Fits Do Race Reviews: The Athleta Esprit de She 5k

By Jess in Minneapolis

The Athleta Esprit de She 5k debuted last Thursday night at 50th/France in Edina. It was a very fun and exciting running event that just happened to correspond with "Ladies Night Out" at one of my favorite shopping destinations!

The 50th/France shopping area has several great boutiques and stores- Anthropologie, Athleta, Hot Mama, Prana, Fringe, Il Vostro Boutique, Title Nine, and so much more!

For Ladies Night Out, there were so many business offering discounts for participants in the race (full list below) Each runner received two coupons for glasses of bubbly after the race! How fun is that?

Packet Pickup: Packet Pickup was held at slightly random times at the Athleta store at 50th/France. It was on Tuesday from 5-7 pm, Wednesday from 10-12 am, and then Thursday before the race started.   I picked up my packet on Tuesday after work at the Athleta store, which just happened to be having their semi-annual sale…so of course I also picked up a new bikini as well…I couldn’t resist!

Apparently, a few of my older swimsuits are now a little saggy in the bottom, so I was sure to buy one that fits pretty snug in the bum. Athleta's suits a made for someone with a more athletic build- I felt like I could do some serious paddleboard yoga in this one! 

Paddleboard yoga poses like THIS:

Back to the race...
I liked that I could also pick up packets for my friends, without having their driver’s licenses, etc. which was helpful. Unfortunately, though, they ran out of size small singlets, and wouldn’t let my friend Meggan switch to a medium, so she still had to pick hers up at the race. And then at the race, they ran out completely! They did say that they will be shipping her a singlet once they get more in stock, so hopefully that little snafu will be remedied, especially since the singlets are really cute.They are a bright yellow color and a unique style- not just your standard race t-shirt. 

These singlets are actually fun! I give the race swag a 10/10! The goodie bag also offered coupons for $25 off at Prana (a yoga/athletic apparel store) and a free appetizer at the Edina Grill. The bag itself was a nice reusable bag, and it also included a simple workout watch/timer. Sweet!

Race Start: The start time for the race was 6:30 pm. Since the race location was only about a mile from my house, it was easy for my girlfriends and me to run to the start as a warmup. 

We decided to take quite a round-about way, and got in 4.5 miles before the race as a warmup. We did get some crusty looks from the other runners when we arrived at the start line already sweating. I would have expected a little more girl power/female commaderie, like I found at the Women Run the Cities 10 miler a few years ago. That was the only other women-only race I have done, and I remember really loving the energy there. Maybe it was because of the shorter distance of this particular race, but it didn't seem to have the same energy at this event...Don't get me wrong, I'm all about wearing matching outfits for a run (fitness fashion is the name of the game!) but I'm also not afraid to sweat! So maybe others just thought it was odd for us to arrive already sweaty. 

Overall, this wasn't the most competitive 5k out there, though the winner did run a 16:25 (holy moly!).  Yet even with a few faster runners, the three of us "average" runners were pretty comfortable moving up close to the start line, though we didn't quite put our toe on the line, so to speak.

Parking: If you weren't able to jog to the start line, there did appear to be plenty of free parking at the ramps at 50th/France. I would still suggest parking in the Linden Hills or Morningside neighborhoods and jogging to the start so you wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck in a ramp after the race.

Course: The race started and finished at West 51^st Street and Halifax Avenue South right near the 50^thand France business neighborhood. There were a few rolling hills. It was an out and back course, which actually made it go a little faster, since you knew what you were in for, and you knew where the finish line would be, as the start/finish were at the same place. There was limited crowd support- just a few families out in front of their houses cheering, but that's to be expected for a small 5k. The "back" part of the out-and-back course did get a little crowded at one section, when those of us who were running collided into the large groups of walkers going the other way. We ended up squished a bit up on the sidewalk, as the walkers didn't really move to the right to make way.

Post-Race Party: Similar to the Torchlight 5k from last week (read about that race HERE) this 5k was all about the post-race “rendezvous”! There was the aforementioned two glasses of bubbly at the finish and all the shopping and discounts for Ladies Night Out. There was also a photo booth available for funny pictures with your girlfriends. There was Greek yogurt, Starbucks iced coffee, cold towels, water, Gatorade, banans, etc. It was an impressive set up!

I actually finished over a minute faster than last week's Torchlight 5k. The cooler temperatures definitely helped as well as the less crowded start line. It was a nice reminder that a 5k can serve as a fun tempo run as a change of scenery. I ended up with 7.5 miles total for the day, with 3.1 miles at tempo pace, which was almost exactly the workout on my schedule.

