Salomon Demo day at Mountain Sports, LTD

 June 8th Mountain Sports held it's first Salomon Demo day and 6 mi fun run at Steeles Creek Park.
I had marked the course at steeles creek the previous day with white chalk arrows and pink streamers for each turn. It was my first "run" back since OD 100  and didn't feel to terrible.
That morning I met Tim, the Salomon Rep for our area at the store and we set up the tent and I made electrolyte drink for the run and the  post run demo/pizza party at the store.

 Tim has a cool car. :)

Then we proceeded to Steeles Creek Park and had about 50 runners come out to run the 6 miles of mostly technical single track.  Almost everyone demoed shoes, or already had on salomons and I thought that was AWESOME!! Tim also had Suunto watches for demo. Those were really popular during the demo. 

 Great looking group!!!! 

 I assigned myself sweeping duties so I could take down the streamers, pick up trash ( leave the trail nicer than I found it) AND to insure no one took a wrong turn or got lost. I had a great time doing this, and the chill pace was just what I needed. It was a great day to just be out in the woods:)

Survived the first monster climb!!! 

                               

 smiling now that they know I'm snapping pics:)

 My friend Dee and I had an amazing time on the trail getting to know each other. We finished and loaded up my car and when Tim and I pulled into mountain sports, we were AMAZED the parking lot was FULL and there weren't any parking spots!!

     so we quickly unloaded so he could set up for the demo at the store.

Tim explaining to Trevor the mantras is built on an S-LAB platform

                                                    Tim and I post demo. Happy we got such a positive response from the community.

Even Jason Suhy came to the demo AFTER he ran the varmint. I made him show me his SHEEP! 

MORE DEMO pics: 

                          the masses got to demo: XR Missions, Speedcross, Crossmax, and Mantras

                                            Like these pics so much, I'm posting some twice.

                          THEN after work ALL of the Mountain Sports LTD kids met for dinner because Whitney is going to Italy for a month! to study pottery making!!   I took my sons jack and todd with me -- they LOVE the mtn sports kids and always have so much fun with them.

        It was a great day and I'm so extremely blessed to be apart of the Mountain Sports family AND the Salomon family. So appreciative of their support and allowing me to be an ambassador for them this year.  I LOVE promoting for Salomon and exposing more people to Salomon running/suunto. Their gear really is THE BEST in the industry, I highly recommend using Salomon and suunto  gear on your next big adventure! You will immediately see the difference ( ambits-- are a way better watch than garmin ever thought of being- especially in determining vertical climbing during a run-- you can look at it on the Ambit itself mid run- and it's pretty darm accurate. Garmin- you have to go home connect it to the computer and half the time it's off- FAIL. ) The Salomon packs are light years ahead of nathan or ultra spire ( the neoprene covering on the hose for the Advanced skin 12 for instance, my water never froze all winter with this pack and I did alot of  long runs in 20F);  Salomon compression Slab series is the gold standard in compression-- with the honeycomb matrix compression it reduces the vibration and is so supportive on your muscles-- zensah and x2u?? nope.
  and I really feel Salomon shoes are the best trail shoes. No matter what distance or condition, there is a Salomon shoe that will work for you. trust me go try a pair. you wont regret it.

GU NUTRITION CLINIC AT MTN SPORTS

May 25th Mountain Sports was kind enough to let me host a Gu Nutrition Clinic at the store to promote  my nutritional sponsor for my running, GU ENERGY LABS.

I was first introduced to GU when I was a freshman at ETSU in 1997 when i ran track, fred warren the head men's golf coach gave me a case of "just plain" and "vanilla bean" and I would take them  immediately BEFORE practice or events.

Well, This company has travelled far in the past 16 yrs. Developing a range of electrolyte replacement powders, tablets, Recovery powder, gel in more solid form ( GU CHOMPS) and Gel containing Amino Acid (  GU ROCTANE) in addition to the traditional Gu formula.

