Friday's Favorite Fit: bareMinerals Primer Shadow!

By Jess in Minneapolis

Friday’s Favorite Fit is a fashion find that I think you will love. I don't usually post about makeup, but this one that I had to share! I am always looking for makeup that will last throughout the day.Who has time to keep reapplying? I especially love makeup that even stays on even when you SWEAT.  

This bareMinerals eyelid primer does exactly that!

This eyelid primer is a perfect for anyone seeking to extend the wear of their eyeshadow.  It stays put and keeps me from getting that "greasy eyelid" look. 

 I actually like using it in place of eyeshadow some mornings when I'm in a hurry. It has just the right amount of sparkle and coverage. It's great for travel, too, as it comes in a small container, but a little bit of it goes a long way. My tube lasted months!

The primer is super easy to apply. I put a small dot on my finger, and rub it along my lash line along my eyelid. 

It seriously stays on all day! This is a must-have for any makeup bag, especially for a girl on-the-go. You can easily drop it in your purse for a quick touch-up. 

I received my first bareMinerals eyelid primer in a Blush Beauty Room gift basket that I won at a silent auction at this event. The tiny bottle lasted me from June to December, and I just recently finally had to replace it. FYI, I found it at Nordstrom’s for only $6- regularly $12, so a price that definitely fits the bill! Buy it HERE.

  

So there you have it! A short Favorite Fit for today, but one that I hope you’ll love as much as I do.

Friday's Favorite Fit: Sloan Pants from Banana Republic

By Jess in Minneapolis

Before I delve into today's favorite fit, take a look at my fancy new pinterest icon! You can now easily pin outfits, race recaps, advice, whatever you want to your pinterest page. And you can also follow The Right Fits on pinterest!

So, Friday’s Favorite Fit is coming to you from Banana Republic.

My closet analysis/wardrobe consultation with A la Mode Wardrobe Consulting last June led me back to Banana Republic for all those basic work pieces I was missing, but while I was there, I fell in love with everything else in the store! I had fallen away from the store for a few years, but now I am back and loving all the great items they carry.

As I mentioned before, I love this blazer from Banana (find it HERE):

But today’s fav is their Sloan Fit Slim Pant.

I was first turned onto these pants by Carly at A la Mode Wardrobe Consulting  They made a great summer work pant, when paired these shoes or these shoes.

But the great thing is that these pants transitioned really well into winter. I can also pair them with these ankle boots, heels, or knee-high boots in the colder months.

The Sloan pants come in a wide variety of styles- plain, patterned, houndstooth, ankle-zip, a multitude of colors, etc. I have them in red, navy, black, and green, but I’m definitely keeping an eye out for more!

The Price: Regularly priced between $80-$90, I don’t think I have ever paid full-price for a pair of these. It seems that Banana is constantly sending out 40% off coupons for one full priced item, or you can often find last season’s colors on clearance/sale.

The Fit: The fit is always the same with the Sloans, so once you know your size, you can watch for online sales and stock up!

 

in Berlin in my navy Sloan pants

The Sloan pants sit lower on the waist with a sleek, skinny leg. They usually are made of a “power stretch” fabric (56% viscose, 39% cotton, 5% spandex) to give them amazing stretch and recovery. They are fitted through the hip and thigh, and ankle length.

One downside of these pants, however, is that they are dry-clean only, but that's my only complaint. 

Otherwise, I highly suggest you try out a pair and let me know what you think!

Friday's Favorite Fit: Athleta and Their Dog Adoption Day

Friday’s Favorite Fit this week is a store/charitable cause combo. 

Today's favorite fit is... Athleta and their dog adoption event!

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. 

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 50^th/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!

So, if you’re in the 50^th/France area on Saturday, stop by Athleta to do a little 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.

 

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I also love their bright blue relay capris. These would be fun for a barre class! Price $69

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I am also throwing a fit for this Plushtec Wrap Front Hoodie. So cute!

 

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So, if you’re like me, and you love shopping and/or dogs, go to Athleta at 50^th/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!

Friday's Favorite Fit: The Field Jacket.

