Nike Women Blog

Katie Uhlaender: Always Looking for the Next Challenge

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 06:00:34 GMT

Being part of a team or playing any sport truly requires hard work and dedication. Many times, you might find yourself interested in perhaps picking up a side hobby for the heck of it. Now imagine being great at an elite level in a sport and suddenly choosing to do another sport because your talented and simply just because you can.

US skeleton medalist Katie Uhlaender is doing just that. After she competed in the Vancouver Games last year in her event, Katie had this go getter attitude and adventurous spirit to try and qualify for the summer Games in a completely different sport— Weight Lifting.

Recovering from an injury this woman sees no limitation or boundaries. She has so much love for training and being the best that what might seem impossible to you and me doesn't for her.

I truly admire her persistence and unstoppable nature. I remembering asking her she how she ever go into skeleton. Her response was simple, someone told me about it and I tried it out. Well her trying it out later flourished into success. But that is how Katie is. From all the athletes I have met she is a person first then and athlete. She has a very welcoming persona and is always down to have a good time and meet new people.

While she was in LA we went to dinner a few times and watched sports on TV. It's pretty funny to see two girls glued to the TV watching sports. We became buds in such a short time and now I have become one of her fans.

If you ever feel the urge to try something but are nervous to fail, don’t be! You should always give yourself the opportunity to try whatever you desire. I’ll share with you a little secret… I haven’t danced since I was in high school. That means I haven’t danced in almost eight years, and I want to start it up again.

So next week, I will be taking my first dance class in over eight years. I’m a little worried, but why not? I have the urge to pick it up again and I’m going to do just that.

Make sure you keep me up to date on things you are trying! Dazzle me on twitter @Nike_NFR.

-Gevrina

Gevvy Gets In The Ring

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:55:58 GMT

When I was in Portland for a campaign called “Voice of the Athlete,” hosted by professional softball player Jessica Mendoza, I met three female fighters who were extremely intimidating but also sweet as pie. Two were Taekwondo fighters and the other was a boxer with a lot of heart.

Meeting them for the first time, I could not believe they were fighters! Frankly, I was a little surprised. I guess that’s what people must have thought when I said I was on the rowing team back in the day.

They all seemed too nice to want to kick butt. So where do they find this hard core, bad to the bone attitude? I want to be able to kick some butt, but I’m too much of scaredy cat to put some gloves on, get in the ring and box against Marlene Esparza, the female boxer I would box with because we would be in the same weight class.

Marlene’s preparation before her matches is right on point, “I train thinking I’m the best and there’s no one else better than me.” Her philosophy is so right on. that in fact she is the best and is currently undefeated. You go girl! Big things are going to come from this gal.

Nia Abdallah, a silver medalist is a fighter that has spunk to entertain you for days. She’s also a mommy. How many moms do you know are out there saving the world? Well Nia is and loves every minute of it. Her twitter will also entertain you. I really loved how supportive she was of everyone’s goals and aspirations. She is definitely someone you might reach out to when you’re having one of those tough days training.

Charlotte Craig won a bronze medal at the world championships and is an Orange County native from my neck of the woods. She totally threw me off when she told me she was a fighter. I immediately would have guessed a dancer. Taekwondo is an art form and the movement is actually similar to dancing just way more intense.

Meeting these women gave me a different perspective on how I view the game. I noticed that I become more interested in a sport when I meet someone that plays it. If you too are interested in boxing or taekwondo make sure you try it out.

If you’re a fighter hit me up on facebook or twitter and let me know what you do to stay fit.

-Gevrina

US National Team Prep For Germany

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:15:57 GMT

Playing for the Women’s National Team is not easy. You have to be at the top of your game, ready to compete and impress the coaches.

With the World Cup right around the corner, the national team wastes no time getting ready for this anticipated series of games. To be the best, you have to believe you are the best. I can definitely say that after spending a couple days with at Women’s National Training Camp, I know that they all have this motto in mind.

