"Does this skirt make my butt look fast?"

So, a while ago, I was listening to Zen's podcast interview with Catra Corbett, aka Dirt Diva, aka Trail Girl, who is an inspiring and ubercool ultra runner. I loved the interview and checked out her website right away. She has an excellent story, but I'll leave you to find it through her own writing. But, she also is a fan of Atalanta Running Skirts. And any friend of a friend of Zen's... well, you know...

I took a little time to check Atalanta out and was pleasantly surprised. A great company with an excellent, proactive philosophy about personal challenge and community. Right up my alley. So I reached out to them. Zip forward a few weeks later and I had my first honest to goodness running skirt in my mailbox. Wahoo!

Now, I promised a little news and review of their schtuff a while back, but had to wait until I got a chance to actually USE the darned thing. With my calf issues and all recently, it hasn't been until this past week that I really was able to get some miles in and report back. There was that one time I wore it out to breakfast with Mighty M, but I didn't think that would really inform the discussion at all. But, now we've run. Together.

Well, let me tell y'all...

Love. This. Skirt.

Seriously. Just love it! I'm not the type to inflate something just because I got a deal or want a deal later. If I like something I'll tell you. If I don't, I may stay mum on the topic, but no leading astray.

So, I repeat.

I. Love. This. Skirt.

I've been out on about four runs now with it in different kinds of weather. It has this great set up with compression shorts under the skirt and the material is both thin (bonus), slippery (double bonus) and in fancy colors.

Thin is a big bonus. Thin means not bulky. Thin means not hot. Thin is in. Thin is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should.

Slippery is good, too. Doubly good. Never had chub rub? Don't know what it is? I officially hate you and you should stop reading. Go eat a donut or something -- take your thighs elsewhere.

Come on, people! We all have had moments of -- um -- discomfort (blech) in the heat and humidity of August that no amount of Body Glide will fix. My legs are righteously bitchin'...from about three inches below the seam and down. And those, my friends, are a critical three inches. Pick your running attire carefully and you can divert some serious -- um -- discomfort.

This skirt does it. It diverts this issue with grace and flash. The liner shorts are long enough, yet still shows off our pretty legs. The skirt part is just icing on the cake.

Plus, there's pockets that actually hold stuff (rather than pretend to hold like a corner of one gel pack if you make sure you don't bend over) and somehow I feel skinnier running in them.

(Now, that last observation is purely subjective. I don't know what it is, but I feel like a skinny lady running around town in my skirt. One fancy, healthy, athletic lady!)

And here's fav part -- they're flirty. They are clearly having more fun than the boring pair of Nike dri-whatever runners cut on the path next to you. The colorful part is under the skirt, just winking out at everyone saying, "hey, you there, check me out. me and my coy little self, just running here, all fashionable like."*

Who knew that wearing a skirt would be so fun!

So, my final, unbiased opinion, is that if you have any curiosity about the new skirtolicious running rage, check out Atalanta skirts. They're a small, indepedently run shop that has a strong vision of the role they can play in the community, as well as how to bring a solid product to the market. They socially minded, which is a huge motivator for me to continue to order from them. I love their community page and their plans to help to those who are setting and achieving new athletic goals for themselves also succeed with their fundraising efforts.

So, if you're at all interested in purchasing a new running skirt, you can do so directly through their site (they have five great color combos -- I went with the black/red). Mention that you heard about Atalanta through IM Able and they have committed to donating a portion of the proceed of your purchase to Canine Partners for Life in honor of this year's Ironman Moo adventure!! How cool is that??!!

Come on! A cool skirt, a good company and a charitable donation to boot?

You can't go wrong!

* Okay, so the skirt doesn't actually talk...but if it did...