Baby Got Wasatch Back

June 24, 2015 by camoozle

Best team name ever.

Yes, those are ninja stars.

Now that that’s out of the way, let the race recap begin! I’m still recovering from the epic experience that was Ragnar Wasatch Back. Utah brought all the extremes…heat, cold, elevation gain and loss: this race was no joke. I’m a bit of a Ragnar Veteran, so I thought this weekend would be just another Ragnar. I was prepared for the lack of sleep and the shenanigans. I had hydration under control thanks to the NUUN station at the start line. I had my new Skora Tempo and my Core…just in case. I had brought my biofreeze and compression socks and my DoTerra Blue Rub.

Most of all, I was so very excited to see my friends!

Ninjas, Ninjas, Ninjas!!!

I was not, however, ready for the elevation. Altitude is a real thing, people.

My Ragnar weekend started on Thursday with a 12 hour road trip to Salt Lake City, Utah from Riverside, CA with my fella and teammate, Ian. Yes, it took us 12 hours. Mostly because of the Electric Daisy Carnival happening in Las Vegas. Stop and go from Baker to Vegas surrounded by kids with drugs in 115 degree heat. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but we had a race to get to!

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The 15 freeway is a really, really long freeway.

Once we got into Utah, though, the 80 mph speed limit sure brightened things up. All the ninjas had already gathered at our fearless leader, Eric’s, parent’s house, who so graciously let 13 runners take over their house. We didn’t arrive until around 2 am and our wake-up call (or rather violent shake) was scheduled for 4:30 am so that we could get to the start line in Logan, UT by our 8 am start time. And so it begins…

Ninjas at the Start!

Being in Van 2 has its advantages. Once we kicked off the start with Van 1, we were able to grab some food and prepare aka screw around before our actual legs, which didn’t start until around 1 pm. So we hit up the IHOP and ate all the pancakes, then followed some of the runners of Van 1 to check out their course.

Shattered glass at breakfast: bad omen or bad ass?

Ragnaring like a boss…in business casual attire complete with phone and belt clip.

Around this time we also learned that a fellow Ragnarian had collapsed on the course. A 46 year old man from Park City, Utah, Tyler “Ty” Rasch, collapsed and later passed away (more information here). While the cause of death is still unknown, this was frightening news. I didn’t train in the altitude or heat at all and here this guy, who was used to this climate, had just died during this race. It was a very sombering reality check. I take this race stuff for granted. My heart goes out to his family and friends, who were with him during this race and had to watch all this go down. Just terrible.

We met up with Van 1 at exchange 6. El Capitan Eric took over as runner 7 and our van headed out to kick some serious miles. Around this time the temperature was reaching into the 90’s and our elevation was up in the 5000’s. This sea level SoCal girl was definitely feeling the altitude.

When Vans Collide

The handoff! Go, Eric, go!

I was runner 8, the second runner in our van, which means I got to run and be done. Seriously, having to wait around to run when your van is “on” is torture. My first leg was 7.1 miles of what seems like perfectly nice, flat land.

Looks nice, right???

The first few miles felt like I was drowning. I could not get a hold of my breathing. Once I got into a nice steady breathing pattern, that’s when I realized I was melting. I could not drink enough water. I had my NUUN on hand but my Van had to stop twice to refill my bottle.

The rest of the van had very similar legs, with lots of heat, lots of hills and lots of miles. By the time we handed off to Van 2 for the night runs, we were desperate for rest. Luckily, Eric’s folks were close and we were able to get some food from an actual kitchen, take a shower and use a real toilet, and actually get a little rest in a real bed before our projected early, early morning runs.

The hills are alive! With red ants and selfies within selfies within selfies…

The second leg of our race started at 1 am and we had some pretty quick runs with elevations in the 6000’s and temps in the 50’s. My second leg was super short and super cold!

There wasn’t a mile marker on this run, though, so the only way I knew it was over, was the mile long back up of vans at the exchange. This race had about 1000 teams! That’s a lot of vans, man. I came into the exchange looking to hand off to Tim, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I stood there about 10 minutes before we found each other. Turns out, he’d been standing out there the whole time. Doh! Things you miss at 2:30 am.

I was feeling pretty good after my run, so I took on the role of driver. The head honcho, Eric, needed to rest as he was gearing up for the gnarly run up Ragnar Hill in the morning. Traffic was pretty heavy at every exchange and by the time we arrived to handoff to Van 1, I was suffering from severe nap-jerks. Runner 12, Jana, came in around 7 am, and then it was time to fuel! We headed to this really cool diner that seriously had the best breakfast food I’ve ever had.

I’m not quite sure what happened after this. All I know is I was eating and then I was asleep and then it was time to run again. But first we had to support the big cheese, Eric, on this baby:

Ragnar Hill

Yes, that is a 2000 ft. elevation gain over 10.3 miles in 90 degree heat on a few hours of sleep and after already completing 2 grueling legs. This is the shit that legends are made of.

Waiting to support Eric on this monster. That’s a ski lodge. A SKI LODGE!

I was up next, so I got to watch these runners come into the exchange after this run. It was the most inspiring thing. I was in awe after watching them grind up this mountain and then cry when they passed on to their next runner. Seriously, the most breathtaking view of the whole course was the determination and then elation on these runners faces. And they got a special medal!

