Growing up, I was consistently a good student – from Kindergarten through earning my master’s degree, I was always on the Dean’s List. But report cards were an interesting subject in my house. Every time I would bring my report card home and show my parents, my Dad would say the same thing: What happened in this class? Not awesome job on the five “As.” It was always about the one “B” (which was inevitably in math … I’m still not good at translating kilometers into miles).

As frustrating as those report card conversations were, they served me well as I grew older. Today, I’m glad we focused on that one B. Whether it’s in running or in life, I learned to never be satisfied with the status quo. I learned that I always have more potential inside me and the power to unleash it. And, I turned out to be a neurotic perfectionist. Thanks, Dad.

Today, I’m turning the tables on the dreaded report card, and I’m giving out the grades. As a marathon coach and someone who writes about all aspects of running, companies often reach out to me to share information on their products and offer me the opportunity to test them out. Many of these companies are new, small businesses trying to expand their reach and awareness within the running community. Many of the items that come across my email inbox never make it to the pages of runladylike.com … Like the sports bra that chafed me so bad it left a bleeding scar. Or the GPS watch that didn’t really work. Or the ice pack that never stayed cold. Or … ok, you get the point.

During the past three months, I’ve tested a number of products. You deserve the honest truth as you see these in ads, on social media and hear about them from other runners. From electrolytes to new apparel, I’m sharing my uncensored thoughts and running report card grades.

Here’s my grading scale:

So with that in mind, let’s bring on the grading. Here’s a glimpse at the products on today’s report card:

1. ReplaceSR Electrolyte Replacement Tablets: A

If you’ve been reading runladylike.com for a while, it’s no secret that I really struggled acclimating to running in the higher heat and humidity when I first moved to Florida in May. I struggled for several months before really starting to feel like myself again. And, I don’t believe it was a coincidence that I started feeling more like myself after I started using Replace SR electrolyte replacement tablets.

When I first started training for endurance events, I jumped on the bandwagon of calorie-free electrolyte replacement tablets that dissolved in water and contained a laundry list of ingredients that I would not touch with a 10-foot pole today. After talking with a nutritionist for elite athletes, he guided me to replace electrolytes with sports drink or salt/salt pills vs. ingesting some brands of flavored tabs that include sugar alcohols like sorbitol that can cause stomach troubles and potentially delay the absorption of calories into our blood stream (the exact opposite of what we want to happen on race day).

In 2013, I shifted to consuming GUs and taking salt pills with water, as well as alternating between water and sports drink on a race course. Taking salt pills can sometimes be cumbersome, and I’ve even experienced my pills disintegrating in my pocket due to sweat when I really needed them.

Enter, ReplaceSR.

These electrolyte pills are unlike any others I’ve tried because they release into the blood stream over time, preventing you from needing to take them every hour during a long run. ReplaceSR recommends taking 1-3 pills with a full glass of water about 30 minutes before endurance exercise. They will then provide a continuous release of electrolytes for 4 to 6 hours, enabling your body to absorb the fluids you drink for re-hydration. The tablets can also be taken at the end of physical activity to help speed up the body’s ability to return to fluid homeostasis, aiding in recovery and preparation for activity the following day (I haven’t tried them after long runs/races yet). I’ve truly found these particular electrolyte supplements to help my running, and I felt much less closer to death during the height of summer training.

Perhaps my favorite thing about these are the ingredients. There are far fewer ingredients used for coating like on other salt pills I’ve tried, and there is a great balanced formula of the most significant electrolytes lost during prolonged exercise, including phosphate for buffering of the pH. They are also a super nice company. The people are kind and helpful, and they are all about supporting the running community. They even agreed to be a sponsor of Rise.Run.Retreat. after I realized how much I loved the product and wanted to share it with other runners.

ReplaceSR comes in two sizes and costs. Their trial size bottle includes 20 electrolyte tablets for $9.95, or you can purchase a competition size for $19.95 for 90 electrolyte tablets. Read more about ReplaceSR and the science behind the product.

2. Spandits!: A-

If you ever see me running in real life or in race photos, 95 percent of the time, you’ll find me running in solid black running shorts. I’m not very adventurous when it comes to running bottoms. Well, that is, until now.

