Posts tagged Target
Running In Cotton?!
14
For those that follow me on other social media platforms (if you’re not, why aren’t you?! 
) you know that I had an accident yesterday that gouged my leg open, requiring sutures. I’m okay and will post more about this Friday.
I’ve covered several topics already in getting the fun back in my run by getting back to basics. I’ve already covered mixing it up by registering for a fun race, claiming I am a runner, and even how I chose my running shoes. Next up: What to wear.
Want to know what I wore my first time out? Plain cotton t-shirt, cotton “cheerleading” shorts, cotton socks, and 2, yes 2, sports bras.
Was I wrong in my choices? Not necessarily, but I could’ve been smarter with my choices.
Here’s the deal, there are fantastic fitness clothes out there. You’ll want them, but do you NEED them? Honestly? Nah. Personally I couldn’t imagine going back to running in cotton, but really, just to start out, you don’t need anything special. Look at me! I started out in cotton and survived.
I ran this race in cotton due to weather and survived
Now, with that being said purchasing some fun, new workout clothes could be just the thing that gets you out the door. And it’s not a bad idea to invest in some clothing that wicks away the sweat. Your next question may be, “What shorts should I get? What about shirts?” Really, what it comes down to is personal preference. I went through several styles of shorts, tanks, socks, and bras before I found “the ones” And this is still changing as time goes on. Much of it is trial and error of how the articles of clothing feel and fit on you.
Something I can recommend is to hit up the clearance racks or stores such as TJ Maxx or Marshalls. They carry name brands at reduced prices and you may just happen to find a new favorite there. Another idea, check out Target. As you can see from my favorites their stuff fits the bill quite often for me.
What it comes down to is this: you don’t have to wear special clothes to run or break the bank if you do so. Don’t let this be something that keeps you from running.
Experienced runners: Do you tend to stick with articles of clothing repeatedly and known to buy in multiples? I am guilty of this whether in my street clothes or workout gear. I’ve started to step outside of my comfort zone and try new things lately such as my new Nike capris, running commando, and even trying out a new Columbia shirt. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that I now have some new favorites!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Functionality > Fashion
11March 12, 2012
Recently many of blogs I read have been doing “fashion” posts. Photos of what they’re wearing and brands that they like. With the dawn of Pinterest no one is at a loss of ideas for fashion. Several fellow FitFluential Ambassadors have even started a new series called Sunday Sweat To Street. What a great idea! Be sure to check out Charlotte, Emily, Samantha, Erika, and Tenecia’s blogs.
I’d love to join in this trend; alas fashion is not my forte. I don’t post what I’m wearing because to be quite honest, I wear the same things day in and day out. After someone reads this I have a feeling they’re going to turn me in as a submission for the show What Not To Wear. Oh boy. I guess I am putting myself out there.
My wardrobe consists of: workout/running/gym clothes, zip-up hoodies, graphic t-shirts, and jeans.
Weekdays you’ll find me wearing one of my race t-shirts, a long sleeve Nike t-shirt over that (or another long sleeve race t-shirt), Adidas shorts/jeans, and a pair of my retired Mizuno running shoes. Remember, I’m a custodian. I get dirty and sweat, hence my wardrobe.
Weekends, chances are you’ll find me wearing some sort of graphic t-shirt or sweater (with long sleeved t-shirt underneath) with jeans and my Toms shoes or Chucks in the winter. Come summer I have every color of “wife beater” tank available and I still sport my capris from a few years ago. I despise short shorts. My body was not designed for them. I’ve also taken to flowing sundresses.
Do you see a trend here?
I do not go anywhere without a zip-up hoodie. Period. I have multiples and I rotate them out. I’m always too hot or too cold so carrying one is a must. I guess I could go with something more fashionable.
I have very few dress clothes. The only reason I ever dress up is for weddings and since these are usually for family members I can’t repeat the same outfit. In addition my weight fluctuates so much that chances are my outfit won’t fit the same anyway. We live in medium-sized town and don’t do fancy dates nights nor do I go out to have drinks with friends which means dress clothes aren’t needed. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE special occasions and to get all dressed up, but I want a good reason to fork over the money for an outfit I’ll wear once.