By Jess in Minneapolis

Friday's Favorite Fit is coming to you a little late today. It was a busy week with a couple two-a-day workout days, a concert, and then handing out candy for trick-or-treaters last night. We had quite a few adorable kids stop by. Matilda dressed up as an ice cream sundae, and I donned a candy corn hat for the occasion.  All high-fructose corn syrup costumes at our house- (Failed Fit!)

I'm not sure she liked the hat part so much, so that came off pretty quickly. She barked every time the doorbell rang, but at least she didn't jump up and scare all the little kids. By the end of the night, all her "protecting" wore her out, and she was zonked out on the couch by 9 pm.

We also had a visit from an adorable little butterfly named Darla (and her mom, my friend from run club). In fact, the entire run club stopped by during their run! It was such a fun surprise to have so many friends at the door for some mid-run fuel. A very nice surprise.

So, Halloween and whatnot kept me busy this week, but I'm finally getting around to this week's favorite fit which is the Jcrew field jacket.

JCrew isn't the only company that makes a solid field jacket, but they do have several variations of this fall "must-have" and for a reasonable price ($128 now, with an additional 25% off with code SHOPNOW)

If you've been reading for a little while, you may remember the wardrobe consultation that I had with A La Mode Wardrobe Consulting back in June. (If you missed it, you can check it out HERE) One of Carly's recommendations at the time was for me to purchase a field jacket. I put it off, since it was only the beginning of summer, and who was thinking about jackets in June? Yet, I kept the idea in the back of my mind. I must have mentioned it to Dustin at some point, and he actually remembered! I was so excited to find out that he had bought me one for my birthday this year.

Carly had told me I would love this jacket. In fact, she said I would "treasure it for life", and I think she was right. It's such a classic type of jacket, that I think it will be in style for a long time to come. It works with a lot of different ensembles, and is quite useful this time of year!

My jacket is actually the "long" field jacket- find it HERE, though it is currently sold out. I like both the longer length and the short version- whatever works for your body type!

The olive color is versatile, and it is thin enough that you can layer up underneath if necessary, yet it offers the perfect amount of warmth for these fall temps. I have been wearing my field jacket nearly every day to work over the past few weeks!

Emily from the "Life with Emily" style blog listed the JCrew fieldjacket as one of her fall essentials, and she paired it with a bright plaid top, jeans, and boots for a quintessential fall ensemble.

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What's this? Even Michelle Obama is rocking the field jacket this season!

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I think Carly from A La Mode was right. This is the go-to jacket for your fall wardrobe. It works over jeans, skirts, dresses, sweatshirts, whatever! Wear on a date, to the dog park, to work, or to dinner. Wear it anywhere!

The versatility and classic style of this jacket are what make it this week's favorite fit. 

And PS- it looks pretty good on the men too!

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Speaking of men's fashion, I bought Dustin a gift card back in July for his birthday, for a wardrobe consultation with Carly. He's finally cashing in on it this Sunday! I will be sure to share some tips from his consultation. I am excited to see what Carly recommends for him! I enjoyed my consult so much, I am sure he will have a good time as well, and maybe it will help me with some Christmas present ideas for my guy.

Friday's Favorite Fit: BlogLovin'

By Jess in Minneapolis

Do you read a lot of blogs? Do you have an iPhone?

Do you want to be able to read all your favorite blogs wherever you are? 

Then download bloglovin'! 

It's super simple to use, not to mention it's free.  That's a price that fits the bill!

It allows you to add as many blogs as you'd like to your newsfeed, right there on your phone, at the touch of your fingertips.

This is what it looks like on my phone. These are just a few of the MANY blogs that I follow on bloglovin'...I don't think there's a limit. 

The only unfortunate thing about bloglovin' is that you can't comment on blogs via the app on your phone. You only have the option to "like" a post. I really LOVE commenters on the blog, so please continue to leave your comments.

bloglovin' is great though, as it allows you to stay in touch with all your favorite bloggers on the go.

So, click on that button on the right of the screen on The Right Fits home page, and start following The Right Fits on bloglovin'!

Also, did you know that the Right Fits is on Twitter and Facebook?

