Docu-huh? and CONTEST!

Remember that it is taper time, and though this time of year is usually crazy, busy, stressful and requires a ton of energy (it still does, just don't tell Mark), I have been playing it cool, calm, and collected as to fool Mark into thinking that we all rest on taper.

So, while I run around crazy during the day, in the evenings I've been shutting it down to enjoy a little time on the sofa. Mark, who usually is bored out of his pretty little head, has gotten hooked on documentaries this week. We've watched three (2 last night). I'm thrilled because it is keeping him busy without over-doing it.

I am a reality t.v. junkie. I love it. I know it is mildly, well, for lack of a better word, stupid. I have a masters degree and am working on a PhD as I type (well, I am typing as I am procrastinating because hierarchical linear modeling is the last thing I want to do right now), yet, no matter how smart I am or think I am, I love nothing more than Jersey Shore, The Real Housewives of just about anywhere, Biggest Loser, Project Runway, and (shamefully) Teen Mom. I don't know what it is about reality t.v. that has me hooked. Maybe it gives me something mindless to distract me from real life. Maybe it is the fact that I don't even have to really keep up with a plot. Whatever the reason... I LOVE IT (picture me hanging my head in embarrassment).

Mark hates reality t.v. He thinks it's "dumb." He leaves the room when I say, "Oh, guess what's on?!"

Well, Mr. Olympian, documentaries are reality t.v. Maybe they're more thoughtful. Maybe their more insightful. Maybe they're more educational. But, documentaries, my friend, are just reality t.v.

Okay, enough with the argumentative word vomit.

My real purpose of this blog is to make a recommendation: The Spirit of the Marathon. It is amazing, wonderful, inspirational, mind blowing, and get-your-butt-off-of-the-couch motivational. Rent it. Rent it. Rent it. Or in our house, Netflix it.

The Spirit of the Marathon follows 6 runners who range from Olympic medalists to first time marathoners to 70 year old grandfathers; are all training for the Chicago Marathon (all for different reasons). One woman is "changing her life" after a divorce, one man is running to win it for his country of Kenya, and another is doing it to spend time with his daughter (the other three are equally different and equally heart-warming). Now picture me tearing up as I recall this flick.

The Spirit of the Marathon was the perfect taper movie. And, the perfect movie for a woman (me!) who has talked about a marathon for the last 2 years. Ugh... now I might really have to do one. Darn that inspiration.

As we watched it I saw Mark cry (he is a big baby and a crier--don't tell him that I told you). I think it was just what he needed as he heads into his last few days of training before the big trip.

Have you ever watched a movie that has totally inspired you? What was it? Answer this simple question as a comment below or email your answer to us at everydayolympian@gmail.com and win a FREE BOOK!!!!!!!

This is a quick turn around, so no time for dilly dally. We'll pick a winner TOMORROW (Friday 12/10) at 6pm (EST)!

CALORIE CONTEST WINNER

(I thought a picture of Annabelle in her Halloween costume was appropriate for the announcement of the CALORIE CONTEST WINNER)

Due to an unfair competitive advantage by being Mark's former roommate, in college and during the 2004 Olympic games, Bryce (who guessed 3,600 calories) has been disqualified.

So, without further adieu...

Congratulations...
Anna Calhoun

You guessed that Mark would eat 3,500 calories in a normal training day. Mark actually consumed....

3,740.5 calories

Here is the breakdown:

3/4 cup plain oatmeal	225
1 package brown sugar oatmeal	160
3/8 cup raisins	200
4 eggs	400
3/4 cup plain oatmeal	225
1 package brown sugar oatmeal	160
3/8 cup raisins	200
10oz cup of coffee with cream and sugar	70
1 apple	65
1 cup of black beans and rice	190
1/2 cup Lima beans	88
1 grilled chicken breast	120
2 tbsp ketchup	30
Turkey, roast beef, ham and provolone sandwich (lettuce, tomato, onion, spicy mustard and mayo)	673
pickle spear	5
16oz Gatorade	100
1.5 cups General Tso's chicken	439.5
1/2 cup fried rice	160
Chicken lo mien	230
Total	3740.5

Though there can only be one winning guess... we were overwhelmed with the amount of participation. So, Mark decided that next 5 closest guesses should receive an autographed USA swim cap. The additional 5 winners are:

Rob Butcher (Executive Director of U.S. Masters Swimming)
Renae Mitchell
Fiona Lee
Jenni
Pamela (Sorry... no last name, but you left a comment on the blog!)

Please email us your shipping address to receive your autographed swim cap at everydayolympian@gmail.com.

We also just got word that Mark's book: S.W.I.M. Setting Goals with Mark Gangloff will be shipped in the coming weeks. I think this would make an excellent prize for another contest, but what contest? Have any ideas?

CALORIE CONTEST

It is sooooooooo on.

I talked to Mark a couple of days ago about my CALORIE CONTEST idea. He agreed to humor me and participate.

Here is the deal:

Everyone ALWAYS asks how much Mark eats (Thanks to a 2008 Michael Phelps interview during which he claimed to eat 10,000 calories a day)

I don't really even know how many calories Mark eats a day

We have a closet full of cool stuff (gear, apparel, and awesome souvenirs from our crazy travels) just begging to be loved by someone

So....

Friday (October 22, 2010) Mark will be keeping a food diary. He will write down everything he eats. He will be training three times that day (a morning pool workout, a weight workout mid morning, and an afternoon pool workout).

How many calories do you think Mark will eat on this typical training day?

Email your guess to everydayolympian@gmail.com. We will select a winner the following Monday (October 25, 2010).

Prize? Well, after quick cleaning of the closet, Mark and I put together a little goodie bag that includes:

• An Olympic drawstring backpack
• A speedo ball cap
• An authentic Olympic plastic bracelet from Beijing (I bought it right outside of the Bird's Nest! Ahhhhh.... memories)
  
• A Samsung "official sponsor of the 2008 Olympics" polo shirt
• An autographed swim cap (Mark Gangloff... duh!)

Ready? Set? Guess!

Have you sent me your travel tip yet?

If not, you better get on it. It has been four days since I first told you about this "Best Travel Tip Ever Contest" for the chance to win a Speedo travel bag and I do not want to add you to my list of people to nag (this is about the time that Mark would start rolling his eyes at me).

Click here for contest details.

A fabulous prize for your best travel tip

As you know, I will be traveling to France in just a couple of weeks. I have been mentally preparing myself for the trip (which will be the first trip away from the baby) and slowly, but surely, crossing of my to-do’s.

I recently chatted with a dear friend at Speedo about this trip. I told him that I was looking for the best travel tips out there (my best tip is to pack an extra pair of skivvies in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost for days-I learned this one the hard way and have packed a pair of undies in my purse on every trip since). My friend thought that this was such a worthy research project that Speedo has donated a fantastic rolling bag to the reader that provides the best travel tip.

So, do you have a travel tip for this traveling swim wife? If so and you’d like to win this fabulous Speedo bag email your tip to me at everydayolympian@gmail.com. Mark and I will determine the winner based on our own previous travel experience and the usefulness of the tip.

Along with your best travel tip, please include your full name, email address and phone number – just so that I can contact you with the good news if you are our big winner. Use "Best Travel Tip Ever" in the subject line of the email. The winner and a picture of me employing the winning tip en route to or in France will be showcased on everydayolympian.blogspot.com. All tips must be submitted before Monday June 14 to give me enough time to work them into my travel itinerary (yes, I do type out travel itineraries).

Ready. Take your mark. Tip.