Product Review: Running Skirts

I spent a frustrating summer last year trying to find a pair of running shorts that didn't look like my thighs ate them after I started out on a jog. I've tried several different types, but haven't had any luck. On different chat boards I had heard some girls swear by running skirts as an alternative. It was worth a shot, but which one to try? I decided I would start with the original Running Skirt and I have fallen in love.

In my running skirt in Hawaii, tank by Lululemon

Running skirt offers two styles, one with a brief liner and one with a bikini liner. I choose the brief liner. Luckily, I bought my skirt from a representativein a booth at the Kirkland Half Marathon. She recommended I buy a size down to prevent the briefs from riding up. There is no way my running/lifting behind is a size 4/6, but that is what she put me in. I wore my skirt for my runs in Hawaii and for doing stairs and I have had no issues with the shorts riding up. It is a minor miracle.

The Running Skirts line is designed by two twin moms. I love that it is designed by women (probably why they fit so well). These women are real athletes too. They sell other apparel besides the skirts. I also bought a pair of compression socks from them. The socks are a great price (for compression socks) and the colors compliment the skirts. Running skirts also offers a maternity skirt, but I am not sure if it worth it. I personally do not like things that go up and over my belly. I find my hips and butt are enough to keep my pants up currently. The regular skirts are low rise enough, my belly does not get in the way. There is a diagram on the website showing a woman wearing her skirt all the way through her pregnancy, which gives me hope I will be able to too. I bought it a month ago and no problems so far (knock on wood).

The only thing I do not like about running skirts is the price. They are pretty expensive. I recommend signing up for their email list and grabbing coupons if you see them at an event. So far my skirt is well worth the money and if it lasts a long time it will be worth slowing building up my skirt wardrobe.

I have heard some female runners say it is too girly to wear a skirt while running. It is not "hard core" enough. Anyone who knows me knows I am not a girly girl. I just like clothes that fit and the better I look in my work out clothes the better I feel. Some of the running girl designs are pretty girly. I just won't buy those ones. :) I've slowly built up a collection of running apparel and proud to say that I look pretty cute while being covered in sweat. For those of you who don't have monster thighs I won't judge you in your shorts that stay put. Don't judge me in my skirt.

Product Review: Adidas Marathon 10 Jacket

April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring a lot of rain. So I get wet when I run outside. I know people say you'll get wet anyway from sweating. The question for me is how wet do I really want to get? I prefer only slightly damp myself. To solve this dilemma, I asked for the Adidas Marathon 10 jacket for Christmas thinking it would keep me dry but also warm during the winter months. So far it has worked really well. My mom also chose to buy me the bright 90's colored one (the sleeves have hot pink stripes), so I can be well seen. H thought it was cool, so he looked for a version in the guys section. Adidas does sell the Marathon 10 for guys, but they don't have cool colors like teal and hot pink for the men.

Me in my Marathon 10 Jacket

I have worn it on several below freezing runs, 28 degrees, 32 degrees, etc. It kept me warm and cool at the same time. The jacket has a lot of breathing holes in it so air can circulate. I found on my longer runs I would open the zipper 3/4 the way down after I got warmed up. I never felt the need to take it off, though. The sleeves have thumb holes in them so they stay down. I can wear my gloves under then pretty easily. The hood has a hole for my pony tail, if I ever wanted to wear it. I think I would be just too uncomfortable. I'd rather wear a hat. I have to any way to keep the rain off my face. The fabric is light weight and comfortable. The jacket is also easy to wash. The length on it is good (I am 5'10"). That was another thing I was concerned about.

I thought I would be able to wear my running watch under the sleeve, but I can't. I have to wear it on top. It is still comfortable. H says I look like a dork, but it works. The sleeves are slightly short for my long arms. I have been able to stretch out the thumb holes so it is comfortable to wear, but it was touch and go for a while. I thought I might have to return it.

Like I said it only keeps me from getting really really wet. I still don't stay 100% dry. It is much more comfortable to wear than the alternative. If I didn't wear it I would have to ring out my clothes when I got home. Wearing this jacket I don't. If you live some where rainy and have the cash, I would recommend adding this jacket to your running wardrobe.

New iPod Nano Review and Music to Run to

For Christmas H bought me the new iPod Nano. My 3rd generation Nano was on its last legs and the new Nano is so small it is great for running. There are a couple things I don't like about it though. The touch screen does not work with sweaty hands, so my old method of just skipping the songs I do not like does not work so well. I also have not found a great place to clip it where I am not terrified it will fall off. I am allergic to many metals, so if I clip it to my waist band I will probably get a rash. I have settled on clipping it to my pocket I used to keep my old Nano in. That seems to work pretty well. Other than that it has the same enjoyment of any other iPod I have ever had. I keep it in my old iPod sock so I do not lose it and to prevent it from getting scratched. Because of the touch screen issue I am going to have to make a lot more play lists to keep me entertained. Since H got me the iPod, this play list is inspired by him. :)



