Dress For Success….. Or For Fun?

Posted on October 10, 2012 by tootallfritz

My thought processes about running have changed over the last couple years. While I am still “serious” about my running, I don’t mind having a little fun with the process and wearing a crazy funky outfit or costume. I have found that a fun outfit not only makes me run faster happy but it also makes other people smile. So bring on those sparkle skirts! Team Sparkle has one of my favorite accessories. At $25 with free shipping, I can dress up almost any outfit for any occasion.

I’ve also come to realize that the more friends I peer pressure encourage to dress up, the more jaw dropping the reaction of other runners fun I have at the race.

Recently, I’ve even branched out to add funky socks. Every holiday, Target has festive socks for $5. That’s where I normally go for the socks to complete my outfit.

This week things got really crazy when I decide to run in a tutu for the Monster Dash. Come on, all the cool kids are doing it, right? Maybe not, but I am, and so are 16 of my closest friends. 🙂 So we recently had a Tutu Making Party to create these fabulous tutus. Ordering the tulle and elastic by bulk, we managed to keep the cost to $5. Wow, that’s a cheap costume and we certainly won’t talk about what a HUGE PITA it was to cut all that tulle from its 100 yard rolls.

Now, the tutu making process was SUPER easy. I followed the very scientific approach previously used by Kelly to make these babies:

Tutu Making:

Elastic – Fit it around your waist, stitch or double knot ends together
Tulle – Two 25 yard rolls needed for 1 tutu
Cut in strips of desired length
Tie tulle around elastic using double knots
For ease of assembly, put the elastic band around a chair
So easy that anyone a child could handle the task!

This was easy & super fun! Trust me. If we can knock these things out while drinking corona having fun, you can do it too. Try it and then send me photos! Look for 17 black & white tutus on the Monster Dash Chicago course!

If you would like a more “technical” outfit, try RunningSkirts.com or SkirtSports for amazing skirts that are cute and work well for running long or short distances.

Have you tried dressing up for a race?

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Whooha Gear Giveaway…….

Posted on September 29, 2012 by tootallfritz

Whooha = Women Having Optimistic Objectives & Healthy Attitudes

Aurelia R. introduced me to Whooha Gear about 6 months ago and I immediately fell in love. Although their acronym is a mouthful unusual, the words speak to me. Plus the gear is amazing. Normally fit is an issue for me and I was pleasantly surprised when the first item I ordered fit the first time. I was even more surprised that it was also something that I actually wanted to wear. If you know me, and know me well, you know that I return about 90% of the items I order online and I give away another 5%. My success rate with clothing is very low.

In addition to my love of the fit and feel of Whooha, I am also in love with the company motto and focus. This is directly from the Whooha homepage:

Inspire yourself…that is the goal Whooha Gear has set for you! Started by two women athletes, Whooha Gear provides athletic wear made for women by women. Our shirts and accessories have inspirational sayings for active women that range from runners, climbers, triathletes, cyclists, hikers and much, much more.

My first Whooha item purchased was the Doesn’t Hurt to TRI V-Neck Heather Tee which is currently on close out for $20. I paid “full” price, which was $24. That’s reasonable in my opinion. It’s also soft and fits my “curves” without hugging me inappropriately.

I’ve worn this Doesn’t Hurt to TRI Tee several times, including to work on a Friday the Ironman Muncie 70.3 expo where a woman seriously ran me down to find out where I had gotten this shirt. It’s cute and chick at the same time, plus feels comfortable enough that I actually don’t mind it being a t-shirt. I normally won’t ever wear a t-shirt, not even for running or workouts. I’m very picky, but this I love! 🙂

After the above shirt being torn to shreds by jealous women at the Ironman expo such a huge hit in Muncie, I finally ordered another one. Ironically, I like this one even more than the first! My second purchase was the TRI & Triumph Triblend Scoop Neck. Once again I paid full price at $24. This shirt looks and feels amazing and I have to consciously wear something different on the weekends so people don’t see me in the same shirt over and over. LOVE.THIS.SHIRT. Its super soft and fits perfectly with a little flare at the tummy so it doesn’t stick to my rolls mommy tummy. Thank you, Whooha!

