Happy Tuesday friends!
Are you surviving this heat? It's pretty stifling...I decided to skip the hill workout with my run club last night due to the heat, and I just ran easy on my own, with lots of water/walk breaks. Then, a few of the girls and I met up this morning at the early hour of 5:15 am to make up the hill workout. I will share more about that in a "All About Hill Workouts" post, but first let me fill you in on what's happening in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion last week!
What's happening in fitness?
Monday: 1 hour barre class at The Barre,, 7 miles with the Calhoun Beach Running Club
Tuesday: 7 miles with the Calhoun Beach Running Club, with three 8 minute tempo intervals
Wednesday: 1 hour barre class at The Barre, 1 hour strength conditioning for runners at the Calhoun Beach Club
Thursday: Sunrise yoga with Luminous Yoga (read all about it HERE), Esprit de She 5k race with 3 mile warmup
Friday: Complete rest!
Saturday: 14 mile long run
Sunday: 4 mile run with Dustin and Matilda, then an awesome time at the Red Barn Pizza Farm <-- stay tuned for a post on that item that I crossed off my summer bucket list!
Summary: 5 days of running, 1 complete rest day, 2 barre classes, 1 strength day
What's happening in fashion?
I wore this maxi dress (find it HERE) to dinner on Saturday at Piccolo. Its kind of a unique take on the standard maxi, with a "T" back style that I liked.
What's happening in fitness fashion?
I posted on Sunday about some new Athleta gear that I am loving- the forerunner tank and the pulse short. Check out that post HERE
That's all I have for now. I hope you are staying cool during this heat wave!
Have you been to a pizza farm?
How are you staying cool during these crazy hot temps??
Showing posts with label Athleta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Athleta. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Weekly Recap: Esprit de She, Sunrise Yoga, and Some New Athleta Gear
Sunday, July 20, 2014
FIts Do Product Reviews: The Athleta Forerunner Tank
Another great long run- complete!
Yesterday, I ran 14 miles with the Calhoun Beach Running Club (I'm training for the OBX Marathon in November!) It wasn't nearly as humid as last week but still hot, and unfortunately our route did not include a lot of water fountains, so it definitely felt tough.
For a hot July long run, it's important to wear light weight clothes that whisk away all the sweat!
For my long run, I wore my new Athleta Forerunner Tank. It's on sale now for just $29.99 (regularly priced $49!). This is a great opportunity to snatch this tank up for a good price!
The forerunner tank is available in aloha yellow, coral sunset, gray heather, white, and cerulean blue. I decided to purchase it in white, so I could pair it with a variety of shorts.
This tank is very light weight and dries very quickly.
Here's one of the best features of the Forerunner Tank- it has a zippered pocket for your GU's or keys on the side! I love it!
I loved this tank so much on my long run that I am tempted to order a few more in other colors.
I paired the tank with a pair of Athleta Pulse shorts. These shorts are also currently on sale as well, for $34.99 (originally $49). This shorts were also great today on my long run, with the zippered pocket in back that fit two of my GU's.
I'm telling you, now is the time to do your online shopping at Athleta! You really can't beat the deals right now. Move fast, as items are selling out quickly!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Fits Do Race Reviews: The Esprit De She 5k
Last Thursday, I ran the Esprit de She 5k at 50th/France in Edina
This 5k is for women only. Its co-sponsored by Lifetime and Athleta. I ran this last year, which was the first year of the race. That makes me a “founding finisher!”
(You can read last year’s review here.)
The race definitely grew from last year. It was capped at 2,500 runners this year…I’m not sure what the cap was last year, but if felt WAAAYY bigger this year, and there was a whole lot more going on!
Registration:
Let me start at the beginning- registration.
I actually registered several months ago, and I received a packet in the mail. I just assumed the packet included my bib, so I set it aside…Then when I volunteered to pick up packets for a few friends, and didn’t pick up my own, since I still assumed it was in that packet…well, it wasn’t! All that was in the packet was a "bonus" tank top for early registration. Don't get me wrong, the tank is great and all, but I needed my bib!
The problem was that packet pickup was on Tuesday at the Athleta store until 8 pm, and I realized I didn’t have a bib around 8:30 on Tuesday night...
There was one other option though, and that was packet pickup on race day. THANKFULLY, my dear friend Abby was able to get out of work early enough on race day and pick up both of our packets that day. Whew!
SWAG:
We all received an Athleta bag full of coupons and discounts, but the nicest piece of swag was the Athleta tank pictured below:
The Start Line
We met at my house and took a scenic route to the race along Lake Harriet as a warm-up. By the time we got to the start, we had three miles under our belts, and we were all parched! The kind people at the medical tents gave us a few water bottles, as there didn’t appear to be any other water around... Then we pushed our way through the line-dancing/Zumba/warm-up that was going on, and we found ourselves pretty close to the start line. It was interesting that no women were toeing the line. Why are we all so timid?
The Race
After the national anthem, there was a quick countdown, and then we were racing! The course was an out-and-back through the Edina neighborhood surrounding 50th/France. There were some rolling hills, and the temps were high (I was SOO sweaty afterwards) but a nice course. There was a support stop, though I didn’t use it. My one complaint about the course is the same as last year- since it’s an out-and-back, there were a lot more people still coming “out” when I headed “back” and they were crowding the course. There were cones set up to divide the lanes, but it wasn’t working very well. It was a little chaotic on the "back," and I can only imagine a little farther back in the pack, it might have been worse.
