Favorite Gear #Giveaway – Fitness Skort, Run Shirt & Fuel Belt

SAMSUNGMy running swag runneth over and I would like to share some of it with you! There’s nothing like slaying a workout wearing a new piece of fabulous fitness clothing, that’s true for me anyway. I always seem to feel stronger, faster and more motivated when I have a fun, functional and good-fitting outfit on – this may explain why I can’t close the drawers on my dresser!  I’m giving away a few piece of great fitness gear that were given to me, but I just can’t wear for one reason or another. I would LOVE for you to LOVE one of these brands as much as I do. Everything is new, with tags, etc. and so on. Enter for one piece or all of them, just know that I only have the sizes shown (Smalls and a one-size-fits-most) and it is shipping directly from me, so there’s no negotiating on the size. Really sorry that I don’t have a more diverse selection, but it is what it is.  Oh, and by the way, all three pieces look cute together – so if you’re a size Small or have a friend who is, enter for everything! Just add some running shoes, and you’re ready to rock the next race in style!

yellowman ymx tribal running skirt

First up for grabs is a Green Tribal-print Athletic Skort from YMX by Yellowman. I really love this skirt. First, the bold, unique print is sure to get you loads of compliments and, secondly, it’s marvelously flattering and modest enough to wear when you have a workout followed by errands. No one wants to see me in the grocery store reaching for cereal off the bottom shelf wearing my super-tiny running shorts. Here I am rockin’ my YMX skort:

SAMSUNG

Here’s the description for the skort from YMX by Yellowman:

“This green tribal-print athletic skort combines the appearance of a skirt with an attached short lining. Features gusset to promote full motion, and a 1 1/4 comfort waistband. Perfect for running, hiking, walking, fitness and workout.”

Please note, I only have size Small – which I would guess, from the looks of it, fits a size 6 – 8.  For a point of reference, I have this skirt in a XS which seems to fit a 2-4. Whoever wins this can be twinsies with me!

mizuno inspire tee light grey

Second up for grabs is a women’s Inspire Tee in grey by Mizuno Running. Features Mizuno DryLite™ moisture management technology to keep your body dry so that you can enjoy running in comfort and style.  Other features include anti-abrasion labeling (also good thing in sweaty weather) and and V-neck.  This photo makes it look like a tight compression shirt; however, it’s not — although it does have a shaped, figure-flattering cut (not super loose and boxy).

Please note, I only have size Small in this shirt.  I have several running shirts in this exact style and size and I feel like it runs a little small to size. But, then again I have medium-ish shoulders.

fuel belt

Third for the taking is a Fuel Belt brand Super-stretch Waist Pack in black.  I don’t see a size on the package, pretty sure it is one-size-fits-most. Package says “lightweight, fully-adjustable stretch mesh pocket.”  The zippered pocket looks plenty big to carry along snacks, gels, salt pills or whatever else you need on a run.

If you’d like to enter, just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter app below:

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A Day in the Life of my Running Skirt: YMX #LifeArtSport

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - wearYMXWhen I wake up in the morning, I almost always get dressed for the day in my workout clothes. Not because I’m an early-bird exerciser; it most definitely takes me several hours to get into that zone. And, it’s not because I’m lazy or like stretchable waistbands (okay, well maybe a little). But, it’s because I am a busy mom to three boys enrolled in three different schools with a gazillion extra-curricular activities, I never know exactly when and how I’m going to fit my running and workouts in. I just know I WILL get it done, somehow, somewhere.  And, that means being geared up appropriately to take advantage of “found” time for fitness, whether it is knocking off a hundred burpees while waiting for band practice to let out or working in a tempo run between the last carpool drop-off and dinner-making duty. Thank goodness, I set the dress code since I work for myself.

Unless it’s freezing outside (a rarity in Texas), my favorite “at-the-ready” look is a running skirt. I started wearing fitness skirts about four years ago when they were first starting to trend for runners. I remember thinking it was about time the convenience, cuteness and coverage of a sporty skirt branched out to some of us other athletes who lead hectic lives — not just the tennis girls. A good fitness or running skirt will take you from the trail to a teacher’s conference, speed workout to the supermarket, or a weight workout to a relaxing lunch with friends. The cut of most athletic skirts flatter the figure and cover all the jiggly bits. That means less worrying about (likely non-exercising) onlookers gawking at your skimpy shorts or skin-tight tights as you race through the checkout line with a bunch of bananas.

