Friday's Favorite Fit: Wunder Under Crop

By LL in KC

Second post in our new weekly edition to Fits. My favorite fit this Friday is the Wunder Under Crop from Lululemon. This pair of exercise capris has an amazing fit, which for this short-legged girl can be hard to find. They come with a back zip pocket and an interior key slot. As Lululemon says, they have a wide waistband, because the only muffin you should have is for breakfast. With flat seams, they do not irritate your skin while doing yoga, running or at a spin class. In addition, they have "a triangular gusset to defeat our foe, the camel toe." I recommend these pants to all exercise enthusiasts! They are my favorite fit this Friday, AND in addition, perfect for the start of spring here in KC or (apparently) the dead of winter in Minneapolis!!

Failed Fit: Snowy Run in April

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Seriously, Minneapolis? It's April 18th! We should not be in the middle of a blizzard!

But we are. 

This is my house. In April. Fail. 

 But it does look kind of pretty, doesn't it? Maybe if it were December!

In fact, I even had to put on the Yak Traks again. 

The City of Minneapolis is usually really good about plowing the trails, but I think they were a little unprepared for an April blizzard. I got out of work too late to make it to run club, and I just couldn't muster up the drive to head to the gym, so I decided to just go for it, and run outside. I felt hard core!

I had a "variety speed" workout on my training schedule, but sometimes Mother Nature doesn't care about my training schedule. I was happy just to sludge through a little over 5 miles on unplowed trails.

My lesson learned? Don't stress about the training schedule. Sometimes there are things outside of your control (like the weather!). Make sure running is still FUN!

But still...I'm definitely ready for warm runs in shorts, and I'm ready to be done worrying about my footing on the snow.

Hurry up spring!

Fit Fanatic: Two Garmins?

by Cool J in Minneapolis

I am the first to admit that many of you reflected on the event's of Monday's Boston marathon more eloquently than I ever could. Some of my favorite posts were from:

Miles and Meals: My Runner's Heart is Breaking
Food and Fun on the Run: Terror in Boston
The Yoga Garage: My friend Meggan's take on the events

You all have explained it so well, so we'll move on to lighter topics, such as bright colors, electric runs, and lost Garmins!

If you're friends with me on Facebook, you may have already seen that I "lost" my Garmin two weeks ago. In fact, I had to run the $5 race/Ron Dawes with just a stopwatch, as I realized the Garmin was lost at 9 pm the night before race day. I ran with a stopwatch that I never really looked at, just running based on how I felt (on a very hilly course). Well, after running the slowest I have run in years, I realized I need that a Garmin to keep my lazy side in check! After my slow Ron Dawes, I knew it was mandatory that I head to REI the next day to purchase a new Garmin.

At first, I thought I'd just pick up the Garmin 10, the most basic (and cheapest) model they have.

Since I had lost my Garmin just last year, I didn't want to spend a ton of money on yet another one, in case I lost it again. The Garmin 10 seemed okay, and it came in such fun colors.

However, I soon realized (i.e. Dustin talked some sense into me) that it wasn't worth the $130 for something that didn't actually do what I needed. The Garmin 10 doesn't list pace and miles on the same screen, which for me was a deal breaker. So I decided to pay up (about $70 more) for the Garmin 210 to ensure I had a device that did what I needed.

The Garmin 210 retails around $200, and does everything I need- current pace (not just average pace like the 110 model), miles, and time. And guess what? Now it comes in a funky new color~

I decided to go for it, and purchased the 210 model. And alas,  a week after purchasing my new 210, my old 210 "reappeared." So now I have two 210's!

I could probably return the new one, or sell the old one on ebay. For now, I am "packing" two of them. With my luck, I could potentially lose one of these again. Or, one could have a dead battery on race day. So instead, I'm going to be prepared, and bring my two model 210's for now!