Yes, I’ve sported my Chucks with a dress before
I buy in multiples and if I find something that works I go back and buy several…one in each color. This sweater: I also have it in purple.
Although not entirely loyal to a single brand for all of my clothing, I am loyal to specific brands for specific articles of clothing. As with above, when I find something that works I stick with it. Not only do I stick with the same brand, but the exact same style too. Chantelle T-Shirt Bra, Nike Pro-Fit Sports Bra, Jockey Naturals Underwear, Gap Curvy Flare Jeans, Old Navy Bootcut Diva Jeans, Mizuno Wave Rider Shoes, Nike Tempo Shorts, Adidas Astro Pants, Nike Thermal Pro-Fit Top, Target C9 1/4 zip polar fleece pullovers, Target C9 running skirts, Columbia gloves/baselayer/jacket. You get the idea. Some of these I already spoke about in my Favorites.
Many Phases Of Mizuno – I’m on my 5th pair of Mizuno Wave Riders
My mind is constantly in motion and never shuts down…ever. I’m constantly (over) analyzing every little detail, so the easier I can make it for myself, from food to clothing, the better. This is a huge reason I left my previous profession for my current less mentally demanding position. By doing so this let’s me focus on the details in my life that REALLY matter.
I’ll be honest, there’s a piece of me that would love to be a fashionista. I’d love to go to the Oscars, wearing a rocking dress, or live some glamorous life that calls for fashion to be important. But that’s not the life I live.
It’s not that I don’t have fashion sense. On the contrary, not only do I have it but I can appreciate it too. You may think, “You need to step out of your comfort zone.” That has nothing to do with it. I have always been known for wearing “loud” ensembles. I love color, mixing things up, and still do it randomly to this day (remember my virtual Sparkle Run getup?), so that’s not it either. And although I may be locked in on a certain brand or style right now, it doesn’t mean I won’t try something new. I love trying new things…but they have to work for me.
What it comes down to is I just base my fashion on functionality. In recent years I’ve scaled back on my material items and have tried to include clothing in on that. I will admit I still have a decent amount of clothing, but I have functional clothing that I can wear from day-to-day. Considering the majority of my life revolves around swimming, biking, running, working out, or work…that’s what my wardrobe consists of. If I can find articles of clothing/brands that are versatile enough to go from workout to street clothing, I’m all for it!
So are you going to turn me in to the fashion police?
What article(s) of clothing can’t you live without?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Jingle Bell Run 5k Recap
8December 11, 2011
in Running
The latest race I’ve ever done in a season was a Turkey Dash. This year I figured I’d give a Christmas race a go. Enter the Jingle Bell Run 5K. This race was held just outside the grounds of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in a neighboring city. For those who don’t know, Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, was born in Delaware, Ohio. Long story short, after his presidency he retired to his home, Spiegel Grove, in Fremont, Ohio. The Presidential Center not only has a museum but also offers tours of his home. As a kid this was always a special field trip and I must admit I’ve taken the tour several times, even as an adult. When looking for a race I thought this was a great option…short drive, cool location, and some of the money raised goes back to the Presidential Center.
Weather: Brrrrr. 25 degrees at race time. Thankfully the sun was out and there was little to no wind. I wore 2 pairs of tights, a Nike Pro Thermal top, along with a Target C9 wicking top and polar fleece ¼ zip top. I donned my Nike “hood” to protect my neck and my Nike hat. A friend let me try out her wicking gloves and I covered them up with D’s big ol’ polar fleece glove/mittens. They were so big I didn’t even put my fingers through the finger holes. My hands were very well protected! Lastly, my Team Sparkle skirts arrived this past week and I was able to rock out my turquoise skirt with race legs. I ran the race with my fellow Tri friend, Wendy. Yes, she’s a barefoot runner…crazy, I know, but she rocks!
