Nothing says “summertime” like red, white, and blue. We are pleased to offer these two technical running skirts to all you patriotic runners out there. Both of these skirts are available up to size 3x!

Each skirt has three huge pockets for all your gear, and you can wear the skirt backwards if you prefer (so that the big zip pocket is the back).

“Betsy Ross” technical running skirt, with hand-pieced flag design

We bet that Betsy would have approved of this classy skirt that uses stars and stripes to make a statement!

Technical skirt with white waistband and built-in white wicking undershorts.

Click here to read more: Betsy Ross SparkleTech running skirt

LIMITED EDITION “American Graffiti” technical running skirt

We were able to obtain a small bit of this hard-to-get fabric to make up these snappy Americana skirts.

First come, first served–when these sizes are gone, they are gone for good.

This technical running skirt features built-in black wicking undershorts and a black waistband. Skirt fabric has shiny foil accents.

Click here to shop: American Graffiti SparkleTech running Skirt

Here’s wishing you a great summer of running, walking, or sports! If you haven’t done so already, we invite you to check us out on Facebook for all the latest Sparkle!

Pro golfer Dolores White is aiming for the LPGA. But this Lakeland Florida native doesn’t wear just any old golf apparel—she wears SparkleSkirts!

When you purchase a DoloTech for yourself, you can look snazzy and help Dolores advance to the LPGA

Pro golfer Dolores White in the NEW DoloTech

A portion of the proceeds from every DoloTech will go to help defray Dolores’ travel expenses for the the Symetra Tour, a tour that will guide her into the LPGA.

Dolores plays for several charities on the tour, donating at every game. We are pleased to be able to help her reach her charitable and professional goals.

About the DoloTech

The Dolores White skirt, aka the DoloTech, is a limited edition technical skirt.

It is designed with a matching waistband and cool, white wicking undershorts.  The zippered pocket can be worn front or back—Dolores likes hers in the back so she can stash her glove while putting.

The skirt will be available in sizes XS through 3XL and will be ready to ship to all of you runners, walkers, golfers and tennis players in late May at our standard SparkleTech prices. You may PRE-ORDER yours NOW for delivery in late May.

Remember: For every DoloTech sold, a portion of the proceeds will go to Dolores to use for traveling expenses on the Symetra Tour and for the charities for which she plays.

About Dolores White

Pro golfer Dolores White hails from Lakeland, Florida, home of SparkleSkirts. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and in addition to golfing on the Symetra Tour, she is also a golf instructor for kids in Orange County school districts and teaches sportsmanship and motivation at Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

You can follow Dolores and cheer her on! Let her know just how many SparkleSisters she has! Check out www.SymetraTour.com to see her tour schedule and her latest scores and wins.  On Facebook, look for Golo Dolo Golf . Give her an encouraging Tweet @GoloDoloGolf .  Order her namesake skirt today  and tell your friends! Go low, Dolo!

Which skirt would YOU rather wear?

We hope you ALL have a great summer of training!  Stay cool!  Watch for more SparkleSkirts that will help you celebrate the not-so-lazy days of summer!  We appreciate your continued belief in us!

Dolores starting Round 2 of the Symetra Tour SaraBay Tournament in Sarasota, Florida wearing her Race Number SparkleTech!

A little rain never deters a woman from her sport

Just had to share these nice comments from Virginia M:

“I love, love my peacock grey. I have always loved the concept of running skirts but have tried SO many and never found one that I wasn’t tugging at constantly. I figured I was just not built for them and settled on shorts with shorts underneath. I was convinced to try one of yours when I saw one of the ROTE gals (Renee maybe) with the grey one at WDW marathon weekend. The skirt was beautiful and she looked adorable! The ROTE gals had been talking about your skirts for a while but I was unconvinced. I am so glad I tried one. Your skirts so lived up to the hype. The shorts stayed right where I put them. I know because I had to gawk at them in amazement several times during my run just to verify (luckily I was in the privacy of my own treadmill!).

I also like the how the skirt is flowy. I had found with other skirts that if I was happy with the way the shorts fit then the skirt would be too tight and would want to hike up. What a great idea!

Keep up the good work!

Thanks, Virginia M.

Would you like to find out what the fuss is about? You can read more on our SparkleTech page.

Orders placed by 2/18 can be delivered to you in just FOUR business days*

*In-stock items only; shipping dates do not apply to special orders.

You can also pick up your SparkleSkirt from us at our Princess expo booth.
Questions? Please email Leah.

If you have purchased from us before, you KNOW how seriously we take our shipping.
So we want to give you the heads-up on our shipping schedule while we are on the road for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon expo.

Please take note of our shipping schedule over the next few weeks:

• Orders placed between January 19th and 26th be shipped on January 27, 2012 (if in stock).
• Orders placed between January 27th and 31st will be shipped February 1, 2012 (if in stock).
• Special orders received between January 19th and February 1, will be processed beginning on February 2, 2012. On special orders, we will communicate with you after you place your order to give you a projected delivery date, or you may email Leah to inquire about special-order scheduling before ordering.