Here are some of the features of the Garmin 210:

• High-sensitivity GPS receiver stays locked onto satellites, even near tall buildings and under tree cover
• Interval training function lets you set up custom exercise sessions and automatically see your pace for each interval
• Wireless ANT+™ technology allows the Forerunner 210 to communicate with a Garmin heart rate monitor strap and Garmin foot pod (both sold separately)
• ANT+ technology also enables the watch to communicate with third-party equipment such as the Tanita BC-1000 scale and select fitness equipment (all sold separately)
• Data from each run is stored in the unit so you can go back and review how you did last week
• Upload data to the Garmin Connect community website for in-depth analysis of time, speed, distance and route; store and share data with other Forerunner community users
• When you aren't exercising, the Forerunner 210 can be used as a full-functioning watch that features time, calendar (day/date) and daily alarm
• Slim profile and fashionable look let you wear the watch around town and at the office
• Water-resistant construction meets IPX7^? standards (submersible to 1m for 30 min.)
• Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery provides up to 8 hrs. of use in training mode and 3 weeks in power save mode
• With optional heart rate chest strap (sold separately), the 210 can display heart rate and calories burned during activity
• Includes the Garmin Forerunner 210 wrist unit, AC charging adapter, charging/data clip and owner's manual on disk

Dustin has the Garmin 405, which is quite a "fancier" model than mine. However, I'm pretty sure he doesn't really use all of the extra perks, beyond what is available on the 210. I'll write another post about the 405, but it's definitely a bit pricer (retails around $350), and I personally feel that the 210 is just as good.

Garmin 405

*On a side note...LL, after your POST from yesterday, I'm wondering if this is bright enough for you?

Fits Do Race Previews: Electric Run KCMO

By LL in KCMO

Back in the day, I really enjoyed 5k races. I would sign up for every fun race that came to town. Recently, I've stuck to half marathons instead. However, when I learned from a co-worker that the Electric Run is coming to KCMO, I got excited and immediately went to my computer to register. But registration doesn't start until 9:05 a.m. today! First 50 registrants get LED shades!

Here is a little information about the Electric Run.

A 5k run/walk that is as much show as it is run.

Electric Run™ is a 5k run, a show, participation art, and celebration of life. Incredibly talented artists and lighting technicians with experience creating beautiful art and light at Coachella, Dreamworks Animations, Disney, and some of Vegas’ hottest shows have come together to create  a world that will fill you with wonder.

Participation Art / What to wear
The Electric Run is a show; the course is the set and the participants are the cast! Come let your light shine and your creative juices flow. Add your own creative spark by dressing up in other-worldy costumes that glow, shine, blink, and dazzle. Show us all what you’ve got!

Lighting elements

Each course will have 5-10 distinct lighting experiences which will include different artistic elements and different moods. Some will be very energetic others will be more etherial. Our in-house DJs will be working with our Art and Lighting Directors to create custom mixes that work with the visual mood in each world.

The race will be in Kansas City, MO on August 1st. It should be a fun, unique experience. I'm excited to participate and so will be my husband...he just doesn't know he is running it yet!

Check out a list of all upcoming locations here.

Favorite Fit: Unsuspecting Color Combinations

By LL in KCMO

How do you feel about color? Do you shy away from it and douse yourself in neutrals (black on black on black)? Do you like to add one pop of color (khaki shirt dress with a purple scarf)? Or, are you more like Emma Pillsbury (Glee), pairing unique colors for a quirky look? If you follow this blog, you know that Jess and I lean more towards the Emma Pillsbury style. In fact, before Jayma Mays's character disappeared from Glee, I watched the show to get inspiration from her looks. And I know that I am not the only one. (Check out What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear? Cute blog!).

The reason I bring this up is because I have twice now been questioned at work about my color pairings. Today was a pair of dark teal cropped pants with a gold cardigan and turquoise necklace. The other day was a coral cardigan, mint trousers and a yellow necklace. A few weeks back, I wore a sky blue pencil skirt and a lilac blouse. Even though my color combinations might catch some people off guard, I think that combining unexpected colors keeps your closet interesting. Here are some of my favorite unsuspecting color combinations that I encourage you to mimic this spring.

{Great use of red, blue and yellow on J's Everyday Fashion}

{Yellow and pink paired with neutrals - All Women Stalk}

{Green, pink and orange - Risky Fashion on Jewelry Gal Blog}

{Mint, orange, yellow and gold - Brown-Eyed Belle Julie}

Be adventurous this spring. Try out one of these color combinations and get more use out of those loud pieces and let your basic neutrals take a break! 