The team is filled with very determined young women who want to bring honor to our country and I respect them for striving to bring us such glory. Each woman is fueled by their passion for the game as they practice twice a day. Carli Lloyd, Lindsay Tarpley and Kelley O’Hara are all currently training to make the final roster in April/May.

They are all focused in making it to Germany and admit that there is no room for slacking off. They mean business! While training can be intense I wanted to know a little bit about what kind of tunes they’re interested in. I know they like to dance so I figured I would find out want jams they play on their iPods. Lindsay relies on “whatever her brother puts on her iPod.” Kelley on the other hand likes all the good mainstream music that we are all guilty for, especially when we’re stuck in traffic!

Next, I want to dig into their social life. Do they facebook or tweet? Lindsay and Kelley are both on facebook but don’t tweet. Carli on the other hand is a step ahead in the social network realm and is on Twitter. You can follow her @Carlilloyd for more of the inside scoop on the journey to the World Cup 2011. I even suggested that Carli teach the other girls how to tweet.

-Gevrina

No Limits For Sarah Reinertsen

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:31:50 GMT

Sometimes, I’ll admit it, I get a little to lazy to work out. It was definitely so much easier for me to work out when I was in college with my teammates. The whole team spirit dynamic disappears once you’re on your own. And that’s true for most of us who are no longer college athletes or professional for that matter. Finding motivation on your own is harder than the physical work out itself.

So, lets try this again how in the world do we each find motivation to head to the gym without finding excuses or complaining? I know the answer to that, because I found the person who motivates me and inspires me to care enough to get myself back into a training regiment and that is Sarah Reinertsen.

Rewind. I meet Sarah in Portland and was completely taken back by her zest for life. She is a paraplegic tri-athlete who trains her heart out. I want to be like her. I want to wake up every morning and give my body just that, a hard, satisfying work out.

Talking with Sarah was a very a inspirational moment for me, because she taught me that life is a constant struggle for all of us in different ways, however it's what we do with the obstacles in our lives that make us great. I thought to myself after interviewing her, why I ever find an excuse to miss out on going hiking, or swimming, etc.

Overwhelmed by this woman’s compelling nature, I found out that she had participated in my favorite show ever—THE AMAZING RACE! She let me in on a little secret… the contestants even wear they’re mic packs while flying. I told her how much I’ve been wanting to be on the show and she actually gave me a couple of tips. Another interesting fact about Sarah is that she recently posed nude for a Sports Illustrated magazine issue this fall. Talk about fearless!

Since I spoke to her, I have a new plan in place. I no longer need a group of people to motivate me to get me to the gym. We shouldn't rely on others to get things done. Sarah pushes her self to get what she wants. She constantly motivates herself and challenges herself, and that’s the beauty of being an athlete.

If you ask me what an athlete is, my answer would be: an athlete is a person that uses their body to challenge oneself. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Nothing is impossible, everything is possible. Thanks Sarah for being my inspiration to push myself to the next level when I’m training.

“If you have a body, you’re an athlete.” – Bill Bowerman

-Gevrina

On the field with the U.S. National Team

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:10:53 GMT

If this year’s Men's Cup left you wanting more well never fear, Women’s Cup 2011 is here! I can’t wait to see some of my favorites hit the field in Germany! I’m hoping Nike will send me out there to cover the games since I consider myself to be tight with the Women’s National Team after I spent a couple of days with them at their training camp in Atlanta,GA.

Right when I got there I saw my girl Whitney and of course we made eye contact across the field and started dancing.I mean what girl doesn’t like to dance and have fun? I know the WNT enjoys a good dance before they go out to play or after a big win.

As I waited for the WNT to step onto the field and begin to practice I wanted to start playing with them. I realized within two minutes that my dream would never come true...let’s face it...they’re just too damn good.

So while my dream of being part of the WNT never came close to true I did get to interview the girls and hang out. What more could I ask for?

