Wharf to Wharf

The only real sewing hook in this post is that I ran this race while wearing my running skirt and Fehr Trade running bra (both of which felt great).

The last Sunday in July is the running of the Wharf to Wharf, a race from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to the wharf in Capitola, 6 miles south on the bay. It's a small town race, but it attracts a pretty big crowd because it's a beautiful course and we always have Goldilocks weather; not too hot and not too cold, but just right.

Me and the sis. We run this one together most years.

You can see above that I'm wearing a gold bib number. That meant I had a chance to win the raffle for a free trip to run the Wharf2Wharf in Waiheke Island, New Zealand in January. A nice lady named Danielle won instead though.

There were 16,000 registered runners and 55 bands along the course, which winds right along the water. That's more than one band per block - every kind of music you can imagine and all of it very inspiring. The first place female (Kenyan, natch) won in 30:17:44. I was more like 83:15:22, but I had a great time.

I brought my camera along, so here are a series of snaps from the course. If you ever plan to be in Santa Cruz at the end of July, this is a super fun race to run in. You have to register quick though. The race sold out in 19 hours this year.

The starting line at the wharf by the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Pipes and Drums by the river

The Great Morgani in his flamingo outfit

The banner says it all. These guys were great.

The yacht harbor, running over the bridge

Sons of the Beach Ukelele Band

The chefs from The Crow's Nest always bang their giant pots like drums to encourage us runners

Running along the beach by the yacht harbor

San Jose State Pep Band

Emergency provisions

Watsonville Taiko  drummers

And the finish line! Home for coffee and danish with a job well done.

A Fair Wind with Fehr Trade

When I was considering taking the RTW Pledge the garments I thought would give me the most challenge were running gear. I've made the odd pair of shorts, but I had no idea how to make a running top that was actually functional. Just as I was wavering, Melissa released this pattern. Problem solved!

I did the Y back for my first version

I finished my first make of the Fehr Trade XYT Runnning Top last Sunday. The designer, Melissa Fehr, is a runner herself. The kind who runs marathons. The kind who makes a 10k look like child's play. I figured if there was anyone who could produce a pattern for a running top that would be comfortable, supportive, and wouldn't rub you the wrong way, she would be that gal. Sure enough, she is.

Front view

I hate buying running tops. They're rediculously expensive and I have a hard time finding something that I like. I prefer a bra that's all one stretchy piece - just pull it on over my head and go. What I see in the stores lately is much more structured. They have a bunch of underwires and buckles and winches that someone of my size just doesn't need. I figure the more doodads they include, the more likely I am to have chafing.

The XYT is just my preferred style. The cut is simple and the built-in bra is all stretch and no hardware. Melissa has you use two layers of power mesh, each layer rotated 90 degrees to equalize the squeeze.

The directions are super-clear. I discovered I need to work on my stretch-and-sew skills, but practice will make perfect and even my first creation is totally wearable. I don't have one of those fancy-dancy sergers, but I could do everything I needed for this pattern on a sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch.

Lime green picot elastic

Due to my math-challenged brain, I bought the wrong width of elastic for the neck and armholes. Note to self: 3/8 of an inch is less then 1/4 of an inch, not almost 1/2 inch. I did some stash-diving and found some 3/8 inch elastic in lime green with a little ruffle on the edge. Melissa's directions have you turn the elastic as you finish the edges to it's totally encased and there's no chance of rubbing. I decided I liked the hint of lime enough to try leaving it exposed. So far, no problem.

I took the top out for it's maiden voyage the morning after I finished it and it worked great! I have to wriggle around a bit to get into it, but once I'm there it's comfortable and I feel like I have plenty of support. I gather from cruising the interwebs that even ladies with more cargo than I can use this top for running with no issues.

I love the cute style of my top, but I think the next one I make I'll try a small pattern hack. I like to limit my sun exposure because of the whole skin cancer thing. I think I'll try just shortening the outer layer to make a running bra that I can wear under a long-sleeve top even on a warm day. That way I can run myself silly and not worry about what's happening with my melanin.

Here's my review on PatternReview.com