Got a little out of the habit of actually typing out a weekly blog, however several blog posts have been swirling in my head since our Seaside trip. Gonna pump out a few over the next couple of weeks to clear my backlog and hopefully put out one or two that are actually interesting reads or maybe bring a fleeting smile to your face.

Being a runner sometimes seems to interject the content of  conversations with all things running especially if you put a bunch of fixin' to run southern sole sisters in a room together. Watch this video from College Humor and see if rings familiar or maybe you will just get a laugh.

If People Talked About Other Hobbies Like They Talk About Running

ANYway, in the week leading up to the Seaside running event there was a bit of this in us.. what shall I call it, obsessiveness....no, let's just call it extra special focus.  Well, the us that made up the rather large contingent of Southern Sole Sisters who set out for the Seaside Half Marathon (HM) and 5k. At one point, we even laughed at ourselves as we were asking the same people the same question and getting the same answer. Zelda knows the answer was Hot Chocolate Sweatshirt. This prompted me to make a list of the topics we all seemed to discuss a thousand times leading up to Seaside. By the way, please know I am not trying to call out any one sister and most often the one talking about the same topics, c'est moi.

• Weather, Weather, Weather...what if we had a dollar for every time one of us checked a weather app? We did our very best Al Roker or Kurt Mellish impressions to determine the exact weather in Seaside, Florida for every minute would be out in the elements walking to, running or relaxing after our running event.  And one weather app will not do. I would hazard to guess, we had at least four apps in play at any given time. Will it rain? Will it be too hot in the second hour of the HM. Hourly, you say, your app shows? Well, this one shows down to the minute.
• What to Wear? Naturally the weather discussion spawns the what are wearing for the event. Let me be more specific with these questions. What are you wearing to walk to the starting line and wait for the start? Are you wearing any throwaway items? Wearing on your bottom half? Top half? Head? Gloves? Sleeves? What are you bringing to wear after? (answer: Hot Chocolate sweatshirt) Functionality versus fashion is just as daunting when the weather is just a bit colder or hotter than expected.
• Consumption. As focused as we are on wearing the right clothes, it is always nice to feel rested, hydrated and fed with the right mix that will not haunt you over a long haul run. Not only does this come into play as we sit down for our lovely Great Southern Brunch but carries on through dinner and into the breakfast before "the" run. We seem to do all right until we are presented with the brunch Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's that are so delicious and lighten up the day. Then dinner, to have a alcoholic beverage or not....I'll never tell what exactly happened but all made it across the finish line so the choices must have been good ones!
• C to the E.  Not as pleasant of a topic but what goes in must come out. consumption=>elimination. Yes, we cannot get away from a girls trip like this one and not have discussed exactly what we need to do to be "ready" to run with all business completed. We do have a few who have been known to have sensitive stomachs.  Proud to report that all fared well with no emergency visits to a porta potty. Heck, one gal even finally tried the morning coffee and discovered a whole new flow.
• To Bag Check or Not to Bag Check..that is a question that required several rehashes of the same conversations. It was nice that Seaside offered bag check this year. You bringing your phone? Money? ID ('cause you might need it to buy Modica Mimosas after) Credit Card? Sweatshirt? Towel? Oh my goodness, wish we had recorded our first conversation and then hit replay, everytime an inquiry was made. But you have 9 women, not all always present for a topic and then maybe add in maybe little wine or whatnot. This requires the revisit of the bag plan at least seven times. 
• Getting There/Back also took on a life of its own. As we were not staying as close to the start/finish line, we had several options: Walk to the bus shuttle, ride a bike or just hoof it the extra distance.  Maps studied and gmap pedometer used to measure the exact distance and time. Trial walks made from start to house. This decision was not made lightly. Happy to report, we got there and back, all nine accounted for and none worse for wear.

I certainly own up to my own brand of "extra special focus" and was happy to be surrounded by others of my kind during this trip. Love ya, girls. Can't wait for the next group event to discuss all these same topics again (and again and again). XOXO

Homage to the Hubs

As some of the Southern Sole Sisters embark upon the annual trip to run Seaside, I think it is a cause to pause for an homage to our husbands. It is a joint decision but Seaside is a financial investment. Noted, for what we get out of the trip, it is a fairly economical escapade but still each family must evaluate their finances and make the decision to put some resources towards our registration, lodging, food, etc.

