Katie K Active Review & Virtual 5km

Last month I wrote a blog article called ” 7 Brands that Sponsor Plus Size Athletes” and it was extremely popular. Thank you all for sharing it in your networks. In researching for that article, I learned more about Katie K Active and their Virtual 5km race, and decided to sign up.  The SWAG was definitely a factor, I love bracelets, but I also love the concept of being able to compete (against yourself) in any location, at any time, inside or out. There are actually more great reasons to do one, I came up with 10, so if you didn’t participate in this one, definitely sign up for the next one.

On Wednesday December 10th I completed my 5km.  The virtual 5km was positioned that you could run it or walk it.  I did neither, and chose to do it on a spin bike (and rode longer because I could).  I’ve been working through a calf injury that feels as hard as a rock.  I’ve been limping around, A LOT!  Could I have pushed through it and walked it on the treadmill? Yes.  Could I have further risked injuring myself by doing it that way? Absolutely!  There’s a huge difference between physical pain and “out of your comfort zone”, pain and there’s no honour in putting your body at risk.  Know when to find alternatives to still stay active, and achieve your goal.  This isn’t the first time I’ve had a leg injury, I have fond memories doing water running in the deep end of the community pool as my “run” workout for a triathlon race. When it’s important, you make it happen.

And for those who joined my virtual team, THANK YOU!

In addition to the virtual 5km, I also tested out their athletic wear line.  Katie K Active provided a pair of capris, top and jacket in exchange for accepting a “#DefineBrave” Ambassador role and helping share news and information through Born to Reign’s social network.   I accepted this offer, because I value a company that recognizes and respects body diversity in athletics. Their activewear is available from S to 3X, and I think all brands should be following suit.  Regardless, these opinions are my own and based on my personal experience and high expectations of performance athletic wear.  If I didn’t like the product, I wouldn’t be an Ambassador

Size & Fit 

I tend to wear a size 4X on the bottom, so I was unsure how things were going to fit, based on their sizing. My hips are wider than 53”, so if you tend to wear 4X, these 3X’s will definitely fit. They are made of a polyester/spandex blend and come with good stretch and compression, which I like because it supports the muscles when they contract.   I’ve washed them a few times and they continue to retain their shape and no fading. They are super comfortable and soft against the skin, but not hot.  They come with high quality, flat-lock stiching, and as noted above, even though I’m larger according to their measurements, when moving and bending over, they did NOT stretch to a point where the fabric becomes sheer or transparent.

The capris sit mid-waist so if you’re going into a downward dog pose, you’ll be fine. In addition, the length of the capri hits mid-calf (I’m 5’7″) and never rises up to your knees, unlike other brands.   I wore the capris for over 8 hours doing various activities and never had to adjust to keep them in place.  I also liked the small details for added comfort including the waist gripper, and the flat, flush pocket in the rear for carrying money or something small. The fabric moves really well with the body.

As for the top and jacket, I’m wearing the 3X, and you get the same high quality, moisture wicking fabric and flat lock stitching (which prevents chafing) as in the capris.  I never felt hot or constricted in this top when working out.  On their website they describe tops & jackets as “relaxed tailored fit”, and I think that is a good description.  I particularly don’t like my tops to be baggy, they just get in the way as you move your upper body, but I also don’t need skin tight either.  The fit sits right in the middle.

There are some little extra details which I appreciated including the zipper back pocket (again you can throw money or an iPod in there), no back collar tags (a true measure of performance wear as this is a highly prone area for chafing).  And while not shown shown here, the jacket, has the fashionable and functional thumb holes to protect your hands in cooler weather.

Bottom Line

Katie K Active’s quality is in the wicking fabric, overall fit and flat-lock stitching so you know these pieces will last a long time. As my measurements were above what is listed in the sizing table, but everything fit comfortable, I feel pretty comfortable saying the fit and fabric can accommodate people who normally wear a 4X bottom. I have since made some additional purchases because I really love these pieces.  I took advantage of the 60% off sales on some tops and bottoms, which is still on.   For regularly-priced purchased, you can use Born to Reign’s discount code “BORNTOREIGN15” for 15% off and free shipping (shipping offer in U.S. only).

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