Oh, Captain, my Captain

So Eric ran up this mountain, and it was up to me and Tim to run down. This was my last leg. The downhill was really freaking hard on my feet. I hadn’t had any issues at all thanks to my new Skora Tempo, ProCompression socks, biofreeze, and KT Tape (this is my recipe for success, btw), but on this leg, the back of the shoe starting cutting into my achilles and all I could think was PAIN. I also developed big huge blisters on my arches from this leg.

But the view was spectacular!

I was done! Time to relax and take some pictures. Here’s a wrap up of the rest of Van 2’s legs and bringing it home to the finish line. That’s probably the best thing about being Van 2…you’re done at the finish line.

Jana ran us into the Finish Line in Park City after about 30+ hours. Time to celebrate!

And the coolest bling in the race game! All 12 of our medals connect to form one super badass medal. Mine is the one that says “eries”.

Ragnar Wasatch Back was the very first race in the Ragnar series. It is definitely the most difficult Ragnar I’ve ever participated in. What an honor to be among these fine adventurers! I’ve been out of the Ragnar game for a year but the bug is back! I’m thinking Vegas? There’s a double medal series for Utah and Vegas…Saints and Sinners, anyone?

Costume Tutorial: Running Skirt with Pocket Waistband

June 22, 2015 by Jennifer

Ever since I started running, I’ve sort of become obsessed with running clothes. The sewist in me wants to understand their construction, function, and style, and then I make them for myself with my own twists. I always have to carry a lot of crap with me on the course. My car key, phone, earbuds, license, cash, and most annoyingly, my stupid, goofy-shaped inhaler that fits into no running waist belt I’ve found yet. I needed something custom made for all my stuff.

Then there’s the costume races where you are making your outfit top to bottom and need to hold a hotel key and extra pixie dust in your Tinkerbell tutu. The struggles are so real, especially as I begin to plan my costumes for the Rebel Challenge. I mean, where/how am I going to attach my lightsaber to my adorable outfit? I know the solution is to craft my own running skirt with a waistband pocket built into it. I practiced this idea with the Flintstones costumes I made for Meri and I, and now I’m sharing the technique with all of you.

YES. MY. FRIENDS. Are you excited? Please say yes because I am SO STOKED to show you this easy pattern. This will take you one afternoon. No joke. Heck, you can even skip adding the skirt and you’ll have a pocket belt that you can wear with anything.

alldone2

Alldone1
Now, if you’ve sewn before, don’t let the word zipper send you screaming from your computer right now. If you’ve never sewn in your life, don’t let the word zipper send you screaming from your computer right now. This is simple stuff, friends, and if you have to do a zipper, this is the kind of easy zipper install you want to do. Trust. The trick is basting and using an invisible zipper foot, and I’ll get to that in a sec.

What to Expect: After you’re done with this project, you will have a running skirt with a 4 inch pocket that goes all the way around the waist for maximum storage. I have not yet mastered building in a sport panty, but I will master that for a future tutorial, promise!

Here is what you need for this project:

Stretchy Athletic fabric of your choice. Follow the yardage guidelines on your skirt pattern, and add 1/3 of a yard for the waistband.
Color Coordinating thread
Color Coordinating Invisible Zipper, minimum of 7-9 inches long (you can shorten a zipper very easily if you can’t find one the right length in the right color. Youtube how to, yo!)
Skirt Pattern
Stretch Sewing Machine needles, these are ball point needles made for sewing stretchy fabrics
Invisible Zipper Foot
Standard Presser Foot
Zig-Zag Presser Foot
Straight Pins
Tape Measure

Tools that make any sewing job easier: Cutting mat, rotary cutter, large plastic ruler, fabric marking pen or tailor’s chalk

**These instructions include ½ inch seam allowances.

And here we go!!

Step 1: Read these instructions all the way through at least once before beginning.

Step 2: Measure your waist in inches. Take that number, divide it in half, then add 2 inches. This is your width measurement for cutting your fabric.

Step 3: Fold the fabric lengthwise right sides facing together, so that the selvage ends meet. Cut two pieces, 9* inches x the width measurement you got in step 1.

(*Note: This 4 inch waistband will accommodate an iPhone 5. If you have a larger phone or need a wider waistband, simply increase the number from 9 inches to whatever you need. Just remember that there is one inch built into this pattern for 1/2 inch seam allowances. Example, if you want a 5 inch waistband, 5 x 2 = 10 inches plus 1 for seam allowance, therefore, you would cut your two pieces 11 inches x the width measurement from step 1.)

Step 4: Set one of the two pieces you just cut aside. Lay the remaining piece flat and measure 2 ½ inches from the bottom edge. Mark this line with your fabric pen or chalk. Cut all the way across lengthwise.

Step 5: Position your zipper in the center top edge of the smaller section. Baste the zipper in place with the right side of the zipper facing the right side of the fabric.

Step 6: Next, you’ll need to use an invisible zipper foot. You can usually find universal versions of the invisible zipper foot at stores like Joann Fabrics or Hancock Fabrics. Notice the two grooves in the bottom center of the foot.You’ll also notice the hole in the center, that is for needle to pass through.

Position your work under the foot so that the zipper fits into the groove on the left. Make sure the zipper is open, and stitch using a straight stitch.

And when you’re done it should look something like this!

That wasn’t so bad, right?

Step 7: Close zipper, remove basting stitches, and repeat Steps 4 and 5 the other side. Make sure to line up your pieces along the zipper edge and the short sides.

Basting ( big, chunky temporary stitches) is the secret to professional looking zippers. Take the time for this step!

