One more…

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One more run in the daylight hours.
One more swim outdoors.
One more ride before darkness descends too early.
One more hike before the trails are impassable.
One more weekend without a mile long to-do list.
One more reason to get outside.
Let’s all get out while the getting’s good.

Share your one more for fall in the comments section!

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Missy Park, Founder

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If I Leap, Will That Net Really Appear?

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Easy to say when I’m standing firmly on the ground. More difficult when I am on the edge, facing an abyss.  But what I’ve found over the years, is that if I keep making those leaps, I’ll either reach my goal, the net will appear or I’ll get in some good practice falling.  All are good outcomes.  Each makes it easier for me to take the next leap, though I must admit that making my goals is way more fun than nursing my bruises.

So tell us about the last time you took a big leap?  Did that net appear? Write about it in the comments section. Can’t wait to hear your stories!

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Missy Park, Founder

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Raising the Bar

wiwo_0909_v2“Lose your head and gain control of your senses.”  That’s one thing that six years of competitive dragon boating has taught Michelle Rudd.  Another is “When the water gets rough, don’t pull your paddle out of the water.  Paddle through it.”

These lessons began innocently enough.  After a great, women-only weekend of kayaking in 2003, Michelle wanted to find a way to stay on the water.  So, she joined a dragon boat team.  By 2007, she was paddling with the Masters Women’s Crew of Team USA in Sydney Australia…and is currently training to do the same in Prague this year.

Mastering a new sport isn’t easy.  In Michelle’s case, she had to work it into the busy life of a land use lawyer in Portland Oregon’s largest law firm: office work, meetings, court appearances, the works.  She’s also a member of the Portland Planning Commission–working to make a “great city even greater for all segments of the community.”  Still, she pulls off 75-minute workouts on 6 mornings per week, and 3 evenings of paddling practice.  It’s not easy, but “it’s become such a habit that I just do it.”  Her sense of responsibility can’t hurt either: “knowing your teammates are counting on you and that races are won based on the commitment made well before the actual race.”

Or maybe it’s just the fact that she’s a “hopeless (hopeful?) optimist who, regardless of what the ‘facts’ suggest never quite buys the idea that something may be impossible.”

At first, the pay-off was the adrenaline rush at the starting line, the thrill of the race. These days, she says, “I love the sense of calm at the start line, knowing we were born to do this and if anyone beats us, it won’t be because we gave it away.  I feel more me in the boat than anywhere.  There’s a sense of power and purpose that’s amazing.”

Amazing indeed!

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Home: Portland, Oregon

Occupation: Attorney

Education: J.D., Masters in City and Regional Planning, BS Civil Engineering

Partner: Kevin

Children: Kassia and Cameron

Age/Height/Weight: Only my coach and captains know for sure.

Sports, past and present: Dragon boating, bicycling

Athletic accomplishments: Paddled on Masters Women’s Crew of Team USA in Sydney Australia in 2007 and will do so again in Prague in 2009

Little known fact about you: When I was nine I wanted to be a police officer. I think I’ve always liked rules.

Environmentally incorrect preference: Trash cans

Guilty pleasure: Frozen yogurt

Most embarrassing moment: My first OC1 time trial was really long because I took the scenic route.  Trying to steer AND paddle hard is a challenge.

Favorite thing to do when not working or working out: Playing board games, watching old movies.

Any funny moments to share? I’m not sure it’s funny, but one of the fun things about international racing is the trading of jerseys that tends to happen at some point.  When my regular team, Wasabi, was paddling in Penang last year, someone started trading shirts with a Malaysian team.  It became a flurry of Wasabi green swapping for Malaysian orange shirts with huge grins all around.  As long as you bring a spare to race in, it’s a great tradition.

Moment of Inspiration: One of the great things about paddling is that there are so many moments of inspiration.  So much of what we learn in the boat is transferable to life outside the boat.  For example, keep the paddle in the water when things get rough.  The boat’s more stable if you’re paddling.  You can’t control the outcome, only the process. Trust the process.  And that voice in your head is yours.  You decide if it’s positive or negative.

Favorite Quote: “There are no excuses only priorities.”

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• Monday through Saturday I do 75 minutes of cardio and weights in the mornings.
• Monday and Wednesday I’m at dragon boat practice for an hour and a half, and paddling a six-person outrigger canoe for an additional hour and a half.
• Saturday is a light paddling day of only an hour.
• Sunday is yoga.

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Emily and Alice’s Picks

See what our in-house style experts have to say about this fall’s must have items.


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Emily

1. Intercontinental Cardigan – Warm, lightweight, comfortable, machine washable and stylish. What more could you want?

2. Shanti Longsleeve – I love the burnout sleeves and the graphic. But, the icing on the cake is the wicking/ breathable body fabric.

3. Chase Boot – These look great with a skirt or with pants. Bonus: They are so comfy that you barely know that they’re on!

4. Sadie Skirt – This skirt is the perfect length for wearing with tights and boots. Plus, the stretchy cord fabric is comfy and warm!












alice-musthavesAlice

1. Speed Stripe Sweater – Sporty, cute, super functional – I can wear it as a layering piece or over a T.

2. Perfection Pant – Super flattering fit, stain resistant (I’m a big spiller) 😉 technical fabric for rugged durability. It’s function meets fashion.

3. Beryl Boot – It’s the most comfortable boot I’ve ever tried – and it’s cool.

4. WWW Bra – Wear it all day AND I can work out in it. Super versatile and really comfortable.











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