Fresh New Fit: Crashed Ice!

By Jessie

Last night, the Dustin, our friend Mason, and I went to St. Paul to check out a new type of "fitness". We were only spectating, not participating. The event was the Red Bull Crashed Ice, and it was an event unlike any other I have seen.

From Kare11 news:  

What: The world's toughest, fastest, and most fearless skaters will descend on downtown Saint Paul to take on the most intimidating ice cross downhill course ever created for the U.S. qualifier of the 2012 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship . With more than three weeks of construction, the 1,400-foot frozen track wraps around the Cathedral of Saint Paul before plummeting down its steps towards the Mississippi River.

Who: Athletes will come from around the world to race in Saint Paul, which is the first stop in the 2012 World Championship Series. Among the standouts competing are twice World Champion, Artu Philhainen, of Finland, and a fleet of Red Bull Crashed Ice veterans from all over the world. This year, however, the American team will be a force to be reckoned with. The U.S. competitors were selected through a series of Qualifiers held nationwide. They range from teens to middle age, both men and women, with backgrounds ranging from ice hockey to rugby, speed skating to downhill skiing, and football to boarder cross.

Where: In front of the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The event was free, so after a drink at the Muddy Pig for warmth, we headed towards the Cathedral.  After a brisk 15 minute walk from the bar, we were greeted with this brightly lit starting line.

 It was quite crowded by the start. With 80,000 people in attendance, working our way through to find a good viewing spot was a challenge of its own. We finally made our way to a midway point on the course, where we could see two hills, and the "big turn".

The event was fascinating to watch. It seemed pretty dangerous, with several falls and tumbles, and the skaters were moving an incredible speeds. It was fun to observe this "fresh new fit". I could appreciate the athleticism of the participants, as well as the extreme physical challenge of the event. It might not be my type of "favorite fit" but I was happy to have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle. 

Time to bundle up! 

It was about 16 degrees- quite cold to be standing outside, so I was bundled up in my "sleeping bag coat" (i.e. Patagonia Women's Down With It Parka), hat (The Gap), scarf (gifted), Hunter boots with the warm socks underneath, and jeans. 

Our friend Mason bundled up in a classy all black ensemble, complete with scarf and earmuffs. 

And ladies..he's single!

Dustin wore his Hunker Down Mountain Hardware Jacket, Dale of Norway Fjord hat, jeans, and Waxed Canvas Maine Hunting Shoes from LL Bean

 

For more information on the Red Bull Crashed Ice, check out this website: http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Red-Bull-Crashed-Ice/001242785030624

Failed Fit- Treadmill time....

By Jessie

Last Thursday, I was at work late, and ended up missing my second scheduled kettlebell class. I needed to "fit fitness" in somehow. I thought about running outside, but unfortunately our 50 degree heat wave was over. The temperature had fallen quite a bit, and as I left my office around 7 pm, the blustering wind and 6 degree temperatures quickly eliminated my fitness motivation.

So, I decided to break down and hit the treadmill. I have a membership at LA Fitness-

It's not a great gym- there is no towel service. You have to bring your own lock for the lockers. There is nothing fancy about this gym. But there are multiple convenient locations for me, and membership is only about $30/month. Between my Corepower packages, run club membership, and other random fitness expenses, $30/month "fits the bill.".

So, there I was- on the treadmill. Why is it so much harder than running outside? What sort of things could make it better?

Even though I didn't follow my own advice on that boring treadmill run, I do have some tips and advice to share for surviving the "dreadmill":

Run with a friend: I've posted in the past about the benefits of running with a run club . Running with your friends can definitely keep you going. In these dark, winter months, a group of run club ladies have started a facebook group that allows us to post about whether we'll be making it to run club on a particular night. Posting a message to all the girls that you'll be there holds you accountable. The treadmill doesn't allow for the same opportunities for "commitment", but you can still help pass the time with the company of a friend. If you and a friend belong to the same gym, get her to run on the treadmill next to you. You can motivate each other and provide distraction to make your workout time go by faster. And one great thing about treadmill running with friends is that you don't have to be the same pace, so you can run with friends who you wouldn't normally run with outside!

Try an interval workout. Rather than running at a constant pace, mix up your run with hard and easy segments. It can be as simple as: A five-minute warm-up followed by three sets of four-minute intervals (two minutes of hard running and two minutes of easy running), followed by a five-minute cool-down. Personally, I find myself staring at that timer on the treadmill, slowly counting down the minutes, and they never seem to go fast enough. Splitting the miles into these short segments can really make the time go faster.