At the same time, I did like this out and back though for a 5k as I was able to cheer for my friends as I saw them. In fact, one former member of my run club, Julie Running (yes, her last name is Running and she’s a great runner!) actually won this 5k by a landslide. She was so far ahead of everyone else, it was almost comical! But I was also able to cheer for Kelly, Abby, Ellen, and Gina as they came back and I went “out”.
This race was also really walker/beginner friendly. In fact, it was a bit of an ego boost to be so far ahead of the rest of the participants (I think I was 48th out of 2500 runners).
Even better, I do think I might have set a PR, which hasn’t happened in a LONG time. My goal was to run 23 minutes, and my official time was 22:59. Just barely squeaked in but I did it! That time was 22 seconds better than last year (I ran a 23:21 last year). Its not much, but its an improvement, and I’ll take it! Honestly, I needed a little boost to my confidence, as its really been a long time since I set a PR. I know that 22:59 is not that fast compared to the majority of my running friends, but its fast-ish for me, and I was happy.
At the same time, I did like this out and back though for a 5k as I was able to cheer for my friends as I saw them. In fact, one former member of my run club, Julie Running (yes, her last name is Running and she’s a great runner!) actually won this 5k by a landslide. She was so far ahead of everyone else, it was almost comical! But I was also able to cheer for Kelly, Abby, Ellen, and Gina as they came back and I went “out”.
This race was also really walker/beginner friendly. In fact, it was a bit of an ego boost to be so far ahead of the rest of the participants (I think I was 48th out of 2500 runners).
Even better, I do think I might have set a PR, which hasn’t happened in a LONG time. My goal was to run 23 minutes, and my official time was 22:59. Just barely squeaked in but I did it! That time was 22 seconds better than last year (I ran a 23:21 last year). Its not much, but its an improvement, and I’ll take it! Honestly, I needed a little boost to my confidence, as its really been a long time since I set a PR. I know that 22:59 is not that fast compared to the majority of my running friends, but its fast-ish for me, and I was happy.
The After-Party
The after-party for this race was pretty impressive.
All the stores at 50th/France were having special sales. Steele Fitness had a wheel to spin, and I won a one-hour private training session! Each runner also received two drink tickets, and there was wine, champagne, or beer to choose from.
Edina Grill also had turkey burgers for everyone. We actually passed on the turkey burgers, as we had already made plans to eat at Mozza Mia (their fig and prosciutto pizza is phenomenal!) We still hhung around the after-party for a little while.
Athleta was giving away my favorite hair ties! Score!
Eventually we made it to Mozza Mia and had a great meal with ladies, and then we walked the mile or so back to my house afterwards.
Overall Rating:
I give this 5k an 8/10. I think the start line was a little crazy, and I think they should add a 7 minute pace staging group at the start. 2500 people is a lot of people, so maybe they can try to encourage people to really line up in the right staging area. I also think the out-and-back course was a little chaotic. But the swag and the after-party were really fun, and I definitely enjoyed “racing” a shorter distance.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Fit Challenge: 30 Day Plank Challenge
By Jess in Minneapolis
I'm participating in Athleta's 30 Day Plank Challenge. I can't believe I forgot to tell you!
But don't worry, its not too late for you to jump on board. I really want you to do it with me!
We're only on day 10, so we can call it a 20 Day Plank Challenge! Let's do it together. In fact, I'll even post a before and after picture of my "core" to see if there is any difference...I'm doubtful there will be a visible difference in 20 days, but I guarantee that ours cores will be stronger by the end of this challenge. Let's do it!
Also, going forward every month in 2014, I'm going to do a 30 day challenge (next month will be a sit-up challenge) to keep us all motivated and strong this year.
Now as you can see below, we’re already on 1 full minute, but I know you can do it! You can do anything for 60 seconds.
Don’t worry if you miss a day. You can make it up the following day with two planks that day.
Okay, here I am doing my 60 second plank...in my work clothes. And yes, Tilda follows me around every where I go. I love that dog.
Let me know that you are in by joining in by stating "IN" in the comments here. We'll keep each other accountable.
There are even rest days built in. Let's strengthen our cores!
60 seconds again tomorrow, let's do it!
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Weekly Recap: The end of Decembrrrrrr....
Jess in Minneapolis
Last week was a little weird, with Christmas right smack dab in the middle. Next week will be another odd one, with New Year's Day on Wednesday. The weather has been all over the place as well, with some days so cold that the high temperature was well below zero, and then there have been balmy days like yesterday, where we nearly reached 40 degrees. Ay, caramba!
Due to the crazy weather, I have had a mix of indoor and outdoor runs. Here's how the past week turned out in fitness:
Monday: Complete rest! Met up with a college friend at SmackShack downtown for a lobster roll and a few beers, and it was lovely.
Tuesday: A little over five miles on the treadmill...definitely all I could manage. Ugh.
Wednesday: Christmas day run with Dustin and Matilda. A winter wonderland!
Thursday: Dome run (last one ever!)
Friday: hour long barre class at Haute Barre (good class!)
