In the Know: Safety in Numbers

My "In the Know" blog days have turned into days when I just talk about whatever I want. Hmm...

Today: In the Know: Safety in Numbers.

When you cross the street when you are young, you supposed to hold someone's hand. A political party with one person doesn't have much pull, but a political party with millions can change the world. Everything is better when you have a team or a group. There is safety in numbers.

When I decided to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in Vegas, it was largely because I have been wanting to do something wellness related with Bon Lemon. I wanted to create a group/team/bonding experience for Lemon Lovers that involved health. (And I wanted to motivate myself to do something, I wouldn't otherwise. Running is definitely on that list. :) You all know that Bon Lemon has a team heading to Las Vegas to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon on the strip at night. And you all know we are going to be running in our yellow Bon Lemon shirts (and wearing something sparkly!). But there may be some things you don't know.

Did you know there are at least four people on our team who have never run a half-marathon before? Who have never really ran at all. Did you know they were inspired to join the Bon Lemon team, because there is safety in numbers? Because they wanted to set a goal and reach it. Did you know we are corresponding back and forth, from all of the country, encouraging each other to keep up the good work, especially on the days when we increase our distance and it gets a little harder? I received an email from one of the runners (it is her first time ever running a half-marathon) saying how inspiring it has been to have the Bon Lemon team to run with and how much it has motivated her to keep going. Safety in numbers. I melt. This is what it is all about.

My daily running partner recently had a baby. We run at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday (6 miles yesterday in St. Louis with 80 degree temps might have been easier if she were here...) My running partner gets up to run even when she has been up all night with her infant. She runs, regardless of how exhausted she is, and she motivates me to get up, even when I have had a long day with Bon Lemon, or haven't slept well, or have a little cold. I think about her dedication and that of the rest of the Lemon Lovers heading to Las Vegas to run a half-marathon for the first or the tenth time. Our team and their dedication to this goal keeps me going. When I can't find the motivation within myself, I think about these ladies, and I keep running. There is safety in numbers.

Thanks to all of the ladies who are running this year. I hope there are twice as many next year.

when life gives you lemons... put on something sparkly and run a half-marathon.

In The Know: Join Bon Lemon's Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Team

For our first Daily Dose of In The Know, we have some Bon Lemon news. (This might not be the life or death, or getting picked up by Anthropologie, you all were expecting from our Facebook post, but... we are excited.) Drumroll... Bon Lemon is forming a team of yellow clad men and women to run/walk the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in Las Vegas on December 4. 2011! It is on the strip at night. How sweet is that!



I tend to be a bit of a slug when it comes to running. I think I have a mental block. But many of my friends run. And one of my friends in particular told me about the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. And she is a former "slug." She used to hate running. But she got over the mental block, and now she's a runner. (I don't trust those lanky gazelles who can whip out a half-marathon for fun while on vaca. Ahem. Alexis.) My non-runner friend is my motivation (along with some mysterious love handles) for doing the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll run. You know who you are.



So, I ordered a new pair of Vibram Five Fingers, because my other ones have holes between the toes, and today, I went running. And I am committing to running enough to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll in December. Are you with me? (you get a cute, yellow, Bon Lemon shirt... and you get to run on the strip at night...)



The primary reason I am running, is because I want to eat pasta alfredo whenever I want. (Exercising is so much better than dieting.) The secondary reason, is because I thought it would be fun to create a healthy, motivational event through Bon Lemon. Bon Lemon is all about being, in the words of Marie Claire, "more than a pretty face." We want to be smart, fit, and wear cute accessories. And let's be honest, I need a kick in the butt to get back in shape, and committing to you all forces me to commit to myself.



I think it would be really cool to have a bunch of Lemon Lovers (what I am now calling Bon Lemon's loyal fans) from all over the country running, in Vegas, at night, all wearing yellow Bon Lemon shirts. And if you need another reason to commit, there are great fundraising opportunities associated with the run.

If you register for the Rock 'n' Roll in Vegas, send me your shirt size and you will receive a yellow Bon Lemon shirt to wear in the race. This could be the day to lose the baby weight (or the I-turned-30-where-did-that-roll-come-from weight), run to remember a lost loved one, raise money for Crohns & Colitis, or just have a healthy excuse for being in the land of blackjack and free cocktails.

I had planned to run the full marathon, because go big or go home, right? But the cut-off time is 4.5 hours, and I don't think I will be averaging ten minute miles, when I am currently at about 13 minute miles. And when I say miles I mean 1 mile. 13 minutes for 1 mile. (Yes, I am fully aware you can walk faster than that. It wouldn't be very motivating if I were already a stud runner, now would it. Makes you want to run with Bon Lemon in Vegas, doesn't it?) So, I am committing to the half. And if I get fast enough to make the cut off, I will bump it up to the full. The 20 week, marathon training program starts next week. The half-marathon training is only 12 weeks. You choose. It is going to be sooo much fun! (Hollis are you with me?)



If I meet my Bon Lemon sales goals prior to the run, I plan to take all of the Lemon Lovers to dinner. (Okay, it might not be Joel Robuchon, but somewhere good.)



And if I don't meet my sales goals, we can all meet for a fried Twinkie and a Budweiser.

Winning either way! See you in Vegas.