Step 8: Repeat step 5, stitching until the zipper’s pull gets in the way and you can’t stitch any further. When you’re done it will look like this:Don’t worry about the gaps on each end, we’re going to fix that next.

Step 9: Matching right sides of fabric together, pin from each end of the zipper to the edge of the fabric, being sure to match up the edges, too.

This is the trickiest part of this project; first, change your press foot back to a standard foot and stitch from where your zipper ends to the edge, thereby completing the seam and joining the two pieces of fabric all the way across. It may be a little bumpy and jagged around the ends of the zipper, but that’s okay. It will still work just fine!

Mine was far from perfect but it’s all good.

When you’re done, it should something look like this when you look at it from the right side.

CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve completed the hardest part of this project! You fricken ROCK! We are seriously SO CLOSE to being done!

Step 10: Remember that other piece of fabric that you cut and I told you to set it aside? Well bust that puppy out and let’s do this! Line it up with the zippered piece right sides together, and pin it along the short sides.

Change your foot to a zig-zag foot and adjust the settings on your machine as appropriate. Zig-zag stitch the pinned sides.

Step 11: Turn the waistband right side out and try it on! Woot woot! If it’s too loose, now is the time to take it in. Simply turn it inside out again and stitch the side seams in a little further from the edges. Repeat that process until the band fits over your hips but also fits your waist. Because you’ve been using a zig-zag stitch where needed, the skirt will stretch. Once you have it fitted, trim off any excess seams/fabric on the inside and turn it right side out.

Pocket Belt Option: If you want to make a pocket belt instead of a running skirt, then this is is your last step. Tuck the two touching raw edges to the inside of the band, making a seam. Essentially, you’re making a tube. Once you tuck the edges and pin in place all the way around the bottom edge of the band, top stitch using a zig-zag stitch. When you’re done, you should have a fabric tube, like a bicycle tire, with a zipper. (Oh my goodness, I hope that makes sense).

Step 12: Using a skirt pattern, cut the front and back skirt pieces following the layout instructions that come with the pattern. Pin the front and back of the skirt together, right sides facing each other. Using a straight stitch, stitch the two sides together.

Step 13: For a pleated skirt look, baste along top edge of skirt. Gather the skirt fabric until it is the same circumference as your waistband, making sure the pleats are evenly distributed all the way around the skirt.

If you want an a-line style skirt, use an a-line skirt pattern or simply skip the gathering step above and adjust the skirt until its waist is the same size as your waistband.

Step 14: Pin the raw edge of the waistband to the raw edge of the skirt with the right sides together. Make sure to match the side seams of the skirt with the side seams of the waistband.

Step 15: Using a zig-zag stitch, attach the skirt to the waistband.

Step 16: Shorten the skirt to desired length and trim off excess. Athletic fabric typically doesn’t fray and won’t need hemming, but if your fabric is fraying you’ll need to hem your skirt. To do that, fold the raw edge to the inside of the skirt 1/4 to 1/2 inch all the way around, and then another 1/4 to 1/2 inch all the way around. Pin in place as you go. Then, top-stitch using a straight stitch.

YOU ARE DONE! HIIIIIIGH FIVE, YOU! You now have a cute, functional running skirt that you made YOURSELF. I’m so proud of you!

Now, I want to see YOUR skirts. So go forth, dust off your sewing machine or rescue one at your local Goodwill, and send me your pics! I’m excited to see what you guys come up with! Share your pics on our Facebook page or tweet me at @Scootadoot or @jenniferspen

I’ve never written out my patterns before. If I’ve utterly confused you, I’m sorry, and I want to fix it! Please email me your questions at Scootadoot@gmail.com with the subject “Skirt Tut” and I will respond to you as soon as I’m able.

**This design did come out of my head, and any resemblances to patterns currently for sale in the market place is coincidental. No copyright infringements were intended.

Katie K Activewear Review

June 19, 2015 by bec2point0

This is going to be part product review, part just me telling you about a totally kickass company. Cool? Cool.

I’ve been fortunate enough in my blogging life to try out some incredible products, and asked to share my opinion on them. And if you know me, you know I love sharing my opinion. (That’s a nice way of saying I’m mouthy.)

So, when I was selected to be a brand ambassador for Taffy Activewear last year, I was stoked. Taffy is this totally adorable line of plus-sized activewear. It’s functional, trendy and well made. Saying yes was a total no brainer. After I’d been a Taffy Ambassador for a couple of months, I started noticing another name in plus-sized activewear around Twitter – Katie K Activewear.

I did a little peeking around (meaning I went straight to the website and started shopping) and realized that Katie K and Taffy were sister companies, both founded by the awesome Katie Kozloff. You can read Katie’s full story here, but in short, when Katie was a personal trainer, she often heard from her plus size clients that they had trouble finding stylish workout wear. And she didn’t just listen, she acted, creating a plus size women’s active line in Taffy, and later, an all inclusive sized line in Katie K.

Basically, Katie is awesome. I love representing this fantastic, female owned business, and I’m thrilled to help spread the word about this brand and show the world how I #definebrave.

Okay, let’s get down to it. The CLOTHES.

This might be the cutest I’ve ever looked for a workout!

For me, activewear needs to be three things; functional, comfortable and cute. Katie K is all of these things. The products are incredibly well made, and vary from pieces that are geared toward performance, like the Signature Capri, to pieces that can easily take you from the gym to running errands.

