Cool Runnings: Winter Run Gear

Winter Run Gear by elbonner featuring Under Armour

Last weekend, I ran my first race in over five years. I was so nervous because I didn't train as much as I wanted and worried about being the slowest person there and I was genuinely afraid of letting myself down. It was also my first really cold-weather run I'd had in a long time and I was convinced I was going to do a bad job.I ran a bunch of races a few years ago and they were what motivated me to really get into shape. They were so much fun, but I trained long and hard for them. What the hell was I doing running this race that I barely prepared for? Now that it's dark out before I get home I don't like running outside after work which leaves me with the treadmill. I truly hate the treadmill and like a good treadmill-hater, I avoided it while I should have been utilizing it. I did go on Sunday runs at a local park, but it was by no means enough practice. 

As I stood in my corral, I tried to pick out who I should pace myself with and what time is everyone going to get. Could I even make it the whole way without taking a break? My friends who run get awesome finish times; what's mine going to be? Well, three minutes out of the starting line, all that went by the wayside and I cleared my mind and finally focused on having fun. I've got a lot of accomplished runners in my life and trying to compare myself to their times just wasn't happening. I changed my outlook from "don't look like an ass" to "just do your best", as ridiculous as that sounds I really needed to beat that into my brain. I finished around the time I thought I would and never stopped the whole time. I wasn't magically running 7 minute miles or 20lbs lighter, but I did kick all the negative thinking in the nards an kept going. After I got my medal and my free banana, I was ready to sign up for a bunch more races. Why wasn't I doing this every weekend?! Now that I know I can once again run a race without stopping, who knows what else I can do? I've made it my goals to run as many races as I can manage next year so I can have a healthy habit all while gaining lots of new t-shirts.

That being said, running in the winter is especially tough. It's hard to be motivated to run when it's cold or wet outside. I dd get my ass out of be on Thanksgiving morning and put in three rain-soaked miles before I nearly ate myself to death and I felt so much better having done so. One way I've found to get myself motivated is to get a new outfit. Nothing like spending too much on an outfit to make you get out and use it! Above I have compiled all sorts of cute winter run gear to get you going on even the coldest of days! Get to stepping!

(left)

Nike Windrunner Jacket- Super cute and can be worn with jeans if you need some motivation for a late-day run!

Nike Epic Lux Tights- Good for days when you need some extra warmth, but nothing bulky. Plus is has a convenient key pocket and butt-enhancing capabilities.

Nike Storm-FIT 2.0 Run Gloves- On cold days, no amount of bunching your hands into your sleeves is going to keep your hands warm. Save yourself the trouble and get some gloves!

Nike  Air Zoom Structure 18- This shoe is made for overpronators (heels roll inward when running) which is my current handicap. Would love to try these out since they've been getting such awesome reviews. Finally, stability shoes that aren't totally fugly! Wishlist item!

C9 by Champion Knitted Beanie- Protect your chilly little head with this fitted, moisture-wicking beanie that's a steal at Target.

(right)

Under Armour ColdGear Infrared Crew- ColdGear is great stuff, especially if it's 30 or below. I wear mine when it's snowy and it keeps be pretty toasty without the bulk of a sweatshirt!

Under Armour ColdGear Infrared Leggings- Probably my favorite cold-weather running tights. They are lined with brushed fleece and keep your legs and butt warm on cold runs!

Under Armour Fleece Headband- If hats won't stay on your head, opt for a headband. I have an odd-shaped head that a hat will never stay on so I always wear a fleece headband.

Under Armour 2.0 Sports Bra- No bouncing here, this bra also has removable padding just in case you don't want the world to know how cold you really are. 

Patagonia Micro-D fleece Neck Gaiter- These things are a life saver! Get over the fact that you may look like the unibomber and enjoy your runs free of cold-burnt lungs! I can only run in the cold if I'm wearing one of these up over my nose or else my throat will be killing me and my chest will be on fire. Everyone should have one!

That's all for now folks! Hope your turkey (or Tofurky) day was full of fatty goodness. Now it's time to get back to work! Happy running!

Fall Goals!

Fall Goals by elbonner featuring rms beauty

Even though it absolutely destroys my soul that summer is almost over, I am still finding ways to cope with another loss of my favorite season. All the college kids are back and they're ALL at the gym and they're ALL hogging the squat racks (had to get that out of the way) and since I'm going to have to work out before work, I'm going to need to find ways to fill my evenings. I have come up with a small, but reasonable list of goals I want to accomplish/work towards this fall so I don't get SAD and kill myself:

1. Surf More! Cooler weather is no reason to stay out of the water! I have my wetsuit (even though it's 10 years old) and I've washed the spider babies out of it from lack of summer wear and it's ready to go! If I'm really lucky, someone will take pitty on me and bestow upon me a Matuse (pretty please!) or a Nineplus wetsuit to make my fall/winter surfing bearable!

2. Work It Out: Well, I'm trying to, but the bros at the gym are all up in my shit! Oh well, this just means I need to get more creative with my workouts and try some new things. Getting in the pool will help with my surfing for sure and give me some water time when it's a little cold for the beach. Some cute new workout stuff might motivate me to have a bikini body all year-round and help shave off some of the "ThanksChristmas" pounds I always put on!