Overall Rating: I think I would give this 5k a rating of 8/10. The issues they had weren't that big of a deal, especially considering it was the first year of this race. They'll figure out those little quirks for next year, I'm sure. I'm guessing they had a lot more late registrants, which is why they ran out of singlets. I'm not sure what caused the fifteen minute delay at the start, but again, it didn't ruin the event. I loved the SWAG.

I thought the course and the finish area were very well-organized. Packet pickup was easy, even though the times were a little odd. I love a chip-timed 5k- there are plenty of 5k fun runs out there, so it's nice to do one with an official time. There was quite an impressive list of sponsors as well. I could tell a lot of effort went into planning this event, and I hope to see it continue on in the future. I definitely recommend this one to my running girlfriends!



Discounts At The Esprit De She:

Enjoy the fabulous Ladies' Night Out specials.

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Athleta Esprit de She is excited to be part of the ultimate ladies night out in one of the city’s most desirable shopping destinations. Ladies' Night Out, hosted by the 50^th & France Business Association, will feature hosted activities and shopping discounts from participating businesses during the night market.

50th & France Chiropractic & Wellness		Demonstate Kinesio taping for athletes as well as present information about the clinic
Bluebird Boutique		Featuring athletic/active wear from The Firm.
dpHue		Let's face it, when you look good you feel good! dpHue would like to offer product discounts and free samples, while one lucky lady will win a free dpHue hair makeover!
Edina Hair District		The hair district logo sweat wrist band free with purchase.
Grethen House		Featuring new line of Adidas/Stella McCartney workout wear.
La Bratique		Why Every Woman needs to Invest in the Right sports bra! Coupon at table for 20% off through the end of month.
Mindful Health		Tips for stress-reduction, self-care and living mindfully. Acupuncture demonstations will also be featured.
Mozza Mia		Free food samples and our Martini Special: $10 Tempo Figo Sobieski vodka, muddled orange, cucumber and agave nectar. Skinny and tasty! Plus you get to keep your Mozza Mia martini glass.
Weir Insurance		Handing out Angie's Kettle Corn to participants at the Finish Line!
Arezzo Ristorante	$2.00 glasses of wine and $12.00 bottles of wine with any food purchase (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, or Cabernet).
Arthur Murray Dance Studio	Come in for a free group class at 7:45 p.m. and/or dance party at 8:30 p.m. Register and receive a free week-long dance membership. ($129 value)
Banana Republic	Receive 25% off of your purchase (certain exclusions apply).
Beaujo's	Extending Happy Hour price until 9 p.m. on heart-healthy wine.
Bluebird Boutique	20% off everything!
Bumbershute	bumbershute wants to thank its customers for five great years in Edina with 20% storewide sale and a fall fashion preview.
Cocina del Barrio	Mamacita cocktail (Hibiscus Margarita) and grilled shrimp with quinoa salad
Cooks of Crocus Hill	15% off good for regularly priced, in-stock merchandise only. Excludes electrics, gift certificates, sale or promotional items, special orders, crop shares, classes and events.
Corset Styling & Fashion Boutique	Free gift for the first 30 guests who visit Corset Styling & Fashion Boutique.
Cos Bar	Meet Julie Maclowe, Vbeaute Founder of Lipspread, an anti-aging hydrating lip gloss; paraben and gluten free, fragance free, and nut and oat free! Complimentary consultations and gifts with qualifying purchases. Celebrity makeup artists.
D'Amico & Sons	Gather the girls for dinner at D'Amico & Sons! We'll be featuring a Ladies' Night Out Healthy Choices menu as well as Ladies' Night Out Wine Specials. Patio seating will be available.
Dana's Apparel	Storewide sale from 5 to 9 p.m.!
dpHue	20% off everything! Because every lady deserves gorgeous hair color.
Edina Grill	Join us for food and drink specials!
Edina Liquor	Free sampling from 4 to 7 p.m. of Smirnoff light sorbet vodkas and cocktails. Drawing for a free bottle and coupons for participants.
Fashion Avenue	Register to win a $100 gift card at the premier upscale resale shop!
Fashionologie	Specials from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., including 15% off denim and 25% off all other purchases.
Fringe	15% off storewide and free earrings with any $50.00 purchase
Gather	Spin the Gather prize wheel when you make your purchase. You can win a gift with purchase or up to 70% off your entire purchase. Every spin is a winner!
Goodnight Moon	Seasonal sale featuring 30 to 75% off.
Grethen House	Free gift.
Hot Mama	15% off entire purchase. Edina location only. Not valid on previous purchases or gift cards.
La Bratique	Invest in the right sports bra! Professional fitting and 20% off any sports bra 30D to 40HH. Best brands on the market for busty women that reduce bounce up to 83%.
Live, Laugh, Love	Run into Live, Laugh, Love for an evening of fun, food and festivities. In-store drawings and free gift with Vera Bradley purchase. Remember you can always find what you want and more at Live, Laugh, Love.
Lush Cosmetics	Drawing for a "Post-Run Wellness Basket" ( a $70-$75 value).
Mozza Mia	Complimentary tomato mozzarella bruschetta with purchase of pizza.
Pacifier	20% off the entire store and 50-70% off summer clothing. Edina location only.
Paperista	Shop with refreshments and enjoy 20% off the entire store*. Stop in for pop-up shop featuring Stella and Dot jewelry. *Excludes custom orders.
prAna	Featuring post-run yoga and a gift card for participants.
R.F. Moeller Jeweler	Ladies join us for "The Price is Right" featuring fabulous prizes and a cool summer drink. R.F. Moeller Jeweler; the place to be cool!
Rice Paper Restaurant	Vietnamese cuisine is considered one of the healthiest in the world for its lightness, freshness and sparse use of oil. To celebrate this night of health, we are highlighting our Indochine Salad with (special LNO price, $7.50) with chicken or tofu. It is a salad tossed in a Vietnamese slaw made of cabbage, which the NY Times recently named one of the healthiest foods, tossed with our popular peanut sauce. Come celebrate health with Rice Paper!
Robert Foote Jeweler	Free jewelry cleaning, complimentary refreshments and $10 off rhodium plating. Plus, enter to win $150 off a custom jewelry mounting.
Room No. 3	Raffling a gift from one of our designer collections offered at Room No. 3! A winner to be announced at the end of the night.
Spalon Montage	25% off any appointment booked that evening, and 25% off all products. We're also offering food, drinks and chair massages. Representatives from our product lines will do demos as well.
STEELE Fitness	Stop by STEELE to experience our award-winning personal training for yourself! Complimentary sessions happening the whole night. Plus, save up to 20% off on active apparel and fitness packages.
Sur La Table	$25.00 gift card drawing.
The Hair District Edina	20% off all retail including Bumble & Bumble, Pureology, Moroccanoil, Bamboo Natural Inspirations and Jane Iredale. Receive a free gift with purchase!
The Optical @ 50th & France	Chanel Trunk Show! $100.00 off a complete pair of prescription eyewear. 20% off non-prescription sunglasses and accessories.

