New Running Gear

The short version of my running experience in 2010 is this: I ran a marathon.

And that's pretty much it. My training runs after that were sporadic at best, and non-existent once the fall semester started. Sigh... I had such high hopes.

However, I've picked it back up again these past couple of weeks, suddenly remembered how much I like running, and have a goal race in mind. Four goal races, actually; the Austin Runners Club has a spring Sprint Series-- two 5Ks and two 10Ks. In case you missed it, the 10K is my favourite distance EVER, and 5Ks are so short that they're over before anything has a chance to start hurting. Should be fun.

Which means I'm back to a serious training plan, calorie-watching, post-run refueling, and all the fun stuff that comes with training. The major upside to this is that the training runs for 10Ks are much, much shorter than marathon training runs. No six-hour runs for me while I'm trying to study, thank goodness; I might actually have a nervous breakdown if I tried that.

And, to go with a new year and a new training schedule, I have new running gear! I used to have colour-coordinated gear, but after multiple purchases of whatever was on sale, I must look like I just won the starring role in Josefina and the Amazing Technicolour Running Kit (I run down the street singing, "Any pace will do...") with my sky-blue top, turquoise skirt, and yellow-green shoes.

**Skip this paragraph if you aren't interested in actually owning a running skirt.**
I really like them so far. They are comfortable and don't have the same chafing issues that shorts have. I've only done a few short runs (four miles or less) with them, but they are great at keeping all the vital bits covered (my shorts, unfortunately, do not have the same skill set). Also, when I wear shorts, the sweat soaks all the way through; that has not been the case with the skirts, which is really nice. So, I would certainly recommend them to other runner-girls. Of course, most of you live in colder places than I do and may want to wait a few months before getting your hands on a skirt.

Runners, unite! Do you have any new gear? Old gear that you love? Upcoming races you want to tell us about? Non-runners... comment about whatever you want. :)