BACK in (my favorite) BLACK

I'm back in black, and it isn't the first time.

As much as I'm a Go-Bright-or-Go-Home kind of gal, I do have a few favorite black fitness gear go-to's. The thing is, although they see much wear and tear (and not just when I'm breaking a sweat), I fail to give them kudos. 

While I do think the color black has merit, I also believe it is overdone in the fashion industry. I know, #mybad. In an effort to rectify that, I'm sharing my Top 5 Back in Black favorites with you today. 

Ready for the big reveal?

First of all, there's the1/4-zip jacket from last year's Illinois Criss-Cross Challenge. Honestly, I don't even know where to start in sharing my love for this! I like that the logo is subtle, though still gives a nice mini pop of color. It's especially nice that the sleeves are long enough for my long arms. I think the best feature, though, is the flannel lining. Oh, this little baby is so cozy to wear around the house, or under a vest when the weather is questionable, or on it's own for a brisk spring/autumn morning when a tank top needs a little something extra. This jacket also has significant sentimental value since the Criss-Cross Challenge was a big part of my stress fracture rally-back. 

 A rather unassuming part of my black collection would be an inexpensive pair of discount store leggings. I easily paid less than $10 for these a few years ago (featured, above, in title pic). While they're not true 'fitness gear,' I wear them for a lot for my early-morning bike rides or walks (in moderate temps; they're not warm enough, on their own, for winter conditions). They're flannel-lined, so they feel great lounging around the house. They have a tiny bit of spandex in them, so they have kept their shape.  

Then  there's my Drake Relays Road Races jacket. Also a 1/4-zip, this one is really light-weight. It's a unisex-cut, but fits me nicely. Again, mad props to the long-enough sleeves (with thumbholes!). This jacket also features a subtle event logo (in a very pretty color), and doesn't have any extra event sponsors or verbiage plastered all over the back. Since it's light-weight, it doesn't offer much warmth, but it's perfect when I need just "something more" than what I'm already wearing, and can easily be tied around my waist without any excess bulk (race recap HERE).

Another unassuming, though most essential, black go-to is a simple headband. I've had this cold weather necessity for numerous years (also showcased, above, in the title pic). It's run many miles with me and crossed many a finish line. Being that it's black, it's also attended many Iowa football games (because I gotta sport the black and gold!). It's fleece-lined, but it's not the least bit bulky, so I often times layer it under a pom-pom beanie in really cold weather.  

And, last but not least, is a new favorite: the jacket from Chicago Hot Chocolate 15K. Yes, it's another black jacket, but this one is quite unique. It has a full front zipper, multiple pockets (inside and out, as well as on the left upper sleeve), and also has some light quilting on the front panels and across the back shoulders. It's a nice cross between the other two jackets mentioned above. This also has a great deal of sentimental value since it's from the race I ran with Deborah, on the downtown streets of Chicago, this past November (race recap HERE). 

It may come as no surprise, all of these black go-to's came along with me on my Florida snowbirding gig. Even though I was limited on what I could bring, these all made the cut. Believe it or not, all have been used numerous times in the (almost) three weeks we've been here. 

So, that's a quick peek into the "black side" of my fitness wardrobe. Although I don't wear a lot of black, the few pieces I have do see a lot of action.

Talk to me! Do you find yourself gravitating to a favorite color, or family of colors? No doubt, black is a popular color...do you have a lot of it in your fitness gear arsenal?

  I'm also linking this with Michelle, Renee, Darlene, Jenn and Zenaida for the Fit Five Friday Link-up.

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