Trainers are for life, not just for sport

Trainers are for life, not just for sport by serenarudge

I'm having a bit of a trainer moment. Not that these are all exactly trainers, but that's how I'm choosing to define them. I've worked out that I have some money spare, and I'd really like a pair of one of these. I just can't decide which.

I haven't lusted after trainers that weren't for sport since I was twelve and my life goal was to become Avril Lavigne. Looking back, they were hideous and painfully cheap, as shown when my friend's dog chewed them and they spewed foam stuffing all over the house. I think they were from Shoe Zone. Holla.

Anyway, that is all beside the point. Please someone help me decide which ones to buy?

Your pace or mine?

Hello, my name is Serena, and I have an obsession with Nike. Just look at it. How could you not? I also have a bit of an obsession with running. Again, how could you not? (I know a lot of people would disagree with me on that one.) If someone could send me all of this then that would be lovely thank you.

Your pace or mine? by serenarudge featuring nike

The thing is, when I run I do like to look good. People stare at me as if I'm crazy when I say this: do I not go red faced and sweaty and look as though I'm in the middle of giving birth when I run like everybody else? (I've never actually seen anyone running whose face looked like they were in the agony of labour, but I know I've definitely grimaced in that fashion before, so I'm hoping other people have...) Of course I do. Apparently if your face is going to look like a sweaty strawberry/raspberry/beetroot then there's no point in wearing nice workout clothes.

Excuse me, but I beg to differ. There's nothing better than the feeling of looking like you effortlessly knock out a 10k every day, rain or shine, followed by some weights, yoga, and a bit of stretching. Obviously my body doesn't look like it does this, and if I get an effort-full 10k in once a week I'm very pleased, but it makes me feel like I'm a runner. It's the same principle as dressing up to make yourself feel more productive, less lazy and slob-like.

This does, of course, go against everything I argue to people: to be a runner you don't need to be a good runner, you don't need to look good, wear the right shoes, or even run for more than half of your workout. Generally, if you can run then you're a runner. I would never say anything else. But for me, good workout gear is essential.

I'm currently running in these bad boys from H&M:

I saw them before Christmas and fell in love, so got them with some Christmas money. Only £14.99! I've just seen these on their website, which are the current version of mine. I wouldn't mind them as well... H&M might not be Nike, but it does do some decent gym clothes... 

This slogan is from my first and favourite Nike top. They don't seem to sell their slogan tees in the UK as much as they do in America (why not, Nike? Why not?) so I'm holding onto this one.

And, just to round this off, my running shoes.

Although this was when they were new which was nine months ago, so they're definitely more battered now! I tried on my old shoes the other day and they were so uncomfortable. I didn't realise it at the time of course, but I'd had them since sixth form.

I'm by no means a 'good' runner, but I've done it sporadically since I was nine and I do love it. There was no cross country team at my secondary school, although since I left one was set up and both my sisters ran at national championships. I ran when I felt like it during sixth form, started doing it quite a lot in second year of uni, and just carried on. It's something I definitely see progress in: between last Christmas and August I was tracking my runs using Nike+, and my pace fluctuated between 5:25min/km and 6:00min/km, usually falling around 5:35. Last term I stopped running and went to the gym a lot, decided I hated running on the treadmill so did 30 minutes of sprint intervals instead. When I started running outside again I was down to 5:10min/km, and on my last run I did 6.5km at 4:43.

I'm intent on getting faster, doing sprints and tempo running as well as some longer distances and normal 5-6k runs. I'm not always going to run as fast as I want to, but I'm going to try really, really hard to stick to this one, because the more progress I make the more I enjoy it. I just wish I had someone to run with! Any takers...?

The resurrection of the Ugg boots

The weather seems to have warmed itself up for the moment, at least compared to Thursday. I was so cold that I actually wanted to cry. It probably didn't help that I had an early seminar in what might be the coldest room on campus, but waiting at the bus stop to go into town I did notice people shivering more than usual. So we'll put my pain down to the weather, rather than me being pathetic...

The cold was bothering me quite a lot, so I did what any normal person would. I went shopping. Two tops, socks, and a pair of boots. I'm slightly better kitted out for the cold weather now.

These were my first purchase. I thought I'd left Uggs back in 2009, but it seems not. However, I feel that I can justify these. Here goes...

• They're black, rather than my old, grotty 'camel' coloured ones;
• They have a decent rubber sole, compared to the rubbish that was on the bottom of my other ones which wore through quite quickly;
• They're short, rather than long, folded over, and showing too much greying fluff;
• They have faux fur inside, rather than faux sheepskin, so infinitely warmer. 
• My final reason? I will not be wearing these with my trackies tucked into them. What was acceptable at school, when I didn't actually see the outside world, is not so acceptable any more, even if the only place I'll be seeing is my route to campus and the inside of the library. 

They cost me £11 from Sports Direct - I happened to see them in there a couple of weeks ago when looking for more running tops. They've bought a load of stock from another sports shop and are selling it off cheap. How was I supposed to say no?

