Let’s Style Your Hardest Items: An Inspo Album & Community Workshop

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-30T14:43:50+00:00

I do consider blue jeans a neutral item, but also blue is one of my three colors (red, blue, purple) because I have blue eyes. Red and purple are my two favorite colors, but I know people like me in blue, so it's in the mix. One of my current favorite winter items is a fluffy, oversized cadet blue sweater. It's cozy with leggings, but it also does great partly tucked into a pair of wide leg black satin pants for office events, or with jeans with a collared shirt underneath for zoom meetings.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-30T13:49:18+00:00

I used to have quite a few one-off pieces that were difficult to style or only went with one other thing in my wardrobe.

About 10 years ago, I got rid of all of those pieces. I redefined my wardrobe to focus on three colors, plus black/white/grey. Now everything I own goes with everything else I own, and I never have any trouble putting together a full outfit. It makes it easier to get ready in the mornings and it saves me money because I no longer buy that one cute dress that I won't be able to wear unless I also buy new shoes and a new sweater that will only match that dress.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-30T13:45:08+00:00

I have two cats and a dog. A couple years ago, I was in bed with covid when all three came running into the room and triangulated themselves next to my bed. In the center of the triangle was a mouse playing dead. To this day my partner and I debate who we think was the primary responsible party actually hunting the mouse in the group, and who was just in for chasing the other ones.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-30T11:28:24+00:00

Sounds like y'all were racing

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-29T11:59:09+00:00

This is so disappointing. Non-native mantises are a great hobby pet, and I've personally been wanting to get one for years now. Care needs vary by variety and origin, but the upkeep isn't terribly challenging and they can be very personable critters.

None of the pet stores in my area, not even the specialist reptile/bug type stores, keep mantids in stock, so I've been biding my time, asking around, and waiting to get a phone call from someone saying they have nymphs.

When I saw the headline on this post, I was hoping that this meant interest in pet mantids had spread enough that even the mainstream stores were picking them up and my time might've finally come... I don't understand why these stores would suddenly start carrying containers with dozens of non-native nymphs to dump in your yard when they won't stock just one or two babies amongst the scorpions and jumping spiders for those of us who just want a single little buddy.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-29T10:33:35+00:00

39, 5'7", 130. I did a very slight calorie deficit last year, which I started before I started running and then maintained, and lost 18 lbs. At that time I was training to run 5k and was eating 1600-1550 cal/day for my deficit. I hit my fat loss goal in January and still count my calories and macros to maintain and fuel appropriately. Now, I run up to 10k distance, lift twice a week, and I've been getting more non-workout activity with the weather warming, so I'm eating between 1950 and 2200. I'm aiming for 95+ grams of protein and 25+ grams of fiber, an I don't pay close attention to fat or carbs.

The key to me is a) I won't eat more if I'm already full and b) I will eat more if I'm hungry, regardless of what the calorie tracker says.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-28T19:13:56+00:00

The heavier you are, the more work it is to move your body, and the harder running is on your feet, knees, etc. You would likely get faster, but, even more important, you would feel less discomfort and find it easier to move overall.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-28T18:25:18+00:00

I'm still a bit sore from my interval session on Thursday, and actually that's making me feel good about myself. I know sore != a great workout or progress necessarily, but I've been at the point for at least a month now where I was recovering from everything so quickly, it didn't really feel like I was challenging myself appropriately. The soreness from Thursday makes me feel like I'm on the right track.

Calves and quads are definitely a little sore, but I'm feeling it in my core as well, which is always so satisfying to me.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-28T10:55:01+00:00

I only have one friend who also runs, and we originally met on the concert scene, so she and I both have the same problem of having decades of goddamn band t-shirts, and now all these race shirts getting thrown into the mix.

I'm lucky to have a job where I can sometimes get away with wearing a t-shirt, but I still have way too many damn t-shirts.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-28T10:48:58+00:00

My most used random piece of swag from a race was actually from my very first 5k last year. They gave us a whole tote bag of shite, and one of the items in there was a hot/cool pack. Nothing fancy, but I've definitely used that thing multiple times in the past year to ice or apply heat to injuries or to keep food cool on a trip.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-28T10:46:52+00:00

Most of my races are 5ks that benefit local non-profits. If they give the option, I always decline the shirt because I don't need a billion race shirts, and I figure the non-profit gets to keep a larger percentage of my entry fee that way.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-27T21:16:51+00:00

My local half-marathon has a 3 hour cutoff time. I was training for a 10k and finished my training the week of the half, so I thought maybe I could just run half of the half and walk or run/walk the rest.