You “might” want to go browse around the Whooha site yourself because they have generously agreed to let the winner of the giveaway PICK THEIR OWN ITEM!!! The main shopping section is HERE, which includes a lot of closeouts and everything is priced reasonably. Currently, my favorite product is the I Run Burnout Hoodie, which I don’t own yet, but I’m hoping Santa will bring it for me in a size large.

If you would like to be entered in the giveaway:

Go check out the Whooha Gear store and then tell me in the comments below which item you will be selecting if you are randomly picked as the winner of this giveaway. (1 entry)
Go “like” Whooha Gear on Facebook HERE. (1 entry)
Tweet, Facebook, Blog or share the giveaway via any social media outlet possible (1 entry for each share).

In order to be entered in the contest, you MUST make a comment below. In that comment, please tell me which of the above items you completed. There is a possibility of 5 entries. A winner will be randomly drawn via a random number generator on Thursday, October 4th at 9am.

For Santa those of you who can’t wait to get your hands on some Whooha Gear, feel free to use the 10% off coupon code: TTFWhooha

** Good luck & Happy Browsing ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Fall Is In The Air….

Posted on September 8, 2012 by tootallfritz

This morning when ~~Michael tore me out of bed~~ I got up, I was giddy with excitement seeing a temperatures in the 50s. As soon as I could manage it, I was dressed to run.

“Run”Way Fashion – Saucony Ignite Singlet & Athleta Relay Capris

One of the best things about the arrival of fall is that some of our favorite summer wear, like the Saucony Ignite Singlet is on sale! The Ignite Singlet is currently on “Last Chance” Sale for $22 along with a lot of other great items. If you have been sweating away the summer in one or two things that you can’t seem to keep clean, then you might want to check online to see if your favorites have hit the clearance racks yet. Aby and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these singlets and we both pull them out first ~~when they are clean~~. We both have a blue & corral colored singlet but I can only seem to find photos of us in the coral.

I just ordered us a couple more off the Last Chance sale. I’m looking forward to wearing this one since neon green is my favorite color! They are so light and airy that they work well for both hot & steamy indoor workouts as well as running!

Another staple to my wardrobe for ~~anytime~~ fall running is the Athleta Relay Capri. These babies are NOT on sale. Never. But they are worth the $69 price tag. If I’m wearing capris, which is all the time other than extreme heat or extreme cold, then they are these Relay Capris.

I ordered my first pair 3 years ago, in black and they still look like brand new. I ordered the navy ones last year and then just added the asphalt color this season. To say the least, I love these awesome pants. They don’t move, which I love. They come up a bit higher on the ~~mommy~~ tummy, which I REALLY love. They have a zip pouch in the back which fits my key, gel, phone (will only fit by itself), etc. They also include a removable WATERPROOF pouch for inside the zip compartment for those of you who leave the trail looking like you went for a swim instead of a run. You will also notice reflective accents for my ~~middle of the night~~ early morning run sessions, plus they come in special sizes, like tall, need I say more? I love these pants and so does everyone else so if you want a pair, I’d order soon before fall really arrives and/or everyone receives their new catalog because these go on backorder fast ~~and who really needs a pair of capris in December~~?

What are your go to run/workout clothing items? Anything on sale that we need to know about?

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

A Few Lessons….

Posted on July 23, 2012 by tootallfritz

Last week, I learned a few new things. I may be an “old” dog but I’m always up for new tips or lessons!

1) No matter how new your swim cap may be, always have a spare in your swim bag. Swim caps rip. They are not made of a special material which will last forever. They do not care that you hold a sentimental attachment to them because you just recently finished their event. Swim caps rip.

2) While swimming, your sinuses will discharge. If you want to avoid constantly wiping snot off your face while you swim, maybe use a nasal rinse before getting into the pool We will all thank you for your extra effort. As an added benefit, this will help with your allergies and flush any germs from your nasal passages that may help you avert the sniffles.

3) Read reviews of products you own. No matter how well you think you know your ~~gps watch~~ product, somebody might know something you don’t know. Last week, I learned that my Nike+ Sportwatch GPS was waterproof up to 50 meters. Hmmmm, news to me! This was actually the only complaint I had about my watch, the fact that I couldn’t swim in it. Well, I was wrong, I CAN swim in it and I did so last week. Watch still works perfectly!

