EspnW Summit - An Amazing Experience

Life has been moving at the speed of light lately and I literally haven't had a spare moment to write this post. Between moving to a new house, the espnW Summit, heading to San Francisco to run my third Nike Women's Marathon and multiple visits from family members, I have barely had time to sleep. But finally, I am going to share with you what I learned at the espnW Women + Sports Summit. 

Let's start with day one. I posted a very brief post at the summit, but now you are in for the long haul! I arrived at the summit about an hour late due to flight delays, but that wasn't too much of a problem. I checked in at the registration table and picked up my credentials. EspnW sure knows how to make someone feel like a VIP! 

Following check-in I headed to the conference room for the opening remarks and to have dinner. Due to rain, the summit began indoors. Michelle Kwan, Olympic Silver Medalist in figure skating, was giving an opening keynote and I was really impressed with what she had to say. She is helping with the 2015 World Games - Special Olympics in LA. It's inspiring to see and hear how what these athletes have accomplished and to see an Olympian giving back and continuing to grow her legacy.

Michelle Kwan and my wonderful new friends and seat-mates for dinner.

The evening program had a large focus on the 2015 World Games and inspired me to see what I can do to get involved. I would love to go down to LA to help out. We'll see where I am at closer to 2015 and maybe I can make that dream a reality.

That evening we also enjoyed one of the film's in espnW's "Nine for Nine" series featuring incredible athletes in women's sports. Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm were on hand to talk about and answer questions about their amazing soccer season in 1999 and the film Foudy directed "The 99ers" was shown. These women did so much for soccer and women in sports and are continuing today. INSPIRING!

Under Armour Swag Bag

What is a women's sports conference without a great sponsor like Under Armour to provide the ladies attending with great new gear? They had an entire gifting suite where we could go and pick out items to wear for the weekend for our sports activities. Yes, there were also many opportunities to do different sports classes. I took full advantage! 

I went on a run with the New York Road Runners, where I met and ran with Alana Golab, from Digital Royalty, she is super sweet by the way! I also did yoga with Under Armour's own trainer, Shauna Harrison and tried SURFSET Fitness - which is basically indoor surfing. The surfboard lays atop balance balls and is tethered, but makes you feel like you are surfing. Super fun and super tough!

An amazing artist putting the speakers words into art during the summit

During the entire summit espnW had an artist depicting the speakers words into pictures and short quotes. I thought this was an amazing way to show what we were learning in a new and fun way. Wish I could take sweet notes like these! I'm a sports girl, not an artist, but I can appreciate true talent when I see it. Props to our great artist!

Amy Jo Martin giving a presentation on Personal Branding with Alana Golab

I had the pleasure of meeting Amy Jo Martin, the founder of Digital Royalty. It was great to meet her in person. She has definitely helped me to expand my personal brand on social media and actually is one of the reasons that I ended up getting an invite to this summit. I was able to come because of the power of social media and I am grateful for being given such a chance. I have taken some of her Digital Royalty University classes and have benefitted from her experience and insight. 

The Summit Evening Session - Gorgeous!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Heidi Burgett who works in communications for Nike. I had been interacting with her via social media for a while and it was great to finally meet! Of course, I asked her for advice on how to get to work for Nike and she said (I'm paraphrasing): Be the best at what you do and someone will find you. Great advice and what drives me to do what I do in the social world and at my job.

 Summit Action Plan - My favorite runner, Allyson Felix, gave the closing remarks

The closing remarks were given by Allyson Felix and some up and coming female athletes, Taylor Townsend, Sydney Leroux, Lakey Peterson and Victoria Arlen. It's exciting to see and hear what these talented ladies are doing in their sports and to give back to sport. The summit ended with an action plan that sparked a desire in me to really go out and focus on getting more women active and promoting the growth of female sports!

