Can accountability be fun?
Can we turn the typical American "couch potato" lifestyle on its head?
Can a blog be more than shameless self-promotion?
We plan to find out ... tune in tomorrow for the beginning of TRIATHABLOG.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Three Friends. Three Sports. One Blog.
Can accountability be fun?
Can we turn the typical American "couch potato" lifestyle on its head?
Can a blog be more than shameless self-promotion?
We plan to find out ... tune in tomorrow for the beginning of TRIATHABLOG.
WTF?! ... Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you doing this?
We are good friends, good sisters, good daughters, and good employees. We are the go-to girls for baking “get well soon” cookies, cooking you a delicious meal or finishing an Excel report on time.
We’re proud of the lives and careers that we’ve built. But we’re unhealthy.
Being a single woman means there are fewer people to pick up after. But there is also never, ever, anyone to pick up the slack. Work has made us tired and stress is, quite literally, making us sick. We know—from magazines, from TV, from our mothers, from our therapists—that exercise will make us healthier and happier. But, still, we don’t do it.
Triathablog is an attempt to use healthy competition and a dose of internet accountability to change that, and to build good habits for our future.
Why three months?
Three friends. Three sports. Why not three months? Plus, it’s long enough to make lasting change (we hope). And, if we can get through the end of Daylight Savings (November 2), Thanksgiving, AND Christmas, we can do anything!
Why Carrie and Elisa and Amanda?
All three of us live in the corporate world while trying to make our dreams reality. Carrie writes marketing materials, but she wants to be a novelist (or professional blogger, naturally). Amanda works a day job as a marketing guru and moonlights wearing the green apron of a Barista, saving to attend Culinary School. Elisa loves being a book buyer, but she searches for more meaning and beauty in life through photography, crafting, and writing. We all have similar life situations and parallel fitness goals—why not work together to reach them?
Why don’t you blog on Sundays?
God took a day off, and so will our blog, damn it!
Why not do this privately?
We’ve been accused of over-sharing, and we’re okay with that. We’ve made this project into a competition that we can have fun with and make jokes about, but living an unhealthy life is serious. You don’t have to do much research to realize that, especially in the U.S., our inactive lifestyles have become an epic problem. If sharing our struggles and successes helps other people follow in our footsteps (or bike path, or swimmer’s wake), then letting people into our lives is worth it.
How do I advertise?
Email triathablog@gmail.com.
How did you come up with this idea?
Once upon a time, Elisa and Carrie ran Cheap Women, a similar blog-centric contest focused on personal finances. Not only was the project really fun, it helped us face our personal economic mistakes (no bailouts here, thanks Congress!) and promote real change. Turning the blog spotlight onto our personal fitness seemed like a smart plan. Check out Cheap Women at cheapwomen.org.
Elisa was already a biker. Carrie was already a runner. And Amanda is already a fledgling swimmer. But we all struggled with making time and reaching goals. A blog seemed like a great way to raise accountability, and our chosen sports already spelled, “Triathlon!”
What are the rules?
Keep scrolling—the contest is explained below.
How are you this creative?
Celibacy does that to people.
We are good friends, good sisters, good daughters, and good employees. We are the go-to girls for baking “get well soon” cookies, cooking you a delicious meal or finishing an Excel report on time.
We’re proud of the lives and careers that we’ve built. But we’re unhealthy.
Being a single woman means there are fewer people to pick up after. But there is also never, ever, anyone to pick up the slack. Work has made us tired and stress is, quite literally, making us sick. We know—from magazines, from TV, from our mothers, from our therapists—that exercise will make us healthier and happier. But, still, we don’t do it.
Triathablog is an attempt to use healthy competition and a dose of internet accountability to change that, and to build good habits for our future.
Why three months?
Three friends. Three sports. Why not three months? Plus, it’s long enough to make lasting change (we hope). And, if we can get through the end of Daylight Savings (November 2), Thanksgiving, AND Christmas, we can do anything!
Why Carrie and Elisa and Amanda?
All three of us live in the corporate world while trying to make our dreams reality. Carrie writes marketing materials, but she wants to be a novelist (or professional blogger, naturally). Amanda works a day job as a marketing guru and moonlights wearing the green apron of a Barista, saving to attend Culinary School. Elisa loves being a book buyer, but she searches for more meaning and beauty in life through photography, crafting, and writing. We all have similar life situations and parallel fitness goals—why not work together to reach them?
Why don’t you blog on Sundays?
God took a day off, and so will our blog, damn it!
Why not do this privately?
We’ve been accused of over-sharing, and we’re okay with that. We’ve made this project into a competition that we can have fun with and make jokes about, but living an unhealthy life is serious. You don’t have to do much research to realize that, especially in the U.S., our inactive lifestyles have become an epic problem. If sharing our struggles and successes helps other people follow in our footsteps (or bike path, or swimmer’s wake), then letting people into our lives is worth it.
How do I advertise?
Email triathablog@gmail.com.
How did you come up with this idea?
