#FitnessCloset

When I saw a few posts this morning about what was in people's fitness wardrobe I thought showing you mine would be a fun snow day project. Yes, apparently mother nature didn't get the memo that it is spring and we are currently getting a solid few inches of snow. Nothing like having a week off for spring break and then your first day back is a snow day. I'll take it!

For this post I'm including only the things I wear the most. I have race shirts and older clothes back at home that I don't wear that much but keep in case I haven't done my laundry or forget to bring something home with me. Let's begin!

Jacket

Brooks Nightlife Jacket III: This is one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. It actually makes me look forward to running in the rain and snow.

Socks 

Brooks: I have more pairs of socks and socks from other brands but these are the ones I try to wear whenever possible.

Sports bras 

Reebok Core Seemless Bra: I'm pretty sure I have this bra in every color. Why change a good thing, right?

Gloves

Smart Wool Liner Glove: These are the only gloves I will run in, if I use gloves at all. If I have on anything thicker I start to overheat.

Headbands

Brooks Infiniti Headband: I don't normally wear a cold-weather headband but I really like this one. I had a smart wool one too but I can't seem to find it.

Sparkly Soul Lavender: I've only worn this a few times but it seems to stay in place as advertised. I've always had trouble with headbands slipping off but this one does the trick. Need to test for a long run though.

Compression socks

Pro Compression Marathon Socks in purple and pink. Absolutely love these!

Shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11 (2 pairs): Both of these pairs are just about worn out but I still use them for easy and recovery runs and some cross training.
Brooks Cascadia: My trail shoes. I got these on sale at DSW and really like them but I would be interested to spend more time looking into which trail shoe would be best for me.
Brooks Pure Cadence: I forget where I got the yellow ones from, sorry! But these are awesome, really. They are lightweight and perfect for a transition to a more mimimal shoe.
Saucony Mirage 3: I just got these shoes and am already in love with them. They are a good deal lighter than my other shoes so I had quite a bit of DOMS from wearing them. They will probably be my racing shoe for distances up to the half marathon.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 13 (unpictured): I wear these for my long runs but left them at home for next weekend.

Tank top

I'm not much of a tank top wearer but this one is really comfy and doesn't ride up at all as some do. I think it's a Fila that I got from Kohl's a few years ago.

Short sleeve shirts

These are a mix from Nike, Under Armour and Reebok. They are all super light weight and soft. I get really hot in the summer so I like my shirts to be as thin as possible so I don't feel like I'm suffocating in them. The green one in the back is one of the Under Armour ones that is supposed to protect you from the sun. Not sure if it works or not but this pale redhead would like to think that it does.

Long sleeve shirts

Even in the winter I like my shirts to be on the thinner side. Again, I get really hot when running, even in the winter. I'm a big fan of the Nike half-zips that have the tiniest bit of fleece. They are not heavy by any means but are not ridiculously thin either. For days when it is crisp outside but not too cold I like to wear super thin long sleeve shirts. My favorite is that teal one. It's from Brooks and I got it at the Rock N' Roll Philadelphia expo.

Shorts

I am pretty picky about my shorts and tights but have found a few that work. My favorites are the pinkish ones, which are from Under Armour, and the green, which are the Oiselle distance shorts. In the mix are a pair from Sugoi, Oiselle Rogas, Oiselle Lori shorts, and the only pair of Nike tempos that don't bother me.

Tights

Because I am so picky and because I prefer being cooler when I run I don't often wear tights. I have 2 pairs of tights from Reebok that are fleece lined and although I like them, they are way too warm for me to wear more than a handful of times each year. Based on my success with the Oiselle Lesley Knicker (see below) I really want to try out the Lesley running tight.

Capris

The Oiselle Lesley Knicker. I have professed my love for these before and I will continues to do so. I looked for over a year for a pair of running capri I liked with no success until I found these. They don't ride up or fall down, and they don't chafe either. They are lightweight enough that I can wear them in the winter and when the temps are a little warmer. I haven't tried them in the summer yet so I don't know how they are in the heat but most likely they will be too warm for me. Either way they are my absolute number one item in my wardrobe.

