Sunday, April 13, 2014

Heart and Courage: Coeur Sports

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may have noticed that I've been expressing a lot of enthusiasm lately for a company called Coeur Sports. I'm very pleased to be on board with this women's endurance sports apparel company this year for a number of reasons. First of all, they make darn good performance wear---designed by lady triathletes FOR lady triathletes---that is comfortable, functional, and (GASP) stylish! No more running around being mistaken for a man while out on the race course! I cannot tell you how much I'm looking forward to that. Founder Kebby Holden and her partner in crime, Hailey Manning, have come up with a unique "wing-shaped" seam-free chamois design for their triathlon shorts that eliminates chafing on both the bike and run. So comfy, and SO important in long course racing! The tri shorts have a nice wide "yoga-style" waistband which is both comfortable and flattering, with discreet yet easily accessible pockets for stashing gels etc. The tri tops are also super comfortable with support in all the right places and a stylishly flared cut that is a little longer than most tri tops---both flattering and great for keeping your skin covered while in the aero position. Like the tri bottoms, the tops feature rear pockets in addition to a mesh panel on the back which makes the top extra breathable. There are a nice variety of colors and fun patterns to choose from so you can find something that suits your personality, either going with a complete set or doing a little mixing and matching. And they don't just make tri suits! Coeur also offers swimming, running, and cycling gear as well as a developing line of cute casual wear. You can visit their website at http://www.coeursports.com to learn more about the company, check out their products, and read the Coeur Sports blog to keep tabs on what the Coeur ladies are up to.

Speaking of what the Coeur ladies are up to...what a team! I am honored to be in the company of such an accomplished and motivated group of women. Although my own racing won't kick off for another month or so, the triathlon season is in full swing and the Coeur Sports girls are already tearing it up. It's inspiring to hear about my teammates notching up great performances each weekend, and Coeur Sports does an AWESOME job of highlighting their athletes' performances on Facebook, Twitter, and the company's blog. The support has been phenomenal, and I'm not even racing yet! It's a wonderful feeling to know that you're not just another number but that your sponsor sincerely cares how you're doing and is rooting for you the whole way. If you read my previous post you'll know that I was at a pretty low point at the end of last season, and one of the things that has helped dig me out of that hole and given me new energy is the enthusiasm of the Coeur team. I can't wait to get out there and represent them with a healthy display of Heart and Courage on the race course this year!