Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Show me the money...

I started to share this article on Facebook, but when my post was 3 paragraphs I decided it probably fits better here instead.



As my 12 readers know, I am an Olympic sport junkie.  I am convinced that the bug was planted in 2002 when I had the privilege of being a part of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the games in my town.  I've tried to get away from it.  I even spent three years in law school trying to escape, but its where I am meant to be.  I have worked for three different National Governing Bodies, US Speedskating, USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.  In my three years in this industry I have moved from an organization than can barely keep it together, to one where five people were running the whole show-I used to work alone in my office, to end up at the largest winter NGB out there.  Having been around the block, I've seen both sides.  Athletes with no personal endorsements to Lindsay Vonn and Ted Ligety.  Lolo's comments about her small winnings check from the FIBT/USBSF while very distasteful, are an issue that many people don't understand.  She might not have understood until she lived it this past season.

The track and field and swimming athletes, skiiers and to some extent figure skaters have something that the bobsled, skeleton and luge athletes will possibly never have--normal everyday people can participate in their sports.  The same can't be said for bobsled, luge and skeleton athletes.  That is why track and field and swimming have sponsors like Nike and Adidas--it's simple for marketers to understand the value of the sport and the athletes for their company.  USBSF and USA Luge struggle in the sponsorship category--not for lack of work mind you, Amanda Bird is one of the hardest working Marking and Communication Directors I have EVER had the pleasure of working with.  She realizes that her commodity are the athletes and their stories, not necessarily the sport itself, and she leverages that to bring in the sponsorship dollars.  Amanda can work 24/7 (which she does often) and still not be able to catch up to the sponsorships and donations coming in at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.  While it might seem small, the ability for people off the street to participate in your sport is a huge deal.  It makes you more relatable and more recognizable, it makes you easier to sell to America.

The track and field and swimming athletes, skiiers and to some extent figure skaters have something that the bobsled, skeleton and luge athletes will possibly never have--normal everyday people can participate in their sports.  The same can't be said for bobsled, luge and skeleton athletes.  That is why track and field and swimming have sponsors like Nike and Adidas--it's simple for marketers to understand the value of the sport and the athletes for their company.  USBSF and USA Luge struggle in the sponsorship category--not for lack of work mind you, Amanda Bird is one of the hardest working Marking and Communication Directors I have EVER had the pleasure of working with.  She realizes that her commodity are the athletes and their stories, not necessarily the sport itself, and she leverages that to bring in the sponsorship dollars.  Amanda can work 24/7 (which she does a lot) and still not be able to catch up to the sponsorships and donations coming in at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.  While it might seem small, the ability for people off the street to participate in your sport is a huge deal.  It makes you more relatable and more recognizable, it makes you easier to sell to America.

These athletes are incredible.  They are heroic and deserve to be put on pedestals more than once every four years.  The sacrifice and drive that it takes to perform at the highest level of sport is awe inspiring for this girl.  Many people don't understand that being heroic and awe-insipring once every quad doesn't necessarily pay the bills.  Now that you know about the problem, head here to donate to the USOC, or here to the USBSF directly.  These guys deserve your support!






Sunday, June 9, 2013

What I eat

I've become more adventurous this go round with my plant based lifestyle.  Here's a little of what I have been eating (just in the last week). 

Roasted Chickpea and Broccoli Burritos
Whole wheat tortillas and wholly guacamole

Brussels Sprout and Quinoa Salad
{I don't want to hear you don't like Brussels sprouts until you've tried them sauted with garlic}

Sloppy Joe
with delish gluten free hamburger buns by Canyons Bakehouse
{Made with TVP}

I've also made a few things I don't have pictures of {shocking I know that I don't have photos of my food}



I highly recommend ALL these recipes!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Ode to Park City - 10 years later

As I was driving into work today, I saw something that made me smile and feel old all at the same time.  Today is Graduation Day for Park City High School, and here in Park City we have a mountain/hill with a large PC on it.  It has been a tradition that every year the seniors go up the mountain and change the PC to their graduating year, then usually the juniors go up sometime while the seniors are getting ready for graduation and change it to the next year.  It's a funny little thing that we do in our town.  Well, the Class of 2003, aka the best class to graduate PCHS, decided as a class gift we would make the PC permanent.  We cemented it in, so any future class had to add their class year on the end.  This morning, the PC had a 13 by it—it made me smile with nostalgia but it also made me think about when I graduated it was an 03, that's 10 years people.

I started thinking about all the things I have done in the past 10 years.  I think in my high school year book they asked us where we thought we'd be in 10 years.  I'm sure mine had something to do with being a doctor and being married with kids.  HA, if my high school self could see me now…  Sometimes I think I still use my high school self to judge where I am in life, and she has no idea what life is about, so I need to really retire her.

Here are a few things that she needs to get straight:

My high school self hated Park City and couldn't wait to get out and experience other things.  While I think that is valid for a high school-er to think, I could not be more in love with Park City as a semi-grown up.  I know that this is where I was meant to have my life.  My parents like to make fun of me because High School Haley said she would never, EVER, live in Park City permanently.  Let's all remember some of the stupid things we said when we were 18, ok?  Moving on.  Every day I am super grateful that I get to live in this beautiful place and I am convinced it is making me a better person.


