I May Have a Problem...

Disclosure: I am a Skirt Sports Ambassador and do receive a discount for my purchases. None of the links below are affiliate links because I'm too technologically-challenged to set that up.

So, last week I went a little crazy. I have been waiting and waiting to load up on spring Skirt Sports stuff because they release the new styles a little bit at a time and I wanted everything I had seen in the ambassador teaser. I did give in and buy the Lioness in the new color back in February because I wanted it for my race, but otherwise I was waiting.

This week, a giant package arrived and I immediately tried everything on and had a fashion show all by myself. Who's ready for some super awkward pictures?!

The haul: Super Girl tank in Sidewinder; Redemption Capris in Stargaze; Pocketopia capris in Sidewinder; Hover skirt in black; Cascade skirt in Persevere; Go Longer short in black.

I totally underestimated how much I'd love the Persevere print in person. The Stargaze print isn't new, but I waited on buying it because I'm not a huge fan of blue. Once more, I was surprised by how much I loved it in person! I'm sensing a pattern here. (No pun intended!)

First I tried on the Super Girl tank with the Hover skirt. I need to return them both for smaller sizes; the SG is supposed to run small but seemed to run true to size for me; I shouldn't have sized up.

The SG has a pocket in the built-in bra and three along the lower back! It's a perfect cycling top but I'll be wearing it for running, of course.

The Hover is the lightest skirt I have ever tried! The shorties underneath are mesh and the skirt is so fluttery. It's hard to tell in the picture but there's a slit and the skirt is kind of an "overlay" style. I'm anxious to have it in a smaller size so I can wear it!

Next I tried on the Go Longer shorts. Lately I have been wanting slightly longer, airier shorts and thought I'd give these a try. I usually wear the Redemption Run shorts, which have a 4" inseam. These have a 6" and look a little long for me in the photo, but in person they're perfect! Plus, they're super comfortable and exactly what I was looking for.

I changed into my Wonder Girl tank for the rest of my photoshoot so I wasn't mixing crazy prints. I love this tank top; it runs smaller than other Skirt Sport tanks, which works for me because their tanks tend to be a little on the loose side. And I love the built-in bra.

Anyway, the new piece here is the Cascade skirt. I have this skirt in three prints now, and it's no wonder...it is just so cute! I love the tiers and it's so lightweight in this print!

I own four (or five?) pairs of the Redemption capris. My only annoyance with them has always been the lack of pockets, which the new Pocketopia style corrects. These capris are lightly compressing, don't slip down or ride up, never give me camel-toe...and are basically just super fun and bright!

The Sidewinder print is by far my favorite Skirt Sports print these days. They really hit it out of the park with this one - even Elizabeth, who swears by her Walmart running gear usually (which is totally fine!) is now seriously considering picking something up because Sidewinder is just that irresistible.

The new Pocketopia capris have a pocket on each leg that easily fits my cell phone and other goodies. I rarely get to run in capris because...well, Florida...so the pockets aren't always necessary, but they are good to have anyway!

Both of these capris have a zippered pocket in the back and a key pocket in front. The Pocketopia run a little less compressy than the Redemption; they're slightly stretchier, too.

And that's it! I am so excited and ready to run...if I am ever able to run again.

Just kidding. Kind of.

If my little splurge piqued your interest, remember to use the discount code 1SSCAPT20 through the end of March for 20% off your purchase!

Which of the prints do you like best?
Do you like wearing loud/bright workout clothes?
What is a must-have feature you look for in workout clothes?

ABK

Mid-Week Musings

In case you missed it, in a highly ironic moment, my calves gave me issues on Sunday after I'd posted how I cured my calf pain just two days earlier. We cut our run short; with the end game in mind - being able to run A1A comfortably and enjoy it - I'm being cautious. When we made up our long run Monday, my legs felt 100% fine! We managed ~8.5 miles that evening.

I'm beginning to think it's my shoes, but my dad suggested I need to start working out my legs again. I have been neglecting lower-body workouts since volleyball started in November, and that's around when my leg pain started. I thought it was from all the extra time on my feet, but maybe it was my lack of cross-training!

Fingers crossed, because if I have to go on a new shoe search again I might lose my mind. I need to be really smart about the last three weeks of training here, but I'd really love it if my calves would just get. it. together.

