Nat Q. @ Lulu

Hello Readers! 

I know the SF half is over and successful, and since our store has opened again for the second time and things are starting to settle back to normal I wanted to take some time to educate you on the benefits of running that you may not already be aware of: 

1) Running burns, in a good way: I used to teach a class call butts and guts: because I didn’t know one woman who wanted either of those things! Well, what my program should have been about was running.  Aside from cross country skiing, running burns more CALORIES a minute than ANY other cardiovascular exercise.  Take that, elliptical!

2) It improves coordination: Think about trail running.  There is uneven pavement, rocks, dirt, gravel, and a countless amount of things that stand in your way on pavement.  Now think about city running.  Maybe not as uneven, but you still have skateboarders, grandmas, small dogs, and bikes that can dart out of nowhere! The more you do it, the more agile and in tune with your body you can become as you avoid ditches and uneven sidewalk that are just looking for an ankle to roll! Part of this is because of the tightened core you get with running (see #1). 

3) Running is maintenance: Already have a rockin bod? Awesome! Running also raises the good cholesterol levels in your body, reduces blood clots, and encourages and improves lung capacity (true story: when I was singing in high school, I would go to the gym extra early just so I could jog and sing while no one was there.  I haven’t sounding good since then), AND protects your immune system by raising your white blood cell count! 

So now, I just gave you three great reasons why you should run.  NOW, I can give you an opportunity.  

Lululemon Santana Row (that’s right! US!) is hosting a 5k/10k race, just for YOU (that’s right!!! YOU) on Sept. 4th in our community.  We want to see YOU and your family, your run family out labor day weekend with us! This is the SECOND ANNUAL LULULEMON ATHLETICA race, and we get to have it RIGHT HERE.  Now driving to spend the night in SF, no dusting off your Passports to get into Vancouver… You can be a part of it all… RIGHT HERE! 

So here is the challenge, if you are not still convinced that you can and should run

1) Come into lululemon Santana Row

2) Tell them Nat Q @lulu said to come in and tell you about the race

3) If you have a fear, question or concern, Tell an educator! I am confident that they can trouble shoot any run fear you might have

4) sign up for the race!  Do It right HERE!!!:  https://www.imathlete.com/events/lululemon5k10krun/Register

Trust me I know how nice it is to be able to sit behind a computer, but our manifesto challenges us to do one thing a day that scares us, and how rad would it be to check something like run/walk a 5/ 10k before noon! Deep breathes! Face your fears! Anyone CAN RUN!!!

Namaste!

Readers: 

I am officially a half marathon finisher! In 2 hours and 50 minutes, and I wanted to wait until a day had passed in order to give you the whole experience.  

Race day is exciting and nerve wracking! I had spent the last two days with no sleep, so I slept really well the night before.  And I have to tell you I did it! I ran about 8 miles out of my 13.  But I will say I could NOT have done it by myself.  

I love San Francisco because there is such a pride about the city.  I could not have done it without the race support staff out with water and electrolytes, and I couldn’t believe the amount of REAL Volunteer support.  Sure their are the people out their with big parking cone orange shirts cheering you on, but there were also a huge amount of San Franciscans out taking their cheering job VERY seriously.  Armed with bells and whistles, some of the cheer section was out in the fog since 4 am with their kids, dogs, bells, just to cheer on the runners.  Their were Even some transients in the park and on Haight out of their tents and sleeping bags just to join in the festivities. 

I was so excited and I was going faster than I thought I would (My sister came up from San Diego and was going to meet me at the 7 mile street, but I had already passed it by the time we had thought I would be there!) Mentally I could have done it, but in the last half mile, around the outside of golden gate park, the wind picked up, and because of my own passed injuries, my hips tightened.  It made it difficult to WANT to keep running, and definitely affected my time, BUT I finished, running, across the finish.  

Some Clearings I have: I was wearing the turbo tank, and the RUN for your life crops.  I was happy to have both.  Woman with bigger busts (I am a 36B) I was fully supported my whole run, with cups in.  Also, it was great for SF because normally I spill water on myself and then am cold for the rest of my race in cotton.  The spilled water wicked right away! And the turbo run crops prevented chaffing, were light enough weight where I did not have to fiddle with them, and I could carry my id, chapstick, ipod, and cell phone in the pockets perfectly! I WOULD recommend staying true to size, however, I normally go up a size in luxtreme tights and noticed I had some slippage in the waist band at the beginning, luckily that drawstring on the inside took care of everything.  

I was recommended by a close friend the ice bath after my run… but that sounded intimadating, so I opted out.  I can report today that I am not sore (only in my back… odd).  I also DID get a pedicure yesterday after my run…. a great investment I think.  

And so ends another blogging journey.  I would like to thank all the ambassadors from Lululemon SR for their support and wisdom as I trained, my sister and other running coaches (educator Erica), and lululemon for giving me this opportunity.  My next half marathon is in 12 weeks (nike woman’s).  And I truly feel that I can sit before you know and say that the saying is, in fact, true: Anyone can run. 