4) If you take your bike out and it’s loose, dropping screws and you feel generally unsafe, pack it up and go home. Things will not end well.

5) Along the same lines, if your bike isn’t handling well, it drops a water bottle on you because your cage is loose & you just hit a monstrous bump, maybe unclip BOTH feet before rolling down a concrete dip to retrieve the dropped bottle. Once again, things “may” not end well. See above photo.

6) If you haul your kids out of bed before dawn to go run 1 mile with the F’N Running Club, make sure you don’t look like you are going to run just 1 MILE. Own that mile in celebration of a new beginning as we kick injury to the curb, albeit very slowly. 🙂

Yes, I did go to the grocery store like this afterwards!

“Run”Way Fashion: 2011 Chicago Marathon swag shirt, RunningSkirts.com stars & stripes triathlon skirt, Zensah Compression Sleeves in Stars & Stripes. This is the first time I’ve tried the Zensah brand of compression. I must admit, my love for the stars & stripes pulled me in and I fell instantly in love with the look and feel. I wore the compression sleeves for a short run (1.6 miles), a .5 walk/run with the kiddos, play time on the playground and then hit the grocery, so probably for 4 hours total. Yes, people stared at me in the grocery. If you don’t want people to stare when you wear workout gear in public, maybe go with something ~~less amazing~~ a bit more traditional.

So far, I really like the sleeves, not too tight, not too hot, not too boring. Just right. I’ll definitely be wearing these a lot more as I begin to rebuild my mileage.

Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com

Getting Back in the Groove….

Posted on July 18, 2012 by tootallfritz

Theory states that it takes 21 days to create a good habit. So if you are just starting a workout or running routine, know that it won’t be easy but it does become more manageable if you stick with it.

Those of us who have been on the fitness train for a while know that the smallest things can cause a bump in our routine and attempt to derail our fitness. Therefore, we have to be extra vigilant when our routine hits a snag. Vacations are one of those things which are bittersweet for me. I love to go, get away and have fun but I miss my fitness routine ~~and my bed and my fresh food and my dogs~~. Since my return on Saturday afternoon, I have been hitting it ~~really~~ somewhat hard to attempt to get back into my routine mentally.

Saturday afternoon – 40 miles on the bike (trainer), 50 pushups, rehab exercises & barefoot strides.

Sunday – Felt ridiculously guilty but between unpacking for 4, laundry, grocery store, party food prep, outdoor work, playing with the kids & the FNRC Splash N Dash, I didn’t workout. I wasn’t happy about it but some days are just not long enough.

Monday – 30 minute swim in the cool waters of a local indoor pool. I had the entire pool to myself and it was the best swim I’ve had in a while, mostly due to those cool water temps. Plus I tried a new pair of goggles that worked out really well, the TYR Velocity Metallized goggles. They were cheap ($15.95), and I had an email special/promo code, thru TriSports. I was super pleased. They fit well and I liked being able to use the slide at the side to tighten them up for a quick adjustment in the water! One I got home from the swim, I did 100 push ups, rehab exercises & barefoot strides in the yard.

Tuesday – 16 miles on bike (trainer), 50 push ups & rehab exercises

The bottom line is that life will occasionally get in the way of your workouts. Vacations come/go, kids get sick, parents need help, the J.O.B. gets crazy. This is normal, take a deep breath and accept it. Just don’t let the “little things” become an excuse to derail YOUR fitness.

** Keep YOUR Fitness Train Rolling! ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Beautiful Blogger Award……

Posted on June 22, 2012 by tootallfritz

I read a lot of blogs, I mean a lot. One of the blogs I read is CultFit. Early this week, CultFit awarded me with the Beautiful Blogger Award. I’ve been seeing these go around but have not yet been chosen. I’m honored; thank you, thank you, thank you!!

The idea behind the Beautiful Blogger Award is to recognize some of the blogger we read for their hard work and inspiration.

**Obligatory Rules**

Copy the Beautiful Blogger Award logo and place it in your post.
Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Tell 7 things about yourself.
Nominate 7 other bloggers for their own Beautiful Blogger Award, and comment on their blogs to let them know.

