Running in a dress - game changer!

Several years ago, when I discovered running skirts, I wasn't really sure how comfortable that would be.  Until I gave them a try.  Once I found the right ones, I was hooked!  Skirt Sports was the clear winner, but that's a whole different post.  Today I'm here to tell you that, although I still love my skirts and wear them whenever I can, running in a dress proved to be a game changer!

When Skirt Sports announced their two new dresses, I knew I had to give them a try.  I was not sure if I would actually like running in them, but if nothing else, this seemed like a great option for days up north when we head out to explode waterfalls, do some hiking and just hang out with the family at the lake!


My Electric dress (affiliate link) arrived about a week before I left for Indy and it fit perfectly!  I debated between ordering the Emerald City print or the solid black.  Normally, I ended up going more conservative and would have ordered the black on... but I decided to go out on a limb and order the Emerald City.  I am so glad that I did!

From the time I first put the dress on, I could tell it was going to be very comfortable.  My biggest concern was that it was not going to have enough support on top.  For everyday wear, I knew it would be fine, but was it going to be enough to carry me through a run.  It's no secret that I need a little extra support up there.

I debated for a few days on when I was going to actually try my dress out on a run.  Since the week leading up to Indy was a crazy one and my training calendar ended up getting compromised, I decided to break one of the cardinal rules of running - never try anything new on race day.  No new fuel, no new shoes, no new clothing...

But I then decided that since it was the 5k that I was signed up for, I was willing to take the chance.  I packed my dress.  Yes, I packed an extra skirt and tank for the race, just in case I changed my mine, but that never happened.  I was too excited to wear my new dress!

This was by far one of the most comfortable races every!  MY dress stayed in place, never seemed to ride up (or down) through my miles!   Now, although I was missing my shorts underneath (mainly for the pockets) this dress does feature a "cleavage alley" pocket!  plenty of room for some race fuel, and ID, hotel room key (we were travleing after all), and I probably could have even slipped my key fob in, if I needed to!  Nothing moved around, bounced out or even weigh the dress down!  WIN!

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my skirts, the comfort, the pockets and everything else about them, but I love my dress!  Matched with a pair of the SS Redemption Shorts underneath (YAY - pockets!) this is a true winner!

The inaugural adventure of running a 5k was a success.  I will have to break this out on a longer training run before I adventure to running a half marathon in it, but after the first race, I have high hopes for this little gem!

So, now that I am sitting to write this post, and it's actually a few weeks AFTER the debut, this dress has proven to be even more valuable than I originally thought!  The simple lines and cut of this dress make is so functional for so many different things!  No, I have not worn it to work yet, but I have wore it for random errands, but this weekend, I put it on, added a simple black sweater and headed to the local performing arts center for Chicago!



Running apparel by day, Theater apparel by night!

Now that works for me!

In the end:
What did I love?
       * Everything stayed where it needed to.
       * Super comfortable
       * Cleavage Alley pocket

Downfalls?
       * I miss my pockets (but this is easily remedied with the addition of the shorts underneath)
       * Due to the sizing on the dress and my need for slightly more coverage on top, I had to adjust what size I ordered.  Normally in SS tank, I wear a large and most skirts are a Medium, I needed to order an XL dress to fit right on the top.  not a big deal, just make sure you check the sizing charts and order accordingly!

Now, time to decide if I want to order this same dress in another color or do I try the other new style?! Such decisions!

Ready to try an Electric Dress (affiliate link)  for yourself?  Use my discount code CHD20 to save 20%!



As a Brand Ambassador for Skirt Sports, I obviously love their products.  All opinions above are my own and when you click on any of the affiliate links or banners on my page to place your order, I do make a small commission.

Road Trip - Destination Indy!

When you get the call to work the race expo for the 2nd largest half marathon in the country, you don't say no!  After months of waiting, Tracie and I were ready to head to Indy for some fun!   6 hours on the road with this girl makes the time fly!  Listening to Beiber and Adele will never be the same again!

