Hello Mermaid Athletes!

Spring is here, the sun is shinning, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and your legs are training! Nature is calling you to come out and PLAY. Join us on May 7th at the Mermaid Run East Bay and discover beautiful trails, new friends and the athlete in you. Keeping pace with all things fresh and new for spring, we're very proud to highlight our fresh, new website: www.mermaidseries.com. Check it out!!

MERMAID RUN EAST BAY - May 7th
In case you need a little motivation.... Mermaids at our East Bay Run are in for a special treat with our signature style race shirt.

The teal, blue and yellow technical fabric, short sleeve hoodie says it all, "run happy." Designed by the Mermaid and produced by our friends at Greenlight Apparel. Perfect for your spring and summer training runs. Stylish race shirts, Overland Equipment goodie bags, finisher necklaces and a pancake breakfast, what more can girl ask for? <more>

MERMAID BIKE TOUR FRANCE - July 24th to July 30th
Oui! Discover France by bike. The fully supported, co-ed ride takes you from the beaches of Nice to the epic Alps and back. You'll experience the French countryside in the purest of forms as you pedal your way to an adventure of a lifetime. As the French say, "Une image vaut mille mots" or a picture is worth a thousand words. See photos from our 2010 Bike Tour France. <details>

TEAM MERMAID EAST BAY MEETS THIS WEDNESDAY
We're excited to be brining the Team Mermaid to the East Bay. Come out to our first meeting this Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Lake Chabot and meet coach Kelli Poindexter. The team is for ALL levels. No experience needed. <more>

MERMAID TRIATHLON ALAMEDA SWIM CLINIC - April 9th
Are you nervous about swimming in the open water? Our one day swim clinics are just the answer for you. The clinic takes place at Crown Beach in Alameda. We will focus on the emotional aspect of open water swimming and very gently guide you through an open water swim. We will have plenty of volunteers in the water and we will break up into groups depending on your swimming skills and abilities. The clinic costs $45 and you must pre-register. <details>

FINISHING THE RACE - TEAM MERMAID COACH HEIDI
On Sunday, I had the honor of walking/jogging/running a half marathon with my mom and 9,999 other women in Central Park, New York. Normally, I'm up on a platform announcing and commenting on the beautiful, strong women I see. On Sunday I was in the trenches, listening to the stories being told and hearing the joy mixed with disbelief as we each marched to the finish line. What draws us to finish something? Why a race? A run or a triathlon? <more>

OVERLAND EQUIPMENT MONTECITO BAG DRAWING
And the winner is..... Nikki Olsen! Congrats on winning the first of five Overland Equipment bags to be given out. The Mermaid Edition Montecito Bag is full of goodies valued at almost $300. The bag is packed with great items like an Isis Keyhole tee, Goodhew Performance Athletic Socks, a Kor water bottle, bars from our friends at Luna, plus additional items from the Mermaid and Overland Equipment. It's easy to be eligible to win, just connect and "like" both Overland Equipment (mention Mermaid) and the Mermaid Series on facebook. You'll automatically be entered into the drawings. Drawings will be held the 1st of the month after our events. The next drawing will be June 1st and we'll announce the winner in the June Newsletter.

LUNA - The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women
When it comes to training and racing, women have nutritional needs all their own. LUNA – the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women - is dedicated to providing exactly what women’s bodies need, when they need it – on course and off. Check out the newest Luna Bar flavors: Chocolate Dipped Coconut and Chocolate Chunk! Plus, Luna Protein Bars are now GLUTEN FREE with two new flavors added to the mix: Chocolate and Chocolate Mint. LUNA Protein offers 12 grams of soy and whey protein and 3 grams of fiber to satisfy hunger, along with essential nutrients women need (calcium, iron, vitamin D and folic acid). <LUNA>

AFFILIATE EVENTS:
Wildflower Run - April 10th, 2011
Come support the American Association of University Women as they host the Wildflower Run at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, CA. The run is a benefit to help support the educational pursuit of local women and girls.

Threshold Racing, Reservoir Triathlon - April 17th, 2011
A great local race with a beautiful lake swim, a bike course completely closed to traffic and a slightly rolling run course! Perfect for Mermaids looking to get an early start to their race season. Mermaids get a 10% discount on all Threshold events when signing up with the discount code "Mermaid"

Run Happy,
The Mermaid