Sole Sisters

Leg 9: Navery's on the move...

2009-05-07T21:35:00.001-07:00

Flo coming in for the hand-off to Navery.... exchange 9.

I can do that all day! ;)

Navery's on the move!

Leg 8: Flo's turn!!!

2009-05-06T22:59:00.001-07:00

Driving to meet Monica at exchange 8 and get Flo started!

...successfully at the next exchange :)

at the beautiful Hudson Vineyards, Carneros, Napa Valley.

Flo's ready to go!

Andrea and Flo.

Here comes Monica!

...and off our speedy Flo goes!!

Leg 7: Van no. 2 kickoff!

2009-05-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

Quick pit-stop at the Oakville Grocery, Napa Valley, before meeting Van no. 1...

It may have been bad weather,
but the fog-blanketed hills of Wine Country were gorgeous.

Van no. 2 anxiously awaits their start...

...in the gym of the First Baptist Church, exchange 7.

Sarah and Rory.
Hanging in the gym- Sarah, STUDYING! and Rory, resting his lead foot!!! haha!

(...Med students don't get to break!)

Monica gearing up for her first run!

Monica and Donya.

We're EXCITED!!!!!!

Navery and Amy.

Sarah and Andrea.

Here comes Elyse.... wooo hooo!!!!

and off goes Mon!!!

all night runners

2009-05-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Running in the middle of the night can get a little hairy when you're on a poorly marked farm road with no street lights or shoulder... Most of us ran with 2 headlamps, a reflective vest, a cellphone, mace and a whistle....

Luckily, we had a great crew who was ready to support us along the way if things got too spooky!

Here is Elyse, the last runner in van #2 after she crossed the Golden Gate bridge at around 2 in the morning!

Meet the Driver

2009-05-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

We couldn't have asked for a better driver this weekend!

I mean...just look at him.... :)

But really... David was amazing! He even got out and ran for a few miles with Kelley!

Fuel:

almost there....

Leg 13 EXCHANGE!!! (getting darker now...)

2009-05-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

Leg 13, Runner #1 Kelley

6 miles

Nicasio to San Geronimo, CA

Amy hauled it to the second exchange station, where Kelley kicked off another 6 legs of running!

The Van

2009-05-05T15:30:00.001-07:00

Each van was labelled with our team number, 146. It also had some reminder rules just in case...

It wasn't long before our trusty dodge was soaked and muddy...

mmmm....cheese!

2009-05-05T15:07:00.001-07:00

While the second Van made their way through Sonoma, we hightailed it to Petaluma to wait at the next exchange station

Leg 6 EXCHANGE!!

2009-05-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

Leg 6, Runner #6 Elyse

4.5 Miles

Napa, CA

Elyse passes the Baton to Monica, Runner #7.

Leg 5

2009-05-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

Leg 5

Runner #5 Polly

5 Miles

Napa, CA

it's dreamy weather

2009-05-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

(Dry Sleeping. Petaluma, CA)

(Vineyard, St. Helena.)

(Napa River Ecological Reserve. Napa, CA)

(Rows and Rows. Napa, CA)

Leg 4

2009-05-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

Leg 4, Runner #4 Donya

Yountville to Napa, CA

7.4 miles

Leg 3

2009-05-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

Leg 3, Runner #3 Maggie

4.1 Miles

Rutherford to Yountville, CA

Leg 2

2009-05-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Leg 2, Runner #2 Lindsey.

4.7 Miles

St. Helena to Rutherford, CA

(celebrating our first successful baton pass)

start me up i'll never stop

2009-05-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 2, 2009. 10:30 AM

Leg 1, Runner #1 Kelley.

4.8 Miles

Calistoga to St. Helena, CA

"the baton" was a green bracelet that we brilliantly fastened to our number

And we're off!!!

sole sisters fun fact #1

2009-05-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we have 2 REAL sisters on the team too? Here are Monica and Donya posing with the Relay mascot (which is supposed to be the state of california, not a soggy noodle).

rain dogs

2009-05-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Coach Andrea reads the rules for the Relay. Flo wonders if she should sign her organs away in the event that we don't make it.