Zone out. This is an easy one. Unlike running outside, treadmill running doesn't require that you pay close attention to your surroundings. You don't even have to think about your route. So running on a treadmill gives you a chance to lose yourself in the rhythm of your breathing or your pounding feet. Try blocking out everything around you and enter a peaceful, relaxing state. Just don't get caught being a "starer" as discussed in this article (The 7 Jerks You Meet in Every Gym)

Do a pyramid workout. The time flies by during this treadmill workout because you're paying so much attention to your interval times. After a 5-minute warm-up, run hard (5K pace) for one minute, recover one minute; run hard two minutes, recover two minutes; run hard three minutes, recover two minutes; run hard four minutes, recover two minutes; run hard five minutes, recover two minutes. Then work your way back down the "pyramid" and run hard four minutes, recover two minutes; run hard three minutes, recover two minutes; run hard two minutes, recover two minutes; run hard one minute, recover one minute. End the workout with a 5-minute cooldown.

Listen to music. Listening to music on the treadmill can be a great way to combat boredom and run longer. LL posted about the motivational aspects of running with music here. I don't usually run with headphones outside, but I definitely recommend it for the treadmill. Choose motivating songs and create a playlist for your workout -– it will help prevent you from continually checking the clock to see how much more you have to go.

Alternate with another cardio machine. Try breaking up your run by alternating with the bike or elliptical trainer. If you want to do a 40-minute cardio workout, run on the treadmill for 10 minutes and then jump on another machine for 10 minutes, and keep alternating until you've reached your total goal time. If you run on a treadmill at home and that's your only cardio machine, try running up and down the stairs for five minutes, in between running segments.

Throwing a Fit: Fancy Faux Fur

By: LL
As I prepare to attend a wedding in Chicago this weekend, and the snow falls and the wind blows bitterly strong off of Lake Michigan, I realized that I would be in desperate need of a nice fur (faux, of course) jacket/shrug/shawl, which would be the perfect outerwear accessory for the black tie event. Since I am short, a full length coat would overwhelm me, but these smaller pieces would be the right fit. Here are a few that I am using to structure my shopping trip.

1. Coast Dulce Cropped Jacket ($69)
2. Coast Rachelle Shrug ($79)
3. Vintage 60s Glendoit Cropped Jacket ($250)
4. Michael Kors Jacket ($169)

Many of these styles have 3/4 sleeves, which will not be an issue when it comes to warmth when paired with elbow length leather gloves, such as these:

1. Opera Length Kid Leather Gloves (Nordstrom, $85)

2. Elbow Length Scrunch Gloves (Mossimo, $20)

This look is vintage, reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s, but contemporary and perfect outerwear to pair with my LTB for a winter wedding.

Fits Do Race Reviews: Upcoming Race Schedule Spring 2012

By Jessie

Spring in Minnesota offers up several great races, from 5k's, 10k's, 10 milers, 1/2 marathons, to anything and everything in between. Of course, runners can't do them ALL; both physically and financially, that would be quite a challenge. So here is a list of the races I have on my spring calendar. Please share your experiences with any of  these races if you have some tips!

Goldy's Run 10 miler
When: Saturday, April 14

http://www.goldysrun.com/

"Join thousands of runners as they weave through campus and along the Mississippi River with a spectacular finish on the football field at TCF Bank Stadium where you can witness your own finish on one of the biggest screens in college football."

I believe this is only the second year for this race, and definitely my first year participating. Finishing in the Gopher stadium sounds awesome, and 10 miles is a fun distance for a race.
Have any of you done this race? Any feedback?

Crazylegs 8k
When: Saturday, April 28:

http://www.crazylegsclassic.com/

Crazylegs is an 8K race (4.97 miles) that starts at Wisconsin's State Capitol Square, winds through the University of Wisconsin and ends at Camp Randall on the UW Badgers football field. This is a HUGE race for this college town and almost everyone (runner or non runner!) seems to do it. This is my second year running this awesome event. LL has run it several times, and she always organizes a team "Runnin4Beer". Last year was my first time participating, as we all ran it as part of LL's bachelorette celebrations.

Finish line in Camp Randall

A few of the other sisters pre-race


My dad even ran this one!

Unlimited beer at the finish..Wisconsin style!

Lake Minnetonka 1/2 Marathon
When: Sunday, May 6

http://www.lakeminnetonkahalfmarathon.com/

With a rich history among distance runners and tremendous support from the community, the Wells Fargo Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon Presented by OptumHealth Performance has become one of the premier half marathons in and beyond the state of Minnesota. 

The Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon features a beautiful race course that starts in downtown Wayzata (MN) and ends at the Commons Park in Excelsior (MN) - featuring stunning views of Lake Minnetonka along the way.

This is my first year running this half as well. Many of my run club friends have participated in this one. It's a hilly course, but quite a scenic one. Usually the weather is quite nice for a 1/2, although last year it was SNOWY in May!

TC 1 Mile

When: Thursday, May 17
https://www.tcmevents.org/events/medtronic_tc_1_mile/

The Medtronic TC 1 Mile is the second largest road mile in the country! Join thousands of runners and race down Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, and then stay to cheer on elite runners competing in the USA 1 Mile Road Championship!