The latter is a little more my style, and along those lines, I can tell you I am fully in love with the Signature Walking Pant. They’re comfortable enough to wear for a brisk walk or a Zumba class, but they totally work for a run to the mall, too. My fave.

Post Color Run, covered in glitter and Katie K.

The best parts of Katie K products are in the details. The peek-a-boo opening on the Signature Open Back Tee had me channeling my inner Lynn Stone in the Color Run parking lot. (If you get that reference, you get massive cool points and we should probably hang out). And the Signature Cowl is pretty enough to rock on date night. Add to all that, the entire line features bright colors like coral, yellow and vivid blue.

Color!

And for my plus sized ladies, if you want to see the items for you? It’s all of them. The entire store comes in sizes Small-3X. So, if you’re looking for something ALL your friends can wear to a race, you can totally find it here. It’s awesome.

I’m pretty much gushing at this point, I know. I’m just so in love with this company. And because they’re so great, they let me offer you guys 15% off your purchase and free shipping when you use my Ambassador Code (BEC15).

I really hope you ladies will check out Katie K!

P.S. Today is the last day to enter our giveaway for a free entry to Diva Dash. Don’t forget to check it out!

Dress Has Always Been My Strongest Suit

June 17, 2015 by Meridith

I have never, ever claimed to be a fashionista. I truly would love to be one because I find it fun, yet daunting. More daunting than fun, if I’m being honest. Most days? I’m wearing something akin to this.

Yep, that’s a car selfie. Because I started writing this post in the car and also because I spend a good deal of time carting my kids around to and from activities. Keeping it real, that’s me.

Now while I am not a fashionista, I actually do embrace the dress up factor to the very fullest extent. I’m talking costumes! Run Disney is the perfect opportunity to get creative. Our costumes have progressively gotten more elaborate. Thankfully I have a couple of very talented friends who are able to make dreams a reality.

Of course, over the years, it’s also expanded to non-Disney events as well. Because why the heck not? (Also, prizes for costumes sure don’t hurt the odds of the Scoot a Doot chicks dressing up!)

It only stands to reason that having the opportunity to try on actual Broadway show costumes would make me lose my ever-loving mind, correct? Correct! And yet, that’s actually what happened.

Let me say it again because I’m not sure you understand. I GOT TO TRY ON COSTUMES FROM BROADWAY SHOWS.

(I also spazzed out slightly. More on that in a few.)

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in New York City on Monday and I’m still on cloud 9 from the entire experience, start to finish. Actually cloud 9 might not be high enough. Cloud 10 or 11, at least.

In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing lots of good info that I gleaned during the event but as a jumping off point, let’s talk about the absolutely amazing and intricate costumes from Disney Broadway shows.

Conference attendees were invited to tour the New Amsterdam theater, which is currently home to the Broadway show Aladdin.

The first thing said to us on the tour was, “How would you like to try on costumes and check out some set pieces from Disney Broadway shows?”

This was my facial expression.

Then I sort of had a freak out moment as we walked to the room. I’m not sure if I’ve shared this before but I am a big theater geek. I was in musicals throughout childhood and college, we have subscriptions to local theater companies. I just love the stage!

I did a good job of keeping it together, for the most part. I think. Okay, maybe the immediate people around me realized how much I was freaking out. I mean, this was a HUGE deal.

After a brief history lesson about the Disney Theatrical groupsshows: Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Aida, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Newsies and seeing a bit of the magic behind a few of the sets, we were able admire the costumes and set pieces that lined the walls of the room.

The wardrobe costume from Beauty and the Beast. Aren't the details incredible?

Madame De La Grande Bouche’s costume from Beauty and the Beast. Aren’t the details incredible?

Headdresses from Aida (that's where the title of this post came from, btw)

Headdresses from Aida (that’s where the title of this post is from, btw)

And then this happened…

Under the sea on King Triton's throne! I think I could actually run in something like this.

Under the sea on King Triton’s throne! Isn’t the headpiece amazing?

My new friend, Melissa of Autism Mommy Avenger, needed a little bath in Ariel’s tub.

From Under the Sea to Stepping in Time.

Fun fact: that coat was small (like my arms were contorted a bit) and very heavy!

And then we took to the jungle!

On the bus ride home Melissa mentioned that these headdresses were worth $7,000. WHAT THE WHAT?

You can bet that I was holding on tight! I am slightly accident prone.

Unsurprisingly, the attention to detail was incredible. Would you expect anything less from Disney?

Something I thought was very interesting was how they used “cheats” with their costumes, sneakers under the Beast’s “claw boots” and Velcro on things like the wardrobe costume above.

Jenn and Cam are always looking for ways to simplify things on our running costumes and make them fit our situations and needs; I loved seeing that Broadway designers do the same!

These headdresses look like heavy wooden carvings but they are actually only 4 ounces. They adjust with the same design as a construction hard hat!

One of the main reasons I enjoy costumes is because it allows me to take on a different persona and be someone else, if only for a little bit.

I think it’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day routine of being a mom, a wife, a community member. When I get to wear something a bit out of the ordinary, it’s a reminder that those aren’t the only things that define me. Every day can have a little magic if we just seek it out!

Are you a fan of dressing up random days of the week? Or just Halloween? Are you a big theater geek like me? I’m not alone, right?

The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration was a free event that I was fortunate enough to be invited to. Other than a magical day, no other compensation was given and all opinions are my very own.

