Sort of like a fairytale...only not. (Entry for Oiselle's Totally Trials Contest)

One of my favorite running buddies and I are throwing our combined hat into the ring and entering the Oiselle Totally Trials contest, the winners of which will get to see the last three days of the Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. The grand prize includes not just tickets to the events but airfare, lodging, and a post-race bash DJ'ed by MC Hammer. The whole concept just feels too legit to quit. "F*CK YEAH!!!" was RoseRunner's response when I asked if she was interested. Good to know we're on the same page.


Part of the contest asks us what we want to see and who we want to meet if we were to win. Our answers:  

• We'd both like to meet the oldest female competitor. 
• We both like the relays because it isn't always about a superstar...it is about being a part of something. 
• We also both like the long jump because it is akin to flying.  
• I really admire the javelin throwers because I have actually tried to throw a javelin and have felt the challenges of the combination of coordination, explosiveness, and total body strength.

And without further ado, here is our story...

Once upon a time...

...and they lived happily ever after...

...in Hammer pants.

*If you're confused as to why I chose the background music... well, did you forget that MC Hammer will be the DJ at the post-race bash? And since major memories are sparked when I hear it, and both RoseRunner and I have lived in his hometown, it became necessary to use it.*

Olympic Trials... and Whatever Happened to Carl Lewis?

There is a contest going on right now...and you know how I love a good contest. First, there was the one where I defeated Charo and Darth Vader. And remember the humiliating contest that won me $300 to lululemon. And let's not forget Nuun and Hood to Coast.

Anyway...the new contest...

Oiselle (a women's running apparel company) will award a trip to the Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon to the team of two women who somehow convince them they are worthy or interesting enough or maybe just know how to behave in public (ut-oh...I think that might eliminate me right off the bat).

Well, I want to go. And my companion and I have until tomorrow (Tuesday, May 29) at midnight to pull it together. It might happen. And it might not. If you're a woman reading this and want to go to the Track and Field Trials, you should totally enter. Yes, you have to be a woman to enter.

In my search for inspiration, I found this gem of a video. Touted as being "so bad good it hurts." Yep...it does...



Are you cringing?

Have you ever been to an Olympic Trials event in any sport? What did you think?
–I went to the Olympic Trials for rowing in 1988 and 1992. It was a lot of fun, mostly because I had a lot of friends participating. And they were only about an hour away from where I was living at the time. I always liked it the most when the very deserving underdog prevailed...not to say that all the athletes weren't necessarily deserving. In 1992, one of my friend's was DQ'ed for doping violations. His boat wasn't the winning boat so fortunately his teammates weren't affected, but he was barred from competition for a couple of years. He didn't care so much for a couple of reasons: 1) he was 'old' and it was his swan song regatta and 2) he felt it was kind of bullshit because it was due to a standard dose of over-the-counter cough medicine. He was super sick and took Robitussin containing a banned substance (one type of Robitussin contained something illegal and another didn't...but he was pretty delirious and just took whatever was in front of him). 

Scoping out the competition...

Who does this?

It doesn't matter where you are...

• at the supermarket...do you peek into other carts to see what other people are buying/eating? Does that person have more fruits, veggies and lean proteins than you have? More cookies, Cheetos and frozen pizzas? who has the cutest outfit?
• at the playground...do you notice which caregiver is texting/smartphoning? who is bossing the kids around? who is keeping a watchful eye on them? who has the cutest outfit?
• at a party...can't help but check out who is showing off fake boobs? whose are real? who looks the hottest?
• at a race...always find yourself seeing the legs that scare the crap out of you because you know they will be running at least 2 minutes per mile faster than you for the whole race? hunting for that person who you might be able to suck the energy out of pace off of? who has the cutest outfit?

I do this. 

I'm being honest. Except for the noticing the outfit part. I only do that in the party situation.

So of course I had to scope out the competition for the Nuun Hood to Coast Relay Team. If you go to YouTube and search "nuun application", you will be able to check out a whole bunch of them. Did you apply? It's not too late...the last day is April 9.

What I learned from this reconnaissance exercise was that some of the ideas I was nurturing had already been used. I was bummed. But then I became inspired. Mine isn't ready to share yet, but I'm showing you two of this year's applications that I particularly enjoyed.

This one if from Alanna, writer of Love My Runners. Alanna was Runner #1 for After-Nuun Delight at last year's Hood to Coast Relay and is looking for redemption :)



This person's is hilarious. She is an Oiselle employee who blogs at Running Starfish.

Good luck to all of the applicants :)