Seriously, I get to live here...
Spring time running
View from my yoga mat in the winter
My favorite Park City Landmark--McPolin Barn


My high school self thought that we would be married with two kids by 28.  In all fairness to her, that was her only experience, everyone in my family has been married with at least one kid by the age of 28.  However, High School Haley, marriage and kids is not the be all end all.  It is something that at 28, you still look forward too, but you have the most amazing family of friends that a girl could ask for.  People that are honest with you in ways that make you a better and stronger person.  Friends that will stick by you through some of the toughest decisions of your life.

Skiing on my 28th birthday with Chelsea

The Fab Five

Hiking with Jenny in American Fork Canyon--where we almost got lost and needed rescuing

My high school self thought we'd be a doctor.  Well, let's talk about freshman year at Michigan—we hated chemistry.  You don't get to go to Med School if you don't take chemistry…  So we decided on something with cute boys and something we were good at, Sport Management.  Let me tell you it was the right choice.  There still are cute boys, plus number one.  But you are also seriously passionate about Olympic Sport and the drive and determination that it takes athletes to achieve their goals—it inspires you daily.  What I am saying is, (1) it's ok not to be a doctor, (2) it's ok if you go to law school and don't necessarily use your degree in the most literal sense because you discover the passion that you were running away from.

2012 FIBT Wold Championships

Team Night Train

2012 Alpine National Championships

Bad ass with a drill...  Not that I know how to use it/what to do with it

So High School Haley, lets review:
  • Park City is awesome
  • You don't need to be married with kids to have an awesome life at 28
  • Your job/field rocks
Congrats to the Park City High School Class of 2013 and Happy 10 year Anniversary to the Class of 2003 (even though we graduated on Friday, June 13)!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Breakup

I've made a decision halfway through 2013 (when did it become June BTW... half way through 2013, what?), that I am no longer going to be in a love/hate relationship with my scale.

This is a really popular subject this week, check out post by Mama Laughlin and Skinny Meg on why they are breaking up with their scales.

I have thought about breaking up with my scale for a long time, but my Type A personality has really been hurtful in this process.  For example, this is my planner for the month of June:



When I say I like to know the numbers, I really like to know exactly what the change is from week to week and when I get really obsessive from day to day.  I know that I have this obsessive problem and how it can quickly go from being something that is helpful and motivating to something that is a complete downer.  I quickly obsess over things and its a compulsion that is not healthy.  I'll get super dedicated and motivated on whatever I am into that month and then when I start to fail or not do as well as the high goals and expectations I set for myself, I start to back away from the activity or goal.  I have done this for the past two years with running, losing weight, you name it.

Let's get real, I've gained and lost the same 15 pounds for the last year.  I had a good thing going when I went vegan for the first month.  Then I got sick and fell of the plant-based wagon.  I refused to weigh myself when off the wagon because I didn't want to know how bad it was, complete avoidance was the best method to make it through.  Now that I am back on the wagon, I forced myself to step on to the scale at the end of last week to see how much damage the shame spiral did.  I was pleasantly surprised that it was not as bad as I was expecting, so that motivated me.

My scale and I are on good terms right now, but these are not the times that I am concerned about.  I am concerned about the times when I have had a really great week, then I decided to weigh myself and the second that number pops up I go from super happy and proud of myself to pissed off and ready to eat a box of Milk Duds.  I've had this conversation with myself, going over the pros and cons of weighing myself weekly for the past 6 days.  I decided today with the help of a good friend who let's me talk out the debates that I have in my head, I decided that it's going to be monthly.  It has to happen so I make sure that I am on track with what I am doing, and it gives whatever method or change I make time to work before I completely dismiss it as a failure.

Some habits are harder to break than others, we'll see how it goes, I might have to hide my scale.  As luck would have it, I weighed myself on May 31.  Now I just have 24 more days before I can do it again, not that I am counting...

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Plant Based Update


I know my 5 blog readers have been dying to know how plant based living has been going.  Well I'll be honest with you, it hasn't.

I had to go on a work trip to Mammoth Mountain, CA for 10 days.  I got sick about three days before we left and couldn't stop feeling nauseated.  If any of my 5 readers are in the sports industry, you'll know that "work trip" is code for working nearly 24/7 and tending to people's needs.  At least most of my work trips are.  So while in Mammoth I stayed mostly plant based, and there was no meat involved, just dairy.  When I got home I struggled to get back on the wagon because, you guys, these foods are addictive, toxic, and hard to get out of your body once they are there.  I was still busy with another event happening in Park City the week after Mammoth.  So I felt like crap, not surprisingly.

For the last two weeks I have been working on weaning myself back off dairy and some meat, I am not going to lie, its been hard, but so worth it.  By today I am back to whole foods and plant based eating.

On another note, I finally watched Forks Over Knives last night.  If you haven't seen it and you are a meat eater, you probably should watch it for your own edification.  Most of the people in my life are meat eaters and this worries me a little bit.  By all means I am not suggesting you all go vegan (all 5 of my readers), but it is something to consider, if not going all the way, maybe reduce your consumption a little.  Forks Over Knives is on Netflix, if your interested!

I was babysitting all week so I am one run behind in C25K so I am off to do that now, before I got to Yoga in the Park sponsored by Lululemon.  Have I mentioned how happy I am to be living in Park City?