Post Summit Golf at the St. Regis Monarch Beach

After the summit I took a golf lesson at the St. Regis Monarch as one of the benefits of attending the summit and gained some much needed tips for improving my golf game. It was only my second time playing, so I thought I did pretty well. The course was beautiful as well, right along the ocean!

In conclusion, the conference was the best experience ever! I learned so much and was inspired to do so much more and seek out opportunities. I wish I could relay every moment to you, but that would be a very long post! If you want to learn more check out the highlights at espnW.com. Be inspired.

~Karen

The Beginning of Something Great

The espnW Women + Sports Summit kicked off last night at 5pm. Due to multiple delays on my flight, I arrived around 6:30pm. I have been excited about attending this event and couldn't be more  pleased with how the event is going so far. I have heard from amazing female athletes, influencers and women in the sports industry and have met many new role models and friends.

Michelle Kwan giving the opening keynote

When I arrived, Michelle Kwan had just begun to give her opening keynote. I remember watching her skate when I was growing up and it was awesome to hear what she is doing for sports. She is also involved with the Special Olympics. The games will be held in Los Angeles in 2015 and there was a great discussion about bringing awareness to these amazing athletes. 

Following their talk there was a fabulous dinner and a Power Talk from the amazing Sarah Reinertsen. Who spoke about helping those with disabilities and how we can get them involved in sports. She spoke about those who had lost legs during the Boston bombings and I had never realized just how expensive a prosthetic running leg is - $30,000. The need to empower everyone through sport is so important and Sarah is an amazing advocate for sports and changing lives through fitness and movement.

The final panel featured amazing Olympic athletes: Tina Charles, Lindsey Jacobellis, Sanya Richards Ross and Janet Evans. They discussed the balance between sports and life. We all have to learn to find balance and at the elite level this is even more important. Through family time, a business, charity work, these ladies all have something to keep them balanced outside of sports. 

For the final event of the evening there was a screening of "The 99ers," the documentary showcasing the 1999 Women's Soccer Team's journey to their World Cup victory. The Q & A before hand with Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm was very inspiring. They showed how such a great team can come together and how hard work and a little fun can pay off. 

With so much more to write - stay tuned for upcoming posts about the inspiring women of the espnW Summit!

~Karen

Life is a Collection of Moments

Life is a collection of moments. We live for the moments when everything is going our way. When we feel happiness, elation, success and accomplishment. We choose to remember the good times in photos, Facebook posts, Instagram updates, and Tweets. My Klout profile alerts me when I have a "moment" on one of my social sites that brings a lot of interactions. 

This year so far is a collection of quite a few moments. I have had my share of highs and lows, successes and failures. My favorite moments have to do with trips I have taken and the people I have met along the way. Visiting New York, participating in the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC, meeting the espnW staff, running Hood to Coast with Nuun Hydration and interacting with fans on my blog are all moments that I treasure. 

This month brings about three very important moments. First - my husband and I are closing on our first house, which means I get an office and a workout room! Second - I am heading to the espnW Women+Sports Summit to learn about what I love and interact with other amazing women. Third - I am running my third marathon in San Francisco at the 10th Anniversary of the Nike Women's Marathon. October is going to be one amazing month.

I'm learning to appreciate the moments that happen, rather than things. Moments are truly what matters and they are what you make of them. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't try to find a way to enjoy life and make a moment that matters. Right now my day to day moments seem to revolve around running. I really feel alive and in control of my life when I run. It's not always about the speed or the distance for me. It's often just about enjoying the run and getting away from the computer and back to nature. Running is the reason I blog, has lifted me up when I am low and has given me more confidence in achieving my dreams. Running and the digital world have collided recently and given me a chance to interact with other runners on a global level. I truly believe that running can cross oceans, ages, time, and unite people together. I have never met a runner that doesn't cheer me on or provide encouragement. No matter how fast or how slow, runners know it's about something bigger than winning a race. Running gives us moments to celebrate. 

The next few weeks I'll be traveling, learning, and challenging myself. I hope you'll join me for the ride and share the moment.