Then there is this....between the ten of us making this trip, there are 20 beloved children in the care of our husbands for four days/three nights. Our children vary in ages. Some husbands will be the chauffeurs and audience for our children's activities while others will be full on 24 hour care for our younger highly active offspring. Some husbands will have help from family members but will also be acting as host to that visiting family member. Driving, Monitoring, Chaperoning, Feeding, Playing, Cheering, Cleaning (okay that might be a stretch for some spouses..). As we well know as many of our husbands work travel, our husbands that have their own athletic dedication must often shelve exercise plans until we return. Or in the case of my family, my twins will be slightly unwilling fans for two of my husband's ice hockey games.

But this is really the culmination of the role our husbands have played in this Seaside story. Seaside is also about the journey and preparation for that nice long run on 30A. For those who are running the half marathon, our husband's have supported the runs during the week and the weekend long runs. As we run early in the morning, this support may have just involved sleeping but nonetheless the sleeping spouse is the one who is ready to respond to the crying or ill child. And we all know that just spotting us during the long run is only part of the story. Sometimes the effects of a long run can carry on throughout the day. Smelly, Sore, Tired, Napping, Icebathing, Hangry/Hungry are just a few of the words that describe what could be happening post long run.

Our husbands willingly step forward so that we can run, enjoy each other's company, renew and re-energize at the beach.

Thus, as we pack and then head out as the sun rises to Florida, we do so with love and appreciation in our hearts to our husbands who support our journey every day and made this experience possible.

Hearts to the Hubs,

Sadie

P.S. - Everlasting hugs and kisses to those wonderful 20 children who never leave our hearts and souls. Perhaps a future post subject.

What I Think About When I'm Doing Yoga...

Ever read Huraki Murakami's What I Talk When I Talk About Running....? Well strangely enough this book popped into my head during yoga this morning which underscores the theme of this blog and perhaps continues with my Turning Japanese mentality/persona as of late.

I will be very honest here. Try as I may, try as I might, I do not love yoga. Progress has been made in that I don't dislike it or dread it as before. However, Not ready to say like yet. It's green beans, I know it is good for me, consumption and toleration mode. And I do it now more than ever with a modified EG HM training plan which calls for at least weekly yoga.

Needless to say I don't get zen and have a very hard time staying mentally focused on just yoga or even as having yoga as the primary thing on my mind. It actually has the opposite effect. As yoga is generally not pain inducing (like stellar) or leaving me breathless(like a run or spin class), I have too much free space on my brain and it goes into hyper thought. Thus, among the what-seems-like-a-thousand-thoughts, up popped the idea for the blog.

Before I dive in and overshare, let me ask you. What do you think about during yoga? My perception is that those other yoga attendees are really listening, focusing on their breath, sensing their bodies and feeling some zone of enlightenment ...or chi (see even talking about chi, gives me thoughts about Kung Fu Panda 3 chi!)

Other than this blog idea, here is the catalog of the thoughts I remember during today's yoga session:

• I am so tired, why can't I wake up, even after stellar. Maybe the coffee I drank did not have caffeine.
• Why do I keep wearing these capris when they make me look so chunky.
• If you can hold in your stomach the rest of class, it looks much better.
• OMG, we are going to plank again. My shoulders hurt from stellar. Losing feeling in my hands.
• Wow, that Zelda, tries all the advanced poses and moves as suggested by the instructor. Lift my knee? No way. But go, Zelda,! I am cheering you on across the room!
• Ugghh I feel terrible. I have been feeling better not drinking wine. I was on a 4 day no wine streak prior to last night and feeling groovy. One glass last night...I am miserable. Or maybe I am getting what Zelda's daughter had.
• If wine makes me feel miserable, what should I drink instead in Seaside? Beer, okay some of the time but so heavy. Light cocktail but what can one really drink in quantities and not be sick or stupid. Might have to ask the girls.
• Stare, stare, stare at the same spot so you do not fall over in this tree pose.
• When can I go grocery shopping today? Also need gas in the PT.
• Downward dogging again. I wonder if this is supposed to be comfortable or provide some benefit. No matter how I move my feet, I am just not enjoying the 20th DD. Oh thank goodness, she gave us the child's pose option this round.
• I really need to find ways to be more engaged and present with my kids. Make every minute count.
• Ujjayi breathing makes me thirsty.
• I cannot wait to get a pedicure, in desperate need.
• Thought she said the left leg but now I am confused. Half the class is folding their left leg under and have the class right, how am I supposed to figure out what leg we are on?
• Turn this way, yoga class member so I can see your watch and determining how many minutes are left of this class.
• Ughh, I hope I can feel energetic and Spark Joy in the rest of my closet. It is going to so slow but meanwhile I have to clean out that garage, it's bugging me.
• Oh yes! In comes, Betty with our cold lavender towels. Getting close to the end. Betty is in such good shape!
• This corpse pose is my favorite in the class. Do you think they will mind if I take a nap?