 Follow @TheRightFits or like us on Facebook!

Friday's Favorite Fit: The Runner's World Cookbook

By Cool J in Minneapolis

"Friday's Favorite Fit" was on a short hiatus (I blame Berlin!) But don't worry, now it's back, and today's favorite fit is the Runner's World Cookbook:

Have you ordered a copy of the Runner’s World Cookbook?

No?

What are you waiting for?!?

Runners, you will LOVE this cookbook! It has 150 easy, delicious, and QUICK recipes loaded with all the right vitamins and protein that you need to "perform better during your workout, and recover faster!"

Well that’s what they say will happen if you eat meals made from recipes in this cookbook, but let's be honest,  I haven’t become any faster...but I have found these recipes to be tasty, and they seem to be pretty healthy. All the nutritional facts are included on each recipe, and I think you'll be pleased with the stats.

Most of the recipes have corresponding pictures in the book, which I always enjoy. What can I say, I like to see if the dish looks appetizing before making it.

I received my copy late last week, and have already made several recipes from it. 

First, I baked up a batch of the hearty whole grain breakfast muffins. 

They are packed full of healthy ingredients like whole wheat flour, flaxseed, almonds, and dried fruit. They were super simple to make and they were good for the whole week in a Tupperware container.

I loved having these around to grab on the go when I’m running out the door on my way to work. It’s a much better option that grabbing an unhealthy scone at Starbucks with my morning Americano. I plan to make another batch this weekend to tide me over next week as well. The muffins are hearty and filling: definitely a recipe I will be using frequently. 

I also made one of the recovery smoothies last weekend: the immune-boosting raspberry-almond smoothie.

It was really unique. I loved the touch of ginger, and it actually filled me up after a 7 mile run on Sunday. Dustin said it was a little “tart” – perhaps from the kefir? However, I really enjoyed this smoothie, and will be making it again.

The cookbook categorizes each recipe as “pre-run”, “recovery”, “low-calorie”, "vegetarian," and/or “fast”. Honestly all of the recipes have been pretty simple and fast. We had the shrimp and bean quesadilla the other night for dinner- (so good). Another night, I made the salmon salad sandwiches. The Cashew Butter and Mango Chutney Sandwich was my breakfast on one morning this week, when I needed some variety from the hearty muffins.  I love cottage cheese, but hadn’t really ever had it for breakfast. According to the cookbook, this breakfast “contains the essential fats to help keep you satisfied, absorb nutrients, protect heart health, reduce injury, and decrease joint pain.”

I was particularly pleased to see one of Deena Kastor’s recipes in the cookbook, and it was a recipe that I was already familiar with from the Runner's World magazine. Dustin and I have been making Deena’s caramelized onion/fig/goat cheese pizza for years, and it’s one of our favorites. So good! Definitely try that recipe when you get your copy of the cookbook.

 

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The cookbook is about $30 on the Runner’s World website, though I see it on Amazon for only $17. Either way, its still well worth the price tag. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy. This cookbook makes a great Christmas present too for one of your runner friends, (or non-runner friends.) Order your copy today, and start cooking!

P.S. Happy anniversary Dustin. Five years today!

Curious about past Friday's Favorite Fits? Here is the whole list!

9/20: run msp t-shirts at gear
9/13: bkr resusable water bottle
9/6: knuckle lights
8/30: the best carbo loading recipe
8/23: nine west polka dot heels
8/16: the lululemon bitty bracer
8/9: tasteful animal prints
7/26: trigger point foam roller
7/21: outdoor yoga in mpls
6/28: bold colors and patterns
6/21: trail running
6/14 gal pal garment deodorant remover
6/7 the sock bun
5/31 the white oxford shirt
5/17 toms shoes
5/10 bic bands
5/3 race day with a first timer
4/26 cobalt blue
4/19 lululemon wunder under crop
4/12 i run this body t-shirt

Friday's Favorite Fit: RUN MSP

By Jess in Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a great city for a lot of reasons, but one of the biggest reasons I love this city is that it is such a runner friendly place. 

