Austin Marathon Relay

I participated in the Austin Marathon Relay yesterday with Team ANC, a group of friends from our church, Austin New Church. The race benefited Junior Achievement of Central Texas, which provides educational resources to teach financial literacy by local business and community volunteers that meet with over 16,000 area students each year.

It was such a fun race. This was my first relay, but it was easy to figure out. The length of the race was a marathon, 26.2 miles, broken into five legs (12K, 10K, 10K, 5K, 5K). You could run the entire race yourself or have anywhere from two to five runners join together. Our friend Adam ran the first leg (12K) of the race and the last leg (5K) of the race. Susie ran the second leg (10K) of the race. I ran the third leg (10K) of the race and Jessica ran the fourth leg (5K). Her husband Adam brought it home for us. And because there was so much time between legs, people were hanging out all over Auditorium Shores having a grand time socializing. There were lots of activities for children so it was a good event for families.

The race route was really neat. We ran across Riverside Drive at Auditorium Shores over the South First Bridge, up Congress Avenue around the Capitol then back down Congress west on Cesar Chavez. We turned around at the top of the hill on Cesar Chavez almost to Mopac-Loop One then back to the South First bridge and down Riverside to the finish. It's so neat to run up the middle of Congress Avenue and around the Capitol. The weather started out nice but got hot fast. But it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed finishing the 10K leg, joining a group from my church to help a great organization and hanging out with friends getting to know them better. Roger was our official team photographer and he was all over the place getting photos of us at the start-finish to hand off the team wristband to the next runner and trying to catch each of us at least once out on the race route. He walked a lot and got some great shots as a result. You can see them all by clicking on the photo above.

Also at the race a Guinness World Record was broken. It was so crazy cool! A new record was set for the fastest marathon relay. Of course this race held the record from last year but they broke it by five minutes. It was an amazing race to see so many different participants, young and old, experienced and non-experienced, amateurs and professionals, all out there for the same cause. I hope next year we can have more than one team participating in this race. It would be fun to cheer on even more friends.

Holly's New Business

I started a new business this weekend. I am now a Style Advisor and an Austin representative for J. Hilburn. I am so excited! J. Hilburn is a men's clothier. We make custom shirts of high quality Egyptian cotton milled into fabric at the same fabulous Italian mill as Zegna and Ike Behar. And they are at affordable prices. We also currently sell polos. This fall we are adding custom trousers and cashmere sweaters. Next year they are adding accessories and suits. So we will be a full wardrobe source for men and they will never have to leave the comfort of their home. I take ten measurements and help you select from over 200 fabrics. Then we style the shirt to your liking and your fit, in roughly twenty minutes. You get to pick the collar, cuff, pocket, placket and back pleat styles of your choice. A few weeks later, you receive an amazing shirt that reflects your body and style.

Here's what Denver Magazine and D magazine in Dallas had to say about J. Hilburn. You can also hear what one of our founders had to say about the company's success.

If you wear button down shirts every day for work, have difficulty finding shirts to fit you or with or without the features you like, or if you know of a man who does, I can help you. If you do not like to shop with your man or if you are a man and don't like to shop, I am your life saver. If there is a man in your life with a birthday coming up and you want to get him a unique gift, I can help you do that. You can give a special man in your life a gift card for a custom shirt and amaze him. Do you know of a graduate who will need an interview shirt, give him a gift card for a custom shirt. Know a guy who has everything and you don't know what to give him for his birthday, I do. If you are spending over $100 for off the rack shirts that are just okay, you need to see me. And through October 19th, I can offer you $20 off your first shirt order. Which means I can get you a custom fitting shirt for $59!!

If you are interested or have more questions, drop me a line. I would love to show you what we have to offer.

Because of you, lives will be saved.

I recently accepted the challenge to help Austin New Church raise funds to support the Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure. As Team Captain of the Restore Austin team, I would love for you to join us on Sunday, November 1, 2009 to walk for a cure. If you would like to join my team you can do so by visiting my Team Page.

Komen's promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the cures needs your support. Please help Komen Austin reach its fundraising goal of $1,000,000 for the 11th Annual Race for the Cure.

If you can't participate in the walk, but would like to help online donations are fast and easy. Please visit my Personal Page to make a donation today. Remember,

• Your gift funds breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
• Your gift supports the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program.
• Your gift is tax-deductible.

Thank you!! ~ holly