Skirt Culture

Last night I sat in the attic of Rich Mitvalsky's house, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with my husband, Tim, his brothers, Tony and Tom, and about 12 other guys, watching a videotape of the 1989 Iowa High School Swimming State Championship meet.

Yes, it was a true example of Glory Days revisited almost 20 years later. It was hilarious. It was rowdy. And it was phenomenal.

Next to me sat a man I know as a 2-time Ironman World Champion, winner of countless triathlons, spokesperson for huge conglomerate corporations, world-famous athlete-persona, my husband, Tim DeBoom. But last night, he was just one of the guys. Timmy DeBoom, the backstroker on the National championship relay team. He was one member of the team that back in 1989 powered George Washington High School, from small-town, middle-America Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to a National Swimming Championship.

We haven't been back to Cedar Rapids much over the years. But I've heard these fabled names often... Jim Sherman, Rich Mitvalsky, JP Bickel, Tom Barnes, Jamal Roland, Vic Hasek, Chris Cruse and of course Nick Gearhart, his coach, mentor and greatest family friend. Last night I sat amongst many of these boys, men now, with families of their own. And I finally understood.

These kids were beyond their time, they were a special crew. Whether they knew it or not at the time, they would likely never have something like this again. There are a few times in our lives when everything comes together just exactly right, and it remains in that wonderful place for just long enough to accomplish something truly extraordinary.

We watched most of the meet, cracking up, rewinding every fist pump, cheering, almost crying. The 200 Medley Relay broke the state record by 3 seconds. For you swimmers out there, you know what that means. Four boys made history that day, and their record stood for 17 years.

We found out yesterday that the most dominant high school in Iowa swimming history, after a ten year lull, won the state meet again. Paving the way for a new force of dominance. For a second, I stepped back and thought about these new kids in 20 years, watching ancient DVD's, sipping on bourbon and beer, as their kids run amuck, oblivious to the magic at hand.

And I smiled while doing a silent cheer for the boys of 1989. Thanks boys, because without you, I wouldn't be here either.

a) a cycling gadget

b) some sort of high school cheerleading maneuver

c) a medical breakthrough for cardiovascular health

d) a brutal test of endurance consisting of a 5k running race followed 20min later by a hilly 10k with the pressure-filled goal of beating the Jacksonville Double Pump Tri Team at the Enmark Savannah River Bridge Run

If you guessed D then you understand why Tim and I are still so sore, three days after this feat of strength and guts. This was actually my kind of race. You see, I appreciate innovation and I think the Double Pump is innovative. Some may call it crazy. I call it fun.

Tim and I spent the past five days in Savannah, one of the quirkiest yet most beautiful places I've ever visited. About a year ago we were contacted by the race director the the Enmark River Bridge Run. We NEVER book that far in advance, but this race just felt right. Add on the fact that my parents, Gail and Roger Molzahn, live in Savannah and we hadn't visited in five years (they kept repeating that it took the Bridge Run to finally get us there! We promise to come more frequently; if nothing else to end the embarrassment for them!). So we booked it.

The goal was to headline the pasta party banquet with a fashion show and talk, then get up and join the masses as the official starters for what has been called the world's Toughest Bridge Run. You see, this is no ordinary bridge. It is 5.5% grade. People kept fretting about the bridge. The hill. The grade. They told us to watch out, to pace ourselves. They kept forgetting...we are from Colorado, land of 25.5% grades. But, when you're out of shape or just did an Ironman, any grade is hard. Always respect the grade!

Of course we did the standard media rounds. Our favorite was probably running into Montel Williams on the morning show segment we filmed [link to segment?] (He was later caught in a bit of a controversy over an interesting interview). I gave the host a Holiday GymGirl which she waved around while staring confusedly at Tim's SkirtChaser tee. She was a tad bit confused and simply thought Tim was a Skirt Chaser, probably wondering why I supported him!

The banquet was packed, fashion show was brilliant and supposedly the food was delicious (provided by the famous Lady & Sons[LINK? http://www.ladyandsons.com/]). Of course we didn't get to eat since we were talking the entire night and by the time we signed the final autograph, the food was gone. We need to negotiate actually eating dinner into our contracts! When Tim entered Center Stage post-fashion show, he was met with some interesting questions. It was like Savannah was a Tim DeBoom hotbed FanClub and they had followed his every move for year...