 ~Karen

A Big Thank You to EspnW and a 98 Days to Shine Finale Recap!

Most of you know by now that I was in New York, courtesy of espnW, the last week of August. I won their grand prize in the 98 Days To Shine Twitter and Instagram contest they were running to promote women in sports. I was privileged to experience New York, the US Open and an exclusive summer finale event. Many of my readers participated in the contest and are one of the reasons it was so successful. Thank you for sharing your motivating photos all summer long! 

Me next to the wall of 98 challenges!

On Wednesday, August 28, I attended the US Open in the ESPN suite at the US Open. I'm telling you, this is the way to watch a tennis match! The seats were great, the view was perfect and the hospitality was top notch! My husband and I saw Li Na, Agnieska Radwanska, Juan Martin Del Potro, Rafael Nadal and many more tennis players throughout the day. The fun thing about the US Open early rounds is the amount of matches around the grounds. We could see so many players up close. Inspiring!

Can't complain when enjoying the ESPN suite!

There were a few rain delays throughout the day and we even saw a few lightening strikes in the sky, but the tennis was still amazing! If I ever have to sit through rain delays, I will gladly wait them out in the comfort of the ESPN suite. With couches, TV's, food and charging stations for electronic devices, a rain delay is definitely not a hardship I can't handle. 

Juan Martin Del Potro's match after two rain delays. 

Did I mention that we felt pretty important with our ESPN bracelets. Branded! I really didn't want to take it off all week, but alas, all good things must end. Though I refuse to believe that this will be the last time I see the wonderful people I met at espnW and their partner agency. After all, the espnW Women + Sports Summit is just a month away! 

Branded! I like the way this looks. Yes, I think I would be happy working for espnW!

That evening was also the summer finale event for the 98 Days To Shine contest and I was invited to attend. EspnW had rented out a gallery for a showing of the best pictures of the summer, hosted a special event for young girls and had a cocktail hour at the end. They also had some of their featured athletes at the event. I got to meet Julie Foudy and Lakey Peterson! They were so down to earth and awesome. I could really tell that they enjoyed being at the event and promoting female success in sports.

98 Days To Shine Open House in NYC

I arrived at the event after a day of tennis and met many of the people who were working behind the scenes of the contest. I wish I could list all their names here and thank them for all the work they did and the great contest, but alas, I am afraid I would forget someone important! I will say that I owe this experience to their creativity and relentless pursuit to elevate female athletes. I was honored to be included and treated as a VIP! It truly was a great presentation, event and summer long contest and I felt like I learned a lot about my self and met some inspirational female athletes via social media because of the contest. I will be reaping the benefits of my involvement long after my trip to NYC. 

Inside the Gallery!

The gallery itself showcased some of the best photos from throughout the summer and I found so many of my photos displayed! I can now say I had my photos up in an NYC gallery showing, pretty cool right? I also saw a lot of photos from some of my friends and new acquaintances via the contest pictured along the wall. I tried to take photos of as many as I could. It was exciting to see so many female athletes featured in one place. These are everyday athletes like myself who are pushing themselves to be better than yesterday and achieving great goals. 

I got the meet the amazing Julie Foudy, Lakey Peterson and Laura Gentile!

The highlight of the evening was meeting Olympian Julie Foudy, Professional Surfer Lakey Peterson, Laura Gentile and Laura Suchoski from espnW. These ladies were so sweet, down to earth and genuinely excited to be promoting the growth of female athletes. They really took an interest in the contest and the gallery showing. I have a lot of respect for everything that each one of these ladies is doing to elevate women in sports and I can only hope that I can help them with the cause and give women the ability to believe in themselves and elevate their lives through sport. 

