Guest Post: Running Back-to-Back Marathons in One Weekend!

I have a special guest post for you today!

Lindsey Pierret, a fellow Calhoun Beach Running Club member, and 2014 winner of the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson Mississippi  and 2014 2^nd place finisher of the First Light Marathon in Mobile, Alabama is here to share with you her story of running these two marathon back-to-back on the SAME weekend! 

She won the first one, and came in second place in the other. Insane, right?  But also inspiring!  I’ll let her share the story of this amazing accomplishment:

My Newest Form of Crazy…

By Lindsey Pierret

“Would you like to participate in our back-to-back challenge?“ Most people would say “Hell no!” Me…I always love a new way to challenge myself both mentally and physically. That {someone asking the question} was all it took. I registered for my first back-to-back marathon competition including Mississippi Blues Marathon of Jackson, MS and First Light Marathon of Mobile, Alabama. Eric Stevenson {one of the coaches for the CBRC with a marathon PR of 2:49} was the one “lucky enough” to participate with me.  Since he has a goal of 50 marathons in 50 states, I knew it wouldn’t take that much convincing {knocking out two states in one weekend- pretty impressive!}

Having run only two other marathons in the past, the question for me became how to train and what to do differently. I only had 3 to 4 months to prepare, and I knew going into the races that I wasn’t going to be able to race either one. That said, just like any other runner would do, I looked up last year’s results. The winning times of the Mississippi Blues Marathon and First Light Marathon were 2:47 and 3:17 respectively.

So began the internal debate. “Do I sandbag the first marathon so I can win the second one?” “Do I run the first one at 7:30 pace and just see what I have left the next day?” I don’t think I knew the answer to these questions until race day, but one thing I did know for sure was training back-to-back long runs was going to be essential. I deemphasized the speed work, partially because I didn’t plan to race, but after a standard long run on Saturday I would do a half long run on Sunday. That meant my peak week was 22 miles on Saturday followed by an “accidental” 13 miles on Sunday.

Marathon #1!

Fast forward to the first marathon and I decided to start out at a comfortable 7:30-7:40 pace. That lasted until about mile 15 when a spectator yelled from the sidelines, “You are only 3:38 behind the lead woman.” “I can make up 3:38 in 11 miles,” I thought to myself. At that point, Eric Stevenson and I started to pick up the pace slightly mile-by-mile. At mile 21 I was the second female. Mile 22, the first female was in my sight and at mile 23 I took the lead to find myself winning the Mississippi Blue Marathon in 3:15:16, my second fastest time.

Between Marathons: I have always been fast to recover, so I sat down to ice my quads and calves immediately. I was sore, but nothing out of the ordinary in my mind. The ice was purely preventative knowing Eric and I had a three and a half hour drive to Mobile, AL that afternoon. I don’t know how many prizes I will have to compare it too, but the blue electric guitar I won was pretty amazing, even if I do not know how to play it.

Lindsey with her 1st place award!

Eric and I made sure to stop about every hour to walk around and stretch on our way to Mobile, AL.

Marathon #2!

The night before the second marathon was business as usual: expo, pasta dinner, tons of stretching and some well-deserved rest and relaxation at the hotel. Day two came, and I was sore before the race even started. Again, warming up and stretching were critical. Eric and I ran into many other participants in the back-to-back challenge that morning. I remember one saying, “It will take about 6 miles to loosen up and then it will feel like normal.” All the while I have not forgotten that I still have a chance to win this marathon too. I knew it was going to be tough, but I was aiming for 7:30 pace again. The race starts and I think Eric and I were both surprised at our ability to keep up a decent pace. For me, until about six miles to go.

With six miles left I was in the top three women with one more in sight. I passed the second place female with about three miles to go and knew I just didn’t have the win in me. A biker joined me about a mile and a half from the finish and I could not have been more thankful. She kept me going and cheered to the crowd my victory from the day prior. I crossed the finish line of the second marathon in 3:17.23, second place female, about 6 minutes behind the leader.

Eric and I drove back to Jackson, MS that day and let it all soak in. Completing two marathons in two days at around 7:30 pace is arguably one of the achievements I am most proud of, especially coming out of the weekend with a win. If someone asked me now, “would you like to participate in another back-to-back challenge some day?” I would have to say, “Hell yes, it is my newest form of crazy.”

