Blonde Beezies taking the court in I Just Wanna Run tanks & Run:Speed Shorts!

The two weekends of OTL are literally my favourite holiday weekends of the entire year, even though they are only official holidays if you play in the tournament and thus understand my passion and enjoyment of this glorious tournament. In fact, I was so excited that I scheduled in my 7 mile long run for Saturday morning and ran from my house to Fiesta Island to watch my husband's team play (since my team did not play until Sunday). My friend and teammate Tara joined me in the run, and though our husbands told us we were crazy, we enjoyed every step of the run. We were laughing, talking about how crazy we were, talking strategy for our games the next day, and nearly sprinted the last 2 miles once we saw Fiesta Island and the OTL crowds.

The running route I mapped to Fiesta Island on the Dailymile.com, thanks to a tip from one of our guests!

When we arrived we felt amazing and were ready to take on a full day of sitting in the sun, drinking only a couple cocktails and watching our boys ALMOST make it to the 2nd weekend of the tournament. This run really got me thinking that I should be enjoying my runs this much every time I hit the road. Even if it means bribing my inner 5 year old with a treat like an evening picnic in the park, or gelato. This evening in fact, my husband and I planned a 4 mile run through Balboa Park, which happens to be right next door to the San Diego Zoo. So we're packing a picnic and heading into the Zoo once we complete our run, and I'm going to check out lions! I haven't been excited to go the zoo since I was 5, but rewarding our run with a visit brings the 5 year old right out of me! Happy summertime fun running my friends! Namaste.

Come on ball get over the line, go go gooo!!

This week’s training mileage total: 18 miles!
Longest run: 7 miles with a pace of 10:45 (We were cookin' and so excited to get to Fiesta Island!)
Cross training: 3 Jillian Michaels workouts
Wore on my long run: Run: Swiftly Racerback and Run:Team Spirit Crops (perfect for the cool muggy morning along the coast)
Favourite song on my run playlist: “American Honey” – Lady Antebellum

6 weeks until race day! Here is my training schedule for the week:
Monday: 4 miles + a picnic at the Zoo
Tuesday: Barry’s Bootcamp + Hot Yoga
Wednesday: Jillian Michaels Workout + 4 miles
Thursday: Barry’s Bootcamp + Yoga
Friday: 8 miles!
Saturday: OTL
Sunday: OTL Championship Game (hopefully that is...)

P.S. Do any of you have any fun summer running activities I can sneak in my runs with? How do you get creative with enjoying summer and your training?

endorphin tested, sweat approved

Hollis is currently training for the La Jolla Half Marathon, and her very first Rock'n'Roll Marathon in June! Hollis is averaging at least 20 miles a week in her runs producing a lot of endorphins and sweat. As her mileage continues to build in the months to come, the last thing she needs is a tank that will get heavier as her body temperature rises and so does her perspiration.

She also cross trains by spinning twice a week, and is thankful the I Just Wanna Run Tank accommodates both. Hollis has found that spinning is an amazing way to build her stamina and endurance for long distance running. She likes spinning in this tank because it is high enough that when she gets low she feels she has coverage. It is also so lightweight that she never has the urge to rip her tank off in the middle of class. If she does get really hot, she can use the drawcord to cinch the tank up and let her skin completely breathe.

it's in the details

There are lots of little details that make this tank amazing to sweat in. My personal favourite detail of this tank is that is woven with ultra lightweight and breathable Silverescent™ fibres that have anti-stink and anti-static properties. When Hollis is running 12 miles or more, her tank will not cling to her side, and she can feel comfortable heading to lunch or coffee afterwards as her sweat will dry really quickly and she won't need to take a bath in perfume.

Why We Made This:

• Barely there tech top for those who just wanna run!
• Lightweight & breathable Silverescent™ has anti-stink and anti-static properties
• Loose comfortable fit, great for layering
• Cinchable drawcord for customizable fit
• Secret stash pocket for cards or keys
• Flat seamed for chafe resistance & comfort

At the end of the day, if you have to run 5, 10, 20 miles, you want your body to be comfortable, dry, and you want to feel good about yourself in what you're wearing. The I Just Wanna Run Tank delivers in all of those departments, and I can easily see why it's one of Hollis' favourite pieces to sweat in this Spring.

