As a women-owned company, Twin Cities In Motion partner Storm Creek does more than create eco-friendly outdoor apparel—they lead with purpose, empowering women every step of the way. Whether you’re chasing miles or chasing impact, their gear goes the distance.
Storm Creek isn’t just TCM’s much-appreciated, local gear provider for this year’s PNC Women Run the Cities—it’s a women-owned apparel brand on a mission to outfit people for good.
For years, Storm Creek has partnered with Twin Cities In Motion to outfit runners with high-quality gear they’ll actually want to wear long after race day. This year’s Women Run the Cities piece is no exception: a newly launched Varsity Hoodie—designed in-house by Storm Creek’s female designer, Karina Fernandes. It’s a meaningful full-circle moment that reflects the company’s values from concept to creation.
But for Storm Creek, being a women-owned business goes far beyond certification. Co-owner and CEO Teresa Fudenberg (pictured, left) leads with a mindset rooted in innovation, emotional intelligence, and a fierce belief in lifting others as she climbs. Under her leadership, the brand has cultivated a culture where women not only feel seen—they thrive.
“I hope women who join Storm Creek feel like they’ve entered a place with no ceiling,” says Teresa. “That their voices are heard. That they have someone to listen, support them, and help them advance wherever they want to go. That’s the same energy we hope every Women Run the Cities runner feels when she laces up—supported, empowered, and ready to chase down whatever finish line she’s after.”
Certified by WBENC, Storm Creek is part of a small but growing group of women-owned businesses—still representing only one in five employer firms in the U.S. But the impact is outsized. According to their team, the women-first environment isn’t just empowering, it’s productive and growth-focused.
Storm Creek’s commitment to doing good doesn’t stop at internal culture. As brand focused on sustainable apparel, they’ve upcycled over 46 million plastic bottles into eco-made styles and donate 5% of their profits to charities and nonprofits.
Whether it’s behind the scenes or across the starting line, Storm Creek is proud to champion women—and keep them looking good doing it.
Meet Norah: Running Star and Generous TCM Donor
When Norah Hushagen, the high school running star from Forest Lake, had the opportunity to donate $1000 in her name to a “social impact partner,” she chose Twin Cities In Motion for her donation. The donation opportunity was a perk of Norah being named Minnesota's Gatorade Player of the Year in girls cross country for the second straight year.
“I was already aware that this local organization has held the annual Twin Cities Marathon in the fall since 1982,” she told The Connection, “and upon looking further into the mission of this organization, I decided that this would make a tangible difference in the lives of those in my community by both “leveling the start line” and “growing the finish line”.
Norah knows something about start and finish lines: she’s a two-time state cross country champion and 12th place finisher at last fall’s national Footlocker Cross Country Championships. After graduation later this spring, she’ll take her running and academic talent – she’s sports a 3.91 weighted GPA – to the University of Minnesota.
Look for Norah onsite at PNC Women Run the Cities on Saturday helping lead warmups for the Old Dutch Little Chippers Kids Run the Cities races, one of TCM’s programs her thoughtful donation helped support.
Thank you, Norah … congratulations and good luck on the track this spring!
It's Not Too Late
Run PNC Women Run the Cities this Saturday!
It's not too late! Whether you walk, run, or walk-run, you'll feel the positive energy at PNC Women Run the Cities. Join TCM and the women of the Twin Cities on Saturday, May 17, for an experience that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered.
PNC Women Run the Cities features:
Celebration of your accomplishment with brunch bites, mimosas (21+ with ID), and a joyful post-race atmosphere
Challenge yourself for 10 miles, 10K or 5K
Yoga with TRIA Orthopedics at Packet Pick Up (weather permitting)
A free beer or hard cider (21+ with ID) for participants at the Summit Beer Garden
A Storm Creek hooded long sleeve participant shirt and finisher medal
The race benefits our charity partner Girls on the Run Minnesota, inspiring girls and gender-expansive youth in Minnesota through running and interactive curriculum
Twin Cities In Motion is looking for additional finish line volunteers to distribute finisher medals and manage food distribution for Saturday's race. Spend a lovely spring morning brining joy to PNC Women Run the Cities runners.
Find details, check out other open positions, and sign up here. Group volunteering options -- including a donation to your organization are available. Contact volunteer@tcmevents.org.
Merch Store: Last Call Before Race Day!
Race week is here, and so is your final chance to grab official Women Run the Cities gear before the big day! Items will be available onsite, but sizes are limited and not guaranteed. Lock in your look now with performance layers, bold graphics, and statement pieces made for celebrating your strength. Don’t miss out — shop before it’s gone!
When we look at high level athletes and accomplished people in general, we often see a picture of poise and confidence - the row of fit, strong elite athletes, leaning forward at the starting line, awaiting the gun. They are focused ahead and eager to take on the challenge ahead.
But if we peer beneath the surface of these athletes, the confidence they exhibit is just one aspect of their emotional landscape. Every one of them has experienced – and may even be experiencing in the moment the photo was taken – a whole range of other emotions: doubt, worry, anxiety, and even fear.
In discussing confidence, I think it's important to begin from a place of understanding that it is natural to have these feelings as well, and that you can - and probably will - have both within you. Some people frame this as a battle between the two. In this way of thinking, similar to the Cherokee parable of the Two Wolves, we must feed the good wolf and starve the bad wolf in order to embody the traits we wish to nurture. That may be a helpful way to think about it at times. It may also be helpful to practice acceptance of the negative self-talk and thoughts as something that everyone experiences, and in doing so, re-direct them toward more productive thoughts.