1. In 2001, what were you thinking while sitting in the penalty box?

2. I read in the NY Times that you do laundry. What is your favorite detergent?

3. My dad's favorite was Tim's response to "How many miles to you run in a typical week?" Tim's answer "Not as many as you would think. ONLY about seventy." My dad claims there was a collective gasp.

Now, as I reflect during the flight back to Boulder, nibbling on the Twizzlers and Dots my mom dropped into our bags, I wonder why anyone would not want to live in Savannah, or at least visit every 5 years.

It's official. I have become a skirt counter. i find it very appropriate for me to introduce myself this way for my first blog here. However, I should start at the beginning of how I came to this realization.

Last weekend, Nicole and I met up in New York City. Me, for some sponsor obligations with Powerbar, and Nicole, fulfilling her many duties as head honcho for SkirtSports. We were going to cram some fun around everything as well. We caught a Ryan Adams concert on Halloween, had some wonderful meals with great friends, and got quite a bit of work done.

The first couple days were busy for both of us. I was doing some panel discussions with Peter Reid, for Powerbar, and I also did some autograph signings for Craft apparel. I think I had more people ask if SkirtSports had a booth at the expo, or if Nicole was around, than asked for my autograph. I was actually happy about this, but it was tough not to go on and on with the women who wanted to know about next year's styles while I was trying to promote my own apparel sponsor. Yes, I actually know a bit about next year's styles and colors. I won't walk the walk, but I will talk the talk. This actually is a good time to bring up the ever-lasting question/joke that I believe will exist forever. I think we are in the thousands, for how many times someone has asked, "Tim, when are we going to see you in a skirt? Ha Ha Ha!"

Besides my own gigs, I sat in on some meetings and saw Nicole in action. I always love to watch her talk about the company, whether it's about the product, the Skirt Chaser race series, or anything else. Her passion for the company and love for her work is very impressive.After a busy Thursday and Friday, we got up Saturday morning to watch the men's Olympic marathon trials in Central Park. It was an emotion packed day to say the least. I was in complete awe of the men running. We knew several of the runners and contenders to make the team, and it was really fun to watch the race. They should definitely keep the looped format forever, and i'd be pressed to keep it in Central Park. Couldn't have been a better venue.

There was also some tragedy on the day, as Ryan Shay, one of the pre-race favorites collapsed and died shortly after the 5 mile point of the run. I still don't know how to even talk about it. It will forever hang over a day which otherwise could have gone down as one of the greatest days in U.S. running history.

This was also a busy day, as Nicole and I attended the the Runner's World Heroes awards that evening. Another amazing event. The stories of this year's heroes were amazing, and capped a day that i will remember as one of my most inspiring ever. Pick up this month's Runner's World mag and read about the 2007 Heroes. It's worth it. Of course, Nicole, was amazing that evening and became "sisters" with one of the greatest runners of all time, Tegla Laroupe. Tegla was being honored for her amazing charitable foundation, and Nicole walked right up and said she wanted to help. From there on, Tegla was introducing Nicole as her "sister." These are the kind of stories that only people that know Nicole, will really understand about her. I think these are the stories that also really make people believers in the company, the product, and the message.

Sunday morning came bright and early as I was running the first half of the real NY marathon as a pacer for a PowerBar contest winner. Peter Reid was pacing the second half. Turned out to be another wonderful experience. Cannon goes off, Frank Sinatra plays, and we run through the streets of New York City. All on my Birthday!

This is where the meat of the story is though. I'm running this guy to a personal best performance and what am I really thinking about? Skirts. I'm scouring the masses running around me for skirts and counting them. Not only am I counting them, but I'm annoyingly naming them like the girls do.

"Hey, there's a vintage latte gym girl." It has become ingrained in me, just like it is in the rest of the world. The skirts are making a huge impact, and I really believe it is all for the better. They're having fun out there, as we all should be.

So, yes, I am officially, a Skirt counter. I look for them on my runs, and rides, and notice the color and model as they go past. I also smile with pride as I know all the people that are behind this phenomenon.

And yes, I know it will always still be asked. But no, I will not wear a skirt. I'll just continue to count them.