Hollis is 5'5" a size 4 and is wearing the I Just Wanna Run Tank in Lavender and the Run:Zoom Crops in coal/lavender/ horizontal stripe/lime.

Where are you sweating this Spring?

Location? Check! Torrey Pines State Park in California.

Stretch before the hike?  Check!  Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) is perfect for loosening up your legs, hips and torso.

Natarajasana (Dancer's Pose) opens up your back and quads, and feels so good in the sunlight.

Sunshine and breath?  Check!

Soft waistband and open venting for added breathability?  Check!

Secure pocket for your keys, cash or snacks?  Check!

Drawstring and elastic for support?  Check!

Hills?  Check!

Hit the ground running?  Check!

Too cold this time of year to get outside?

Step 1. Print out a picture of Torrey Pines, lay it over the front of your treadmill!

Step 2. Crank that incline up on your treadmill to 8 or a daring 12, set your speed between a 2.0 and 4.0 and get hiking!

Happy trails to you my friend.  Namaste.

Heather is an educator at our Downtown San Diego Showroom, she is 5'6" and is wearing a size 6 in the bold blue Cool Racerback, senorita pink Run:Swiftly Tech SS, and the black/senorita pink and the january checkmate Run:Speed Shorts.

What is your role at lululemon?

I am a Showroom Manager in beautiful downtown San Diego.

Tell us about your community:

Downtown is the cultural center of San Diego. We have a really great mix of athletes, young professionals, people in the military, students and tourists. We have yogis, crossfitters, dancers, runners, cyclists, mixed martial artists and Olympic kayakers. People here are some of the most friendly I've ever met. I guess it's difficult not to be happy when it's sunny 360 days a year

How did you come to lululemon?

I worked in Los Angeles marketing for network television shows until I burned out. I took a year off and got certified to teach yoga then traveled around the world with my sister before settling in San Diego. I knew of and loved lululemon from my LA days and was surprised to find there wasn't a store here. I found the posting for a showroom manager on lululemon.com soon after I moved here. The timing was perfect! I was lucky enough to be hired to open a showroom in Del Mar, lululemon's entry into the San Diego market. The whole thing was fate really.

What is the difference between a showroom and a store?

Showrooms were originally created to go into communities where lululemon stores were not around. They operate similarly to our stores in many ways but one major difference is that we have limited hours in order to maximize our time in the community. I believe there is no better venue than a showroom to interact with our community and truly gain a sense of what they want and where they want it. The showroom setting is generally very intimate and has that neighborhood vibe where our guests feel comfortable kicking off their shoes and staying awhile.

What's a typical Wednesday like for you?

Wednesdays are different each week but they always start out with our store manager call where all the stores and showrooms in our region get to touch base. Lots of learning and sharing happens on that call! Wednesdays include a class (or two!) so that I'm always becoming more of an expert in our community, connecting with the most amazing teachers, trainers, athletes and studios in our neighborhood. Community and people development are how I spend most of my days.

How do you usually sweat once a day?

Yoga is definitely my preferred form of exercise/stress relief though I took my first hip hop class a couple weeks ago and I'm hooked! Also, I work up quite a sweat chasing after my very active 11-month-old daughter but I can't think of anything more fun!

What’s one activity/fitness trend that you’ve been dying to try?

I have two: Zumba and Kettle Bells.

Why do you have the best job in the world?

I love creating something where there was nothing but opportunity before. I love working with amazing people every day, fellow educators and all the outstanding members of our community. I am so fortunate to have a job that embraces balance so that I can be present for my family and raise our daughter. I have so much fun at work that I'd probably do it even if I didn't get paid.

What piece of advice do you have for future showroom managers?

