The 135 Challenge Blog
Today’s coverage of women’s sports lacks depth and development. We’re missing the narrative. We’re missing the characters. We’re missing the whole story.
Sports coverage needs dynamic characters.
People who love sports love more than just the game. We follow athletes and teams because we can follow the storylines. We know and identify with the characters.
Tom Brady, an underrated underdog turned top dog.
LeBron James, the redeemed king.
Cristiano Ronaldo — hero or heel?
But most people don’t know the characters in women’s sports.
Media coverage of women’s sports is so slim and surface-level that unless you are already a superfan, you probably don’t know much about even the top women athletes in the world.
Without developing the characters and narrative, it’s almost impossible for the average sports fan to become invested in the stories, the characters, and the narrative of the athletes and their teams.
With the 135 Challenge, I’m trying to change that.
For the next 135 days, I’m spotlighting one important woman in sports every damn day while training for the Badwater 135 mile race.
Many of these women inspire me, and I believe that if you knew more of their stories, they’d inspire you too.
My goal is to tell you who these athletes are—their athletic accomplishments & character archetypes—so you follow their stories, long after my race is run.
March 7th - July 19th, 2021
135 Badass women & 135 days of training for the Badwater 135.
While training for this year’s Badwater 135 footrace, I’m spotlighting 135 women in sports.
You better recognize.
Kelaine Conochan - The Everywoman
Day 136/135. We’re in OVERTIME! Kelaine, our trusted scribe, is running the Badwater 135 right freaking now. It’s the culmination of months of training and years of playing every freaking sport. Let’s GO!
Abby Wambach - The Mentor
Day 135/135. Abby Wambach is the all-time leading scorer of the USWNT. But because of her commitment to mentoring up-and-coming players, her impact on the pitch continues, even after her retirement.
Megan Rapinoe - The Rebel
Day 134/135. Megan Rapinoe is a clutch player who makes the most of big moments. She’s a true rebel: a pink-haired, anthem-kneeling, Trump-rebuffing icon.
Maya Moore - The Caregiver
Day 133/135. On the basketball court, Maya Moore has won just about all there is to win. In the court of appeals, she’s only just starting her win streak.
Diana Taurasi - The Ruler
Day 132/135. Diana Taurasi doesn’t always play nice. But when you’re trying to win basketball games and be the best of all time… does you even have to?
Sue Bird - The Sage
Day 131/135. At 40, Sue Bird is the oldest player in the WNBA. But after winning a 2020 championship and making her 5th Olympic roster, it sure doesn’t seem that way. That experience makes her the best to ever do it.
Simone Biles - The Magician
Day 130/135. Simone Biles is the undisputed GOAT. The winningest American gymnast is so good, she’s recalibrating the scores, inventing new moves, and changing the game.
Holly Rowe - The Truth
Day 129/135. Holly Rowe is a trusted and beloved voice in sports media. Though this 2x cancer survivor covers just about every sport for ESPN, she has used her platform to shine a light on women athletes.
Lisa Leslie - The Femme Fatale
Day 128/135. When the WNBA launched 25 years ago, Lisa Leslie was the face of the league—and not just because she was pretty. She was an All-Star, champion, and first to dunk.
Florence Griffith-Joyner - The Ruler
Day 127/135. 33 years after setting records in the 100m and 200m, Flo-Jo is still the fastest woman to ever live. She was a style icon on the track, and unapologetically herself, despite critics trying to make her into something more conventional.
Jonquel Jones - The Best Kept Secret
Day 126/135. Flying under the radar is nothing new for Jonquel Jones, who is quietly putting together an MVP season for the Connecticut Sun. The media may not notice, but real fans sure do.
Julie Foudy - The Mentor
Day 125/135. Julie Foudy is more than a soccer player. More than a broadcaster. She has been a trailblazer and a leader in the fight for gender equity, paving the way for more girls and women in sports.
Naomi Osaka - The Innocent
Day 124/135. Naomi Osaka has missed the French Open and Wimbledon to take care of her mental health. She’s a different kind of athlete, dominant on the court, but soft in the heart.
Skylar Diggins-Smith - The Beauty & The Beast
Day 123/135. It’s hard to put a label on Team USA’s point guard, Skylar Diggins-Smith. She’s versatile on and off the court. So why not be everything: beauty, beast, and baller?
Rose Lavelle - The Joker
Day 122/135. Rose Lavelle was THE breakout star of the 2019 World Cup, scoring clutch goals while showing off her footwork AND winning personality.
Joan Benoit Samuelson - The Unstoppable
Day 121/135. Joan Benoit Samuelson won the first EVER women’s Olympic marathon. And today, at 64 years old she’s STILL going. Still running faster than I could ever dream of. Unstoppable.
Mary Lou Retton - The Innocent
Day 120/135. In the 1984 Olympics, Mary Lou Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around competition. She became America’s sweetheart and paved the way for future champions.
Elle Purrier St. Pierre - The Farmer
Day 119/135. Running the 1500m is anything but easy. But in the Olympic trials, Elle Purrier St. Pierre made it look like light work, leading gun to tape. The work ethic came from growing up on a dairy farm.
April Ross - The Phoenix
Day 118/135. April Ross has twice faced down challenges that made her want to quit volleyball. But she always rises up, this year striving for her first gold medal in the Olympic Games.
Carli Lloyd - The Workhorse
Day 117/135. How did Carli Lloyd make her 4th USWNT Olympic roster at age 39? Fueled by haters, hustle, and hard work. The only thing stronger than her game is her mental game.