Thanks to Lindsey for taking the time to share your story. I had a few follow up questions that I thought of after reading her post. If you also have additional questions for Lindsey, feel free to comment directly on the blog and I will let her know how to respond to you there!

1: Can you share a little about your running background?

I have been running since I was in fourth grade and have increased in distance ever since then. I ran D1 cross country and track in college all four years at Quinnipiac University. I did 5k and 6k in cross country, 3k and k5 indoors, and 5k and 10k outdoors. I have always known I was born and bred to run long distance, it was just after of being patient till a time my body was ready for it.

2: What was it like to "break the tape", i.e. WIN a marathon? Do you get any special treatment at the end?

So the funny story that I left out is the women's lead biker from the Saturday marathon didn't come with me when I passed the last woman. The tape wasn't ready for me and they figured it out obviously after I had finished. I got interviewed by a few news crews, which is cool.

3: What's next for you?

Grandmas Marathon (June 21^st) is next, and I seriously want to consider doing an ultra marathon.

4: if someone wants to do a back-to-back marathon, what is your advice?

Go for it, you never know until you try! You know your body best, so train and listen to it when it is talking to you.


There you have it! What a great story, thanks for sharing Lindsey- you definitely made the Calhoun Beach Running Club proud!

And the winner is....

...watch the video! My first ever vblog? Is that what its called? Whatever it is, I wanted to show you that I put all of your names into a little box and drew one randomly. All is fair at the Right Fits!

Congratulations Katie!  Katie's favorite workout right now is C2 classes at Corepower, and she loves Athleta and JCrew, but also has been finding great workout gear at Target lately. She said she'll probably spend her gift card on some warm running tights- good call Katie! Contact me at right.fit.sisters@gmail.com and I'll send you your gift card.

A big thank you to all who entered into the giveaway. It was really fun to read your responses. Yes, most of you were friends or family, but its cool to know that there are a few of you out there reading about Fitness and Fitness Fashion from far-away lands like Oregon, Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, and Missouri. Thank you for stopping by. I really appreciate it!

Quick Update- Plank Challenge and Gift Card Winner to be Announced...

Hi everyone! I had hoped to squeeze in a post this morning to announce the winner of the $50 gift card to Gear. However, a 7 mile run and a 5 minute plank is all I had time for this AM (bit of a blizzard out there this morning!)

Morning run in the blizzard!

However, Dustin videotaped me drawing the winner's name last night to ensure all fairness, and I plan to post that video tonight....so yes, a winner has been determined! But stay tuned for the video announcement.

Also- FINAL day of the plank challenge. Five minutes! Holy cow...I am so impressed with all of you who have kept up on the challenge. It was a tough one, but I hope you feel stronger now than you did 30 days ago.  Congratulations!

I think I'll try to keep doing at least 3 minutes of planking daily from here on out, as I don't want to lose all the strength that I have gained!

I will also announce next month's challenge later this week.

Have a great day!

Weekly Recap: Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion

By Jess in Minneapolis

Another week has flown by, and I'm checking in today with a weekly recap of what's happening in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion during the week of January 20-26th.

Fashion: 
First up, a quick fashion update. A few of you asked about my dress from my friend's bachelorette party this past weekend...

I found it on the sale rack at my local Anthropologie. It's an online exclusive that appears to be sold out (though I did find it on ebay). Someone must have returned it to the store, so it was mine for just $50! I had to pair it with tights for a January event, but I think it could transition into spring with some nude heels. (And PS- I did a spray tan at the Glow Lounge with the bride-to-be...hence the post-vacation glow!)

Fitness Fashion:

In Fitness Fashion, I tried out a pair of the GapFit gFast leggings. Regularly $59.95, but on sale right now for $38.99 in blue or green:

Of course, I was drawn to the brightest color available. This lime green pair of tights were calling my name! They fit pretty well, and I'm happy with them so far. 

I’m really curious why the Gap is investing so much in their athletic ware, when they have Athleta? I suppose the Gap tights aren’t quite as nice as Athleta’s, and the price point is lower. I could tell that the material wasn’t quite as nice as my Splits59 pair or a pair from lululemon, but they work just fine for an additional pair to add to the rotation. I wore them to a barre class the other day and they worked well, though I probably wouldn’t run in them- not enough coverage for that!

