NASCAR, Triathlon and a Rental Car

I guess I should be pleased that I've raced in 44 states without any major errors. I mean with all the logistics juggling, it was bound to happen. Well I can't claim "mistake-free" any longer. I had a layover at Midway en route to Iowa and went to plug in the address at my final hotel destination. It makes it easier to get on the road when I jump in my rental car. And there it was....the big blank space on my "cheat sheet". I forgot to book my rental car.
Several years ago I started making a spreadsheet for each state. All information for that state is in one place; race information, directions, race director's contact information, race distance and timing, packet pick up, race briefing, flight, hotel, rental car information, bike information ( the most important) and press outreach and contacts. Lastly on my "cheat sheet" is any information about local people who've contacted me, who I need to meet or things I need to do upon arrival. Each state's spreadsheet is a work of art.
But alas, no rental car was planned for Iowa. So with 15 minutes until boarding I got online only to come up empty. No cars to be had. I got on the phone, touted my Emerald Club status which produced a big fat nothing only to learn there wasn't an agency that had an available car within a 100 mile radius. Apparently NASCAR was in town!
My race was located an hour away from the airport so cabs were out of the question and there is no public transportation in rural Iowa. With a racing heart, my tail between my legs for my first major blunder and lightning speed I researched the distance from Midway to where I was trying to go. Five hours...a reasonable distance by car. As I made this decision the gate closed and the connecting flight left without me.
It all worked out but it was a nail biter for sure.

Iowa on Deck

Next up, Holiday Lake Triathlon in Brooklyn.... Iowa. Representing state #45, I love that I'm flying half way across the country to race in Brooklyn. I've received some great support so far and am looking forward to connecting with as many women (and men) in the area as possible. Showing some iffy flight connections with the impending and fast approaching tropical storm so keep crossed fingers I actually get out of the area before it hits.

National Running Day

There's a celebratory day for just about everything, everyone and every hobby.... well here's one I can really get behind.  National Running Day is this Wednesday, June 5.  I actually thought it was today and wished my running group a "happy day" this morning.  They never heard of it so no one corrected me.  But when I went to make this post and grab a photo, I saw it wasn't until Wednesday.  No worries... I'll celebrate it again.
In the last 20 years runners have raised over a billion dollars for great causes in races and events worldwide. This year, National Running Day encourages you to celebrate by making a donation to The One Fund Boston.  This fund has already raised over $37 million for victims and families affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy.  So while I run for fun and for sport and for my personal 50x50x100 campaign, this is a much bigger calling.  So lace up your sneakers on Wednesday, grab a friend and get out there.

89 Days

It is with great sadness that I announce Dave Brown has ended his walk.  After 89 days of walking 14 miles a day, his feet gave out.  I was due to walk with Dave in Kansas the week after next after completing my Iowa event.  It was not meant to be; I received a text from him yesterday.  According to Dave, "I am fine but my feet are telling me loud and clear that it is time to hang up my sneakers."
Dave should be extremely proud of what he accomplished, even if it wasn't exactly what he envisioned.  His campaign has undoubtedly made an impact, not only on the people he connected with one-on-one but through the extensive reaction of the press.  In just 89 days, Dave was able to reach over 20,000 page views on Facebook and was featured in over 30 publications or stations.  I have been at my campaign for five years and barely can claim those stats.  His dedication to the cause is amazing and I am sure the campaign's impact will continue even though the physical part has ended. To learn more about what Dave accomplished, click here.

Thank You Maysville!

 A big thanks to Maysville, Kentucky for such a wonderful experience.  The Buffalo Trails Triathlon was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and they pulled out all the stops to make it a really competitive and exciting event.  A tugboat pulled a barge into the middle of the Ohio River for our mass swim start.  Who gets to do that?  The bicycle portion of the race was some of the prettiest roads I have encountered and the run was along the sea wall of the river and couldn't have been nicer.  I had a radio interview before the event (click here) and a live interview at the race on WFTM.  I also had a great write up in the Ledger Independent.  But the real hospitality came from the owner of Moon River B&B.  Marti and her grandson, Luke, were some of the most pleasant people I have met on this journey.  I was so well cared for by the locals...my bike was delivered to me, I got a birds-eye view of the town from a woman who invited me to her home, I was bought a complimentary piece of Transparent Pie (a local treat), I received a guest pass into the Kentucky Gateway Museum (home of one of the largest miniature collections in the country) and was handed almost $200 in donations at the actual race.  I wound up getting on the podium for my division and also won the Perseverance Award.   Because of the press many women approached me and I was able to spread the message of early detection to dozens, challenging them to call five of their friends that evening with this vital information.  I think the campaign will have a big impact on Kentucky.  Kentucky certainly had a big impact on me.  Thanks Maysville!