Saturday: Twelve slippery miles (first "long" run for Flying Pig training)
Sunday: Swam at the YMCA, then tried out a barre class at Pilates ProWorks. This is a new studio that opened very close to my office. I purchased their Living Social deal for three classes for $35. They were also offering free holiday classes over the past week, so my friend Kelly and I headed there today to check it out. The studio was very nice and the instructors were very friendly and welcoming.
I would say that the barre class itself wasn't that challenging- it seems like it was formatted for beginners to a barre workout. This could be because today's class was part of this "free holiday" special they were hosting, and they probably expected a lot of newbies to be there. They may have made the class a little easier to make it more accessible. I will definitely give it another go for a regular class to see if it is more challenging. The studio also offers TRX and Pilates on the reformer (or their customized version of a reformer.) I hope to try out some of those classes as well, as they look pretty intense!
We have officially started training for the Flying Pig marathon, which will be held the first weekend in May. I have a feeling that the winter weather will make the first few months of training a bit of a challenge, but I'm excited to be back on a training schedule. The biggest change for me in training will be to Run Less which will hopefully equate to Run Faster. I won't be adding any junk miles on Wednesdays or Sundays, but instead will cross train (probably swim) on those days instead.
This week, I ran four days, did two barre classes, one complete rest day, and one swim. So far, so good!
What's happening in fashion? I am loving the Athleta Downalicious Vest that I received for Christmas. Its super cozy and perfect for layering for running errands on the weekend, and I love, love, love the orange color. I haven't tried this vest for fitness fashion yet, but according to the Athleta catalog, I should be able to wear it for some winter runs. TBD!
What's happening in Fitness Fashion? I also received a pair of Nike Luxe Women's Running Tights for Christmas, and I tested them out on Saturday for my 12 mile long run. I don't have a lot of other Nike running tights, but I would definitely recommend this pair. They fit really well, with a drawstring waist (no issues with them falling down like the UnderArmour failed fit HERE) They are slightly lined with a fleece-like material, but are primarily a dry-fit/wicking material throughout. They also have several well-placed reflective stripes for a darker run. And who can resist the fun pattern?
So that's what's happening in fitness, fashion, and fitness fashion this week.
Now I'm off to finally go see Catching Fire. I reread the book and am excited to finally see the movie!
Have you seen Catching Fire? What did you think?
Did you receive any fun fitness, fashion, or fitness fashion items this year? Please share!
Last week was a little weird, with Christmas right smack dab in the middle. Next week will be another odd one, with New Year's Day on Wednesday. The weather has been all over the place as well, with some days so cold that the high temperature was well below zero, and then there have been balmy days like yesterday, where we nearly reached 40 degrees. Ay, caramba!
Due to the crazy weather, I have had a mix of indoor and outdoor runs. Here's how the past week turned out in fitness:
Monday: Complete rest! Met up with a college friend at SmackShack downtown for a lobster roll and a few beers, and it was lovely.
Tuesday: A little over five miles on the treadmill...definitely all I could manage. Ugh.
Wednesday: Christmas day run with Dustin and Matilda. A winter wonderland!
Thursday: Dome run (last one ever!)
Friday: hour long barre class at Haute Barre (good class!)
Saturday: Twelve slippery miles (first "long" run for Flying Pig training)
Sunday: Swam at the YMCA, then tried out a barre class at Pilates ProWorks. This is a new studio that opened very close to my office. I purchased their Living Social deal for three classes for $35. They were also offering free holiday classes over the past week, so my friend Kelly and I headed there today to check it out. The studio was very nice and the instructors were very friendly and welcoming.
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| source |
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| Pilates ProWorks Reformer class source |
This week, I ran four days, did two barre classes, one complete rest day, and one swim. So far, so good!
With this morning's swim, I was able to try out the new goggles I received for Christmas.
These goggles were amazing! They are the Aqua Sphere Kayenne, and they did not leak at all, and I felt like I could see so much more clearly. What a difference a good pair of goggles makes- I am really excited to hit the pool again next week. I am no means a great swimmer, but I have really been enjoying incorporating this exercise into my weekly regime.What's happening in fashion? I am loving the Athleta Downalicious Vest that I received for Christmas. Its super cozy and perfect for layering for running errands on the weekend, and I love, love, love the orange color. I haven't tried this vest for fitness fashion yet, but according to the Athleta catalog, I should be able to wear it for some winter runs. TBD!
What's happening in Fitness Fashion? I also received a pair of Nike Luxe Women's Running Tights for Christmas, and I tested them out on Saturday for my 12 mile long run. I don't have a lot of other Nike running tights, but I would definitely recommend this pair. They fit really well, with a drawstring waist (no issues with them falling down like the UnderArmour failed fit HERE) They are slightly lined with a fleece-like material, but are primarily a dry-fit/wicking material throughout. They also have several well-placed reflective stripes for a darker run. And who can resist the fun pattern?
So that's what's happening in fitness, fashion, and fitness fashion this week.
Now I'm off to finally go see Catching Fire. I reread the book and am excited to finally see the movie!
Have you seen Catching Fire? What did you think?
Did you receive any fun fitness, fashion, or fitness fashion items this year? Please share!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Weekly Recap: Almost Christmas Time!
By Jess in Minneapolis
Merry-almost-Christmas to you all!
