A blog originally started for running, food/recipes, workout-related reviews.
Now a blog I halfheartedly maintain to document mostly running/trail running/hiking.
The Hal Higdon plan my training plan is based on allowed for some smaller races along the course of the training. Today, the plan called for a 5k; and I had no 5k to run this weekend. I instead moved my Wednesday speedwork (postponed due to weather) to Friday, and ran my 3 mile pace run (that I missed last week) today.
Sunday: 4.94 mi pace run incl. warm up and cool down
Speaking of my pace run, it was 38 and sunny out yesterday! There's still snow everywhere, but I was set on running outside.
I wore some of my favorites: my Lululemon Run: Energy Pullover, with just a tank underneath, my Lululemon Dash Crop & Baseball cap (because of the sun!). I started off with gloves, but realized I didn't need them about 2 miles in.
As I wrote before, my target half marathon pace is somewhere in the 10:23-10:41 range, preferably at the lower end of the range, of course.
Warm up was a full mile at an 11:37 pace.
My 3 miles were at 10:30, 10:41, 10:17 paces.
And I was feeling good, so I kept up the pace tempo for another .45 miles (10:12) (apparently a little too good).
Cool down was .49 miles at a 12:32 pace, ending with a little walking.
I'm actually pretty pleased that my HR stayed mostly around 170 until about 2/3 of the way through, but that's also about when I picked up the pace.
Thursday I went for a run, as I said I would Wednesday night. A 6.15 mile run, to be exact! It was a whopping 27 degrees with 10 mph winds when I headed out. While I wasn't super excited about the cold, I was very happy to finally have a chance to run in my Alpine Pullover.
^ Molly wanted her ears to be in the picture.
Underneath the Alpine Pullover, I wore one of my C9 (Target) short sleeve tech shirts. I wore my Smartwool glove liners (with my thumbs through the pullover's thumb holes underneath). I also broke out the Nike brushed thermal running tights for the first time this winter. But more on that in a minute.
I was pleased with the Alpine Pullover, overall. In similar weather I might wear a long sleeve shirt underneath instead because especially when running across an open field I could really feel the wind on my arms. The hood moved around a little bit while using the pony tail slit. When my hair was inside the hood, it filled the hood up better and the hood moved around less. I tried adjusting my pony tail higher mid-run to help keep the hood in place, which did work. Next time I might wear my ear warmer underneath to provide a little more warmth to the top of my forehead and maybe provide the hood with something to grip on to.
I'm beginning to wonder if I have a tiny head. (Tommy Boy: I got a tiny head?) Listen to I got a tiny head? from Tommy Boy
I was cold for the first half mile to 3/4 of a mile and questioning whether my run was a good idea. However, I soon after warmed up (but never got hot). In slightly warmer weather (just above freezing) I usually get really warm and end up taking my gloves off a mile or two in, or unzipping my top a little -- not yesterday! I was comfortable, temperature-wise, with all that I was wearing for the rest of the run.
Now, on to the tights. I can't technically call this a review, because I have no idea what these tights are called... But these are running tights that I bought at the end of winter in 2009 from the local running store. As winter was ending, there was a huge markdown on winter running clothes, so I picked up my first pair of running tights.
Here is the fleecy inside of these tights:
They feature a handy zip pocket on the back:
Like Lululemon's running bottoms, these have a continuous drawcord:
And also like Lululemon's bottoms, these feature the "gusset" (triangle in the crotch) :
There is a reflective strip at the zipper on both ankles. Also, grippy material on the inside of the cuffs so they don't ride up. The only thing I'm iffy about on these is the zipper. It would be great if they were just stretchier at the ankle because when they're zipped down all the way it's sometimes a little snug on my ankle. If it feels snug, I'll unzip them just a little bit, but then I worry about the zipper scratching me. It's not a huge deal, just a minor annoyance. While I will readily admit to having huge calves for my size, I by no means have cankles.
Overall these tights are great! And even better considering I was able to pick them up on sale for something like $45 (down from around $70? I can't remember). They are 88% Polyester/12% Spandex and made in Cambodia. They are great for wearing when the temperatures are below freezing (above freezing I'll wear my Lululemon Luxtreme tights). I like the zip pocket, the drawstring, and the reflective strips at the ankles. While the waist band is not a big wide one, it is still comfortable, doesn't dig in, and doesn't slip down while you run (It didn't move a bit on my 6.15 mile run).
My plan for the weekend?
I'll do some arm weights and crunches tonight, and maybe find a quick video on Exercise TV. Then probably a short run and a long run on Saturday and Sunday. Highs of 36 and 37 this weekend, so it doesn't matter when I run.
Luckily, I thiiink all my Christmas shopping is done, so now I just have to wrap things!
