Featured Fit: An Artistic Evening

By: Cool J

It's that time of year again- Halloween! And, who doesn't love an excuse to wear a costume? 

What did you wear- anything creative? See anything good while you were out?

When my sister decided to come up to run the Monster Dash 1/2 marathon, she mentioned that she had a Frida Kahlo costume she would bring.

We tried to come up with other recognizable artists, and decided the D-man should be Vincent Van Gogh...

And I would be a paintbrush!

We constructed the "brush" part of the costume with a hula skirt and wire. Aluminum foil was the base of the brush. A black turtleneck, tights, and a running skirt were the "handle".

A few splats of paint were the finishing touches.

However, no one knew what I was supposed to be. Some common guesses were that I was a troll, Carrot Top, Lady Gaga, and a Fraggle from Fraggle Rock.

So, it might have been a bit of a "failed fit" in terms of recognition, but that's what Halloween is all about, right?

Cheers!

Fitting Fitness: Battling Darkness

By: LL
I cannot lie, when my alarm went off at 4:30 this morning for me to get up and go to the gym, I could barely even open my eyes. My first thought was that it couldn't be 4:30 because it was still too dark out. I know that Cool J had a similar experience this morning with her 8 mile run in the dark. Working out this time of year is harder than ever!

As the days get shorter and shorter, and the hours of daylight are less and less, it becomes much harder to squeeze in your daily workout. Whether you are a morning workout person or an evening workout person, you are not only battling your own schedule and motivation, but now you are battling darkness. I don't know about you, but I find it much harder to muster the motivation to get out of bed in the morning when the sun doesn't even rise until 7:30. Where I didn't necessarily love getting up in the summer either, at least I was awake when I headed out the door as the sky was already lightening by 5:00. And this battle is so much more than just motivational - it is biological.

As you might already know, in humans, the chemical melatonin regulates the sleep-wake cycle by chemically causing drowsiness and lowering the body temperature. Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is inhibited by light and permitted by darkness. For this, melatonin is often referred to as "the hormone of darkness." In short, melatonin is the regulator of our biological clocks, controlling our drowsiness based upon light change.

So enough with the biology lesson, and back to the issues at hand: fitting fitness in fewer daylight hours. Given this information about melatonin and our bodies response to lack of light, it is biologically more difficult to fit in fitness during this time of year. So how do you manage?

A few good suggestions from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) are:

1. Stick to a schedule (if you can). Don't switch up the time of day that you workout each day, rather pick a time and try to stick with it. This will form a habit (fact: it takes 32 days to form a habit and 64 to break it), which will assist you in getting up even without the biological trigger.
2. When you get up in the morning, turn on a few bright lights to trick your body into thinking that it is lighter out, which will wake you up before you step outside.
3. If you workout after work, plan an energy-filled snack approximately an hour before you will head out for the day. Fitness Magazine, among other online resources, provides a great list of healthy, energy-boosting snacks. Some good ones for work include low-fat microwave popcorn, an apple and peanut butter, or a few handfuls of nuts (such as almonds).
4. Avoid too much caffeine late in the day. Even though it might help you with your current energy levels, it will likely affect your sleep that night, which ultimately affects your energy the next day.
5. Bring your gym bag to work and head straight to the gym/out for a run from work. Avoid going home because it will only make getting to the gym harder as you get bogged down with things to do at home, or get comfortable in the warmth.
6. Work out with a friend or a group, which will hold you accountable and provide you with additional motivation, even if you don't have yours. Another person will also add safety and comfort when you are lacking light, such as increasing your likelihood to be seen by cars or see potential hazards.

If you run outside in the dark, keep in mind that safety is important. Run with a headlamp (as seen here). Run with pepper spray. Wear reflective gear. Try to stick to better lite paths. Run with others. Run cautiously if in the colder states so to avoid slick patches.