I hung out with Ali Krieger who plays in Germany and speaks it fluent German after living there for a couple of years. She tried to teach me some German since I love to be international and all.

After failing to speak German, I went on to kick it with Megan Rapinoe and her teammate Tobin Heath. If you’re looking for the best soccer than you can definitely find it at the WNT! There is stellar athlete after stellar athlete (a little intimidating).

Stephanie Cox, a defender from the WNT admits that all the girls at the training camp have a talent that when they all come together, they make up this amazing team. Not only are these girls hungry to make it to the World Cup, but they are all passionate and ready to push themselves and each other.

Ms. Heath is known on and off the field for her tricks. Although she couldn’t show off some of the tricks she due to an injury she was still able to give us a little teaser. Her teammates told me to check one of her trick videos online, and let’s just say next time I see her, I’m gonna ask her to teach me at least a basic trick.

So, that leaves us with six months until the first game of the Cup and I can’t wait!! Make sure you cheer all these ladies on as they prepare for the WWC 2011.

-Gevrina

Whitney Engen And Casey Nogueira Show Their Moves

GevrinaSeferaj — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:20:24 GMT

The sport of the world, soccer or as most call it football, is a game that is very passionate and respected.Since I was very little, I remember seeing both my Colombian and Czech families get excited for the game.

Slowly I became a fan and always dreamed of doing soccer tricks. My desire to want to play was quickly replaced by one of just being a fan. As much as I would have loved to play soccer growing up, the opportunity never really presented itself. But to this day, I am an fanatic! And when the World Cup comes around, I am completely submerged in the event. Soccer truly brings countries together.

Soccer has even united soccer players Whitney Engen and Casey Nogueira who showed me their moves on and off the field when I came to visit them in Chicago. Their friendship is like no other I have seen in sports. They know everything about each other and can even finish each other’s sentences.

These best friends gave me the inside scoop on their training, their mental and physical preparation, as well as their fondest memories with each other. Turns out these two Chicago Red Star players like to have dance parties in the locker room before games to pump the team up.

They taught me how to 'Pop, Lock, and Drop It' (Whitney's signature move) and how to 'Pancake it' (Casey's signature move). They even suggested I attend one of their pre-game dance parties to show them what I can bring to the dance floor.

This friendship is definitely contagious!

-Gevrina

Gevvy Gets Tackled by the Utah Jynx

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:00:27 GMT

The Utah Jynx football team is opening doors for athletes everywhere! Before I got there, I was sort of nervous because I had to go out and buy a mouth guard in case I got tackled. I just could not imagine being tackled by a defensive lineman. So, did I get tackled? You bet!

Back to square one though. When I arrived, Coach Greg helped me suit up before I got out on the field. Once everything was in place, including my mouth guard, pads, and helmet, I went on the field and introduced myself to the semi-professional football team. I even brought my Nike football jersey that had my name on it.

Immediately, I got in line and started to do the warm up and drills. At first, I was struggling just a bit with all of the weight of the pads and helmet, but soon I was zipping through the drills. Angela, one of the defensive linemen, suggested that I should tryout for their team (she thought I would be a good receiver since I was so fast).

The women were so inspirational and motivational. They truly made me feel part of the team. Instead of calling me Gevvy or Gevrina, the coaches decided to nickname me "Nike". After drills, we went straight into a scrimmage and they had me run a play. This is the precise moment that I got tackled. Ouch! Did not expect that. Better yet, the woman who tackled me, Vee, is 39! Making her the oldest woman on the team. Even though we were on opposing teams she became my favorite player.

I interviewed Vee after practice and she told me that she plays for the women on the team and her kids. Her son who plays football in high school is number 23, in honor of his mom's jersey number. Football has kept her looking and feeling young.

As I stood on the sidelines after I was interviewed by KSL, a local news station, I became kind of teary-eyed. I felt so touched by these women who are breaking the stereotypes of what women are told they can and cannot do.

