Winning the Oakley Ambassador trip last year was beyond exciting (part 1 and part 2), but a little overwhelming. I had so many questions and so much excitement! This year I got to be a veteran and enjoy each moment while hopefully providing some help to the new ambassadors.
SILVERADO RESORTI’m not sure you can find a place in Napa that isn’t amazing, but the Silverado Resort has been great the last two years. This year I was actually on the back side of the resort , which meant that I was a little ways from the group but also gave me a chance to hike about a mile through the golf course each morning while it was quite and take in the full scenery of the mountains.
Each room is fully equipped with a small kitchen, patio or balcony and a shuttle will take you from the main house to your room. If you are the back side of the golf course this was especially helpful to have available 24/7!
TREFETHEN VINEYARDSTrefethen has been phenomenal to Oakley, allowing us for the last two years to literally RUN through their vineyards! Thus far this is the only race I’ve ever heard of that allows you that kind of access…if you know of one keep it to yourself I’m feeling very privileged at the moment.
This is a family owned vineyard with some great stories that you can learn about on the tours that they offer. The owner runs with us and it’s very clear she cares about healthy living which is why she invites in this great group of women. “we have always committed ourselves to estate production, adamant that we should be the ones growing the grapes and turning them into wine.“
I won’t go on about the 5k Vineyard run since I talked about it previously…but seriously…Deena Kastor…I ran with her! It definitely wasn’t a PR kind of run, not because I wasn’t feeling a little competitive (totally was with all those amazing athletes), but because I was trying to take in the scenery, the vibe, the whole dang day!
Don't let the photo fool you, there was plenty of wine tasting going on and snacking on Kind Bars before heading back to the Silvarado to enjoy a sandwich buffet lunch on the patio. TREK TRAVELAfter the 5K it was time to gear up for our Trek bike tour through Napa Valley. This is a rather small trip for Trek Travels, but from the organization and friendly staff I can tell you this is now on the list of adventures David and I are discussing.
In Napa we started at the Silverado Resort then biked to three vineyards where many glasses were sampled by the group: Black Stallion Winery, Astrale e Terra Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyeards - a total of only 8.3 miles. At the final winery we sat down for an amazing dinner…our table polished of a few VERY large platters of roasted veggies. I don’t think they realized how healthy this group would be eating.
Here is why this was so great:A. They fit everyone’s bike to their height! That meant I got a bike big enough for these crazy legs!! And Marni got a bike short enough for her legs…probably not as fast as her road bike, but ya know!
B. HELMETS. Safety first…ok maybe not first since the whole thing was about biking and drinking, but seriously no riders without helmets.
C. Names on each bike. If you can imagine a sea of 130 women flying in to a winery on their bikes, jamming them up on a hill and then making a dash for new suds…you can also imagine them trying to figure out which bike belonged to who on the way out. Names. Key feature.
D. Women’s Specific Design: These bikes totally take in to account a woman’s frame for maximum comfort. From the seat to the handles to the gear shift…I wish I could have put it in my luggage to come home.
TONEITUP
Have you heard of the ToneItUp Girls? I have to admit that meeting them last year in Napa was the first time they crossed my radar, but since then I have been following them all over the place. They are some of the most FUN, LIVELY, fitness promoters I have ever encountered. Both ladies promote a healthy well rounded diet, no crazy calorie diets and an active lifestyle.
They gave us their new DVD in our bags, but we were lucky enough to do a workout with them again this year in the tiny adorable town of Yountville (seriously I kinda want to move there!)! I had to laugh because for a group of active women…there was a lot of groaning and huffing as they lead us through leg lifts and ab work. Hmm maybe the biking and wine the day before?
After the workout we headed to the Culinary Institute of American, but I’ll get to that another day because it deserves more attention…then we meandered down the road in our Toyota Hybrids to Bothe State Park for a hike. I was reminded once again how much I love nature and while I adore being near the ocean, I do hope our next location allows for a lot of hiking!!Clearly this was an active weekend and that might be why I adored it so very much. I think it might also have something to do with the inspiring women I was surrounded by each day and night. If you’d like to read more about the trip you can visit some of the new ambassadors!
A few of the 2011 and 2012 Oakley Women Ambassadors
Top: Fitz, Page, AJ, Carly, Cari, Maria
Bottom:Marni, Lacey, Me
How active do you like to be on vacation? Do you like to go new places or to the same and explore new things?--------------------------------------------------
Gratitude Journal
July 6
I am grateful for new friends that are scattered across the country, meaning I have reasons to travel and a place to stay.