Fit Fanatic: Back To Basics- the Long Run

By Jess in Minneapolis

Happy Sunday friends! Did you have a long run yesterday? I had a 17 mile run, and it was great! It's been awhile since I could say that...summer longs runs so far have been kind of tough for me this season, with the heat getting the best of me more often than not. But yesterday morning was unseasonably cool for July, and it made a world of a difference!

I realize that not everyone who reads the Right Fits is a seasoned long distance runner, so I thought it might be helpful if I share more details of my long run. This is what I do, and I am by no means an expert. What works for you might be completely different, but this blog is all about sharing LL and my experiences with fitness, fashion, and fitness fashion, so here is my typical long run experience.

Rest: I almost always take Friday off completely from working out. If I do anything, I might do a barre class or a yoga class, but I rarely run the day before the long run. The few times I have taken a Body Pump class or something with a lot of leg work,  I learned the hard way that my legs just can't take it, as I usually had a terrible long run the next day.

Eat: It seems as though Dustin and I are almost always training for a marathon, so our Fridays are historically quite low-key. We usually pick up a Punch Pizza and catch up on the TiVo (anyone else watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix?) I may have a glass of wine, but I am careful to drink plenty of water on Friday night. 

Prep: Our long runs start at 7 am on Saturdays in the summer. I look at the forecast, pick out my running outfit, and pack my bag for showering after the run on Friday night. A nice perk of being a member of the Calhoun Beach Running Club is that we can take advantage of their showers and towel service. On Friday night, I throw together some clothes for after the shower. But even when I plan ahead, I still forget things. Yesterday, I forgot my bra and underwear...awesome. Oh well- I still really love being able to shower right after the run, so we don't have to get into our car all sweaty. Then we also have the option to stop for brunch or errands on the way home.