I know that I might be a little biased, but I’m really not the only one that feels this way. In fact, Minneapolis/St. Paul gets ranked over and over again as one of the best running cities in the nation.

Just check out a couple of the following articles, and you’ll see what I mean!

1. Active.com ranks Minneapolis the #3 best running city in the US! Read it HERE
2. Forbes gives Minneapolis runners props for being so tough! "Training for a distance race as far north as Minnesota can be tough, especially with its icy winters. But runners are hearty here, with than 50 miles of trail to keep your mind engaged as your body does the work. A slew of running groups help keep runners motivated during the freezing winters- and come springtime, the path around the Chain of Lakes is about as gorgeous as it gets." Check out the whole list HERE
3. Outside Magazine lauds Minneapolis/St. Paul as one its favorite running cities HERE

There you have it- its not just me who feels so strongly about the Twin Cities as a runner's haven!

We have miles and miles of running (and biking) trails. We have a plethora of road races and trail races, including two full marathons- one of which, the Twin Cities Marathon, is often praised as a must-do by Runner's World. 

Just take a quick peak at this website for a list of all of the running trails in our fair city: http://www.twincitiesrunning.org/tcrc-running-routes

We also are very lucky to have a multitude of running clubs here. Of course, there's the Calhoun Beach Running Club, which is near and dear to my heart. There's Club Run, Minnesota RED, Lifetime Run, Running Room Run Club , MDRA, a run club associated with TC Running Company, a run club associated with Gear Running Store, a YMCA run club, a YWCA run club...seriously, the list goes on and on. I know that I'm missing a ton of them. But that's the thing- there's a run club for every type of runner here!

With that said, you can understand why I wear the label of a 'Minnesota Runner' with pride. Likewise, I was very excited to come across these unique “RUN MSP” shirts the other day. I needed to stock up on GU's for the marathon,  so I swung by Gear Running Store on my way home from work, and was distracted by these super cute tees. I couldn't resist purchasing one to show my Minnesota runner pride.

The t-shirts are super cozy. I’ve been throwing mine on after a run (and after a shower of course) nearly every day since I bought it. With that said,  I have decided that these t-shirts from Gear are Friday’s Favorite Fit!

After I bought the t-shirt for myself, Dustin was a little jealous. I just had to buy him one too. Twinsies!

They also have some cozy looking hoodies, as well as these dri-fit tees in a variety of colors:

If you are also a proud Minneapolis/St. Paul runner, head on over to Gear to pick up your own t-shirt, hoodie, or dri-fit running top with the "RUN MSP" logo for this Friday’s Favorite Fit!

Curious about past Friday's Favorite Fits? Here is the whole list!

9/13: bkr resusable water bottle
9/6: knuckle lights
8/30: the best carbo loading recipe
8/23: nine west polka dot heels
8/16: the lululemon bitty bracer
8/9: tasteful animal prints
7/26: trigger point foam roller
7/21: outdoor yoga in mpls
6/28: bold colors and patterns
6/21: trail running
6/14 gal pal garment deodorant remover
6/7 the sock bun
5/31 the white oxford shirt
5/17 toms shoes
5/10 bic bands
5/3 race day with a first timer
4/26 cobalt blue
4/19 lululemon wunder under crop
4/12 i run this body t-shirt

Friday's Favorite Fit: The Best Reusable Water Bottle!

By Jess in Minneapolis

Last summer, I signed a pledge at the Minneapolis Aquatennial Festival to only drink tap water for a year.

Did I keep that pledge? Well, not 100%. There have definitely been times that I have purchased bottled water in the past year. (When I do purchase bottled water, I recycle. No sort, Minneapolis, woo-hoo!)

For example, last Saturday, during that horribly hot long run, I probably drank three bottles of water alone from a cooler that a kind soul in our run club left out for us. I also still drink my fair share of Powerade in plastic bottles (though I have been moving towards Nuun, which you mix yourself from a tablet)

But overall, I think I do a pretty good job of keeping that pledge that I made last summer. We drink tap water at home. At work, I have the option of a Culligan dispenser or the tap. Most of the time, I just go with the tap because it is closer to my cubicle. (Yes, its laziness that dictates that one) Either way, I drink a ton of tap water. I am constantly toting a Nalgene at work, at home, by my bedside, etc.