The past week flew by. Work is getting a little crazy with year-end approaching and I have been busy, like many of you, with some last minute shopping. I also had a cookie exchange/book club combo on Thursday night: not exactly Fitness, Fashion, or Fitness Fashion related, but hey, a little indulgence this time of year is okay!
There were so many tasty cookies at the exchange. There were coconut macaroons, oatmeal chocolate chip, fudge, peppermint bark, rum balls, Russian tea cakes, chocolate crinkles, ginger cookies, and my peanut butter and chocolate melted snowmen.
Each of us brought five dozen cookies to swap, so I came home with a LOT of cookies. Post-holiday, I'll be happy to delve into Flying Pig marathon training to work off all these cookies!
So how is "pre-training" going? I'm running again, but its been tough- really tough. I'd like to blame it entirely on the snow, but I know that part of it is just the pain of getting back into shape. But, it's true that the snow isn't really helping the cause...even with my YakTrax, the terrain is definitely a challenge.
My "injury-prevention" running plan is going to be to run only four days a week, maybe five when training really gets going. On the days that I used to toss in an extra run, I will swim or take a spin class instead. My goal is to run four days a week, take one yoga class, one to two strength classes (barre or kettle bells) swim or spin, and one complete rest day. Previously, during marathon training, I would run up to six times a week, and clearly that method did not work for me. So instead, I'll be incorporating a lot more cross-training and non-running days.
This past week was a good start! Here's how it turned out in fitness:
Monday: Complete rest day, unplanned- was stuck at the office much too late.
Tuesday: Morning run. barre class at The Barre
Wednesday: Morning run, climbing at Vertical Endeavors
Thursday: Morning run
Friday: Vinyasa (C2) at Corepower Yoga
Saturday: "Long" run (10.5 miles)
Sunday: Swam laps for 30 minutes, barre class at The Barre
A pretty good balance this week!
Fitness and Fitness Fashion are sort of on hold until after Christmas, but I do want to remind you of the Athleta Semi-Annual Sale that is going on right now. Check it out HERE! I was there shopping for a birthday gift for my sister, and I might have had to toss in one of these neon stripe racerback tanks for myself, only $34.99!
In Fashion, you can still use my referral code to sign up to try out Stitch Fix HERE.
That's all for today. Enjoy your Christmas Eve's eve tomorrow!
Merry-almost-Christmas to you all!
The past week flew by. Work is getting a little crazy with year-end approaching and I have been busy, like many of you, with some last minute shopping. I also had a cookie exchange/book club combo on Thursday night: not exactly Fitness, Fashion, or Fitness Fashion related, but hey, a little indulgence this time of year is okay!
There were so many tasty cookies at the exchange. There were coconut macaroons, oatmeal chocolate chip, fudge, peppermint bark, rum balls, Russian tea cakes, chocolate crinkles, ginger cookies, and my peanut butter and chocolate melted snowmen.
Each of us brought five dozen cookies to swap, so I came home with a LOT of cookies. Post-holiday, I'll be happy to delve into Flying Pig marathon training to work off all these cookies!
So how is "pre-training" going? I'm running again, but its been tough- really tough. I'd like to blame it entirely on the snow, but I know that part of it is just the pain of getting back into shape. But, it's true that the snow isn't really helping the cause...even with my YakTrax, the terrain is definitely a challenge.
My "injury-prevention" running plan is going to be to run only four days a week, maybe five when training really gets going. On the days that I used to toss in an extra run, I will swim or take a spin class instead. My goal is to run four days a week, take one yoga class, one to two strength classes (barre or kettle bells) swim or spin, and one complete rest day. Previously, during marathon training, I would run up to six times a week, and clearly that method did not work for me. So instead, I'll be incorporating a lot more cross-training and non-running days.
This past week was a good start! Here's how it turned out in fitness:
Monday: Complete rest day, unplanned- was stuck at the office much too late.
Tuesday: Morning run. barre class at The Barre
Wednesday: Morning run, climbing at Vertical Endeavors
Thursday: Morning run
Friday: Vinyasa (C2) at Corepower Yoga
Saturday: "Long" run (10.5 miles)
Sunday: Swam laps for 30 minutes, barre class at The Barre
A pretty good balance this week!
Fitness and Fitness Fashion are sort of on hold until after Christmas, but I do want to remind you of the Athleta Semi-Annual Sale that is going on right now. Check it out HERE! I was there shopping for a birthday gift for my sister, and I might have had to toss in one of these neon stripe racerback tanks for myself, only $34.99!
In Fashion, you can still use my referral code to sign up to try out Stitch Fix HERE.
That's all for today. Enjoy your Christmas Eve's eve tomorrow!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Weekly Recap and a Beer Mile.
By Jess in Minneapolis
Time for another weekly recap already!