We arrive at the start line with an hour to kill in the rain.

This is the true story... of twelve strangers... picked to live in a van...

2009-05-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Well not all strangers. many of our runners have been close friends since elementary school, but there was a lot of introductions that had to happen before we all started stinking up a van together...

We kicked off relay weekend with some carbo-loading at the olive garden in santa rosa... and for being mostly strangers, I'd say we hit things off pretty well!

Andrea arranged a hotel for us just a few minutes from the start line. Here is Amy and Navery catching up on some much needed pillow talk.

Our Lucky Penni

2009-04-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

(wilder ranch state park, santa cruz, california)

Distance running is not as simple as 'throw on your shoes and go'. In fact, a considerable amount of planning is involved. Have I eaten well enough today, and yesterday, to support the distance I want to go? Is the route I'm taking exposed or shaded, and will I need a hat and/or sunglasses and sunscreen? How about bathrooms?? bathrooms are a serious consideration.

What do I need to carry for hydration, are there fountains along the way to refill? Will I need shot blocks, gels or a granola bar for refueling? Needless to say, a whole bunch to think about.

The best thing about running an organized race is, that for the first time, after months of training, all you actually have to think about is running. Aid Stations are spread out in perfect increments along the course and stacked with everything a runner could need. Any runner, no matter what distance the race is, fully appreciates the Aid Stations.

(my aid station, wilder ranch state park)

The Relay, however, has required months of planning. Our team will need to be almost entirely self sufficient for 199 miles. Feeding and hydrating twelve women for two days is hard enough to plan for, excluding any running!

We have been very, very fortunate to have some amazing sponsors to ease this burden. Specifically, Penni Bengston of Finish Line Productions has offered to supply us with all of our nutritional needs for the entire 199 miles!!!

This is an amazingly generous offer and we are so very grateful. We can't thank Penni and Finish Line Productions enough for being our Aid Station!!

why we LOVE joint juice!

2009-03-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

(image from www.beveragesdirect.com)

If you’re like me, you come from a paranoid family that worries about almost everything you do. You went home this holiday and updated your family on your year of training. You tell them you’re running to save a life this Spring in a 200 mile relay race, and instead of words of encouragement, you are bombarded with warning after warning about running yourself into the ground. I’ve been warned that I’ll spend my 40’s in a wheelchair, that I’ll be met with surgery after surgery in my old age repairing the joint damage I’ll accrue from banging my feet on pavement….and if none of those things bite me where it hurts, I’ll certainly be left for dead in the middle of the woods with a rabid hound dog…or lose my job for sink bathing in the bathroom after my lunch hour run.

Worry no more grandmothers, aunts, and surrogate naggers! We’ve landed sponsorship from Joint Juice, which offers a full day’s supply of glucosamine, a whopping 1500 mg, that aids in joint hydration. I know I know, shellfish can be really contaminated these days with all the pollution in the water, but the great thing about Joint Juice is the glucosamine HCl in all of their products is 100% vegetable derived and shellfish-free!

So if you’re like me, you’ll love Joint Juice! Glucosamine hydrates your joints, giving them all the right squishy and soft points to prevent joint stress. Feeling rusty in the knees? Grab a refreshing Lemon flavored Joint Juice! Only 10 calories per bottle, and infused with 50% of a daily dose of B vitamins that aid in energy metabolism! (niacin, B6, B12 and panthothenic acid)

If you live in the central bay, Joint Juice is locally made in San Francisco, so it’s a great way to support the local fitness industry. If you don’t live nearby, and just want to help Uncle Sam find his way out of the dark basement of economic ruin, then here’s how you can find Joint Juice in a store nearest you

http://www.jointjuice.com/

Disclaimer: Joint Juice does not protect you from ankle sprains, rabies, or unemployment.