Thinking of Boston...

Not much to say today, as my heart has been in Boston, worried about my friends- and everyone- there.

What a terrible tragedy on a day that was supposed to be a celebration of accomplishment. We at the Right Fits are praying for everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.

Featured Fit: Ladies Night Out at the Running Room

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Last night, I attended Women's Running/Ladies' Night Out at the Uptown Running Room.

This was a free event held primarily to promote the Women's Half Marathon in Bloomington. Pre-registration for the event was required, as it was capped at 100 people. I actually heard about the event on Monica's blog (Run, Eat, Repeat) and I spread the word to some of my favorite running friends to join me.

We arrived at the event at 6 pm and were greeted with SWAG bags, a coffee/gelato bar, free chair massages, and a DJ spinning some tunes.

Signing in and picking up our SWAG bags

Salted caramel gelato and a cappuccino

DJ rocking the jams...

The event officially began with an introduction by a woman from the Women's Half Marathon in Bloomington.  This half marathon will be held Sunday, June 16. (I registered- how about you?)

Next up, was a representative from Brooks.  I'm a loyal Brooks fan. I love their apparel, and I have been wearing Brooks Adrenaline shoes for nearly eight years. Recently, my physical therapist at Accelerated Sports advised me that I don't actually need all the stability of the Brooks Adrenaline. She suggested that I try out the Brooks Ravenna. According to Brooks, the Ravenna "perfectly bridges the gap between neutral and support, hitting the sweet sport for a large number of runners."

Attendees at last night's event received 15% all merchandise, so I decided to take advantage of the discount and pick up a pair of Ravennas to rotate into my routine.

Love the bright colored Ravennas!

The representative from Brooks talked about picking the correct shoe for your foot shape. She asked for volunteers with high arches and flat feet to come up, so my friend Kelly modeled a high arch:

Next, a woman from Moving Comfort gave a very funny, yet very informative talk about sports bras. She reminded us all how to pick the correct sports bra, and how to care for your sports bra.

• Did you know your sports bra should never celebrate a birthday?
• Did you know that Moving Comfort was the first company to sell women's specific running shorts? Prior to Moving Comfort entering the market, female runners had to wear men's shorts!

Representative from Moving Comfort

After her talk about bras, she took a quick break to offer personal bra fittings. Unfortunately, the wait for a fitting was pretty long, so a few other employees started doing the measurements to help out.Though I appreciated the effort, I'm not sure if those fittings were very accurate- 31G? 38A? But with 100 attendees, I understand that there wouldn't be enough time for everyone to get measured. For a free event, I really couldn't complain!

The last speaker was a yoga instructor from Corepower Yoga. 

 She gave some information about Corepower's free week offer for new students, and talked about how important it is to cross train and mix in other workouts than just running. She explained how yoga is important for core strength, stretching, and equanimity- balancing out your body. The importance of equanimity definitely rang true for me. My IT band problems are partially caused by unequal strength in my body, so I definitely need to incorporate more yoga into my routine to obtain this equanimity.

My friend Meggan (of the Yoga Garage) was at the event too, and afterwards she mentioned some things she might have done differently for a yoga chat for runners. She said she would have brought a yoga mat, and focused more on trying to make yoga a little less intimidating for non-yogis and first-timers. There were a lot of people at the event who said they had never tried yoga before, and I agree that there could have been a little more demonstration at this portion of the night. Even so, it was still an enjoyable mix of presentations for the evening. Great job Running Room!

After the yoga chat, there were several drawings for some really great prizes- free entries to the Women's Half Marathon in Bloomington, an entire Running Room brand running outfit, and then an ENTIRE Brooks running outfit- top, pants, and shoes! Unforutunately, I didn't win anything, but I still went home with lots of great SWAG- Nuun samples, GU's, Women's Running Magazine, a free Blowout at Gusto, a stopwatch...

....and a cute pink women's running hat!

And did I mention the event was dog-friendly? Darla was a perfect guest at the Ladies' Night.