It might be harder to fit fitness during the fall/winter months, but it definitely is possible and VERY beneficial as you start to get into the feasting at the holidays!

Fits Do Race Reviews: Monster Dash 1/2 Marathon Recap

By: Cool J

Yesterday,  D-man, my sister E, and I all ran the Monster Dash 1/2 marathon. Neither the D-man nor I had a PR, but we felt good throughout the race, and had a positive experience. And I'm very proud of E, who did an AMAZING job running the farthest she has run since becoming a "mommy". Prior to having her first kid 3.5 years ago, she had run a marathon and several 1/2's, but this 1/2 was her official return to the running "circuit". She set a goal for herself to run the whole thing, and never walk, and she did that and more! Way to go E!

The expo was held at the Crown Plaza hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Now, as a resident of the other "Twin City", I can be a bit of an elitist regarding St. Paul, so I was a little annoyed when I heard we had to "cross the river" for packet pickup. But due to the changed course, it did make sense to host it there.

There were a handful of booths selling Team Ortho gear, as well as some other merchandise. I wasn't sure what kind of charity Team Ortho is, exactly, and I asked a volunteer, who also did not know...

My sister and I both purchased some sparkly orange headbands to wear for the race. They were not BIC brand, but similar style with velvet on the underneath. (This was E's first time wearing one, and she is a fan!)

The SWAG bags were pretty barren, but they did include a great zip-up jacket. They also offered participants the chance to exchange right away, if you had the wrong size, which worked out since E had pre-selected one a bit too small.

We waited in line at the expo to have our ID's checked ahead of time for the post-race beer. Unfortunately, this meant we had to wear the green bracelets throughout the day Friday and Friday night...not a GREAT FIT.

Post-expo, we did some carbo-loading at our favorite pizzeria, Punch Pizza. As mentioned here, we often enjoy this place pre-long run.

Now, onto RACE DAY!

We arrived in St. Paul around 7:30, and were able to park in one of the pay ramps between the start and the finish.

The start area was outside the cathedral, which made for a picturesque backdrop.

There was also a 10 mile option at this race, which I honestly think could be eliminated. I understand that the shorter option opens up the race to more participants, but I personally think they should just focus on promoting and organizing the 1/2 marathon, and eliminate the 10 mile.

The race started right on time at 8:30. There were pacers for the 1/2 marathon (no separate pacers for the 10 miler). I stuck with the 1:50 pace group (8:24 min/mile) for most of the race, and finished with them, feeling strong, and right on pace.

And the BEST part of this race? Definitely the costumes!

O Ren Ishii from Kill Bill:

Q-tips!

Man in portrait:

Angry Birds!

An eyeball and Hulk Hogan:

Gumby:

An Ipod shuffle:

*What do you think readers? Is this a failed fit?

After the race, we were chilly and decided to use our free beer coupon indoors at the Liffey, a local pub, instead of the official post-race party. Unfortunately, the Liffey would not serve us the post-race beer without our ID's, which we didn't bring since we had waited in line at the expo for the bracelets! That was a little frustrating- the green bracelets were a waste! We decided to skip the free beer altogether, and headed to the Bulldog NE for some lunch.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this race, and I will definitely do it again next year. The water stops were manned with friendly volunteers, and were appropriately spaced. However, they used a type of plastic cup that you could not squeeze to drink from. D-man and I both complained that we had to actually walk through the stops in order to drink without spilling on ourselves.

The 10 mile finish seemed a little anticlimactic, and it was unfortunate to have to run PAST the finish line for the 1/2 marathon. As I mentioned, I think the 10 mile should just be eliminated, and the focus should be on the 1/2.  The gear check pickup was also not secured or monitored. This worried me a little since we had put our iPhones in the gear bag.

The course was very pretty and showed off the fall foliage in St. Paul very well.

The medals were also quite nice:

The finish line party was also well done, even though we didn't participate. Team Ortho posted a lot of pictures right away on Facebook, which was fun to review right away.