Thanks so much for your patience everyone! Next stop, the Princess!

Questions? Please email Leah to discuss.

It isn’t too late to look sparkly and sassy at the Tinkerbell half marathon.

Place your order by end of day 1/18/12 and we process same day and ship priority mail

Standard items only; no special order colors available for this special offer

C U @ the Tink!

Questions? Please email Leah to discuss.

For those of your Running a WDW Marathon Weekend race, you can still look Sparkle-licious!

Place your order by 12:00 noon EST, Friday, January 6, 2012 and we will hand-deliver to your hotel!

Standard items only; no special order colors available for this special offer

Ready to order? Please email Leah ASAP to learn more

Team Remedy Fitness is a group of dedicated volunteers who encourage people to participate in charitable athletic events, like 5k runs, walking events, or even as volunteers.

Kristin and her husband, Jeff, started the group after Kristin’s mother passed away in 2009 as a tribute to the woman who had encouraged Kristin to make lifestyle changes and take charge of her health.

“As a tribute to my mom, I thought about doing one event a month in 2010 to honor her memory,” says Kristin. “Then I thought: Why not put a team together and have a mission to give people a way to prove to themselves that they can do something athletic. By doing charitable events, they could help others at the same time.”

The Molldrems’ goal of engaging in twelve events turned out to be a little on the light side. By the time the duo’s family and friends got involved, the 2010Remedy Fitness team had 150 participations in 41 different events.

“That’s 150 people who helped make a difference,” Kristin says.

Helping all fitness levels enjoy athletic activities

Jeff Molldrem of Remedy Fitness running in a SparkleSkirt to raise money for the Susan G Komen Chicago 3-Day for a Cure. Kristin jokes: "Jeff looks better in his skirt than I do! What's up with THAT?"

“We wanted to get people who might think they weren’t the right weight, build, or whatever, to try an event,” says Kristin. “We knew that they could prove to themselves that they CAN succeed.”

Case in point: One of Kristin’s friends was certain that her 300-pound frame would prevent her from participating in a 5k. “She told me, ‘I can’t do a 5k because I can’t run,’” Kristin says. “I said to her: ‘Who says you have to run it? Let’s walk it together!’”

With great joy, the two women completed the event. “She never thought that goal was obtainable—but it was,” Kristin says.
______________________________________________________

Winning the fight against cancer

The lesson that exercise is for all bodies is one that Kristin learned first hand.

At age 30, Kristin was a cervical cancer survivor and had a heart condition. “I started eating less bad stuff and walking ¼ mile at a time,” she says. “I worked my way up to a 60-mile walk and was able to stop taking three prescriptions.”

In 2008, after having her son, Kristin was diagnosed with a second bout of cervical cancer. While frustrated at the disease’s reoccurrence, Kristin found that her healthier lifestyle kept her spirits high.

“Mentally, it was much easier to deal with cancer by being in better physical condition,” she says. “I was in better condition to keep going. My body might be fighting me, but I’m going to do what I can to fight back.”

Kristin and Jeff found that their experience with cancer wasn’t unique. Most of the people who volunteered to be on the Remedy Fitness team were participating in events to benefit the fight against cancer.

This emphasis on fighting cancer can be seen in the group’s logo:

“Our logo is made up of 8 different colored ribbons representing different cancers that have affected us, family and friends,” says Kristin. “So, while our mission is to be charitable in general, we will be looking for and participating in as many cancer related events as possible. Together we can ‘remedy’ these health problems!”

How you can get involved

From her seed of an idea 18 months ago, team Remedy Fitness now has participants from all over the country.

The informal group has no dues or fees; instead, the Molldrems want people to donate money to the worthy charitable organizations that put on the athletic events.

Anyone who agrees with the group’s mission of being active and charitable is welcome to register themselves or their group as a Remedy Fitness team, or to volunteer for events under the team name.

Kristin and Jeff will send you and your team t-shirts to wear and encourage teams to send photos for sharing on Facebook and on the Remedy Fitness website.  For more information, you may reach the Molldrems at 414-238-1863 or by email at  info@remedyfitnessteam.com.

 “People come out of these events so happy,” says Kristin. “They help both themselves and a greater cause. You just can’t beat that feeling.”

–

All of us at SparkleSkirts salute Kristin and Jeff for increasing awareness of health, fitness, and giving back. Thank you! To read more stories of inspiration, please check out our Sparkle Blog

SparkleSkirts is here for YOU, our fabulous, fun, INCREDIBLE SparkleSisters!

So…here are several fabrics we have chosen for the spring racing season. If you have a moment, please vote on the top three fabrics that you would like to see made into a SparkleTech skirt. We’ll let you know which ones come out on top!

"Ambrosia"

"Autumn"

"Calcutta"

"Exotic"

"Neon Luv "

"Peace N Luv"

"Racey"

"Swirly Purple"

"Tropical Spring"

"Victoria"

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Every mile Beverly takes helps the Gertrude A. Barber Foundation which supports special-needs adults and children including those with autism.