“Start looking at flights to Paris, I think
I just might make this team after today."
In recent times, more and more people have acknowledged their feelings of imposter syndrome - not feeling like they quite belong, and that their lack of qualifications, ability, etc. will be revealed. This is a topic that came up in Dakotah Popehn’s recent conversation on The Running Effect podcast. I think it’s pretty powerful that even our team’s Olympian has dealt with those struggles.
On the other side of the coin, Dakotah also wrote the following in her training log, a month before the 2024 Olympic Trials Marathon: “Start looking at flights to Paris, I think I just might make this team after today.” If I look back to the workouts she ran when she first joined the team, there’s a lot more in that training log that she noted as being unsatisfied with, or even discouraged. However, there are also a lot of entries stating things like “I know I can do better.” So while Dakotah was battling those feelings of not belonging, she was constantly re-directing to believing that she could do better.
This gives us some insight into how we can work to develop confidence and self-assurance. The idea of feeding the good wolf is again useful here. Positive self-talk, affirmations, and self-belief may be one way of feeding the good wolf. Even more powerful, though, are the actions and behaviors that make us better. If we repeatedly make choices and perform the actions that lead us to be prepared for what we are pursuing, whether that is a PR or some other benchmark in life, we can shape our self-image such that we actually see ourselves as the type of person who achieves the types of things that we are pursuing. The years of consistent hard work and stacking of quality training were instrumental in growing that confidence in Dakotah. And while I don’t think self-doubt ever goes away, this example illustrates how its influence and power over us is dramatically diminished by great preparation.
Chris Lundstrom, PhD, is a running coach and exercise scientist who specializes in endurance exercise performance. He is one of the team of Motion Experts TCM has gathered to help its subscribers and participants get the most out of their running. He coaches the Minnesota Distance Elite team and their squad of national class runners, including Olympian Dakotah Lindwurm.
Whatcha Running in October?
Marathon Weekend: Something for Everyone!
Check out all the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend (Oct. 4-5) features and options!
From the Marathon to the Diaper Dash - There's a race for you and your whole family.
Your Year to be a Marathoner? - With in-person and online training from Run Minnesota and ASICS Runkeeper, there's support for your journey!
Run a Race Dedicated to Charity - Support TCM's mission or those of other nonprofits by running our charity-focused half marathon event, the TC Half Marathon for More.
10 Mile Access Still Available - TCM Members, Charity Runners and TC Loony Challenge runners can still reach the start line.
Need Something Short and Snappy? - Consider the TC 5K, presented by Fredrikson, or the TC 10K, presented by Dermatology Consultants. Both are walker-friendly!
Remember, Kids Run Free at TCM - On marathon weekend and all year! From the diaper dash to the marathon itself, youths age 18 and under run at no cost thanks to our generous TCM Members and donors.
Three races in two days -- culminating with the 10 mile -- and all the gear and medals the feat deserves, including a unique recovery and hydration package from ONYX, Rollga, and Nuun.
Three races in two days -- culminating with the marathon -- and all the gear and medals the epic feat deserves, including a unique recovery and hydration package from ONYX, Rollga, and Nuun.
My favorite mantra is “be where your feet are”. That applies to running as well as life! It’s so easy to focus on what comes next, always looking ahead and forgetting the NOW. Reminding myself to be where my feet are allows me to focus my mind and body on where I am and what I’m doing NOW. Find the happy in today. Remind myself to not get lost in stressing over yesterday or tomorrow (or the last few or the next few miles).
Next Week's Motion Center Programming!
😎😎 Summer Training Panel 😎😎
Tuesday, May 20, from 6 - 8 p.m.
Join Twin Cities in Motion and Run Minnesota for a panel on Summer Training! Hear from experts and coaches about how to best prepare and train during the summer months. There will be opportunities to hear from each panelist on topics/questions specific to Summer Training and a Q&A session following the panel.
Join Mariela Ajpop, a third degree black belt, for an informative evening. She will discuss pre-run safety tips and you will learn basic defense skills to protect yourself and feel empowered while running. Everyone deserves to run without fear!
Whether you're a first-time charity runner or a nonprofit team leader, this panel conversation is for you. You'll hear firsthand from experienced charity team captains and passionate runners who have successfully raised funds and built community around their causes. Our panelists will share practical tips, creative strategies, and motivational stories to show that fundraising doesn’t have to be intimidating—it can be fun, fulfilling, and deeply rewarding.
🌞 Mindful Miles: Running for Recovery & Mental Health 🌞
Tuesday, May 27, from 6 - 7:45 p.m.
The program will will explore the powerful connection between running and mental health. This program brings new and experienced runners with lived experiences to discuss how running and other forms of movement can support mental well-being, build emotional resilience, manage stress and provide an outlet for those in recovery.
Check out the complete calendar of Motion Center events here.
Find a Career in the Activity Your Love!
Are you an organized and detail-oriented individual with a passion for sports retail and lifestyle merchandising? Twin Cities In Motion is looking for a full-time Merchandise & Community Engagement Coordinator who believes in our nonprofit mission and is driven by community engagement and impact.
In this exciting role, you will be responsible for merchandise buying, in-person and online store management, customer sales & service, and order fulfillment. In addition to supporting day-to-day merchandise duties, this position plays a key role in the success of pop-up retail sales at all TCM events, including the Medtronic Twin Cities Weekend expo store.
Thank you for reading the Connection and being part of the Twin Cities In Motion running community. We'll be back next week with more news and community. Stay in touch with TCM in the meantime via our social media channels. Contact us directly with your questions, story ideas or whatever is on your mind at info@tcmevents.org.
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