I then rang my mother to bed her for a few pounds to buy a long sleeved top that didn't have a scooped neck (I'm very low on money due to end-of-term-ness). Luckily the thought of me freezing in the cold wilderness of the north was too much for her, and she said yes. Thank goodness. So she's kindly bought me the black top. Nothing special, just an XS H&M Basic top. It's pretty tight, and makes me feel like I'm wearing a winter rash vest. Not quite as fleecy, but as something to keep me warm it does the job!

I know I've complained about being broke, but when I saw the green and black jumper I fell slightly in love. It's baggy, not too thick, but has quite a high neck - keeps out drafts and perfect for layering other things underneath. It was only a fiver in the sale, and I've already worn it a couple of times. Definitely a keeper.

The socks might not look like much, but check out the inside:

They have a TOG rating of 2.4 - I'm wearing mini duvets on my feet! Another half price purchase from Sports Direct, they have the oddest mixture of things in there. On really cold days I wear them inside the Uggs. It's amazing.

So there we have it, my winter survival clothes. Luckily the snow that was forecast for York doesn't look like it'll be turning up any time soon, but it's still set to be pretty cold for the next week. (Today was a blistering seven degrees. I nearly got out the sun cream.) I might have no money to go out, but at least I won't get frostbite.

Let the sky fall, we will stand tall.

Let the sky fall, we will stand tall. by serenarudge 

I have a really hectic week this week. Or rather, I just need to spend some time in the library. The jeans/white top/cardigan combo is so easy to decide on and wear, and comfortable for sitting in the library all day. The accessories are quick to grab, but pull the outfit together, making it a little less casual. Simple and chic (no, I'm not turning into Mark Francis...), and who can deny that feeling put-together definitely helps productivity? I've started deciding what to wear the night before so that I have time to make a rational decision in the hope that I look normal... And the coffee? Sometimes it's just necessary...

If I owned all of these clothes I'd be a very happy bunny, especially the Burberry trench. Someone I sat next to on the train at the weekend was wearing a beautiful one, far more gathered at the waist than this version. I can't find a similar one on the website, so I can only assume it was from a past season. Even though I'm on a bit of a spending ban this week/month/the rest of my life, I might have a look for a burgundy cardigan tomorrow when I head into town. Burgundy, or oxblood, as some shops are calling it, is everywhere this winter. I do like red, but sometimes it's a bit cheerful/gaudy for the rest of my outfit. Burgundy, however, is perfect for brightening up a look whilst keeping a darker, grungy edge. Am I sounding pretentious? Is unkempt hair the closest I usually get to grunge? Yes to both. But honestly, what's more fun than talking about clothes you desperately want and will probably never have? Nothing? Correct.

My parting words are very simple: If You Haven't Mastered Polyvore, Do It. It doesn't have to just be clothes, anything goes. Even if you don't want to actually create sets, there's SO MUCH TO LOOK AT.

Top and skirt - River Island, boots - Boohoo

It's a bit out-dated by now, but this is what I wore on Easter Sunday. I thought that none of the photos I took had worked, but I've just discovered this. The tops, skirt and boots were all sale prices, thriftiness FTW. The top is fast becoming a favourite of mine - I love the half-length sleeves, they're perfect for the not-so-summery weather we get here! I'll try to use my proper camera in future for outfit posts, since my iPod obviously doesn't take the clearest photographs. Perhaps I should clean my mirror, that might help...

The Average Person

Apparently, I am above average. This might be a bizarre thing to say, but at 5'5.5", I am about half an inch taller than the average British woman (please correct me if I'm wrong). I always find this hard to believe - at school I was one of the shortest, even in sixth form when everyone had finished growing. There were girls there hitting six foot and above, and although at university I've found that most people aren't that tall, I still can't seem to find many who are the same height as me.

This has left me with a few questions:

Firstly, why were there so many girls at school who were so tall? Not only in my year, but in most of the years below me. Girls four years younger than me would tower over my above-average frame, which I always found slightly disconcerting. Why was it that at that one school there was such a high concentration of tall people?

The second question is one that came up when I went shopping a couple of months ago. I was looking for jeans, but as always I couldn't find any that properly fit. In many shops that sell jeans by leg length and waist measurement, the shortest leg is 30 inches. 30 inches!!! As a person of average height, a 30 inch leg is FAR too long, and looks ridiculous. In other shops, where trousers are categorised into UK sizes of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 etc, they often offer small, regular and long leg lengths. But even the small ones are too long. *Sigh* This is the only time that I resent my average stature. My leggy younger sister used to mock my height, in a kind way of course, and I'd always retaliate: I can wear insanely high heels and not look stupid, I always have leg room on buses and trains, I never need to complain about being too squashed in the car, and I always feel dainty next to boys, especially being the perfect height to hug. I LIKE my height. I just don't like the abnormal leg lengths of jeans. Someone, somewhere, needs to sort this out.