run on a Hot Day

We finally did a family run together. Thanks to the Cold Storage Kids Run, all four of us had a chance to participate in the run on a super sunny day. We were in fact all sweating before the run.

Jayne took part in the Merry Berry category and Joey in the Happy Grapes group, accompanied by me and Kless respectively.

Despite the hot weather, there were a lot of families out at Gardens by the Bay, enjoying the event and some other fun activities. It is just such a joy to see some more families out on a Sunday morning doing family workout.

 

Too bad we didn’t have the chance to queue up for the icy cold milo, maybe for such a crowd size, the organizers could have indented more milo trucks.

Some photos before we go through the run (actually it is only 800m run).

    

The starting point with the iconic MBS as background was so beautiful.

 

Countdown!
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

 

Jayne is natural runner, first time running in a proper race and she did quite well. Because of her smaller frame, she was trying to squeeze through the different people who were around her. And she didn’t stop to walk at all for the entire 800m run. So proud of her!

 

Joey ran slightly slowly, probably because her starting time was an hour later and the sun was not too kind then.. But still she managed to complete the run with the ever fit mummy by her side.

 

Winning pose!

  

Love to see the sweaty cute face.

 

Some small incentives as media bloggers, we had the chance to rest in the VIP tentage with fan and cold drinks. But it didn’t take long for Jayne to start exercising again. This time it’s her favourite activity, dancing.

    

After rescuing some energy in the shade, the girls were all ready to brave the heat and went for the carnival.

 

  

Love it when Joey helps Jayne to complete something. Here she guided Jayne to throw the ball and after 3-4 times, Jayne finally scored a point. And the sisters scored full marks for sisterhood!

 

Bowling – Joey hit a strike. Wow!

No carnival is complete without the bouncy castle.

 

Looking forward to the next run we can participate as a family. Maybe one where all four of us can run together.