Green grass and kindred spirits ☀️

Good morning, Bluubirds ☕️ 

We recently had an unseasonably wonderful week of what is known in Atlanta as Optimists’ Spring - weather that is nice enough for long enough to make you think, “could winter be over?!”.

As I drip my faucets in prep for some incoming winter weather, I can assure you that it is, indeed, not over quite yet.

During our week of Fake Spring, I was outside daily - soaking up the warm, sunny weather I had missed so much. I ran a few times, blinding the neighborhood with legs that haven’t seen the sun in a few months, and towards the end of the week I found myself thinking “man, it’s warm out! I wish it were cooler”. Cooler?!

The grass is always greener, my friends. As we find ourselves in the part of winter that feels like the 18th week of February, I encourage you to think of a few things about winter for which you’re grateful. A few of mine are:

1. Colder weather means I can bundle in jackets that have pockets, making it easier to run or walk with things like my phone, etc.

2. Lower humidity is easier / more pleasant (for me) to run with (not to mention easier to style my hair with 💁‍♀️ )

3. Shorter days mean I can justify sleeping in a little later while I wait to exercise when the sun comes out ☀️ 

Everywhere you’re going will be there when you get there. You might miss something about this season, this week, or this morning, so take a quick moment to consider what it is that you’re grateful for today. I’m grateful for you!

—Katie x

Spotlight ☀️ 

You know when you meet someone and know, almost immediately, that you’ll be friends?

Today you get to meet one of my very best friend’s very best friends (note: the power of an apostrophe), who has become one of my very favorite people! Charlotte is adventurous, kind, smart, funny, and has been (albeit, probably against her will) Bluubird’s OG test subject. She is a fellow runner, skier, hiker, breakfast burrito-lover, and loves the outdoors. We were destined to be friends! She just made an exciting move from Boulder to SF, and I can’t wait for you to meet her.

Charlotte Barry

Location: San Francisco, California

Loves to:

I've always been active, but my outdoor interests really grew after moving to Colorado. I went from playing tennis growing up to fully embracing endurance and mountain sports. I became passionate about running (mid and long distance, road and trail), and I also got into road biking, triathlons, and skiing (I can’t seem to choose!). Having just moved to San Francisco last month, I'm excited to trade mountain trails for beach walks and coastal hikes.

Describe yourself in 10 words or less:

Fueled by the great outdoors & have an ever-learning renaissance spirit 🙂

What is your favorite outdoor activity, and why do you love it?

That's a tough one, but I'd have to say hiking. It's my favorite because it offers a unique sense of stillness and a quiet escape from the everyday. I love that it's so versatile – I can treat it as a challenging workout or simply as an excuse for movement outdoors. Whether I'm hiking solo with a podcast or in my thoughts, or sharing the experience with friends, hiking always feels grounding and like a reset button for me.

What is the most memorable experience you’ve had outdoors?

My last Friday morning in Colorado was at Eldora Ski Resort’s "Community Uphill" event, just 35 minutes from where I lived. A crisp sunny morning with a surprisingly big turnout - probably just under 100 people at 7am in the parking lots waiting to skin up (aka hike up on skis!) the main run before their morning meetings! Then, coffee and breakfast before the lifts opened. It felt like the right way to close out the Boulder chapter.

Are you curious about a particular activity you haven’t tried or location you haven’t visited? What’s holding you back?

Travel to Italy for a week-long Dolomites hut-to-hut trip. I want to experience the Refugios and see another vast mountain range outside the Rockies. A matter of the right time and (friends of) friends invested in the idea of it!

What do you consider when you look for outdoor gear? What is important to you?

When choosing outdoor gear, durability and quality are non-negotiable. I prioritize investing in fewer, high-quality items that will last. Similar to Richard’s experience in an earlier newsletter, +1 to leaning on those I am with when we’re out doing activities to ask what they like best for that given activity and weather condition we are in.

Charlottes’s Picks 💥 

Apparel

Feetures Elite Light socks → go-to running socks

Patagonia R1 Hoody or Arcteryx Atom Insulated Jacket → both very versatile, great jackets as-is or as solid mid-layers for any sport

Shoes

For road running, New Balances (860 or 880). I really like the stability and little cushion it has compared to other shoes they have such as the Fresh Foam; good for a narrow foot, too! For trail running, Hoka Speedgoats (although the Cloudultra2 is a runner-up for me; others love Altras). Even though I typically opt for white shoes, go darker/black - it’ll gather dust and rut in no time ;)

Accessories

When I go running, I never leave without these 3 things:

1. My Garmin watch (just upgraded from the Forerunner 745 to 265S - we love the AMOLED display)

2. The Tifosi Swank sunglasses (an alternative to Goodr & a solid $25 pair of polarized glasses you don’t need to worry if you lose)

3. My Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 earphones (pro tip: don’t cheap out and get latest Pro 2 for much better sound quality).

Equipment

For trail running, Salomon trail jacket (Adv Skin 12) as a hydration vest.

This is not equipment, but nutrition-wise, Skratch (based out of Boulder) has the best post-workout recovery mix (Chocolate is my favorite) and Precision Fuel has great running gels (start with 30g and caffeine-free). I used these to prep for and execute my NYC marathon!

Location 

Visit Boulder, Colorado. Before moving to San Francisco, Boulder was home for 7 years. The access to the outdoors is unbeatable, and I would say Colorado lives up as the state with "300 days of sunshine" regardless the temperature. I lived 5 blocks from the Sanitas trailhead in the summer and 35 minutes drive to the Eldora Ski Resort in the winter. Go skiing and be back home by 12pm for lunch? Deal. Also, great food scene, and I heard it may now be the Sundance Film Festival top candidate for next year? Definitely go visit!

Business

1. Creator: Kellyn Wilson (@kellynwilson) - the mountain-cool-chic-outdoorsy-gal aesthetic and life I want to strive for (and can I manifest living in Telluride?)

2. Restaurant: Santo in Boulder for their pre-made breakfast burrito after a hike - make sure to get there before 11am though. It was my last meal in Colorado before my road trip out to California

3. Businesses: In the winter, Larry’s for boot fitting and Neptune Mountaineering - these stores have helped me re-learn my love for skiing and winter sports.

Product Updates 🚀 

We have been having the most amazing conversations with our Bluubird community to better understand how to build the best product for you.

These user interviews have been so informative (and fun), so we’re going to keep them going!

If you’d like to meet with our team, get the skinny on what we’re building, and help us understand how to build the best version of Bluubird for you, schedule time with us here!

Upcoming Events 📆 

We had a blast at our first Early Bird Run Club last Friday! So much fun, that we’re going to start our club WEEKLY starting next Friday 2/28!!

Fridays. 7am. Perc VAHI. 3-5 miles, conversational pace. Be there or be square!!

Interesting in having Early Bird Run Club near you? Reach out ([email protected]) and let’s chat!

See you next week 🤘