Nike Women Blog

The Most Found Looks of 2011

NIKEWomen — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:45:24 GMT

This year, Nike FOUND traveled the world to see how real women are rocking Nike style. From Chicago to Shanghai, let’s take a look back at some of our favorite looks:

Chicago:
Jamilah's edgy look in the windy city created some serious style envy. Her take on urban streetwear-- from her skinny jeans to her multicolored sneaks-- was effortlessly cool.

Get the look:
Nike 6.0 Dunk High Shoe
Nike Windrunner Jacket
Nike Team Training Small Duffel Bag

LA:
We spotted Alex in downtown L.A., but her hipster chic style seems straight out of Silver Lake. We love how she transformed an athletic shirt into a fierce fashion staple by tucking it into trendy, high-waisted denim shorts. Her tinted shades and layered bracelets complete her fun, retro look.

Get the look:
Nike Home Run Fan (MLB Dodgers) T-Shirt

Miami:
We found this cute girl-next-door carving the boardwalk with her longboard. Her cool, classic Converses and her popping purple training tights combine for a look that was both functional and fashionable.

Get the look:
Nike Tight Track and Field Capris
Nike Vintage Exploded T-Shirt
Nike Windrunner Jacket

UK:
We had high hopes when we traveled to this global style capital, and the fab fashion we found in London did not disappoint! We spotted Sophie’s covetable vintage mesh Nike top from a mile away. Her tiered necklaces and two-tone bra elevated her outfit, but her best accessory by far was her easy-going attitude.

Get the look:
Nike Money Mesh Women's Basketball Top

Nike World Headquarters
One of the hottest trends in 2011 was rocker chic, and few mastered the daring look as well as Kristen. Her long black blazer and platform shoes referenced 70s glam rock, while her red shorts and matching lips made the look pop. When we found Kristen she was walking to work, but we think she looked ready for the runway!

Get the look:
Nike Dig Volleyball Shorts

Berlin:
Luisa’s look flawlessly reflects Berlin’s clean yet easy style. The contrast of her soft Nike tank and her sharp, striped blazer was perfectly on point, and her badass, bedazzled brass knuckles necklace has been on our wishlist ever since we met her. This is a look you could rock with confidence any day of the week.

Get the look:
Nike Motion Racer Tank Top

NYC:
Do we even need to explain this one? This NYC native took a tough tomboy look and transformed it into a style that’s sophisticated and chic. Her black leather Nike Blazers and cherry red sunglasses are bound to turn heads—she certainly got our attention!

Get the look:
Nike Blazer High iD Shoe
Nike 6.0 Luxe Layer Tank Top

Shanghai:
Shanghai may be new on the style scene, but it certainly isn’t shy. Some of the most progressive and bold looks we discovered this year were on this Chinese city’s streets, including this creative and colorful outfit. We never knew metallics and neons were a match made in fashion heaven, but now we can’t wait to try it ourselves!

Get the look:
Nike Pro Hyperwarm Allover Print Training Tights
Nike Ultra Light Filled Golf Jacket
Nike Free TR Fit Winter Training Shoes
Nike Sprint Metallic Jacket

What was your favorite look from Nike FOUND in 2011? Let us know in the comments below! To check out more fresh FOUND fashion, visit our tumblr page: Nikefound.tumblr.com

Your Guide to Marathon Season 2011

NIKEWomen — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:00:03 GMT

Marathon season is underway, and there’s much to be excited about in the coming weeks. With major events like the Chicago Marathon this Sunday, and the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco on October 16, thousands of runners from across the country will be lacing up their sneaks in support of some great causes.

At tomorrow’s Chicago Marathon, three of our favorite female athletes are trading in their cleats for running shoes and are teaming up to relay the race. U.S. Women’s National Team soccer players Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and Alex Morgan will be taking their dynamic energy and perseverance from the soccer field and bringing it to the streets.

"I am so excited to be part of the B of A Chicago Marathon!" Alex told us. "I’ve heard that it’s a great event with electric energy and I’m always inspired by seeing other athletes, no matter what sport, compete at a high level. It will be a thrill to see the heart in all the runners, especially close to the finish line."