By the time we got to to Indianapolis, sleep was all that I had in mind!  But the Thursday morning, I was up early and ready to go, so I headed out for a running tour on the downtown area!  What an amazing, beautiful city!  I was out early enough to miss the crazy morning hustle and bustle.  Once I made it to the trail heading towards the zoo, it was just me, my thoughts and the small critters scampering around.  Next thing I knew, I needed to head back.  I had planned on 3-4 miles and by the time I got back to the hotel, I was at 5.5 miles.  One does not get "lost" on a run, they just discover new places to visit!

The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent  wandering around town, getting ready for the expo and all kinds of shenanigans in between!   The state capitol building, Memorial Circle and of course, No trip to Indy is complete without a stop outside Lucas Oil Stadium - of course the building was closed so we couldn't get a peek inside, but anything was better than nothing!

When we realized that we could actually visit the observation tower and get a birds eye view of the city, we knew where we were heading!  When we got there, we were greeted with 2 options.  1. purchase a ticket to take the elevator up 2. walk the stairs for free!  330 steps?  Game on!

OMG!  You don't realize how far 330 steps is until you start heading up them!  But we were not giving up the fight.  In the end, we made it to the top in less than 5 minutes!  The view was well worth it!  After we caught our breath, took a few photos and enjoyed the view, it was time to head back down!

One of the awesome things about working the race expos is the awesome people I see and meet.  This year, I got to see  Boston Marathon champion and Olympic Medalist Meb, as he was in town to run the Half Marathon.  This year he was running "with the people"... starting at the back of the pack, to give everyone a chance to run with him.  They even had a contest at the Expo - guess how many people Meb was going to pass while he was running his Half Marathon.  

My highlight of the weekend tho?  For all you American Grit fans out there, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Brooke Van Paris (aka BeastModeBarbie) while she was shopping the booth!  What an amazing, down to earth, yet extremely inspirational woman!  Hearing her story, direct from her, is enough to inspire anyone!  This was her first road half marathon and she killed it!  Although I didn't get a chance to get a photo with her while she was shopping, since I was so busy (one of the downfalls of working one of the most popular booths at the expo), but she sent me this photo, wearing one of the BondiBands that she picked up from the booth on Thursday!  Since the day I met her, I've been doing some reading on more of her story and what it took her to get to where she is, I am more than inspired!  Her Never Give up Attitude is amazing!

Side note: I also just found out that Brooke just qualified for the 2016 Obstacle Course Race World Championships in Canada this October!  Way to go Brooke!!!

After the expo on Thursday, I met up with Tracie and we were on a mission to find dinner and then some sleep.  However, on the way to find food, we spotted a horse drawn carriage that we HAD to go take pictures of!  While Tracie was taking pictures of the carriage. I managed to capture this photo of a pup introducing himself to (hopefully) a new friend! 

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After working all day at the expo on Friday again, when the alarm went off at 5:15am for the race, I really just wanted to stay curled up in bed! I was tired!! But it was race day!  Before long, it was time to take the short walk to the heart of downtown to the start line!

After running the half marathon here last year, it was exciting to be back at the start line again this year, even if I was "only" running the 5k.  Tracie was going all out and signed up for the Mini Challenge - running the 5k and then heading straight back to the start corrals to run the half marathon!  For those of you that know me, this would be a challenge that I normally would be all over.  However, since I was working the race expo for 2 days and being on my feet all day, I was not sure how my legs were going to be. so I opted just for the one (short) race.

In the end, even tho I was running on limited sleep and tired legs, I was very happy with my race. I felt strong, the weather was perfect and I was running in a dress for the first time!  Just a week before this trip, I got my first dress that I ordered from Skirt Sports.  I was not sure how running in a dress was going to be and yes, I broke one of the cardinal rules of running - I tried something new on race day... running, wearing something that I have never worn to run in before.  

Thankfully my chance that I took paid off.  I think I was more comfortable running this 5k than I have for any other race!  Yes, I am a Ambassador Captain for Skirt Sports, because I love their products! I live in my SS whenever I can. I can tell that this dress is quickly going to become one of my go-to pieces of clothing this summer, both for running and every day comfort wear! 

Why Skirts? The question really should be "Why NOT?"

There is so much more to running than just getting up one morning and deciding to run a half marathon (or whatever distance you choose!).  There's hours of training, early morning runs, and so much more, but that is a whole different post.