Route: Part of Dustin's role with the run club is to help plan out the routes and support stops each Saturday.Therefore, I usually don't have to think much about where I'm running. However, I'm sure a lot of you do have to plan out your routes the night before. There are a lot of apps out there to help- Google Maps, Map My Run, Gmap Pedometer, etc. Try them out and see which one you like the best.

Fuel: Since yesterday was cooler, I didn't bring my fuel belt along for the run for extra hydration. Since all of the Minneapolis water fountains were on and we had a support stop around mile nine, I didn't think it was necessary to carry the extra hydration. Most days, however, I do wear my Nathan Fuel belt, like in this picture from our cabin long run last weekend.

So, no fuel belt yesterday, but for most summer long runs, I definitely do bring it. I'd rather have it and not use it, than really need it and wish I had brought it along. I did bring two GU's and I used them both. I used one at the support stop at mile 9 with Gatorade, and the second one around mile 13 with a water fountain. 

*Thanks Abby and Andrew for the awesome support stop yesterday! They had Gatorade, water, fruit, jolly ranchers, and more. It was perfect.

Recovery: Lately after a warm long run, Dustin and I have been treating ourselves with a refreshing smoothie from Jamba Juice. Now, I know these smoothies are high in sugar and calories, but after burning 1700+ calories on the run, I'm not too worried about it. Its something to look forward to on the run, and it just tastes so good afterwards! However, we have realized that as refreshing as they are, they aren't filling enough for us as a post-run meal, so we're going to start making a real lunch/brunch afterwards instead, now that our mileage is getting high.

I also try to foam roll after the long runs. If we're not going anywhere, I'll wear my compression socks for a little while as well. 

I haven't ever tried a true ice bath (other than swimming in a cold lake or Pacific ocean after Newport) but I know many people swear by them.

Throughout the rest of the Saturday after the long run, I try my best to drink plenty of water to ensure I'm fully hydrated again. Yesterday was rainy and gloomy, so it was a perfect excuse to relax. After a quick walk to the dog park with Matilda and then her yearly veterinarian appointment, we lounged around the house a bit. We were well-rested in time for a goodbye party for Coach Paul and his fiancee Laura at Moto-I in Uptown.

They are heading to Chicago today where Laura will be starting her MBA at Northwestern this fall. They both will be truly missed. The club just won't be the same without them. Paul will still be coaching remotely through the end of this training season, but after that, he is looking at options for his replacement. I don't think he'll ever really be replaced! 

Good luck Paul and Laura in Chicago!

The party was a lot of fun- great job Rachel with planning it! Good times were had by all, and I think we sent them off with a bang.

Chris, me, and Kelly

Friday's Favorite Fit: The Trigger Point Foam Roller

By Jess in Minneapolis

I still struggle a bit with my IT band issues, though they have definitely improved. I think it's something I'll face forever (or at least as long as I'm training for marathons). However, I now have a "secret weapon" that I'd like to share as today's favorite fit. This item is not something you wear, but it's something that you roll on top of...It's the Trigger Point Foam Roller!

I bought mine at Marathon Sports for $40, and that seems to be the average price for one of these (you can find them online at REI here)

I already had two foam rollers. I had this one for everyday foam rolling:

And this one for traveling:

And don't forget about the stick! I have one of those too.

So why would I need a third? Well, I had heard from friends that the trigger point foam roller was even more effective than the normal ones, so I was willing to give it a try. I'm glad I did! I don't entirely understand the technology behind it, but it sounds like its all about the bumps on the roller.

Built from EVA foam, it has three zones that provide different intensities of massage. There are low and flat sections that feel like a massage with the forearm or palm; small square sections are firm and feel like fingertips; long tubular sections feel like fingers and thumb. It's designed to withstand repeated use without breaking down. So roll away! Work out those sore spots, friends!  I have found this foam roller to definitely be more effective. It hurts so good!

There is also a travel version of the trigger point roller available as well (find it HERE) because you know I love to run when traveling, and it's important to keep up with the foam rolling too, even when on trips. My niece Harriet knows just how important it is! She used the foam roller at the cabin.

And guess what? It also can also be incorporated into your everyday workouts to intensify push-ups, crunches, and other core exercises. I hadn't really thought about using my foam roller for exercising. I primarily use it for working out the ol' IT band, but maybe there's more to do with it after all.

In fact, Align Pilates in Uptown offers hour long foam roller classes!! I haven't tried one yet, but I have heard they are great.

From the Align website, 
This fun and innovative class will teach you all the wonderful things you can do for your body with the foam roller! Students will learn different massage techniques using the roller to help reduce tight muscles, body tension, and increase blood flow. Students will also learn and experience various Pilates exercises that can be done with the roller to create decompression, core strength, and stability throughout the body. All levels welcome! Class is 60 minutes (30 minutes of massage techniques and 30 minutes of core stability work) Please bring your own yoga mat to class.