They’ll also be tweeting about the experience the entire time, so be sure to follow them on Twitter at @hopesolo, @AbbyWambach, and @alexmorgan13 to get all their updates and show them your support! And there’s more exciting news for our twitter friends; anyone who tweets about the Chicago Marathon—whether it’s a message of support to the runners, or a shoutout to your fave participating athlete—and uses the hashtag #OwnChicago will have his or her profile picture added to a giant mosaic that will live at Niketown Chicago and online on the Nike Running Facebook page. So take to your Twitters and get the word out on tomorrow’s big event!

Are you gearing up for any marathons in the upcoming months? What do you do to prepare for the big day? If you aren’t currently registered for any big races, have you ever considered running one? Between dedicating yourself to tough training, running the race, and contributing to excellent causes by participating, there are few activities as positive and ultimately rewarding as a marathon. We want to show our support to our community members who are getting ready to run, and encourage others to sign up and get started. That’s why we’ll be featuring complete coverage from the Nike Women’s Marathon, marathon training tips, a guide to the hottest running gear this season, and more, so be sure to check back with our blog frequently.

See you on the racetrack!

Roller Derby: Not Exactly Ring Around The Rosey

GinaVenier — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:44:11 GMT

Expect blood. No mercy. Complete fearlessness. We’re talking about the women’s roller derby league. The Women’s Roller Derby Championship took place in Chicago and I was there to watch all the action go down.

At first I thought to myself: “OK, what’s going on here?” So, let me give you a quick rundown:

Derby 101
Yes, it’s all women—all out—all ruthless. No boys allowed. (Except for maybe a few coaches, referees, and fans.)

Women’s roller derby has three basic positions:

The Pivot. Wears a stripe on her helmet. Acts as navigator.
The Jammer. Wears two stars on her helmet (one on each side). Scores the points.
The Blocker. No helmet cover. Blockers create the holes for the Jammer.

One Pivot + one Jammer + three Blockers = Five skaters on the track per team.

The Jammer takes off at the rear of the pack and tries to race through the pack first, to attain “Lead Jammer” status. As soon as she passes each Blocker on the opposing team and clears the pack, she is eligible to score points.

The Jammer then receives one point for every opponent she legally passes. Meanwhile, opposing Blockers try to stop her so she can’t score.

Penalties are based on impact: Major and minor blocks put skaters in the penalty box for one minute. Legal blocks can be initiated using the upper arm and thigh, and the booty, hips, and torso.(No elbows, though.)

You must be a fearless competitor to stand a chance. Did I mention it’s an all-girl sport?

So now that you have an idea of what this sport is all about, you can better appreciate those who participate. To get into the league, you must qualify as someone who isn’t afraid to scrape her knees, and as someone who cares more about the Hydra than her hairstyle.

The Hydra, by the way, is the Championship Cup of women’s roller derby. It’s what all the girls are skating for. This year’s champs were the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls from Denver, CO. I got a chance to chat with “She Who Cannot Be Named,” one of the champions from the squad. She was on cloud nine after the victory, and gave it up for her teammates and the journey.

“The motivation for us is that we all depend on one other,” she told me. “We all wanted it. We all wanted to fight hard and never give up.”

When asked for some advice on how to become tough like her, she said, “No goal is unattainable as long as you know what you want. As long as you have a plan to get there, you can do it.”

What’s most inspiring was being on the sidelines and being able to see the drive and determination in the eyes of these women. Not only are they tougher than a Ford F-150, they’ll drive you straight into the ground without thinking twice about it. Bottom line: This is about toughness.

These chicks rock—and roll.

Just Do It.

—Gina V.

Chicago Urbanathlon 2010!

GinaVenier — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:48:30 GMT

Phew! What a trip, what an event, what a killer! The Men’s Health Urbanathlon in downtown Chicago was a success. After all the mental and physical training I did to prepare, I was in better shape than I thought! However, I will say a full body ice bath is a must.

The race was an absolute blast. We had a solid Nike Women team along for the ride with Audrey from Cincinnati and Ashley from Orlando. Of course, the third musketeer was me, Gina V. who was the home girl from Chicago. We had perfect weather for the race – temps in the 70s with a cool breeze coming off beautiful Lake Michigan.

