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Thank you for ALL of you who applied.
We had SO many amazing women. I thank you all for your applications and love and care and kind words. Really, truly blessed to have such wonderful people in this Army.
Please know it was not an easy decision. In the interest of full disclosure, we had 250 applicants!
My intial conversation about the Team with my bestie, Sweet Red a/k/a Gayle a/k/a Ansley went like this:
Me: So I think I want to start a Team.
Red: Yessssssssssss!
Me: What if no one applies?
Red: Are you kidding me???
Me: Seriously…
Red: You’re ridiculous.
I guess Red really IS always right.
Wow!
Humbled and wowed by the applicants. All of you are amazing–I mean it. Each with a story of how triathlon has changed you. AMAZING!
Yes, I made the first review… And I “cut” the field down to 234.
Mostly because those folks failed to follow directions (a major requirement–face in hands). Then I cut the field again. And I was still left with a HUGE group.
I needed only 10-15.
I ended up with 29.
It was an impossible decision! I hope you will trust your “Fearless Leader” and congratulate these women. I love you ALL. And the way this Team is proving–we will have a Team every year–so do not dismay.
#SBMAT
Allison O’Connor – IL
Abby Weichman – WA
Ana Hotaling – MI
Anne Reed – FL
Cara Will – OH
Colleen McGuinn – MD
Ellen Reid – Canada – BC
Erin Sublett – CA
Esther Houghland – AZ
Holly Gray – MD
Jillian O’Malley – KS
Julie Moscol – CA
Karen Vickers – GA
Kate Skowronek – MI
Kimberly Guinn – GA
Laura Burnett – MI
Leslie Livingstone – WA
Margarett Ellison – GA
Margi Stroh – ID
Michele Reimer – NJ
Rebecca “Reeb” Dobbins – IN
Rebecca Reynolds – OR
Sara Scheck – NC
Sarah Fisk – NY
Sarah Kelley – LA
Sheri Carey – TX
Teresa Morgan – MN
Therese Slechta – IA
In the days and coming weeks, I will spotlight these amazing women.
You will love them as much as I do.
This process proved that everyone has a story. I really enjoyed reading all of the applications. I laughed my ass off. I cried. On a few, I wept.
You are ALL amazing in your own amazing ways. That is all.
Thank you all again for your love and support, and your continued dedication to the SBM Army. I know there are many who are disappointed, but I hope you will understand as you get to know these wonderful ladies.
Love to you all.
Thanks to our 2015 SBMAT Sponsors
Exciting – congrats, ladies! Can’t wait to follow the 2015 Team!!!
Although I am soooooo disappointed that I was not selected, I want to wish each and everyone selected for the SBM team congratulations! I know you will do the army proud! I am so happy for ya & good luck next season!! #SBMAT #SBM
Congratulations team!!! Very exciting for all of you AND all of us!
Sad I didn’t get picked, excited to read all about these ladies!
Congratulations to you all!
Congratulations Ladies! Can’t wait to hear your stories and follow you in 2015!
Congratulations Ladies!! High Fives!!
Congratulations to the Ambassador Team!!!! I can’t wait to read about your stories in the near future. What a wonderous opportunity for all of you.
HUGE congrats to my Swim mate Ellen! Wow, awesome!!
I loved reading your bio Meredith! Looks like you have a great team… I can’t wait to come to an event… love you my dear great niecey!!! Rich
Congrats to the 2015 SBM Ambassador Team! This Tri newbie is looking forward to “meeting” you and learning from you this year!
Esther, I’ll be looking out for you in AZ! 🙂
I look forward to inspiring others in 2015 so I can make the 2016 SBM team! Congrats to all the SMB Ambassadors! I know that they will do a great job and I can’t wait to hear about their stories of how triathlon has changed their life as it had done for me!!
yes I am I am sooo disappointed that I was not selected, but happy that you found your team! I know these ladies are great and I can’t wait to read about them!!.. have a great season SMB team! 🙂 congrats!
Mixed feelings about this – exclusive club? a standard of greatness the rest of us don’t meet? new people the rest of us should admire ?- I’m not sure. One of the great things about SBM is that it was “for every woman”…..no invite or application required…..
Hell yeah for Abby Weichman! Did she mention that she finished an Ironman while PREGNANT?! Seriously you could not have made a better choice!!! Sooo happy for her and you!
This is an “AMBASSADOR” team— women who are here to help spread the SBM mission about how wonderful triathlon is…. It’s not, in any way, an elite triathlon team, which has been made clear. I still work another job, freelance, and run two businesses – this is my way of saying “who out there is going to help spread this mission”! And so many people stepped up to help. But thanks for the comment, laced with unnecessary negativity in such a positive place. I am glad there is always someone who shows up in the face of really positive movements for SBM–for moms who tri as a whole–and steps up to remind me that it’s impossible to please everyone all of the time …
Congrats to everyone! I love that there are people from all over – truly a “coast to coast” representation.
Side note – I ran an event in Iowa in June, before moving to Atlanta, and there was a woman with a “SMB” T-shirt 🙂 We are everywhere!
Congrats to all the wonderful ladies!
Congrats everyone!!!
Kudos Meredith for trying to do something new and exciting and reward some of your followers. I don’t see this as an “exclusive club” by invitation only. You gave everybody an equal opportunity. Like you mentioned, some simply got ruled out because they simply didn’t follow directions. You don’t need to justify your selections. I can’t imagine the selection process.
If you’re hating on Meredith, the person who is trying to do something great, you probably don’t need to represent her as an ambassador, or the sport for that matter.
Congratulations to everyone who applied and to the ambassadors!