A huge thank you to espnW for everything that you have done for me this summer and for women in sports. I am excited to have been a part of something so special. Being among women who are as passionate about sports as I am really helped to push me in the direction of finding a career that allows me to help empower women in sport everyday. What's better than that? Whether that career becomes my childhood dream of working with Nike or perhaps I become a writer or social media guru for the WTA or maybe even espnW, I'm sure an opportunity will arise as long as I continue my relentless pursuit of my passions. After this past summer, I know that anything is possible and that the sky is the limit. 

We were meant to have dreams and goals for a reason and these past few years I have learned more about myself through sport than any other area of my life. I want to share that passion with others and continue inspiring women to go for their dreams. 

The 98 Days to Shine contest may be over, but I intend to continue to shine throughout the coming years. This is only the beginning.

Don't You Want to Run Ireland with Me? #RUNIRISHLUCK

I have been traveling the last few weeks so this post is coming much later than I would like. I have so many updates to share about running Hood to Coast with Nuun Hydration, NYC with espnW and the US Open and more, but this post is time sensitive! I was chosen as a finalist in the Nike Running Free Run competition. I created the run of my dreams in Phase 1 of the contest and now I need your help in Phase 2! All you have to do is log your runs with Nike+ from August 20 - September 13 and share them on Twitter with the hashtag #runirishluck and your miles count as a vote for my run! At the end of the contest, Nike Running will pick one run as the winner and the creator of the dream run and the top contributors get to go on an all expenses paid adventure! Excited yet? This would absolutely be my dream! For more information simply click on this link. 

What my run looks like so far.

I created my dream run through Ireland and am in awe of what an opportunity this would be. Any runs that you can contribute, friends that you can recruit and tweets and posts that you share would be a great help! As you can see, there are 74 contributors at the time of this post who have already logged 381 runs! Thank you so much if you have contributed and if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Your miles not only help me reach my dream run, but they could also get you to Ireland as well! Nike is creating the opportunity of a lifetime and I do not want to miss out! If you don't believe me when I say what an awesome opportunity this would be just search #montaukproject on Twitter and Instagram and you'll see what great adventures that Nike Running plans for consumers. 

Short Clip from My Free Run!

Running through other countries and on other continents throughout the world would be a dream for me. Please help by logging your miles towards my run! After all, if you are already running or training for a race you might as well make those miles count! 

The Nike+ App is free and you can easily log your runs from there and tag them to Twitter directly from your phone. If you don't have the app be sure to download it today and start running! I wish you the best of luck in your training and running journeys and hope we get to #RUNIRISHLUCK together soon! If you have any questions for me just ask!

Happy Training!

~Karen

Unbelievable Joy

Life can be surprising, exciting, sad, exhilarating or just plain unbelievable. I can't complain about anything this year. I thought that I had a lot to complain about in January when my husband got a job transfer and we had to move from a place where I had just established myself. I didn't want to move, I still don't particularly like the location we are living, but all in all, things have worked out for the best this year and I have no regrets.

After the move, my current employer found a way to allow me to work remotely from my new location so I still have a job (even though it's not with Nike, I'm working on that)! I have the best boss in the world. I have found a running group that I really do enjoy training with. I get to go back to Roseville every few weeks to reconnect with friends, stop by work and fulfill my responsibilities as the Athleta Roseville sponsored athlete. I have flexibility in my schedule and I have had many unexpected opportunities this year.

Today it was announced that I WON the espnW #98DaysToShine contest! Can you guess what the prize was? It's perfect for me and my husband. We are headed to the US Open! All summer long I have been entering the contest daily by submitting a photo for the corresponding day. I read the rules, I set an alert in my phone so I would never miss a day, and I left the rest up to espnW and my fellow competitors. I really embraced the competition, I encouraged my friends to join and honestly, I did not expect to win. I was overjoyed when I won! I came home with a perma-grin on my face and I haven't stopped smiling since. Thankful. Blessed. Lucky. I have so many feelings right now, but the overwhelming one is joy. I am blissfully happy! Not just because I won, but because this prize is the manifestation of all the hard work I have been putting in this year and it means the world to me. I owe a lot to espnW and I want to express my thanks to them for providing this opportunity.

