Fits Recommends: J's Everyday Fashion

By: LL in KC

Following suit of so many before me, I came down with the flu last week. So what better way to spend a day at home from work than catching up on some of my favorite blogs...and discovering a few new ones.

Even though I thoroughly enjoy a variety of blogs, the ones that appeal to me most are ones that are relatable or do-able. Let's be honest, whereas we all love looking at all the runway looks or paging through Vogue, most of cannot afford what we see. We can drool over them and then try to find realistic ways to incorporate the trends into our everyday looks. That is why I love J's Everyday Fashion. I stumbled across her blog while researching another post a few weeks back and I continue to come back to it.

What I love about the blog is that she takes expensive looks and shows places where you get the same look for less and also gives pointers for helping readers define their own style through trends.

If you have the time, check it out.

Featured Fit: A Masquerade!

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Last Saturday, the D-man and I put on our black-and-white attire (he even donned his tuxedo!), scrounged up some masks, and met up with our favorite neighbors for an interesting night out.

Why the masks? It was all for a good cause:

 "Young Professionals Finding a Cure Presents: The Black and White Ball."

CURE is the primary young
professional fundraising group for
the American Cancer Society in the 
Twin Cities. All proceeds raised at
CURE events go directly to cancer
research taking place right here at 
the University of Minnesota. Please 
join us in the fight against cancer.

The night included drinks, dancing, and light appetizers at the Aria at the Jeune Lune in downtown Minneapolis. The people watching was phenomenal...Where do all these ladies get full-length ball gowns? Are they pagaent princesses? Who knows...

As for me, I am no pagaent princess, and had to go with a simple black cocktail length dress I had in the closet from my mother-in-law's wedding (which I posted about here). 

My coworker lent me the mask, which I loved, but I have to admit it wasn't quite as awesome as this couple's masks!

{oh, what a fun couple}

Honestly, the frozen half marathon earlier in the day left me a little sleepy, so we didn't stay at the event all that late. We did a bit of dancing, had a drink or two, perused the silent auction items, and then called it a night.  But it was an interesting change of scenery- a side of Minneapolis I probably don't see every Saturday night. 

....And I always love an excuse to get dressed up!

So, where does one find a mask in Minneapolis? Cost Plus World Market is your best bet for a fun mask. Like I mentioned, mine was from a coworker. I did hear that Pier 1 also carried lots of fun masks, and had I had more time to plan, I definitely would have checked out Etsy for a handmade one. 

Fits Do Race Reviews: Securian Winter Run

By Cool J in Minneapolis

This morning I ran the Securian Winter Run, formerly known as the "Frozen Half." 

Well, let's be honest, a lot of us still call it the frozen half!

In my "Fits Do Future Race Reviews post from a few months ago, I did publicly state that I was going to run this race, and I did register a few months ago. I hate to register for a race and not run it, but as the race date approached, I started second guessing whether or not I was ready to run a half marathon. It wasn't a question of whether I could finish it. It was a question of whether I would end up with a time that might be discouraging on my "Get Faster" campaign.

But I wanted to do a long run today anyways, so I figured I could go into it with the mentality that it was just a supported long run with a nice change of scenery for the route.

And it was! I didn't PR, but I felt pretty good. It was a confidence boost to find out where I am right now, and to know I don't have that far to go. I've put it out there into the blogosphere that I want to run 3:45 at Newport, and according to McMillan's Pace Calculator, I should try to get to a 1:46 half marathon race time. I didn't reach that goal today, but I feel like maybe, just maybe it's obtainable. Perhaps I can get there, after we delve into speed training for Newport with the expert coaches at Calhoun Beach Running Club.

As for the race? It's a pretty good winter run. Here is what I posted previously on my "future" race review:

The Securian Run
When: Saturday, January 26
Where: St. Paul, MN
Website: http://www.securian.com/Securian/Securian+Winter+Run/
This half marathon has a rocky history. The first time I registered, it was so cold that the race directors shortened it to a 1/4 marathon. The second time I ran it, the turn around point was set too early, and the race only ended up being 11 miles! Needless to say, I set quite a PR at that one! However, this is one of few long distance races in the area in the cold months of winter, so it's definitely on my radar.

