You Inspire Me

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Callie Skokos

I started running when I was in seventh grade because my parents thought I was getting fat.  At first, it was painful and boring and every labored step was confirmation that I was now a ‘fatty pants.’   I was not inspired.  I was tortured.  Then, when I was a freshman in high school, I tried out and made the track team.  I was starting to feel inspired, but my days running with the St. John Vianney Lancers were short lived after I was diagnosed with severe shin splints.  The doctor informed me that I couldn’t run for three months, but to stay in shape, I could ride my bike.

Ride my bike? I thought. What a joke.  Riding my bike was something I did when I wanted to get from point A to point B. Riding my bike was not sport and it was definitely not going to get me in shape.  Well, that’s what I thought until I was introduced to the Atlantic Cycling Club and was lucky enough to be accepted into their ‘secret society.’  It didn’t take me long to realize that these guys didn’t just ride from point A to point B, they were serious.  They were cyclists, not bikers. They were racers, not riders.  They were tall and fit. And they had that cool factor. 

I was way out of my league and often dreaded the group rides and the training races. The unflattering cycling shorts did nothing for my figure or my self esteem and I felt awkward at every turn.  But, I was inspired.  I was inspired mostly by the boys my age who I knew throughout my childhood.  Only a few years prior, we had been close, but gender differences and maturity and social norms had created a silence between us.  Out of my element and uncomfortable, I felt inferior.  So I watched from afar.  I listened when they talked about their bikes, their components, their strategy and their gear.  Then, I took the coveted intellectual property I had gained and tried to apply it to my cycling so I could I get better and be faster and look cooler.  At the time, I didn’t consciously know why all this was so important to me.

But I get it now. I now know why, more than any other childhood friends, the cycling boys stayed close to my heart long after my last road race decades ago.  It’s because they had spirit – they were brave, committed and authentic.  Even at 15, they knew what they wanted and worked for it.  They spent hours a day training for a sport that almost no one cared about.  They were their own mechanics and their own support crew.  They crashed and brushed themselves off and did it over and over without regret.  I believe I was drawn to their unbreakable spirit.

During my cycling days, I learned what inspires me and who I aspire to be.  I learned that I’m attracted to people who have passion and commitment and drive.  And, without them ever knowing it, these are the people who challenge me to change and grow and take risks.  As for my cycling friends, I’ve lived my life from that moment on as though our paths would someday cross again and they would think that I too had achieved a bit of that cool factor.  And if that day ever came, I would make sure to let them know that I owe it all to them.

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Inventing, Oprah, and RunningPretty

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Callie Skokos

While a lot has changed about me since I was 8 years old, I believe we are wired with certain characteristics that we don’t really ever outgrow. Imagination is one of those things.  I still use my imagination, but it has morphed from child-like hope into an affinity for invention – imagining new ways to solve problems.  It’s hard to explain how my brain works.  I mean, I always joke that I cannot remember ninety percent of my past but I can remember almost exactly how I crafted my grade school projects – like the Wright Brothers bi-plane I made from corrugated cardboard and coat hangers, or the Braille alphabet I punched into scraps of aluminum siding.  I think I remember these types of things so vividly because they were exercises for my mind – and I do like exercise. 

Unfortunately, I am one of those people you roll your eyes at when they point to a sticky note or soap on a rope and say, “Oh, I came up with that idea years ago!”  In Callie’s alternate universe, I’ve invented sunscreen/insect repellant wipes, potty training mitts, coffee-infused gum, coffee “tea bags,” and a slew of other pretty half-baked ideas.  So, in 2007 when I learned that Oprah Winfrey and QVC were having a contest for Mom Inventors, it took me about a half a second to decide to apply.  The contest was open to moms who had prototypes that would solve problems for the QVC target market.  I had prototypes and I had imagination.

