Olympic Trials AMEX Giveaway (LETS GET READY TO GAMBLE)

I am ridiculously excited for the marathon Olympic Trials this Saturday in Houston!  We get to see the best American women race for a ticket to London!  While I won't be cowbelling my face off like this girl and this girl you better believe I'm going to be up early following the race.

In addition to loving Track and Field, I also love to gamble.  And hopefully...so do you!  Because I'm giving away a $25 AMEX gift card (AND two tubes of Grape Nuun) to whoever comes closest to predicting the top three! 
 (Yes, I'm buying this gift card on my own.  I'm that excited about this).  


The Point Structure:  Predicting winner = 10 pts, Predicting 2nd place = 8 points, Predicting 3rd place = 6 points.  Getting athlete in top three but not correct place = 2 points.   


How To:  Just comment your top 3 or email me.  No, you don't have to follow or tweet, but let's be honest, tweeting about it would be cool so more than the 2 people who read my blog enter.  

Athlete Guide: 

The Big Three

Desiree Davila

Age: 28
PRs:  2:22:38 (marathon), 15:08 (5000m), 31:37 (10,000m)

Nicknames: Desi Does it.  "Keep your eyes up".  She'll beat you and you'll like it. 

Runners World Odds: 7-5

Shalane Flanagan

Age: 30
PRs: 2:28:40 (marathon), 30:34 (10,000m),  5,000m - 14:44.
Nicknames: Blonde lightning, If there's a record, she'll set it.
Runners World Odds: 2-1

Kara Goucher 
Age: 33
PRs: 2:24:26 (marathon), 1:06:57 (half marathon), 30:55 (10,000m)
Nicknames: America's Sweetheart.  Arm sleeve trend starter.  Mother of super baby, Colt.
Runners World Odds: 3-1

The Veterans 

Magdalena Lewy Boulet

Age: 38
PRs: 2:26:22 (marathon), 31:48 (10,000m)
Nicknames:  Beijing's revenge.  From Berkeley to London.
Runners World Odds: 5-1

Colleen De Reuck 
Age: 47 (holy cow)
PRs:  2:30:51 (qualifying), 2:26:35 (PR marathon).  1:10:50 (half marathon)
Nicknames:  Slamdancing with Grandma.  "Outa my way, kids.  Let me show you how it's done".
Runners World Odds: 20-1

Blake Russell
Age: 36
PRs: 31:35.25 (10,000m), 2:30:32 (marathon)
Nicknames:  One badass momma! 
No Runners World Odds.  My Odds:  25-1

Deena Kastor

Age: 38
PRs:  2:19:37 (marathon), half marathon (1:07:34)
Nicknames:  Smallest human ever.  Fastest human ever.
Runners World Odds: 8-1

Don't forget about these powerhouses...

Tera Moody (*Just in, Tera Moody has declared she won't start - 1-12-2012)
Age: 31
PRs:  2:30:53 (marathon)
Nicknames:  Treadmill Lover.  Tera you apart! (hah. hah.) 
Runners World Odds: 15-1

Janet Cherobon-Bawcom
Age: 33
PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:10:59 (2010); Marathon, 2:37:27 (2008)
Nicknames: Terrific Two Timer (Ran a half in 1:11:58 and a 10k the next day in 32:47)
No Runners World Odds.  My Odds: 25-1

Stephanie Rothstein 
Age: 28
PRs:  2:29:35 (marathon)
Nicknames:  The Wheat Free Wonder (she has celiacs!).
Runners World Odds: 10-1

You Dang Kids!

Clara Grandt

Age: 24
PRs 2:29:54 (marathon) 1:13 (half marathon)
Nicknames:  West Virginia Mountain Mama.  (I love this girl.  I randomly emailed her after Boston to congratulate (creepy much?) and she super sweetly replied).
Runners World Odds: 15-1

Amy Hastings

Age: 27
Qualifying Time: 2:27:03 (marathon), 1:11:19 (half marathon)
Nicknames:  Little Deena, So. Cal's finest.
Runners World Odds: 7-1

Molly Pritz

Age: 23 (I think?)
PRs:  2:31:52 (marathon), 1:11:05 (half marathon)

Nicknames:  The speedy geologist.  Just out of school, about to school you. 
No Runners Worlds Odds.  My Odds: 20-1

Honorable Mention:  Katie McGregor, Dot McMahan, Ilsa Paulson, Serena Burla, Emily Harrison, Jennifer Houck, Melissa White, Paige Higgins, Zoila Gomez, Kristen Nicolini 




* Thank you to the billions of running sites I didn't credit that I stole pictures and info off of. 


What awesome women do you think are on their way to London?? (my picks are 1) Shalane, 2) Desi, and 3) Molly Pritz (my fave dark horse))