In fact, I often set little goals, like "try to drink this entire container of water on the drive into work!" So yep. I drink a lot of water.

With that said, you can understand that I was the target audience to read about the Bkr water bottle on Witty and Pretty's blog. She is a self-proclaimed water snob, who previously couldn't find a reusable bottle that didn't make the water taste funny...until she discovered the bkr!

Her post sold me. I ordered one for myself, just to see.

What's the deal with the Bkr bottlle?

The bkr is glass. It has a silicone sleeve. As for the technical stuff, it has a food grade polypropylene cap + silicone gasket, FDA approved, BPA-free, BPA replacement free, and phthalate free. It is also dishwasher safe (top shelf only)

A Bkr bottle is priced a little higher than some reusable bottles ($28 plus shipping) but I'm convinced that it's worth it. Other water bottles tend to give my high quality Minneapolis water a funky taste. Or other bottles start to smell a little strange themselves, and then I can't use them anymore, so I end up throwing them away, which is not the most environmental option.

But not the bkr! It doesn’t smell at all.  I actually like the smaller, more portable size as well. I can actually fit it in my (gigantic) purse, or in the side pocket of my work bag (My Nalgene wouldn't fit there).

Drinking from my Bkr at the Surly Furious Five Miler Wednesday night

Who can resist all these amazing color choices? I went with “TRUE” (i.e. blue), but maybe I'll have to buy another one to rotate in when “TRUE” is in the dishwasher. Don't be surprised if you end up with one of these in your Christmas stocking this year, friends!

As primarily a morning runner, I often arrive at work a little dehydrated. I definitely spend a good portion of my morning trying to refill that void with some tasty tap water (and coffee. I never go without coffee...) The bkr is subtle and classy looking. I don't feel silly bringing it into meetings with me, and it's not cumbersome or weird to carry like other water bottles.

All these amazing things about the bkr make it this week's Favorite Fit!

If you're not convinced by me, would Olivia Wilde convince you? She's a fan!

How about Natalie Portman?

There’s a whole press page on bkr's website dedicated to all the celebrities who love their Bkr. Time to jump on board!

http://www.mybkr.com/press.asp

Friday's Favorite Fit: Knuckle Lights

Jess in Minneapolis

Friday's Favorite Fit is the knuckle light!

Its sad to admit, but unfortunately it's already dark enough again at 5:30 am to necessitate busting out the knuckle light. Seriously! Fall is creeping up on us too quickly. Dark running is here and its only going to get worse. Knuckle light season is back already!

Fortunately, the knuckle light is really functional, which makes it this week's favorite fit, even if I'm not quite ready for fall and dark running.

What I love about the knuckle light is that it doesn't give me a headache like the headlamp, nor does it leave a mark on my forehead after wearing it. You just strap it on your hand and head out the door. It's easier to manage where and what you're lighting up on the path. You control the light, and the knuckle light is in the perfect position to light up your path and be seen! It casts a strong light about 12 feet in front, and I like the ability to move one (or both, if you decide to use both) to a specific area, as needed. I also feel that the motion of the light on my hand when running makes me more visible to cars and other runners/bikers, etc.

Yes, you do hold it (well, strap it) in your hand, but I don't find it to be annoying at all. The one thing that is kinda sorta annoying is that lately, by the time I finish running in the morning, the sun has risen and I no longer need the knuckle light. It would be nice if there was a little clip for your shorts or something just to store it away when you no longer need it, but that's just wishful thinking. Generally, I don't even think about having it in my hand when I'm running, so this isn't too big of a deal.

I am referring to my knuckle light - singular- even though they come in a pack of two:

However, I think that you only need one at a time. They are SO bright- brighter than the headlamp.

Check it out: all the lights are out in my house except the knuckle light in this picture. No problem at all seeing Matilda, thanks to the knuckle light!

One small downside of the knuckle light is that it does go through its two AA batteries pretty quickly. Be sure to keep a stockpile of batteries around because you'll need them. Since you're only using one of the two at a time, you should usually have one fully charged and ready to go each morning- or night- whenever you're running in the dark!