In the traditional sense, RunningPretty athletic apparel doesn’t really qualify as an invention.  It’s fashion.  But, it was accepted because of the way I described its features including the trademarked “Identity Waistband” which is a small PVC plastic card that’s worn on the skirt’s belt printed with the wearer’s emergency contact information.  I also designed a spin-off product trademarked as “Tyke Tag” for children to wear on their belt or on a bracelet.  After a few weeks, I learned that my inventions were accepted and I was headed to QVC headquarters in Pennsylvania to pitch my ideas.  It was an incredible feeling to know, at least in my imagination, that I would meet Oprah Winfrey and share my vision with her.  The reality was quite different from what I envisioned, but it was unforgettable none-the-less.

My traveling companion and support was my sister-in-law, Deborah.  She would help me set up my banners, lay out my displays, show off my samples, and be my videographer.  It was awe-inspiring to be among thousands of people just like me hoping for a chance to be heard and seen.  I had created a hundred brochures specifically about why RunningPretty is perfect for Oprah and QVC.  I had designed a sample skirt and top in Oprah’s size with her own Identity Waistband.  I had dozens of business cards and Tyke Tags to hand out.  I was prepared. We were given ten minutes to set up, my pitch was filmed for two minutes, I was asked three additional questions, and that was it.  I never saw Oprah.  I handed out exactly one brochure.  And, within five minutes, we had packed up everything including Oprah’s skirt and top.  We walked out of the auditorium after less than one hour. 

I didn’t win the contest.  I didn’t even make the top ten.  I lost to a side-dropping lasagna pan, tape-on eye shadow, and shutter covers.  But I was stoked! It was the most exciting 55 minutes I can remember.  The energy was incredible.  I had completely stepped out of my comfort zone.  I took a chance.  Used the savings from my contract work to travel, create the samples, and produce the marketing materials.  I spoke on camera.  I held my own.  This time, I had reinvented myself.  So, I guess I really am an inventor.  Perhaps that’s just the way I’m wired. 

 

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Finding Sabrina

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Callie Skokos

My grandmother taught me to sew, but truth be told, I really cannot sew without her.  She departed this world and left behind a young woman with desire and determination, but with no real skills.  The day I realized that running in a skirt would increase my self-confidence and give me strength, I purchased an array of tennis skirts and started modifying them with simple, rudimentary alterations that required nothing more than some cutting, hemming and anchor stitches.  When I got really crazy, I started sketching.  I bought far too much fabric and several different patterns, and then pulled out my grandmother’s 1940s Singer (the sewing machine that was given to me after her death probably because the memories I had were worth far more than its value).  Then, I froze.  I was in over my head. I needed an expert.  That’s where Sabrina Anthony Winckler comes in. 

“Sabrina, I’ve got the Mardi Gras Half Marathon coming up and I need you to help me design something really outrageous and festive and, and purple!” This was a call I made just a few months ago, but my first call to Sabrina was over six years ago.  Her name was on a business card at one of the local fabric stores.  According to her card, Sabrina was a contract seamstress – specializing in costume design and wedding dresses.  But, she came highly recommended.  And, she was available. That was a start.

When I first met with Sabrina, I had the typical inventor/entrepreneur mindset, thinking everyone was out to steal my ‘great’ ideas.  So I asked her to sign an NDA.  I look back and realize it was ridiculous.  I trusted Sabrina from the beginning, but all the business books insisted that contractors sign the document to guard against intellectual property theft.  Sabrina didn’t hesitate and signed it without question.  This was definitely the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

She worked with me on my first dozen samples – she was patient, and creative, and thorough.  Without Sabrina, there would be no RunningPretty because she is the one who weaves the quality into the brand. The quality and the fabric – those are the two things that I believe set RunningPretty apart.  In fact, the very first sample she made – the light blue top and skirt – I have worn, washed, and dried over 400 times.  This was the RunningPretty I wore during the 2011 Boston Marathon when I heard someone at mile 24 in Brookline yell, “C’mon Little Blue, you’ve worked for this!” Yes, Mr. Harley-Riding-Boston-Spectator, I did work for this and thank you for reminding me.  And, thank you for being here.

