March 17, 2012

An AMAZING opportunity (for one of you!)


I am SO excited to share this opportunity with one of you...

Remember when I wrote about running the Ragnar Relay Florida Keys in January 2013? I've been working with a man named Rik (who I met through my blog--he has also lost a lot of weight and become a runner, as well as had the same surgery as me) to put together a team of people like us to run the Ragnar. (If you're unfamiliar with the Ragnar Relay, you can read my race report I wrote of Ragnar Relay Great River from 2010).

Ragnar Relay teams are made up of 12 people, and right now, we have a fantastic team of 11:

Rik (our team captain)
Me (from 'Runs for Cookies', duh)
Mary from 'a small loss'
Linda from 'Frickin Fabulous at 40'
Allison (no blog, but she's lost weight and taken up running)
Jen R (from 'From FAT to Finish Line')
Andrea (who was on Oprah for her weight loss)
Jen S (from 'Miles, Muscles, and Mommyhood')
Lealah (from 'Lealah on a Mission')
John (SparkPeople success story manager, and success story himself)
Ada (from 'The Biggest Loser' Season 10)

So as you can see, we have a pretty AMAZING group!! But we are one team member shy of a complete team, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to hear some of your success stories.

We are searching for the perfect twelfth team member... and it could be you! We have a couple of qualifications that you must meet for us to consider you, however. Our team is made up solely of people who 1) have lost a significant amount of weight without weight loss surgery AND 2) become runners through their weight loss journeys.

Ideally, we'd like to shoot for the moon and find someone who has lost 100+ pounds and run a marathon. I realize this is probably a difficult task, so if you think your story is pretty awesome (say you lost 80 pounds and ran a half-marathon) please still consider this! You don't have to be fast (although Ragnar teams must be faster than a 12:00 min/mile), nor do you have to be at your goal weight.

This will not be a random drawing for the spot on our team. I will accept e-mails (see below) and our team will vote on the person we think would be the best match for our team. If we pick you, you will still be responsible for paying all the costs that the rest of us have--airfare, hotels, van rental, food, race fee, etc. Rik has come up with an estimate of how much this adventure is going to cost, and with everything included, it is probably going to be about $800/person. The good news is, the race isn't until January, so you don't need ALL that money right now.

So, if you "win" this spot on our team, you will be running the Ragnar Relay Florida Keys with us on Jan. 4-5, 2013, so make sure that you're willing to commit to that.

To "apply" for the open spot on our team, please answer the following questions in an e-mail and send it to: Katie (at) runsforcookies (dot) com, with the subject 'Ragnar Relay Florida Keys':

*How much weight have you lost?
*How did you lose the weight?
*How long have you kept it off?
*How long have you been running?
*How often do you run, and how far?
*Have you run any races? If so, what distance/time?
*Do you have a blog or website?
*Why do you think you would make a great addition to our team?
*Anything else you want to add?
*Please attach a before and after photo, too*

There are no right or wrong answers--these questions just help us get to know your story. I can't wait to read your stories!!  (FYI, there is a chance that this whole adventure may be filmed and turned into a documentary, so make sure you're okay with that if it should happen).

I also stole a few race pictures from my brother Brian's Facebook page. He just ran the 2012 Ragnar Florida Keys, and loved it so much he's doing it again in 2013...

Gorgeous sunset!

I had to share this pic of Brian because it's funny

The AFTER party on the beach in Key West--the best part!
I'm hoping that we will have chosen someone by March 26, but the sooner you can e-mail, the better!


32 comments:

  1. WTH is he smelling? Is it a snake or a shoe? Please don't tell me it's an alligator! I can't wait to see everybody's stories!

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    1. It's an alligator... but it was just the head that they bought from a souvenir shop ;)

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    2. Holy crap! I was hoping it was just one of the souvenir heads!! I live in FL and see gators all the time...I was freaking out for a minute!! LOL

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  2. Why exclude the WLS crowd? It is not easy to lose weight after surgery. I know. I lost 200 pounds, gained 100 back, and now working to lose all over again.

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    1. I actually haven't thought about it much--everyone on the team lost the weight without WL surgery, so that's why I wrote that. But if you think you have a compelling story, feel free to write and I'll share it with the others!

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    2. Ah, I see. Well, my story is not compelling just yet. lol. I feel like my journey is just beginning, honestly. After surgery, I didn't deal with the psychological part of weight loss and my binge eating disorder overtook me once again. Thank God I only gained back 100 pounds. Now I have about 130 to lose in order to get to goal. You have been such an inspiration to me. I went and bought my first real pair of running shoes today at a REAL shoe store.

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  3. I am so excited about going on this journey! :-)

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  4. Wish I was far enough along in my journey to join you! I'm on my way though! :-) It looks like a lot of fun! I'm running my 1st 5k in two weeks - next year this time I'm hoping to be ready for a half marathon!

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    1. Monica, that's FANTASTIC about the 5K--make sure you let us know how it goes! And if this Ragnar adventure turns out to be half as fun as I think it will, I can see it being an annual thing. So maybe next time you'll be ready! ;)

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    2. Thanks!! I will definitely let you know how it goes! My goal is to finish under 45 minutes!