To them, there is no 'CANNOT!' Where there is a will, there is a way. The Utah Jynx football team plays because they love the sport. Remember to love what you do and do what you love!

Your favorite safety,
Gevrina

Gevvy vs Gym: Boot Camp Navy Seal Style

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:26:00 GMT

You all I know that when it comes to working out, I’ll be trying out the most challenging or the most butt kicking workouts that are out there for me to try. What can I say? I like a good sweat!

While there were very many tempting activities at the espnW Retreat like massages and facials, I decided to go the more challenging route I guess you would say. And why would I not want to do the Navy Seals Boot Camp at the beach with former Olympians and other professional athletes? Come on now, I couldn’t pass that one up!

Plus I had to show of my skills since I had Warrior Fitness Boot Camp under my belt. We headed over to the beach and started off lying on our backs in the sand. We were all close together and were divided into two lines and each line was in charge of a rope. We had to rest the rope along our bodies and never let it touch the sand. This rope was supposedly our “friend” but by the time I was done doing 300 crunches, it was more my enemy.

The surprising part of it all was regardless of how tired I was, I never gave up. I came to realize that I was just so motivated by the women I was with. We were all there to be each other's support. No one wanted to let anyone down. and we all managed to pull through.

It was honestly incredible! We ran, did crunches, army crawls, sit-ups, you name it we did. I totally understand why sports teams have such a strong bond. You are with a group of either men or women all competing for the same goal. I miss that team spirit I was able to find it at the espnW Retreat.

I want to take this time and give it up for the women around the world who are constantly pushing past their limits and training hard and never give up! And of course to all the women I did the Navy Seal Boot Camp with! You girls Rock!

-Gevrina

Gevvy Goes Under the 'Big Top'

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:17:43 GMT

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, present The GREATEST Show on Earth!

It definitely was the greatest show on earth! Let me tell you just what this Nike Field Reporter did. Here are some of the things I did that I recommend for others to put on their bucket list. Oh and mind you, this was my first time at a circus...

One- I rode a small clown bicycle.

Two- I was pulled up into the air by a woman's hair. Hard to believe? Yes, I know. Just check the photos below.

Three- I rode a trapeze ring 25 ft in the air that had a motorcycle on the top, where a man did a handstand. I conquered my fear of heights...scariest ride I've done is the Pirates of Caribbean. So this was HUGE for me.

Four- I stood in between two brothers juggling bowl pins to each other.

Five- I stood on a Russian Bar that was about five feet off the ground.

Everyone was so proud to show off their unique talent and all of their dedication to their craft and their public was very uplifting. All of them incorporate a very disciplined training regiment into their craft. One of the acrobats, mentioned, "I need to love what I do, because it can kill me." They all are well aware of how dangerous their jobs are but they do it because they love it and they love making people smile. I on the other hand was not smiling too much. I was sweating profusely, nervous that one of them was going to mess up and fall or hurt themselves.

These athletes are very artistic and make their craft look so easy. In reality, they are always training even behind the scenes. I learned that lots of times, some of these athletic performers have been born into the circus. Meaning the circus life has been part of their family for generations! Wow! And there I was at my first show ever marveling over how strong, mentally and physically, they all were.

The show is a definite must see. I had never been to a circus before so the feeling was overwhelming. The closest thing to experiencing a circus for me was watching Disney's Dumbo. I totally got the VIP treatment in terms of all the stuff I got to see and do. After the show, each individual act came out and allowed me to be part of their daily routine.

Another cool part about this particular experience was that before the interviews took place their PR mentioned that they all didn't speak English very well, but that most if not all felt more comfortable speaking in a certain language. Guess what most of them spoke? Spanish! Yes, a lot of the interviews were done in Spanish because some of them did not speak English at all. Even the brothers from China spoke Spanish! Good thing I got my bases covered.

All in all, I had a FANTASTIC time at the circus and I loved how I was able to admire a myriad of athletic performances that are viewed in a more artistic light.