Downtown Bristol was hosting a Memorial day weekend 5k called Bill Gatton Freedom 5k. This is an annual event, very well organized, it benefits MS research and MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION ( 2 WONDERFUL CAUSES)  I've seen the race participants #'s grow every year, so thought it would be awesome to have the Gu clinic in conjunction with the race. So Gu was nice enough to donate swag to the runners from the Freedom 5k who came to the clinic. These runners were gifted with not only Gu samples but their choice of  Defeet Socks with the Gu sunburst logo or a headsweats brand running cup with the GU sunburst embroidered on it. EXTREMELY NICE. THANK YOU GU ENERGY LABS!!

 I strided out the 5k in 21:25, 4th overall female ( for a 5k! ) and  won my age group. I felt good, I pushed a little at the beginning because of the cool weather I feel. it was 40F at the start ( we have had an usually cold spring until last week)  but where I was running old dominion 100 the following week, I decided to just keep it under control, and that the race was what I needed to "get the wiggles out" and spent the rest of the time after the race, telling everyone to come to mtn sports for the GU clinic.

my good friend, Kathryn and I at the finish line/awards ceremony post race. 

 I pull up to mtn sports after the race and the parking lot is already full!! ( I had set up the tent, tables  and made the GU BREW at 6am that morning with the help of mark and steve) So all had to do was get out the samples and swag and VOLIA! let the fun begin! We were absolutely slammed for a couple of hours. I never got to give a formal presentation, but each person that came through i got to explain the difference in each product and what their specific function was. Many of my friends from the running, trail running, ultra running, mountain biking and road biking communities came to the clinic that day, ( the mtn sports crew said they thought about 75-100 runners from the 5k came into the store that day alone)  and we had many different conversations about fueling and I just discussed how specifically I personally fuel during an ultra, and another conversation I felt I had over and over was the difference between GU original and Gu Roctane. 

Sampling the goods!! 

  it really meant alot to me my friends ( you know who you are !! and you guys are AWESOME) who came out to support me that day. I really hope everyone can see I'm trying to make a more positive impact by promoting ultrarunning, trail running, and just being active outside in general.  I'm Trying to get as many people involved in the sport as I can.  I know what a positive difference it's made in my life, and I just love sharing my passion with others.  I'm so grateful for my job at Mountain Sports, it never really feels like a job. Extremely happy to get to learn  all about the retail side of the outdoor industry.  LOVE IT.

let me say a couple things about GU Energy:
This is a company where GOOD people work. This isn't a huge company, yet they do BIG THINGS, and accomplish a lot.   Most of the employees are athletes just like you and me: runners, bikers of all levels of speed who just love being on the road or trail and love what they do. They were kind enough to share their swag and samples they needed for expos, tradeshows etc with me do this clinic. Because the event I did at mountain sports isn't pre packaged or "canned". It was something in the end, I completely felt  strongly compelled to do to promote for GU,  get more runners and trail runners to Mountain sports, and establish more of a community there at the store.  I am so humbled, appreciative and THANKFUL for the people at GU energy who helped make this happen and who shared so I could do this event The  GU clinic was AWESOME, I know it exposed more people to their products. SO,  my readers-- BUY GU!! because these guys are AWESOME, and make AWESOME endurance nutritional products.

late winter training to terrapin 50k-- Springing forward full of gratitude

  I'm so completely excited that today is the vernal equinox!!
Im so completely filled with  hope and  enthusiasm for  2013 spring and summer. I'm really enjoying training, feel I'm in a good place with it, balancing running, work, family obligations. I've had some amazing long runs  since holiday lake ( and some fleetly tempo runs and hill repeats) and I'm just feeling strong. Excited for the journey that will lead to me Old Dominion 100 on June 1st.  I have many many adventures planned the next couple months, so training for OD is going to be VERY FUN:)