Tough Mudder Virginia

June 15, 2015 by kpjenn

Apologies for the late post today, friends. I promise it wasn’t because I’m terrible at remembering things. Okay. Maybe it was. But I have a reason…

On Saturday I did a Tough Mudder and my body is still recovering. Needless to say that Sunday night? I passed out HARD and completely spaced the whole “oh yeah, you did that crazy thing yesterday that you have to blog about” thing. There may also have been tequila. Which may have had something to do with the forgetting important things.

Oops?

Anyways. Lesson learned. Tough Mudder + tequila = dead to the world.

I suck.

Today, however, I’m feeling a little bit more human, although I’m still sore as all get out. My upper body took a beating – those obstacles are no joke. Seriously. I tried to do a pull up this morning and the best I could get was a dead hang. My arms literally could not even.

5/6 of our team

Anyways. Saturday was an early morning. We were up at 5:00 to hit the road by 5:30 for our 8:00 start. My dude and I were running this TM with my friend Nichole and her hubs, and two of their friends. Saturday morning, the sun was bright and hot, and I was sweating just standing still. Needless to say, I was a little bit less than amped to climb over walls and haul through mud trenches in that heat.

These are our excited faces. Can you tell?

The course itself was just over 10 miles of running through fields, gravel, trails and pavement, with obstacles spaced out every half mile or so. As a team, we wanted to stay together, because some of the obstacles would definitely require teamwork to complete. The first obstacle we came to was no exception. An inclined wall angled toward us that was roughly 10 feet tall. Nichole and her husband and I are all pretty short, so we knew that to get the whole team over the wall, we would need some help. I got hops, but I’m not Michael Jordan.

Our two tallest guys hauled themselves over first and then it was my turn. I jumped up, grabbed their hands and pulled myself up as far as I could. Then I hiked my leg over the edge of the wall and with my teammate’s help, I was able to push the rest of myself over. It was tough and that was just the beginning!

There were log carries, Army crawls, more walls, crazy American Ninja Warrior-style monkey bars, fireman carries, tear gas (not really, just menthol, but still), electroshock therapy, rope walls, shoulder-deep mud trenches, just to name a few! My favorite obstacle though? Arctic Enema. It was SO hot and jumping into a dumpster full of ice water sounded like the best thing ever.

I wasn’t wrong. It was amazing. So freaking cold. But amazing. As soon as we finished, I told the boy that I wanted to go again. Like, four more times.

As the course went on, it just got hotter and hotter. Running between the obstacles got harder and harder. Fortunately, there was plenty of water along the course, and at most stations, they offered us food of some kind. Energy gummies, protein bars, bananas, jerky… lots of options to stay fueled and hydrated.

By the time we got to Mile 7, we picked things up a bit. Pushing through the run portions and resting a bit while we waited to go through obstacles. These last three or so miles were on trails, which was a nice change from running through grass or on pavement. It was also more shaded, which felt really good, too.

One of the last obstacles was Everest, a quarter-pipe that you have to sprint up and haul yourself over. Teamwork is a definite requirement, because while I was able to run up it with no problem, by the end of that course, my arms were shot to hell.

After we finished, it was time for beer and pictures, because you feel pretty badass once you’re done.

As absolutely wiped out as we were when we finished, it was pretty much decided that we would be doing another one of these crazy things. It was far too much fun not too, and if I actually trained? Pretty sure I could slay it.

Of course, after we got home, we didn’t want to move. But, in our infinite wisdom, we’d already made plans to go to the ballet. So, we swapped out our sweaty, muddy selves, for the cleaned up, classier versions. Because we’re cool like that.

Have you ever done a Tough Mudder or another obstacle race? What was your favorite part? How ridiculously sore were you afterward?

Road Tested: My Inspire Wear

June 10, 2015 by scootadoot

As Meridith and I strolled along Pearl Street Mall checking out the BolderBOULDER Expo a few weeks back, we came across a pretty purple tent. Being purple, and being that purple is the best color in the world, we were immediately curious. As we got closer we could see the tent was full of cute tops and pants and bras and every good thing (in the way of athletic wear, anyway). Stewarding the tent was a very nice person named Debbie Pedersen. Debbie is the force behind My Inspire Wear, an athletic wear company with an agenda, and one that Meridith and I could easily get behind.

In Debbie’s words, she is an entrepreneur that is committed to inspiring the world and giving back to non-profits that focus on breast cancer prevention. The apparel is made of bamboo fabric, which is extremely soft, breathable, moisture-wicking and eco-friendly. She says “My Inspire Wear wants to motivate you to be the best you can be! Inspirational products include tank tops, pants, skorts, headbands, water bottles, socks and even tees and briefs for the guys! If you know a breast cancer survivor, check out the zipper pocket sports bra, specifically designed for post-surgery. This bra is like no other on the market!”

Methinks Debbie is good people and My Inspire Wear is doing good work for the cancer community, for the planet, and for women. When Debbie gave us each a bra to take home and try out, we were stoked! I think I can honestly say that they were a hit pretty much immediately. Here’s why.

I love the Breathe bra that Debbie gave me. If she only knew how perfect it was for me because sometimes I really need a reminder to just take a moment and breathe. If I could, I would have chill pills on auto-refill. Luckily, I have yoga.

Although I’m not as busty as some…scratch that. Although I’m not as busty as most women, it’s still a challenge for me to find supportive sports bras. For the most part, many I try are overkill for my A cups or are super flimsy and made for hanging around the gym but not working out in the gym. All looks and no substance.

