With that being said, it’s time to meet a member of #teamsparkle. Up next is Shelby, or as you may know her from social media, @sgiancas!
Tell us about your past race/running experience:
Shelby: I started running when I was 15 primarily because I was a teenager with a big mouth, and a dad who called me out for it. My dad was training for a half marathon and didn’t have a slice of pie when we went out to dinner. So naturally I said, “What’s the big deal it’s only 13.1 miles”. He, in turn, called my bluff, registered me that night, and I ran with ZERO training. After that half marathon, I ran one & only one every year: the Disneyland Half Marathon. When I went to college I stopped, and with that came the freshman 15 – more like 50. I picked up running again in 2012 when I volunteered at the Eugene Marathon and thought, “I’ve done a few halves – .why not a full”? At first my inspiration was just to lose the weight to finish the full 26.2 but in turn, I found something I truly loved and I’ve never looked back.
We are so glad you are a part of #teamsparkle. When did you first join and what color was your first skirt?
S: I first found #teamsparkle back in January 2013. I was scrolling through Instagram while soaking in an ice bath and stumbled onto Elise’s account (@elisewallace) and instantly tapped to follow. Shortly after I got introduced to Sparkle Athletic and my life (and wallet) have never been the same. My first order was for a red sparkle skirt to wear at my first marathon and I remember being SO indecisive over the color. I think I asked 10 different people what color I should wear and finally decided red would be a good universal color to have. I vividly remember SPRINTING to my mailbox to get it the second I got the delivery confirmation and ripping open the box before I got back to my apartment. I think I spent 3 hours walking around my apartment in the skirt just knowing my marathon was going to be AWESOME no matter the time because I had this skirt. Spoiler alert: that marathon was AMAZING and everyone loved the skirt!
What/Who inspires you to continue running?
S: Where do I even begin?! One of my major influences has been my dad. While we were FREEZING in the corral of my first half marathon I noticed the guy in front of us had a “Disneyland Half 2007″ shirt & tapped my dad to show him. We are a HUGE Disney family. And while I barely made it through my first half we both knew we had to go & run it in 2008. We’ve run that race together since 2008 with no sign of slowing down. Back in 2013, we made a bet (to this day we don’t know what we bet on) and if he lost he had to run in a Sparkle Athletic skirt. He tried bailing only 16 times and it took A LOT of help from Carrie (@thisiscarrie) to convince him he could pull it off. He argued the whole way to the corrals and thus declared a new bet: the last one to the finish line has to buy the winner ALL the desserts & beer he/she wants for the day PLUS a year’s worth of bragging rights. Obviously, I agreed in a heartbeat. Without going into a recap, dad won by 8 minutes (considering I vomited for 9 miles I’m not too hung up on it). I came back with a vengeance and beat him by 13+ minutes in 2014, 22 minutes in 2015, and 35+ minutes in 2016. Did I mention he won’t run if his costume does not involve a sparkle visor AND a sparkle skirt? In his words, “only real men sparkle”! He LOVES being a part of Team Sparkle and brags about it to anyone who will listen. He has been such a critical part of my running journey & I wouldn’t be where I am without his endless support – and “friendly” competition.
Another huge group of inspiration for me are my BRFs (best running friends). I swear my BRFs are some of the most amazing people I have ever met and it baffles people when I say, “I met them through Instagram” or “It took a year before I actually met them in person”. Despite the fact, none of us live in the same state and the distance can be a pain they each inspire me to keep pushing the limits of my comfort zone. I know they are always a text, phone call, or snapchat away. When I’m having a particularly tough run I can text any or all of them to pull me through it. Never did I think a skirt, or a hashtag for that matter, would bring such amazing ladies into my life!
We all know how much #teamsparkle loves their treats as much as they love running… What’s your favorite indulgence?
S: Oh man – that’s hard to narrow down. I’m usually not hungry right after a race/workout, but about 30 minutes after I ALWAYS look to inhale something sweet! Donuts and ice cream are my absolute favorites. I’ve even been known to put a donut in Tupperware in my gear check bag so I had something to look forward to after a marathon. #NoShameInMyDonutGame 😉
Which Sparkle Athletic product is your favorite “go to”?
S: I wear a Sparkle Athletic visor, Every. Single. Run. Doesn’t matter if I’m indoors, you can ALWAYS catch me wearing one. It adds just the right touch of sparkle to any workout. Plus the inside lining basically acts like a towel and absorbs the sweat! Doesn’t get much better than that!
What is one of your favorite parts of racing in a Sparkle Athletic skirt?
S: How do I just pick one?! My favorite reason is “Sparkle Equals SPEED”! Wearing any of the skirts makes me feel fast no matter how much I’m struggling during a race. On top of everything, the looks from people as you pass them in a skirt never get old. 😉
Thank YOU so very much for “joining the team.” Individually each & everyone of you is amazing but as a “team” we ROCK.
Everyone has a story, and we want to hear YOURS! The #teamsparkle community is such a loving and inclusive group, but often times we are tackling our runs solo. Knowing your teammates can help you to feel more a part of the running community.
If you would like to share your story, whether it is about how you got started running, what motivates your running, why you love running, or how running has changed your life, please let us know! We would love to feature you on an upcoming “Meet The Team“ post – so email us at meettheteam@sparkleathletic.com!