Our Floridian, Ashley, was our competitor in the first leg, which was a little over 3 miles with intense obstacles right at the end. I was the middle (wo)man in the second leg, which included 3 miles of running along Lake Michigan and obstacles like the monkey bars, bear claws under a net, and lifting yourself over wooden balance beams. The third wheel was Audrey the bearcat, and her leg included an intense set of stairs at Soldier Field – (Daaaa Bears), hopping over broke down cab cars, climbing the net over a bus, and right before the finish line was “the wall.”

Ashley and I joined Audrey for the last leg, and were able to experience the finish line together. We all conquered the oh-so-intimidating “wall” and felt totally victorious! We were greeted with our official medals to strut around our necks for automatic bragging rights. We felt extra accomplished, as almost all of the runners were men. (You just got passed by a girl, oh dang).

We wasted no time to nourish our bodies with plenty of H20 for hydration, and bagels, granola bars, and bananas for nutrition. The VIP tent served us up a delicious lunch afterwards, too!

Chicago didn’t disappoint. The Urbanathlon didn’t let us down.

The Nike Women Correspondent Team didn’t give up. Make Yourself…

We came, we saw, we conquered. Just Did It. 2010 Chicago Urbanathlon. Check, please.

-Gina Venier

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Things To Do In Chicago During The Winter

KatieAlbright — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:30:35 GMT

With the weather below freezing and the gray winter skies continuing to drag on, I’ve recently found myself at a bit of a lull during my first Chicago winter. In an attempt to combat the winter blues, I’ve compiled a list (in no particular order) of things that I will do before the winter is over.

1. Head up to the top of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower): At 1,454 feet high, the Willis Tower is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. On the 103rd-floor Skydeck you can see not only the Chicago area and landmarks but also Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

2. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art: As one of the nation’s largest modern art museums, The MCA has offered alternative art since 1945. Check out the newest exhibit:.

3. See an improvisational show at The Second City: Second City is Chicago’s famous improvisational theater which is known for teaching and encouraging actors such as Mike Myers, John Belushi, Betty Thomas, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Chris Farley, and a large group of the “Saturday Night Live” cast.

4. Spend time experiencing Chicago’s distinctive neighborhoods: With over 180 different Chicago neighborhoods, from shopping to dining, each neighborhood has it's own style and flair.

5. Have a spa day at the Affinia Hotel: Treat myself to a massage at a state of the art hotel.

6. Try a new restaurant at least once a week.

7. Go ice skating in Millennium Park: Warm up with a few laps around the outdoor rink right downtown in Millennium Park.

8. See a concert at the House of Blues: Features live music seven days a week at a unique venue in the historic Marina City complex downtown Chicago.

9. Attend Bikram Yoga at least 3 times a week: With the rooms heated to at least 100 degrees, there’s no better way to beat the chill of winter with yoga! And plus, I need to start prepping for the beach during the summer.

10. Grab a snack at the Wit Hotel: As one of the newest and most-talked-about downtown boutique hotel, located in the heart of the theater district, the Wit Hotel features a Roof lounge with killer views of the city.

-Katie Albright

ACES!

AshleyKoehn — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:00:46 GMT

My “full house” is always “aces high.”

I run.
I swim.
I bike.
And, between you and I...
I’m pretty fierce at boxing.

Consider these sports my royal flush, my game.

Throw a 5 of diamonds in that mix, and I fold. I’m out of my game.

Recently, that “5 of diamonds” has been tennis.

But, I’m always up for a challenge. Luckily for me, one of my best girlfriends, Lauren, played Division I Tennis in college. Luckily for her, she has amazing patience and is a great coach!

I’ve always secretly wanted to play tennis. Maybe that desire has come from the Queen of Hearts (Serena). I love watching her play. Beautiful, fierce athlete with enough energy and charisma to make her opponents cry back to the Joker.

Lauren and I played for over an hour at the East Bank Club in Chicago. And by play, I mean, Lauren and I focused on my swing. (Baby steps.) We started at service line and then moved to the baseline, but focused on forehand and backhand ground strokes. This lesson did not include any Aces, but give us a couple more lessons and I’m sure I can succeed.

