There is such a thing as pure running bliss. At times I thought I had lost it, but Sunday my faith was rejuvinated.

Sunday morning I woke up and just felt like I was in a funk. I did want to run but I was having a hard time motivating myself to get moving. I think being on the treadmill on Saturday was a big part of that. After sitting on the couch a little bit too long, I got up and started putting my running layers on.

I decided that for this run there were absolutely no goals. No set pace, no set distance, no set course – I just wanted to listen to my body and see what it wanted to do.

Is it just me or does anyone else having a hard time doing that?

I always want to have a plan, I’m type A like that but sometimes the best runs are those where we don’t have a plan.

My husband ran the first 2 miles with me and then I broke off so that he could run his pace and I could run mine. I was actually pretty surprised at how my good my legs felt.

As I broke off I decided to just run wherever I felt like it. I went down a couple hills that I normally avoid because I figured if I have to come back up a big hill I might as well do it on a day that I can go as slow as I want. I ran through areas I had never been and just explored.

It was what I like to call pure running bliss. I didn’t ever feel tired and am pretty sure if I had absolutely no limits I could have kept going, but I knew that I didn’t need to go crazy.

I ended up running a little over 10.5 miles and my entire attitude changed. It’s amazing how running can do that. It was a reminder that I need to have a run like this at least once per weekend. It’s harder during the week since my course is limited, but runs like these are those that renue your love of running.

During this run and a couple other this week, I was able to try out a new type of compression sock. I’ll admit that usually don’t branch out very often when it comes to my compression socks. I find a brand I like and I stick with it.

When the opportunity came to try out the SureSport Compression Sleeve I decided I needed to get out of my compression rut.

Here is a description of the compression sleeves right from the website:

“The SureSport® Calf Compression Sleeves were designed and manufactured for the serious athlete. The true 18-25 mmHg graduated compression enhances performance with less effort. Quicker recovery time allows for increased training activity. In addition, the compression sleeves reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis during long travel periods where activity is limited.”

The first thing I noticed about them is that they were tight, which is what I always look for when it comes to compression. I find that especially with the calf compression sleeves some brands can feel just like a wrap around you calf, which has no benefit to me when it comes to running.

Calf compression sleeves to me are GREAT for winter running because they are easy to slip on and wear under your long running tights. They give you the compression without having to put on the full sock. Another reason I really enjoyed wearing them during my cold Sunday morning run.

This brand comes in a variety of colors:

• Black
• Blue
• Green
• Grey
• Orange
• Pink
• Purple
• Red
• White
• Yellow

For those of you who love adding some color to your running wardrobe, these don’t lack in the options! I chose the basic black. Maybe I need to start expanding my compression sock and sleeve colors a bit more!

However, it’s nice to have black when you are wearing bright orange shorts. You don’t have to worry about color matching!

I loved thatyou could tell that these compression sleeves were the real deal when you put them on. They helped to stabalize my calf and did seem to help aid in my post-workout recovery.

Overall, I give these compression socks at A+. They provide excellent compression, are easy to get on, and are perfect no matter the time of year!

Head over to their website to learn more about SureSport Graduated Calf Compression Sleeves.

Do you wear compression?

When is the last time you experienced running bliss?