Once upon a time, Elisa and Carrie ran Cheap Women, a similar blog-centric contest focused on personal finances. Not only was the project really fun, it helped us face our personal economic mistakes (no bailouts here, thanks Congress!) and promote real change. Turning the blog spotlight onto our personal fitness seemed like a smart plan. Check out Cheap Women at cheapwomen.org.
Elisa was already a biker. Carrie was already a runner. And Amanda is already a fledgling swimmer. But we all struggled with making time and reaching goals. A blog seemed like a great way to raise accountability, and our chosen sports already spelled, “Triathlon!”
What are the rules?
Keep scrolling—the contest is explained below.
How are you this creative?
Celibacy does that to people.
Contest Rules
Earn Points!
Earn 5 points for each week that you exercise at least four times (30 minute minimum).
Earn 3 points for each week that you complete a Physical Challenge in its prescribed week.
Earn 1 point for each challenge you complete during a week other than the one prescribed. (You cannot earn points for the same challenge more than three times.)
Take the Physical Challenge!
Week One: October 1 - October 4
The IRON Challenge: Incorporate stretching or weight training into your workout.
Week Two: October 5 - October 11
The HEMINGWAY Challenge: Keep a fitness journal this week.
Week Three: October 12 - October 18
The SPECIAL REPORT Challenge: Research a Triathablog "Special Report."
Week Four: October 19 - October 25
The COPYCAT Challenge: Try one of the other participants' sports.
Week Five: October 26 - November 1 (Halloween is October 31)
The MASQUERADE Challenge: Perform your sport in costume.
Week Six: November 2 - November 8 AUDIENCE CHOICE!
The AUDIENCE CHOICE Challenge: Readers pick the challenge.
Week Seven: November 9 - November 15
The APARTMENT (PHYSICAL) THERAPY Challenge: Try a workout video.
Week Eight: November 16 - November 22
The BOOKWORM Challenge: Read a book that focuses on your sport.
Week Nine: November 23 - November 29 (Thanksgiving is November 27)
The TEAM Challenge: Organize an active group event.
Week Ten: November 30 - December 6
The PEACE, LOVE, BLOG Challenge: Detox or fast for one day, or meditate for thirty minutes.
Week Eleven: December 7 - December 13
The FLUX CAPACITOR Challenge: Break up your routine—exercise at a different time or different place all week.
Week Twelve: December 14 - December 20
The TOUCH YOUR TOES Challenge: Do yoga, Pilates, or stretching (at least 20 minutes) every day this week.
Week Thirteen: December 21 - December 27 (Hanukkah begins December 22, Christmas is December 25)
The SANTA Challenge: Try a new sport.
Week Fourteen: December 28 - December 31 (New Year's Eve is December 31)
The OMG Challenge: Try something you fear about your sport.
Win Prizes!
The winner is treated to new sports gear courtesy of the other participants. And lifetime bragging rights, obviously.
Earn 5 points for each week that you exercise at least four times (30 minute minimum).
Earn 3 points for each week that you complete a Physical Challenge in its prescribed week.
Earn 1 point for each challenge you complete during a week other than the one prescribed. (You cannot earn points for the same challenge more than three times.)
Take the Physical Challenge!
Week One: October 1 - October 4
The IRON Challenge: Incorporate stretching or weight training into your workout.
Week Two: October 5 - October 11
The HEMINGWAY Challenge: Keep a fitness journal this week.
Week Three: October 12 - October 18
The SPECIAL REPORT Challenge: Research a Triathablog "Special Report."
Week Four: October 19 - October 25
The COPYCAT Challenge: Try one of the other participants' sports.
Week Five: October 26 - November 1 (Halloween is October 31)
The MASQUERADE Challenge: Perform your sport in costume.
Week Six: November 2 - November 8 AUDIENCE CHOICE!
The AUDIENCE CHOICE Challenge: Readers pick the challenge.
Week Seven: November 9 - November 15
The APARTMENT (PHYSICAL) THERAPY Challenge: Try a workout video.
Week Eight: November 16 - November 22
The BOOKWORM Challenge: Read a book that focuses on your sport.
Week Nine: November 23 - November 29 (Thanksgiving is November 27)
The TEAM Challenge: Organize an active group event.
Week Ten: November 30 - December 6
The PEACE, LOVE, BLOG Challenge: Detox or fast for one day, or meditate for thirty minutes.
Week Eleven: December 7 - December 13
The FLUX CAPACITOR Challenge: Break up your routine—exercise at a different time or different place all week.
Week Twelve: December 14 - December 20
The TOUCH YOUR TOES Challenge: Do yoga, Pilates, or stretching (at least 20 minutes) every day this week.
Week Thirteen: December 21 - December 27 (Hanukkah begins December 22, Christmas is December 25)
The SANTA Challenge: Try a new sport.
Week Fourteen: December 28 - December 31 (New Year's Eve is December 31)
The OMG Challenge: Try something you fear about your sport.
Win Prizes!
The winner is treated to new sports gear courtesy of the other participants. And lifetime bragging rights, obviously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