So maybe the race has had a few hiccups in the past (though I completely understood why they shorten the race when it's too cold for the volunteers!) But I definitely give this race a positive review. It was well-organized; they even had pacers this year! It's not too big or too crowded either. And the race was definitely the full 13.1 miles today. In fact, my Garmin said 13.35 miles, so we didn't get shortchanged this time around!

The course goes along Shepherd Road in St. Paul, which follows the Mississippi River. There are definitely some rolling hills on this road, and one killer hill right around mile 12. It's a challenging spot for a tough hill. In fact, I thought about walking it. But it's short, and at that point, you're almost to the finish line, so I pushed through (at a much slower pace!)

{course map taken from my non-cold-weather-loving iPhone}

The road is concrete rather than pavement, which some runners really don't like. I didn't notice it being particularily hard, but then again, it was 0 degrees at the start. I didn't feel a whole lot of anything! The road did have a bit of a camber too, which could be a little annoying sometimes.

And yes, about the temperature...I guess it could have been worse. The wind wasn't so bad, and I warmed up pretty well and felt that I was dressed appropriately. Only my face got really cold, even with a neck gator pulled up around it. (Tip? Wear a neck gator and keep turning it around as it gets sweaty and frozen for dry protection from the cold).

It was probably a lot colder for the volunteers handing out the water. After all...

Yes, there were volunteers handing out water. I think there were three support stops over the course of the 13.1 miles. There was also a 10k and a 5k going on, and we all shared the course for part of the race, but only a short portion.  The water wasn't in cups, but was actual small water bottles. I think that had something to do with keeping the water from freezing? Or from spilling on the volunteers? I'm not sure. It was a little different, but worked just fine. 

I took one GU around mile 8. It was super frozen and thick. Ugh.

Post-Race Swag: There are no medals at the finish, and no finisher's shirts. This is a bit more of a "runner's race" without a lot of SWAG. Well, obviously there are no fair weather runners out there on such a cold day! Every runner did receive a commemorative mug.

Post-Race Goodies: They did have warm chili, red bull, water, fruit, bagels, chips, and granola bars at the finish. And you did get to wait inside the heated Securian building before and after the race! That was nice, especially since I got there a little too early. The race didn't start until 9 am, and I arrived around 7:45. The porta-potties, however, were outside. Talk about freezing your bum!

Parking was also free until 1 p.m. in the Securian parking lots, and the St. Paul YMCA offered free showers for the runners. Since I did this race on my own (well, except my friend Mason, but no Dusters) I just sped home after the race for a hot shower to de-thaw.

{My frozen friend for the day- thanks Mason!}

Every year, there is a "mascot" who dresses up in all gold with a torch...

I'm not entirely sure what he's supposed to be.

Here he is starting off the race!

{Photo courtesy of the Securian Run's facebook page}

Of course, after I zipped home, my fingers turned white and numb. Even with my super warm Craft bi-finger gloves, I still experience the symptoms of Raynaud's during the winter...so strange! Anyone else have this?

Other than the cold temps, the hill at the finish, and the lack of a medal, I still enjoyed this race and am really glad that I did it.

Nice job Securian and thanks to all the brave volunteers!

Featured Fit: Dresses in the Winter...

By Cool J in Minneapolis

A cold front hit Minneapolis pretty hard this past weekend. What do Minnesotans do when even the highs are below 0?

Well, the men go ice fishing, apparently.

...where they sleep in ice cabins on the lake.

Yes, Dusters headed "up north" with some buddies for the weekend. Eight men slept in this little bunkhouse for two nights. No showers. A tiny "bathroom" of sorts. No running water. Sounds fabulous, right?

