Holiday Sales & Reviews (Skirt Sports)

This is my third year as a Skirt Sports ambassador, and each year Nicole (the founder) and Noelle (the ambassador liaison) improve the program. The newest update to the program is that ambassadors now have personalized referral links to share.

Know that if you shop through my links, this helps N & N track my range as an ambassador and it gives me a little clout boost, but I do not receive a monetary commission for it.

Skirt Sports link

Direct-link to the sale page

As always, you can use my code for 15% off, too! It's 456ABKRUNS.

I've finally had the chance to test out some of the winter styles and I'm loving the Watch Me Go Top. It has ventilated panels to keep you from overheating, has thumb-holes for a secure fit, and has built-in windows for your watch to peek through! And, bonus!, those windows are featured on both sleeves, so it's lefty-friendly.

I also wore the Wonder Wool tops (long- and short-sleeved) along with the Toasty Tights and the winter headband while I was in Tennessee for Chattajack and can attest to their warmth and coziness.

The Black Friday sale is going on now through Cyber Monday, so now is a great time to treat yourself to something new.

Happy shopping!

ABK

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

Time for Training

So, as you know, I talked Elizabeth into running the A1A half marathon with me, and that means we're officially training! We're actually a few weeks into it, but I wanted us to have our flow underway before I wrote too much about it.

Want to run in gorgeous February weather along the beach with me and Elizabeth and Kristina?! Don't forget you can get a 15% discount by using ALI at checkout!

We put together a plan that I think will work for a first time half-marathoner; it's the running plan I used when I finally trained properly for a half. We run four miles three times during the week, always including the bridge. (We don't do special speed work or repeats; we just make sure our four miles includes the bridge twice.) Our long run is always done easy on a flat route. Then, we fit cross-training into our schedule a couple times a week and give ourselves a rest day.

Someone asked about our bridge's specs. It's about .9 miles from end-to-end and the elevation is +16 feet.

We're both in the honeymoon phase of feeling really excited and ready to totally nail this plan.

Ask me how I feel in a few more weeks.

After capping my runs at 10 miles (and usually going 8 or 9), seeing 13-15 mile runs on my calendar is a bit daunting. The first few long runs haven't been mentally easy; a big part of me hasn't been motivated to run that far, and I've had to rearrange my mindset so I can be mentally ready for running long again!

Yes, this. If I'm being honest, while mentally running long has been daunting, but physically it hasn't been that difficult. Yet.

I guess this means my year of short distance is mostly over. Still, I think I've successfully rekindled my appreciation for 5ks and plan to run them more often; this half doesn't have to change everything!

Anyway, we have our plan totally mapped out. We've planned a 15-miler because Elizabeth really wants to "beat" her brother's longest distance (a half) and 15 sounds like a "good distance" to her. That means it will be the farthest I've ever run during half training; I'm interested to see the results.

We sketched out our long runs one day during lunch. Elizabeth said her students' reactions to the mileage were hilarious.

We don't have any time goals, although I think realistically we could come in around 2:20 without much trouble; we plan to run the entire race together and just have fun. It's hard to race and talk, so chances are we'll keep a nice, conservative pace...

Then again, seeing Elizabeth's paces lately, we may gun for a PR. Who knows! I know I'm "helping" her train for her first half, but really I'm just helping her run through her boredom. She's more than capable of running a half without my guidance! I'm just along for the ride.

Are you training for anything right now?
Do you like to create your own training plans?
Have you ever mentored/trained a running buddy in a distance that's new to them?

ABK

Friday...Seven? & A Race Discount

I don't know what the linkup "theme" is this week so I'm not linking up. But I finally caught up on as many blog posts as I could and I just wanted to write a little something before I return to my regularly scheduled posts. (That means I won't have a "weekly recap" on Sunday because I literally have not run this week.)

1. Let's start there. I literally have not run since the Tuesday before we left for Chattanooga. We were so busy while there that I just couldn't be bothered; I was there to cheer on Matt, not get my run on. After the 10 hour drive home, I've been so sore and tired I just want to rest.

We did climb Rock City the day after the race, so that kind of counts as a workout.

This video shows Matt, me, and Quack making our way through "fat man squeeze", a super narrow rock tunnel.

Volleyball has started this week, so I'm getting my "workouts" in that way. My upper body is in so much pain!

2. That said, Saturday I have a 5k that I plan to run for fun and to support my colleagues who are running it. As I mentioned before, this is their first race ever and I just want to enjoy it with them!

3. It's avocado season! Our tree is dropping avocados like crazy. Last night I made curry and topped it with some slices. We have so many we have to give them away or they'll go bad; even refrigerating them doesn't help because we have about a dozen a day to go through!

Florida avocados are huge and flavorful; they're basically twice the size of the Haas variety.

4. Matt does not understand what "rest and recovery" means. We got home Monday from Chattanooga and he went out for a paddle on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I don't know, this is just an excuse to post more pictures of us from Rock City.

5. I voted! Mailing in my ballot was a lot less fun than going to the polls but at least I know that even if volleyball goes late on November 8, my vote has been counted!

CONFIRMED!

6. Kristina and I were chatting about A1A a few weeks ago. I wanted to run it with Elizabeth but the price and travel factors were deterrents. Still, we considered it. I love it so much that to me, the cost is totally worth it; you get what you pay for. Kristina messaged me to make me aware of a 20% off code they were offering, and then just this Thursday she hooked me up with a comped race admission in exchange for a blog post about the race! I mean, I can't say no to that.

You guys know I was disappointed to miss this race because I've run it twice now and have loved it both times; I'm so glad I can run it again this year!

So I plan to pay half of Elizabeth's race entry (as a birthday gift to her - she and I share a birthday!) and that way we can both run it. I also have a code to share with all of you for 15% off (once the 20% deal ends this week), so if you're in Fort Lauderdale in February and want to run an amazing 5k, half, or full, use ALI at checkout!

7. Matt put together a surfing video when hurricane Hermine was bringing in some fun waves a few months ago. He entered that video into a film festival and was chosen as a finalist!

His film will be shown on the big screen at a real movie theatre and he has a chance to win $1000. We'll dress up and walk the red carpet. Seriously, how many talents can one person have?!

So that's life after Chattajack. What's new with you?

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