Winning this contest made me think seriously about how I am approaching my goals. I'm choosing to believe that my life is headed in the direction I want it to go. I have always loved fitness and sharing that love with others. This year has reinforced my belief in my ability to do this. If I can't motivate people in person it may be through my blog, Twitter or Instagram account. However it happens, I can be a voice for women in sports and women who want to achieve great things. 

Some of my friends and even strangers have asked how I am so lucky. I don't honestly think that I am a lucky person. I wish I could just say there was some magic pill you could take and you could be lucky too. It doesn't work like that. In my case, I have put in a lot of work and I have applied for a lot of jobs and opportunities and been told no. I've been told no hundreds of times, not received responses to emails, been told I'm not good enough and should have just settled for a more stable job, a more reliable job where you are guaranteed a good salary right out of college. Why wasn't I a doctor or a nurse? My response has been and will always be that I would not be happy in a job like that. That is not the life I chose and I am walking a path that I have no regrets taking. Right now I am working a job to pay the bills, but in all my spare time, I am working towards my dream career in sports. 

I do research daily. It's not a secret that I want to work for Nike. I scour their job postings and look at the requirements for becoming an employee. I have taken jobs for gaining experience in areas I think will make me a better candidate. I reach out to as many people as I can that have reached the goal I have in mind or are on the same path. I ask questions, I put myself out there and I am not afraid to fail. Have I made it to my dream career yet? No, but I am so much closer. 

My resume now shows the work I have done for the Sacramento Capitals World Team Tennis League managing all of their social media. I have had the privilege of an ambassadorship with Nike Women in 2012 and have maintained connections with influencers I have met. I have spoken with recruiters and shared my passion via social media. I have connected with women across the globe and motivated them. So tell me, do you think I'm wasting my time? I don't. I see every minute I spend working towards my dreams as time well spent. I have learned so much through the last few years and perhaps, when I do get my dream job, what I have learned now, as a consumer and brand ambassador on the outside, will serve me in ways I can't even imagine. 

If there is one thing I have learned, life is never what you expect it to be. I have had a blessed year. I am blessed with a job that I enjoy, friends that support me, a family that I can share my dreams and passions with and I can run and train without injuries. I have been lucky enough to be chosen as an ambassador for Nike, Nuun and Athleta. I won the trip of a lifetime to the US Open. I put myself out there and succeeded. 

Life was meant to be lived and I am going to live it the way I want to. I have always been one to make a goal and not stop until I reach it. Maybe I'm stubborn, or maybe I've just found out how we were meant to live. I can't give up on my dreams or passions because they are what make me who I am. I can't live your life for you any more than you can live mine. But if you can take anything from this, I want you to make a choice in your life. Don't give up on your passion, don't let anyone else define you and don't ever give up. 

You can't wait for opportunities to knock on your door. Put yourself in a place where you are vulnerable, where you have the opportunity to get to a better place. Will you fail? I almost guarantee it. But when you succeed, you will know how truly lucky you are. Amazing awaits.

~Karen

I Need Your Help to Get to the EspnW Summit

I received an amazing email invitation today from espnW! I received an invite to their fourth annual Women + Sports Summit. This summit brings top women athletes, influencers and industry leaders together to network and learn from each other to advance women's sports initiatives. Not only will top leaders from espnW, the WNBA, and Olympic athletes be there, but also Amy Jo Martin, the co-founder of Digital Royalty (who I have learned a lot of my social media skills from). I would love to meet her here! Since the Summit Registration Fee is a bit out of my price range I thought I would reach out to my readers and see if you would be willing to help! 

