Oakley Women Sneak Peek

You think of Oakley and sunglasses immediately come to mind. But as I recently found out, that’s not all they do well. This past weekend I tagged along on their 3rd-annual Perform Beautifully experience, a three-day Napa Valley excursion designed to let women engage with the brand and try out their 2013 spring training apparel and accessories (hint: the colors, fit, and fabrics are definitely worth waiting for). Activities included running, hiking, biking, and drinking wine…lots of wine. Other brands, such as Asics, Trek, and Garmin, were also on hand. Here are a few of the highlights.

Running a 5K through the Trefethen Vineyards with Olympic medalist Deena Kastor. It was a hot, sunny morning, but Oakley’s Warm Up sunglasses saved me from squinting. If you like to look cute while you workout, you’ll love them. They resemble lifestyle frames but perform as well as sporty specs. Not once did they move off the bridge of my nose or fog up. I was also impressed with how comfortable the Asics GEL-Lyte33 sneakers were and how easy it was to operate Garmin’s GPS-enabled Forerunner 210 heart rate monitor.

Biking between vineyards. Trek was kind enough to supply us with a stable of sturdy bikes, including the Neko, a new hybrid that’s decked out with shock-absorbing front suspension and women’s-specific disc brakes. The Oakley capris I wore on this ride were wonderful. Unlike many of the tights I own, they moved with my body and stayed in place. Another unexpected surprise: Yummy rosé wines do exist. We sipped two amazing varietals at Black Stallion Winery and Astrale e Terra.

CIA Cooking Demonstration. Oakely ambassador Marni Sumbal, RD, and professional triathlete Jenny Fletcher teamed up with Chef Sandy Dominguez from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone (check out the awe-inspiring building here) to discuss healthful eating. One great tip? Toss celery in your smoothies—it’s a natural anti-inflammatory that can help speed muscle recovery. Here’s a refreshing recipe to try.

Blend the following:

1 cup nonfat plan yogurt
½ cup skim milk
6-7 ice cubes
water as needed to help with mixing (around 1 cup may be good, but add slowly)
1 celery stick
small handful spinach
4 large strawberries
One other small piece of fruit (ex, banana, mango slices, apple slices) or ¼ cup berries
4 baby carrots
1 Tbsp ground flaxseeds

For more information about Oakley Women—including athlete updates, product reviews, and workout tips—join their Perform Beautifully Collective.

—Danielle Kosecki is an associate editor