This is my second year with this race, and it is a FUN one. When else would you race just ONE mile? And it's organized quite perfectly, where the elite runners run after the open field, so the rest of us can spectate during the excitement of the 1 mile championships! Last year, both Ryan Hall and his wife partcipated, and it was quite inspirational to watch. It's held on a Thursday night at 6:50 pm, right along Nicollet Mall, and finishes in close proximity to several great bars for a post-race beer or two!

Marathon to Marathon
When: Saturday, June 9

http://www.marathon2marathon.com/

Come celebrate the 17th Anniversary of the Marathon to Marathon on June 9, 2012! This Heartland USA Classic is USA Track and Field Certified and Sanctioned, and it attracts many athletes from in and around the state. Come and enjoy small town friendliness and big time fun.

And here's the big finale for Spring 2012, the "Marathon to Marathon". This tiny marathon runs from Storm Lake, IA to Marathon, IA, along country roads and through rustic rural towns. And one of the benefits of a small town race? The price! This marathon has a $50 registration fee (take that, NYC marathon, with your $255 registration fee!) In fact, I think this is one of the cheapest races out of all the above scheduled events this spring.

So that's my plan for spring 2012. What races do you have planned?

Fit the Bill: LC at Kohl's

By: LL
Over the past few years, I have heard about how Lauren Conrad (of the Laguna Beach/Hills notoriety) was designing an affordable line for Kohl's Department Stores. I don't venture into Kohl's that often, not anything against the store, rather that they are stand alone and not easily accessible (I like to shop where I can hit multiple stores and only deal with the car once). Anyway, I came across a few LC items on Pinterest, a social media site where users can "pin" things that they like from different websites, and share them with friends in specific categorized "boards." The items that I saw were cute and girly with a sophisticated edge. I was intrigued and headed over to the Kohl's website to have a look at her newest line.  I was happy to discover that the majority of her line looks just as fun and whimsical as what I saw on Pinterest. And, the items definitely fit the bill - especially with all the sales and "Kohl's Cash" specials that the store runs on a regular basis.

Here are some of my favorite pieces from her newest line:

1. Tulip Headband ($20.00)

2. Chiffon-Edged Sweater Dress  ($58.00)

3. Dot Jacquard Shorts ($50.00)

4. Crystal Bird Bracelet ($16.00)

5. Pep-Toe Platform Wedges ($69.99)

These are some of the great items that will add a feminine flair to any wardrobe - and at all less than $75, they definitely fit the bill. Just try to get to them fast as Kohl's has a tendency to sell out quickly!

Throwing a Fit: The Color of H&M

By: LL
One annoyance to living where I do - there is no H&M within 250 miles. And for those of you who have never lived in such a location, that means no H&M because the online store is not available in the US. So, I have to quitely lust after the great pieces for great prices that I can see online, and on other fashion blogs.

Take for example the other day, Kendi from Kendi Everyday shared a photo via Instagram of her wearing a brightly colored pair of matchstick jeans - purchased from H&M. I have been throwing a fit for a pair of bright J Brand jeans (green, blue, and red), so I was very excited to learn about this bargain pair from H&M. Which led me to peruse the H&M website and throw a fit over the multiple bright solids available to those of you lucky ones with a store nearby. These colors will be perfect over the next few months as we head into spring, paired with a neutral solid or printed pattern. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Blazer in Papaya ($49.95)
2. Fitted Sheath Dress in Green ($34.95)
3. 5-Pocket Slim Fit Stretch Pants in Pink ($24.95)
4. Chambray Pencil Skirt ($29.95)

These are great deals, and they can be worn now and carried into the spring. To those of you who can - take advantage of these options, which I can only throw a fit over.

Fitting Debate: Short vs. Long Hair

By Jessie

Short or long? That is my current hair debate. I chopped my hair in 2007, right before I got engaged. Of course, I then wanted it long again right away to be able to wear a traditional updo for the wedding, so I have been growing it since then. As I prepared for my upcoming hair appointment, I was strongly considering whether to go short again.

In theory, short hair sounds like it should be less maintenance. But in my experience, long hair is easier. Bic bands ,  headbands, and ponytails are easy options when you're short on time. With short hair, you always have to style it. You can't just throw it back and go. It's a part of your whole look, and it's difficult to vary that look with a short style.

My short hair in 2007....

My long hair...

LL has varied her look as well. She had a very chic short 'do in 2008 at my wedding, 

but she also rocks her long locks quite well.

I decided to ease into the option of short hair this time around.

Here are the "before and after pics"

Granted, it was only 3-4 inches, but I'm easing into it, remember?

I plan to schedule another appointment for late spring. 

Until then, I will continue to browse celebrity pictures and try to determine if short or long is the answer. I feel that there must be the perfect, "wake-up-and-go" haircut out there. Is it a bob? A pixie cut?

Til then, I'll keep stocking up on BIC bands to prepare for the inevitable bad hair day.

How about a seasonal Gingerbread BIC band?

FYI, in the "before and after" pics, the sweater is from Anthropologie. 

The necklace is an LL Original- Contact her if you're interested in something similar!