Fitness:

And finally, here's how last week ended up in fitness:

Monday: Hilly intervals by Mary Tyler Moore’s house- 8 miles total. I had the day off so I took advantage and ran when the sun was out!

Tuesday: 6 miles on the treadmill, C2 Vinyasa at Corepower with Kim (I used to take Kim's yoga sculpt class quite a bit back when I first got started at Corepower, but this was my first time taking her vinyasa class)

Wednesday: 5 miles on the treadmill

Thursday: 7 miles on indoor track at the downtown Y (70 laps...yep, 70 times round and round...)

Friday: complete rest..running all those laps burned me out!

Saturday: 13.1 miles Securian Winter Run

Sunday: Bonus 3.5 mile run- I shouldn't be running on Sundays; that's not part of my plan for this training (no more than 5 days of running per week!) but this was an exception. I was part of a RUNNING photo shoot! 

(I'll have more to share on this next week, but it was pretty fun!)

So looking back, I guess my week wasn't actually very balanced- 6 days of running, 1 complete rest day, and 1 day of yoga...no strength, and about 43 miles of running. I hope to do a better job this week.

I did do lots of planking though- up to 4 minutes again today! Are you sticking with the 30 day plank challenge? Please let me know in the comments how it's going!

Fits Do Race Reviews: Securian Winter Run

By Jess in Minneapolis

Last Saturday, I ran the Securian Winter Run Half Marathon, formerly known as the Frozen Half Marathon. There is also a 5k and a 10k option on race day.

I ran this race as part of a bachelorette party (read all about it HERE). The bride-to-be had said we should all run it together as a "fun run." Now, I should mention that the bride-to-be's marathon PR is somewhere around 3:15, and she regularly throws down half marathons in the 1:30's...so I was a little worried that her "fun run" pace could be my hardest run ever! But fortunately, she was content as long as we kept it under two hours. She just wanted us all to have a good time!

And a good time, we had! It was nice to not be too stressed about a race ahead of time. We didn't do a warm-up before the race, and we just treated the 13.1 miles as a long run with good company. I think my official time was 1:56, which was about right for the effort for the day. Well...the "effort" did feel harder than the time showed, as the footing was a challenge, and the wind and cold made things a little tougher! I was sore afterwards, but I think that was because of my fall and the change in my running form due to the icy roads.

The race started at 9 am, and we were able to stay warm within the Securian building until right before the gun went off. We headed to the start line around 8:55, and before we knew it, we were off. There were pacers available, and I think there were some really competitive runners out there as well. I believe the official cutoff time on the other end for the half marathon was three hours. That would be long time to be out in those types of conditions!

The course first curves around the ice sculptures in Rice Park, before heading out and back on Shepherd road, which is a busy thoroughfare in St. Paul. There is a killer hill right at mile 12 or so, where plenty of people actually decided to walk (I was very tempted to join them!) The rest of the course is rolling hills on a concrete road. Its not very scenic, but it was a change of scenery from the rest of my long runs, and there were plenty of water stops (though the water was frozen at some stops!) There was no Gatorade though, only water in small bottles at 3-4 points along the course.

I am so grateful for those volunteers who stood out there in the freezing cold to give us water- THANK YOU!

course map

The Securian Winter Run is a "runner's" race. There's no swag, no medals, no fanfare. There were some shirts available for purchase, and the first 1,000 registrants did receive a pair of fit-socks, which was nice, but none of the swag of a Team Ortho race. Instead, its a cold winter run for tough runners who are willing to brave the elements without all the "glory."

shirts available for purchase

I did the race last year (read that recap HERE). It was cold then as well, but the difference this year was that the roads were really, really slippery. I actually wiped out once around mile 10, and became really paranoid after that about falling again. I backed off a bit and ended up getting separated from the rest of the girls, though we all finished within minutes of each other.

After the race, there was chili and hot coffee available as well as your standard post-race goodies like bananas, chips, bread, and salted nut rolls (or maybe that's only standard in Minnesota?) We were all freezing, so there wasn't a lot of stretching before we headed to the free showers at the St. Paul YMCA to warm up and change into dry clothes for the rest of the bachelorette festivities.

Even though the weather is guaranteed to be cold, I still like this race. It keeps you in shape over the winter, and I enjoy running in St. Paul for a change. Parking is free for the race. Its just an easy and affordable half marathon option that I recommend for anyone wiling to run outside in the winter. It probably isn't a PR course, nor PR weather, but for $35, you can't beat it.