I recently discovered Spandits!, colorful, creative and environmentally-friendly running bottoms created by a dynamic duo of women who are both mothers, running coaches and marathoners. They were a sponsor of the Rise.Run.Retreat. event I attended earlier this month in Maine and I really like them. They fit comfortably, and the fit is flattering. The waist band is just below my belly button, and there is a little pocket in the front that could hold a key. The apparel is made in Maine (love!), and their design process eliminates all toxic chemical processes associated with conventional screen printing operations, and their spandex contains no formaldehyde, halogenated flame retardants, vinyl plasticizers or any other toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals, carcinogens, or volatile organic compounds (double love!).

At first I thought I would probably wear my Spandits! mostly for cross-training, but I quickly realized how awesome they are for running. Now that the fall and winter months are upon us, the team also makes thermal running tights that will keep all you northerners out there warm. These would make a fabulous holiday gift or would be perfect for race day so your spectators can’t miss you on the course.

While I know I will always gravitate toward my tight black shorts for most races and long runs, I really love having these in the rotation and will likely purchase another pair soon to keep me looking sharp and fun on the run!

Prices vary based on style. The 3/4 inch tights I’m wearing here retail for $48. They also make shorts, over the knee capris, full tights, thermal tights, head bands and more. They also make apparel for men and youth. Read more about the Spandits! story and check out all their fun patterns here.

3. Brooks Racey 3.5-Inch Shorts: C+

Last year, the Brooks Running team came out with a 3.5-inch running short that had slits on the thighs and a wide, comfy waist band with lots of hidden pockets. They were designed to be cute and stylish, yet effective for the run. I practically live in these things. As someone who works from home, I wear them whenever they are clean and could seriously live in them 24/7. Although I don’t actually run in them very much, I wear them constantly after runs.

Sooooo, you can imagine my excitement when a new version of the Brooks racey 3.5-inch shorts came out this year. I love almost everything I put on my body that is made by Brooks. They are the best running company on the planet and they make some of the best gear I have ever owned. These shorts, however, did not quite live up to the first edition. While they are better in some ways, there are a few things I wish were more like the first pair, hence my C+ grade. Let’s take a look.

What I love about this new version is that the scalloped edge in the front is sewed together, so it no longer makes a big opening on the thigh. This is an especially great update. I also like many of the new color options. On the flip side, they don’t fit quite as perfectly as the original pair. They may run a tad larger than the old ones. They also no longer have all the pockets that the old ones did, which was something I really loved.

So would I continue to wear these? Yes, absolutely. But I don’t know that I would purchase another pair of the latest model. If I did, I would probably order one size smaller than I typically wear.

4. RUNLOVEBOX: B-/C++

The RUNLOVEBOX was perhaps the most fun product to receive/test and also one of the most difficult to grade. RUNLOVEBOX is a subscription that delivers a custom box of running goodies to your door each month for $15, including running-related apparel, accessories and nutrition products. Think of it as Stitchfix for running goodies. Amazing, right?

I was really excited to receive my box in the mail. The anticipation of what cool items would be inside kept me guessing. When it arrived, my box was geared toward an “early riser” theme of what you might need to get up early and moving. I felt mixed in terms of the products inside. I was stoked about three of them and quite as excited about the other two.

The highlights for me were the Paper Shower Towelettes and the go macro bars. The Paper Shower product consisted of two towelettes that you could take with you to quickly clean your unladylike self after a run. One side was like a gigantic babywipe the size of a dish towel that really allowed you to clean up. The other was a dry towel. I used mine after a 9-mile run with friends in which we were going straight to brunch after changing into dry clothes. No time to shower. This was PERFECT! I also loved the go macro bars pictured above. Not only were they absolutely delicious, but they have all real ingredients. I would totally buy both of these again. A tube of Burt’s Bees lip balm was also inside, which I like but have used before.

The items I wasn’t excited about were a bag of organic coffee (sorry, I only use a Keurig and don’t even know how to brew coffee without one … this was not useful to me but will make a nice gift for someone else) and nuun tablets. See product #1 for my rationale there.

I am certain that some boxes are an “A” while others may be a “C” based on your individual preferences. This is why this was so tough to grade. Two of the items in the box I would buy and recommend, while others I would not. I gave this a tad lower grade because I’m not sure I would personally purchase it for myself, but I’d love to receive it as a gift or give it to someone else as a gift for three months. It really is super fun. If I were doing a holiday gift guide right now, I would definitely add this to it.