I'm such a slacker! With blogging, anyway. Since Wednesday, when I last posted, I did the following:
Thursday:
1 hour bootcamp class. Despite last week's soreness, I returned for more this week. I like it!
Friday:
Made oatmeal butterscotch cookies to bring to Christmas party.
Saturday:
4.66 mile run in 45F. Inaugural wearing of the Dash Crop. They get a big thumbs up. The higher rise really keeps them in place while you run.
Sunday:
3.38 mile run in 59F(!) +
I played far too much Wii bowling, tennis and boxing with my husband (proud to report I KO'ed him way more than the other way around, AND I'm pretty sure I'm going to feel it in my shoulders tomorrow, is that lame?) +
I made pumpkin carrot bars that I will write about tomorrow.
About a week ago when I returned my Lululemon Dash Pullover, I was hoping to pick up the Dash Crop in Coal/Haze. My store was out of my size in that color combo though, so I instead tried on the all black version of the Dash Crop (as well as the Run: Alpine Tight, and the coal/lilac Run: Inspire Crop - to see a crop in coal).
The Run: Alpine tight was perhaps overkill for NJ. I looked back at last year's winter running and I never really ran outside when it was below mid 20s. I already have one pair of full length brushed Nike tights, so I don't think I have much use for a second pair. However, the Alpine tight was really warm, had a nice high rise, and fit well! In my usual size, the waist band was snug enough to stay put, but did not give me "muffin top." Length was probably about 1-2" too long for my 5'2" self, but it was easy to bunch the fabric at the ankle, or fold the fabric (they do free hemming too, if you're interested).
The Dash Crop in black fit well, and I really liked the reflective strip on the calf, which is what drew me to them in the first place. But I already have black crops.
I tried on the Run: Inspire crop to get a sense of the coal luxtreme, and found they were not forgiving to the back of upper thighs that are not perfectly toned. ahem. I can say they were a nice longer crop, the rise was good, but I didn't love the little lilac color panels at the bottom of the leg either.
So based on my experience with the coal Inspire crops, I thought the coal Dash crops were probably out. I went ahead and bought the black Dash crops because of the reflectivity (my other crops don't have this). The educator reminded me I had a long return window (into January) because of the holiday season.
Run: Alpine Pullover in Haze / Run: Dash Crop in Black
I decided to order the coal/haze Dash crop online because I liked the idea of them matching my Alpine pullover, and worst case, if the coal was not flattering, I could return them. I had seen other pictures of the coal Dash Crops on people online, and did not see that they were unflattering in the back.
The coal crops came in the mail yesterday, woo hoo! And I must say, I think they are far more flattering than the Inspire crops in coal that I tried on in-store (no picture taken of those).
Run: Alpine Pullover in Haze / Run: Dash Crop in Coal/Haze
Not super-flattering photos, but I'm demonstrating the higher rise of this crop. They hit at my belly button. I like the higher rise for keeping the cold out and for a nice smooth silhouette in the midsection!
Here are all of my crops/tights I own:
In other words, I probably don't need another pair of black bottoms.
Here's the black and coal/haze Dash Crop side by side:
Also note, that the Spirit tight is coal/antidote. And the Dash crop is coal/haze. Both are luxtreme, clearly different shades of gray though.
I'm leaning towards keeping the coal/haze. Then after this, I think I need to go on a lululemon diet for a while. I think I'm probably all set in the workout clothes department...
*ETA:
I should mention that in addition to the great fit and the reflective strips at the calves, these crops also feature:
a back zip pocket which can be seen above in my pictures,
and two hidden gel pockets inside the front waistband (These pockets can fit a packet of gu or maybe half a pack of Clif Shot Bloks).
a decorative ruffle along the reflective strip (back side is circle mesh for venting).
The Alpine Pullover is made of a moisture-wicking tech fleece. It features a snug-fitting scuba hood with slit to "set your pony tail free." There is a kangaroo pocket in front with a hidden key pocket (more on this later), and a zip pocket in back. The neck zipper and the back pocket zipper are reflective, as well as the logo on the hood. This top has thumbholes and cuffins to keep your hands toasty without gloves. There is circle mesh for venting under the arms.
Detail shot of the pleated (static haze?) luon trim on the kangaroo pocket.
More static luon on the cuff:
Puckered static luon on the shoulders. This provides a little stretch in the shoulders if needed.
When the neck is unzipped, there's circle mesh underneath:
Some more detail shots...
When I was trying on this top, I noticed a strange little rectangle outline on the inside.
Turns out, if you look inside the kangaroo pocket, there's a little (secure?) circle mesh key pocket. The fabric overlaps in the center of this little key pocket; there is no zipper.
The key pocket is oriented on the diagonal inside the kangaroo pocket. It measures 3.25 x 2.25. You could fit your license or credit card in there if you stretch the fabric a little.