Since I just posted my answers for the Spotlight Runner, I can’t really imagine you ~~care~~ want to know more about me so I’m going to pick some very random things, then pick 7 very random bloggers I follow who you might want to know. My goal is to try to pick people you DO NOT know so I tried to stay away from the Team Tough Chik & Chicago Running Bloggers line-up (with 2 exceptions).

1) I’m currently loving the Michelob Ultra Cactus Lime beer. 2) My favorite person is currently my chiro, Alexis, who is going to make me better and as a result help me run faster. 3) If Michael had been a daughter instead of a son, I wanted to name “her” Lydia but was out voted and we were going with Katherine Jean ( I think, can barely remember that long ago), call name: Kati. 4) If I have anymore pets after my brood passes, it will be one small dog named Sam I Am but only if it promises to not pee or poo or vomit on anything I own. 5) Michael leaves for college in 5915 days, unless I can get him into school a year early ~~since he is a genius~~ and then we have 5549 days. 6) I SWEAR I am NOT counting the days until Michael goes to college! 7) The first thing that I’m going to do when Michael goes to college is hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

All of it. From Canada to Mexico. No, I’m not taking my cell phone so don’t even ask.

Seven bloggers I love, to whom I would like to award the Beautiful Blogger Award and simultaneously introduce to you.

Tough Chik – Great way to learn about new tough chik teammates & blogger babes all over the world.

Run GINGERFOXXX Run – This chick makes me laugh even she is trying to be serious. Not much makes me laugh.

Manage Better Now – Things you ~~may or may not~~ need to know about being in the office/business world.

Bridgett’s Beauty Blog – I know nothing about beauty and she knows everything.

It’s Just One Foot In Front of the Other – Possibly the first blog I ever read and I’m still reading. Amazing athlete on a looooooong running streak.

Angie Blogs – Another great runner and mother & she possibly owns the one and only Saucony Recovery Suit.

Swim.Bike.Run.3durance – Currently training for an Ironman. Way more focused and better at following a training schedule than I.

Congrats to the new award winners of the Beautiful Blogger Award! Please go check them out and hopefully you will find them as motivating, inspiring, funny or as helpful as I do on a daily basis!

** Happy Reading ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com **

Devil Dash 5K – Peotone – Race Review

Posted on May 21, 2012 by tootallfritz

This was another jam packed weekend. Friday included an intense session with Alexis L, the Chiro/Muscle Manipulator/Miracle Worker. I left feeling excited but sore. Let’s hope a couple sessions with her leave me repaired and ready to kick some butt!

I also managed a 30 mile bike ride despite several mishaps, including a badly broken bike that led to ~~dirty hands~~ an emergency trip to a trailside bike shop. Huge thanks to Plank Road Cyclery in Frankfort for reattaching the derailleur.

Saturday brought the Devil Dash 5K in Peotone which was a fundraiser for Aby’s school district. Last year this race was a week earlier so we were able to participate in this and some of the other local races; however, this year, the local races all fell on the same day. Poor planning on everyone’s part, in my opinion, but certainly easier on the checkbook and my body.

The Peotone race is one that I will participate in, as long as I am able, and as long as my kids are in the school district but it’s not one that’s going to draw a big crowd even if they don’t do it on the same day as everyone else. We had 68 finishers this year and I was 13th, the 3rd woman overall. Aby was 27th. She was the youngest runner but did not receive an award because they did not have an age division for her. The age groups started at age 13 and they were a bit skewed compared to other races. My normal age group would be 35-39 or 30-39 if it’s a small race. However, my age group was 33-45 on Saturday.

The race was very family friendly and we took the entire family & a few extras! Aby, Michael & Jackie are below in the first photo. Me, Aby & Nicki & Michael are in the second photo. Aby & I were rocking our Team Tough Chik singlets although neither of us were feeling too tough after this race!

Out of the 68 finishers, there were lots of run/walkers, mom’s with jogging strollers, etc. We all came out to help raise money for our kids school district. I doubt we had many participants out of the district but this was about our kids and that’s why we at the start line.