Bike jersey & shorts

I don't have many biking clothes and am still looking for a nice pair of bike shorts. I like the pair on the right but hate the pair on the left. I got a tri suit from SOAS for my birthday and really like the shorts so I might have to get another pair for just riding. The jersey and shorts on the right are from Nishiki and the shorts on the left are Pearl Izumi.

Bathing suits

This is just a fraction of my bathing suits. Being a former swimmer will do that to you. These are my favorites though in terms of pattern and comfort. The three on the top are from Speedo and are made of a different material that lasts forever. They are not as stretchy and are more expensive though. The ones on the bottom are from Dolfin. For good deals on bathing suits check out Swim Outlet. They have some really good deals.

After doing this I realized the variety of brands in my closet. I guess I like a little of everything. Over the past few months I have been drawn to Oiselle based on my success with their shorts and capris. I've been drooling over their spring line and am thinking about getting an outfit from there for my upcoming half. Any recommendations?

Recovering Right

When I was first starting half marathon training I layed out how I was going to achieve my sub 2:00 goal based on the things that I have neglected in the past. There were quite a few things that could use improvement and most of them had something to do with recovery. Even though I know I should, I have been really struggling get in much stretching, foam rolling, Nuun-ing, etc. I have been experiencing this nagging ache in my left thigh ever since I went skiing a few weeks ago. It isn't anything to be worried about but it is a bit annoying. I had a minor panic attack about it but have since realized that my leg is actually not going to fall off. Shocking, I know. But this little freak out reminded me that I need to pay more attention to how I am recovering after my runs. So I decided that instead of giving up something for Lent I would commit to recovering right. How you might ask, well let me tell you!

Stretching & Foam Rolling

I always forget to stretch, and foam roll, until something starts bothering me and this training cycle is no exception. Luckily nothing hurts enough that it is a problem but it's a good reminder that it is never too late to add in some stretching and foam rolling to your weekly training. Since I finish a lot of my runs at school and then have class for a few hours afterwards I often don't get much, or any, stretching in afterwards. Just because I don't have room to sprawl out and do a bunch of elaborate yoga stretches doesn't mean I can't squeeze in a few simple stretches after each workout. Even a little bit of stretching will go a long way. Then on the weekends when I have more time I am planning on doing a 15-30 minute stretching and foam rolling session after my long runs to really get to my muscles properly.

Compression Socks

I have two pairs of Pro Compression socks but I don't wear them nearly enough. Like with stretching and foam rolling I normally only wear them when I actually need them rather than for their everyday recovery properties. When I run on harder surfaces such as concrete and pavement more frequently my calves and shins get very cranky and with the weather lately I haven't been able to really hit the trails which means I've only been running on the road. I think my legs are actually getting used to the additional pounding but there are still some days where my shins hurt to touch. Just wearing my compression socks for a few hours makes a huge difference. Since the weather is colder and it is still boot season I will wear my socks under my boots as a way to wear my socks but not look like a total loser. Just a partial one.

Hydrating Properly

For as long as I can remember people have been telling me I need to drink more. I'm not sure why but I don't get thirsty very often. There have been days (more than I'd like to admit) where I had nothing to drink the entire day. The ironic part is that I get extremely thirsty when running and drink way more than normal. And to add to it I lose a lot of salt when I sweat and often end up dizzy after long workouts in the heat. I have been working on drinking enough in general for years now and will probably always have to work on this but I have been slacking off now that the temps are colder and I feel even less thirsty. To get back on track I plan on carrying a water bottle with me everywhere. Just by having it with me I will end up drinking more water. I'm going to start using my Nuun tablets more often so that even if I am drinking less what I am drinking is better quality.

Any tips? I could use all the advice I can get!