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.
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.
Aly Raisman - The Caregiver
Day 73/135. Aly Raisman was the captain of Team USA’s back-to-back gold-medal winning gymnastics teams. While her medal count and leadership make her a USA Gymnastics legend, it’s her voice outside the gym that has resonated the loudest.
The Lamoureux Twins
Day 53/135. The Lamoureux twins each played a key role and scored a key goal on the way to USA winning the 2018 Olympic gold. But their legacy is bigger than just the hardware.
Allyson Felix - The Caregiver
Day 42/135. With 9 Olympic medals and 18 World Championship medals, Allyson Felix is the most decorated athlete in American track & field. But her legacy off the track is even more courageous and impressive.
Cat Osterman - The Caregiver
Day 14/135. Cat Osterman is one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of softball. But even as an Olympian, pro fastpitch ace, and surefire Hall of Famer, Osterman is not widely known. She’s working to change that.
Cris Cyborg - The Caregiver
Day 10/135. Cris Cyborg is one of the most dominant fighters to ever step into an MMA ring. But her personality outside of the ring is far from the cold-blooded killer we see winning the belt. Cyborg is a humanitarian. A caregiver. A lamb in wolf’s clothing.
Bianca Valenti - The Caregiver
Day 5/135. Bianca Valenti is one of the most accomplished big wave surfers in the world. She’s not afraid to surf Mavericks, the “Mt. Everest of Big Waves,” and she’s not afraid to take on the male-dominated surfing establishment, fighting for—and winning—equal opportunity and pay for women surfers.