I love blogging and sharing my fitness journey with you all and this is the perfect opportunity to share with you an inside look at the espnW Summit. I will be blogging and sharing my experience during the entire event. If you would like to donate to my Summit Fund you can read more about the event and donate at this link: http://gogetfunding.com/project/espnw-women-and-sports-summit. Any amount helps! I really appreciate anything you can do to help, your support means the world to me and you are one of the reasons I was invited to the Summit!

If you have any fundraising ideas I am open to them as well! I have worked hard to work with women in sports, motivate women to push past their barriers and this opportunity would be invaluable to me. Thank you for being such loyal followers! Have you had an opportunity like this before? Do you have any ideas for me? Let me know in the comments below!

~Karen

Happy Fourth of July

Happy 4th of July! I hope you have a great day. I have heard of so many fun races going on today, I can't believe I'm not signed up for one. Oh well, I'll plan on participating next year. Today I am going to get my run on in the cool air conditioning of the gym on the treadmill. We have a pool party, barbecue and fireworks display to attend, so the rest of the evening is going to be busy!

I just wanted to check and and wish you all a great day. It's truly a blessing that we get to celebrate our freedom and I plan on doing just that! If you haven't yet, head on over to espnW's Instagram or Twitter and submit your red, white and blue photo in their 98 Days To Shine photo contest for a chance to win some amazing prizes, like the awesome "W is for winners" shirt I am sporting in this picture. Good luck! 

Find your amazing today!

W Is For Winners!

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope your week is going as well as mine! I have been having a great week in my running and fitness life and thought I would share a few of the fun things that happened to me this week. One of the first things is that I received my prize from winning the Day 1 photo challenge in the espnW 98 Days to Shine Instagram and Twitter contest. I received a really fun t-shirt and can't wait to proudly wear it around town! Yes, W is for winners! My shirt arrived Monday morning. I went out for a morning run and when I returned it was waiting for me at the door! Thanks espnW, I can't wait to keep entering your contest!

This week was a little cooler in Northern California. In fact, I was scheduled to have a track workout on Monday evening and when I showed up no one else was there. I checked Facebook and saw that the run had been cancelled due to inclement weather. As an Oregonian, 60's and overcast is NOT inclement weather! There needs to by lightening striking close by for me to give up on a run. Needless to say I did a three mile sprint workout anyway. It was nice to run by myself too, just me, the track and the great outdoors. I did 400's and 200's and followed them with a yoga session. In case you were wondering, this is the perfect way to start off a week!

The later half of the week I have been busy with work and getting ready for the Sacramento Capitals World TeamTennis season lately. If you are in the Sacramento area you don't want to miss out on the chance to see these world class tennis players in action! See photo below from the team last year. Yes, that is me with Sam Querrey, the number one American tennis player in the world right now! Go Capitals! For updates be sure to follow their Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you do you just might be interacting with yours truly and have the chance to win amazing box seats to the matches in July!

I am also getting so excited for the upcoming Hood to Coast Relay with Nuun Hydration! There are so many exciting things happening and great sponsors we are working with. I can't wait to try their new products and share my journey with you. The official countdown has begun and now there are only 57 days until the race! Stay tuned here because there are going to be lots of fun giveaways coming up for you guys as well! 

Happy Training!

How I Seized the Solstice

I hope you are enjoying your weekend! I had a great time this weekend mixing up my workouts and participating in the Athleta Seize the Solstice event at the Roseville Galleria store. Athleta was celebrating the beginning of summer by holding a live yoga event in Times Square and included their stores in this event by offering free yoga classes and the opportunity to come home with a brand new yoga mat to commemorate the event and improve your practice. I enjoyed the hour long free class that started my day off right. Following that I won a yoga mat in the drawing held in-store. Athleta also provided water, fruit and snacks for after the event. One lucky lady won a new yoga outfit! Athleta is always offering amazing free classes, training and opportunities for women to achieve athletic success. If you haven't checked them out yet stop by your local store or check them out online at athleta.com.