The My Inspire Bra was just right for me, giving me enough support for running, cycling, and vinyasa flow yoga while still feeling light, cool and comfortable. I even wore it to work under my dress clothes. Bamboo is one of my favorite fabrics for its softness and moisture-wicking qualities, as well as its sustainability. And it’s still feminine and pretty!

This will likely be my go-to bra because it isn’t loaded with tight elastic or spandex that feels constrictive like most of my other sports bras, instead I’m just supported and happy and running freeeeeeee!

The bra that I was given by Debbie to try is the “achieve” bra and I can say I definitely did just that!

I have a few bamboo shirts and I truly love the soft, breathable material. However I wasn’t sure how a bra would stand up to my… um, my girls. I’ve been blessed with a larger chest (how’s that for looking on the bright side of life?) and I don’t want to hurt myself while working out. As such, I tend to lean toward things I know work for me – that includes bras, sneakers, food, and workouts.

In the interest of branching out I decided that June would be a time for me to try new things! I’ve taken the month off from running due to my plantar fasciitis but that doesn’t mean I have to sit still. We all know that’s impossible!

My “testing” of this bra was threefold. First, I slipped this bra on immediately after the Bolder Boulder race to hang out with Jenn and her family. Don’t worry, a shirt was involved too! It was so comfy (and I was so tired), I wound up sleeping in it that evening; that was awesome too.

The comfort during two non-workout events spurred me on to give it a true test: a spin class. My dear friend Brandi teaches at the recently opened Upcycle, a really cool spin and yoga studio in my area. I’ve always wanted to check out spinning and I figured two birds, one stone!

What goes with a message bra? A message shirt, of course! Donning my Inspire bra and my Don’t Forget to be Awesome shirt, I arrived at the studio, ready to roll. Brandi made sure I knew how to set up my bike, assisting other newbies too, and then we were off, journeying through songs and tedious hills!

For forty-five minutes, we jammed out to awesome music and I sweat all over the bike, the floor, my water bottle, and my bra and my shirt. From the seated position to standing from my saddle during the “hills”, my chest felt good and supported. I bopped up and down, the girls did not. Trust.

You can see from this picture we took after the class, my shirt isn’t at all sweaty besides a bit under the armpits. Easy breezy! The bra, not the class. The class was a workout!

Did the bra “achieve”? You betcha! And so did I.

Another pleasant surprise, My Inspire Wear is affordable. *Gasp* I know. Their pants are under sixty bucks, and these bras? $19.99 folks. That’s like, unheard of. Debbie is so fantastic that she even gave us a discount code, scoot10, to share with you guys. We highly recommend checking them out!

Fangirling at the BolderBOULDER

June 8, 2015 by Jennifer

When Meridith was in Colorado visiting me for the BolderBOULDER, we had the chance to attend the race press conference the day before the race. We weren’t told who would be there, only that it was with the elite athletes. We did our research and assumed it would be with the elite runners who were making up the international teams at this year’s event. Excited to hear these pros speak and share their training and racing wisdom, we jetted off to the conference with notepad and very giant, press-like camera in hand.

After arriving and finding the person who could give us our press pass, we stood near the food, feeling in the way and wondering what to do next. That’s when we heard someone speak into the microphone to say that Meb would be coming into speak shortly. Meri and I looked at each other with eyes as big as saucers. Meb?! Meb Keflezighi would be speaking in this tiny room to a handful of people which included us?! Needless to say, we were fangirling hard. But we kept it on the inside and remained calm and professional. I think.

Abdi Abdirahman in yellow, Meb Keflezighi in navy, and Frank Shorter in blue.

Not only did Meb come in to talk to the press, but so did Abdi Abdirahman and the legendary Frank Shorter. They offered some advice on training and achieving goals as well as what makes the BolderBOULDER special. Here, Meb and Abdi comment on how they train for the big races and win, and how the BolderBOULDER has helped them in their careers.

When asked what makes the BolderBOULDER special, Meb remarked on the stadium finish and how it feels similar to an Olympic finish. He noted the race’s rich history and traditions (this was the 37th year of the race). He enjoys how exciting it is to see the elite runners race at the end and how inspiring it is for young runners and said “we’ll see those kids grow up and become the next running stars.”

Abdi reminded us that the race was special because of its Memorial Day significance. For him, it’s about freedom, liberty, and those who sacrificed so that we can have those privileges.

Both athletes are looking forward to the next Olympic trials and hoping to get one of the coveted top three spots. When asked about what time he was hoping for at the trials, Abdi laughed and said it made no difference, as long as it was one of the best three times. As they said in the first video, age isn’t holding either one of them back.

All three athletes said that it was important to surround yourself with people who love, support, and push you to be your best. Both Meb and Abdi have been with their coaches for many years and feel that their long standing relationship and the familiarity that brings is an advantage for training and racing. Meb commented briefly on his former sponsor and how they dropped him once he reached an age that they felt was too old to be competitive. Meb found a new sponsor in Skechers, who went out of their way to support his goals and give him what he needed. He went on to win Boston. It’s all about who’s on your team and what you want to accomplish.

The last special guest to speak was renowned coach Joe Vigil. He said what made the BolderBOULDER so special was is that the stadium finish makes everyone feel like an athlete, and gives each participant an immense sense of accomplishment, whether you’re a beginner or a life-long runner. No other race makes everyone feel like a star athlete. It was truly an honor to hear his perspective on this event.