Read more about the knuckle lights here: http://www.knucklelights.com

It looks like they are currently sold out on amazon, but you can find them online at Dick's Sporting Goods. I bought mine locally at Gear running store. The average price seems to be around $40, but they are worth it! You could always split a pair with a friend, since you really only need one. Then you'll only investing $20. That's a price that fits the bill!

Knuckle lights- Friday's Favorite Fit here on the Right Fits!

Friday's Favorite Fit: The Best Carbo-Loading Recipe for Runners!

Jess in Minneapolis

The Rights Fits is about Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion. We rarely delve into the realms of healthy eating/cooking, as so many healthy living bloggers do. I’m sorry if you came here hoping for recipes with protein powder, almond butter, and GOJI berries! Not that there’s anything wrong with those recipe-filled blogs. I read them daily for ideas myself! I just am not quite as creative in the kitchen as people like Jen from Peanut Butter Runner or Jenna from Eat, Live, Run. Don’t get me wrong, I feel that I eat a relatively healthy diet, and maybe someday I will go down that route of sharing more about my daily eats on here...With that in mind, this week’s post for Friday’s Favorite Fit is...well, actually it's a recipe- a recipe for runners!

This is my go-to recipe for carbo-loading before a long run. If you’ve been reading for awhile, you might know that Dustin and I usually love a Punch Pizza before our long runs. Punch Pizza is a Minneapolis chain that serves up fresh Neapolitan style pizzas for a good price. The pizzas are light with a very thin crust and with fresh ingredients. And they are made super fast- just 90 seconds!

But sometimes, Punch Pizza just isn’t an option…maybe we already went there earlier in the week,  or maybe we just don’t want to wait in line on a warm summer night. (I love Punch, but some nights the line is out the door and around the building!) On those nights, we turn to THIS recipe for our pre-long run meal. It’s light and it’s easy. There’s not any cream or much cheese, or anything that might upset the tummy. I have a bit of a sensitive stomach, so this is perfect for me on a Friday night (like tonight) before a twenty mile training run the next morning.

This recipe is originally from the Food Network (Find it HERE), and it was brought to me by my speedy friend Kelly. You remember Kelly? She’s the one who ran a 3:25 at the Newport Marathon! 

Yep. She’s fast. And another fascinating fact about Kelly is that she is a really good cook. And she eats this meal the whole week leading up to a marathon. This recipe is simple enough for those of us who aren’t culinary artists like Kelly, but yet it tastes good enough that you could probably fool a few people into thinking that you are!

It requires just a few simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen:

• ½ pound of cappellini (I used thin spaghetti)
• 28 oz can of San Marzano tomatoes
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 medium zucchini, cut into bite sized chunks
• Red pepper flakes (I add a lot!)
• Salt
• Chopped fresh basil
• Optional grated parmesan for topping
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is golden.

Crush the tomatoes into the skillet.

Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.

Add the zucchini and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Season with salt.

Meanwhile, cook the cappellini according to the package directions.

Drain and add to the sauce along with the basil; toss to coat. Top with parmesan.

Serve with a small green salad and fresh bread, and you’ll be ready for your long run on Saturday morning!

I am enjoying a big plate of this pasta right now, while I drink plenty of water to hydrate for tomorrow’s 20 mile run. You can bet that I’ll be toting my Nathan fuel belt filled with ice-cold Nuun. We do have two support stops planned for the long run (thanks to those awesome volunteers!) and there will be water fountains along the way, but with temperatures near 90 degrees tomorrow, I feel more comfortable with a little extra hydration on hand. I’ll fill up the pockets on my belt with 2-3 GU’s, some chapstick, a few dollars in case of an emergency, and maybe some paper towels/tissues, (anyone else ALWAYS have a running nose when running- even when its 90 degrees?).

I’m ready!

*Are you running a long run tomorrow? How far? Good luck!

 P.S. I used this zucchini that my friend Penny gave me from her garden. It was enormous! I had enough to make some coconut zucchini bread as well (this recipe).