....I just had to get a picture of this guy. You know I love a bright outfit, but this guy made my running gear look dull. Nice work buddy!

A Wintry Half Marathon and a Bachelorette Party!

Hey, 30 day plank challenge participants: today is a rest day, and tomorrow we do four minutes!

I actually missed planking yesterday, so I needed to make it up today. I was able to do my 3.5 minutes with no break to the knees. I did rotate a few times to a side plank, but I kept working the whole 3.5 minutes. It was a challenge, but I think I am stronger than I was on 1/1/14.

How do you feel? Stronger? We are almost to five minutes!

You can also still enter into the drawing for the $50 gift card to Gear Running store. Just comment and answer four questions on THIS POST. I'm leaving the giveaway open for one week, so you have until next Wednesday to enter. The winner will be announced Thursday, January 30th on the blog!

Yesterday was a crazy fun but full day for my friend Jen's bachelorette party. We started out with a freezing cold half marathon, the Securian Winter Run in St. Paul.

We tried to stick together in a group, and do the run for fun, but around mile 10, I actually wiped out on the icy roads! I got a little nervous at that point, and the rest of the girls got ahead of me, but we all finished under two hours. I was happy with that time for a "fun run" in such tough conditions! I will post a full race review later this week.

Then, after a quick shower at the St. Paul YMCA (free for runners post-race), we headed to Phresh for manicures and pedicures. We had a lovely private room for all twelve or so ladies to get pampered, while sipping on champagne and enjoying some tasty snacks.

Eventually, we made our way to the historic Saint Paul Hotel to get dolled up before the bachelorette opened her gifts, while we enjoyed more snacks and more champagne!

We had dinner reservations at 8 pm at Pazzaluna, which was right across the street from the Saint Paul Hotel  I had never eaten there before, but I think most everyone enjoyed their meals. It was in the perfect location too, as by that time of night it was really snowing (which, I should mention was very pretty by Rice Park, with all the decorations for the Winter Carnival. St. Paul can be quite charming!).

After dinner, we went back to the hotel lobby bar for a bit, before taking the hotel's van out to a few drinking establishments in the lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul:

(said hotel van)

We found our way to Barrio St. Paul for some dancing, as well as the Bulldog before cabbing it back to the hotel for the night.

It was a very busy day, but we all had such a great time celebrating the bride-to-be, with what she described as "the perfect day"- running, mani/pedis, dinner, and lots of girl time!

Only Minnesota girls run half marathons in sub-zero temps for a bachelorette party, right? 

We say brrring it on!

Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge

I'm checking in to see how your planks are going! Can you believe we made it to three minutes? Five minutes isn't that far away.

The first time I did three minutes, I had to take a break for a few before getting back into it, but yesterday I did the three minutes straight through! That was TOUGH, but I really do think my core is getting stronger. I never would have thought that I would make it to 3 minutes! How about you? How is it going?

Today, we're up to 3 1/2 minutes. Remember, you can modify and go to your knees for a few seconds if you need to, I don't want you to compromise your form.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

Fits Do Product Reviews: Brooks Ravenna 5

In the middle of last year, I switched from the Brooks Adrenaline to the Brooks Ravenna. A physical therapist that I was seeing for my IT band issues told me that she really didn't think I need all of the stability of the Adrenaline. She recommended that I try out the Ravennas, rotating them in with my Adrenaline to see how they felt. The Ravennas are a step back in terms of stability from the Adrenaline.  I wrote about my love for the Adrenalines HERE and I had run in the Adrenalines for quite some time. Yet I was open to a small adjustment within the Brooks family, so I picked up a pair of Ravennas.

I honestly didn't notice that huge of a difference between the two, but the Ravenna's are lighter and "cushier," so I have stuck with the Ravennas now for at least five pairs.

My first few pairs were the Ravenna 4's. Now Brooks has just come out with the Ravenna 5's!

I ordered a pair from Road Runner Sports (as a VIP member, I purchased them for slightly less than the price on the Brooks website).

So far, I have only run a few treadmill miles with these shoes. I am planning to rotate them in with my older Brooks Ravenna 4's, using the older 4's for outdoor, yak-trax/snowy runs, and the 5's for "dry" treadmill miles (which I am sure I will have a lot more of before this winter is over...)

