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!

Fit Challenge: 30 Days of Planks and a Weekly Recap

By Jess in Minneapolis

I did my 90 second plank this morning after a very snowy morning run. 

Matilda and I joined two girlfriends for an easy run in a winter wonderland this morning. It would have been quite nice if not for the wind! None of the trails were plowed yet either. There were definitely some slick spots, but overall, the footing wasn't too bad.

Here's how Fitness wrapped up last week:
Lots of planking, right? 90 seconds for today. The schedule is down below again for your reference. I am starting to think 90 seconds of planking might be my max...it was tough at the end! Did you do yours?

Monday: treadmill run: 5 miles, 30/30 class at Pilates ProWorks- 30 minutes of barre, 30 minutes on the reformer
Tuesday: treadmill run: 8 miles
Wednesday: Speed workout at the downtown Y track: 6 miles with three 5-minute tempo intervals, 1 minute rest in between. The downtown Y has a track that is 10 laps to a mile. It actually wasn't so bad, and I think I'll use this option again for speed workouts during the winter.
Thursday: treadmill run: 5 miles, volunteer event at Meals for Minds <-- more on that later, great event!
Friday: 55 minute reformer class at Pilates ProWorks
Saturday: 14.5 mile long run (longer than intended, but felt pretty good, despite some slushy footing)
Sunday: Basically a rest day, except for my attempt at skate skiing- failed fit! 

I really enjoyed the reformer classes that I took at Pilates ProWorks this week. I don't have a lot of experience with reformer classes, but they reminded me a little bit of the Surfset fitness class we took a few weeks ago, where you're working your whole body at the same time. Its a little like barre, where its not big weights and big movements, but rather small moves that engage your core at all times.

I did run 5 days this week, rather than my planned 4, but I think that's okay now that I'm into training for the Flying Pig Marathon. I'm still sticking with 2 non-running days. Unfortunately, I didn't squeeze in any yoga. Hopefully this week will be better in that area.

In Fitness Fashion, Gap Fit has a lot of fun new athletic wear! Have you tried any of it? Any idea how it fits? I have been eying a lot of fun stuff online, and I am throwing a fit for a few of their bright capris.

In Fashion, I have also been throwing a fit for the killer monogrammed clutch that "Life with Emily" often carries:

source

Its $130, and probably not that functional, but I just love it! 

Find it HERE in multiple colors

And here's your plank schedule again. Let me know if you're still on track!