Is this just me in YTH (Yoga Thought Hyperdrive)? Maybe a few more sessions and I will find my focus, chi and zen. Guess, worse case scenario is that it gives me time to think of more blog posts.

Yours in Yoga,
Sadie

Looking Forward to Fall?

Saw a facebook post with a new date for the Athens Half Marathon. October 9th. If you are not familiar with this half, it has been occurring in the October 20s for some time now. Originally I thought this was a good thing, moving the half forward earlier but then I was advised this is in the middle Columbus Day weekend which is not good for those with typical holiday travel plans.

And just like that in the middle of February, dreaming of Fall Half Marathon season. Albeit I am down to that last Winter/Spring ones being completed in less than two months and might be suffering a little bit of longrunitis..especially when it is so windy and cold.  But I know I ultimately love runs of 8 miles or greater on the weekends and my long run love will resurface even if I am in the "like" stage right now.  Note, I did not say hate stage. The only time I think I ever am in that zone is in the second to last mile of long runs..and that is only sometimes.

I digress. At coffee this morning, Zelda, Hazel and I pondered fall half marathon choices. What is out there? Since the Atlanta 13.1 keeps moving and there are no positive reports from any of their locations...ZAP, not in the "running". (editorial note: no amount of surfing produced a 2016 date). Atlanta Thanksgiving? maybe but after a 2nd run of it last year  feeling like "been there, done that". My only mark in the Pro category is the calorie deficit guilt free holiday meal that follows. Plus a lot of you travel on Thanksgiving. I was quite blessed to have our Texan, Nell, make an unexpected appearance....halves are more fun with sole sisters.

Here is the brainstorm, from this morning...(with me adding in the research done during swim practice)

• Georgetown Bridge2Bridge -Saturday October 8, 2016 HM-Georgetown, SC-Current Registration price: $65. Pro: Out/back.  Con: Out/back. Got some would not do again reports plus holiday weekend.
• 4 Bridges Half Marathon-Chattanooga, TN - Sunday, October 16, 2016. Current Registration: $90. Marathon & HM Relay options. Pros: Good feedback on course, 90 minutes away. Cons: 90 minutes away, Kinda pricey.
• Atlanta 10 Miler, Sunday, October 23, 2016
• Silver Comet Halloween Half-Saturday, October 29, 2016, Current registration price: $60. See Scarlett's review in earlier blog post. Pro: Out/back. Pre-Hween Candy deficit. Con: Out/back
• Savannah Rock N Roll- Saturday November 5, 2016. Current registration price: $70. Can also do a 2 person HM Relay. Pros: long run training not in hot months. Savannah is cool. Road trip. Cons: RNR does not have best event record of providing available & clean water.

What cha' got? Any Fall ideas?

Yeah, I know this is many months away but sharing the musings and dreaming of Fall,

Sadie

Joy!

A few of us Southern Sole Sisters have been up to a little blogworthy project. Have you heard about this book? This book is the impetus of our efforts to Spark More Joy in our households and lives.