High Points: The course was an out and back route. It started at the top of a hill, dipped down, and then rose again at 1.25 miles. Once you turned around you went back downhill, then back uphill at 3 miles, and finished in a flat gateway to the Presidential Center. Just like my last race, I attacked the hills and was thrilled how well I did. I was once again passing people during the rises and was proud of myself. Although the weather was cold I was toasty warm, but not too hot, and was thankful that the mittens/gloves kept my hands perfect. My abs were aching at 2 miles but I attributed that to the extra oompf I was giving to push myself. My bowels cooperated and I had no discomfort. Yay!
Low Points: I really don’t have any. As with any race, I go into it looking for fun and try to push myself. I had fun and am glad with my effort and results. It was a nice route too.
Time: 29:24.8!!!! Although I’ve broken 30:00 previously, this is the first true 5K distance race that I’ve run a sub 30:00…and it’s a new PR. WOOT! Dunno is I should attribute this to my pushing, the cold weather, or my Team Sparkle skirt. 
Distance: 3.1 miles
Pace: 9:29/mile
Standing: 97th Overall and 3rd in Age Group
Here’s a close up of my 3rd place award, a Rutherford B. Hayes $1 coin.
These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things….
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With Christmas right around the corner I wanted to share with you my “Favorite Things”. I’ve tried to include all of my basics that I depend on for every workout. I’m not a label whore, so name brands aren’t a must have. I’ve gone through many styles, brands, trial and error to find what works for me, and find that my favorites change as new items are produced or with new products I try….but these are my current favs. So, without further ado….
My hat of choice is the Nike Thermal Running Skullcap. It fits my head perfectly and has the sloping design that helps fully cover my ears. It’s not bulky, but keeps the wind out. In addition, it has a small opening in the back for your ear bud wires to enter. I’ve never used this feature, but it seems pretty smart to me. Unfortunately I’ve had this for a few years and I haven’t found anything to replace it when the time comes. Still looking….
For warmer weather runs I take to the Bondi Band. It’s basically a hip sweatband. They have all different patterns, fabrics, and styles. It definitely helps to keep my hair and sweat out of my eyes. A must have for sure.
For rainy weather runs I absolutely love my Rev3Tri visor from HeadSweats. I never thought I’d like running in a visor, but it’s perfect when you don’t want rain falling into your eyes. I’m surprised how much I like it and am taking to it more and more.
My running tanks are so variable that it’s hard to mark down what I absolutely love. However, I have definitely found a pullover for winter that rocks. It’s the C9 by Champion® Long-Sleeve Fleece Athletic Top at Target. I’m telling you, Target has some awesome active wear. I have multiple items from there and they all rank VERY high on my items I wear while working out. I’d highly recommend checking out their selection. And then when you can catch them on sale, that’s even better!
Alright guys, you better skip this one, but I’m sure the ladies will appreciate it. Having a right fitting bra is number 1 when it comes to my wardrobe. That’s no different when it comes to workout gear. I searched high and low for a bra that would work and the Nike Pro Bra. Bras are always an issue for me. Although some may be surprised, I am a larger chested girl. Not only that, I’m also small around, which makes it that much more difficult to find bras that fit/work. In addition I have a condition where I absolutely need good support. The “experts: say I should wear an encapsulated sports bra, but one in my size doesn’t exist and doesn’t provide the support I need. This is where the Nike bra comes in. I went with the XS, which personally I think is crazy. Looking at it off of my body, it looks like it should be a kids bra. It’s an interesting feat to get into and out of. I’m now used to it, but the first few times I put it on it literally took the wind out of me. Those suckers aren’t moving. The bottom line, and I’m not joking, if it weren’t for this bra I wouldn’t be able run. When deciding what to where for triathlons I’ve also decided to go with this as my “swimsuit” too. 
After signing up for my first triathlon my next purchase was a wetsuit. Unsure if doing a triathlon was a one-time deal I didn’t want to break the bank. An Xterra Vortex Wetsuit fit the bill. It was affordable and worked perfectly for what I needed. 
No big surprise here, but the Garmin Forerunner 205 ranks high on my list. D calls it my crutch. Unfortunately it does tend to be. At the same time though, it helps me keep my pace and know how I’m doing in my run/ride and how far I’ve gone. It keeps everything organized, which is perfect for my OCD. In the future I hope to upgrade to something that also provides a heart monitor.
