M.O.R.E.: The Skirt

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Skirt

Well I was brave today and finally wore my new running skirt, which my husband called a running "dress" when he saw me. I figured today would be a good day to give it a try since I knew it was only going to be me and Patty on the run from Heritage Park to Copperhill. We don't usually see a whole lot of people on that trail so it was a perfect opportunity for me to try it on and get Patty's opinion on it. She said she liked it, but I'm not sure if she would be totally honest with me if it looked stupid on me. The skirt does eliminate that bunching and riding up of your shorts, but one thing I noticed right away was that it is much hotter than a regular pair of running shorts. Unlike the running shorts, which are made of a much lighter fabric, the skirt is made up of two layers of that stretchy fabric, one for the skirt and one for the shorts underneath. It wasn't so bad that I won't wear them again, in fact I might buy another pair. The bottom line is that they are comfortable. The ones I bought don't have a draw string so it doesn't quite feel tight enough around the waist, but they never fell down so I guess they fit okay. They certainly didn't hamper my run today. Patty and I kept a brisk pace of 9.3 and talked the whole way there and back. I felt like we worked hard, but didn't kill ourselves either. Both of our legs were feeling pretty tired in the beginning, but they loosened up on the way back. I'm just glad we got it out of the way.

6 comments:

Patty said...: I loved the skirt, it was very flattering on you! I would like to get one, but the idea of it being hotter than shorts does not appeal to me during the summer months. I did not feel so good on our run today which always amazes me after we have been running so well lately. Glad it is not always as hard as it felt today, and hopefully it will be better next time. I am kind of sore tonight, :(; June 24, 2009 at 10:35 PM
marathon mom said...: Thanks for showing up. You must be really tired this week with the new work schedule. I'm impressed that you have the energy to run after getting up so early everyday. Our pace was a bit faster than what we've been running lately so that might be why it felt so hard tonight too. Just keep thinking 3 more weeks and then pretty soon it will be 2 more, then 1 more and then you'll be done!; June 24, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Claire said...: I saw a skirt for sale a few weeks ago but didn't end up buying it. Angela wears one and really likes it, and it looks very cute on her, so I might be convinced to try one myself. I also need to get one if I ever hope to participate in the "skirt chaser" 5K that they do nearby.

Your fast pace is very impressive! Now that I have the Garmin to tell me just how slow I am, I am in awe of the fast runs you all do. I think I managed to get down to about 9:45 for about 20 seconds today while running on a downward slope. Usually I'm lucky to be in the high 10 minute range!

Keep up all the good work, it is so wonderful reading about your runs-not only am I inspired by them, but I don't feel quite so far away.; June 25, 2009 at 7:40 AM
Picture Lady said...: I saw those running skirts, not so different from a tennis skirt. I usually wear the "stretchy fabric" tight shorts/Capri's to run (my yoga clothes). But recently wore an old pair of my son's loose running shorts on Wednesday. Running shorts ARE cooler! I always wore the "stretchy fabric" TO COVER - UP A BIT ... But, now smaller, I am less self conscious and had a good run on Wednesday.; June 25, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Patty said...: Style-wise the running skirt is a hit, Marathon Mom looked really cute in hers. I am going to have to get one, but I am afraid of the attention I may get from the hubby. A woman exercising in a skirt would probably be a dream come true. I am not going to tell him about the race that some crazy women do in high heels!; June 25, 2009 at 12:24 PM
marathon mom said...: I think the apprehension I have with the skirt is the look I might get from people not familiar with it. I could tell by the look on some people we ran by what they were thinking; "Why is she running in a skirt?"; June 25, 2009 at 1:18 PM

Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.