Here's a video on how to use your Trigger Point foam roller from YouTube.

Pick up a trigger point foam roller now for all your aches and pains!  You'll be glad you did!

Fits Do Race Reviews: The Torchlight 5k

By Jess in Minneapolis

I ran the Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5k last Wednesday...Yes, yes, I know, I'm a bit belated on my review. But we were at the cabin again this weekend (more posts on that later), had a bit of scare with Matilda (I thought she was attacked by hornets!) and then we had a late night last night with a hill workout (whew, those get me every time! Read about the Calhoun Beach Running Club hill workouts HERE)
Those are all my excuses, but here I am with a full recap and review.

I have been participating in the Torchlight 5k for many years. I wrote a review last year HERE. The race has really grown over the past few years (5,000 runners!), and its now chip-timed. It takes place at 7:30 pm on a Wednesday night in the heat of the summer, running before the Aquatennial Parade. Therefore, all the families who come out to watch the parade are there to cheer for the runners as well! I love it!

But let's start with the fitness fashion part of this fit.  I wore my sparkling star Lululemon shorts (I think they are the run: speed shorts, find them HERE) paired with a Nike Dri-Fit Touch Breeze Top in citrus and an orange/white polka dot BIC band. I thought it was very fitting for a Torchlight 5k!

Stars and torches and whatnot.

Dustin of course showed his Calhoun Beach Running Club pride. The evening was so picturesque- this picture was taken on the Stone Arch Bridge on our walk back to our car around 9 pm (post the post-race party).

From the race website, 

"Whether you are a dedicated runner or just someone who jogs from the couch to the fridge, the Torchlight 5K is the fun run for everyone! Grab your family, friends and running shoes because the Torchlight 5K is the one run that starts with a bang and ends with a brew. That's right, our legendary post-race party features musical entertainment and complimentary refreshments. It's the party of the year that just happens to start with a run! 

Packet Pickup: 

Be sure to pick up your race packet ahead of time, as the line for packet pickup has historically been really long. I registered early enough that I actually received my packet in the mail, with a customized bib (with my name) and tickets for three Michelob Ultras at the after-party, rather than just two. And the earlier you register, the cheaper it is!

Registration Fees: 

Category	Nov 23 - Nov 27	Nov 28 - Apr 1	Apr 2 - June 1	June 2 - July 10	July 11 - July 16
Adult 5K	$25	$30	$35	$39	$49
Life Time Member	$20	$25	$30	$34	$49
Youth 5K (17 & under)	$20	$20	$20	$20	$20

Course: 
The 5k starts near the Basilica of Saint Mary...(picture below on the stairs of the Basilica)

...and then follows the Aquatennial's Torchlight Parade route, ending at Father Hennepin park for a post-race party. It's always fun to run downtown, especially on a random weeknight. There were two water stops, which was pretty nice for a short 3.1 mile race. The start line was a little crazy. Apparently, about 5,000 runners participated in this event, and you could definitely tell at the start line.

The Right Fits insider tip? The lululemon run: speed short back pocket is big enough to fit my little camera! I love being able to take real pictures to share with you all. Like this one!

Before the starting gun went off, there was the star spangled banner, and then some pyrotechnics...!!!

Finish Line:
The finish line was hot and crowded, but they did have a wide assortment of goodies- water, bread, cookies, POPSICLES (awesome!), towels to dry off all the sweat, and more!

Post-race Party!
The biggest draw for the Torchlight 5k is definitely the post-race party. Complete with a pop-hits cover band called "PopRocks", the music made it feel even more like a party. Every participant receives two (or three) coupons for Michelob Ultras, or three if you sign up early!

Last Wednesday was in the mid-90's, so the weather was not PR-worthy. Additionally, the start line is very crowded, so unless you're running with the USATF 5k championship team, you probably won't be able to get into your groove for at least a mile.

I felt pretty good throughout the race, despite the heat, finishing in just over 24 minutes. But then I received my "official" results email, which started that I had run about 11:30 min/miles! Seriously? And I wasn't the only one. Several of my run club friends also received faulty results. Eventually our times were corrected online, but I do have to wonder what happened....

Even though the results were initially wrong, I still would recommend this race. In fact, I'll give it an 8/10.

I will be running it again next year!

Mark your calendars for next year's Torchlight 5k on Wednesday, July 16, 2014!