We think THE best part about Sparkle Athletic is the AHH-MAZING people that make up #teamsparkle. We are so incredibly lucky to “meet” (IRL and virtually) so many team members, but we thought it’s about time we introduced the people that make up this inspiring & motivating community.
With that being said, it’s time to meet a member of #teamsparkle. Up next is an amazing stroller running mama – @littlebeastling!
Tell us about your past race/running experience:
Christina: Truth be told, I consider myself an unlikely runner. Growing up, I played competitive soccer, so I used to see running solely as conditioning torture. In college, I fell into eating disordered ways, and during that time running, unfortunately, became a means to purposely drive myself into a caloric hole. Thankfully, I began working at a company full of healthy, active women, and their influence helped put me on the road to recovery. In January of 2009, I ran my first race ever with them. I can still hear my boss yelling from the finish line, “Come on Christina, finish strong!” That was it: I was hooked! Training for the company challenge in 2011, the Ragnar Relay Napa, helped me establish a healthy relationship with my body and myself. Running made me feel strong, and I felt good about fueling the incredible machine that was putting in miles. Since then I have been able to call myself recovered, have kept running and haven’t looked back. I’m also now 37 races into my run103 mission, declared after my grandfather’s passing in 2012; I am running one race for every epic year of my grandfather’s life.
We are so glad you are a part of #teamsparkle. When did you first join and what color was your first skirt?
C: I first joined #teamsparkle in January of 2013, acquiring my first gear at the Tinker Bell expo. I ran my first half marathon that weekend wearing the lime green skirt that has since seen me through numerous races and training runs.
What/Who inspires you to continue running?
C: There are so many people who inspire me – runners of every walk! Galloway runners, Ironman triathletes, mother runners who crush while pushing strollers, every member of #teamsparkle… I could go on forever. My biggest inspiration is my family. My parents started running together when I was in high school, and just this summer they both won their age groups at a local 5K! I became a mother in 2015, and my little running buddy inspires me every day to be a healthy, happy, fit and strong version of myself. It’s important to me that I am a good role mother.
Which Sparkle Athletic product is your favorite “go to”?
C: I’m a little newer on the Shwings train — they’re showing up on more and more of my running shoes — but the piece that sees the most action is my black sparkle visor. I wore my gunmetal one till it fell apart, so now my disco-sparkle black visor is my training and racing hat of choice!
What is one of your favorite parts of racing in a Sparkle Athletic skirt?
C: Not only does it make you even easier to find yourself in race photos, bring fun and whimsy to every event and motivate others around you to run faster (I’ve found a lot of folks hate getting chicked by the lady wearing sparkle!), it’s like wearing an instant friendship flag. Every race where I see someone else wearing Sparkle Athletic, I always make a point to say hello and compliment them on their fun #teamsparkle gear. Seeing sparkle on the course always makes my heart sing ’cause I’ve found my people!
Thank YOU so very much for “joining the team.” Individually each & every one 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!