Tuesday, January 10, 2012

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))

49 comments:

  1. Gonna go with (1) Desiree Davila (gotta go with the shorty from San Diego), (2) Kara Goucher, and a write-in (3) Mary Akor (she's probably like 50-1 but whatever - a socal native - giving her some props).

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  2. FUN IDEA! I want to steal this entire post from you!!

    My pics: 1.) Your twin, Desi! 2.) Kara. 3.) Magda.

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  3. I'm going with 1. Desi, 2. Shalane, and 3. Kara.

    I am dying to see what that Huntington beach chick abagail swift does.

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  4. Fun contest! Thanks!
    I will go with 1. Desi 2. Magdalena 3. Kara

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  5. this is fun Margot! :)
    my picks - 1)Desi, 2)Kara, 3)Shalane

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  6. Great idea! My picks: 1. Desiree 2. Kara 3. Clara

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  7. I love this! My picks are:
    1) Desi
    2) Shalane
    3) Kara

    (I think it will be a battle for 3rd!!)

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  8. I'm gonna go all wild card on this....

    1. Shalane
    2. Desiree
    3. Deena

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  9. Going with
    1) Shalane
    2) Desiree
    3) Magda

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  10. Fun!
    I am picking Shalane, Desi, Kara. :)

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  11. 1. Desi--she's a mexi-can!
    2. Kara--she named her kid well :)
    3. Molly--geos rule the world! (thx for pointing out that fact)

    Nothing like prepping for the olympics in lovely H-town. Too bad I dont know these olympic hopefuls bc I could show them some good places to "refuel."

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  12. Here's my pick:
    1. Kara Goucher
    2. Shalane Flanagan
    3. Deena Kastor

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  13. 1. Desi 2. Deena 3. Kara

    I'm a terrible gambler but I like to try anyway :)

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  14. Great post :) Glad I'm not the only one who is super excited about trials this weekend. My picks:

    1. Desi
    2. Shalane
    3. Hastings

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  15. I am so freaking excited to have the chance to watch this race in person. I think it will go Shalane, Desi and Kara. Desi has the chance to beat Shalane if she has a good day. :-)

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  16. This made me smile! How fun!

    My picks: (1) Shalane, (2) Kara & (3) Magdalena

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  17. Freaking love this.

    1. Desi
    2. Shalene
    3. Deena

    I am even more excited to watch now that I'm placing bets. :)

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  18. I just did a blog post about this as well. I can't get enough of the OLY trials!! Here are my pics
    1. Desi Davila
    2. Kara Goucher
    3. Amy Hastings

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  19. deena, shalane, amy

    much more importantly what about nfl playoffs!! i think the 9er's defense is going to destroy the saints which will be hilarious. btw wasn't the lsu ala game awesome!

    it's funny all the blogger hoopla about houston- maybe they should plan a trip there in august and see how much fun it is :p

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  20. Woohooo! I am so excited too and green with envy that Sarah is there. She should have snuck us in her suit case :)

    Oh my picks

    1. Desi (SD! Girl has determination and skillz)
    2. Shalane (tiny little speedster)
    3. Amy Hastings (I think she will surprise peeps)

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  21. So exciting!

    My Picks:
    1. Desi
    2. Shalane
    2. Deena

    I cannot wait to follow this now!

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  22. This is so fun! Glad you're so excited about the trials.

    1. Desiree
    2. Shalane
    3. Tera

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  23. So fun! Here are my picks:

    1. Shalane
    2. Desiree
    3. Deena

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  24. oh, there's too many choices! I'm gonna go with
    1.Shalane
    2.Desiree
    3.Kara
    runner_girl5k at yahoo dot com

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  25. Very cool idea! I go with..
    1)Desi
    2)Shalane
    3)Kara

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  26. So much fun!!!

    1. Desi
    2. Kara
    3. Magda

    Love this idea!!!! =)

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  27. I like this! My picks are:
    1) Kara
    2) Deena
    3) Desi

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  28. yes!! once again u are the genius and on top of these kinds of things! okay, here are my picks:
    1) Shalane
    2) Desi
    3) Kara

    gosh, it kills me to think about who isn't going to make it...the depth is crazy!

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  29. All of these women are so fantastic and FAST! My picks are:

    1. Desi
    2. Kara
    3. Deena

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  30. 1. Desi 2. Shalane 3. Tera

    Fun fact : there's a girl running from one of my rival/neighboring high schools. So I'm throwing her in as my #4 just to rep hometown OH. Go Melissa Rittenhouse :)

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  31. I am SO excited for the trials! It's really going to be a great race! My picks are:
    1) Shalane
    2) Desi
    3) Deena

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  32. Tera is not racing it was announced yesterday soooooo you need to update your odds :P

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  33. although apparently she has until this afternoon to decide for sure

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  34. I like it! Hoping for 1. Desi 2. Kara 3. Tera (cuz I love fellow insomniacs....)

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  35. 1. Desi 2. Kara 3. Deena
    Pulling for Kara to win though... LOVE her!

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  36. 1. Shalane
    2. Desiree
    3. Deena

    would love to se Deena win this....I am in the older gals group!!! :)

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  37. I'm gonna keep it California-centric and go with:
    1. Desi Davila
    2. Deena Kastor (I'm hoping her other Mammoth Lakes training partners, Meb and Ryan, get spots too. Still California centric! I'm also a fan of the veterans.)
    3. Amy Hasting

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  38. 1. Desi
    2. Deena
    3. Kara

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  39. 1. Deena, 2. Desi, 3. Shalene
    Gotta pull for Deena since she has been a favorite of mine since 2001!

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  40. I'm gonna say Desi, Shalane and Kara. I'll be on the sidelines watching, and hoping that I they can inspire me to a somewhat-better-than-normal performance at the half on Sunday!

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  41. 1. Kara
    2. Desi
    3. Deena

    Deena's the one who always chokes in the Olympics, right?

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  42. 1. desi
    2. shalane
    3. deena

    so excited to watch!

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  43. 1. Shalane
    2. Desi
    3. Kara

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  44. i want to do a write in vote of whoevers kenyan and NOT american. no? ok im going with deena kastor as overall winner.

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  45. What's your plan for a tie :p?

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  46. i was right! yay! =) (i know i may not be the only one, but it's still cool!) runner_girl5k at yahoo dot com

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  47. @ K! Yes congrats - it was an AWESOME race!!!

    I just did a quick count and at least five people got it right. I'm going to have to do a rand number generator (sorry...buying over a hundred bucks in gift cards would be kind of insane tho)to see who the prize winner is!!

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