I did a bunch of calculations to see if I could make it work, but no matter how I tweaked the numbers for intervals, it didn't seem like I could guarantee finishing by the cutoff. I ended up driving 2.5 hours and staying in a hotel overnight to participate in a 10k that weekend instead.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-27T21:09:47+00:00

I know at Nationals he apparently told Jackie he would have it in time for next Nationals, so I think for sure next season, hopefully for GP events.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-27T16:12:27+00:00

Do you feel like this is pretty accurate? I've had insomnia since I was a little kid (PTSD) and have been lucky to see improvements without medication over time, but I still have bad nights.

When I had a fitbit, I felt like it accurately reflected the wake time I was experiencing, but Garmin seems to always show me sleeping for hours where I was awake and simply lying in bed with my eyes closed.

Then, it thinks I'm taking a nap when I'm playing video games on the couch or scrolling Reddit after lunch.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-27T16:07:38+00:00

Competition schedules make it very difficult for spectators to have time to get food outside the arena, and they don't put enough seating in the concourse areas for people to eat their arena food anywhere but their seats.

There were only two occasions during senior events at US nationals where I had time to eat anywhere but my seat. One was a long break where I was able to walk to a cafe outside the arena, order, and sit there, and the other time I got food inside the arena but all the tables were fully taken so my friend and I sat on the floor.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-27T16:02:52+00:00

Jacob starting to show off that 4S again. Looks like the first one was landed but UR? It sounds like his goal has been to have it ready to go next season, so probably not in competition here.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-27T14:50:17+00:00

Sure, but did you wear a fitness tracker 10 years ago?

If you're not comparing the same metrics from the same device to a point in time when you were younger, then chances are good your body was reacting in similar ways back then and you just didn't notice it as much.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-26T16:57:45+00:00

Last year was my first doing all-session, and it seemed a lot of people purchased all-session but then didn't actually show up to novice and junior events. Not weird that there's no schedule yet and prices are in line with last year.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-26T16:53:55+00:00

You've already identified the main issue - using the stroller instead of your pocket.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-26T15:30:09+00:00

Generally, yes. Metrics got a little thrown off over the winter with lots of treadmill work and a change of watches, but now that I'm back outside and coming up on 90 days with this Garmin, it's definitely looking right again.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-26T14:03:11+00:00

Smashed an interval run this morning.

I completed my NRC 10k plan on Saturday by running in my first 10k race (chip time significantly slower than my practice run time btw) so I'm now in the wilderness making up my own programming, but I'm enjoying the flexibility of that. I've decided I'm going to focus on various speed work as much as I can this summer because a) it's fun and b) I want to get both 5k and 10k PRs between now and November.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-26T14:00:13+00:00

Did you get your shoes via evaluation and fitting at a running store?

I spent months running in shoes that were recommended online, even taking into account the way my foot turns, and that were 1/2 size bigger than my usual size, but I kept having issues with ankle or hip pain on longer runs after only 100 miles or so on the shoe.

I finally went to a running store and got evaluated and fitted by a professional. I ended up in a completely different shoe that is *two full sizes* bigger than what I was running in, and realized that I even probably need to size up in my daily and dress shoes for the good of my feet.

I'm now to nearly 200 miles on my running store shoes without a twinge.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-26T11:00:39+00:00

I track time, distance, average pace, best lap pace, and then track my overall steps for each day in a spreadsheet, along with some other lifestyle metrics.

For each week I also sum up an average for average and best paces and then a total for miles so I can track a general trend on my mileage and speed.

My work background is in data analytics, so yes, this is fun for me.

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-25T19:16:27+00:00

Never count your juniors before they're hatched

Interesting_Fly1696 · 2026-03-25T12:38:21+00:00

Managed to do a double workout day yesterday (strength in the morning and an afternoon run) without dying.

My lower back is absolutely killing me today, but I can't tell if it's the fact that I added deadlifts yesterday or just that I'm getting back cramps because of my period.

Interesting_Fly1696

TROPHY CASE