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My Favorite Summer Running Outfit

If you follow me on Instagram Stories, then you may already know that I’ve been wearing a few items on almost EVERY run. In fact, I love these pieces so much that I ordered a second pair of each item.  These items have me feeling confident and comfortable during my runs and have worked well on every style of run – tempo, long, sprints, or conversational. They’ve allowed me to log miles in the rain, sticky heat and perfect days in between without any chafing or feeling like the material is hanging off my body. I remember, back in the day, when I ran in Nike Tempo shorts, that I would worry that the moisture would weigh them down so much that they would fall down. Or, that unfortunate under arm or inner thigh chafing that I thought was “common” during humid and hot running.

Nope. 

This gear has me jumping out of bed and excited to run even when it’s 4:55 AM. Today this gear helped me log 3 miles and then head to the Pilates studio for a challenging 60-minute tower class. While I may not have smelled very good by the end of the 90-minute workout, I was comfortable.

  • Visor – Since having Katie, I rarely go out for a run or outdoor workout without a hat or visor as my melasma seems to flare after even just short exposure to the sun. This bright, lightweight Brooks Run Happy visor is a fun way to block the sun, keep my hair out of my face and spread the Run Happy vibes.  It’s easily adjustable thanks to a velcro back closure and the sweat-wicking material ensures that I’m not wasting energy or time wiping sweat out of my face during my workout.
  • Sports Bra – The Brooks Uprise Crossback sports bra has quickly become my favorite sports bra. It is a medium impact bra that keeps me supported during even the toughest of workouts without being complicated. Since I’m a B cup I don’t need much but this one delivers beyond my expectations thanks to the breathable cups, shape and support from molded cups, and comfort due to the soft material. I also love that the pads aren’t constantly coming out in the wash since this bra has molded cups versus removable pads. It is currently on sale for $26 on Brooks and Nordstrom Rack.
  • Tank – The Brooks Ritual Tank is loose, breathable and bright. The flattering tank includes a mesh back that allows for air flow while the broad arm openings minimize chafing. I love that it’s available in multiple bright color combinations, including the blue and teal that I’m wearing in these photos. It’s on sale on Zappos and Brooks so be sure to snag it before it sells out! It runs a bit large, as I am wearing the medium and typically wear a large in most Brooks tops.
  • Shorts – Okay, I still can’t believe that the Brooks Greenlight 7″ Short Tight is my new favorite running short. I thought after years of running marathons in super-tight CW-X compression shorts, I’d given up on this style of short but Charlie and Zoe convinced me to give them a try. I figured they’d be unflattering due to the fitted nature but instead, they are the opposite. The wide waistband, smooth design and supportive material holds everything in while still being breathable. There are two pockets that easily fit keys, cash or credit cards as well. You can find these at Zappos and Brooks. While they aren’t on sale, they are well worth the $46.

All pictures are Anna Rachel Photography 

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Running Into Spring With Brooks

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Guys I have a thing for neon this season and I’m 100% okay with it. Every workout and running outfit I’ve worn lately has had at least a few pops of neon. When the 5:15 alarm goes off each morning there are only two things that help me wake up – coffee and neon. Bright pops of color make me smile as I trudge out the door for a workout and luckily the gang at Brooks fully support my plan to wear at least one piece of neon gear for every workout!

Two months ago, the team at Brooks Running reached out to me, inviting me to join their Brooks Run Happy Ambassador program. Since I actually wore brooks from 2008-2011, I was already familiar with the brand but before agreeing to join, I asked for a few samples of their latest gear to ensure that their gear and shoes would be something I could feel confident wearing for training runs and races alike.

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As soon as I slid my foot into the new shoes, it was love! I’m still in shock that Brooks is interested in having me, a 2-hour half marathon runner, as part of their ten person Run Happy Ambassador program but I couldn’t be more excited! The other ambassadors are familiar faces you may recognize – Meghann, Tina, Anne, Emily, Janae, Jessica, Dorothy, Kristen, and Lora. The other night I joined the other ladies for my first official event, a gear gab chatting all things running gear!

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Today I wanted to share with you my four favorite pieces of gear I’ve tried this Spring. If you follow me on Instagram, they won’t be a surprise as they’ve been in almost every running or workout picture recently.

I’ve worn the Brooks Women’s LSD Running Jacket for races and training runs alike over the past few weeks and have fallen in love with this lightweight running jacket. It is windproof and water-resistant but the two features I really love is the fact that it’s reflective for those early or late runs and it packs into itself so if you get to hot you can easily carry it! Many running jackets cost over $100 but this one is on sale for $47!

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The Brooks Women’s Neuro Running Shoe doesn’t necessarily look like a running shoe made for speed, with the wide size and crazy pods on the bottom but this shoe helped me achieve some great speeds during NYRR speed workouts last month. The performance-enhancing shoes have a neutral fit but the pods help give you energy back every time your heel and foot hit the ground. They only weigh 7.9 ounces, making them lightweight versus my other running shoes but the sole still provides enough support for my high arches. I will say, after the first run in these shoes I wasn’t sold as they felt so different than my other running shoes. But, by the third wear I was a fan and have now worn them for at least two runs each week, typically five miles or less.