Today we are talking about the statement you make when you run!  Are you the practical running that just grabs whatever shorts and shirt out of the drawer, throws on some socks and shoes and heads out the door?  Or do you have a few tried and true items that you always put on for a run?

at the start line of the St Pat's 17k in Phoenix AZ, 2014

If you have been running for more than a few months, you have probably already found a few items that you tend to gravitate to when you head out for a run.  Maybe its'a shirt shouting your support of a certain organization or maybe it's just the most comfortable pair of shorts that you have ever owned.  For me, I have gone through several phases with my running apparel and I have finally found what works for me... that go to item that I don't leave home without...

My running skirt!

Disney Dark Side Half marathon, FL 2016

I discovered Skirt Sports a few years ago, thanks to a friend!  At the time, I didn't really think that a skirt would be comfortable to run in, but she insisted that they were. I was skeptical. Finally after browsing the website for a few months, I finally broke down and ordered one.

Game changer!

Why?

BUILT IN SHORTS

 Everyone loves a good comfortable pair of running shorts, but many of us ladies would prefer a loser fit to keep the booty covered.   Best of both worlds!  Comfortable compression shorts under a super cute skirt to keep you feeling comfortable, confident and ready to run!  The built in compression shorts have this awesome little "grippies" on the bottom so they stay in place!  No shorts crawling, no chaffing, no booty hanging out for the world to see.  (I have always said I will keep in real here... that will never change!).  Depending on which skirt you order, the shorts are slightly different lengths, but no matter what option you choose, they WILL stay in place!

POCKETS

With a hidden pocket on EACH leg of the shorts, I have room for my phone (which I always carry with me when I run) as well as fuel (Gluten Free Stinger Waffles and Margarita Clif Blocks are usually with me!), without having to take my hydration belt with me!  Keep in mind, I have still not completely weened myself off the hydration belt for my half marathons.  With my recent dietary changes that I have recently had to made has caused me to have to make some adjustments to my race fuel and I am still trying to work out exactly how much of each I need to have with me.  Plus having my own beverages with me is another security blanket that I can't give up on those long events!

But for anything shorter than a half marathon, no extra pockets are needed!  The pockets in my shorts are enough to carry everything I need!  If 2 pockets are not enough, check out the Happy Girl Skirt - it has a 3rd pocket tucked into the waistband on the back of the skirt!

COMFORT

These skirts have proven to me that skirts are more comfortable than any other options that I have tried to run in!  I actually will wear mine any chance I get!  On our recent trip to Florida, I actually lived in my Skirt Sports skirts and Capri's all weekend (yes they have shorts and capri's too... that's a whole other side of the adventure!). 

Oh yeah... the fun patterns and high quality of these skirts make them great to run in, but I have also been known to pair them with a sweater or dressy top and wear them to work.  I even wore them for my son's Boy Scout Eagle Ceremony!

My next purchase?  A running dress!  Yes, you read that right!  A dress!  Just need to get it ordered, and if it gets here in time, I'll debut it at the Indy Mini 5K on May 7th!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!!!

 Right now, you can actually get your own skirt to try and save a few bucks in the processes!  Literally as I was writing this, I received an email with a sneak peak of the Mothers Day Sales, which technically starts tomorrow, but as my friend (or family) I am able to share this with you ahead of time!  Use the discount code EXTRA20 to save an additional 20% off any sale priced items!  Yes, that means you could save up to 70% on some items!

Click here to find all the NEW Spring 2016 colors and prints at Skirt Sports!  Head on over to Skirt Sports to check out what you might be missing!  While you are at it... pick up something for mom!  I am sure she will appreciate it!

OMG!  I just heard this and wanted to share with everyone!!!

Skirt Sports is having a Spring Sale! Starting tomorrow March 10th, all 261 Fearless gear will be on SALE!  This is an amazing Clearance Sale with up to 60% off 261 products; and everything MUST GO! With Spring just around the corner, everyone is thinking about fitness and getting in shape for the Summer! This sale is the perfect opportunity to make sure you have all the gear you need! 

For those of you that are not familiar with the 261 line, it was inspired my Boston Marathon icon Katherine Switzer!  I know that I will be adding a few more pieces to my collection!


How about you?