Introductions

2009-01-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to our site!

We are so excited to be running this very long race through Northern California. Here you will find updates from team players and information about the three day race.

First, Let us introduce ourselves!

Education/Work: B.S. Biological Sciences (UCSB) / Licensing Coordinator at Santa Cruz Biotechnology
Interests: running, hiking, snowboarding, reading, cooking
Shoe of Choice: Mizuno Wave Alchemy
Favorite Athlete/Runner: I'm not sure. I'll have to think about this one...

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: pretzels & peanut butter / anything & everything I can get my hands on Never fail pump up song: Stronger by Kanye West

Favorite Running Movie: Run Fat Boy Run

Favorite Racing Distance: 10KInspirational Quote: Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land among the stars. -Les Brown

Education/Work: BIOLOGY :-) Interests: being outside, being outside and being outside.

Shoe of Choice: Brooks Woman's Dyad
Favorite Athlete/Runner: who else but DEAN!

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: Pre: strawberry Clif Shot-Blocks, or pb&j sandwich,

Post: granola with tons of fresh berries, banana and milk! or cookies and milk!

Never fail pump up song: My current favorite, “Let It Rock” –Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne

Favorite Running Movie: Running on the Sun
Favorite Racing Distance: umm... probably 10 miles, it's just
right :-) Inspirational Quote: "Chin up, shoulders back and walk proud. Don't lick your wounds, celebrate them. This is a Lion's Fight. The scars you bare are the signs of a competitor; just because you didn't win doesn't mean you don't know how to roar." (The Chief from Grey's Anatomy)

Education/Work: Film/Graphic Design
Interests: film, music, adventures of all kinds, hound dogs, big sur Shoe of Choice: Asics Gel Cumulus
Favorite Athlete/Runner: Steve Prefontaine

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: Pre: toast / Post: cereal with milk

Never fail pump up song: Barracuda by Heart
Favorite Running Movie: Run Lola RunFavorite Racing Distance: so far, the half marathon, but we'll see how a full turns out in april!
Inspirational Quote: I'd rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth -Steve McQueen

Education/Work: BS Kinesiology at Cal Poly SLO, Licensing Coordinator Interests: Triathlon, hiking, travelingShoe of Choice: Asics GT-2130
Favorite Athlete/Runner: Lance Armstrong (he ran a marathon)

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: bagel with peanut butter
Never fail pump up song: Eye of the Tiger
Favorite Running Movie: Cool Runnings (they started as sprinters)

Favorite Racing Distance: MarathonInspirational Quote:"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

Education/Work: BA in Education / Teachers Assistant
Interests: running, people, cooking, the beach, laughing, music, pictures

Shoe of Choice: Nike

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Michael Phelps

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: Eggs and toast
Never fail pump up song: Kelly Clarkson - Since you've been gone

Favorite Running Movie: Forest Gump
Favorite Racing Distance: 10K
Inspirational Quote: "Somewhere behind the athlete you've become, the hours of practice, the coaches who pushed you, the teammates who believed in you and the fans that cheer for you, is the little girl that fell in love with the game

who never looked back. Play for her."

Education/Work: Master's in Environmental Microbiology...just graduated so I'm a bum until I find a job :)

Interests: adventures both planned and unexpected, running, reading, and my dogs just to name a few

Shoe of Choice: asics gel kayano

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Hmmm...don't know

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: Pre-run: a clif bar or luna bar Post-run: peanut butter and bananas and a smoothie

Never fail pump up song: Right Round- Flo rida
Favorite Running Movie:

Favorite Racing Distance: 1/2 marathon
Inspirational Quote: I believe that man will not merely endure. He will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. ~William Faulkner

Education/Work: Student

Interests: Mountain biking, climbing and reading

Shoe of Choice: Asics GT 20 series

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Paula Newby-Frasier

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: Pre: Powerbagel with peanut butter and honey / Post: Fries

Never fail pump up song: Disturbia

Favorite Running Movie: Don't have one (I haven't even seen Chariots of Fire!)