On Saturday I went for a short run around the sidewalks of Roseville. I have been getting over a cold so it was a short run, but it felt so good to be out and about! I loved breathing in the fresh morning air and breaking in my Nike Flyknit running shoes. The color is perfect for summer as it pops brightly in the sun. I have the Hood to Coast Relay coming up in just two months, so I have to start training hard for this event. I also need to build a base for my third marathon in October! Lots of training is in my future. 

The tennis season is in full swing and Wimbledon begins tomorrow! I am so excited to start watching this event. The grass courts of Wimbledon are my favorite to watch. It may be the clean cut lawns or the traditions that make Wimbledon great. Whatever the reason, someday I hope to be able to attend the Wimbledon event and experience it first hand! Until then, I will be working for the Sacramento Capitals World TeamTennis season again and getting used to the tournament world. I love working in their social media department and watching the matches. The energy on the court is amazing! This year, in Sacramento we will have Grand Slam champions the Bryan Brothers playing on our courts! Top American players Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish will also play. It is going to be such a fun season! If you are in Sacramento in July I hope you come out to experience the matches!

If you have been following me on Instagram you have seen the photos I have been posting to the daily Instagram challenge from espnW. Today I got a little creative with their vitamin photo challenge! I am about a month into the challenge and have really enjoyed posting the daily photos and going out of my comfort zone. If you haven't joined yet you should check out their Instagram and Twitter feed and get on board! You could win daily prizes and be entered to win grand prize at the end, which is a trip to the US Open tennis tournament! I would love this prize! What are you waiting for? Start posting your photos today and inspire others!

Happy training!

What's In My Gym Bag

EspnW is holding an Instagram photo contest and one of their photos this week was "what's in your gym bag?" I posted this photo of my gear. First and foremost there are bright colors and that just makes workouts more fun and also increases visibility on the road. It's always important to be safe! Second, my favorite gear from Athleta - this awesome running tank and bright blue Relay Running Capri. They are so soft! If you're running the See Jane Run Half Marathon this weekend look out for me in my blue capris! I can't go anywhere without my favorite NIKEiD running shoes and Sportwatch. Nuun hydration tabs, KT Tape, music, sunblock and a massager are a must! What's in your gym bag? Did I miss any essentials? 

Peek Inside My Gym Bag

Unfortunately, I am a day late on my post but yesterday was National Running Day. I was fortunate enough to go on a five mile hill workout with the North Coast Striders, a local running club. We crushed those hills! When I got home I did some work and then got a surprise from Nike Running in the mail, new Flyknit shoes! I couldn't think of a more perfect day for them to arrive and am excited to start breaking them in. The colors are so fun! I have one other pair of Flyknit shoes from Nike and have  trained for and run two half marathons in them. I really like how light and supportive they are. They definitely add to the bright colors of my workout wardrobe!

Nike Flyknit Shoes

This week has also been nutrition focus week. I plan on tackling my third marathon and first triathlon this fall so I am trying to focus on keeping my body as healthy and happy as possible. A few weeks ago I received a sample of Zola Coconut Water to try. Coconut water is great for hydration and has a lot of potassium, all important for replenishing the body after intense exercise. I must say my favorite was the natural coconut water, it has great flavor and was extremely refreshing ice-cold. The coconut water with pulp was surprisingly good. It has actual chunks of coconut in the water and gives you something to chew on. It's a unique post-workout drink. The Acai juice was super refreshing, light and delicious. According to recent studies it's a super fruit so I just imagined it healing my body while I drank it. Bottom line, if you love coconut and all natural juices then give Zola a try. I'm going to stock up on my favorites next time I go to the store. 

Zola Coconut Water

I have a busy weekend ahead of me so stay tuned for my race recap and more! Are you running any races this weekend?

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I am so thankful and grateful for all the armed forces who fought and sacrificed so that I could enjoy the freedom to pursue my dreams. I am forever in your debt. To celebrate the weekend, and the fact that my dad is off his crutches and walking again this week after his ski accident in January, my parents came down for a visit and we went to Fort Bragg in Northern California. We had a great time exploring beaches, trails, trains, a lighthouse and the discovering the local wildlife. 