I learned that tennis is truly based on (1) timing and (2) technique. Lesson One proved successful, as after of an hour of focused determination and lots of laughs, I was finally getting the “swing of it.” (Pun intended.)

So although my royal flush has never included a sport with a ball or a court, I’m determined to make tennis my 2010 sport goal.

It’s an amazing workout and will be one more excuse for me to use my Poker Face.

Ashley Koehn

What's Your Deal?

AshleyKoehn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:22:30 GMT

I’d like to think of myself as a savvy shopper. Whether is scouring the sale section for that perfect dress, ordering the “full portion” of pasta so I can have some left over for lunch (who am I kidding – for two hours later!) or running home from work to save train money...this recession has kicked my lust for deals in full gear!

Likewise, the state of the economy has also flourished TONS of FREE work-outs and classes! No gym membership? No problem!

You’ve probably been to or seen pictures of Chicago’s Bean – the silver bean shaped sculpture that attracts thousands of visitors a day – taking photos with the windy city skyline in the backdrop. Well, if you walk 50 paces east to Millennium Park on Saturday mornings, you’ll find FREE Yoga, Pilates and Martial Arts/Dance classes. Each week this summer, instructors from Lakeshore Athletic Club lead classes from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This past month, I finally traded my Saturday morning Triathlon practices and took the train downtown for FREE Pilates and Zumba (Latin Dance).

FREE workout.
FREE sunshine alarm clock.
FREE peace of mind to begin the weekend.
And although I went to the Farmer’s Market after class, and haaaad to pay for a local honey crisp apple and croissant, my stomach and bank account were both quite satisfied.

So what’s YOUR deal?! Search FREE workouts and classes in your area today!

Ashley Koehn

Cruisers

KatieAlbright — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:45:49 GMT

The feeling I get when I'm cruising along Lake Michigan has got to be similar to the feeling a dog has when he sticks his head out the car window. The fresh air blowing in my face, taking in the beautiful scenery, the people watching, there is truly nothing better or more relaxing.

My baby blue beach cruiser has quickly changed my Chicago lifestyle. Having a bike in the city and especially in my neighborhood of Lincoln Park just makes sense; be it riding to work, going to my friends house to just pop in, or running to the farmer's market to pick up some fresh flowers and groceries. I can cover so much more turf compared to walking. Cruiser's comfort, style, and practicality have made them more popular in the past years especially in areas where public transportation in the main mode of travel.

I first fell in love with Cruisers when I spent a summer in Aspen, Colorado. It seemed that everyone in the small mountain town had the brightest, shiniest cruisers with all the bells and whistles...Ranging from a beautiful 1940s vintage cruiser to brand new $600 Cruisers, a good cruiser would stop me dead in my tracks while I admired the bicycle like a piece of Picasso's art work.

So after that summer I decided I had to have a cruiser. Although,I wanted either a rehabbed vintage cruiser or a brand new Electra cruiser, I decided for my first bike to get something more middle of the road. I decided as long as the bike worked and I could put a basket on it, it would be awesome.

So go to your local bike shop today and marvel at the cruisers and take one for a spin!

-Katie Albright

First Time Marathon Runner

KatieAlbright — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:15:40 GMT

The Chicago Marathon is the peak of achievement for both top runners in the world and everyday runners. Sunday, October 11, 2009 marked the day when runners from over 100 countries and 50 states came together to realize a dream and complete the 26.2 mile race. I had the opportunity to interview first time marathon runner, Nina Chaudhary during her training for the Chicago Marathon and then again after the Marathon. Here’s what Chaudhary had to say after completing the race.

Training
Chaudhary’s pre-race schedule included the following: sticking to the Nike marathon training program, the training schedule gave a good foundation of how much she should be running on a daily and weekly basis as well as how she should be feeling. Chaudhary completed a 21 mile run prior to the race so she relied on endorphins for the last five miles of the marathon. When asked what changes she would make to her training, Chaudhary commented that “the only changes I would make in the future to my training program is to take part in the CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) runs that happen on Saturday mornings. For instance, CARA hosts a 21-mile simulation run along the lake a month or so before the race, which would’ve been great to take part in so that I know how I will be feeling after 21 race-pace miles and I can gage how much or how little I need the sports enhanced jelly beans I was carrying with me for energy”.