My time wasn’t in the normal range, not even for a less than ideal day but I ran, and I finished in 26:41. Always consider a run and a finish a success because there are so many people who would love to be able to do what YOU do, each and every day. Try not to beat yourself up when you don’t perform as you want/expect. We are very fortunate for our health, ~~even with a few aches & pains,~~ and our desire to get out and be active, feel the wind in our hair and the sun on our faces!

The course was a bit shy of the 5K distance last year and I ran a 22:17….huge difference, I know, but we had two different days and two different courses. The 2011 race was cool, overcast and seemed to be the perfect race. I was feeling good and strong the entire time and I remember thinking the course was great. I think I was #6 overall last year, 2nd female and I won my age group.

This year it was hot, the course was slightly long (3.3 miles) and it seemed like we made a million turns. I felt lost in a town that I am in several times a day. I know it’s all perception but this was quite possibly the longest 5K ~~ever~~ both literally and figuratively. I also was having trouble and couldn’t get a full stretch on my stride. This started when I tripped over the crack in the sidewalk, see that recap HERE, and has progressed into something of its own. I feel as if I have bricks hanging off each side of my bum! When I stride out to run fast, it’s like my leg catches and its just too tight to hit full stride. How the heck do I explain that to the chiro? She’s gonna think I’m crazy!! So the fact that I was struggling physically quite possibly attributed to my less than ideal race. You can see in the photos that it doesn’t look as if I was picking my feet up at all. Going to talk to Ms. Alexis about this on Friday.

Aby was apparently having no trouble getting her feet off the ground. 🙂

There was 1 water stop at the half way point, volunteers or police at every turn, except the turn into/thru the Jr. High parking lot and park district area. We ran thru this area last year and we ran thru it again this year although I have no idea if this was part of the new route. If we had cut this area and ran straight into the water stop, I’m pretty sure that we would have been right on the 3.1 mark but we all did the same thing and ran the same route regardless of if it was right or wrong so that’s all that matters.

No chip timing and the start commenced by the sounding of a horn, which left us all looking around wondering if we should start…..which we eventually did take off. Kinda funny really. We received a nice technical tee that was a men’s size. There were lots of post race snacks/drinks and the awards were given out as soon as people realized they had won something. The race was overall much smoother than last year but I’m holding out for the 3rd time is the charm and hoping that the 2013 route will be more runner friendly, have fewer turns and is on the money distance wise. Not a bad race for ~~the price~~ it’s 2nd year but I know they will do better in the future.

After the race, hubby took us out on the boat ~~so we could lick our wounds~~ for some R&R! Yay, thanks honey! Aby and Michael love the boat and being on the water.

I am making an effort this year to cover up more and protect my ~~sunspots~~ face from the sun. I have always been a sunscreen nazi but am also going to try to wear a hat and glasses this year for added protection. I opted for the Ryder Shots sunglasses because of the photchromic property which lightens and darkens the shade of the lens to the conditions. I have been wearing these non-stop on the run and bike for over about a month so knew they were light weight and wouldn’t bother me and I was right, I didn’t have to take them off once the entire day. Big win for me! I think I’m going to add a pair of the polarized Ryders to my “collection” for our boat outings.

Did you race this weekend? How did you perform in the heat wave? Tell us how you did! Do you like to boat and spend time on the water or is it all pool time for you?

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Ryder Shot Eyewear Review

Posted on May 14, 2012 by tootallfritz

I was a lucky girl and put in some nice miles this weekend while still managing to have lots of fun! The weekend kicked off mid afternoon Friday with a 29 mile bike ride. This was an important ride because I ~~just had my bike readjusted and needed the mile~~s was testing a new pair of sunglasses, the Ryder Shot Photochromic, which had already passed the run test x10. I’ve been running in these glasses for almost a month and we all know from the I Wear My Sunglasses Almost Never post, sunglasses and I normally do not get along. I want to wear them, need them to protect my eyes but usually pitch them due to poor fit, lighting, or the irritation factor.

