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.
Renee Montgomery - The Creator
Day 111/135. Renee Montgomery is a 2x WNBA champion and a champion of racial justice and voting rights. Despite sitting out the 2020 season, she’s the biggest winner of them all… because now she’s an owner of the Dream.
Candace Parker - The Creator
Day 40/135. Candace Parker can do it all. On the court, she’s still a WNBA MVP candidate after 12 years in the league. Off the court, she’s building a legacy, smashing glass ceilings, and clearing a path for all those wise enough to follow her.
Midge Purce - The Creator
Day 29/135. Midge Purce has a promising career ahead of her in soccer AND off the pitch. At just 25, she's already using her voice to fight for gender equity and racial justice.
Marta - The Creator
Day 23/135. Marta is the most recognizable player on Brazil’s women’s national team. She faced and overcame incredible odds to become one of the best players in the world. But now, it’s someone else’s turn to take possession of the ball and run with it.
Mikaela Shiffrin - The Creator
Day 20/135. Mikaela Shiffrin is the most decorated alpine skiing athlete of all time. And she’s only 26, with nothing but slalom downhill in front of her.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee - The Creator
Day 8/135. Greatness wasn’t Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s divine destiny. It was her way out. This phenomenal athlete won Olympic gold in the heptathlon, a world record performance that still stands, over 30 years later.