But doing something and believing in something are two different things.  I think Sabrina truly believes in RunningPretty.  That’s grassroots brand loyalty.  I lost Sabrina for a while during a time when her life took a turn one way and my life took a turn another.  I call those the dark years. But, thanks to Facebook, we found each other again.  When we connected, I’ll never forget what she said, “I love what you have and I want to be part of making it happen.”  Or that’s what I heard when she enthusiastically took the fabric and the patterns from me, smiled, and got right back to working her magic.  I am thankful for Sabrina and for her talents – but most of all, I am thankful for her devotion to what we are creating.  It is her devotion that feeds my motivation.  We are RunningPretty.

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Sew Loved

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Callie Skokos
When I was a little girl, my Nana taught me to sew.  I remember our prize sewing accomplishment was a white, eyelet dress with hot pink ribbons on the puffy sleeves and hem that I wore to my eighth grade graduation.  It didn’t turn out exactly as I had hoped and it looked a little basic compared to the other girls’ boutique brands, but I didn’t care.  When I had that dress on, I felt wrapped in love.  It was like I was wearing a frilly force field. It was a dress that gave me strength. 
 

There were things about my Nana that I never realized had such an impact on me until long after she had passed away and her answering machine had been disconnected so I could no longer call her house just to hear her voice.  When I was in high school, my Nana was about 78.  It was then that I realized she really was the kindest person I had ever known.  She always smiled.  She always cared.  She always had friends.  She always nurtured them.  She never knew I had Celiac disease – none of us did until I was 39 – but for some reason she almost never fed me anything with gluten.  I never remember having a stomach ache at her house.  I always felt calm.  I always felt strong.  She had the gift of understanding human beings and loving them for all of their frailties.

On a less metaphysical level, I remember that my Nana never, ever wore pants – never jeans, never slacks, never capris.  She always wore a dress or a skirt – even if she was working in the garden or doing her cute little calisthenics – the ones she learned from watching the “Jack LaLanne Show.” In high school, I was a competitive cyclist and would ride my bike 25 miles to her house on Saturdays just to talk to her and play Scrabble or help with her flowers.  I remember once after arriving in a bit of a sweat that she wanted me to meet her neighbor’s grandson.  Ugh, this was not going to be good.  I remember saying, “Nana, look at me, I’m wearing skin-tight cycling shorts that make me look like a sausage.” [Mind you, a very hot look for Lance Armstrong, but not a great look on a high school girl with a few extra pounds to lose.]  “Oh, honey, don’t be silly, you look adorable.  Here, slip this skirt on over your shorts and it’ll be perfect.”  Good grief, I thought.  But honestly, it didn’t look all that bad.

My Nana

My Nana and Grampy When They Were First Married

I guess you can see where I’m going with this story too.  I don’t think we ever really realize the impact people have on our lives until much later on.  Believe me, I always knew my grandmother was the coolest lady I knew and I always felt that if I became one-tenth the person she was, I’d be lucky – and so would the people around me.  But, it took me a while to see the connection between her teaching me to sew a dress that gave me strength, her exercising in a dress, and her brilliant idea to slip on a little skirt to cover up my cycling shorts to the evolution of RunningPretty.  Yes, I had an ‘incident’ that made RunningPretty a bit more urgent in need (See my last post), but I believe there are so many factors that play into who we become as adults and how we view the world.  I still see my Nana in my dreams and when I awake, I feel better.  My hope is that I can work harder every day to make my children happy, my friends feel loved and a few less fortunate feel more fortunate.  RunningPretty is simply the embodiment of who we are and what we strive to be – whether it gets to market or not – it’s still a success in my book.