80's Butt Rock Play List

Living on a Prayer Bon Jovi
Welcome to the Jungle Guns N Roses
Round and Round Ratt
Pour Some Sugar on Me Def Leppard
Talk Dirty to Me Poisen
Kickstart My Heart Motley Crue
Girls, Girls, Girls Motley Crue
Panama Van Halen
Here I Go Again Whitesnake
Rock You Like A Hurricane Scorpians
I Love it Loud KISS
Up All Night Slaughter
You Give Love a Bad Name Bon Jovi
You've Got Another Thing Coming Judas Priest
Bang Your Head Quiet Riot
18 and Life Skid Row

Sweaty Bands vs Bondi Bands

I am a sweat band girl. I can't go out for a run with out a sweat band on. I am the dork that didn't know those elastic ones from work out videos in the 1980s weren't cool any more. I can attribute my discovery of Sweaty Bands and Bondi bands to my friends on thenest.com. I had always wondered where those UW Softball players got those functional and girly purple sparkle head bands I saw on television. For an athlete they also make a great stalking stuffer, which is why I am writing about them today. I have tried out both versions, depending on your needs either one might work for you.

Sweaty bands are a head band with cloth on the top and velvet sewn underneath. Around the bottom is an elastic band that gives it stretch.



Me in my sweaty band

 Bondi bands are made out of a stretchy wicking fabric. They stretch over and around your head and are great for under helmets for you bikers out there.

Racing in my Bondi band

I haven't had slipping issues with either product. Both stay in place on my head. The two head bands also keep sweat out of my eyes, but the Bondi bands work slightly better. For this reason I like the Bondi bands more for running. They are also easier to wash. The Sweaty bands are supposed to be hand washed, but I still put them in the wash and air dry them. They don't look so great now because of it, but not terrible. Bondi bands also have fun sayings on them. It may be odd, but they motivate me not to slack off. If I am wearing a 13.1 on my head, no one better see me walking.

I like my Sweaty bands more for cross training. They keep the hair out of my eyes. They don't work so well for the poring sweat when I am running. Sweaty bands are also stylish, so on days I don't have time to dry my hair or if I go straight from the gym to go out I still look cute. Sweaty bands are also more expensive than Bondi bands. There is more to them, so I can see why. There is a grab bag option on their web site, where you can get some at a slight discount.

So which one do I like more? Defiantly the Bondi bands. I get way more use out of them and they are easier to wash. They are less expensive, so I can afford one for everyday of the week. They also keep the sweat out of my eyes more when I am running.

Product Review: My Precious, Garmin Forerunner 405CX

With the holidays coming up my new couple posts plan to be product reviews. Hopefully it will give you some ideas on what to add to your own Christmas lists.

About six months ago I made the investment and purchased a running watch. REI was having sale and Garmin had a rebate going on. I was able to purchase the Garmin Forerunner 405cx for just over half the normal retail price. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

The Forerunner 405 has since been replaced by the 410. The 410 has enhancements helping to increase the length of time you can go between battery charges. It also has increase effectiveness of the touch bezel, especially in poor weather conditions. I know on mine it is almost possible to change screens when it is raining.

What I like about the 405 is it holds me accountable. I can see how far I am running, pace, and heart rate. I LOVE the Garmin Connect web site. It really helps to see how far I have improved. I can also see I have run 326 miles with my Garmin so far this year and burned 41 thousand calories! That is just since May when I bought it. Having the GPS capability is the main reason I chose the 405 over the 100 series. Garmin just gave the 110 a face lift this year. It has GPS now. It is cute, pink and it is made for women! (There is a guys model too that is blue.) If it had GPS back in may I probably would have looked into buying that model instead. One of the biggest complaints I have about the GPS watches is their bulkiness. The 405 fits on smaller wrists and isn't as bulky as the older models, another reason I picked it over other GPS watches.

The 405 is still bulky though. The heart rate monitor strap that came with it was also too big for me, so I had to spend more money to order a smaller one online (Amazon.com has them, if you have the same problem). The battery life also isn't very good. I can get through two to three work outs with out having to charge it. Sometimes one long run drains it. This would be really irritating if I was trying to train for a marathon. I have noticed turning off the GPS helps lengthen the time between charges, but it isn't much.

I named my watch My Precious. It really does remind me of Lord of the Rings. It is easy to get obsessed over it. It knows so much! It is hard for me to leave home or do a workout with out it. If I do break myself from its hold, it is very freeing. Every once in a while it is nice to run for the sake of running and not having to beat myself up over going a slow pace.

So buy or don't buy? I think it really depends on what you are looking for and what your goals are. I am happy I bought, but mostly because I bought it on such a great deal. I would say if you are starting to train for half marathons you should at least get a stop watch with a heart rate monitor. If you don't have time to map out some runs ahead of time, the GPS might be worth it. The Garmin Connect site tracking is also a huge advantage over the Polar devices. It is definitely a great little tool if you want to spend the money.