I have been writing draft Nuun HTC posts for the last three weeks. Everyday I re-read the post from the day before, but it never is what I really want to say. So I start again. Maybe I am scared to publish them (I promise I will though) because it is the final step in Nuun HTC 2012 being over. And as sad as this might be to say now, I most likely won’t be able to apply for the Nuun Team next year (for reasons related to my job), and I knew that going into this year. So more than anything, I went into this year really wanting to enjoy it all.
I have already written my three posts for the running portion of Hood to Coast, but as I re-read them, they are just that – the running portion – nothing about the emotions/friendships/laughter/magic that is formed. Again, it is so difficult to put into words. And I don’t think I ever will.
So I tried to capture (or at least write down) some “little moments” that I want to remember. These moments might not be the most obvious memories of the trip, but they are the ones that have stuck with me.
Little Moments of the Nuun HTC Weekend…
1. When Caroline bought Stephanie a coffee at Pike’s Market. This sounds silly, but Stephanie forgot money when we went on our run. We ended up meeting Caroline at the coffee shop at Pike’s Market where she offered to buy Stephanie a coffee. I know its just a cup of coffee but it shows how nice Caroline is in person (especially after only meeting Stephanie for a total of 15 minutes).
2. Teaching Laura about Roadkill. She thought we were going to count actual roadkill, and said “That’s so sad.”
3. Kelly saying “There is still white left on the van!” (Our only instructions for decorating the van were to make sure that there is still some white left on the van.) As we are almost finished with decorating, I turned to Kelly, and without saying anything to her, she says “There is still white left on the van, Jocelyn! I know what you are thinking.” I laughed because she did know what I was thinking.
Our Van. So much white space?
4. The moment I gave Casey (CFO of Nuun & Van Driver) a “thumbs-up” (signaling that we need to catch the person running in front of us) on my last leg. And he completely understood what the thumbs-up signal meant. We obviously passed the runner, and 2 more. BOOM.
Casey and I at the Finish
5. Watching Jess pass me on leg 1, and thinking to myself, Damn it now I need to start doing Crossfit! She could not have been nicer when she passed me by the way.
Jess and I. Leg 4.
6. Corey telling me: “I can’t wait for your to realize just how fast you are.” #Tearjerker.
7. Watching Sarah running up the famous hill of Leg 5, and then watching her run so fast on downhill section with a big smile on her face.
9. Reading Jess‘s tweets about how happy she was to be running Hood to Coast.
8. Looking at the bright stars in the sky during my 2nd leg in the middle of the night. Nothing beats an Oregon sky at 3:30 in the morning. Thank you Casey for joining me on the night run and for the life coaching session.
10. Asking all of Kelly’s twitter followers: “Where do cashews come from?” Instead of just googling it ourselves.
11. Seeing Kelsey right after running through the finish the beach of the Hood to Coast Relay (after getting lost with a group of other runners – 8 miles out-of-the-way!)
12. Asking Susan, “How much did you miss me (during the Relay) on a scale of 1 to 10?” Her response: “14.2″. Right back at ya!
13. Watching Lauren try to pack before the night before the Relay.
Stress.
14. When Caitlin “caught” me in line to buy carrots at the grocery store… (it’s hard to hide with a Sparkle Skirt on), and immediately gave my carrots to Mason to purchase.
15. Requesting Fruit Punch Nuun immediately after finishing Leg 1. LIFESAVER.
16. This group photo at the top of Mt. Hood. (Pretty sure Lauren and I are holding hands)
17. Hanging out in the hotel with Corey and Molly after the Relay. Maybe one of my favorite conversations.
18. Night time photo shoots in Portland.
19. Drinking nuun, a beer and eating a brownie after my third leg. It was definitely not even Noon yet.
20. Riding the (free!) bus back to Nuun HQ with these girls after racing around Seattle for the “Hunt”.
Myself, Jess, Lindsay, Katie, Elizabeth
21. Sharing tater tots (okay maybe I ate most of them) with Stephanie in between Van exchanges in Portland.
22. Trying to get Voo Doo Donuts at 10 pm. Until we realized the line was a 40 minute wait, and we had 20 minutes to get to the Exchange point. Next time, Voo Doo, next time.
23. The overall feeling at Seaside when the Relay was over. Happy to all be back together, sad that the Relay was over, excited to cross the finish line, dead tired but not wanting to sleep and never wanting the moment to end…
I can’t thank Nuun enough for this amazing opportunity.
{ 18 comments }
Great pictures!! Every time I read one of the recaps from a Nuun HTC member, I wish I had been there, too.
Number 2 made me laugh so hard! I love Laura
This was a great post Jocelyn! It makes me sad, happy, and it just brings back so many amazing memories that I hope I will remember forever.
This was one of my favorite HTC recaps! Loved hearing all of the little things about each of the women you spent time with in the PNW. It’s the little things that make experiences more memorable
Oh and those Nuun zip-ups are pretty sweet!
Oh this is so great. I wish I would have carried around a little notepad (ahem, or the notepad app) and jotted down little moments like this. They truly did make the whole trip! Great great post. Now hurry with the others
You are too much…..really.
Love this post…and that you noticed all these little and bigger than little things…it shows how NICE of a person YOU are.
You are a special gal…really happy to have met you.
so smart to do this. perhaps i should do the same for myself. i can’t wait to hear more about what you decide about the job. i hope our little convo at the Oiselle run helped. There are days I regret that I never moved to NYC… just sayin
damnit jocelyn..YOU WIN. YOU ARE TOO GOOD AT THIS. our lives are going to continue to change so much…………..
I WANT TO GO BACK RIIGGHHHHHTTTTT NOWWWW PLEASSEEEEE!!!!! Please???
I really and truly do love this.
I love all the little memories! They truly are what make things special.
This sounds like such a fun time and your pictures are awesome!
This is such an amazing post. What a great idea to capture all of these things before you forget them! Sunday’s conversation also was one of my favorites. Everything about that day made missing my flight one of the best things that happened the whole week! I AM SO EXCITED to hang out with you in November!!! So many more fun memories to come
I looooove reading all the posts about Hood to Coast from the Nuun team. You girls are so freaking awesome. It really makes me want to run the relay one day!
I wasn’t even there, and I barely know you, but this post made me a bit emotional thinking of all the memories that you guys made and how special it all was. It may be that I’m right now at leg 19 of a Ragnar Napa and exhausted and relay high as well, but still! Let’s run again soon.
ok, this looks and sounds AMAZING.
14.2!! I miss you again.
Packing is hard. That is all.
Also…I miss you and I love this post! Such a perfect collection of memories from our trip. I loved the relay and the overall experience, but really — it’s these little moments that make it so amazing.
Oh…and let’s have another nighttime photo shoot in November, okay? I don’t know anyone else who looks so dang good in the dark.
Glad you finally shared the rest of your experience! I love living vicariously through you. And I have to admit I miss running into you, literally, during those short NYRR courses. Hope all is well!