Mauna Lani Smashfest

Since we are en route to my favorite train-cation spot, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, I’ve been thinking back on some of my favorite training sessions that I’ve done there . . . See, this year after Honu 70.3 on Saturday, I have to take a week off the legs to see if we can kick this “situation” once and for all. The situation is mostly under control; but as it is not 100% and this is the one thing we couldn’t really afford to try in the midst of all of my races of late, next week will be the perfect time for it.

Hawaii is not a bad place to be limited to swimming-only for a few days. But I will miss doing some of my fave training sessions while I’m at the Mauna Lani. Last time I was there was in October to support Maiki for the ironman; because I wasn’t racing, I had a full training load. I had just started training with Coach and getting back to “more is more” after the year that I had had was a (welcome) shock to the system.

I remember one Tuesday evening I had a long set of 200-meter repeats that I ended up doing on the treadmill at the Mauna Lani Spa. It was my fourth session of the day and with the early darkness there, the treadmill was a very convenient option. I remember being very glad that it was just Matt Lieto, Bree , Mauna Lani PR queen and our fearless team leader, and a couple other people in that gym at the time because sweat was flying everywhere and the dying animal noises were in full effect. I loved it, but it might have been alarming for the witnesses.

Fast forward a few months and I receive an email from a lovely woman who has started a tennis clothing company, 10US, with her daughter; she thinks the skirts would be great for runners too and wants to know if I would like to try one. She says that she and her husband were on vacation at the Mauna Lani last October and that he “had never seen someone burn up a treadmill” like I did. Ha.

And I guess that solved the mystery of what other poor soul was forced to spectate that Tuesday-night smashfest. Small world, huh?!

Sooooo I received this awesome skirt in the mail, and I must say that it is super cute and just as great for running as it probably is for tennis.

Highlights:

Color: I love me some all-white, even though I will inevitably stain this thing within a few wearings. I just think it is perfect for summer with a tan! The skirt also comes in black and has many crystal color options.

Sparkles: Always a highiight. Those are real Swarovski crystals.

Length: I feel like the majority of the running skirts I try are too long for my taste. Maybe because this one was initially created for tennis, I found the length much more ideal.

Length of the shorts: Once I started running, they were booty-short length (and stayed there), which I prefer.

Lowlights:

My thighs: The first time I wore the skirt, I suffered some pretty legit inner-thigh chafing—not from the skirt, but from my thighs rubbing together! Just an FYI so you remember to wear BodyGlide the first time out if you happen not to have twig-legs.

The price: At $90, these skirts are a bit more pricey than the average run skirt. However, my basic feeling on expensive workout gear is that I spend more time in this stuff than I would in a fancy dress, so it’s worth it for something good!

Ordering notes:

You can check out the 10US site and order here at www.10-us.net.

I am wearing a size M and I’m about 5’9 / 140 lbs.