If you run outside, especially by yourself, then you need the identification. Currently I use a Road ID however, I just ordered a 1BandID. It will fit onto my Garmin band and is one less thing to worry about putting on. (Review coming later). Having identification is kind of like insurance, it seems pointless until you need it. I hope that it never has to be used, but it’s there and gives me peace of mind.
On short runs I often don’t use hydration, but when I go out for the long haul I make sure I take something along. When I started training for the half marathon I kept my options open. I finally decided on the Nathan Quickdraw Plus. It holds just the right amount of water I need and has a pouch that I often use for my iPod on long training runs.
For all of my other crap that I take out on long runs/rides (cell phone, keys, etc.) I use the SPIBelt. Just like the Bondi Band is a hip sweatband, the SPIBelt is a hip fanny pack. It’s so tiny, but being made out of spandex allows it to stretch to your needs, which doesn’t feel bulky. In addition, it stays put instead of bouncing up and down like a typically fanny pack. It’s crazy how much stuff you can put in it.
I absolutely love Nike’s Tempo Track Running Short I love them so much that I have 5+ pair. After many tries with different brands and styles this is what I have settled on. They have the typically running brief inside, but don’t ride up your crack. And they come in a ton of colors. It’s as though they are constantly introducing new colors. I’m still experimenting with tri/bike shorts, so I’ll let you know when I find my match.
The Adidas Astro Pant are my pant of choice. They’re not as tight as tights, which I also have. Not being too tight allows me to use these to wear over my shorts when heading to the gym. Or I can put on another layer under them during cold weather. At the same time, they aren’t super loose either. The legs taper but have the back zippers allowing for a slight flair when you’re not running. Out of all my pants I find myself wearing these most and grabbing for them first.
Some individuals may not understand the need for Body Glide. Body Glide is an anti-chafing product. You place it in any place where you chafe and you’re good to go. Originally I did not like the first time I used it. It made me sticky, which was totally the opposite of what it was supposed to do. Needless to say it found itself in the junk drawer. However, I have found that it is a must-have when I’m running in the gym. I’ve tried to explain the use of this product to several women and they kind of look at me like I’m crazy. Having my target area for Body Glide be my inner thighs, they look at me and say, “I don’t have that problem.” I have some pretty big thighs, something I absolutely hate, and attribute to being a bigger kid and riding horses. At the same time I never thought I’d be in the minority for having this “problem.” Heck, maybe I’m not but everyone I talk to about rubbing thighs doesn’t seem to have the problem. That aside, this product rocks and not so wet as Vaseline. But it all honesty, when you’re chafing you’ll take anything that relieves it, including straight up Vaseline. 
On to socks! After Asics recently changed the design of their sock I loved I had to search for something new. By process of elimination, my new favorite running sock is Under Armour Grippy II. I think they are so awesome. Just the right thickness, enough heel coverage to prevent chafing but still considered no-show. I was a bit worried about the grippy part on the bottom of the sock, thinking it might irritate my feet, but this wasn’t found to be the case. I’ve tried other brands and they just don’t do it for me. They keep my feet too hot. Some are too thin. Some too thick. I dig these Under Armour socks.
I’ll end with my shoes, Mizuno Wave Riders. I started out running in trail shoes. Looking back I have no idea how I did it. They were flat, hard, and heavy. I remember walking in and getting fit for my first official pair of running shoes. They looked at me like I was crazy for previously using trail shoes to run in. They were surprised to see that I hadn’t killed myself yet in them. Heck, I didn’t know any different. And as with everything else, shoes aren’t the easiest for me to buy. My feet are long but narrow. Nothing seems to fit just right. But when I slid my first pair of Mizunos on I knew they were the shoe. They fit like a glove. Every time I place my feet in those shoes I find why I love them all over again. I’m on my fifth paid of Mizunos and love them just as much as my first.
Do you have any favorites that I should try??
Be Grateful and Keep Smiling =)