Favorite Racing Distance: Marathon

Inspirational Quote: "Size matters not...look at me. Judge me by size, do you?" -Yoda

Education/Work: BA International Studies and Business Management/Account Executive at A&R Edelman

Interests: Traveling, Sailing, Snowboarding, Tennis, Hiking, Cooking and Running of course!

Shoe of Choice: New Balance

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Lance Armstrong

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: Toast with banana, almost butter and agave nectar on top / Jamba Juice soy protein smoothie...followed by an ahi tuna bowl with brown rice and avocado.

Never fail pump up song: "Let It Rock" --Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne

Favorite Running Movie: Run Fat Boy Run

Favorite Racing Distance: Marathon

Inspirational Quote: "Far better is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt

Education/Work: B.A. English, A.A. Graphic Design, Work as Real Estate Processor at local Credit Union in San Diego

Interests: lauging, goofing off, dancing, writing, poetry, running, yoga

Shoe of Choice: New Balance or Saucony

Favorite Athlete/Runner: not sure...

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: peanut butter on toast/cereal or yogurt with fresh fruit

Never fail pump up song: "I don't need a man" (pussy cat dolls)...even if you love your man, this is still awesome.

Favorite Running Movie: Run Fat Boy Run...cause it's the only one I know

Favorite Running Distance: still testing this one out..

Inspirational Quote: "wake me up strong in the morning"

Education/Work: BS Health Sciences, UCSC; currently attending Ostopathic Medical School at Touro University

Interests: Studying, working out, travel, food, music, art...

Shoe of Choice: Asics! (Asics Gel Cumulus to be exact)

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Flo Jo

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: I change a lot...anything that is not too big or too small and has lots of protein and some carbs; Post: anything

Never fail pump up song: Well right now I would have to say, "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga, because I think that that's what everyone should do..."Just dance!!"

Favorite Runing Movie: I know that Monica already said it, but "Run Fat Boy Run"

Favorite Racing Distance: I recently ran a 5k and kinda liked it, but 10K is good too.

Inspirational Quote: "Dream your dreams with open eyes and make them come true." - T.E. Lawrence

Education/Work: B.S. Kinesiology and M. Ed, both from UNH, and I currently teach high school Physical Education at Oakland Tech!

Interests: dancing, being outside in the sun, and playing :)

Shoe of Choice: the Nike Free 7.0

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Andrea Pesce

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: a Honey Graham Kids Cliff bar before and Chocolate Soymilk after!

Never fail pump up song: Blow the Whistle by Too Short

Favorite Running Movie: the Sandlot, when Benny runs from the Beast. :)

Favorite Racing Distance: None, haha.

Inspirational Quote: "Mind over matter, and if you don't mind, then it don't matter" --Coach Alphonso

Education/Work: Graduated from University of Illinois-Chicago with a PharmD, working for Kaiser as a pharmacist by day, workin for myself as an R&B singer by night.

Interests: currently, it's how to independently release your own album without goin bankrupt while maintaining sanity with active activities e.g. running. also, my finances.

Shoe of Choice: I've got Asics on now with the gelly stuff and I love it, though Saucony's and Brooks have also been kind to my feet.

Favorite Athlete/Runner: Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Tarek Hararah

Preferred Pre/Post-run Food: I love a cup of coffee before a run definitely DEFinitely without milk. And after? I will eat the first thing I can find as my stomach becomes a bottomless pit. Do crave watermelon but I can never find it in time.

Never fail pump up song: Kanye West feat. Talib Kweli - Get High

Favorite Running Movie: Forrest Gump (love that guy)

Favorite Racing Distance: half-marathons are kinder to my knees

Inspirational Quote: "Why would you EVER run for a ridiculously long time and ridiculously long distance?" (friend)

Person who got me to run from my own will: None other than fellow teammate, Amy Lim. Whenever I felt too tired, I asked myself "Would Amy stop? No, because she's crazy and you can be too."