-C

 

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The Idea that Needed a Swift Kick in the Butt

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Callie Skokos

“Just do it…I mean, make a mess of samples and sell them at a booth at one of your races.  Done. What’s the problem?”  That’s what Allen said after he read my first blog post.  Allen is hilarious.  He’s the guy that makes you realize why you love coming to work every day.  “Allen, you actually read my blog?”  I was incredulous as I listened to this 6-foot-something, Cleveland Browns/OU fan talk to me about running skirts.  I sighed and said, “I know Allen, it sounds easy especially when I know RunningPretty is better than anything out there.  But, the problem is that a few samples will never satisfy the hunger women have to run in clothing that’s not made for a man.  If I go to market before I have product manufactured in five sizes, and at least four colors, I will jeopardize my brand.”

The brand.  Yeah, it’s about a brand – literally.  Let me explain.  You know how people say that a few bad people can ruin it for everyone?  In my case, a few bad people drove me to design RunningPretty.  Rewind about 10 years.  I was running in my very residential neighborhood in compression shorts.  Although I never felt entirely confident wearing compression shorts (a.k.a., cycling shorts without the padding), they were the most comfortable shorts I had.  As I’m heading up the hill with about a half mile to go, a car passes me – slowing but still moving about 20 miles per hour.  Within a blink, I was stumbling forward and wondering why my butt felt like it had been burned by a branding iron. 

I was branded for sure, but it was by the man-sized hand print of the passenger riding shotgun in the car.  I was hurt. Then, I was humiliated.  Then, I just got pissed.  I spent the next two hours canvassing the entire neighborhood looking for the jackass who thought that was a funny move.  But, I never found the car or the guy and I never wore compression shorts or running tights again without a jacket tied to my waist.  What a shame I thought.  I had been punished for wearing something that was comfortable but happened to show off a little of the extra booty that I was trying to run off.  Damn, I hate people sometimes. 

My Ah Ha moment came to me a few months later.  The compression shorts would stay, but a skirt would be added to cover things up a bit and give me the strength I needed.  While the red hand print and the pain had faded within a few hours, the desire to control my world and build my self-confidence only got greater.  It would take some time to actually create RunningPretty, but it would no doubt be built on the “Power of Pretty.” 

-C

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It’s the brand of my life

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Callie Skokos

I’ve been at this for a while. Oh no, not the blog. In fact, today is my first entry for the blog that I’ve decided to call “RunningPretty, Writing Real.” It’s RunningPretty that I’ve been at for a while. It started with an idea more than six years ago and I have yet to go to market with my skirt-inspired running apparel. I know, six years is a long time to work on an idea and still not have it ready to sell – especially in the garment industry. But, as my closest friends know, there have been some bumps in the road to making RunningPretty the go-to sports apparel for women of all ages – from celebrities to college athletes to weekend warriors. But, I love the idea. I love the product. And I love the fact that I know RunningPretty will be important someday. I am devoted.

But, this blog really isn’t really about RunningPretty. It’s about sharing my journey with people who are passionate about making every day count, letting go of the past, putting their heart into a dream, who value what they have, and realize that it’s okay to fail as long as you try. Oh, and who recognize that a genuine smile can take a person from a very dark place to a much brighter place in a matter of moments – and this holds true for both the giver and the receiver.

So, this morning at 4:45 a.m. as I started my three hour 20-mile treadmill session – the last long run in my Boston training plan – I decided I would just start writing. Put it all out there. “You just have to commit,” said my friend and Boston-qualifier, Erin, when I was on the fence with the idea. She confirmed what I knew in my heart already. This is just like everything in my life. Make a plan and stick to it. Be authentic. Be passionate. Erin also emphatically reminded me that, “If you cannot be real, there is simply no reason to do this.”

I will be real. Yes, I will share a lot about how RunningPretty started and where I envision it going, but I will also share my fears, my motivation, and my inspiration. I want you to know who has helped me along the way – with their wisdom, their support, and their faith. Why I won’t give up. And why RunningPretty is less about a brand of sports apparel and more about the brand of my life. Sometimes our stories are what make us relatable. I hope I can live up to this. Hang in there with me, won’t you?

-C

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