The Big Race Day

Before
The week prior to the marathon, Chaudhary really started watching her diet, ensuring to eliminate caffeine and alcohol from her diet. She strived to drink 5 or more glasses of water per day and began “carbo-loading” on the Thursday before the Sunday marathon by eating pasta every night for dinner until Sunday morning. Marathon runners are said to burn off all of their carbohydrates within only the first hour of the race, so this was a very important element for Chaudhary to put into her training schedule. The morning of the race, Chaudhary ate breakfast which consisted of pasta and a few hard-boiled eggs after and half a pack of the sports enhanced jelly beans when she was waiting at the starting line.

During
Chaudhary’s final race time was 3 hours, 51 minutes, 49 seconds (3:51.49). She beat her goal time by nine minutes while placing 8,804 out of 33, 608 finishers with 8:40 pace per mile for the majority of the race. Chaudhary got through the race with the help of her iPod shuffle, “my playlist during the marathon was primarily rap and pop songs because I needed faster music to keep me going. I had downloaded 15 new songs on Saturday night, but put them along with 50 or so of my old songs onto my iPod shuffle, which kept me going more because it was a surprise every time I changed the song. My favorite artist during the race was Akon. My friends and family were also set up to receive ‘Runner Update’ text messages at certain points along the way which helped to see them cheering me on”.

After
After completing her first marathon, Chaudhary believes that she will definitely do another marathon in the future, but would like to raise money for a charity so she has extra motivation to train and finish in a good time. When asked if she plans to complete another marathon in the future, Chaudhary replied with, “Since Chicago is a flat course, I see myself running this one again in the future or going to an exotic place like Hawaii to run another one. Also, the qualifying time for the Boston Marathon (held in the spring-time every year) this year was around 3 hours, 40 minutes. Since I now know that I am capable of completing a marathon, I can become more focused on training around an 8-minute mile pace vs. the 9-minute mile pace that I did for this marathon, which would hopefully help me if I decide to qualify for the Boston Marathon in the future.”

Great job on completing the 2009 Chicago Marathon, Nina!

-Katie Albright

WHAT WALL?

AshleyKoehn — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:30:49 GMT

MILE 23.

It’s the mile marker in a marathon when runners are:
Catapulting forward on mental energy alone.
Legs cramp.
Knees lock.
Doubts rise.
And absolutely ALL body movement is uncontrollable.

For most marathoners, it can be “their wall.”

Last year at mile 23, I pee’d my spandex shorts in the 85 degree heat. This year, I stayed in control in my Nike Pro fleece pants in the Windy City 40 degree chill. Yet this year, it wasn’t my race – but one of my best friends.

I jumped in with Stephanie at mile 14, the point in a marathon when you realize you’re actually running a marathon. Up until that point, your mind is in a whirlwind! Fans cheering, Gatorade overflowing and you’re running one of the best tours of Chicago.

Stephanie is a fierce athlete. She is an avid runner who excels at softball and basketball and has been known to dominate Ultimate Frisbee. At mile 23, my purpose was to PUSH Stephanie OVER the mile 23 wall, so I shared this story:

“Stephanie! SO close girl! Remember last year, how you called me the night after the marathon?! You asked, “Ashley, are you running the marathon again next year? We should do it again!” I quickly replied, “Steph! Are you crazy? It’s only been 6 hours since we’ve finished the race and you’re already thinking about next year?!”

I wanted to remind her of the EXCITEMENT, the PASSION she had 365 days prior.

Stephanie could have hit “her mile 23 wall” but instead she transformed her thoughts back to that day and remembered WHY she wanted to run the marathon again. Her hundreds of miles through the heat and rain, early Saturday mornings, diet and discipline were worth every trial when she crossed the finish line.

The Chicago Marathon Wall didn’t stand a chance. She BROKE it and set a personal record!