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - ymx collage

Even the weekends are busy; check out what my running skirt did this Saturday!

  1. 7 am: Drive a kid to catch a bus for a school trip.
  2. 9 am: Visit Fit and Fearless CrossFit for a WOD of sit-up/stand-ups, pull-ups, rowing, and kettle bells.
  3. 11 am: Cheer on a son’s flag-football game and listen to the post-game play-by-play.
  4. Noon: Sneak in a smoothie and some blogging time.
  5. 1 pm: Shop for groceries and potted plants.
  6. 3 pm: More sports! Help son warm up for soccer game.
  7. 7 pm: Guess who’s making dinner?
  8. 9 pm: So done with the day!

So, this weekend I wore the Infinite Tribal Wrap Skort in green form YMX by Yellowman. It looks like a skirt, but with a hidden attached short lining. This means I am free to hang off the monkey bars or do cartwheels as I please! The super-soft, featherweight fabric has a UPF of 30+ and wicks away moisture, dries quickly, and is odor-resistant – so nice for us sweaty girls who probably won’t see a shower until the sun sets. Another thing I love is that this particular running skirt is in no way generic. It echoes the unique, artsy flavor of the entire line of YMX by Yellowman; their designs are beautiful and definitely not boring. A bit like myself, I must say (Okay, if you can’t love yourself, who will?) I will note that the skirt seems a little big for a size Small, but that’s definitely better that the alternative! Plus, the skirt falls mid-thigh, measuring 15.5 inches from waist to hem. The longer length is perfect for multi-purpose wear, but if you don’t like so much fabric on your legs when you run, check out their Infinite Tribal Racing Short – haven’t tried these yet, but they look awesome!

lifeartsport ymx thefitfork jennifer fisher

I also love this sweet tank, the silvery color and silky performance fabric definitely put some polish into my workout routine!  Check out the Elemental Flower Scoop Neck Tank.

YMX by Yellowman provided me with products to wear and review at my discretion. I was in no other way compensated for my time and viewpoints. The opinions shared within this post 100-percent my own and not influenced in anyway YMX by Yellowman. 

Sparkle for Fun, Sparkle for Fast! Win a Sparkle Skirt for Running

Confession: Before this summer, I would have bet you my last fun-sized bag of M&Ms that I would never be caught dead in a tutu, sequined skirt, or some other such nonsense.  But then it happened.  When out running the Hood to Coast Relay in Oregon this summer, the peer-pressure got to this one-woman wolf pack and I put on a sparkle skirt just to get a van full of giddy, girly-girls off my back. But let me tell you, a few strides into my run, I felt completely altered, like a different runner altogether . . . I was off my game, but in a good way!

With each rebound from the asphalt, my sparkle skirt gave a sassy little sway, as if to say “you don’t have to take this so seriously.”   I listened to my heart even more as the sun’s glint off the sequins created a flattering, soft-halo effect around my body. In this warm, fuzzy state, my heart was telling me that I am allowed to run just for fun, I don’t have to be that super-racer girl that I seem to so sadistically project onto myself.  I did run for fun, and it was wonderful.

Fast forward a couple months to a local 5k that called for a superhero costume. Everyone and their dog (literally) would be in a costume, except for a dozen or so hard-core runners up front vying for the win. Well, I dusted off that sparkle skirt and gave it another chance to make me feel good. This time the mission was to run for fun AND to win – could it be done?  Sure, it’s one thing to pass a few guys wearing the sparkle skirt (awesome), but to flat out cross the finish line as the first woman in a sparkle skirt, that’s an entirely different kind of cool.

I slipped into the light-as-a-feather sparkle skirt and threw a cape over my shoulders – when the gun went off, I hauled my bedazzled buns faster than a buttered bullet and DID break through that winner’s ribbon. Was I thinking about rainbows and unicorns while I ran? No.  Honestly, the race hurt like heck, but sometimes running does that. Now my new mindset exclaims, “why not hurt in a cute sparkle skirt?” Blood, sweat and sparkles, it’s the best of both worlds.

I’d love for one of you guys to have your very own sparkle skirt and wear it for whatever crazy reasons you desire. The fun and feisty ladies at Team-Sparkle.com have generously offered to let me give a sparkle skirt away in the color of the winner’s choice.  Check out their website, not only do they have sparkle skirts but lots of other fun stuff including racing wings, sparkle sleeves, visors, and more!  To enter, fill out the rafflecopter information below by Monday, November 26th.

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