Having the opportunity to see these gentleman speak was really fantastic. One of my favorite things about the #BB10K is that it’s for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or you’ve never run before, this race is for anyone who is a fan of running. It’s clear that these guys feel the same way!

Dashing Diva Ditches Dairy

June 5, 2015 by bec2point0

Don’t you just love alliteration? Clearly, I do!

Okay, so there are two parts to this post, and one of them is a giveaway! I promise, we’re not giving away dairy. Although, I’ve got some nice brie in my fridge…

Ditching Dairy

If you follow me on Twitter (@just_bec_), you may have seen my daily rants about the struggle of going dairy-free. And if you’ve read this blog for a while, you’ve no doubt heard me wax poetic about my love of cheese. So, how do these things go together? Hint: Not well.

Based on a pre-existing medical condition I have, my new doctors recommended doing some elimination dieting to see if we can determine what causes my issues. (That made it sound super ominous and serious, huh? It’s not, I promise, I’m fine!) And since dairy is a common culprit, that is where they wanted to start. Enter me having to give up all dairy for two months. ALL dairy. Even cheese Even ice cream.

I’ll miss you, buddy!

SIGH.

After a few false starts, I’ve made it through two full days. Not easily, and not without complaint, but I did it. I attempted Whole 30 last year, so it’s not surprising to me how many things contain dairy. But I only made it to Whole 4, mainly because of cream in my coffee. I’ve gotten a few recs so far for good dairy alternatives. I already liked almond milk, so that was cool. Oreos are vegan, so that’s a bonus. American Flatbread Vegan Harvest Pizza is pretty tasty, especially if you put pepperoni on it (don’t judge). And I even made some really delicious Dairy Free Banana Chocolate Chip muffins (those actually are vegan, so does that redeem me?).

With all that said, I can’t spend the next two months eating Oreos and frozen pizza. I mean, I could, but I don’t want to. And depending on how the test goes, this could be a very long term thing.

So, I’m going to need a little help here. Anyone have awesome dairy alternatives? (Meaning cheese or ice cream, because no other dairy really matters, amiright?) Or recipes you love that are inherently dairy-free? A plant based protein powder you love that doesn’t taste like grass? Or if you’ve successfully given up dairy, and you have tips to share, those would also be lovely.

Dashing Divas

Let’s move on to more pleasant topics, shall we? Diva Dash!

If you don’t know anything about Diva Dash, it’s a women only obstacle 5K. Think lots of costumes. Think LOTS of tutus! And some running and climbing on things and fun. And also, think charity. For 2015, the charity partner for the Shape Diva Dash is Girls on the Run. Awesome.

I’ve posted about Diva Dash before. I did my first Diva Dash in 2012. This was pre-Scoot, so to give you some background, 2012 was the year that I started running. I had been Couch to 5King since February, went to Atlantic City in April and did a 7K while Mer and Cam did the half, signed up for a couple of colorful runs over the summer, and when I saw this video, I knew I wanted to do Diva Dash.

Looks so fun, right? And challenging!

So I signed up, with every intention of spending the summer getting ready for obstacles and running. And then July came. And heat came. And running stopped. And by the time September rolled around, I was not at all ready.

I did it anyway, and it was fun, but by the end I was dying, and literally had medics pulling me aside and asking if I was okay. (I was fine, I just get really red in the face). Not exactly the experience I wanted to have.

Still, when sign up time came in 2013, I jumped right on it, planning to spend the summer getting ready. I think you can guess what happened. I went into the 2013 race with so much anxiety, and I wound up skipping a bunch of obstacles because I was nervous. Again, fun, but not the experience I wanted.

2014, I signed up again, and I don’t think I need to tell you what my plan was, or how it went. When race day dawned and it was 95 degrees and I was still suffering from PF, I just said screw it.

So, when I saw the sign ups for 2015, and I got the urge to sign up, I realized something. Diva Dash is my Moby Dick race. I have to conquer it! And, since I wanted to make sure I stayed good and motivated this year, I signed up to be a Shape Diva Dash Ambassador!

What does this mean for me? It means I’ve really got to stick with it this summer, so I can have the experience I want to have.

What does it mean for you? Well, if you live near (or want to travel to) any of the upcoming race locations this year (Washington, D.C. on 9/12, BOSTON on 9/26 or New York Metro on 10/10), you can use Discount Code AXSCOOT to get $10 off your registration. I highly reccommend Boston, since I live there, and that is the race I will be at, and you can come give me a hug.

And, since the Diva Dash ladies rock hard, they are letting us give away one free race entry! Awesome? Awesome. This giveaway will stay open until 6/19/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, Divas!

Navy/Air Force Half Race Entry Giveaway Winner!

June 3, 2015 by kpjenn

Congratulations to Bradley Richardson, who will be joining me in DC in September to run the NAFHalf marathon! Can’t wait to run all the miles with you! I’ll be in touch soon with details!

And now for the rest of my post this week:

I’m currently in the midst of a marathon. Not the running kind. The ‘I’ve been sick for the last two days so I’m exhausting my movie collection’ kind. LOTS of LOTR, my friends. Lots.

Being sick blows for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact that I can’t work out. I always fall back on the rule my mom had when I was a kid: if you’re too sick to do the things you need to do (ie: go to school , or in this case, work), then you’re too sick to do the things you want to do (ie: hang out with friends, or now, go to the gym).