 

 3. Get Organized!: I have so much shit strewn all over the house it blows my mind. I really do try and go through this stuff as much as I can, but I am a very sentimental person when it comes to my stuff. I get attached to everything. I have decided that if I want to keep things, they need to have a place that is out of sight, or cleverly hidden. Being organized just makes everything flow easier and who doesn't like being able to find things on the regular! So baskets will be purchased and space bags will be used. I'm finally going to get organized!

Photo: Apartment Therapy

4. Get A Hobby!: Nothing makes the hellish winter more standable than an all-engrossing indoor activity that you actually like. I am DYING to learn how to sew and since I'll have cold, rainy, Saturdays with my mom I can get her to show me the ropes! I really want to try my hand at designing my own bathing suits once I get started. I also want to be more crafty when it comes to decorating my apartment. I don't need someone elses art when I can make my own! I've scoured Pinterest and have found so many cool things to do; even paint-dipped sticks seem like a cool idea! I'm willing to try anything to kill the boredom! I've also been formulating and contemplating making my own skincare products with the end result of maybe selling them on Etsy. Once I get my formulas perfect and some more raw materials, I plan on expanding to make all sorts of fun, beachy stuff to sell to the masses! There's so much I want to do and Fall seems like a good time to start!

If you're mega-bummed about the impending death of the years greatest season, don't wallow in your own sadness, get to work on something fun! If you want to be hot by next summer, get to stepping now. Want to perfect your after-sun cream before next years first sun burn? Start experimenting! Want to enter a race in the spring? Run dammit! Happy back to school/relentless cycle of work, everyone!

Work It Out

Work It Out by elbonner featuring sport gloves

I have let myself go. There, I said it. I can't say I didn't warn myself, but the lure of doing what you want while you're at a reasonable size absolutely catches up with you in the end. I am not someone who can eat an entire gallon of ice cream and still fit into my size 4s; I literally have to give up anything good (as in fatty or sweet) to lose any sort of weight. Three years ago I lost 40 lbs. on a steady diet of tilapia, brown rice, salad, oatmeal, and smoothies. That's all I ate, and with the help of programs like Weight Watchers I kept my food intake under control. I was also working out every single day during this period of time. It took me about 7 months to lose the weight and I plateaued right before I graduated college. After I graduated, I went crazy and have pretty much had a much more laxidazical approach to my diet and fitness. Unsurprisingly, my weight has sloooowly crept back up and after my Nana passed away I totally let myself go. I cared about nothing I put into myself and barely worked out. Now I'm seeing all of those little warning signs I saw when I first gained my freshman-senior 40 and I'm just not having it anymore. I don't have the money to buy new clothes now, so all I can really do is fit into those clothes I have better than I do now.

Above I have compiled a collection of some of my favorite workout wear that help make my workouts as cute and comfortable as possible. ALWAYS go tagless and ALWAYS go moisture wicking. It's amazing what crazy fabrics are out there now to help you not feel like a drowned rat after a long run!

1. Nike Training tank tops: looser fit so I won't be self conscious about my bumps and bulges being visible to the masses and great for circulating air. I have these in like four colors. 

2. Weight Lifting Gloves- it really doesn't matter what kind you get, just have something to keep your hands from being torn up. Some see callouses as a medal of honor when lifting weights, but mine would just crack and rip my gloves at work. I wasn't about to get the hep just to look cool! 

3. Lululemon Tata Tamer Bra: best sports bra for larger busted girls. Nothing moves, no uniboob (which is apparently a problem) and they're comfortable. Great for jumping around and running. 

4. Lululemon Run Swiftly Tech Shirt:Magic fabric that wicks away sweat and has silver sewn into it to battle stankness from a  brutal spin class. Also comes in long sleeve for the winter!

5. Lululemon Groove Pant: I thought I had possibly lost my mind when I bought a nearly $100 pair of yoga pants, but these things are the real deal. My butt has never looked better and they just fit so darn well. Wore them for hot yoga and they soaked up every ounce of sweat which is crazy because I'm like the sweatiest person alive.

6. Lululemon Run Inspire II Crop: I'm seeing a pattern here. Yes, I really like Lululemon stuff. It just works well for me,and yes it's expensive, but I don't have the money to keep buying crappy pants and bras from Target 5 times a year. This crop is basically a spandex running capri that keeps jiggles at bay. For a while it was uncomfortable running in shorts because all that movement in my butt and thighs made me tired quicker (I don't know why) so this eliminates that problem by holding everything in. Also, no chub rub!

7. Nike Tempo Running shorts: Look great. Feel great. I have like 7 pairs of these. They're affordable and keep you cool and dry.

8. Nike  Train Fit 2 Sneakers: Great for classes like Zumba and dance, but also great for the weight room and plyometric exercises. Super light and made almost entirely of stretchy mesh that keep things cool and comfortable.

9. Smartwool Running Socks: Get good socks for the sake of your feet. They'll kept them dry and blister free!

10. Gym Boss Interval Timer: Interval workouts are great if you're short on time and this timer is great for tracking intervals that I would most assuredly mess up in my head.

As for things like running shoes, I can't really reccommend something that is different for every runner. I over-pronate (my ankles roll in when I run) so I have to wear stability/motion control shoes to keep my feet happy. I personally love the Saucony Omni Progrid series and have bought 3 pairs and probably won't buy anything else. It tends to be that way with running shoes. Go to your local running store and have a pair fitted by a pro! 

Losing weight sucks, but taking personal responsibility for your mistakes is something you have to do in that situation. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something!