Here's a bit of information on the Ravennas in general from the Brooks website: The Ravennas are a moderate support trainer shoe that is meant for mild over-pronators with varying foot shapes (there is also a wide version available). They are supposed to combine cushioning and guidance. Some reviewers call it a "chameleon shoe" because it adapts to the runner, with a combination of support and cushioning.

The Ravenna 5's are now a little lighter (only 241 grams) which is pretty light for a stability shoe.
They have a "caterpillar" crash pad, which is supposed to help with the transition from heel to toe. The durable "abrasive-resistant" outer rubber is also supposed to help them last longer.

Overall, I think the Ravenna 5's are an improvement to a shoe that I already loved. I recommend this shoe to anyone looking for an affordable and comfortable shoe, who also happens to be a mild-overpronator. And I can't lie- the fun new colors of the Ravenna 5's are pretty sweet!

A Friendly Reminder to Replace Your Running Shoes Frequently!
I'm pretty diligent about tracking my miles with each pair of shoes, and I try to replace them around 400 miles. But if you don't track your miles, there are other ways to tell if your shoes are "dead:"

• Try on a new pair of the model that you are currently wearing
• Compare these to your current shoes
• If the cushioning in your shoes fees dead in comparison, it probably is! Time for a new pair.

If you do track your shoe's life, the recommended mileage is anywhere between 350-550, though this can vary based on your running style, body weight, and the surface you on which you run.

But definitely remember to replace your shoes in a timely fashion! Running in old or worn out shoes can lead to an increase in injury. 

What should you do with your old pairs? Recycle them!
Runner's World offers this full list of places to recycle your shoes: 

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319--10041-0,00.html

And if you are in the market for a new pair of shoes...be sure to enter to win the $50 gift card to Gear on yesterday's post (HERE). Just answer 5 easy questions for a chance to win!

Gear Running Store Gift Card Giveaway!

Guess what, friends, family, and readers! I’m doing the first give-away for the Right Fits! Hold onto your running shoes, it’s a good one.

Yep, I have a $50 gift card to Gear Running Store, and it could be YOURS! 

I have mentioned Gear many times on the Right Fits; they are one of my favorite local running stores. But don’t worry if you’re not local. You can order some signature items online at www.gearrunningstore.com OR you can just call and order shoes, gear, whatever, and they will ship it to you!

Here’s the catch. You have to comment ON THE BLOG- not on facebook, not on twitter, but actually ON THE BLOG, by answering the below 5 easy questions. I will then put all the commenters' names in a drawing, and pick one of you to win this awesome gift card!

 

Wall of shoes at Gear (source)

In order to comment on the blog, you will need a google log in, but it is super easy to set up.  I have confidence that you can figure it out.

I’ll accept “entries”/commenters until next Thursday. I will then contact the winner to obtain a shipping address for the gift card.

But first, you have to answer these 5 questions in the comments. I have answered them too to get you started. Answer away for your chance to win!

1.   What is your FAVORITE workout of the moment? (running, boxing, tae kwon do, yoga, you tell me!): I would say barre for me…or of course, running, but that’s always a fav.

2.  Where do you live? I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota! (Google analytics does give me some info about my readers, but I’m curious where you are located)

3.    If you could only shop at one clothing store, what would you pick? Probably Athleta..or JCrew.

4.    How do you stay in touch with The Right Fits? (computer, phone, via Bloglovin’, via Twitter, via Feedly)?: 

      I read tons of blogs, mostly on my phone (via BlogLovin and/or Feedly) or on my laptop if I want to comment on the posts. I wish there was a way to comment on the blog via BlogLovin’ or Feedly.

5.   If you win, what do you think you will use your gift card on? If it were MY gift card, I would buy the Run MSP hoodie. So cozy!

Weekly Recap and Prepping for Park City!

By Jess in Minneapolis

I hope you enjoyed your weekend!  Mine was a nice long one, as I had Monday off for the MLK holiday. Having that extra day was such a treat!

I'm back to check in with a weekly recap of January 13-19th.

In fitness fashion this week, I reviewed my pair of capris from Splits59 (read about them HERE)

In fashion, I have been trying to figure out what to wear to my friend's bachelorette party this weekend. It's going to be such a fabulous day! We are starting out with a half marathon (the Securian Winter Run- read my review of last year's race HERE), then getting mani/pedis at Phresh, then a little happy hour/cocktail party before dinner at Pazzaluna, and then perhaps a little dancing? Who knows where the night will take us!

