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.

 
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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?

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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.

 
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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.

 Camille Herron - The Joker
the joker Kelaine Conochan the joker Kelaine Conochan

Camille Herron - The Joker

Day 50/135. Camille Herron owns 7 ultrarunning world records. And while she is a serious competitor, she also lets her hair down—quite literally—and has a blast while running hundreds of miles.

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Des Linden - The Underdog
the underdog Kelaine Conochan the underdog Kelaine Conochan

Des Linden - The Underdog

Day 45/135. Last week, Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion, set her first world record. She ran her first 50K (31 miles) in under 3 hours, a 5:47/mile pace. It’s another crowning achievement in the underdog’s career.

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Courtney Dauwalter - The Magician
the magician Kelaine Conochan the magician Kelaine Conochan

Courtney Dauwalter - The Magician

Day 24/135. Courtney Dauwalter is an elite ultrarunner, who not only runs hundreds of miles, but does it so fast that she makes it seem impossible. Like her win of the Moab 240, in which she beat the 2nd place finisher by over 10 hours.

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