I thought training for an Ironmother was hard. I thought parenting a 9-year-old-going-on-13 daughter was hard (Exact recent quote I heard: “I have to clean my room? Nobody loves me!”). I thought staying up past 10 p.m. was hard.
Nothing, though, compares to picking 22 women out of the 100+ (!) creative, smart, make-us-laugh-and-cry-and-feel-like-rock-star entries we got to represent in the Ragnar Relay in the Ultimate Mother Runner Showdown. (Actually, 24, as we’re picking two alternates.) It was 800-meter repeats hard; tempo at race pace for 6 miles in the middle of a 12 miler hard; getting your badass out of bed when every ounce of you wants to stay put hard. We feel like we know so many of you, and having to eliminate more than 80 women was like letting down friends.
We wish we could field 8.5 teams, and then we’d have no losers. (Because nobody who runs, in our minds, should consider herself a loser.) But this isn’t never-never land, so we had to make some really, really hard calls. (Have I mentioned this was really hard?)
Without further ado—and in no particular order—here is Team Dimity who, I hope, will join me on a 190-mile jaunt through the D.C. suburbs this fall. (Sarah will announce her teammates tomorrow, so stay tuned!)
1. Krista Kruger, whose girls implore us to, “Please. Take our mother!”
2. Nikki Maroon, who took our talk of Legos and ran with it—or, more accurately, bribed her husband to. Here’s a sample slide.
3. + 4. Aimee Hoyt and Jill Broderick, who blew us off a high-altitude peak with their customized song
5. Joan Gorman, who rewrote some Taylor Swift lyrics for us. (Abridged version here. Like really. And I want Aimee and Jill to sing this. Like really.)
I remember when I used to run a lot
Saying this is it, I love to run, ’cause like
It makes me feel so good and fit and fast
So I ran some marathons, yeah!
Running lots of miles is so fun.
Running, I love you and my body feels so good.
Trust me, I’m thankful that I have you in my life.
I run, I sign up, I run race, Oh Running, I love you.
Ooooh, I met two Badass Mother Runners
Ooooh, this time I’m telling you, I’m telling you
I really really really want to run with you
I really really really want to run with you
You go run and your friends run
and my friends run with me.
But I really really really really want to run with you.
Like, really.
Then I had two babies that I love
And me, finding time to run was really hard
And you, offered me support and running love and
I ran more and pushed my kids in the stroller.
I’d like to think that I can be chosen to run
And I’d like to say ‘I love you BAMRs’
Huh, I sing this song and I’m like ‘Let’s Run Ragnar’
And you’re like, ‘We’d just love to have you, you know.
We would really like to run with you, like really.
6. Meryl Carver-Allmond, who created a banner entry
7. Freedom Green, whose family begged for a playdate for her and who holds the Ragnar dates start close to her heart. The mom-of-four lost a daughter, born on October 4, on October 5. “Those dates are meant to live life fully and not for me to feel sorry for myself,” she writes, “It’s a day to reflect on all the good we did on bringing her into the world & getting a chance to meet her.” (She made a Smilebox entry as well.)
8. Laura LaCroix-Johnson, who we anticipate taking this whole shebang to a theater near you shortly.
9. Laura Duffey Ford, who delighted us with a diorama.
10. Angela Bruns, who Macgyvered some duct tape slippers (hey: that skill may come in handy at 2 a.m.)
11. Janelle Wiliams, who loves to adapt the If You Give a Mouse…books as much as I do. (The full book is just as good.)
Alternate: Karyn Ryan, who creatively asked us to Pick Me For AMR Ragnar.
Yep, I’m pretty excited. Congratulations to all who made Team Dimity!
A few important details: a friendly reminder that you are in charge of your travel costs, hotel, and food, and you need to be in Cumberland, MD on the evening October 3, and won’t be able to head home (unless you’re pretty local) until October 6.
So check your calendars and your check books. We need to hear from you at runmother [at] gmail [dot] com by Monday, June 16 to confirm that yes, indeedy, you’re in. And by committing to this, the understanding is that you’ll train for the race, and won’t pull out unless you are injured or have a family emergency.
Thanks again to all who entered, and stay tuned for Sarah’s picks tomorrow.
Fantastic creativity! Congrats to all of Team Dimity, you are sure to be guaranteed plenty of songs, laughs and determination!
Congratulations to all! Great entries!!
Awesome job Ladies!!
those were so fun to watch. Wish we could see more of the Lego one (by request of my kids).
I am SO excited to be a part of this, I can’t wait! Thank you so much for this opportunity!
SHOTGUN!!!!!! Lol!
Cannot wait to meet (& laugh & sweat & sing with) these BAMR!!
So jealous of these mother runners!! I wanted to enter but had a prior commitment that weekend! I hope you all have an amazing time!!
Congrats to all these women!!
Congrats ladies! It sounds like it will be an amazing race and I can’t wait to see pictures!
Wow! so creative.
Congratulations! Those are awesome entries.
Loved your video!
Oh wow! Thank you so much for choosing me! I feel so honored to be chosen and I am really looking forward to it! Don’t ask me to really sing my Taylor Swift lyrics in person… Haha!
1st Congratulations to all. My family & I all enjoyed checking them all out. I can’t wait to see the rest. I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been on cloud nine all day with the news.
I can’t wait for this BAMR playdate to begin.
THANK YOU Sarah & Dimity!!!!!!
Congrats to all who were selected! I will try again next year! I wish I was as creative as you all!
So, Laura Lacroix-Johnson, is it same seats the whole trip?! Can’t wait to meet everyone, too! My hubby came home yesterday after a month-long deployment, and it was a toss-up over which event was more exciting for me. Of course, I have to choose him, but I’m over the moon that Dimity chose my entry!
Am I dreaming?!!! Thanks for the opportunity! I can’t wait.
Haha! @Laura – I wasn’t sure anyone was going to catch that! I will totally share shotgun! I have a feeling the back of the van is going to be lots of fun/trouble and I don’t want to miss any of that! ;-)
I’m still over the moon about being chosen!! WOOHOOOO!! Can’t wait till October!!
Go Ragnar Team. Go Freedom!