Beverly is part of that exclusive group of runners who has challenged themselves to run a half marathon in every state–and she plans to have them all run by the time she is 70!

In an interview with Beverly, we found out what—and who—inspires her.

SparkleSkirts: What (or who) prompted you to begin this remarkable journey?
Beverly DiCarlo: After I retired from teaching, a fall down a flight of stairs left me hospitalized. I had lots of time to think about my physical fitness… or the lack of it. My son, David, who is a runner, challenged me to train for a sprint triathlon. I trained, finished the tri, then finished three more!

SS: What age were you?
BD: That was all before my sixty-fifth birthday.

SS: Did you get a coach or did you train by yourself?
BD: I did online research and read books such as Running Until You’re 100 by Jeff Galloway, The Complete Guide to Marathon Walking by Dave McGovern and Racewalk Like a Champion by Jeff Savage. When I started training for my first triathlon, I couldn’t run more than several blocks before my knee would swell. So, I was forced to racewalk all my triathlons. I averaged 13-minute miles in all my 5k and 10k tri races.

SS: Then you decided to take the next step?
BD: Yes, my son said he thought I could train to go even farther. That’s when I decided to run a half-marathon in every state, and I would do it to raise money for the Gertrude A. Barber Foundation.

SS: And you have an important reason for that decision.
BD: Yes, my grandson, Aidan, was diagnosed with autism at a very young age, and I have seen what the foundation has done for him and many others.

SS: That helped you get very serious about your running?
BD: Yes, in 2010, while at Disneyland for a half-marathon, I attended every lecture presented by Jeff Galloway. He introduced me to the run/walk concept and told me it would keep me injury-free. I’ve been using his method ever since, I average 12-minute miles and have remained injury free. I have even placed within the top three slots in almost all my races, regardless of the number of runners in my age group!

SS: What is your training regimen?
BD: I run for 45 minutes twice a week and complete a long run, up to as much as 15 miles, on weekends. I alternate running days with biking and swimming.

SS: Do you have any favorite races?
BD: I like the Rock n’ Roll series of races because they are well-organized, easy to travel to and they have great expos. Great courses, plenty of volunteers, and a terrific band every mile or so.

SS: Which race challenged you the most so far?
BD: The Hatfield & McCoy Half Marathon! The course winds through West Virginia and Kentucky and it includes running up Blackberry Mountain!

SS: How has all of this benefited your health?
BD: Very helpful! I take a baby-aspirin every day for heart health, I passed my bone-density test, I’ve never been on hormone drugs, and I have plenty of energy. I lead a very active life!

SS: What funny things can you recall from your training or from race events?
BD: When I was preparing for my very first triathlon, I called the local Y and explained that I was 65 and needed to sign up for a swim class. Imagine my surprise when I showed up for the class to find the pool full of 5 and 6-year-olds. When I checked the roster, there was my name with the notation: “Not sure of Bev’s age, either 5 or 6, so put her in the proper group.” The little ones were relieved when the lifeguard offered to teach me in a separate pool.

As for races…every time my husband and I check into the race hotel, the clerks always turn to my 6’1” husband and wish him good luck in the race. He hasn’t run in years! Guess they don’t imagine a short, silver-haired granny would even think about entering a race.

SS: What support do you get for your races?
BD: My family encouraged me to do this. They thought up my “Race with Grammy” website and designed my logo…a rocking chair with a pair of running shoes hanging off the side. My son runs some races with me. Many friends and businesses have supported me with their contributions to the Gertrude A. Barber Foundation. The Erie Running Club designated the foundation as their annual Mother’s Day race charity. We raised $8,800 in May 2011. I even appreciate fellow runners and spectators who recognize the autism ribbon imprinted on my t-shirt and cheer me on!

What inspires me the most are the parents, relatives and caregivers of children and adults with special needs. Thinking of their patience, dedication and “can do” attitude makes me realize that my little 1,310,000 steps while doing a half marathon is nothing compared to their lifetime of dedication.

SS: Do you have any racing mantras or superstitions?
BD: For each mile of a race, I think of a family member. In the final mile, when it’s the toughest, I think of Aidan, who is now ten years old, and how he strives every day to accomplish things that most of us take for granted. That gets me across the finish line every time.

Beverly’s website is www.RaceWithGrammy.com. Every dollar donated goes directly to the Gertrude A. Barber Foundation. Beverly pays her own race fees and travel expenses.

The SparkleTech skirt that Beverly is wearing will be produced in December, 2011. We call it Summer Green, but it is a great choice for Disney races, winter holiday races, and–yes, it never hurts to plan ahead–Shamrock races.

From each sale of Summer Green SparkleTech skirts, $2 will be donated to the Gertrude Barber Foundation to help support children and adults with special needs. To reserve your Summer Green SparkleTech, please email Leah.