From the Greatest Show on Earth,
Gevvy

Gevvy vs Gym: Off the Grid

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:36:32 GMT

Parkour is hardcore! What is it exactly? To state it simply, you can say it's a form of workout that makes you aware of your surroundings. As I approached the young group of Parkour practitioners, I began to notice that all of them were very relaxed while doing stunts and tricks. Back flips and front flips were just a few tricks that these men could do. I didn't understand at first how they were not scared of getting a serious injury from doing back flips off of a park bench.

I quickly learned that they all admitted to knowing their bodies' limitations. Enrique, a Parkour expert, mentioned that through Parkour he has found a new appreciation and awareness for the different objects that he encounters in his daily life. He then went on and translated that to a bigger picture, "the obstacles that I overcome here, has taught me that I can overcome anything else in life, nothing is impossible."

The phrase, 'I can't' is unheard of in Parkour terminology. Parkour attracts all people of all ages, and instills in them the power of positivism. The activity enhances one's perception of both the physicality of daily life as well as the mindset of every individual who practices. Having confidence and a positive state of mind is pivotal in achieving satisfying results and clean performances. There is no rush in pursuing the proper technique to jump off of 10-foot walls or doing back flips off of stairs. One can simply start by warming up and doing exercises that build up a strong core, back, arms and legs.

Once you have gained the strength both mentally and physically, you can start off by hopping over benches, or jumping off one-foot ledges, etc. Slowly, you will then be able to do more advanced tricks with the aid of a Parkour expert. They offer classes in different park locations and encourage everyone to try it. It was great to see how passionate these young men were about something they love. They all want to see Parkour evolve into a sport that is both appreciated and respected.

Parkour was a humbling experience because 'no' or 'I can't' is never an option. The fact that a workout can be applied to your personal life makes that type of sport/training much more unique and inspiring. I have started to go about my day by observing my surroundings, thinking, how do I get over this? I’ve also translated what I learned from the Parkour experts into my personal training regiment by never saying "I can't" because I can and I will.

If you're looking for something edgy, risky, and eye opening...Parkour gives you just that kind of a workout and more.

Nothing is impossible,
Gevrina

Ringside with Manny Pacquiao

GevrinaSeferaj — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:00:11 GMT

41,734 boxing fans.

Can you imagine performing in front of so many spectators? Well Mr.Pacquiao did just that.

Before the fight, I didn’t really understand boxing or even know why so many people loved it. I definitely did not comprehend why people would want to throw a jab at another person. Yes, call me a sissy, but I know I would start to duck and cover if I was ever put in a ring. I guess my career is not in boxing. Growing up however, my dad was a huge boxing fan and of course is now a total fan of Manny Pacquiao a.k.a PACMAN. While I tried to change the TV channel from boxing to something like basketball when my dad wasn’t looking, there was always a part of me that was curious about the sport.

It was when I interviewed female lightweight amateur boxer Marlen Esparza that I realized that I was never interested in boxing before because:

a. I never gave it a chance
b. I judged it immediately
c. Simply never took the opportunity to learn about it
d. I was intimidated by it

Here my fellow readers is where most of us can relate. Many times we choose to neglect a sport that we don’t understand or know anything about. It’s such a cop out to say, “Oh I don’t really like,” than admit “I’ve never heard about it,” or “can you explain it to me cause I just don’t get it.”

I of all people should know better considering I was on the rowing team and my other friends would bluntly say, “rowing is boring, what’s the point?” I would then think to myself and come to the conclusion that they didn’t like rowing cause they had never tried it or knew enough about it. So, when I spoke to Marlen, we instantly bonded because we were both young female athletes in sports that sometimes get over looked because of how intimidating it is.

Let’s be honest, boxing is not just a “little” intimidating—it’s extremely intimidating. Marlen made me see how much boxing has given to her. Not only is she a strong girl both mentally and physically but also she has more than one goal in mind. That is what sport does, it unties people and gives people opportunities. Marlen made me realize that you should always give something or someone a chance and not be intimidated of something just because you don’t know about it.