Anyways, I wanted to find something to wear that was a little warmer due to the cold temperatures hitting Minneapolis (again- boo).  I was so pumped to find this Bellini Lace shift dress on the sale rack at Anthropologie. I got such a great deal on it- a price that definitely fit the bill, at only $50, and I am sure I will wear it again. It must have been a return, because it is an online exclusive, but it was on the sale rack at my local Anthro. Score!

I plan to pair it with tights and ankle boots....its cold in Minneapolis! Yet I think I'll be able to style it differently in the spring, and maybe even summer to make it a truly functional fit!

And finally, here's how the week turned out with fitness:
Monday: Easy morning run
Tuesday: Easy (though very snowy) morning run and C2 (vinyasa) class with instructor Nikki at Corepower Yoga. She is so awesome- great class!
Wednesday: Treadmill run: warmup for about 2.5 miles, then two 7-minute tempo intervals, then cool down of about 2.5 miles. I actually really liked doing the tempo intervals on the treadmill, because I could lock in my goal pace and hold on (as long as I could at least!)
Thursday: Kettlebells at Balance Fitness
Friday: Hot Power Fusion at Corepower Yoga
Saturday: Long run- just over 14 miles
Sunday: hour long barre class at The Barre- really tough class! The instructor did all the tough moves, like water-skiers, etc. Felt great!

Then in the afternoon, we headed to Welch Village to ski/snowboard. 

Dustin and I are heading to Park City, Utah at the end of February with my younger sister (you might remember LL from the blog!) and her husband, and three other friends (two of them pictured above!) The Minneapolis people met up at Welch to warm up a bit for Utah. It was a nice warm-"ish" day, and I feel a lot more confident going into Utah now with a little practice under my belt this year.

Have you ever been skiing in Utah? Any recommendations? Please share!

I ended up with about 40 miles for the week, with only a handful of them at a hard effort; two yoga classes, 1 barre, 1 kettle bell (strength), and 1 snowboarding day (cross-training?) I think it was a  pretty balanced week!

How was YOUR week in fitness, fashion, or fitness fashion? Please share in the comments! I'd like to get to know YOU- my readers! So start commenting- let me know if you tried out something new in fitness, fashion, or fitness fashion lately!

Fresh New Fit: Aerial Fitness Part 2

Two weeks ago, Dustin and I took our first Aerial Fitness class at the Stomping Ground in Minneapolis (read all about our first class HERE). We took it as part of a Groupon that I had purchased, which included two classes. This past Wednesday, we took our second class.

The last time we took the class, we focused primarily on the lyra (the big metal hoop), whereas this time we spent the whole hour working on skills on the "tissu" or long fabric.

Of course, we warmed up first with some stretching, and then we began with the "climb" on the tissu, which was the only skill we had time for at the last class. The simple climb was pretty challenging for me at the last class, but this time around, I wasn't so worn out from the lyra. I was able to climb to the top, and then loosen my grip and slide down the fabric.

After we worked on the climb, we learned how to do a foot lock, where you wrap the tissue around your ankle/foot in a very secure way, so that when you stand up and put your weight on your foot lock, you are pretty comfortable and supported.

Once we mastered the foot lock, the instructor was able to teach us several new moves.

I think this one was called the "arabesque"? Don't quote me on that. You can see how Dustin's foot is secured in a wrap, or "foot lock."

We then went upside-down on the tissu (though we were all very close to the ground) by starting with our knee supporting the tissue, and then letting go and hanging upside down. Below is a picture of me getting into the upside-down position, and then fully in the "upside down."

I don't remember the name of this move. We did the foot lock wrap, then tucked our knee up high to brace against the tissu, let our bodies flip horizontally, and then let go with the upper hand. 

It seemed as though there were a lot of cool moves to learn on the tissu, though I think I found the lyra more physically challenging. I was sore after the class that focused on the lyra, but not as sore after this week's class. However, I was happy to get a a taste of both aspects of aerial fitness.

Most aerial students sign up for an eight-week session, where all the student progress together. However, the Groupon was only good for "Aerial 1" or a very basic drop-in class. The drop-in classes do fill pretty quickly, due to the popularity of the Groupon deal. You can always plan ahead to try a drop-in class, and then decide if its something you'd like, then you can sign up for a longer term commitment, via the eight-week program.

