My feature with OLD NAVY active gear and what inspires YOU in 2017!!

***Old Navy is featuring me this month as a leader in active living and inspiration for staying active this New Year!  You can see all of the photos HERE!!! I have been so excited to tell you about this!***

I’ve got a few stories to share with you today along with my favorite pieces from the Old Navy active line that keep me dry, warm and beyond comfortable. Everything in their active line is SO cute, which keeps me motivated, and is always a super great deal! Old Navy active gear is absolutely perfect for everything from running to stretching to strength training.  This post is sponsored by Old Navy.

It is 2017 (I swear we were celebrating y2k not that long ago and somehow we are in 2017?).  The start of a new year always has me thinking a lot about different things that are important to me in my life.  My relationships, my core beliefs and values, where I am in life and where I would like to go and of course, running.

Running has been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember.  I have memories of watching the Price Is Right when I was just a little girl next to my mom on the treadmill doing her 3 mile run/walk each morning.  My older brother was a big time cross country runner.  I would ride my bike with him for some of his workouts when I was eight.  I thought it was pretty cool that I could keep up with him during some of his fast intervals on the running trails;)  A few years later I would go out with my sister for her evening runs (because there is safety in numbers) and those twenty sevenish minutes together out on our 3 mile loop meant the world to me.  Those runs brought me confidence and I learned how good it felt to move my body and sweat.

(Pictured above:  Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Mesh Running Tights, Go-Dry Performance 1/4 Zip Pullover and Go-Dry Racerback Medium Support Sports Bra)

Over the years running has played many different roles depending on where I am at in my life.  My mom reminded me last week about my need/love/craving for running when I was a senior in high school.  At that time my mom had been in Florida for a very long time because one of my brothers was living there and struggling with the disease Guillain-Barre (when your body’s immune system attacks your nerves… it is a miracle he survived).  My brother was in the hospital for months and she was there helping him, his wife and baby.  I called her one day sobbing because my foot was hurting too bad to continue running each week and I needed a solution.  Even as a senior in high school I needed running to help me to deal with being worried sick about my brother, my mom being gone for so long and who knows what sort of high school drama that was going on at the time.  Running has always been one of my favorite stress relievers from the time I was a teenager until now.

Running has been the constant when everything else in my life is changing, my favorite way to let out my competitive side and my best time to pray or cry or do both at the same time.  Running brought me some of my best friends and that me-time that has helped me to be a better mom (and wife now:).  It has helped me cope and problem solve.  Running has given me something to keep working towards, progressing and a way to set and accomplish goals throughout my entire life.  Running has been that thing that brings me gratitude, hope, peace and it is that thing that shows me my strength.

I love thinking about what role running plays for me in the present.  What is it that inspires me in 2017 to run?

I think at this point the thing that inspires me daily to run is knowing that I will always come home from a run feeling better mentally and physically. Knowing that the the rest of my day will go much smoother, that I’ll have more energy and definitely more patience if I run.  I love those post run endorphins that start kicking in after the first few (hard:) miles and running towards those inspires me to run at this point in my life.

(Pictured above: Go-Dry High-Rise Color-Block Compression Tights, Go-Dry Tech-Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie, and Go-Dry Medium-Support Long-Line Sports Bra)

Training for those races I have my eye on helps get me out on the days that I would rather stay in bed.  Attaining those micro-goals that I set for myself, whether it’s hitting my next tempo run or signing up for a 5k (ahhh), they inspire me during this stage of my life.  Most definitely I want to be the best example to Brooke and Knox by taking care of myself and my health!  Those little faces inspire me to be active.

I would really love to hear about what inspires you to be active at this point in your life!

We are in the ‘freezing cold’ portion of the year for the next few months and the thing that really helps motivate me to continue running is wearing the right gear.  Pieces of clothing that keep me warm (being cold is my least favorite thing—>  just ask Andrew), dry and that allow me flexibility with my movement are key for me.

(Above active gear that I could wear all day long: Go-Dry Tech-Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie (the softest jacket you will ever have), Go-Dry Mid-Rise Compression Leggings for Women, Go-Dry Racerback Medium Support Sports Bra (Run Rest Repeat), and Go-Dry V-Back, Tee for Women)

Wearing the right thing during a workout makes A WORLD of difference to me.  I literally can’t stop thinking about a piece of clothing during a run that rubs me wrong or doesn’t fit right so finding pieces that feel amazing on me while I am active, makes me incredibly happy.  I think it does for the kids too:)

Old Navy active gear has the CUTEST things but as we all know function is HUGE for running and that is what is amazing about these pieces I am showing you today!  I don’t know about you but when I am low on motivation or needing some help to get out the door, new running clothes always helps!

The kid’s active gear is beyond amazing too.

(The kids are wearing—>  Brooke:  Full-Zip Performance Running Vest, Go-Dry Reflective 1/4-Zip Pullover, Go-Dry Reflective Leggings. Knox: Go-Dry Full-Zip Jacket, Go-Dry Tech-Fleece Pants, Fitted Base Layer Shirt)

Brooke was pretty happy to have thumbholes in her jacket for her first time ever.  Thumbholes just make me happy and strangely enough, they make a 4 year old happy too.