Here's how the week panned out in Fitness:
Monday: Ran 7 miles in the AM, Hot Power Fusion at Corepower Yoga in the PM
Tuesday: Ran 4 miles with Matilda
Wednesday: Ran 7 miles in the AM
Thursday: Ran 7 miles in the AM, Kettlebells at Balance Fitness in the PM
Friday: BarreAmped at Balanced Barre in the AM
Saturday: 10 miles with the CBRC
Sunday: Hot Power Fusion at Corepower Yoga
Total: 35 miles, 1 strength, 1 barre, 2 yoga
The highlight this week in fitness was definitely the kettlebell class at Balance. I went last week, so it wasn't a lack of consistency that made this week's class so hard, but my, oh, my, my legs were so sore after this class! It must have been all of the thruster squats and swings between each upper body exercise, but the class was definitely a doozy, and it led me to cut back on my running on Saturday (10 rather than 12 miles) and not run at all on Sunday to let my legs fully recover. I love being that sore though! (I just have to be sure not to take that class before a race).
And here's what happened last week in Fitness Fashion:
Nothing much was new last week in Fitness Fashion, so I thought I'd share something I'm currently throwing a fit for at lululemon. It's their "fluff off vest". This vest is pretty similar to the downalicioius vest that I am also throwing a fit for at Athleta. Ideas for my Christmas wish list? I think both options would be a perfect winter running essential for the frigid temps that are surely on their way in Minneapolis. Priced at $128 for the fluff off vest at lululemon and $138 for Athleta's version, I am hoping that Santa reads the Right Fits.
And of course, here's an update on the week in Fashion:
My girlfriends and I have discussed that we frequently buy cocktail dresses for weddings, galas, etc, and we only wear them once or twice, before letting them gather dust in the far corners of the closet. Personally, I am a big offender of this wasteful act. I even have a few dresses that I have never worn! With that said, I figured a cocktail dress swap would be a creative way to expand the wardrobe for a price that fits the bill. We all have a few weddings coming up this spring and summer, so this was an opportunity to find a "new-to-me" dress for those special occasions.
This past Wednesday, about eight girlfriends came over for some wine and appetizers. They brought over all kinds of awesome dresses....like all of these lovely gowns:
We took turns trying on dresses that appealed to our personal style, and I think several of us found some great "borrows" for future weddings and events!
Between this and the Fashion Swaps that I have hosted, I obviously like to swap clothes. I think it's due to growing up with four sisters and borrowing (stealing?) clothes from their closets that left me always planning this type of event (read about past fashion swaps HERE and HERE)
Beer Mile?
In between all the fitness, fashion, and fitness fashion, Dustin and I attended the CBRC Beer Mile event on Saturday night. We both opted to be spectators, as I just don't have the stomach to down four beers while running a mile...Yep, you read that right. In fact, apparently, this is a popular event for running clubs, but I had never heard of it.
The official rules of this "event" are as follows:
A handful of people joined Dustin and me as "spectators." Needless to say, the shenanigans were quite entertaining for the non-participators.
Here's a YouTube video of the fastest beer mile on record:
(The CBRC version was not on a track, but was otherwise the same.)
It was a fun event, and I was impressed by how quickly some people could still run (and drink?) Probably not the healthiest event in the world, but it was all in good fun.
How was your week? Any fresh, new fits in Fitness, Fashion, or Fitness Fashion? Please share!
Time for another weekly recap already!
Here's how the week panned out in Fitness:
Monday: Ran 7 miles in the AM, Hot Power Fusion at Corepower Yoga in the PM
Tuesday: Ran 4 miles with Matilda
Wednesday: Ran 7 miles in the AM
Thursday: Ran 7 miles in the AM, Kettlebells at Balance Fitness in the PM
Friday: BarreAmped at Balanced Barre in the AM
Saturday: 10 miles with the CBRC
Sunday: Hot Power Fusion at Corepower Yoga
Total: 35 miles, 1 strength, 1 barre, 2 yoga
The highlight this week in fitness was definitely the kettlebell class at Balance. I went last week, so it wasn't a lack of consistency that made this week's class so hard, but my, oh, my, my legs were so sore after this class! It must have been all of the thruster squats and swings between each upper body exercise, but the class was definitely a doozy, and it led me to cut back on my running on Saturday (10 rather than 12 miles) and not run at all on Sunday to let my legs fully recover. I love being that sore though! (I just have to be sure not to take that class before a race).
And here's what happened last week in Fitness Fashion:
Nothing much was new last week in Fitness Fashion, so I thought I'd share something I'm currently throwing a fit for at lululemon. It's their "fluff off vest". This vest is pretty similar to the downalicioius vest that I am also throwing a fit for at Athleta. Ideas for my Christmas wish list? I think both options would be a perfect winter running essential for the frigid temps that are surely on their way in Minneapolis. Priced at $128 for the fluff off vest at lululemon and $138 for Athleta's version, I am hoping that Santa reads the Right Fits.
And of course, here's an update on the week in Fashion:
My girlfriends and I have discussed that we frequently buy cocktail dresses for weddings, galas, etc, and we only wear them once or twice, before letting them gather dust in the far corners of the closet. Personally, I am a big offender of this wasteful act. I even have a few dresses that I have never worn! With that said, I figured a cocktail dress swap would be a creative way to expand the wardrobe for a price that fits the bill. We all have a few weddings coming up this spring and summer, so this was an opportunity to find a "new-to-me" dress for those special occasions.
This past Wednesday, about eight girlfriends came over for some wine and appetizers. They brought over all kinds of awesome dresses....like all of these lovely gowns:
We took turns trying on dresses that appealed to our personal style, and I think several of us found some great "borrows" for future weddings and events!