Dustin and I really enjoyed our little dabble into aerial fitness. Even though neither of us is exceptionally graceful or flexible, we were still able to follow along and learn some basic moves. It was a really fun experience. The instructor was really friendly and accommodating, and she helped each person figure out how to do the moves.

 If you're looking for a fresh, new fit to do something outside your comfort zone, check out an aerial fitness class! I guarantee you'll have a good time and learn something new.

Fitness Fashion: Splits 59

I know that Lululemon has received a lot of bad press lately. In fact, I have been fascinated lately by this book about the murder that occurred there in 2011....

So, like many of you, I have definitely found myself opting to purchase my workout attire from Athleta more frequently than before. But I have to be honest; I haven't turned my back on lululemon. I still really love some of their apparel, like their Bitty Bracers, groove shorts, wunder unders...and some of their tights are the best I have ever worn. It's hard to resist purchasing these items, when I can't find anything quite as great anywhere else. The bitty bracer bra is by far one of my favorite sports bras ever. 

So, even though I have decided that I won't cut off lululemon completely, I am still on the lookout for new brands with whom I could potentially feel a little better about spending my dollars.

Enter- SPLITS 59!

I read about Splits59 on a few different blogs, and started browsing their website to see if anything caught my eye. They market themselves as a new line of "premium activewear for women." They definitely have a premium price tag- $44 for a basic tank, and $98 for tights. Their stuff is pretty pricey- maybe even more so than Lululemon!  However, everything is made in the USA, and what little I know about the company seems pretty positive.  Their line is apparently a favorite of celebs like Emily Blunt, Miranda Kerr, and Kelly Killoren Bensimon (say what you want about  Kelly, but she's definitely FIT, right?)  

But despite the celebrity endorsements, I wanted to find out for myself if the quality lived up to the price tag.

I decided to test out the “ginger 3/4 length tights.” I found a bright orange pair (they called the color "Fire") on final sale, so I ordered a pair of those. (I didn’t want to invest too much before I knew what their stuff was like, so I headed to the sale items right away.)

 I went with a size medium based on their sizing chart. For reference, I wear a small at Athleta, and a 4 or 6 at Lululemon.

The tights arrived a week or so after I ordered them, and I tore into the packaging, eager to try on my new capris. 

Right away, I liked the feel of the material.  They are a really nice fit and the material is great- soft but strong!  It's kind of similar to Lululemon's luon, (well, the old luon, not the thinner and more sheer luon that they are using more of these days.) 

My size medium capris fit very well, and I like the thicker waistband. They feel slightly more compressive than Lulu's wunder unders.  The wide waistband is similar to the wunder unders, and they sit at around the same place on my hips. 

This "fire" color must be out of season, which is why they were “final sale.”  I only paid $59 for my pair. Normally, their 3/4 capris are $89.

If you sign up for their mailing list, you can 10% off of your first order (note: this doesn’t apply to final sale)

I can’t really judge the whole line based on my one pair of capris, so I’ll keep watching the sale items to see if any tops seem worthwhile. For now, based on just my one pair of capris, I would say I like the fit, and I like the quality. My problem is that I am drawn to the bright funky colors (like “fire”) even though they are not the most functional nor the most flattering (one picture from behind will never be making it to the blog- not flattering!) A simple pair of black capris would go with a lot more of my tops, but well..I was more tempted by the bright orange, what can I say.

There’s definitely a lot of cute stuff- here’s a peak at some of my favorites:

So far, I think Splits59 might be a strong contender to replace my luon love. The pieces are high quality, made in the USA, and are constructed of amazing materials that are definitely a touch on the more fashionista side of fitness. 

Have you tried Splits59? If so, what did YOU think? Let me know!

Fresh New Fit: "Doga"- Yoga with Your Dog!

If you have been reading the Right Fits for awhile, you know that Matilda (our almost 5 year-old Vizsla dog) often shows her furry face on the blog. 

I have posted several times about the joy of running (and life in general) with my furry friend Matilda Sloan, and I’m sure Dustin would agree that we love our Ms. Matilda very much!

You may also have gathered that I enjoy yoga- Corepower, Modo Yoga, outdoor yoga, Salt Cave Yoga...I enjoy yoga of all different kinds.