Aaron and I on the Skunk Train.

I have been experimenting with photography lately and I took a few photos that I'm proud of. The one below is from our hike to the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. The colors of the flower were so vibrant. It's not a perfect photo, but I'm getting better! I saw a runner on my hike down and wished I had brought my running shoes. I needed to get out and run, but alas, I think the hiking we did was similar and probably a good rest for my body.

My parents headed back to Oregon this morning and I headed out for a tough gym session. I went for a one mile warm-up run and then hit the weight room for some leg work. I have really been feeling that my body is off balance lately so I am hitting the gym hard doing different exercises to target other muscle groups than just the ones used while running. If I am going to PR at the Nike Women's Marathon this year on October 20 then I have to make sure my body is in perfect shape. My focus now is core work, legs and yoga. I really want to get my body in balance. 

Today marked the beginning of a campaign that espnW is launching for the next 98 Days of Summer. It is a photo challenge they are holding on Instagram and Twitter. To participate and have the chance to win great prizes all you have to do is share a photo each day of whatever challenge they post. Today it was a photo of yourself at the beginning of summer. All the challenges are posted on espnW.com. Come back each day to post a new photo and tag it with #98DaysToShine and the day (#Day1). You could win many different prizes, from ipads to Google+ Hangouts to a trip to the US Open! I'm going to participate every day. Are you?

How is your training going? Did you have any races or long runs planned this weekend? Are you going to join the espnW challenge? I hope you have had a restful weekend and are ready to get back into your regular routine tomorrow. Holidays are nice, but I am ready to get back to my training schedule and daily activities.

Women, Sports and the Superbowl

The Superbowl this past Sunday was a huge hit among both men and women. If anyone has been following espnW this weekend they would have seen the recent stats they have been sharing about women's increased participation in watching the game (44%) and purchasing NFL memorabilia. 

Women are starting to participate more and more in sports and sporting events and are becoming a huge target market. Women have every right to be involved both on and off the field and it is about time that they are recognized as the large market that they are. 

I know I have always enjoyed both playing and watching sports. Nothing could tear me away from the Australian Open this year. Part of my obsession with tennis is the fact that women and men are treated on an equal level. Both men and women share equal prize money and equal television coverage at the Grand Slams. The tennis tour has discovered that women are integral in sports and are working to equalize their pay and tournaments across the globe. It is only a matter of time before other sports take note and women begin to share equal time with their male counterparts. 

For more info on women and sports check out espnW.com and NikeWomen.com. Both are great resources for information on women and their pursuits in the sporting world. 

Girls and Women in Sports Day!

Today is National Girls and Women in sports day. What a great way to spend a Wednesday. With all of the advances in women's sports lately it is important to celebrate how women achieve success in sports.

Girls need to know that sports are making a difference in women's lives everywhere and setting aside a special day to recognize that is an incredible opportunity. With the rise of espnW, Nike Women, the US Women's National Soccer team, the WTA and many other women-focused organizations it is no wonder that we are celebrating our successes and ability to enhance other women's lives through sports.

Women need to press forward and continue reaching for higher and higher goals. Never give up, never back down, and never stop. 

espnW

I just received this thank-you note from espnW regarding an essay I wrote to them for a competition. Thanks so much espnW! I just love that they cared enough to recognize my efforts and acknowledge me as a fan. It just goes to show that when you follow your heart and write about something you truly care about good things happen. I hope to someday be involved in an organization as focused on advancing women and sports as espnW.

If you haven't checked out their website head on over to espnw.com. Their website focuses on women and sports and is a great resource for fans and industry professionals to keep up on current trends and live scores. They also have a twitter account and you can follow them and get up to date scores as well as motivational quotes. Check it out today.