Monday, March 11, 2013

Nike Women's 10k recap

Last week I was invited to participate in the Nike Women's 10k virtual race, which benefitted the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.


The Nike Training Club studio located in Lincoln park (833 w Armitage) had a special event going on for this "virtual" race with special guests Jeanette Jenkins "The Hollywood Trainer," Niena Drake who is an awesome DJ, and 2008 olympic gold medalist in Gymnastics, Shawn Johnson! How could I turn something like that down?!


All virtual racers got this cool Nike Dryfit long sleeve.


(Back of shirt)


The studio was bright and fresh. Classes are offered here every day... FOR FREE! I'll definitely be back to get my butt kicked by the trainers!


Before the run, we listened to Shawn and Jeanette talk about training and life. One of the things that resonated with me was Jeanette's response to a question from the audience. A girl asked "what is the one exercise that we should be doing, that we are probably not doing currently? -like push-ups, lunges..."

Jeanette answered: "look at yourself in the mirror everyday and tell yourself I love you."


After a quick warmup we were off on our "fun run" of 6.2 miles along the beautiful lakefront. I stuck with Jeanette and Shawn as they clocked 8ish minute miles. The effects of the rain and snow really showed because my favorite ice pancakes were nearly all melted and the path was freaking flooded! It reminded me of my high school cross country days- running through really deep- 6"+ puddles!

My feet were soaked by the time we finished our 6.2, but it was a seriously fun time!


Shawn was so nice to take a photo with me post run. She is all muscle!

It was a fun event, and I'm lucky to live in a city where events like this are possible. Of course if I lived in the middle of a corn field, I still could have participated in the run an received the shirt by registering and logging my run on the Nike + app.


Post run there were mimosas, coffee and delicious appetizers to be had.

I'm looking forward to going back to the studio to take some Nike Training Club classes in real life soon- I use the app at home and it kicks my butt!

#letsTurnitUp



- xaar

18 comments:

  1. Aww man! How freakin' cool! What a great pic of you and Shawn. And what a great way that Jeanette answered that question. I 100% agree with her on that one, and it's really cool to see Nike offer this and encourage women to be their best! I hope you do get to check out those FREE(!!!) classes! :) Even if you just would rather run, lol ;) hee hee.

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  2. I have been dying to try the new Nike studio! I need to look at the class schedule!

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  3. Oh man, I used to live about 3 blocks from there when I lived in the LP. Would have been cool to have that studio and the free classes so close by. Cool picture of you and Shawn J. Yes, the puddles were deep by the lakefront over the weekend. I was tempted to try and run right through the middle of them, but wimped out and ran around them (in the spongy wet grass). It may be good to run through the puddles and get my shoes sopping wet every once in a while in case I ever race in a downpour. That way I will be used to running with squishy shoes! :-) Those poor ice pancakes, slowly melting and drifting away!

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    1. I wish the studio was closer, but perhaps during the summer I can make some time to get down there.

      You should have run through them! The first few I ran around and slipped in the ice and mud, then I just started plowing through the puddles. it was so fun! :)

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  4. This is so cool! Totally jealous that you live somewhere that there are awesome events like that!

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    1. Im truly thankful everyday :) even though I never ever would have pictured myself living here!

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  5. Sounds like a great event! And I love that advice!!!

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  6. Sounds fun, and that's awesome advice! And free classes? I may have to check that out, I'm always looking for new classes to add into my routine.

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    1. You can find their schedule of classes on facebook- their page is NTC Lincoln park :)

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  7. I'm convinced I need to move to Chicago now. Just for the Nike Training Club Studio...and the free classes. I'm obsessed with their app! I think that Shawn is actually featured on the app...maybe...So awesome that you could be there to participate! Congrats on another 10K!

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  8. How awesome! I love the shirt too!

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  9. I love all the events that Nike is doing - that looks like so much fun!

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  10. That studio looks AMAZING!! And I would have LOVED to have met SJ! Cool event (I like the shirt too!!).

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  11. Awesome short, and how super cool that you got to meet Shawn!!! She looks so tiny, despite being all muscle.

    If you are ever up for checking out some of those free classes at the studio, let me know - I am all up for getting my butt kicked, too!!! =D

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  12. I feel like I always say this, but you seriously go to the coolest events! You should totally go to that place for workouts a lot. And awesome on meeting Shawn Johnson - I don't doubt that she is all muscle. I saw her in the airport at London Olympics, I should have said hello but I just let her be in the store haha. And you ran with Shawn the whole time? That would be awesome! I'm a fan of her.

    Yea, I honestly have no idea how I ran a 7 min pace run after not running for a month - maybe it does show the benefits of tapering? My body did feel like it wanted to explode at the start line with energy. So I do think while during marathon tapering you may feel like you are getting slower, you are simply saving energy that you will need later. So I gotta say, I may have just realized that tapering works. Also could be that my body was always ready to run 7 min miles, but I just had an opportunity to do so since it was a short enough race. Eugene 10K I did 718, though I'd say I felt better in that race. We'll see what the MRI on the left knee says after tax season.

    As for races in July/Aug, here are a couple that come to mind:
    http://www.wharftowharf.com/ - 7/28
    http://www.race-sfgiants.com/ - 8/4
    http://www.losgatosdammitrun.com/LGAADammitRun/Welcome.html - 8/10 I think

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