… And in case you were wondering about the yogi who is coming to town… Eion Finn, founder of the blissology project (and inspiration for my first blog) is in lululemon Cow Hollow tonight to teach a class! I hope some of you take the time to go out and see him, as he is truly inspirational.  

Namaste!

Remember when I went to yoga class and I was feeling something in my yoga poses that left my shoulder so open I could probably pitch nine innings for the giants?
The emotions kept going. The ones that tell me I can’t hold my eagle pose for one more breath. They returned in the morning around 3:30 am. It swarmed around my head as I tossed and turned:

What is wrong with you? Who runs 13 miles?

You aren’t a runner!

8:30 in SF is early! What if I get lost?
What if you don’t finish.

So when I “awoke” in the morning I knew i had made the right decision by going to see Pik Chu at the yoga studio.
The Ariel class at the yoga studio on Fridays is like getting a 90 minute hug. Pik Chu teaches it, and while you get the same stretch you would in vinyasa, she reminds her class to always connect with their inner child, take deep slow breaths, and to take care of yourself. Plus, this hip hangs really opened my hips from running in a way no sweaty yoga class could.

I think I will be ready to run on sunday!

I went to yoga today with our amazing ambassador Cindy Ja.

I felt like it was the best mistake ever! After run club Wednesday I noticed some soreness in my right calf. And my chronic shoulder pain was back. And I should see a chiropractor. Somebody call me a WAmbulence, I was annoying myself.

Cindy’s class always makes me feel better, even when I am sore… So why did I start to worry when it was an hour to class time?
…and then class started.

Now, for those of you who have been, you know about emotions. Sometimes, when yogi’s know they are kicking your butt, they say things like, “sometimes people feel emotions, just let it happen and ride it out…” that was the whole last 20 minutes of class for me. If you have NEVER taken yoga before because it wasn’t hard enough, take class with Cindy. I never sweat so hard in her class, and at the end of it all, I felt like a lizard shedding skin. Keep your bikram, friends! I’ll take cindy’s any day of the week! And the best part is, Cindy is the sweetest, most compassionate yogi, you would never expect the workout you are gonna get until you are halfway through the class and chataraunga-ing for your life!

So glad I wore a cool racerback and some wonder grooves! No nonsense pieces that left me fidget free through my entire practice. And the emotional roller coaster on my fifth chair twist pose left me clear minded and ready to start my weekend!

Namastr!

Let me say this about running with puppies: It’s not easy.  However, It looks like I set a precedent when I brought Ginger to class last week, and this week two more showed up.  

If you are not prepared, these runs can be frustrating and unsatisfying.  Here are a few tips I can give about running with my new partner: 

1) feel the ground: if the pavement is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for puppy.  PRepare to turn to Run for your life (or at least your feet… hey, did I mention the new their are run crops that are called run for your life at lululemon? They are nice and short for summer runs.) 

2) Make sure you don’t have a wardrobe malfunction to mind: I put astro crops on wednesday thinking it was tuesday (yoga).  Not only did I need to mind my crops, I had to mind puppy, and I just don’t have enough hands for all that! Wunder Groove crops work great and of course so do the run crops at lulu… I have the cross trainer crops from last year, but the turbos of this year I have had my eye on for summer.  

3) WATER: We need water because we sweat.  Puppy needs water because she DOESN’T sweat.  bring enough for the two of you, and possibly a bowl! 

4) Does this seem like a lot since you are used to going out just on your own? Lululemon makes a great hip pack called the travel pooch! It has spots for treats, a ball, and bags to clean up after them (I read the best thing is three bags: one for pooch, one emergency, and one to share!) My dog seems to like to piddle right at the LEAST opportune times, and my dad told me to ALWAYS be prepared!

So the puppies did good today, and will definitely sleep soundly after Erica’s 2 miles on the trail.  And now that I have done this a few times, puppy and I can definitely be ready to hit the trails prepared now. 

Oh, yoga, the maintenance of the body.  Sadly, I didn’t make it to the class I wanted in terms of ambassadors yesterday.  Two of our FABULOUS ambassadors (Marti Foster and Misako Matsuoka are both either out of town or not scheduled for classes today, so I went to a yogasource class JUST to get my body back in tune.  

Fortunately, I was (surprise!) NOT that sore when I finally finished off my run yesterday, and the yoga has been so helpful keeping my body in tune.  It’s hard for me to say I am seeing results like flexibility, but I CAN say I am getting leaner, and probably most importantly, I have been waking up pain-free (a luxury I did not have as a dancer in college).

I will be out and around town (look for the white framed sunglasses), so feel free to give me your running tips, running secrets and recipes, a good yoga class for POST Run, or just wish me good luck!

But before I sign off I am opening up the floor to some VERY exciting news: Low and behold as I sat down to write about my blog, I received an e-mail.  With news so exciting I almost spit my water out all over my laptop.  But because I KNOW I have a few people out there reading, I will now open up the floor to you, readers: I will give you a few hints:

1) Think about the original Blog

2) He/she has been a HUGE influence to our community in regards to lululemon culture

Guess who is coming to Lululemon?