Close up shot of the hood. The hood is also fleecy inside, and has that static haze luon trim. You can see the optional pony tail slit.
On some other Lululemon tops (Inspire Pullover, Dash Pullover) there have been concerns about the back pocket not being tacked down on the inside. The back pocket on the Alpine Pullover is made of circle mesh and is sewn at the bottom and on the sides, but not on the top. There are no rough edges, so I don't see this being a problem (in this picture, the bottom of the pullover is on the top). Also, I'd likely wear this over something, even if it's just a tank top.
Here's a picture to show off some of the different textures of the fabric on this top.
And if you've never experienced cuffins before, here's what they're all about. Say your hands get chilly, even though they're already in those cozy cuffs with thumbholes. You would just pull at the little seam that goes across the back of the wrist, and pull the fabric over your hand.
Voila: Cuffin hand.
Some measurements based on the size 6:
From the underarm to the bottom hem along the side (no side seam to measure along, but I just measured straight down) is 17."
Underarm to the cuff (while cuffins not in use) is 22.5."
Shoulder seam to shoulder seam across the back (unstretched) is 14."
I was concerned that the kangaroo pocket would bag out, but it laid surprisingly flat. The Alpine Pullover isn't as "boxy" as I was expecting it to be after reading some opinions of it on the lululemon facebook page. While it is not the Spirit Pullover from last year (that I really loved but disappeared before I could re-order in the proper size) I'm thinking I like it!
I like the ruching detail that runs from the neck to under the arm on both sides.
The collar is not too tight when fully zipped, but also not too loose like some lululemon hoodies.
The zippered pocket is great; I use it for keys and ID.
Note the sad little basil plant I am desperately trying to save.
I'm also a little excited to see in this picture that the backs of my shoes are reflective!
I love this top from last winter. It's made of running luon; has thumbholes & cuffins; circle mesh from under the arm all the way down the side and all the way down the arm; stand-up collar with ruching; ruching along from shoulder to arm pit in the front, and a back zip pocket. I only wish it had some more reflectivity besides the logo at the back neck. I bring along my clip-on light just in case.
I was supposed to a mile warm up, 4x[800@4:59, 400 jog], and a mile cool down for a total of 5 miles. I tacked on a little extra distance in both the warm up and cool down since today really should have been my long run day.
So my 4 intervals that were supposed to be at 4:59 were... 4:53, 5:08, 4:49, and 4:59. Not too shabby! I'm amazed I did as well as I did on the first one as that was uphill and on large gravel. I don't have an excuse for number two being slow, it was flat or slightly downhill.
I went out at about 4:15 pm, it was 49F and sunny, no wind; and dropped to about 44F by the time I was done around 5:25 (when it was dark). I got pretty toasty while doing the intervals, needing to push my sleeves up and unzip my collar. However, this is what my legs looked like when I got home!
Bright red thighs. Also, knees are funny looking.
When I came inside, I reached into my handy back zip pocket to put my ID back into my wallet. And my license was not there. I had a minor freak out. I checked the back of the couch, the kitchen table, the counter...the limited places I had been in the thirty seconds since getting back from my run. I could not find it anywhere.
Crap.
Was my license sitting somewhere on a trail, not accessible by car, 2 or more miles from my apartment? I knew I had put it in my pocket when I left! And I was pretty sure I zipped up my pocket (I checked in the above pictures, actually - to make sure the zipper toggle was over to the left).
Then I remembered that only a short ways from my apartment, my two apartment keys (outside door, apartment door) were jangling together, so I took one of the two from my back pocket and put it in my tiny shorts pocket. Could my license have fallen out when I moved keys around? I grabbed my keys and ran out the door, to right around where I did the key shenanigans. Luckily only a couple tenths of a mile away. And PHEW. My license was sitting there on the side walk, face down, in front of our nearby bakery. Where it had apparently been sitting for approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes.
I can't believe I had not noticed that it fell out, but at least I was able to find it! Guess that's a perfectly good reason to get something like a Road ID* so I don't have to bring my driver's license with me. Or, I could have been more careful when I took my keys out.
Relieved to have found my license, when I came again, I fixed up the half-packet of Starbucks VIA iced coffee I had leftover from earlier this week.
Shortly after that, my husband came home from running errands with a Dunkin Donuts nonfat Gingerbread Latte for me! It was a nice surprise, and my first gingerbread item of the season.
They asked him if he wanted sugar in the lattes... I can't even imagine drinking this sweet latte with EXTRA sugar. I was pleased with the latte - sometimes I've gotten them and the flavor (pumpkin or gingerbread) has been over the top like maybe they accidentally put an extra pump in. But tonight's was just right.
Ahh, coffee.
I hope everyone had a good weekend!
I am not ready to go back to work tomorrow, but at least it's a short week.
.
just in case.