E also had a positive experience, and plans to come back next year! So, even though the price was high, I also plan to return next year for this event.

On a scale of 1-10, I give this race an overall rating of 8.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Favorite Fit: Fitted Blazers

By: LL
As evidenced by this and this, one of my favorite fits is a nice, fitted blazer. Even though you wouldn't know it from my posts, I have A LOT of blazers in multiple colors. This is partially due to my work dress code, but also because I think that a well-fitted blazer can be the right fit in so many different contexts. It is work appropriate with trousers or a pencil skirt; works great with jeans for a casual afternoon; and, always looks good over a little dress on chilly nights out. As you will soon see, fitted blazers are staples to my wardrobe - along with scarves and knee-high boots.

This is what I wore to meet some friends out for a casual dinner last weekend.

(I am also beginning to notice that I wear my Threads for Thought t-shirts all the time as well!)

Blazer: The Limited (similar)

T-Shirt: Threads for Thought Valerie V-Neck

Corduroys: The Gap Corduroy Leggings in Aubergine

Wedge Boots: Len Dreskin (similar)

Necklace: LL Original (as seen here)

Bag: Hobo 

Failed Fit: Over-Accessorizing

By: LL
When it comes to accessorizing an outfit, too much or too little can ruin a fit. Whereas too few accessories can lead to a forgettable fit, too many can become a failed fit. Elizabeth Taylor gave good advice when she instructed women, that before leaving the house, to remove the last accessory that they put on. Sometimes, I think that women need to remove more than just the last thing!

Much more frequently as of late, I have seen more women buried under accessories. From wrist to elbow they are wearing stackable bracelets, along with large rings on eight fingers, multiple strands of necklaces, and chandelier earrings, all topped off by a hat or large bag. There is no focal point of the outfit and you can barely tell what clothes they have on. And worse yet, all accessories are coordinating (as seen below).

Multiple accessories can be a good thing, when done right. But it is a fine line to walk between the right fit and a failed fit when trying to wear multiple pieces.

To do it right, try the following:

• Make sure that all the pieces that you wear are complimentary. For example, avoid large chandelier earrings with a bib necklace.  
• Try to keep a focal point and use accent colors to enhance that point. For example, wear a few gold bangles along with the emerald green multi-strand necklace instead of emerald green bracelets with an emerald green necklace.
• When wearing multiple pieces, make sure one isn't too loud, or it throws off the balance of the outfit.
• Make sure you wear the appropriate clothes - a muted pattern or a solid when wearing loud accessories; or stick to minimal jewelry when wearing a top with a pronounced pattern around the neckline (as seen below with Beyonce and Claudia Schiffer).

It is important to use accessories to enhance an outfit, not overwhelm it. So, use caution when adding accessories and make sure that it hasn't crossed the line to becoming a failed fit.



Throwing a Fit: Oxford Heels

By: LL
In a conversation with one of my other sisters, we discussed the fall trend of oxford heels, and whether we planned to get a pair. I knew that I was definitely interested, but my problem is that there are many different styles and colors to choose from. In my opinion, whereas the flat version of this vintage style gives a young school-boyish appearance, the heeled version is a bit more sophisticated and is especially appealing to me, since I am shorter.

Since that conversation, I have been throwing a fit trying to decide which pair I want. Here are some of my favorites:

Aldo Falge in Cognac

Gomax Oksana in Purple Suede

Amiana 1202 Oxford in Taupe Suede



In my mind, I am putting together quite the fit: a pair of wool wide-leg trousers and a turtleneck with a slightly unique spin, like this one that gives the illusion of cape. And, of course these oxford pumps at Anthropologie are great statement pieces in dark yellow. A great outfit to wear to work during the fall!

