What’s Hot This Spring at New Balance In SportChek

April 19, 2017April 17, 2017Leave a comment

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of traveling across Canada with New Balance Canada as a blogger stylist as part of my ambassador role as they celebrate the launch thier new Flex Space with SportChek. This Flex Space is an enhanced women’s only area in 18 SportChek stores across Canada connecting to the metropolitan women and consisting of not only technical fitness gear but also attire that will get you to and from your workout in style. It’s a stylish collection that’s designed by athletes but made for everyone.

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What I love about this Spring collection is that it really does take New Balance’s fitness attire to the next level, launching with some of the hottest trends this season – mesh, high waist bands, and white!

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So far I’ve had the pleasure of educating and styling Amanda Phuong from Style Democracy, and Bloggers Bonnie Lang from Bonnie Lang Fitness and Rachel Antony from Frankly Ray.

Meeting these ladies, investigating how the sweat, and styling them with the perfect New Balance outfit from SportChek for their lifestyle needs was a dream and really confirmed my passion for athletic wear fashion and styling.

Here are a few pieces I pulled together from SportChek that these bloggers absolutely loved and I’m sure you will too. (Also these three together would be a super cute outfit – so go get it!)

NB Pulse Bra

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The NB Pulse bra offers a unity of support and style. Its T back features attractive lines that manage weight distribution to help keep everything in place, aided by removable pads for modesty and shaping. The NB Pulse Bra also displays a flying NB graphic which means this sports bra looks great if you want to remove an outer layer during your next spin class.

$54.99

Elixir Tight

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The Elixir Tight has very quickly become my favourite New Balance tight for both yoga and every day wear. This tight features adaptive stretch fabric and an on trend high-rise waist band made for stylish movement. It contains a mesh trim at the hem towards the knee offering the ultimate in studio style, while the second-skin fit moves with you.

$89.99 (At time of publishing these pants are on sale for $67.49)

Fresh Foam Zante v3

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The Fresh Foam Zante have become one of my go-to running shoes as I’ve trained and raced two marathons in them and just love the light weight feel and Fresh Foam cushioning. Built for high speeds, the Fresh Foam Zante v3 women’s lightweight running shoe features an aggressive toe spring and a comfortable no-sew material application for a sleek fit. Taking inspiration from iconic ‘70s and ‘80s models, the sleek profile on this render lends a modern look that leads the style pack.

$139.99

Wild About It: Speedo Silicone Cap

June 22, 2016July 4, 2016Leave a comment

Last weekend I did my first open water swim of the season. While getting ready to hit the lake I was chatting about gear with the gals and began gushing over my cap – if you follow me on Instagram I’m sure you’ve see my cat cap (pictured below) – but it wasn’t just the print – the texture and feel is what really gets me. If you don’t know the different between a silicone and latex cap – please read on!

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For many years I happily trained for triathlon in my previous races latex swim caps. Each race provides a cap to distinguish the wave of start for the swim (and also promote their race/sponsor). I was very happy wearing these cheap latex swim caps (and was even protective of my Muskoka IM70.3 cap), I didn’t know any different, and really thought all caps were the same – until last December when Speedo USA gifted me a promo code to invest in new gear for my upcoming season.

I had never purchased a swim cap (always used race caps) so it wasn’t even on my radar that there was a difference until I saw these epic prints while deciding what to buy with my code and for the look, scooped a couple up.

When these caps arrived, and I began training in them, they have 100% changed my perspective on caps and I will NEVER train in a latex cap again.

Here’s why:

The Soft Silicone and Mico-Grid texture won’t snag or pull hair – I swear! and they do too! My hair is certainly the longest it’s ever been for a training cycle and I often put it in a bun then use this cap and the fit is great and I can seriously just pull it off my head without worrying about snags or pulls. These caps are often good for medium to long hair.
The super soft silicone offers a relaxed fit, compared to my experience with super tight latex, that helps to prevent headaches over longer duration swims. It undoubtedly stays put on your head, but isn’t squeezing your brain in the most uncomfortable way.
Silicone caps offer greater elasticity and increased stretch compared traditional performance caps. Great for people with big heads, big hair, or just easy of putting on and taking off – again – no more snags!
It’s not latex. Latex caps are typically thin and don’t last long ripping very easily. They often come in only one colour (boring!) and can sometimes smell because of the rubber material. Also if you have a latex allergy, silicone caps are for you.

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Silicone caps come in a variety of colours and patterns and can be purchased from any swim retail store. In Canada check out SportChek or if in the USA, get yours from Speedo.com. Prices range from $9-$30.

Motivation to Move [And my Tour of Sport Chek MLSQ]

December 17, 2015July 4, 20161 Comment

Last week I had the joy of touring the new Maple Leaf Square SportChek. This is my local store, just outside the Air Canada Center, and I absolutely love the innovation it utilizes and the community it brings to the downtown core.

I first met the community team online (@scmapleleafsq) last summer and it didn’t take long for them to become active members of the Tribe community joining us for run’s and out at our summer YogaJam. This relationship gave me the opportunity to sneak peak the store before it was finished, and now it’s done – wholy moly it is rad.

When you enter the main floor, off of Maple Leaf Square, you are instantly transported to every sport lovers dream as the entire floor is dedicated to sports paraphernalia. When I needed a new Raptors hat for my first game of the season, I knew where to go!

Also located on the main floor is their interactive touch screen. Not only can you find specific in store locations of the gear you covet, you can also get hot fitness tip, including those from Tribe YogaJam teacher Lisa Davidson, and when you check out what activities are going on in the area, on the community board, that you’ll find Tribe represented there too.

The first floor also contains on the spot jersey customization. Make your personalized selections at the kiosk, then make your way to the booth at the back and watch it come together before your eyes.

Upstairs is certainly my favourite area in store and where I spend most of my time. The second floor contains their “brand shops” where you find anything and everything for running and training. You’ll also find two virtual shopping kiosks. This is where you can order anything available from SportChek online and have it shipped to your house. You don’t input payment information here, that you can do from the safety of your home computer or device through email for up to 14 days after you created your order.

The second floor is also where you’ll find all their technology, including my favourite 3D display for the fitbit Surge.

I received my fitbit in September for my birthday and it has be laps of her living room to beat the coveted 10,000 daily steps – I too have found myself doing the same thing. Talk about motivation to move!

So, if you are someone who is more motivate by the couch and Netflix once the weather gets cold, I suggest letting Santa know you’re interested in an activity tracker like a fitbit. It is simple to use and is guaranteed to get you moving this cold winter season – or whenever the cold finally arrives!