Between this and the Fashion Swaps that I have hosted, I obviously like to swap clothes. I think it's due to growing up with four sisters and borrowing (stealing?) clothes from their closets that left me always planning this type of event (read about past fashion swaps HERE and HERE)
Beer Mile?
In between all the fitness, fashion, and fitness fashion, Dustin and I attended the CBRC Beer Mile event on Saturday night. We both opted to be spectators, as I just don't have the stomach to down four beers while running a mile...Yep, you read that right. In fact, apparently, this is a popular event for running clubs, but I had never heard of it.
The official rules of this "event" are as follows:
1. Teams consist of two competitors.
2. Each competitor drinks four cans of beer and runs four laps
of the 1/4 mile route. Teammates alternate the ‘beer then run’ process
(beer/lap/tag). Finish the lap by tagging your partner. Your teammate will then
drink a beer and run a ¼ mile and this will continue until each team has run 8
laps and consumed 8 beers (4 per person).
3. The timer will start with the opening of the first beer from
the first runner of each team. The timer will stop when the second runner from
each team crosses the finish line after his/her fourth lap. The first team to
cross the finish line after drinking 8 beers and running 8 laps is the
winner.
4. After the first lap, beers cannot be opened until tagged by a
partner finishing a lap.
5. Competitors must drink canned beer and the cans must not be
less than 355ml or 12oz. No bottles will be allowed on the course for safety
reasons. No Solo cups in the interest of consistency for those drinking from
cans.
6. Beer cans must not be tampered with in any manner. I.e. No
shot gunning or puncturing of the can except for opening the can by the tab at
the top. No straws, bongs or other aids are allowed in order to increase the
speed of pouring / drinking. Wide mouth cans, e.g. Coors Light, are acceptable.
7. Beer must be a minimum of 4.2% alcohol by volume. That means
no 3.2% gas station beer. Hard ciders and lemonades will also not suffice. The
beer must be a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malt and flavored with
hops. Acceptable beers: Bud, Bud Light, Coors, Coors Light, Hamm’s, Heineken,
Michelob Golden Draft, Miller Lite, PBR, Keystone Light, Miller High Life,
Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Genuine Draft Lite, Old Milwaukee, Yuengling (if
you can find it). Others may be allowed at the discretion of the Race
Director.
8. Common beers that do not meet the minimum alcohol threshold:
Amstel Light, Busch Light, Hamm’s Light, Heineken Light, Michelob Golden Draft
Light, Michelob Ultra, O’douls (obviously)
9. Spilling is high discouraged. The name of the game is beer
mile, not ‘pour it down your shirt mile.’ Mild spillage while drinking may
result in a one shot penalty at the discretion of the drinking judge. Heavy
spillage while drinking may result in a two shot penalty at the discretion of
the drinking judge.
10. Upon drinking a beer, each competitor must turn his or her
can completely upside down before running a lap. An unreasonable amount of
beer/foam poured from the can will result in either a one or two shot penalty
at the discretion of the drinking judge.
A handful of people joined Dustin and me as "spectators." Needless to say, the shenanigans were quite entertaining for the non-participators.
![]() |
| spectators |
Runners and beer....it seems that they go hand-in-hand!
Here's a YouTube video of the fastest beer mile on record:
(The CBRC version was not on a track, but was otherwise the same.)
It was a fun event, and I was impressed by how quickly some people could still run (and drink?) Probably not the healthiest event in the world, but it was all in good fun.
How was your week? Any fresh, new fits in Fitness, Fashion, or Fitness Fashion? Please share!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Belated Weekly Recap and My First Diwali Party!
Ah! I am way behind in my weekly recap from last week, so sorry…. I'll recap last week today and hopefully get back on schedule!
Here’s what happened in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion the first week of Novembrrrrr!
Let’s start with Fitness Fashion:
First of all, I have to apologize that I had the wrong date in Friday’s Favorite Fit last week. I wrote that Athleta’s Dog Adoption event was on Saturday, but it was actually on Sunday. I hope none of you went on Saturday because of me and my faulty information! To be honest, I went on Saturday….and I was very confused when there were no dogs at the store! I returned on Sunday though, and got to see all the cute furry friends. It sounds like a lot of the dogs found forever homes that day, which is great news.
I did my part by adding to my “fitness fashion” attire with one of Athleta’s Long Sleeve Twist Tops in Halogen Green.
The saleswoman explained to me that due to the Polygiene permanent odor control material, you don’t have to wash this top every time you wear it. Instead, you can just let it air dry after a run, and it shouldn’t get all stinky! I tried it two runs in a row this week, and to be honest, it didn’t smell….so far, I say it works! Less laundry sounds great to me. If you remember Dustin's guest post about being married to fitness (it was pretty funny, I'll admit- you can read it HERE) one of his complaints was all the sweaty laundry. Well, maybe Polygiene is the solution!
In addition to odor control, it’s a pretty warm base layer, it's super soft, and it has the requisite finger holes that we all love.
Here are the features:
• Nylon/Polyester/Spandex (w/Polygiene®)
• UNSTINKABLE. Wear it more. Wash it less.
• Natural silver salts give the fabric antimicrobial protection that lasts wash after wash after wash (features Polygiene® permanent odor control)
• Lightweight, smooth, soft, stretchy
• Machine wash and dry.