No? Well, how about an outing to a warm, cozy theater to see Silver Linings Playbook (loved it. Bradley Cooper sure is dreamy) followed up by a dinner with some friends at Red Stag Supperclub, and then some piano-style karaoke at Nye's Polonaise Room (voted best bar in America by Esquire magazine- yes, in Minneapolis! Take that NYC!)

I wore a casual denim striped dress and colorful scarf, both from Anthropologie.

I paired the dress with an orange Cole Haan purse from Haute Look (for quite a steal of a price!)

 I love wearing dresses but sometimes they just aren't the right fit for the cold. It's nice to find a dress that works in the winter (i.e. long sleeves, warm material). Paired with a scarf, this look was cozy, but still a little dressy for a Saturday night out. Though let's be honest, no dress will keep you warm with temps like we've been experiencing...eeks!

Who is ready for spring?

Karaoke at Nye's Polonaise Room- definitely a favorite fit of mine in Minneapolis!

{I've learned my iphone camera does not like these temperatures either!}

Functional Fit: Running at the Metrodome

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Tired of the treadmill? Too cold to run outside? I have just the thing for you....
Dome Running!
Dome running? What's dome running?

I honestly did not know what dome running was myself until I joined the Calhoun Beach Running Club. In fact, I made it through my first year training with the club still not experiencing this elusive "dome running."   When I heard people mention that they ran at the dome, I pictured them running hot laps around the football field on the grass, pretending to score touchdowns or first downs.

{where I thought we'd be running}

I was quite surprised to learn that these runners are actually doing laps around the concourse at the dome, i.e. the area where spectactors wander around purchasing foot-long hotdogs and beers…not quite as fun as I had imagined.

{Dusters running in shorts and a tee in January!}

About 2 ½ laps equals one mile…and the laps all look the same. It’s hard to tell where you are or where you started, and sometimes I started to get a little dizzy!

But the bright side is that the dome is a balmy 75 degrees. There are no lines for the treadmill like at the gym. And it only costs $1.

It’s a convenient option for speed training and workouts during the winter. Our run club was headed there last night as there is a group training for the Boston marathon, which means training through these grueling winters. Maybe someday that will be ME training for Boston...hopefully before I'm 50!

The temperature today was -14 when I woke up; much too cold to run outside, so Dusters and I decided to join the group at the Dome instead.

{The D-man outside the dome}

Here are some useful links for all the Dome information:

http://runmdra.org/files/Dome_Handout_11-12.pdf
http://www.runmdra.org/index.php/programs/12-dome-running

Every Tuesday and Thursday through March 21    MDRA (Minnesota Distance Running Association) sponsored Dome running begins on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. Dome running is open every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., cost is $1. Every Tuesday/Thursday through March 21.  The MDRA turns the Metrodome into the place to be twice a week during the dark,cold and icy winter nights!  Running is from 5:00-8:00 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday and it costs $1.  2 1/2 laps around the concourse equals a mile.  Enter gate D. You can park free in the upper Dome lot.  If you have questions contact Rick Recker at 612 375-0805

http://runmdra.org/files/Dome_Handout_11-12.pdf
The above is a very useful link, providing the distances based on whether you run on the inner, middle, or outer "lane." The inner lane is reserved for runners going sub-7 min/miles, and they run in the opposite direction. My garmin didn't work inside the dome, so this link was helpful to determine what each lap time should be for me.

When writing this post, I did have to think about whether running at the Metrodome was a forgettable fit, a fresh, new fit, or a failed fit. But I asked my fellow dome runners, and they said it was a Functional Fit. It allows us to safely do workouts during the winter as a club, while avoiding the "dreadmill." It's true that running at the dome is not the same as running outside. Yet it was a nice change from the monotony of the treadmill. I traded the monotony of the treadmill for the monotony of the Metrodome. But indeed it was a functional fit!