Over the past few years, although I love my house and the beings in it, I have had this shadow hanging over me about the stuff in our house, how much there is, where it is, how it is organized and stored. Full disclosure, BK (before kids) I was a self aware compulsive neatnik which, of course, I had to let go with pregnancy bedrest and resulting children. My favorite saying used to be "A place for everything and everything in its place"-Benjamin Franklin. This shadowy burden got a little lift after we attended a dinner party at our German neighbors house (not our current German neighbors, the family before).  There house was decorated lovely but was sparse and clutter free. In particular, their counters were so spacious and free of STUFF. This probably was partly due to their planned few year stint here such that they did not have all their possessions but also they kept it looking this way after several years in the US. After this dinner party, I ran around our house taking everything off our counters and ledges (stuffing it in drawers and cabinets) and declaring we needed to live a more German counter clutter free clean lifestyle. My family shook their heads and waited for it to pass.

With the new found free time for a few of us and desire to address our households that our previous roles would not allow, we decided to collectively read this book (as recommended to me by a swim team mom) and see if it would change our lives. We are on Chapter 3 of 5 and have started making great dents in our stuff, organization and I would dare say we changed our perspective on managing our household stuff going forward.  My husband has shaken his head at this project, laughed and hummed this little ditty. Click to here the song. ..Turning Japanese  Wildly popular song of our high school years (remember I'm 50, y'all).

From our reading, we have learned a lot but here are some highlights:

• A tidy room, not only can be cleaner and fresher but if only filled with things that bring you joy, you will be more joyful.
• If done properly, tidying will be a special event, not a daily chore.
• Before one can tidy, you must discard first. "Take each item in one's hand and ask: "Does this spark joy?"  For the hard to discard items but ones that do not bring you joy, thank the item for the joy it brought you in the past and let it go!
• Proceed with as categories recommended.
• Learning about methods to fold, organize, store belongings that are not only tidy but functionally better.

Our Petunia is leading the pack, just like she does on the runs with Zelda and I following on her heels. I share below some of the before and after photos from all of us. I wince as I show you my socks even after because I later learned that folding my socks this way is unkind to my socks.

Here's a few comments from our weekly virtual book club meetings and other dialogue.

• "I've officially caught the bug. It does feel freeing to give away so much stuff. After tidying my closet my spouse said I gave away too much because I have less than him. Lol. After tackling the pantry he said we needed to go buy some stuff! I think he needs to read the book simultaneously or this may be an uphill battle in my house."
• "I will say the down side to doing all of this is that my tolerance for clutter has significantly decreased."
• "My spouse said, when I asked him to pull out all his socks, that he needed all his socks. However, I begged for just a review with all socks out on the counter. I explained the exact process for review. Later that day, he gave me a pile of over 10 pairs. The next day, I found a pile of shirts that no longer brought him joy. Making progress!"

We have only just begun. I would never have gotten this far without the encouragement and accountability of sole sisters.

Here's to more JOY,

Sadie

Don't tell me this isn't G-d's Cathedral

Late to post this week. My self set standard is to post  Thursdays unless you all pre-empt me..which is most welcome. However, there was a twofer last week thus cutting myself a little slack:). My head is swimming with blog post ideas and I really have to focus in on what may be of interest to others versus my own folly. Well this week I got something stuck on replay that may fall in the folly category . However, I decided I am going there.  Perhaps just to memorialize and stop the record from skipping in my mind (yes, that reference may totally fly over the head of some of our younger sisters..vinyl records?!), OR maybe because this thought line is powerful/empowering to me or possibly meaningful to you. If it is none of the above, it will be a sure siren for one of you to prepare a blog and save yourselves from my future follies.

Folly, here we come....

In Boot Camp Year One (where the sole sister journey began), I was in my early 40s, had not worked out for pretty much 5 years and was struggling. Thinking about my age made me feel old amongst the younger aged folks that were present in boot camp. I experienced lots of aches, pains and injuries (so many it seems like I should say it again... lots of aches, pains and injuries)  with a deep rooted fear that I would terribly injure myself. I was having trouble differentiating from just the pain of exercise versus something really wrong with me.

Do I have a stress fracture? Go to podiatrist. Do I have a hip fracture? see orthopedist. Have I done something terrible to my knee? see orthopedist. Twisted ankle? See podiatrist. Broken wrist from a fall? Nope deep bone bruise, see orthopedist. There's more but I'll stop right there, you get the point.