• Next-to-skin fit (size up for a less body-hugging fit)
• Scoop neck, raglan sleeves give you freedom to move
• Non-chafing seamless design won't rub you the wrong way
The top is a solid addition to my winter running wardrobe, not to mention I felt good about spending some money knowing that 10% was going to Second Hand Hounds.
Next- What’s going on in Fashion?
Remember that faux leather jacket that I received from Stitch Fix? I received some comments that people thought I should have kept it, but I had already sent back the rejects from my first fix. However, I “like” Primp Boutique on facebook, and they posted a picture of a very similar faux leather jacket for cheaper than Stitch Fix, AND they carried it in a medium (my size).
What’s awesome about Primp is that if you see something on their facebook page, you can call and either reserve it for pickup (and try it on) or just have them ship it to you for a flat rate of $5! Pretty sweet. I called them up and had them ship me that faux leather jacket, and it was still less than the one at Stitch Fix and more importantly, in the right size!
And last but not least, what happened last week in fitness?
Monday: 7 miles in the AM, Haute Barre class in the PM (This was my first time trying out Haute Barre. Stay tuned for a full review of all the different barre classes and studios in the Twin Cities area, including this one!)
Tuesday: My first “double” run day. Read about it here. 11 miles on the day.
Wednesday: Kettlebells at Balance Fitness
Thursday: 7 miles in the AM, Yoga at the Salt Cave Minneapolis in the PM
Friday: 6 am barre class at The Barre (This was my first time trying out The Barre as well- awesome studio, I will include a full review in that full recap of all the local barre studios)
Saturday: 12 miles with the CBRC
Sunday: 3 miles with Matilda, Pure Barre class
Total: 40 miles, 3 barre classes, 1 yoga, and 1 kettlebell/strength.
It was a big week in fitness with a good mix of different types of exercise, and I could feel it by the end. I definitely enjoyed all the variety and fresh new fits this week.
After all that fitness, it was time for a little fun! Saturday night, our neighbor Amol, who is the owner of the food truck “Hot Indian” hosted a Diwali party. I had never been to a Diwali party, and was excited to learn about this traditional Hindu celebration.
Upon arrival, Amol’s wife gave us a little printout which explained “Diwali Basics”- (Diwali for Dummies?) Apparently, this celebration often includes gambling. Our neighbors didn't leave this part out. They had a poker table set up with people gambling. Fireworks are also usually a part of the celebration, and fireworks were indeed included in this celebration as well.
The highlight for me, of course, was the FOOD. So much great Indian finger foods- spicy lamb meatballs, kebobs, fig/raisin flatbreads, lettuce wraps…I can’t even remember it all, but I ate A LOT, and everything was amazing.
We were all encouraged to wear saris or other Indian attire, but this was the closest I could come up with…
I tried my best!
So that’s what happened last week in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion!
How was your week? Any fresh, new fits that you tried in fitness? Please share in the comments!
***Umm..can we quickly mention all the PR trouble that the lululemon founder is in these days? (If you missed it, read THIS) I admit, all this bad press has turned me towards Athleta more, yet even so, I can’t help it- I still love some of the lululemon gear and probably will continue to shop there (wunder unders, bitty bracers, groovy shorts). I'm torn!
What are your thoughts? Will you continue to shop at Lululemon or have you turned away from them completely?
Here’s what happened in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion the first week of Novembrrrrr!
Let’s start with Fitness Fashion:
First of all, I have to apologize that I had the wrong date in Friday’s Favorite Fit last week. I wrote that Athleta’s Dog Adoption event was on Saturday, but it was actually on Sunday. I hope none of you went on Saturday because of me and my faulty information! To be honest, I went on Saturday….and I was very confused when there were no dogs at the store! I returned on Sunday though, and got to see all the cute furry friends. It sounds like a lot of the dogs found forever homes that day, which is great news.
I did my part by adding to my “fitness fashion” attire with one of Athleta’s Long Sleeve Twist Tops in Halogen Green.
![]() |
| source |
In addition to odor control, it’s a pretty warm base layer, it's super soft, and it has the requisite finger holes that we all love.
Here are the features:
• Nylon/Polyester/Spandex (w/Polygiene®)
• UNSTINKABLE. Wear it more. Wash it less.
• Natural silver salts give the fabric antimicrobial protection that lasts wash after wash after wash (features Polygiene® permanent odor control)
• Lightweight, smooth, soft, stretchy
• Machine wash and dry.
• Next-to-skin fit (size up for a less body-hugging fit)
• Scoop neck, raglan sleeves give you freedom to move
• Non-chafing seamless design won't rub you the wrong way
The top is a solid addition to my winter running wardrobe, not to mention I felt good about spending some money knowing that 10% was going to Second Hand Hounds.
Next- What’s going on in Fashion?
Remember that faux leather jacket that I received from Stitch Fix? I received some comments that people thought I should have kept it, but I had already sent back the rejects from my first fix. However, I “like” Primp Boutique on facebook, and they posted a picture of a very similar faux leather jacket for cheaper than Stitch Fix, AND they carried it in a medium (my size).