Featured Fit: My Birthday Suit

By: LL
Happy Birthday to me! Nothing special about this birthday - just another drop in the bucket to 30. In celebration of my birthday, my husband took me out to an amazing birthday dinner at one of the new "eclectic foodie" hot spots, run by a local culinary professor. Once my husband told me that this is where we were going, I knew that I wanted to wear the dress that I love, but have only worn once before...on our honeymoon. I was nervous how I would make it work for fall, but I pulled out a pair of vertical strip tights and (shocker) a tailored blazer, and was pretty satisfied with the final product. (And, might I state for the record how absolutely crazy I am for skirts and dresses with pockets!!)

Dress: Karlie (Spring 2011)

Blazer: Loft (similar)

Tights: Ralph Lauren (similar)

Pumps: Target (similar) 

Clutch: Coach (similar) 

Fits on the Road: Franklin, TN

By: LL
When most people think about visiting the "Music City," they think about the Grand Ole Opry and other country music-related activities. However, if you are interested in shopping while in Nashville, I recommend making the trip thirty miles south to Franklin, TN.

Historically speaking, Franklin is best known for its Civil War battle, and those sites are definitely worth checking out if you want to get more out of Franklin than just shopping (think: Confederate battle hospital with blood stains from the amputations and buildings with enough bullets lodged in them to rival Gettysburg). In addition, if you do the Civil War tour by foot, you could fit in about eight miles of walking.

However, if you are not a history buff, Franklin will provide you with enough shopping to make a day trip well worth your while. The most fitting shops are located along Main Street in downtown Franklin.

Gin-o Boutique
This eclectic, trendy boutique is full of unique tops, dresses, and accessories for women (and some for men) that you won't find many other places. The prices are reasonable and the staff is super friendly and helpful. However, like many other small, independently owned boutiques, the size selection is limited. (See right for photos from Gin-o).

Emmaline
This is the store to shop if you are looking for labels (DVF, Joie, J Brand, Rory Beca). The prices are similar to what you would expect for these designers. (See above for photos from Emmaline).

What's in Store
AMAZING accessories store! Very popular with Nashville celebrities (aka Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift, Julianne Hough). They have been voted the "leading creative supplier of affordable fashion accessories" for almost 10 years.

Philanthropy
Affordable fashion with a cause...this boutique donates at least 10% of every sale to one of its charities. The store has some men's attire, but mainly just a few accessories. The items for women range from scarves to blouses to dresses. The prices are reasonable, but the selection is limited and, on some items, the taste is questionable.

B Ink's Outfitters
If you are shopping with a male companion (as I was), this is a good gender-neutral store to spend some time in. They have a great selection of outdoor attire - including gear from Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Teva, and Merrell, to name a few.

One thing to know prior to shopping in Franklin, is that, since there is no state income tax in Tennessee, sales tax is around 10%. However, if you can plan your trip to Nashville around the sales tax-free weekend (normally at the beginning of August), not only will you avoid paying sales tax, you will also find some pretty awesome sales that fit the bill.

Fitting Debate: Running in Hot vs. Cold Temperatures (Pt 2)

By Jessie

It is definitely true that our bodies perform better in cooler temps. My worst marathon experiences have all been in the extreme heat (Chicago 2007, St. Louis 2011). My results strongly support the fact that heat negatively impacts performance.

But does LL really have it worse, living in the heat of the mid-South?


She often complains about how hard it is to get her runs in due to the extreme weather. (seriously, this girl is a complainer, amiright?)...But come December through March (with an emphasis on January and February), it's my turn to complain, and this time it's the opposite scenario. There are some big downsides to running in the winter.

1. Runny noses: Did I have a cold before this run? Why is my nose running so much? This is when you learn that gloves are also Kleenexes. And sleeves are Kleenexes. And chapped lips and red noses are not signs that you're a meth addict. Nope, just a winter runner.


2. Unflattering Sporthill winter pants- Can these pants be any less sexy? Loose around the hips and butt, just where we need that extra visual size. Thanks Sporthill.