That fear was further compounded within my healthcare administrator role heavy on sports medicine & orthopedics, I was present for a regular infusion of  medical continuing education which explained injuries, the surgery/intervention, and recovery. Example: Lecture on the latest hamstring repair surgery.  Guess which type of humans were most likely to suffer hamstring rupture? Yes, you guessed it 30-50 year old females doing athletics! We would do the Chariots of Fire bootcamp work out and  I was convinced that intense 48 hour muscle pain was my call for a surgery where in the recovery you are not allowed to sit down to go to the bathroom for 12 weeks. Can you imagine? An active analyzing brain is not always a good thing.

Anyway starting to question was I too old to exercise? I loved how I felt working out and the energy and uplift that occurred during working out and through the day. But these aches, was I supposed to be working out this hard? this regularly?....THEN cue the angelic music, I was watching ABC News and happened to see the Person of the Week segment. Here I learned about the Iron Nun.  As a nice Jewish girl, it is interesting to think that in both my athletic world and my professional world, I have been profoundly influenced by nuns. Professionally Sister Irene Krause helped me on the course to push forward with the hard parts of my job in healthcare. And now, here in 2009, was my athletic inspiration in Sister Madonna Buder. She started at the age of 47 and is currently the record holder as the oldest person to finish an Iron Man. Here is the actual TV segment. It's just a few minutes, please watch, she is so great.

Sister Buder showed me that I am not too old to exercise the way I want to and in fact, I have many many, more years to go. I love the thought of the priest who suggested Sister Madonna  run for "spiritual enrichment", and I entitled this post after my favorite thing she said, "Don't tell me this isn't G-d's cathedral".  There have been so many moments of gratitude, clarity and enlightenment for me during runs, I believe I have a hint of the references of the priest and Sister Madonna. Hope that transmitted to my Rabbi when I ran past him walking to synagogue on a recent Saturday morning.

For those moments, when I say what the heck am I doing as a 50 year old training for my umpteenth half marathon or some other sort of crazy, I just reflect on my touchstone of the Iron Nun and know I could not possibly give up what I gain spiritually as well as health wise in the form of a run or a swim or a spin. Sister Buder is one of my inspirations to keep on running into my 80s.

If you read this and watch the video, thanks for enduring my folly. When I first typed the word in this piece, I double checked my use of this word looking at the definition below. Ha! I don't know if I appreciated all the contexts of folly but I think they all sort of meet me where I am at.

Nuns...hmmmm, They give me a lot to think about.

Full of Folly,

Sadie

fol·ly

[ˈfälē]

NOUN

1. lack of good sense; foolishness:

   "an act of sheer folly"

   • a foolish act, idea, or practice:
     "the follies of youth"
     synonyms: foolishness · foolhardiness · stupidity · idiocy ·

     [more]

     lunacy · madness · rashness · recklessness · imprudence · injudiciousness · irresponsibility · thoughtlessness · indiscretion · craziness
     antonyms: wisdom
2. a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
3. a theatrical revue, typically with glamorous female performers:

   "the Ziegfeld Follies"

ORIGIN

Middle English: from Old French folie ‘madness,’ in modern French also ‘delight, favorite dwelling’ (compare with sense 2), from fol ‘fool, foolish.’

Powered by Oxford Dictionaries · © Oxford University Press

Fashion Confession & Question Volley

My Fellow Sole Sisters,

When I was querying each of you for best 2015 books and it gave me a chance to reach out to our Texas based runner gal, Nell.  She sent me an email with the subject line: “Confession & Question” which started a clothing dialog. We concluded this would make a great back and forth with the collective so I submit Nell's starter email and a little bit of our volley and asked you to weigh in on this most important matter. This blog represents the amazing collective knowledge synergy of the Southern Sole Sisters.

NELL writes:

So, Pandora advertises Fabletics constantly to me.  I’m usually like whatever but there is now a really cute pair of running pants that are mostly black but have fun bright designs on the lower part of the leg so I’m intrigued.

But going to the website, you have to join and that looks like something else I have to sign up and manage in my life?  Yeah, no thanks.

Just curious… I don’t know of anyone that buys it so it got me thinking to ask you? 

I’ve also boycotting Athleta as their stuff doesn’t hold up AT ALL.  I’m becoming more and more in love with Lululemon.  I prefer to try to buy stuff at the outlet but the stuff I have holds up so well, I’ve succumbed to their awful prices.  My  husband will buy me stuff there but he gets so mad at their unfriendly snobbiness! 