Skirt Sports announced their 2017 Ambassadors, and I was selected to be an Ambassador Captain for another year! I'm so excited! I was really nervous about my application because I always end up thinking of a million perfect, eloquent responses after I hit "submit." Stay tuned for more inspiring women and Skirt Sport deals in your future.

A little while ago, I was contacted about reading and reviewing Matt Fitzgerald's new book The Endurance Diet. It came in the mail today! The book explores five "core habits" athletes should adopt to perform their best. I can't wait to dive in. I'll give you all a full review when I'm done.

Another promotional offer I received recently was from Run Around USA. Their website takes you on a virtual journey around the US (or Australia or Europe, depending on which map you choose for the year). As you hit milestone cities, they send you souvenirs.

My journey so far. The US map starts in Pittsburgh for some reason!

I'm pretty curious to see how far I can "travel" in a year, and I'll admit I'm a sucker for a free singlet and medal! I'll keep you guys updated as I go and give you my impressions of the program.

For some reason this month has felt incredibly busy and hectic. I expected things to calm down after the holidays. Hopefully I get into some kind of rhythm soon because at the moment I feel just as pressed for time and stressed as I did before break.

Have you read any of Matt Fitzgerald's books?
Do you like to track your mileage on a virtual map of any kind?
Has January felt crazy-busy to you, too?

ABK

Howl at the Moon 5k

On Thursday night before the race, I was trying to measure my readiness. I was thinking, Physically, I'm probably in better shape than I was in May, but mentally I feel more disconnected and less prepared. I wonder why that is!

Anyway, we got up to Port Charlotte around 7pm. We had plenty of time to get our bibs and warmup. Originally, Todd wasn't going to run, but we all know how race peer pressure works! He signed up there last minute.

Pre-race!

Before the race, I jogged around the complex a bit (the race began and ended at the Rays spring training stadium), did some downward dogs, cariocas, etc. I was a little concerned about a night race, especially because of the time spent sitting in the car on our way there, but I loosened up really well.

I ran into two Skirt Sports Ambassadors pre-race - Jenna, who had just done a half Ironman the previous weekend, recognized me in the bathroom and we found Wendy (who had also raced the Ironman) and took a picture! Small world!

Wendy, Jenna, and me representing Skirt Sports! I wore my new Jette skirt and loved it!

The race began at 8pm sharp. The first half mile or so took us through a potholed and slightly-flooded parking lot. I had a lot of trouble finding a steady pace there and was fiddling with my phone and trying to get my music on. About half a mile in, I finally felt my legs click into a happy pace and just kept at it. Usually about 2/3 of the way in I start to flag, but that didn't really happen this time.

My legs felt awesome the entire race, but I had a side stitch for most of it and was gasping for breath, too. The humidity wasn't that high (74%) but my effort was in full swing.

Because the race course was so dark, I didn't pay much attention to my watch. I had my voice feedback set at every .25 miles, so I knew I was steadily keeping an 8:21 pace for the first mile, and about an 8:35 pace for the rest. I really was just making sure I didn't trip! I had to keep a sharp eye on the people ahead of me so I knew where to go, too.

Running in the dark meant I had very little self-consciousness. I didn't care what I looked like; I just wanted to run. It made being fast a little easier. I spent the run focusing on just keeping my legs moving; the darkness really helped the race flow by without any dramatic highs or lows.

You can see I started out fairly fast, then after a mile I slowed into a more consistent and maintainable pace, then sped up at the end again.

I entered the stadium and saw 25:xx on the clock and knew I could make it to home plate before 26:57. I just let my legs do the work and pushed to the finish. (There's a finishing video here!)

Matt got some photos of me finishing.

The boys were wiped.

I was smiling through the end and so pleased with a major PR...but I didn't feel totally elated like I did in May until I printed out my results.

I saw later that I had edged out the 4th place AG finisher by just 19 seconds, and Matt had edged out her husband by a few minutes. It was the Kearneys vs. the Maurers!

Todd finished 6th in 27:48, which is really respectable, especially considering he hasn't run in ages, and Sean took 2nd. There were 20 men in the 30-34 AG, compared to 44 in women's. We all did really well!