With that in mind, I decided to talk to my dad more about his passion and asked him to give me the 411 on boxing and he did. The best part was when I called him and told him I was going to interview his favorite athlete Manny Pacquiao before the fight. Let me just say that his daily phone call multiplied by 10.

Papa Seferaj was hilarious. He called me about 10 times a day a week prior to the interview with suggestions on what kind of questions to ask Manny. They were all corny but being able to talk about a sport with my dad that he liked was incredible. It actually brought a “bunny tear” to my eye (yes I said bunny tear, feel free to use it). I got teary because my dad has gone to watch Pacquiao fight the last seven years and this was the first fight since then that my dad was unable to attend. Ironically I did AND got to interview him.

Manny Pacquiao has a special presence about him that no words can describe. He is gentle, kind, humble and appreciative. Today fame, money, and power can sometimes steer people on the wrong path, but not for Manny. The PACMAN has stayed true to his family, fans and country. The most captivating thing for me during our interview was when I asked him how he stays true to so many people? He answered, “I have what I have because of God and I am very grateful. All I want to do is serve people and make them happy.”

I walked away from that interview with a warm spot in my hurt. Manny Pacquiao made an impact on me. He is so appreciative of what he has. I look up to him and understand why he is so respected and loved around the world. Mr. Pacquiao is so devoted to his people that before I interviewed him in his hotel room he had around a 100 people in there. From friends to family, to fans to even fellow congressmen, Manny was sharing his time to be with them. Let’s put it this way, the night before I fight, I’m going to want a massage and space; Manny prefers to be surrounded by loved ones and praying with them.

Every morning before a fight, Manny attends mass and invites whoever wants to attend. I was invited and indeed went to mass. This was another surreal experience to see an important, and successful athlete take time out for his faith. He truly lives a life of example.

After the mass it was show time ladies and gents. What better why to start it off then to sit next to female boxer Marlen and No.1 U.S. ranked male heavyweight boxer Steve Geffrard. We were Team Nike; two Nike boxers and a Nike Field Reporter charged with great confidence that our beloved Manny was going to win his eighth straight world championship. We had VIP seats and this tour trio definitely put the V-I-P in VIP.

Nelly actually kicked it off by performing a couple songs, and the three of us were singing along and dancing. Soon after, the most anticipated fight of the year began. I asked Steve “what do you love about boxing?” I guess I wanted someone to answer the question that everyone in my past had failed to answer (with the exception of my dad of course) Steve answered, “I love it. It’s my passion because it gives me discipline, keeps me out of trouble, and I love it because it’s like my family.”

So as I turned back to look at the ring, I saw a man from the Philippines who loves boxing and what it has given him and his people—an opportunity. Pacquiao won his eighth title and completely dominated the ring but, most importantly he continues to teach us all to stay true to our families, our friends, our faith and ourselves.

Thank you Mr.Pacquiao!

-Gevrina

Jessica Mendoza Leads By Example

GevrinaSeferaj — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:00:10 GMT

All of us have pretty jam_packed lives. From juggling school, work, a husband or kids, we all have a lot going on. And don’t forget we also have social media that keeps us in the loop of everyone else’s hectic lives.

As of now, I’m balancing writing articles, preparing for my interviews, working out, staying socially connected, volunteering, friends and my family. What are you juggling? Feel stress at some points? Well how about being an athlete, being a sideline reporter, having a husband and a baby boy? That is the life style of one of my favorite athletes Jessica Mendoza.

Jessica has a contagious smile and immediately gives off a nurturing presence. If you didn’t know she is actually going to start doing sideline reporting for college football. This young mother and loving wife who juggles so much and has become a world-renowned athlete who many admire.

As we hung out at the gym, I watched Jessica work out, and boy is she in stellar shape. We talked about leadership and what she thinks makes a good leader. A strong leader never gives up and does what he or she feels like, remaining respectful toward the people around them.