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  5. I can't wait to run this event. Come on, January! Faster, faster!

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  6. Like Monica I wish I further along on my journey! I have run a couple 5 and 10ks but no marathon yet!! If you go again in 2014 I would be really interested!!!!

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    1. A marathon isn't a *requirement*--like I said, we were just shooting for the moon with that. But if you feel like you have a great story, feel free to send the e-mail!

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  7. Looks so awesome!! I wish the timing had worked out for me!!

    Random again, but have you had California Pizza Kitchen before?

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  8. You guys are going to have a blast. I think it sounds like soooo much fun. I need to lose about 50 lbs and have completed a half marathon and have the AF half marathon coming up in Sept. Maybe someday I'll get my own team together to do one.

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  9. Of course I am so proud of all of you and I hope that one day I will be able to do a race with this dream team. May I suggest you contact Colleen from fitbee http://www.thefitbee.com/. I am sure that many of you are following her and she is awesome. She recently qualified for the marathon of all marathons: Boston.

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    1. That is so awesome!! The Boston marathon is on my bucket list :)

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  10. What a great oppurtunity! I can't wait to see who gets chosen, what a dream team! If it becomes an annual thing I'd for sure apply in the future!

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  12. Wow, what a FUN opportunity. We have a similar race here in the NW called Hood To Coast. My mom captained a team for 8yrs, then so many teams wanted to do it they had to put them in a lottery drawing.

    Definitely something I'd look forward to doing in the future! Just did my very first 5k today. Loved it!

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  13. Aww, I wish I could try to get in but I still haven't lost my baby weight :( I've been making a lot of healthy changes, like eating a more plant based diet, eliminating soda and most caffience, as well as alcohol. But I'm losing pretty slowly (I think I'm losing, I've decided not to weigh myself any more). I can't wait to read about this adventure! Maybe I can close my eyes and pretend I'm there.

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  14. I was SO excited when I started to read your blog, but I haven't lost enough weight to qualify!!! Bummer!!!! I guess it's a good thing that I never gained that much to begin with though!!!:-)
    ~Laura

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  15. My friends and I are planning on doing the Miami to Key West Ragnar. We are still in the planning process and a few of us have the go ahead from our husbands but we all have kids and thats there first week back to school after winter break. Anyhow I would have loved to submit an email I have lost 150 pounds in the last 2 1/2 years and just today completed my first full marathon I have done several half's, 10 milers, 8k's, 4 milers, 5k's and 3 tri's but today completing my first marathon made it all worth it. What a fabulous feeling it was to cross that finish line. All that training had paid off. I plan on running another before the end of the year. I wish you all the very best and hopefully I will see you at the finish in Key West 2013!

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    1. Wow, CONGRATS on your first marathon!! How was it? Any tips for me? ;)

      Your weight loss is amazing as well, and I think it's awesome that you're doing the Ragnar. You will definitely have to find our team at the finish!

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    2. Thank you, It was an amazing feeling, I am still on top of the world. I am just a little bum that I didn't hit my time goal which I knew I could do but I think the combination of the hot humid weather and I had a horrible head cold caused me to get dehydrated fast and started cramping, I have never had cramping during a run or race. I was pushing cycomax and water like crazy I carried 2 bottles with me and my husband refilled them once then he jumped in at mile 12 with me with 4 more bottles by mile 20 the aid stations were refilling my bottles I also used excel gel (like gu) more than I thought I would. I also forgot the importance of salt, my husband asked me if i brought it as I was getting out of the car but I forgot it because I trained all winter I didn't need it but I sure did yesterday I was so happy they had pretzels at the aid stations I would grab a hand full and suck the salt off. But in the end I crossed the finish line in a sprint just one second behind guy who I kept passing on the course but the 2 women behind me couldn't catch me although they tried for the quarter mile. I am planning on another one soon as I can run which I am hoping to do a few miles on wednesday.

      You are going to do great. On a couple of your long runs try to run them like you are going to race so you will be prepared with water, cycotmax (gatorade), gu. Make sure you know what they are going to have on the race I only like accel gel and cyctomax the aid stations had hammer gels and gatorade, I tried hard not to rely on the aid stations, I am always afraid they will run out. I can't wait to read your race report. You are going you Rock your marathon!

      Ann

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  16. Very cool! I'm not fast enough, but what a great opportunity!

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  17. I loved Ada! How exciting! It'd be great if you'd be able to share the story of the person who 'wins'.

    I'd love to see a documentary too if that happens! Exciting times!

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  18. That really does sound like an amazing opportunity! I don't qualify-YET but I hope to one day. Maybe 2014? That would be an awesome experience!

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  19. Shoot! I would love to do this, but just not quite there yet. 20 pounds down, 95 to go! I used to run half marathons (in my slim days) and am training for a 5K right now. I'm sure you'll find someone great!

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  20. So exciting!! I cannot wait to meet you and shake your hand...ahhh, what am I talking about. I'll hug 'n kiss you!!! awesome xo

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  21. I know the PERFECT person! Lori has lost 100+ pounds, and has now run several marathons! http://fumbledintofitness.com/

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