So when I heard about people combining these two things- dogs and yoga- I was definitely interested. Then, I was contacted earlier this week by the community coordinator of DogVacay.com to share one of their recent posts with you, which is all about "Doga.”

I had heard about doga in the past, as Matilda’s doggie daycare & hotel, Pampered Pooch Playground, has hosted a few doga events. I was tempted to try it then, but I wasn’t sure how Matilda would behave. She is a high-energy, easily distracted kind of dog. I had a feeling she might have trouble “grounding herself on the mat", (i.e. she would have trouble not chasing the other dogs, or even more likely, chasing SHADOWS. She is obsessed with shadows. Don’t you worry- if a shadow was out to get you, Matilda would be ON IT!)

Anyways, as DogVacay.com’s post states, doga is a fun new trend in the world of exercising. Apparently, there are some at-home workout DVD's on the market (Amy Stevens’ Yoga 4 Dogs DVD appears to have good reviews!) So you may want to try it out at home first before enrolling in a doga class (such as the one at Pampered Pooch Playground for those of you in the Minneapolis area). I think that a DVD might be a better option for Matilda and me, since I’m unsure how well she would behave in a class with other people and dogs.

  

Here’s a little history of “doga” from the DogVacay.com blog post:

The doga concept was originated by Suzi Teitelman and her dog Coali. During her at-home yoga sessions, Teitelman noted that Coali seemed to be very intrigued at the practice, prompting Teitelman to work on poses with none other than her four-legged best friend, Coali. The idea escalated from there. Teitelman began conducting doga classes and soon enough, the practice became popular among the poshest of pooches.”

Well. I’m pretty sure that Matilda wants to be considered one of the poshest of pooches!  #lifelongdream

Matilda..so posh...though not a fan of cards against humanity

She always gets very interested whenever Dustin or I am doing any sort of workout at home, hence all her photo bombs with the plank challenge recently! (By the way, did you do your 2 minute plank today? I hope so!)

It sounds like yoga studios have different interpretations of "doga." Some classes just allow the dogs to be there to mill around, yet the dogs are not actively participating in the yoga practice. But other "doga" options actually incorporate your dog into your practice.

The Dogvacay.com post actually provides a few examples of doga poses to try, so I figured I’d give them a shot to see how they went with Matilda. (I apologize for the mess, these pictures were taken in our basement.)

  

Weighted Boat Pose  (i.e. the "weight" of your dog) 

Assisted Handstand

Flip Your Dog

We were having so much fun with the dog poses, that I tried to find a few more online to try. 

Chair Pose: This pose requires your dog to sit on its hind legs while you hold the dog from behind and raise its front paws in the air.

Savasana: Your dog lies on its back while you stroke its belly.

Heart-to-hound Mudra: This pose simply requires you to place one hand on your heart and the other on your dog’s heart. Close your eyes and breathe slowly.

I wouldn't say our first doga session was exactly a success, but I can definitely see the benefits of having your pup join you in your practice. The idea is that if you practice together, you'll gain more than just a few minutes of quality time together. After all, the word yoga means "union" (union of mind and body). Doga is all about bonding and building a union with your pet.

“Union in yoga means discovering a feeling of connection to all living things. In doga, we move toward that union by first feeling that open-hearted connection to our dogs, then opening up to a broader connection.” source

Have you ever tried doga? Would you try it with your pup?

If you're a dog lover, I think you'll enjoy following DogVacay.com's blog, or follow them on Pinterest. 

Curious about they do? Their community coordinator contacted me just to talk to me about doga, and ask if I would be willing to share their post about it and spread the word to any fellow dog lovers out there. But as a company, DogVacay.com is a home-boarding service that provides dog owners with another option for animal care when traveling. I love our doggy daycare and kennel, Pampered Pooch Playground St. Louis Park. However, when we're gone for extended periods of time, I do worry about our little princess getting tired of the nonstop play at Pampered Pooch. I also worry that she is missing out on the cuddling and special attention that she gets at home with us. DogVacay.com finds you a dog sitter in your neighborhood. You can schedule, book, and pay online. You get 24/7 support, daily pictures of your loved one, all at a price that is 50% less than most kennels (usually about $15/day!)  I haven't tried out this service yet, but I'm definitely going to look into it further, as another option for the "dogi" Matilda!