MaineToday.com | Couch to Beacon: Triumph begins with a T (shirt, that is)

Couch to Beacon
Shannon Bryan, MaineToday.com producer and novice runner, trains for the upcoming Beach to Beacon 10K race.

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July 25, 2007

Triumph begins with a T (shirt, that is)

Last week the Reach the Beacon group got tech tees. We were able to choose from several colors, but for some of us the choices were limited due to...um...inappropriately sized shirts (seriously, anything smaller than an XL on me wasn't fit for public viewing).

So I went for peach. Or maybe it's orange. I think it looks like the Crayola color I used to draw myself when I was little.

Now I'll let you in on a little secret. This isn't the first time I've trained to run a race (Gasp! Could it be true?!). I trained for a half marathon back in Chicago in 2005 - but don't start thinking I actually ran 13 miles. Not even close. My running group ran a 13-minute mile on a 3:1 run/walk ratio. We never ran for more than three minutes at a time.

So yes, I finished the race, but my race time wasn't anything to brag about (Instead I just bragged and said "Yeah, I ran a half-marathon" and left it at that. If someone asked for my time I'd say "It was the fastest half-marathon I've run so far." If asked for more specifics, I'd just pretend to have a seizure).

At any rate, a good lesson I learned about the shirt: Make sure your name is prominent on it. Sure, now your stalker will know what your real first name is, but it's worth the risk.

If the cheering crowd sees your name, they'll YELL IT. Seriously, strangers will call out your name. And isn't it about time strangers yelled at you in public for something other than dressing funny?

Posted by Shannon Bryan at 11:00 AM

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Comments

Ahhh....now I know your strategy. Always stand next to someone MUCH FATTER than you! Then you can be sure to look really skinny in comparison (LOL)! I've tried to always eat meals with someone eating much more than me..heard that would translate into "then MY calories wouldn't count". WRONG!!!! Washing a big meal down with Diet Pop doesn't work either! Bummer!

Now, couldn't you have used that photo of you crossing the FINISH line instead?

SYNOF (the fat lady)

Posted by SYNOF
July 25, 2007 11:58 AM

AWWW is that your NOF? er...MOM

Now I know where you got your wonderful smile. :)

NTF

Posted by Andrea
July 25, 2007 11:59 AM

I suspected your mom was pretty cool, but now that I know she calls soda, "Pop", well, that confirms it.

Your group should maybe consider changing its name. The "Maine Running Company" makes you sound like it's your career. That puts a lot of undue stress I would assume.

Posted by JC
July 26, 2007 09:05 AM

Hi JC-

Yeah, she says "pop" and "stick shift" and doesn't know what a camp is. She also pronounces "lobster" with an "r" but I love her anyway.

We would change the name on the shirt, but Maine Running Company is the name of, well, the company.

John Rogers owns the place and runs the B2B training. If he wants his logo on the shirt then, by all means, it goes on the shirt.

Posted by Shannon
July 26, 2007 09:24 AM

oh they can put whatever they please on it. i was just commenting on the careerist-ness of it is all.

man, I thought my job as brain slicer tech support guy by day, rock star wanna-be by night was tiring. I can't imagine owning a running company.

off to the pop-tart machine. :)

Posted by JC
July 26, 2007 10:13 AM