Let’s talk about a few of my favorite pieces from the Old Navy active gear!  Clothing that you can run in, play with the kids in, live in, be comfortable in and be active in = my favorite type of clothing.

A little bit about the different Old Navy Technology I’m showing you today:

Go-Dry=  Sweat without wet

Go-Warm:  Bring the heat, no matter the weather!

The Go-Dry Tech-Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie is the softest jacket (the fleece lining is amazing) ever.  I love the length of it especially.  The sleeves were long enough (with thumbholes) and it is long enough that it goes a little bit over my hips (my favorite).  The fleece on the hoodie will keep you so warm during these winter months.  I love the grey with the color-blocked panels in the Go-Dry High-Rise Color-Block Compression Tights.  The compression tights will keep you chafe-free, dry and beyond comfortable especially with the thick waistband!   These tights also come in Icy Aqua which I love!  The Go-Dry Medium-Support Long-Line Sports Bra is amazing and so adorable.  The sports bra is longer with mesh panels in the front and back to create a breathable sports bra.  The bra has molded cups with built-in padding (yay) and I love the pattern.

The Go-Dry V-Back Tee for Women has quickly turned into my favorite top to wear this winter.  I can wear it for strength workouts, stretching workings and as an awesome base layer under a coat during my winter runs.  It is so soft you will not want to take it off.  I absolutely love the back detail of this top.  Get it now.. oh and it also has those thumbholes we all love.  The  Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Lattice-Work Yoga Tights for Women are perfect for your next yoga session.  The Lattice-work detail on the outer calf is so cute and the material is so soft and also moisture wicking.

Below I have the Go-Dry Mid-Rise Compression Leggings, Go-Dry Tech-Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie in fuchsia along with the Go-Dry V-Back Tee for Women and Go-Dry Racerback Medium Support Sports Bra—> Run Rest Repeat.  

The leggings have the most amazing diagonal mesh panels along the legs to add some breathability and detail to your tights!  The leggings are moisture wicking.  I love running in these leggings… and wearing them all around;) 

A few more pieces I wanted to tell you about:

*I am also LOVING this Go-Dry Funnel-Neck Pullover for winter running.  It is the PERFECT base layer for your winter runs and great solo for your spring runs up ahead.  I love the bright color (Red It Neon is what I have), the hood and the smooth go-warm technology that keeps you warm!

*These Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Fitted Running Tights are so beyond comfortable. I love the thick waistband and of course what it says (Run Rest Repeat) on the side of the lower leg is perfect for us.   There is a zippered pocket on the back at the waist for some things you need during your run.

*Go-Dry Performance 1/4 Zip Pullover (this is Andrew’s favorite) that makes the perfect base layer for the really cold days or wear all on it’s own for the not so cold days.  It fits so well, has thumb holes and the mock-turtleneck collar is perfect to run in this time of year.

There ya have it folks!! We are all ready to keep running this winter now!

Runners don’t hibernate so prepare yourself well with these awesome active gear items from Old Navy to keep enjoying those runs of yours!

Yes, they are more flexible than I am but I’m working on it!

If I have one tip for us this year for our running in 2017 it would be to focus on where we are IN THE MOMENT!  Whether we are doubting ourselves about being able to finish our speed workout or comparing ourselves to other runners online or our old selves… this is the year to quit that:)  We can stop the comparison and self-doubt and focus on where we are in the moment.  We can be our biggest cheerleader, celebrating those mini goals and focusing on the great things WE are doing now.  We are doing the best we can, whether that is a few miles a week because work is crazy right now, or recovering from an injury and strength work is our best friend.  We can be in the best shape of our life or building back up to race again.  There is a time and a season for everything.  We can work our hardest towards our goals in this season of life.  Whenever I start comparing myself or thinking about how there is no way I will be able to finish a workout, I automatically slow down.  When I spend my brain power cheering myself on, focusing on my goals and staying in the present, I have some of my very best runs.

A list of my favorites all in one place so you don’t have to scroll through post again to find the links (PS they are having a HUGE SALE right now on their active gear):

Go-Dry Funnel-Neck Pullover

Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Fitted Running Tights

Go-Dry Performance 1/4 Zip Pullover

Go-Dry Racerback Medium Support Sports Bra—> Run Rest Repeat

Go-Dry V-Back Tee for Women

Go-Dry Tech-Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie

Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Lattice-Work Yoga Tights for Women

Go-Dry High-Rise Color-Block Compression Tights

Go-Dry Medium-Support Long-Line Sports Bra

Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Fitted Running Tights

Go-Dry Cool Mid-Rise Mesh Running Tights

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What inspires you to get out the door for a run?  How has this changed from previous years?

What would be your biggest running tip to share with us for 2017!  I love learning and growing from YOU!

Do you wear a lot of colors when you work out or do you stick to black/greys etc?

What is one thing you could NOT RUN WITHOUT (other than clothes/shoes)… music, your gps watch, your chapstick, your best running friend, water bottle?  What is it?