5. GO Tape: B

This summer, I was unlucky enough to acquire a minor case of plantar fasciitis, which I am currently continuing to treat. One of the tactics I’ve been using since August is taping my foot with kinesiology tape. I’ve tried several different tapes, including GO Tape, which was new to me. It’s an elastic sports tape the company has designed to help manage joint and muscle pain. The GO Tape team shares that their tape can help with muscle balance, improved circulation, support and pain reduction … all things I need right now to get my foot better.

What I like about the tape is that it is offered in both pre-cut and not pre-cut options. There is a great selection of colors, including flesh-colored which I prefer. The tape feels very sturdy and supportive, and it sticks on well. They share that their advanced body adhesive provides a superior stick.

While I would wear and buy GO Tape, I can’t really tell the difference from other tapes out there. I do think it is better than K-Tape, but not necessarily better than Mueller’s. I don’t like the particular plantar fasciitis taping instructions provided in the GO Tape box, but there are many different ways to tape. So, all-in-all, if you’re looking for a tape to help support you through a running injury, GO Tape is a great option. But you will likely find assistance with whatever tape is easily accessible to you.

6. Moving Comfort Sports Bras: Mixed Grades

Do you remember when my mom and I went and tried on Moving Comfort sports bras and taped a video of our experience? Check it out here. At the time, I hadn’t had a chance to run in the bras I chose yet, which actually included the Uplift Crossback and the Fiona. Well, I’ve now had two months to run in my bras, and I’m back with a full report.

The Uplift Crossback gets an A grade. I absolutely love this bra. It fits fantastic and has built-in padding for those of us who could use a little shape if you know what I mean. I love that the padding is built in so removeable cups don’t fall out and get all bent in the wash. And speaking of the wash, these wash and dry beautifully. I wash them in cold water, in a garment bag when possible, and hang them to dry. I have one in red/pink and blue/animal print blue.

The Fiona gets a D. I know that there are many runners out there who love this bra, and the quality is excellent, but it’s simply not the style for me. That’s the cool thing about running. We’re all different. What works for some of us doesn’t work for others. I know this is a great product, but I would never buy another Fiona bra again because I don’t like the velcro straps and I learned through this process that I need a racer-back style bra. Having the straps on my shoulders makes it feel like they are falling off my shoulders when I’m running, even when they are secure. So, I will be sticking with the Uplift Crossback line.

7. Dr. Cool Cooling Tank Top: A

Now that I’m running in Florida, I need running tops that keep me as cool as possible. Dr. Cool’s V-neck racer back tank is a great new tank for my training rotation. It’s constructed using their patented chemical-free cooling material designed by Coolcore. The sweat activated cooling fabric delivers three distinct functions … wicking, moisture circulation and regulated evaporation … to reduce the tank’s surface temperature by up to 30 percent. One of the coolest things about this tank is that unlike other cooling technologies, Dr. Cool’s is constructed using a chemical-free fabric that prevents its cooling qualities from washing out.

It is flattering on the body and really feels great on the run. The one thing you should know is that it runs about a size large, so order one size smaller than normal (I’m a size small but I’d order an extra-small in this). Additionally, the Dr. Cool team is incredibly nice and awesome to work with. They are really passionate about their products and runners and are working with some big running brands to introduce their cooling fabrics. Definitely check this out.

Brooks Fanatic Run Happy Calf Sleeves: A

I know, I know. Another Brooks Running product (I can’t get enough!). But I saved the best for last. These Run Happy calf sleeves are my new jam. My feet cramp up when I try to run in compression socks, so having calf sleeves with compression is the perfect solution. Not only are these cute and motivational, but they also work well. I have extremely tight calves, and I wore them during the Maine Half Marathon and found them to be really effective. I also love putting them on after a run to help with recovery. These are excellent for any runner and would also make for a great holiday stocking stuffer or secret Santa gift for runners.

Until next semester my friends, that’s a wrap. Happy running. Class dismissed.

Please note that all the products I reviewed in this post were sent to me free of charge by each company. I did not receive compensation other than these products to write about this information, and I was not under an obligation to write about the majority of these products (I did agree to write about my Spandits!). As a Brooks Running Run Happy Ambassador, I do receive free products to test each month and work with the team on a variety of running topics and products to share about. All opinions about any products shared on runladylike.com are unbiased, honest, uncensored …and always will be. Thank you to Brooks Running, Spandits! and ReplaceSR who were also generous enough to be sponsors of Rise.Run.Retreat. and share their products with me and other runners.

What new running products have you tried lately that you love? If you’ve tried any of the products mentioned above, add your thoughts to mine in the comments below.