“Dream it, live it, love it,” is Jessica’s motto and I have to say, I like it! Dream big, live your dream, and love what you do! I can tell that Jessica is extremely passionate about every aspect of her life. My all-time favorite moment during the interview, was when she told me that she is a mom first and her baby boy ran up to us. He’s such a little stud. I thought it was really cute when she said, “How can I stay mad after striking out when I come home to this little guy?”

I also saw Jess at the espnW retreat and we exchanged our experiences. Jessica totally embodies a woman of power and leadership. She is strong yet humble and believe me, she kicks butt on the field. Her passion for life has definitely fueled her leadership role on and off the field.

Having the support and love of her family is something that is very important to Jess and I feel that having support from loved ones always causes the stress to disappear. Regardless of how hectic our lifestyles are, we just have to remember to give ourselves time to enjoy the company of family and friends. Once we are recharged we are ready to take on the world again!

-Gevrina

The Inside Scoop on Nike Free

GevrinaSeferaj — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:05:41 GMT

Question: Would you consider yourself to be shoe-savvy?

Better yet, would you consider yourself to be wearing the freshest kicks?

Well for those of you who like to look hot and wear the latest trend, let me whisk you off to a little world of sneaker wonders.

I met with the designer of the new Nike Free XT Quick Fit +, Mark Miner. Let’s just say that there was a lot of time, creativity, and hard work put into this shoe. Mark and the Nike team definitely heard all of our wants and needs because they created a shoe that fulfills all our sneaker desires.

Mark Miner is a young New York native who designed his first shoe out of paper for class. He said he likes to pay attention to detail, and girls let’s be real, we love those small details on things. Mark is laid back and finds his inspiration when he travels and just starts sketching.

He was so genuine and down to earth that he actually gave me positive feedback on my Cardio Club shoe that I quickly designed after our interview (hahahah “Cardio Club” now that’s a piece of work).

Mark is passionate about his design and I could tell that he really thinks every step through. He definitely delivered a product that meets our needs. When we are heading over to the gym, the last thing we need is our training shoes weighing our bag down. What we need is a lightweight shoe that we can take anywhere.

So ladies and gents I present to you the Nike Free XT Quick Fit+! Let me tell you a little bit about this new sensation that will be giving your feet the deserved treatment they’ve been looking for.

1. They are lightweight so you can take them anywhere and everywhere.

2. You feel like you are barefoot, no more clunky training shoes weighing you down as you workout.

3. Ever heard of Flywire Technology? Well these little guys have just that, making them light and comfortable.

4. They have multi-directional flex grooves that allow the foot to move in a natural motion while you’re doing your thing at the gym!

5. Offers great traction for a variety of surfaces. You can take these shoes for a run or to an indoor gym class.

Meeting Mark was literally the coolest experience in the sense that I got to hang out with one of the designers from Nike!! Now every time I go to the gym, I’m going to look at my fly shoes and know the person behind the shoe. I honestly had no idea how much time is put into creating the most innovative piece of technology for our feet!

This new Nike shoe pushes the boundaries of any conventional training shoe out there. So don’t think twice, check them out for yourself. Then when you’re at the gym and feeling great because of how comfortable, light, and versatile your new Nike Free XT Quick Fit+ thank your Nike designer Mark Miner for delivering you the best.

-Gevrina

Gevvy vs Gym: CrossFit Style

GevrinaSeferaj — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:55:10 GMT

Hello fellow gym rats. If you’re in need of finding a CrossFit studio then UTE CrossFit is for you!

UTE CrossFit studio had so many different machines and types of weights that I had no idea what the class was going to be like. I met up with trainer/owner Bobbie Jo Hackenbruck, who was a collegiate soccer player and also met her husband Tommy who played football in college.

Having such a strong athletic background, Tommy and Bobbie Jo decided to move back to Utah and open a CrossFit studio.

