Glad everyone is doing well and ready for 2010!

I love my Nathan HPL 020 too.  Great pack.  I also LOVE my Ultimate Direction WASP, which is nearly identical to the Nathan, but has a much larger cargo capacity.  It works a lot better for some of my unsupported wilderness runs.

I guess it's goals and resolutions time eh?  My 2010 goals:

- finish 2-3 100 milers

- run 2608.2 miles (50.0 mpw average)

- 100 vertical miles (528,000') of elevation gain for the year.

- Have tons of fun, see cool stuff, run with great friends.

 The elevation gain one is going to be really hard.  I only did about 350,000' of gain in '09 and felt like I was doing a lot of climbing.  I think getting into Hardrock will be the only way this will happen.

I only did about 350,000' of gain in '09

 

Only  350,000 feet of gain . . .

I love my Nathan HPL 020 too.  Great pack.  I also LOVE my Ultimate Direction WASP, which is nearly identical to the Nathan, but has a much larger cargo capacity.  It works a lot better for some of my unsupported wilderness runs.

Are they bouncy when full? How's the comfort? I have a 2L Inov-8 hydration fanny pack that's nice, but it does still jiggle uncomfortably when more than half full, and I'm still trying to find a non-bouncy hydration pack.

(That is, if my stinkin' leg and back ever recover so I can run more than a couple of treadmill miles).

 I actually find the skirts cooler than wearing shorts. You get a good breeze that shorts don't allow. I love that they make my legs look slender, cover up just enough of the wider area at the top of my thighs. I was very hesitant to try them but the ladies of the LLR group sang the praises of skirts so much that I tried them. Before I had only tried skirts with compression shorts but they drove me nuts. The brief of the runningskirts is just like what you have with running shorts so they are great and no worry about your shorts riding up into your crotch, which is always so attractive and comfy

 

I really like the compression socks. I had been using Zensah leg sleeves but I like the socks better. I just tried my pair of Sugoi compression socks for the first time today and I think I like my runningskirts socks better, especially the price. So far the longest I've done in them in 9 miles, I'm curious to see how they will do on longer runs and in warmer weather.  I wear mine to run and have really liked them, just enough of a hug to feel good and they keep my ankles and calves scrape free.

Ooooh, the breeze - I'm almost sold! I get it now - very, very cool indeed. I thought they had shorts underneath like the one's I have seen from Moving Comfort. 

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Re the compression socks, a few days ago I ran in a pair of thick skiing socks while wearing shorts - it was relatively cold but not as cold as it has been in the last couple of days here is SC. I wasn't sure if they were going to feel too hot once I got going but guess what, I absolutely loved wearing them during that run. Like you said, on the trail they protect the skin on the lower leg from branches, thorns etc. In addition they kept me warm but did not make me hot. Even my feet stayed comfortably warm w/o getting too hot in the shoes - and yes, the thick socks fit nicely into my trail shoes as well. Of course, these socks wont do in the summer. I did like how they hugged the calves - the support. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I've learned a lot.          

 I absolutely love my running skirts!  I'd have more if they weren't so expensive.  Some of my friends even have running dresses that they swear by.

 I've seen the running dresses but have been reluctant to spend the money on them without any recommendations of what brands are best. Do you know what brand of dresses your friends like best?

 The things about the skirts is I am not a girly girl. I am all jeans and t-shirts in everyday life but I love to wear skirts for running.