{Calhoun Beach Running Club members feeling the burn at the dome}

Coach Paul (remember him? the guy who won the Mankato marathon?) had us do 5 laps as a warmup, and then 1 lap fast, 1 lap slow, 2 laps fast, 1 lap slow, 3 laps fast, 1 lap slow, 2 laps fast, 1 lap slow, 1 lap fast, and then a cooldown. I usually ran in the outer lane (no sub-7 minute miles here) so per the chart, it was about 8 miles total- a lot more than I would have done on the treadmill!

 {too fast for the camera to catch me...not quite}

Now if you live in Minneapolis, and this whole Metrodome running thing sounds like fun (are you CRAZY?), you better try it out this year. I'm not sure if the dome will exist next winter.

Workout complete. 

Mr. Mason (above) did almost 11 miles of dome running- impressive!

Post in the comments if you have any questions about dome running. 

It's definitely a quirky Minneapolis thing, but it works. 

I recommend this functional fit!

Throwing a Fit: Plum and Turquoise

By: LL
Do you ever stumble across a color combination and cannot seem to shake it? A few months ago I was all about navy and mustard, now I am throwing a fit about plum and turquoise. And to make matters worse, every store I go into lately has amazing deals on plums - perfect compliments for my turquoise J. Crew Bubble Necklace. Two weekends ago, I wandered into H&M and picked up this plum blazer on sale (as all of you long-time readers know, I have a blazer addiction - so this was a no-brainer purchase for me):

And then the other day, I got this fiesta purple button-down top from J. Crew:

I know that plums were a big color of the fall, but at that time I was too caught up in orange/rust colors. So if you are like me and joining the plum bandwagon in January, here are few of my favorite looks combining plum and turquoise:

{Blake Lively}

{From J's Everyday Fashion - absolutely love her bold color choices here}

{From Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique}

{Rachel Roy}

Who knows what the color combination I will be throwing a fit over in a couple of weeks, but for the next month or so, one of my outfits each week will likely include this color combination in one way or another. 

Fit Fanatic: Another cold day....

By Cool J in Minneapolis

You're probably tired of me talking about how cold it is in Minneapolis...

But seriously? That's cold. Besides, Minnesotans love to talk about the weather! With temps like that, it was to the treadmill for me (again). I did give the Nike Flyknits another go:

{eew, the locker room floor at my gym is nasty!}

My feet got tingly again towards the end of a 5 miler. It wasn't unbearable, but just strange. I'm continuing to rotate these in on occasion. I did a 5-4-3-2-1 workout again (~1.5 mile warmup, 5 minutes fast, 2.5 minutes slow, 4 minutes fast, 2 minutes slow, etc, with a cold down at the end.) 

Then it was off to the dog park in my failed fit sleeping bag jacket. 

Even in her performance fleece jacket, Matilda wasn't a fan of the cold weather. She kept running on three legs, lifting a back paw that must have been too cold. Needless to say, we didn't stay very long. Vizsla are great running dogs, but probably not the best winter dogs! Poor thing.

I have to share this picture from Saturday at the same dog park. It's not an "official" dog park, but a volunteer sets out plastic bags and garbage cans, and then empties them every week with his poop mobile! Minneapolis...you can be cruel with your weather, but I still love you and your quirkiness!

Favorite Fit: My Favorite Dress

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Do you have a favorite dress that you have had for many years.. a dress that has remained "in style" and wearable year after year? A dress that you keep coming back to for last minute events?

I have a dress like that. It's definitely a favorite fit of mine.
I bought it FIVE years ago from the J.Crew wear-to-work line.

Wear to work line: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_special_shops/weartoworkshop.jsp

 It's one of their "Super 120's" line of tailored dresses made of merino wool. The majority of the dresses in this line are gray or black- i.e. business professional of course. But they always carry one or two fun colors which suit my personal style a bit better, while maintaining a classic, conservative look that lasts year after year.