Be flexible and open to anything! Most importantly, take ownership of whatever you do... showrooms provide unbelievable opportunities for resourcefulness and creativity.

What makes your showroom unique?

This is the second showroom I've managed in San Diego and they each had very different personalities. The first time around we were the only gig in town. Now there are two stores in the area so we have to work even harder to create our individual showroom culture and not stand in the shadow of the stores. Our mission continues to be to attract new guests, educate them on our culture and bring the lululemon love.

Sidewalk yoga! All part of a day's work at the San Diego showroom.

Do you think you are one of the three rock stars managers that can lead a team in Madison, WI, Cincinnati, OH or Birmingham, AL? Browse some of the cool locations where we will be opening showrooms!

These days it seems we all need a break. We all need a laugh, we all need a break from our lives, and we all need to remember what it is like to be a kid. The past two weekends I was able to escape with my friends and family into a worry free and exceptionally crazy and fun world by means of the 56th annual Over the Line World Championships played on Fiesta Island in San Diego, California.

For those of you that have heard of this legendary tournament, or have even been lucky enough to attend, you know how much ridiculous fun I am talking about. If you haven’t, book your flights for next July to San Diego, it is definitely a spectacle everyone should see and even better participate in at least once in their life. Nearly 1,200 teams composed of men’s and women’s teams ranging from age 21-75 compete every year in this double elimination tournament, and most do not survive past the first day of competition.

The tournament itself attracts a lot of beer, a lot of sun, and the occasional topless woman, but nonetheless serves as a reminder to chill out, play a game, and that life should not be taken too seriously. The game of OTL is played on the beach and can almost be thought of as a combination of baseball, golf and cricket. It is an extremely refined and athletic practice that truly takes years to master. There are 3 players to a team, and the simple object of the game is to hit the ball so that it drops in the sand over the line away from the 3 fielders trying to catch it, which is about 55 feet away from the hitter. If the ball does not travel past the line, it’s an out. The field itself is about 55 feet wide, and as far as you can hit it. Three hits is a run, and any ball that goes past the very last fielder without being touched is a homerun. Seemingly simple, but extremely difficult once you make it past team Hooters or Little Darling’s Showgirls and start playing with the top 10 teams in the world. Literally some people travel all year long to play this game, and I envy them just a little bit.

My team, the “Blonde Beezies” (an amazingly mild OTL team name) has played together for close to 5 years and have set the goal of winning the entire tournament by 2011. Our team collectively has 2 NCAA softball titles, 3 seasons of professional softball, and has only finished in the top 5 of OTL a humbling and sobering one time. We can definitely cover more beach defensively than any team out there, but have been wickedly schooled in the art of OTL hitting. Next year we have vowed to actually practice before the tournament and attempt to refine our hitting.

Despite our shortcomings every year, it is nonetheless my favorite two weekends of the entire summer. My husband and I literally postponed our real honeymoon to play this year. The “Blonde Beezies” placed in the top 10 this year, and most definitely won best dressed thanks to our Electric Orange slipless headbands, Cool Racerbacks, and Coal speed shorts. We were feeling smokin’ haute and were definitely baffling the competition with our outfits alone. The moisture wicking, and coolness of our outfits were absolutely essential on the extremely hot sand, and proved to be much more functional than the bikinis that seems to give other teams sand wedgies and full exposure when diving plays would occur.

Once again disappointed in our finish, the “Blonde Beezies” will nonetheless continue to charge the sands of OTL for years to come and will eventually win this thing. Yet win or lose, we always enjoy the weekend of sun, friends, playtime, beer, occasional Jell-O shots, male followers that heckle our opponents, and truly remembering to take a break from reality and simply enjoy life. Whether you go to this phenomenal tournament to party or compete, everyone at OTL has one thing in common, a smile on their face, most likely a beer in their hand and a cell phone covered in sand and ignoring the outside world. I can’t wait to get back to the sandbox and OTL playground again next year! Maybe the amazingly talented lululemon designers will release a special OTL outfit. A girl can dream right?