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As my travels have taken me to warmer weather, I’ve fallen in love with the lightweight Brooks Ghost Racerback Running Shirt. This ultra-lightweight tank is so light I barely feel it when running or working out. The loose cut allows me to move freely through yoga poses or runs.  It is available in five colors including the one I’m wearing below and hot pink, which I just ordered. Even during last week’s hot yoga class the material wicked the sweat away so I stayed cool and comfortable! I can already tell that I’ll be living in this tank during this Summer!
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Last but not least, the Brooks Launch 3 have become my mid to long distance running shoes over the past two months. This neutral running shoe provides the perfect combination of comfort and support for those longer runs while also having a unique midfoot transition zone, which looks like an X, allowing for faster heel-to-toe transition during runs. Available in eight colors, I personally love the hot pink and blue pair which I’m wearing in the pictures.

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So there you have it guys – these are my four favorite pieces of Brooks running gear this season. As always, I’ll keep my reviews honest with you all as I know that not everything I order or receive as part of this partnership will be a perfect fit.

What is your favorite piece of running gear right now? 

I received this gear either at a discount or complimentary as part of my Brooks Run Happy ambassador partnership. 

The top images were shot by the lovely and talented Lydia Hudgens.

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Friday Favorites – All Things Running

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Last night, while finishing my speed intervals, I realized that I have lots of running related things to share with you guys. Therefore, I figured it’d be a fun twist to focus this week’s Friday Favorites on just that – all things running! I hope you guys enjoy!

Something to Think About

Jess recent blog post resonates with me as this is a hard thing to realize for so many of us. Are you willing to give 100% to achieve your running goals?

Inspiration in the form of Boston Marathon

Having a hard time finding inspiration for this weekend’s workouts? This incredible runner has muscular dystrophy and STILL finished the Boston Marathon!

Tina threw down negatives splits for each of the 26.2 miles AND improved her marathon time by 11 minutes!

Sarah earned her sub 4 goal with lots of mantras and positive thoughts, even when the going got tough!

Janae ran an incredible 3:12 marathon, just a year after injury!

Michele set a new PR after six years of training and heartbreak. Her recap gave me chills and I couldn’t happier for her!

Dani may not have set a new PR, but I love her honest thoughts on this year’s 4:12 marathon, which is still more than an hour and a half improvement from her first marathon!

Rachel summarized Boston as not her fastest but definitely the most memorable. That in itself is reason enough for me to have Boston on my list of races I hope to run eventually!

This father of 2 led the Boston Marathon during the first mile!

Recovery

Are you spending enough time with your foam roller? This quick video will help you get familiar with the best foam rolling moves for runners.

Add a scoop of protein powder to this delicious Orange Julius recipe and you have the perfect summer recovery smoothie!

Gear

As part of the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon ambassadorship, the gang at New Balance provided each of us with training gear. In addition to the gear they gave to us, I bought some additional pieces during the New Balance Fashion Fitness Expo.

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Over the past month, I’ve practically lived in much of this gear! These pieces, especially the tank and shoes, have become my go to gear for just about any activity outside of work. I wanted to provide you with a quick review of my favorite pieces.

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New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay – These shoes are lightweight while still providing wonderful cushion and support, thanks to the foam sole.  The line features vibrant colors, such as the blue and yellow ones I chose. Due to their lighter weight, I prefer them for shorter runs and speed workouts versus my Mizuno Wave Riders. I am still not accustomed to running longer distances in them, as I find my calves and legs feel the runs more the next day.  However, the more I run in them, the more I grow accustomed to the responsive shoe. We’ll see how things go, but this shoe may quickly become my shoe of choice for all distances! 

New Balance Ice Short Sleeve Shirt – The technology New Balance uses in their Ice line continues to amaze me. As you all know, I sweat A LOT! Any shirt that can keep me cool and comfortable during an afternoon workout is a win in my book. The dark blue color hides my sweat while the loose cut ensures that there is no chafing or sticky mess.

New Balance Impact 3” Short – (similar ones on super sale here and here) – The last thing I want while running is a short that hikes up, gets stuck in awkward places, or moves around. Instead, I typically order shorts a size larger so they are loose and airy. These shorts combine loose leg openings with a wide, comfortable waist band which means there is zero tugging during workouts. Even though they were brand new, I wore these during the half and immediately fell in love! The pocket is large enough to hold fuel and the wide leg openings kept things fresh and ventilated.

New Balance Ice Graphic Tank – This tank uses the same Ice technology so I am cool and dry, even during the toughest workouts like 1Rebel. It is so light that I forget I’m wearing it!  The comfortable material is loose enough that it doesn’t stick or chafe, while the bright color is feminine and flattering.

What running gear are you loving right now?

Friday Favorite posts sometime include a few affiliate links.

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