-Ashley Koehn

I Came. I TRI’d. I Conquered.

AshleyKoehn — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:35:27 GMT

Have you ever finished a race and felt as though sparks were going to fly?!

Last year, I was a spectator at the largest triathlon in the United States, the Chicago Triathlon. I vowed to myself that I would compete in my first international distance triathlon the following year.

365 days later, it was time. Time to fly!

Sunday morning begin with a 3:30 alarm and drive downtown Chicago. After setting up my bike, helmet, biking shoes, running shoes, bib number belt and water bottles at the transition (how’d I remember all that?!), I joined my team – the Chicago Athletic Triathlon Team – for pre-race tips, encouragement and of course, banana chocolate chip muffins.

Also joining my team was the sun! It was a gorgeous day for the race! three hours later, my wave was ready to begin.

SWIM: During the .93 mile course, Monroe Harbor traded their sailboats for swim caps and broad shoulders. No need for Batman in the Windy City, we all looked like fierce superheroes in our wetsuits. My nerves created fireflies in my stomach and my wetsuit hugged my body like wonder woman. In an instant, the gun went off, and my wave of female athletes morphed into an angry school of fish! I got kicked and was taking arm strokes over swimmer’s backs. Yet, after 50 meters of sprinting, I gained some calm water. Keeping my arm strokes long, I kept a steady pace, exited the water and ran a half-mile to my first transition.

BIKE: For the next 25 miles, Lake Shore Drive shared its cabs with the Chicago Tri! When I jumped on my bike, I felt SO charged! Statistics show that exercising gives you endorphins, but this feeling was electric! I rode two big loops. Going north, the windy city stood up to its name and challenged my pedaling. Yet riding south, I felt like Lance Armstrong himself, whistling by the moving cars with complete ease. I gave myself words of affirmation, “You got it! Come on Ash!” Call me delirious, but these words were bolts of esteem, as the bike course was sparse of spectators.

RUN: The last 6.2 miles was along Chicago’s museums, football stadiums and beaches, ending in Grant Park (think inauguration.) Again, I felt lightening speed and happiness at the beginning of the run! My first mile was greeted with family and friends yelling and cheering! After that, I couldn’t stop smiling. My mood was elevated, and then it was time to pass! Even my Facebook profile explains how one of my favorite things is to pass runners on the lakefront when I train, so my last leg of the tri became a game! Picking up momentum to less than an 8-minute mile pace, I started to pass!

The home stretch was, like I said, electric! Sparks of energy were flying and the finish line was in sight! I picked up the pace, saw my friends and family once again and charged to the end! I placed 16th in my age group and 88th out of 1,300 women. I came. I TRI’d. I conquered (with the help of a little goal and sparks of energy!)

-Ashley Koehn

Stretch It Out

AshleyKoehn — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:05:14 GMT

No offense to my best girlfriend running partners, but lately, I’ve found that my best training sidekick is my post workout stretching...

I’m training for the Chicago Triathlon and a marathon in December – so if I don’t take care of my legs now – they absolutely will not be there for me at the end of those finish lines.

Recently, my tri-team (Chicago Athletic Clubs) hosted a stretching clinic after one of our toughest workouts of the season. Our instructor took us through a 30 minute stretching routine that left my legs feeling rejuvenated and ready for more miles the next day!

My Top 5 Tips Stretching Tips & Tricks:
1. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds (seems forever but it’s worth the wait!)

2. Mix it up! Don’t do the same 3 stretches everyday. Steal one from the person next to you at the gym. Move your body until you can feel new muscles lengthen.

3. Drink plenty of water while stretching! Your muscles need hydration too!

4. Substitute one of your weekly weight workouts and try yoga.

5. Lie on your back with you legs at a 90-degree angle up against the wall. It’s an awesome hamstring stretch and will relax your entire body.

Ladies, stretching will allow you to move faster, longer and will better ease. Take the time after your workout to let your body relax and recharge!

-Ashley Koehn

160 Mile Run for St. Jude!

AshleyKoehn — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:05:48 GMT

20 Teams & RV’s.
160 miles.
31 hours.
Running from Chicago to Peoria, IL.
Along back country cornfield roads.

During the day, our stride was encouraged from people cheering from their doorsteps!
During the pitch-black night, the stars guided our steps.