This magenta dress has seen a lot of plays, went to a lot of dinners, and probably attended a wedding or two. The classic tailored fit has allowed me to continue wearing this dress year after year. I have changed the way that I accessorize- (this time it was a turquoise J.Crew bubble necklace, courtesy of LL. Thanks for the necklace!)- but the look is basically the same.

This favorite fit came out again last week when the D-man and I went to see Aida (thanks to his company for the tickets). I am pretty sure this dress enjoyed the Elton John and Tim Rice musical as much as I did!

This dress has basically paid for itself with all the wear I have had with it! It has definitely been, and continues to be, one of my favorite fits!

If you check out J.Crew right now, the Memo 120's dress is on sale for $129.99 with an extra 30% off, which comes to about $99 for a dress you'll wear again and again!
Available in fun colors like landscape green or poppy grove.
Here's the link: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_special_shops/weartoworkshop/dresses.jsp

Fits Do Fitness Class Reviews: BODYPUMP at the YMCA

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Monday: Ran on treadmill

Tuesday: Ran outside in the AM

Wednesday: Ran outside in the AM, kettlebell class at Balance Fitness (did you miss my recent recap on this class? Check it out HERE

Thursday: Ran in the AM

Friday: COMPLETE rest day! Yay!

Saturday: 13.5 miles @ 35 degrees. Awesome!

Sunday: Treadmill + BODYPUMP

BODYPUMP? That’s new to the weekly recap, isn’t it Jess?

Why, yes it is!

 Have you tried BODYPUMP before?

I did today!

  

Actually, I had tried it once about two years ago (before LL and I started the Right Fits). But it had definitely been awhile! As I mentioned in this post, I have been pretty consistent with my kettlebells class, but as you can see in my weekly recap, I definitely need to do more than just one strength day. I usually try to mix in a yoga sculpt class or a barre class in there, as both of those types of classes involve some strength training.  But I’m not on a solid routine for that second strength training day...at least not yet. Maybe BODYPUMP is the right fit?

So when my friend Abby invited me to use one of her guest passes at her YMCA today for a BODYPUMP class, I jumped on the opportunity!

Plus, you know me, I can never say no to a workout with a friend!

 (Post-Muddy Buddy with some of my favorite workout friends!}

We both wanted to get some cardio in first, so we hit up the brand-new amazing treadmills at her gym. This particular YMCA had been recently remodeled and everything was so clean and new!

After about 40 minutes on the tread, we headed to the fitness studio for the class. I was glad to have a friend there to explain what equipment I needed ( a step, a barbell with a variety of weights, a yoga mat, and some dumbbells).

The class was taught by two older ladies, with one instructor leading the class while the other offered adjustments and posture tips. Though the instructors were older, they were in amazing shape. If this is what taking BODYPUMP leads to when you’re 50, count me in!

BODYPUMP begins with a warm-up to get your body moving and slowly starting to work out your muscles, using light weights only.
 After the warmup, you'll begin focusing on each of the major muscle groups, via what the BODYPUMP creators call THE REP EFFECT™. THE REP EFFECT™ involves all the important muscles to sculpt your legs, chest, back, shoulders, and abdominals. Focusing on low weight loads and high repetition movements, it’s meant to help you burn fat, gain strength and quickly produce lean body muscle conditioning.

BODYPUMP™ (yes, it’s a trademarked class) has been around for many years. It’s a barbell focused strength class meant to sculpt, tone, and strengthen your entire body, fast.

{Barbell focused class- this is your new best friend in BODYPUMP!}

The routine and the music are standard at any BODYPUMP class, switching every three months. The moves change so your muscles don’t plateau. Every song works a different muscle group, so you get a full body workout.

I have a feeling I will be sore tomorrow, as we worked pretty hard in the class.  My arms were a little shaky afterwards, and I could definitely feel it in my butt and thighs. I liked this class, as well as the newly remodeled gym. In fact, I like it so much that I am seriously considering switching from my LA Fitness to the YMCA as soon as I can!

Thanks Abby for the guest pass and for the fun Sunday morning workout!