It's your turn

A year ago around this day I started making my video to apply for a spot on the NUUN Hood to Coast team. 

It was my dream to do that race and to be on the NUUN team.

I remember how nervous I was during the days when we were waiting to find out who would be on the team.  Every day I would go online and search for the new video-applications that were posted on YouTube and that only made me more nervous....I thought my chances were pretty slim.  That is the honest truth.

Finally April 24th 2012 came.  That was the day that NUUN announced the names of the gals who were chosen to be on the team.  I still remember how nervous I was when I sat in front of my computer to check my emails.  I was prepared for bad news.   I clicked on my inbox and there it was; an email from NUUN with subject: Hood to Coast 2012 Announcement‏ .  I opened it with my eyes half closed....first word I read was : CONGRATULATIONS in blue letters.  I cried.  I was so happy. 

You can read everything about my HTC adventure here on this blog.  There is a tab that will take you to every  posts about it.

I had the time of my life there.
NUUN is a wonderful company and the staff is a group of really fantastic people.
We have all said it many times; we were treated like royalty.
They could not have done anything more or better for us.
For me to represent this company is an honor and I am grateful that I get to keep doing this for 2013 as an ambassador.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from NUUN informing the members of the 2012 team that for 2013 they had decided to go with all NEW members for the Hood to Coast team.
I am not going to lie to you...I was disappointed.  I wanted to go back on the top of that beautiful mountain.  I had already decided what to do for my video-application.  The main reason I wanted another shot at this was to go back to run my second leg again.  Leg 13.  I wanted to face my HTC demons...put the fears that comes back at times behind me.   But it is not meant to be.  Of course I do understand NUNN's decision to go with fresh faces.  I feel lucky and grateful to have been a part of the 2012 team.

So now it is YOUR turn to try to win a spot on the team.
A few of my team members have posted about applying for the NUUN team and gave their advices and I want to give you mine because we were all so different people.

Are you a girl who loves to run and has a blog?  If yes for all you are good to go.

So my advices are:

1. Do it.  Apply.  You will NOT regret it I promise you.

2. Make a video.  Don't just write a post on your blog.  Make an effort.

3. In the video be yourself.  Don't try to be someone you are not.   Show who YOU are, what is YOUR story, what makes YOU different.  It is not necessary to hire Ben Affleck and an Oscar winning costume designer for your video.  It does not need to be a super production.  If you go with slides like I did...I strongly advice you to say a few words to the people you are trying to impress.  It will be more personal and will show the real you more.  Just my opinion.   Show what this would mean to you and also why you love NUUN.   I should have started with that...it is a must to love NUUN!!!  Like Susan said on her post...there is no need to go all "OMG this is the best thing EVER"...but a little NUUN love is good.... "Pick me I am fast" is not a sure bet.

Speaking of being fast.  I have already some posts about people who want to apply and how worried they are about their 10K split and the "competition".
Listen to me.  This part is important.
It does not matter what your 10K split is.
It does not matter if you have ran a marathon or not.
It does not matter if you have been a runner for 1 year or 2o years.
It does not matter if you have a six packs...or stretch marks...or both!
It does not matter if you are 20 or 44 yrs old.
It does not matter if you have 20 followers or 2000 followers.

They are not kidding when they say it does not matter in the selection process.
It is true.
Look I made the team. 
You don't need more proof than that.

It does matter why you want to be a part of this.
For me running Hood to Coast was so much more than just running.

Did I mention that Mount Hood is Paradise?...it is so beautiful there. 

Apply.
Today.
You will not regret it.
You will run in Paradise.
You will meet a bunch of great people.
You will learn stuff about yourself.
You will have fun...Did you see my van's video...here? (Team night van 1 will always be the best van ever...but you could be in the second best one this year...)

This was my application.



So did I convince you?
Yes...Good now go here for all the information you need.

Good luck to you all.