The post-race celebration was really fun, but I couldn't partake in the pizza and beer offered there, so we stayed long enough to get our awards (pint glasses) and then stopped at Wendy's before our drive home.

3/44, 25/330, 71/508! Color me surprised and happy!

It was a totally perfect night! In May, my goal was 27:00 and 26:57 was so close to it that it felt like a fluke and therefore I felt amazed. This 43-second PR tells me that it's true ability, and I'm ready to make more progress and chip away at my times!

ABK

Fall Running Clothes are Here, but I'm Still Waiting on the Weather

Today, I'm thinking out loud about fall fashion. Kind of.

One of the annoying things about working out pretty much everyday and being very consistent is that I have to do a lot of laundry. And if I don't do laundry - like I didn't last week because I was feeling sick and totally unmotivated to do anything - the first things I run out of are athletic clothes.

And underwear, obviously.

So I'm really happy that being an ambassador for Skirt Sports means that this year I suddenly own more workout clothes than I ever have before. And it's all cute stuff that makes me excited to wear it!

Anyway, this fall some new prints came out and I waited patiently for all the styles I wanted to be available in said prints, and now I can't get enough! Our weather may still feel like summer, but at least my clothes are feeling fall.

I knew I'd love the Enchanted print because black and pink are my favorites, but I was surprised by just how pretty it is!

I wasn't sure I'd like Frolic as much but I think I may like it best. The bright orange is surprisingly flattering!

Skirt Sports is having a birthday celebration, which means you can get $20 off your purchase using the code BDAY20...You might even be able to use it in conjunction with my 20% code (ABK20) for an extra deal.

Click here to shop. This isn't an affiliate link because I'm too lazy to figure out how those work.

I'm currently justifying all the stuff I have in my cart because clearly I need one of everything.

When Skirt Sports shared the birthday sale news, they posted a clip of founder Nicole DeBoom winning the 2004 Wisconsin Ironman in a skirt. LOVE IT.

Click here to watch the video.

I don't really know how to explain it...I wrote a post a little while back about this, but it was still so hard to put into words...I just seriously love when women accomplish great, badass feats while still totally embracing their femininity.

Do you follow season fashion/color trends?
What's your favorite thing about fall?
How often do you buy new workout clothes?

ABK

Playing Designer

This week, Skirt Sports is rolling out their inaugural "Sewing Room" event. I'm really excited about this for a couple reasons.

1 - It gives female athletes a chance to have a say design their athletic gear. Trying on new running clothes can be really frustrating - armholes cut into your pits, tops bunch in a wear spot, waists or legs gap or pinch...I wish I had the money to just get all my clothes tailored, now that I think about it. 

But the Sewing Room gives us the chance to share our ideas for designs that will improve Skirt Sports clothes. More pockets! More reflective fabric! More sizes! New fabrics/prints/details/designs...The list is endless, really, and nothing is off the table.

Clearly SS isn't afraid to try something new!

2 - It allows women to vote on ideas they like and help crowd fund designs if they're so inclined. This was successful last year with the Gotta Go Skirt. Customers told Skirt Sports they wanted a skirt that made it easy to pee on the go, and now it's a reality.

You can wield the power of Heidi Klum and decide who's in and who's out!

Anyone else a big fan of this show? I always felt like I was the best judge ever.

3 - If there's a retired item or print you really liked, this is a chance to request its return to production. I'm looking at you, Super Girl tank!

You all should know by now that I'm obsessed with pockets. I can't believe this tank is discontinued!

I wish all athletic clothing companies were this encouraging of feedback from their customers. I love that Skirt Sports really wants to hear what we want, and actually acts on the feedback!

Admittedly, this first event is on a tight time crunch (designs are due by August 3), but this is just the first of many times they plan to roll it out. I think it's pretty cool; I can't wait to see the ideas other women come up with.

Tell me about your dream running outfit.

What's the worst piece of running clothing you've ever owned? I once bought a bra that smelled weird in the store because I thought the smell would wash out. It never did! I always smelled like burned rubber when I wore it on a run!

ABK

My Plans for A1A

It took longer to hit me than last time, but the post-marathon funk has definitely set in over the last couple weeks. I've gone from super-motivated to lethargic; I'm tired, I'm stressed, I'm feeling blah about running.

