CRAPPY READER RACE PICS
Normally I share the crappy race pics in my READER ROUNDUP posts, but I thought this email from reader Cheryl was funny and inspiring so I wanted to share it right away:
“This picture will be 10 years old when I run Houston again this January. It is the finish of my first half marathon which took place exactly one week after the very dramatic break up of my boyfriend that I was just sure was THE ONE (in hindsight, wow…so not) but I spent the week leading up to the race emotionally and physically draining myself, rehashing the whole ridiculous relationship and its’ subsequent demise.”
“The race itself was very empowering, a reminder that I am stronger than I realize at times and I don’t need anyone but myself (and faith) to do whatever I set my mind to.”
“So I was emotional that day at the finish and certainly fatigued, but this is my arms up ‘Yea, I made it!’ pose… except my arms aren’t really up and clearly I’m far enough beyond the finish line to go ahead and stop running and put my arms down. And what am I looking at?!”
“My friends and I have continued to make fun of this classic for years, including one of my friends creating a photoshopped version with me, Frankenstein, a bear, and a robot all crossing a finish line together all in similar poses…. may be one of my favorite things ever.”
“Finishing that race, ugly as it was, was a big turning point in my running as well as my growing up in life so I love it, even if it is a crappy picture.”
How awesome is that?! Love when you can laugh at yourself and take something serious away from it too.
***Check out Rosalyn’s raffle for a $150 Lululemon gift card! $5 gets you one entry and $10 gets you three and all money goes to Back On My Feet.
Twitter
Facebook
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Hilarious!!
Oh that second picture with the robot, bear, and Frankenstein is priceless!!!!
awesome photoshop, that’s a beauty!
Awesome! Love this reader’s sense of humor. So impressed you saw a really crappy situation as a way to grow – and a hilarious opportunity for Photoshop!
what a fab story & pic. I went to the raffle link and I didn’t see a raffle. I still donated, though. I just read about that organization in Philly and it is really great. I was going to put it in ‘honor’ of you but thought that would be really creepy.
i did too, i think if you donate, you are entered in the raffle. at least thats how i understood it when i did.
I love Cheryl so much- she is a good friend of mine, and she is always laughing at herself and taking something serious and awesome away from it, AND inspiring us all at the same time. She’s amazing. AND, she’s running Houston again this year, and I was excited when she told me this, because I’ll already be there watching because Skinny Runner is also running Houston (right? I put it on my calendar, but it’s not on your future races. I was going to make you a sign and bring you candy). Also, when I ran Houston, Cheryl made me a sign and had all kinds of stuff for me: pretzels, oranges, water, gatorade, hugs, smiles, fist pumping, etc.
yes i am running it!
hilarious photo shop. Love it.
That is a hilarious photoshop!
Great race photo!
Hahaha that literally made me laugh out loud!!
Thanks for sharing Cheryl’s story. I recently went through an awful breakup as well, and ran a half marathon shortly thereafter. I’ve run several full marathons and over 40 halfs now, and the HM after that breakup was exactly what I needed – a small town race in a torrential downpour in August. While it didn’t make the pain go away, it restored me in so many ways. It’s amazing what running can do, far beyond any physical benefits.
Love that photo! So funny!
That’s awesome. Actually laughed out loud. Good for her for having such a great sense of humor about it all!
That is an AWESOME race photo and some great photoshopping!
aw this made me smile!! What a great and cute photoshop too! haha
Nice photo’s. I have a bad race photo to get to you. Just can’t figure out how.
The Kidless Kronicles
email it to me at sr@skinnyrunner.com
OMG. I love that photoshopped picture!! I would blow that thing up and frame it! So funny.
HAHAHA! So funny
And I love when I have random conversations with friends. It can definitely make like 3 hours fly by without you knowing.
bahhaa. I agree. Laughing at yourself is essential!
LOLOLOLOL. Oh thank you. I wish I still had this true gem from cross country high school. I believe it was a race I puked in the middle of but still finished. Ah, memories.
And how many of us can relate to the tragic break-up of “the one” and it’s related melodrama?
It’s great to be able to laugh at yourself. Some of my favorite photos are of my crazy stances and determined, scrunched up faces.
Oh. my. word. That was hysterical. Thank you for a good laugh!
That is hands-down (excuse the pun!) the best race picture I’ve ever seen. I adore the photoshopped version.
Katie looks marvelous in the pic with the wine glass!
Does it make me crazy that I love the bad races photos of me wayyy more than the normal looking ones?