I have quite the collection of those which remain but never get worn:

Therefore, I didn’t want to be hasty on writing up a review on the Ryder Shot’s prior to really wearing them, thinking about the fit, coverage, functionality, and using them on both the run and the bike. As a triathlete, the sunglasses are one of the most important pieces of gear on the transition mat. They can make or break the bike/run legs if you don’t own a good pair that fit, perform well and protect your eyes.

First, how do they look? The most important aspect, right? Okay, not really but….

The above photo is not the best, it’s a direct result of Aby’s photo session at the bike shop on Thursday night, but it gave me giggles after a quick WTF moment of seeing the color “splashes”. The before/after photos below are a bit better. I’m a “little” disheveled “after” but still smiling! Yes, that is the Team Tough Chik bike jersey if you were wondering.

The Ryder Shot’s that I received are the photochromic type which retail for $69. I’m wearing the silver frame with light grey lenses. I probably wouldn’t have picked a silver frame myself, not that I don’t like it, I’m just very boring and tend to stick in the black/brown family. However, these look good and more importantly fit really well. They are not tight on my face but they hug and do NOT move.

The Ryder Shot Photochromic incorporates the photochromic technology that automatically lightens and darkens the tint of the lenses according to the weather and lighting conditions. For somebody like me, who ~~is blind~~ doesn’t see well, this is a huge selling factor because I can’t change my lenses while I’m on the road. I need the glasses to accommodate whatever the weather throws at me.

The Shot’s come in various colors and styles. The non-photochromic & non-polarized models start at $39, that’s a steal!

I also love the nose piece which is soft and rubbery but doesn’t get stuck in my hair. If I’m talking with someone or taking a photo, I tend to put the glasses in my hair. The nose piece can be a big issue if the rubber piece get stuck in my hair. That’s an immediate fail in my opinion but not an issue with the Ryder Shot’s. You can see in these photos from yesterday’s run at Schubert Woods with Cindy & the Pancakers that I have my glasses in my hair and it’s a win. It’s a win that they fit nicely on my face when I run, and a win that they don’t stick to my hair when they are resting for a photo op. 🙂

Initially, upon receipt of these glasses, I was planning to do a list of pros & cons. However, I have put this review off for this long because I can’t find any cons. I wanted to make sure that I was really behind these glasses for the long term before I actually recommend something. I didn’t buy these, ~~that’s a first,~~ so didn’t want to just get all crazy excited over some freebies before I really knew what I thought. I actually like them, really like them, and you will see me wearing them exclusively on the bike and run this season and for many more to come. Thanks, Ryder!

According to the Ryder website, these are one of our smallest, most lightweight models. A favorite amongst runners for its minimalist design. I absolutely agree that they are light and certainly not only “a” favorite of mine but the only pair I have used for the last month. They offer UV protection and are shatter proof. As a triathlete and cyclist, the shatter proof quality is a necessity because things happen and we crash. Although I have never crashed badly enough to crack my glasses, I have seen others who weren’t as lucky. Protective eyewear is not a luxury but a necessity.

Please find something to protect your eyes from the UV rays, rain/sleet, bugs and debris. I was wearing these on the bike on Friday and was amazed at the clarity. It was absolutely crystal clear that a yellow jacket would have flown into my right eye had it not bounced off my right lens instead. Scary. Protect your eyes!

If you are interested in Ryder products, check out the website HERE. The prices are very reasonable in comparison to other sport brands so enjoy the savings!

Happy Running, Riding and TRIing! ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Locked & Loaded….

Posted on April 28, 2012 by tootallfritz

I missed my 4am wake up call for the morning run due to a little man who was wide awake at 3:45. I struggled getting him back to sleep and that didn’t happen until almost 5. By then, I no longer had time to run, get home, shower, and get Aby to the bus for her track meet. So I “slept” in for another few minutes before the thunder and lightning started, then I was awake again counting my lucky stars that I wasn’t out there in the dark watching the lightning show on the road while finishing my run. Things really do happen for a reason, even when they seem to be a giant pain in your bum. 🙂

Aby’s track meet ended up canceling so I hauled my bum out the door for a run before life got in the way. The best advice I can give you when it comes to rainy, windy weather is to lock & load your hat!

By the time I got out the door, it was 44 degrees with a ~~big~~ nice wind and the rain was down to some drops and a bit of mist. I tried to convince myself to just get moving and I’d be fine but the wind took it to another level and I ran with my hands tucked into my sleeves 99% of the 10 miles.