 

3. No make-up: Can't wear any mascara ladies, unless you want frozen raccoon eyes or frozen black tears (maybe you WANT to look like a “True Blood” vamp). So embrace those washed out tired looking eyes, and hope the rosy glow from the cold will make up for it.

4. Yak-traks: These are a necessity for winter running, but they can be pretty annoying, especially if you’re running on a mix of cleared pavement and covered. Yak-traks work great to give you a little extra traction on snow covered paths, but they are loud and annoying on clear pavement. Also, they have a tendency to break mid-run, so you’re left with a loose spring to run on, or a yak-trak on one foot, and nothing on the other!

5. Head lamps: What are we, miners? What’s with the head lamp? And if your running companion is also wearing a head lamp, every time you turn to look at each other, you are blinded by the bright light in the eye.

6. Face masks: So not sexy. Are we robbing a bank? 

7. White fingers: I "self-diagnosed" (a.k.a. hypochrondriac) myself last year with Raynaud's disease. I am not really sure if I have it, but I definitely end up with white, numb fingers in the cold. And they can stay white and numb for several hours after returning indoors. i.e. I need better gloves!

8. Running in the dark…it's dark in the morning, its dark at night. Only on your Saturday morning runs may you see the sun.

9. Blinding headlights; you know what I'm talking about. Those passing cars’ lights will make it impossible to see anything. Isn't the light supposed to help? See #5


10. Wind and windburn. Self-explanatory. Not fun for anyone.

11.  Frozen hydration: Like to carry a water belt? Then I hope you like slushies, because I guarantee your Gatorade will be a popsicle by the end of the run.


12. "Frosty Thong":  Now, some of you may not know what this is...you obviously have not done a long run in the sub-freezing temps. Basically, in the winter when your butt is a "little bit" sweaty, that sweat will pool, & take the path of least resistance, freezing in a most conspicuous way- hence, the “frosty thong”.


And LL- you ARE wrong. The Frozen ½ marathon (Securian Winter Run) held in St. Paul, MN has been cancelled and/or shortened multiple times due to the extreme temps. The cancellations are more for the safety of the volunteers at the water stops than for the runners, since the volunteers are just standing there. But alas…it does happen.
(here's a pic from last year's Frozen 1/2)

Despite all my complaints, there are some positives to winter running. And I have found that is very possible, even “enjoyable,” to run outside throughout the ENTIRE mid-western winter.

Some things I LOVE about running in the cold:
-The cute winter running gear (especially from Lululemon and Patagonia)
-Less dehydration 
-Holiday themed races!

-Running on a beautiful, snowy Saturday morning- snow-capped trees, luscious snowflakes, rosy cheeks. Nothing better. “Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes!”

-Coming in from a cold winter run, taking a hot shower and changing into a cozy sweater, and having a hot toddy by the fire.

Some tips:

• Give your body extra time to warm up, and take it a little slower at the beginning of your run to allow your body to adjust to the cold temperatures.
• Staying hydrated is still important. Put warmed gatorade in your fuel belt..it will take longer to freeze!
• If possible, schedule your run for the warmest part of the day (in the sunshine!). Maybe try a lunch-time run?
• Be flexible, and use the treadmill when it’s too dangerous to run outside. It’s not worth risking a fall or hypothermia.
• Change out of wet clothes as soon as possible.
• Wear the right socks! Or, wear more than one pair!
• Choose running shoes with as little mesh as possible (perhaps try trail-running shoes, which are often a bit more water-resistant)

The best running temperatures are happening right now in the Midwest. This fall has proven to be a great time to be a runner. The cool temps, bright blue skies, and beautiful colored trees make running very enjoyable this time of year. It's hard to think about the brutal winter to come. But it’s on its way, and we at "The Right Fits" plan to share our experiences, good and bad, as we run through the seasons in our respective cities!


So tell me runners, who has it worse? LL or Jess???