What’s awesome about Primp is that if you see something on their facebook page, you can call and either reserve it for pickup (and try it on) or just have them ship it to you for a flat rate of $5! Pretty sweet. I called them up and had them ship me that faux leather jacket, and it was still less than the one at Stitch Fix and more importantly, in the right size!
And last but not least, what happened last week in fitness?
Monday: 7 miles in the AM, Haute Barre class in the PM (This was my first time trying out Haute Barre. Stay tuned for a full review of all the different barre classes and studios in the Twin Cities area, including this one!)
Tuesday: My first “double” run day. Read about it here. 11 miles on the day.
Wednesday: Kettlebells at Balance Fitness
Thursday: 7 miles in the AM, Yoga at the Salt Cave Minneapolis in the PM
Friday: 6 am barre class at The Barre (This was my first time trying out The Barre as well- awesome studio, I will include a full review in that full recap of all the local barre studios)
Saturday: 12 miles with the CBRC
Sunday: 3 miles with Matilda, Pure Barre class
Total: 40 miles, 3 barre classes, 1 yoga, and 1 kettlebell/strength.
It was a big week in fitness with a good mix of different types of exercise, and I could feel it by the end. I definitely enjoyed all the variety and fresh new fits this week.
After all that fitness, it was time for a little fun! Saturday night, our neighbor Amol, who is the owner of the food truck “Hot Indian” hosted a Diwali party. I had never been to a Diwali party, and was excited to learn about this traditional Hindu celebration.
![]() |
| Owner of Hot Indian source |
The highlight for me, of course, was the FOOD. So much great Indian finger foods- spicy lamb meatballs, kebobs, fig/raisin flatbreads, lettuce wraps…I can’t even remember it all, but I ate A LOT, and everything was amazing.
We were all encouraged to wear saris or other Indian attire, but this was the closest I could come up with…
I tried my best!
So that’s what happened last week in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion!
How was your week? Any fresh, new fits that you tried in fitness? Please share in the comments!
***Umm..can we quickly mention all the PR trouble that the lululemon founder is in these days? (If you missed it, read THIS) I admit, all this bad press has turned me towards Athleta more, yet even so, I can’t help it- I still love some of the lululemon gear and probably will continue to shop there (wunder unders, bitty bracers, groovy shorts). I'm torn!
What are your thoughts? Will you continue to shop at Lululemon or have you turned away from them completely?
Labels:
Athleta,
Athleta Twist Top,
Diwali party,
Haute Barre,
Hot Indian,
Kettlebells,
Minneapolis fitness blog,
Minneapolis Salt Cave,
Polygiene,
Primp,
Pure Barre,
Stitch Fix,
The Barre,
Weekly recap
Friday, November 8, 2013
Friday's Favorite Fit: Athleta and Their Dog Adoption Day
Friday’s Favorite Fit this week is a store/charitable cause combo.
My furry friend Matilda has been mentioned on the Right Fits many, many times. You know I love my dog!
And I have posted about my love for Athleta and their apparel many times (HERE, HERE, HERE,…I'm sure there's more) In fact, I considered making their Midtown Trench this week’s favorite fit. I received it as a birthday gift from my sisters in October, and I am LOVING it.
And I have posted about my love for Athleta and their apparel many times (HERE, HERE, HERE,…I'm sure there's more) In fact, I considered making their Midtown Trench this week’s favorite fit. I received it as a birthday gift from my sisters in October, and I am LOVING it.
I know that it looks a little like the JCrew field jacket that I posted about for last week’s favorite fit, but it’s different, I swear! It’s waterproof, (which is awesome). It also has a bit more of an athletic look than the field jacket, and I swear its a different color than my field jacket; instead of olive green, it’s more of a grayish/brown color. I love the playful darts on the side that keep it snug, as well as the hood, which is great for a rainy day.
Anyways, I didn’t want to post about another jacket two weeks in row for our favorite fit…so instead this week’s favorite fit is the Athleta store as a whole- partially due to all the awesome apparel I have been throwing a fit for at the store lately, as well as because of their community involvement and charitable events.
If you check out the website for the 50th/France store (my “home” store) you’ll see that they offer all kinds of community fitness classes- yoga, bootcamps, strength training, and more. Check out the monthly calendar.
But Athleta offers more than fitness classes- they have organized fundraising events for good causes!
As a perfect example, this Saturday they are hosting a dog adoption event, pairing up with Second Hand Hounds, a local rescue. There will be 12 dogs at the store for potential adoption from 1-3 pn.
Even if you’re not looking for a furry companion at this time, you can still contribute by shopping! Go buy some Athleta stuff, and 10% of the sales from 1-3 pm on Saturday will be donated to Second Hand Hounds. Isn’t that great?
What a perfect combination of two of my favorite things- dogs and shopping!
Some of the things I’m throwing a fit for right now at Athleta?
...definitely the Downalicious Vest, in orange. It’s $138, so I have to think about it…but it looks so cozy, and I think you could wear it on a winter run as well for cruising around on the weekend.
I also love their bright blue relay capris. These would be fun for a barre class! Price $69
![]() |
| source |
I am also throwing a fit for this Plushtec Wrap Front Hoodie. So cute!
So, if you’re like me, and you love shopping and/or dogs, go to Athleta at 50th/France this Saturday, buy some of the awesome apparel they are carrying for winter, and help out a great cause.
I hope to see you there!
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