The studio has been very successful because CrossFit is slowly becoming the "new" yoga, or more commonly known as the "new grassroots health movement." CrossFit is the principal strengthening and conditioning regimen that many elite athletes, as well as police academies and special military units do.

CrossFit combines sprinting, carrying heavy objects, gymnastics, weight lifting and cardio; all to promote a healthier lifestyle.

We warmed up by doing 3 sets of 12 of push-ups, wall squats, and lunges. Once we were warmed up, we were paired with partners and did a seven-minute work out. It doesn't seem long, but believe me it was just enough. Our routine went as followed: 50 pull ups, 50 squats, 50 kettle bell arm swings, 50 sit-ups, 50 lunges, 250m row, holding plank position for two minutes and burpees. I was sweaty and exhausted.

I almost forgot, after the workout and burpee challenge, I had to get on a bike and pedal until I burned 25 calories. The first few minutes of post workout were not great but once I caught my breath, I felt great!

Bobbie Jo made a very valid point during the interview; she mentioned that if she had done CrossFit during her career as a soccer player she would have been better prepared for the entire season. CrossFit offers the perfect balance. It targets every part of your body because you are doing interval training.

Advice: Do NOT eat before taking a CrossFit class, and after you're done, make sure you drink a protein shake to repair your muscles! That’s the best approach when you are going to workout! I apparently had a rough time in the class due to my lunch I had twenty minutes prior to the workout. So don’t make that mistake.

If you have any suggestions on me trying out a gym near you, make sure you contact me on twitter @Nike_NFR and let me know! Maybe it can be you and me vs. the gym.

-Gevrina

Gevvy vs Gym: on the playground

GevrinaSeferaj — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:07:24 GMT

I'm sure all of you think your workouts are hard, but may I give a suggestion? I recommend that if you want a "new" definition of the word hard, you must take a class from Marie Purvis. I'm not talking about the typical class, where you stretch, do some cardio and then some weight. Oh no... I'm talking about an intense workout that by the looks of it you might think the inner child in you might come out (and at first it totally will) until you start working muscles you have never thought existed.

So how did my workout go? At first I was extremely confident in my training because "failing to prepare, is preparing to fail," so that was out of the question, however when I trained with Marie I developed a new sense of appreciation for what my body can do once it is trained properly.

I fell in love with Marie the instant I met her and knew that she was going to really push me past my comfort zone. I thought the workout was going to be manageable considering my strict running schedule, but boy was I wrong. We both bonded instantaneously and of course she took me over to warm up right next to a 75 lbs tire. Mind you, my upper body is weak, but I still said to myself, "no biggie." Guys... I cannot stress to you enough how DIFFICULT it was for me to squat and lift this object. I did it (slowly but surely)!

That obviously was not the only thing Marie had in store for me because she took me straight to the volleyball courts and made me do foot work in the stand. The most challenging part was definitely sinking into the sand and trying to find that stability using your core. There was a moment where I was exhausted but I couldn't tell if it was me just allowing my body to take over or not. I find that most of the times, particularly in my case, we give up quickly when we are tried and that's because, we're comfortable. We're allowing our bodies to take over when it should be the other way around--mind over body. I did just that, I ignored the pain and exhaustion and said "Marie, I'm comfortable." She pushed me and I did it.

The word "finished" was no where in Marie's mind, so off we went to a park where my inner child came out, despite the intensity of the work out. Get this, she made me stand over a swing in a plank position with my hands on the swing. Then made me write out the alphabet with the swing seat while remaining in plank position. How about that for the greatest workout ever? For those of you park goers who have kids running around the playground, now you definitely don't have an excuse.

There was so much variety in terms of exercises, terrains, and textures that my entire body was challenged. There was no muscle that went unnoticed. After taking this training session from Marie where I even did workouts on a TRX band, I realized how grateful I am to have had a workout with Marie. I was clearly not pushing myself hard enough. But most importantly Marie taught me that there is no excuse to neglect one's body from a good, challenging, healthy workout!

A sore reporter,
Gevvy