 I really have been trying to  INTENTIONALLY and PURPOSEFULLY focus my energy in a positive direction this past week. Remind myself daily of all the things in my life I have to be thankful for.. there are so many!  My wonderful kids and family that loves me and cares for me, my friends that I run with---
 I love all the communities I'm lucky enough to be apart of: Ultrarunning, local road running scene, my yoga friends, my Pilates friends, my golf friends, my mtn sports family.   My coach, Eric Grossman --thank you for saving me from myself. I am always messing up my running, and he patiently tweaks my training here and there to get me back on track.  YOURE THE BEST:)

Sophie: who is just one TOUGH DIRT CHICK, and I really aspire to be more like each day. She leads such a FULL life-- but always makes time for me when I need advice whether it be about life or training, and has welcomed me into her home so many times the past couple months.  even on thanksgiving-- she fed me the most amazing meal. :) Love you, sis!! xoxo

I'm so extremely appreciative to Salomon for being so good to me, being supportive of my racing, Sponsoring CTR10k aug 10th, and giving me the freedom to plan some cool events to expose more runners in Southwest Va and Northeast TN to their awesome shoes and gear. Everytime I go to put on my new Salomons they sent me, I feel like doing the happy dance. Thanks for being so  nice to me, Uber group and  Josh/ salomon running. This is a good company  guys, go buy their shoes!! :)
  I'm also very thankful to be on the GU crew. Gu Energy Labs is fueling my training, recovery and hydration. I have to say Ive been really happy utilizing Gu brew recovery drinks and the Gu brew electrolyte tabs. ( they taste SO GOOD and I feel really work just as well as comparable products on the market-- I was surprised to be honest-- didnt' think I would find something other than nuun-- but I really do like them better)

Next race up for me is Terrapin Mtn 50k this weekend. I'm just ready. Ready to go run hard and HAVE A BLAST in the mountains. This was my first 50k in the LUS series in 2010,  part of terrapin is on the hellgate course, and  Clark Zealand is the RD ( I LOVE MMTR and GRINDSTONE too) , this is just homecoming for this gal. "Clark" races are special. "horty" races are too ( love ya horton!) . But Clark races just have this chill laid back vibe pre and post race  that just  really resonates with me.  THANK YOU, Clark for all that you do. I know RDing an ultra requires so much work and preparation and it's a labor of love. Thank you for providing these high quality, extremely organized FUN events for us.

okay-- YOU GUYS: Please think positive thoughts, prayers, vibes, energy for  me as I go run Saturday morning.  I really need it, and it would mean SO much to me!! :)
 without  further adieu: here are some pictures of what I've been up to since holiday lake:

Marlin Yoder and I on the Grindstone Course when we ran a loop of The White Oak Trail with Sophie

                                                   Sophie  being her lovely self
                                               

                                               View  of the mtns from Old FS 84 in the hurricane section of Mt rogers

 I LOVE my  S Lab Advanced skin 12 hydration pack. I have pretty much carried everything: nathan, ultimate direction, ultra spire, and this pack is by far the nicest. SO many cool features other packs just dont offer. 

 I  have been running alot in S Lab 5 soft ground.  really love these shoes.  very comfortable, 8mm drop heel, listed as stability shoe, but SO cushy. it's a nice ride running in them. 

                                     Quality Trail time with  Maverick the super Aussie.

                                                 I love running with my furry bestie.

                                          Laurel's Falls in Church Hill, Tn this little park backs up to Bays Mtn Park, so the trail systems connect. :) love running from here into bays.

                                          View from the AT near bear tree park ( maybe 2  miles from the spur to cross rt 58)

                                           View from the top of Big bald.  Shew that is a HAUL.

 Cool thing about salomon ambassadorship- cool things randomly arrive on my porch! I LOVE these gloves.  I channel my inner Karl while wearing these:P) 

                                   IMTR st. patty's run: LEPRECHAUN LUAU Rob French made the drive all the way from high point, NC just to run with us!!!

 Dennis Norris, Lou, Tammy Grey, Sid Hood

Jenny primm, beth, ava's BF,  Ava, Doug Blackford

Beth Frye, Paul the BA Belgian, Ed Marsh

 Beth and Dave Frye