SADIE writes:

You know I belong to this amazing Facebook page called Buckhead/Referrals and Advice and people post all kinds of questions and get feedback. I know I saw something about this and copied it below. (Sisters – ill send you that feedback if you want to see it).  I do buy from Athleta for clothes but I don’t really buy their work out stuff. I really like workout clothes that hold up and are functional and inexpensive over fashionable. So I often shop sales at Dicks or on Roadrunner. For my Bottom half though I pretty much am addicted to compressions so I buy pricey CWX on sale but it lasts for many years so I probably spend less over all. My new favorite for workouts-cycling, yoga, stellar bodies, etc is MPG. I went to Westride and could not believe a pair of capris was $54 and the store owner told me they are well made and relatively (compared to all else) inexpensive. So now I have two pairs of their capris and they are my favorites.    This would be a fun topic if you want me to expand and get more feedback. Alot of our tribe are Lulu devotees and they might be able to tell you their tricks for sales, etc.

NELL writes:

Yeah, those replies are in line with what I expected.  I don’t want to join anything. Sometimes its worth over paying if you only have to buy one and love it!

 Sure.  Could be fun to see everyones fav?  Mine is definitely lululemon which really conflicts with my cheap side.

So NELL AND I want y’all to weigh in with your work out wear favs, is it all about the Lulu for you or do you have other guidance? HAZEL and ZELDA were just discussing this at coffee yesterday.

CLAIREE:

I LOVE Lululemon, but I don't love their price point.  I usually try to hit the sale rack, or order online. However, I got "schooled" if you will when my teenager wanted a pair of their tights and I refused to pay $125 for the pair she wanted.  We spoke to the salesperson and she was very nice and informed us of a few things.  Some I knew, some I didn't.  She said that most of their running and cycling gear is made from medical grade compression fabric that is meant to circulate blood flow more efficiently and thus help you perform better.  They also stand behind any product for 5 years, so if you experience a hole, pilling, anything fundamentally wrong with the fabric, they will make it right.  She also mentioned that the sizing runs very small, and that you generally need to buy a size bigger than you wear in clothing.
Lululemon aside, I have had wonderful luck, and very close to the same level of quality from tights and sports bras that I've purchased from marshalls and old navy for $12.99 and up.  Fun designs on plain and fleece lined tights that are super comfy and hold up well.  They don't have the cute Lululemon head or the Nike swoosh, but they work all the same.  A pair of tights that I get compliments on every time I wear them cost $16.99 at marshalls- it's the MPG brand I believe.  Love Nike as well, but again, I try to catch the sales- found my last Nike stuff at Dillard's.  Nordstrom rack has a great selection, also.  

BETTY:

I love Lululemon too :) another brand for tights is onzie. I have them in Capri's and long tights, price point is around $60 at Nordstrom, they have some really cool patterns which I love!!   They don't have the compression of some of the other tights but are perfect for yoga and I wear them to fast twitch. One of my friends always has the cutest tights and everytime I ask her they are Nike :) 

Hope everyone has a great day!!

BLANCHE:

I'm pretty loyal to Nike in the tights & Capri categories. I love the way their "Nike running" line fits.  For tops, layers, etc. I'm all over the board mainly using UA, Nike, and some Brooks. No matter what I buy, it's always on sale at Sports Authority (unless it's Lulu than it's neither of the before statements)!

PETUNIA:

I'm all about lulu for the fit  (not the price) and it lasts. I haven't had anything fall apart on me. I will also get random pieces off the sale rack at marshals or sports authority but I ways find myself disappointed with the lack of pockets and features so end up back at lulu. 

seems like Tory joined the athletic apparel market - for you research.  http://www.torysport.com/shop-by-sport/running/?icampid=hp_sbs_run

HAZEL

I like certain brands for different things, so I thought I’d break it down by piece.  Here it is:

 BOTTOMS:

Long Tights:

            *Lightweight:  Lulu 

            *Fleece-lined: Nike & Reebok

Capri Tights:

            *Running:  Nike

            *Cycling (no padding) - Lulu

            *Yoga: Lulu, Onzie, Teeki, Nux

Shorts:

            *Running:  Athleta, Lulu

TOPS:

Tanks:

            *Running: Lulu

            *Cycling:  Lulu or any thin cotton tank (Mossimo, Flywheel, Chaser)

            *Yoga: Lulu

Long Sleeves:

            *Running:  Lulu, Nike

Long Sleeve Fleece:

            *Running: Lulu, Nike

             *love Nike 3/4 zip or hoodie with front pocket sweat shirts

Down Vest:

            *Running:  Lulu makes the best vest and down options 

Hat:  Mizuno & Lulu

Gloves:  Mizuno 

Socks:  Feetures & Smart Wool (winter)

Bra:

            *Running: Nike

            *Cylce: Nike & Athleta*

            *Yoga: Onzie & Athleta* 

*I use to be a big Athleta fan, but definitely think the quality has gone down since being purchased by Gap. Still purchase for casual summer clothes.    

I hope this is helpful.

Can’t wait to run, cycle or yoga with all of you in your best fashions!

One more note about Onzie. In my opinion, they are definitely constructed and marketed as a studio (yoga, stellar, spin, fast twitch...) tight, rather than a running tight. They do not have the support or compression found in running tight, thus they may end up around your knees😳. 

ZELDA:

Thought I would add to some of what Hazel said (see purple below). 

 I think Lulu has the best features relative to pockets, detailing, etc. I have found their quality has gone down but in general, I still find most of their stuff to be good quality and worth the price - mostly for the features and because it's so damn cute and doesn't look like just workout wear.

 I am a big fan of Athleta and haven't experienced any changes in quality. I think Athleta is a more affordable option than Lulu but they are still expensive. 

 Fleece-lined tights are the best! My favorites are from Lulu from several years ago as well as some newer ones from Athleta.

 No one has mentioned Title Nine yet and they have great running (and other types) of gear. They sell lots of different great brands like Oiselle and Moving Comfort.

 I also agree with Clairee and Sadie on MPG - my new favorite, affordable brand.

Shorts:

            *Running:  Athleta, Lulu - NorthFace makes some of my favorites - light weight and do not ride up.

Skirts: Favorites are all from Athleta or Title Nine. Skirt Sports also has a lot of cute running skirts that come in different lengths. I don't personally own any but I know some in our group do.

Gloves:  Mizuno (Best gloves ever!- http://www.amazon.com/Mizuno-Running-Breath-Thermo-Glove/dp/B00DVFMXXS)

Socks:  Feetures & Smart Wool (winter) I like Experia for both. They have wool for winter.

Bra:

            *Running: Nike, Moving Comfort

            *Cylce: Nike & Athleta*

            *Yoga: Onzie & Athleta

FRANCES:

-          I feel like such a loser as I don’t have one stich of lulu clothing.  All our lulu $s are used up by  my husband and daughter (she’s an Ivivva fanatic).  I think I was put off by the sizing when they first started out and I had to buy a super large size.  If you make be buy a large size, I won’t buy your clothing.

-          I really like the athleta tights.  Only had one issue but they policy is so great it was no problem to return.

-          Used to love my Nike capris until I was hiking in them in CO and split a seam in a very revealing area.  Not cool.

-          Def going to try Onzie and MPG based upon the below.

-          I know you all think I only own like 3 tops.  I really have a bunch but my favorite one that I ALWAYS wear is only $8-$10.  Mari used them for her bootcamp instructors and for whatever reason I love them. Brand is Next Level and you’ll see that a number of boutique gyms use that brand for their logo shirts.   http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Tank-Top-Burnout-Racerback/dp/B00OWJCC3S/ref=pd_sim_193_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51QCcrRssLL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL200_SR160%2C200_&refRID=08F8072EVPY22KJXMZ0T.  Cotton, thin, long and they don’t cling.

RUTH:

I trust you all more than the internet but came across this post when searching for some much needed fleece-lined tights. Interesting that UA came in #1 with a $38 tight.

https://www.rankandstyle.com/top-10-list/best-winter-running-tights-2014/

SUCH GREAT STUFF SOLE SISTERS!!! If you have more to add or did not yet get a chance to comment, just reply to original email and I'll update the blog.

Blogging Away,

Sadie