So here I am, sitting here with my throat feeling like sandpaper and the slightest cough and all of the DayQuil and Cepacol ever. Watching Frodo and Sam and Smeagol battle Shelob and the Rohirrim take on the orcs at Pellennor Fields. Thinking about how I should be running three miles or going to spin or hitting a yoga class. But nope. I’m on the couch. Drinking water. Lamenting my failed immune system.

Who even gets sick in June?! That’s some ridiculous shiz, friends. Ridiculous.

Only upside to being home sick? I actually had a little time to cook real food. Today I decided that I needed some comfort food and gathered the things I needed to throw together my Grammie’s meatballs and spaghetti sauce. I’d share the recipe, but at this point, I don’t really follow one for either. All I know is that my house smells amazing and I’m going to have mad leftovers. And I actually WANT to eat this, which is more than can be said for how I’ve felt all day.

So, here’s to giveaway winners and good drugs, naps and movies, and comfort food above all else. And to being on the mend, because I’ve got some miles to get in. Pronto.

Coffee Talk (hold the coffee)

June 1, 2015 by Meridith

Yeah, I gave coffee up a few months ago. But you go ahead and grab a cup! I’ll wait.

Okay! So a few weeks ago I was talking to my ten year old kiddo and he said, “I’m so excited!” When I asked him “About what?” He responded, “LIFE!”

What a refreshing and honest answer from him! I mean, isn’t life pretty gosh darn exciting sometimes? I’ve been feeling that way, too, and with good reason.

Why? Well, we’ve got a lot of good going on in our lives. Some meh too, but the good far outweighs the bad. And I feel like I haven’t had a chance to chat with you all in so long, you don’t know a couple of the mundane things (like the fact that I gave up coffee) and the not so mundane things. I’ve blogged about races and products, but not about life.

So here’s a LIFE update!

1. Health

In the past few months I’ve turned up the running because I had four races in May.

What you might not know is that during my last eight mile training run for the Broad Street 10 Miler, I felt the very annoying twingle (that’s a twinge and a tingle, all mixed up together) of my plantar fascia.

Again.

This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with this stupid pain in the foot so I know all the things that can help heal the heel.

Rest, ice, massage, stretching.

You might notice that running isn’t on the list. But I did the Broad Street Run, a Mother’s Day 5k, and Bolder Boulder.

Smile, though your heel is aching.

I had a 5k scheduled for this past weekend but wisely I decided to skip it. See, I did something smart! Yay me!

My poor foot just needs a break from the constant beating it takes when I run. It’s pissed off and I am well aware of that. So I am going to cool it with the running for the month of June (which does not excite me, I’ll have you know, but I’m aware it’s necessary) and focus on cross training and… food.

2. Food

Food, you are my life now. (Yes, I just Twilight quoted you. I hope you still respect me.)

Let’s talk about this. You might have noticed I’ve been sharing some yummy looking pics on our Instagram lately.

Eggs and fruit, anyone?

Chipotle Lime Shrimp Tacos with Strawberry Salsa – I would push people out of the way for this.

Fish taco bowl (mine’s without the cilantro because ew).

Y’all, this is stuff we are making at home. We haven’t done take out in over a week. This is a big deal!

So what the heck is going on here? Well, I was fairly certain that I would never, ever, ever do a product challenge. I mean, just call me Taylor Swift because that’s how adamant I was about not doing a product challenge.

And yet… here I am, doing a product challenge.

That will teach me. Folks at my gym are participating in the 24 day AdvoCare challenge and that includes my husband and yours truly. I’m drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid, or should I say Spark, and (prepare yourselves)… I’m actually loving it.

You see, I wasn’t too sure what we were getting into when we originally signed up. It’s a 10 day “cleanse” and then 14 day “max” phase. When I heard “cleanse” I envisioned rabbit food and not a whole lot else. But as you can see from the pics, we are eating. Eating like kings and queens, even!

It’s a lot of prep work and planning but I’ve got to tell you, I’m on day 6 as I’m writing this 5/31, and I’m down 5.2 pounds. But more importantly, I’ve got a ton of energy and a renewed sense of accomplishment. Doing the healthy living/eating thing can get sort of rut-like after awhile and this has helped snapped me out of that! I’m hopping up and down (on one foot, to give my left one a rest).

I’ll keep you posted with the final results. We finish the 24 days on the 18th of June.

3. June

First day of June, holla at me! June is really exciting, right? I mean, end of school (for us Jersey folks), long days, sunshine. I love it!

Me with my dear friend Bernadette, 20 years ago.

My 20th high school reunion is this month. If you’d have told me in high school that not only I would be going but I’d be paying over $100 to attend, I probably would not have believed you.

Actually, I would have laughed in your face.

Yet, I’m going. And not only that, but I’m actually looking forward to it. Life is weird. And exciting.

Just as exciting, I’ve been invited to the Disney Social Media Moms event in New York City!

I was very appreciative to be invited to last year’s Philly event and although timing didn’t work out for me to make it to this year’s Florida conference, I’m thrilled that I’ll be at the NYC On the Road celebration.

Disney is very good at bringing the magic along with them and paired with awesome speakers and great attendees, it makes for a party-like atmosphere that cannot be compared.

The new business cards are on their way and I’m hard at work figuring out what I’m going to wear. I’m thinking Disneybounding might just be in order. Zip a dee doo dah!

And don’t even get me started about July!

But enough about me. Now it’s your turn! Tell me about your life. What exciting things do you have on the horizon for June? Will I be seeing you at the Disney Social Media Moms NYC? Or perhaps at my house for dinner (open invite!)?