RWR:MEET ROBIN & JULIE

Today I'm excited to give you our first ever RUNNERSWHOROCK double feature.  These two amazing women are working together on a new race series that will undoubtedly create some big waves in the racing community.  Robin and Julie met on a cold, dark winter morning in a parking lot in Arlington, MA.  Weeks passed before they saw each other without winter hats and reflective gear on.  During these runs, no conversation topics were off limits.  Kids.  Work.  Spouses.  Stomach issues.  World peace.  Sometimes, with the help of their best running pals, they would hatch some crazy ideas.  Once, they were going to start a blog.  This other time, they decided to run a marathon.  Once that was over, they were afraid they would be bored. So they decided to start a race of their own. A really, freaking awesome one.

In their own words:
We heard about Cause + Event through one of our favorite podcasts, Another Mother Runner.  Julie contacted the race founder in Portland, OR.  Fast forward through a bunch of emails and Skype calls and the founder was totally cool with us bringing her race to the East Coast.  So here we are.  Cause + Event Boston is a 5K run/walk race where each runner can choose a verified charity to receive half of their race registration fee. There is so much about this race to get excited over. Fabulous business sponsors, awesome race swag, kids race and activities, race expo, and most important, knowing that your registration money is going to some of the hardest working, most impactful charities in our local neighborhoods that are important to our runners.

So, there it is, folks.  You've run for so many causes in your life.  All of them good, I'm sure.  But have you ever picked the cause of your choice first and then raced for it?  Truly brilliant.  The first Boston race is coming up on May 17 in Arlington, MA.  Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to run for your cause.  In the meantime, here's a little more about Robin and Julie, two runners who rock.

RUNNERSWHOROCK:ROBIN & JULIE

Name: Robin Olinsky

Where you're from: Gloversville, NY

Where you reside now: Somerville, MA

Age: 35

Occupation: Higher Ed Administration, Co-Race Director of C + E Boston

Blog/website: www.causeandeventboston.com

Name: Julie Vakoc

Where you're from: I am a west coast girl! Grew up in Washington and lived in San Francisco in my 20s

Where you reside now: Arlington, MA - just outside Boston for 11 years, but only feel like a true New Englander now that my kids own face masks.

Age (if you're ok sharing):  The big 4-0 and okay with it on most days.

Occupation: Online Communications at a university and Co-Race Director for Cause+Event Boston

Blog/website: www.causeandeventboston.com

THE BOSS 

"WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?" 

~ Robin

RUNNING & MUSIC: ROBIN
What do you love most about running? 
Spending time with my BRFs. Getting out of the house.  Keeping my pants buttoning. 

What do you love most about music?
Showtunes and ABBA and Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna. What’s not to love?

RUNNING & MUSIC: JULIE
What do you love most about running? 
Honestly, while running makes me feel better about myself because I am able to do things and run distances I never imagined I could and helps me be a positive role model for my kids, what I love most is that it gives me time to hang out with some of the best people I know.  Even if we have to do it at 5:45 am, in the dark and cold for half the year.

What do you love most about music? 
I love that music can do so many different things for me.  It can motivate me and make me run faster, it can bring me to tears and it can take me back to a place and time instantly!

ROBIN'S FAVORITES

Band (current, all time or both): I am having a hard time committing to this.

Album (current, all time or both): Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf

Race venue: Zooma Cape Cod

Music venue: SPAC

Race distance: Half, but if you ask my left hip, we should stick to 1 mile races

Show you've seen live: It’s a tie.  Neil Diamond at Fenway OR Simon and Garfunkel

Ice cream flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip

JULIE'S FAVORITES
Band (current, all time or both): Current Fav - The National,  All time - REM
Album (current, all time or both): Current - Trouble Will Find Me - The National, All time - Challengers - New Pornographers
Race venue: Zooma Cape Cod Half Marathon Course in Falmouth, but it may be because of the awesome girls weekend that goes with that race
Music venue: The Gorge in WA State - nothing better than a summer night outdoor show
Race distance: My favorite distance is always 90% of the distance I am racing.  So, for a 10K, I am DONE at 5.5 miles. For a half, I am spent by 12 miles.  You get the picture.
Show you've seen live?  REM at Red Rocks
Ice cream flavor My sister worked at Baskin Robbins when she was in high school and could bring ice cream home, so for about 30 years my favorite has been Gold Medal Ribbon.

THIS OR THAT:ROBIN

Sweet or salty? Salty

Live or recorded? Live

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Summer or winter? Winter


THIS OR THAT:JULIE
Sweet or salty? both; all of the above
Live or recorded? Recorded
Coffee or tea? Latte
Summer or winter? After this New England winter, it seems hard to say winter, but anything above 70 degrees it no fun, so winter...without snow please.

MORE MUSIC INFO:ROBIN

Which band or artist would you go see tonight if you could? If we can fast-forward to June 24, I would say NKOTB and Nelly.

Which band or artist (wait...but no longer alive or playing together) would you go see tonight if you could? Genesis

Which band or artist would you like to have dinner with tonight if you could? Whoever makes the music that plays at the spa during your massage. 

Which band or artist would you like to be playing alongside you during your next race (or long run)? Kelly Clarkson -- sometimes I already feel like she is right there with me.

DINNER W/ THE TALKING HEADS?

MORE MUSIC INFO:JULIE
Which band or artist would you go see tonight if you could? The National
Which band or artist (wait...but no longer alive or playing together) would you go see tonight if you could? Elliott Smith
Which band or artist would you like to have dinner with tonight if you could? Talking Heads
Which band or artist would you like to be playing alongside you during your next race (or long run)? I am not sure I want any band playing while I am running because then I will want to stop and watch. I don’t need any extra distractions, I have enough of those on my own.

THE MILES FOR MALARIA TEAM 

from the Portland race

Portland, OR 2014

FINAL STATEMENT:ROBIN

Today, I feel like….(ie. a rock star, I need more coffee, a million bucks) 
People should get out of my way.

FINAL STATEMENT:JULIE

Today, I feel like….(ie. a rock star, I need more coffee, a million bucks)
Let’s get s&!t done!

SONGS: ROBIN

Top 5 Songs for running, dancing or both? 
Why is this SO pre-teen?

Super Bass - Nicki Minaj

Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Firework - Katy Perry

Don’t Stop the Party - Miley Cyrus

Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus

Last 5 Songs you listened to today? 
My shuffle has betrayed me.  I can’t believe I am revealing this.

Hook/Stronger from Finding Neverland (thanks, Abby) - Matthew Morrison & Kelsey Grammer

Dear Future Husband (this song is TERRIBLE) - Meghan Trainor

Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - Jay Z

Sister Christian - Night Ranger

Say Goodbye - this amazing live version with DMB, Phish and Guster

SONGS: JULIE

Top 5 Songs for running, dancing or both?
If an 11 year old girl likes it, it is probably one of my top songs for running or dancing. I am not proud always proud, but...
Baby Don’t Lie - Gwen Stefani
Girls Are Always Right - G.R.L
Shake it Out - Florence + the Machine
Bang My Head - David Guetta
The Champ - Nelly

Last 5 Songs you listened to today?
Today my music selections were brought to you by my two young girls.  I get the first choice and then they take over...
Broken Bells - The High Road
Taylor Swift - Blank Space
Meagan Trainor - Lips are Moving
Annie Soundtrack - Hard Knock Life
Wicked Soundtrack - For Good