We slept in brief 30-minute increments.
We didn’t shower for the first 26 hours.
Our blisters bulged.
Our RV smelt of sweaty socks and PB&J sandwiches.

Yet, believe it (or not), Team, “Jude! Where’s my Car” couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.
And in the end, this race raised more than $300,000!

My friends and I have always run for “ourselves.” We’ve raced in marathons and triathlons, yet we have never run for those who couldn’t run, those who could barely leave the hospital to play on the swing set. The “inspiration” behind our 160-mile run was for the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

St. Jude Children’s Hospital was founded by the entertainer, Danny Thomas. Early in his struggles to become an entertainer, Thomas prayed to St. Jude and pledged to “build a shrine to the saint if he would show him the way.” His prayers were answered as today, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. More than 5,000 children are treated every year. In addition, St. Jude is the ONLY pediatric cancer center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.

This was team “Jude! Where’s my Car?” first appearance to the St. Jude Run, and absolutely not our last!

To help, donate, volunteer and learn more about this race and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, visit: www.stjude.org

-Ashley Koehn

RUN AWAY from WORK!

AshleyKoehn — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:57:16 GMT

Who needs therapy when you’ve probably spent MORE than enough money on your running shoes?

It’s summer ladies! And although the bright rays usually welcome festivals, concerts, outdoor dining and perfectly etched tan lines – it can also welcome stress! If you’re like me, you allow the demands of your jobs, internships, and summer school get in the way of your sanity!

And trust me, the last thing I want to do after a long day of work in downtown Chicago is take the train home with people pressed up against me, blaring their music or chatting on the phone. This only adds to my tension.

Let me introduce you to my therapy – my lakefront. This path transforms my thoughts from craziness to calm.

Chicago summers are absolutely breathtaking. I begin running at Monroe Harbor and don’t stop until Lincoln Park. No headphones. No music. No distractions.

When I run home by myself, I admire the hundreds of sailboats, bikers on the path, volleyball tournaments and, like myself, other runners who are stomping out their energy.

When I run home with friends, it’s social hour! My two best girlfriends and I share the “can you believe he did that?!” stories, our weekend plans and newest recipes.

Ladies, try running home from work or school this summer. Leave everything but your keys and phone at your desk. The road is ready to listen.

-Ashley Koehn

Gusty Winds turned into Gold Medals – Chicago 2016

AshleyKoehn — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:28:42 GMT

Sweeeet Home Chicago: We are best known for our cross-town rival baseball teams, deep-dish pizza and gusty winds, yet imagine if we could set the stage for torch relays, perfect 10’s, national anthems, (and of course) gold medals.

The largest international sports stage could be coming to Chicago in the summer of 2016. Yet before over 85+ countries book their tickets to compete in the windy city, Chicago must “dress to impress” and showcase their pride and plans to out-shine Madrid, Rio Janeiro and Tokyo, the other candidate cities seeking to host the 2016 summer games.

From personal observation, when the evaluation team arrived last month, Chicago was ready. And the city continues to be electric! Signs and banners saying, “We back the bid” are adorned on bridges, skyscrapers and personal homes. Our lakefront is lined with banners of athletes in dynamic poses proclaiming, “Imagine.” Our “el” transportation is completing renovations, flowers are in bloom and fountains around town have been turned on weeks earlier than usual.

Every four years, I’m literally at the edge of my sofa watching the television or reading online updates about the summer games. Yet if Chicago wins the bid for the 2016 games, I could experience world-class athletics in my own backyard! This is our chance to see the best athletes in the world compete in our parks and stadiums and demonstrate the values that make the games inspirational and empowering.

And ladies, who knows?! YOU could be walking in the opening ceremonies for your country, participating and standing on the podium to receive a medal! Great motivation to kick up your training!

Chicago is ready to host the human spirit! If you agree, go to chicago2016.org and back the bid, volunteer, share and learn about upcoming events and committee visits. The chosen city for the summer games will be announced October 2, 2009!

-Ashley Koehn