It's normal. We all need some downtime. I think hurting my foot on my 20-miler is what did it. I was forced to take some time off, and then I ended up really enjoying it!

Running the Run for the Paws 5k really reminded me why I'm putting distance on the back-burner this year. I'm tired of running long. I'm excited to focus on short, intense workouts instead. It's what I need to reignite my love of running.

Could I still do it? Absolutely; my taper has been fairly extreme - I've been babying my foot and seriously avoiding running - but I know I'm in good enough shape to cover 26.2 if I wanted to...But I don't particularly want to right now. My mood and desire have really shifted - funny how January does that to us sometimes - and I just don't see a full happening at A1A.

26 miles? This just doesn't look fun right now.

At this point, I'm remembering last year. I'm remembering that I had been sick so I took a couple weeks off training and then I ran the half for fun and it ended up being a wonderful surprise: emotional and moving and fulfilling in all kinds of ways. That's what I want again. This will be half number 10 for me, and I'm excited for it to just be a good, solid race. Low-stress.

I will definitely be wearing my Valentine's Day compression sleeves again. I was surprised that I felt so strong during this race and had my third-fastest half time after being sick and resting so much.

Having friends and my sister at the finish line with signs and birthday hats made last year's race extra special.

I'm regretful that it won't be a full, but I think realistically my heart just isn't in it. I didn't enjoy my last few long runs, even though they felt good and I felt strong; I just mentally haven't been there. It's hard to swallow that in December and early January, I really wanted to run the full and now I just...don't.

But that's it, I guess. I just don't want to. And I can make myself run a race I don't want to run, but why bother? Especially when we're talking about 26.2 miles.

This, with its lovely tour of a state park in the middle miles, is much more my preference right now.

I am absolutely looking forward to meeting Kerry and seeing Kristina; I'm looking forward to seeing Oden and my sister; I'm looking forward to a fancy hotel for Valentine's Day and a wonderful birthday. I may not be running the full, but this weekend is going to be fantastic anyway!

Have you ever felt physically ready for a race, but mentally blah?
What kind of races and running are you planning to focus on in 2016?
Do you have Valentine's Day plans?

ABK

PS: Skirt Sports is offering free shipping while they move to their new warehouse! If you're in the market for new gear, don't forget to use SKIRTLOVE20 to get 20% off at checkout, too!

Announcement Time

After my first marathon, my mom asked me why I don't run in skirts. The marathon was the first big race she'd had a chance to spectate, and all the skirts caught her eye. It was funny that she asked, because during the race I'd noticed the skirts too and was thinking how much I'd appreciate all those pockets.

So, Mom bought me my first running skirt. It was the cougar (now called the lioness) from Skirt Sports and I was instantly in love. The pockets, the anti-slip shorties, the pleats...I just loved it all.

My first lioness skirt! (And a little Archie photobomb.)

Since then, I've collected a few other skirts from Skirt Sports. The jette skirt has fewer pockets but is perfect for shorter-than-marathon races, and I got a second lioness skirt, which I wore at BDR. I also picked up a couple pairs of shorts.

My other lioness skirt was very useful during BDR.

The allure for me is always pockets. I love that the redemption fitness shorts are spandex with side pockets. You never see that! I really hate how difficult it is to carry all my stuff during long runs and races, and pockets are key.

Two pockets on the side (large enough to fit my phone in its case) and one zip pocket in the back make these shorts my new favorites.

This is a really long way of saying that I'm a total fan of Skirt Sports, and now I get to be an Ambassador Captain for them, too! I don't often like to take on ambassadorships. Like I commented on Janelle's post about ambassadorships recently, the expectations can feel overwhelming and hard to live up to. Am I a good enough runner to earn this? Can I really promote this company in a genuine way, because I truly like them, without seeming like an empty shill?

Because I honestly love Skirt Sports's products and mission, I felt passionate about applying, and I'm really glad to have been accepted. I can't wait to join this community of supportive, active women. And I'm sure there will be some perks in it for you guys, too.

In fact, what better way is there to complete this announcement than by sharing my family/friends discount code? The code may change as their website undergoes an update this next week, but I'll share the new one if that happens. Use ABK20 for 20% off any merchandise on their website.

Have you ever accepted an ambassadorship?
Besides comfort, what do you look for in running gear?

ABK