The hat being locked & loaded help keep the wind from blowing my hair around, kept the rain out of my eyes and helped me keep my head down and focus on the task at hand. The hat I wore today was a Nike hat that I won from Pound to Miles. I have a couple Nike hats, an Athleta Hat, a Brooks Hat, one HeadSweats & one generic off brand. When the weather is bad, Aby & I fight over the Nike & Athleta hats. These hats lock & load on our heads the best and keep the weather out of our eyes. Here is a pick of Aby in our Athleta hat.

Bottom line, find a hat you like, that you can lock & load and force yourself out the door even when the weather is less than ideal. You’ll feel like a bad ass when you get home and I guarantee you’ll be happy that you went. Just don’t be stupid and go out in a storm when the lightning is raging but that goes without saying, right?

What is your favorite running hat?

Happy Running, Amanda – TooTallFritz

You Might Be Serious About Your Training IF…….

Posted on April 14, 2012 by tootallfritz

Some people call me motivated, others call me crazy. It really doesn’t matter as long as I am focused and moving toward my goals. I’d like to think that I am Making It Happen for me, not just out there day in and day out being “crazy”. In my quest to Make It Happen, I recently just got back to swimming HERE and onto the bike HERE in prep for my 2012 TRI season. One thing that I have realized over the last month, jumping back into TRI mode, is that I didn’t have all this ~~damn~~ hair the last time I had a SERIOUS TRI season. When I’m in transition, I don’t have an infinite amount of time to try to jam this mop under a bike helmet. Ponytails & bike helmets don’t mesh well. And I’ll just skip the details on trying to get a bunch of hair under a swim cap. OUCH!

So I pulled a pic of me in TRI season…..

Yep, it’s a ~~slightly~~ younger version of me and my baby girl, Aby (now 10) but obviously there wasn’t any trouble shoving that hair under a bike helmet. So the plan was to chop off my hair as soon as I could manage getting into a stylist amongst the family, training & Aby’s track schedule. I understand that I look more attractive with long hair that I can actually style but let’s be realistic, I have a two-year old and it’s been ~~since Christmas~~ a while since I styled my hair. Yes, it has actually occurred to me that you “might” be ~~crazy~~ serious about your TRI training IF you chop off all your hair to be faster in transition. Then vs Now:

Thank goodness I have lots of PunkeeLove Headbands now to use in my hair for fun & “styling”! If you need a few stylish, kick ass headbands, don’t forget to use the one time per customer code: tootall20 for an extra 20% off!

So now that I cut my hair, I thought it would be fun to do a You Might Be Serious About Your Training IF segment. I’ll start and then I’d love for you to add to this in the comments below!

You Might Be Serious About Your Training IF

You cut your hair to better fit under your bike helmet & swim cap.
You own a bike that cost more than some people’s car.
You carry your workout clothes in your car “just in case”.
You know exactly how many miles you have run this year and how that works into your 2012 goal.
You plan “A” races and “B” races (AKA – Practice Races).
You spend more $$ on training/workout clothes than you do on your work wardrobe.
You don’t mind having black toenails, you can cover them with dark polish, right?
You schedule your life around training runs, bike rides and swim workouts.
You get up before ~~your children~~ the sun on the weekends to get in some training before “life” gets in the way.
You gave up high heels in favor of running shoes to tame the plantar fasciitis.
You have dropped ~~all~~ most friends who don’t workout or run.
Your social life revolves around your running/TRI friends….. if you have enough energy for a social life.
You ~~make~~ beg your mother go on running vacations since your hubby refuses.
You adopt/buy a dog based upon whether they will be a good running partner.
You consider your GPS watch one of your most “precious” possessions.
You start a blog to talk to strangers about running to keep your hubby from being bored from all the “gory” details that you just need to share with “someone”.

How about you, can you add to this list? Please keep this going in the comments below!

Happy Training, Amanda – TooTallFritz

TooTallFritz

Running Toward: Health, Wellness & PEACE …………………………………….. Running From: Insanity, Screaming Children, Housework & a Big Ass

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