Tuesday, April 29, 2008

2009 TIR Marketing Postcard

I think we're close to being done with the design of this year's marketing postcard.... so what do you think? Does it look fun (enough to do the TIR justice)? Is it consistent with the rest of the TIR's marketing efforts? Could you give these to friends who are taking a look at the TIR? Let us know... we're holding off on sending this to the printer until we get some feedback. Thanks!

FRONT



BACK

Friday, April 25, 2008

Happy Day

Some days are really big. You know them, remember them, cherish them, and look forward to the next one. Here are some examples in rank order:

- Job promotion days
- Getting your driver’s license day
- Graduation from HS / College day
- Setting an important PR day
- Finishing the TIR day
- Your birthday – not the one’s every year, but
the actual day you entered this world
- Wedding day

You know, the kind of “These Happy Days are your’s and mine, Happy Days!”

But, then there are HUGE GINORMOUS days!!! I am pleased to announce that we have recently had one of those in our household… Trek, our youngest son (~2.5 years) HAS DECIDED TO USE THE POTTY!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!! To all of you with toddlers who are struggling right now with this difficult issue, I am sorry if it sounds as though I am insensitively gloating, but I am… you can not stifle pure exhilaration. Hang in there – your happy day is coming!

Often, happiness is partly framed by prior experience. Our first son, Austin, was not so kind to us in this particular area. We set out to train him one weekend… It was unforgettable. I won’t go into details now, but I am unable to articulate the pain and suffering endured that resulted in nothing positive. Perhaps I shouldn’t say there wasn’t any benefit. I suppose if there was a silver lining, it was that after we recovered (in just a few short years for the most part – weaker people wouldn’t have made it), we now are much more difficult to rattle. Torture simply matures in this way. And, you’ll be happy to know that Austin (almost 11) turned out to be just fine - 100% potty trained, though I did see him running to the bathroom rather awkwardly the other day. But, hey, that happens to everyone from time to time, right? Doesn’t it?

Anyway, maybe we can actually be sort of thankful for that past experience with Austin (nope… I’m not quite there yet) because it helps us appreciate with exceeding gladness the situation with Trek nearly 8 years later.

We shall celebrate this momentous occasion with ice cream or Slurpees!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Save The Date!

Yesterday marked the opening of the general registration. After the priority registration, we have 63 teams (and I am aware of more in the pipeline). I don't know about you, but I think that's a good turnout thus far... encouraging and something to be thankful for!

We decided to keep with our "Save the Date" plug (you can see a much larger picture on the Race Updates page by clicking on the one to the left). This "Save the Date" theme has a lot of possible variations in which for most of them it is a good thing that I no longer care too much about how cool I look! We openly admit that we can be rather goofy with these advertisements. In fact, I am not even sure if Joy would appreciate that I am using "we" here. I imagine several may roll their eyes with perhaps a smirk directed more at us rather than with us, but that's quite alright... as long as it's not like 70% of those who see it. The concerning thing, however, is the excessive number of ideas we've rejected for simply being TOO silly! (smile) So, with that, ANYONE reading this has a rightful place to let us know if and when we're getting just a little out of control (by all means, quote the previous sentence as your reference). Please, reign us back in quickly, if possible.

Yes, the real reason for the blog comes out on just the second posting... It is a cry for help.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

First ever REAL Blog post

This will be my (Jay’s… and I’ll likely do most of the entries, but not all) VERY FIRST blog, and I am excited about it! The TIR has been very good at expanding our horizons even though we’ve been in the running scene for some time. This blog is yet another example among many.

One incredibly unique unforeseen aspect about doing the TIR is how many “friends” we’ve made as a result of doing this event! I put quotes around “friends” (but probably shouldn’t have as I have extensive evidence that they are real live authentic friends) because I am quite “old-school” in many regards. One of these ways, I suppose, is that I have a hard time conceptualizing the possibility of making friends through putting on an event and through written correspondence... certainly untraditional ways to make friends. Normally, I would likely use the term “good acquaintances” in such cases. However, in this instance, I would say that "friend" is the more appropriate term. Many of you will know what I am talking about. For us… it’s been a wonderful consequence of doing the TIR – THANK YOU!

Anyway, we had visions of the updates page on our event website being “Blog-like”. However, through the course of the year, it became clear that we had to stick to the more important pieces of information on the race (things already confirmed) as it otherwise would be utter info-overload for people doing the event. Right now, I imagine people reading this (which very well just may be our Moms, and if so, that’s ok) nodding their heads in agreement, thinking, “Wasn’t it already information overload?” So, if you just want what you ought to know before doing the TIR and seeing some team highlights (like last year), the Updates Page should suffice. However, if you would like to know about some of the things we’re working on (and which things we’d like to work on), weigh in on some topics (and significantly influence the event), see how our running is going, or simply get to know us a bit better, this will be the place for all that. Who knows what will come of it?!?! MOST of the BEST things about the TIR came as a result of a personal connection. Let's see what happens!

With that, please don’t be a stranger! We VERY MUCH enjoy hearing what you’re up to, receiving team pictures, and getting to know you (even though the venue/method IS a little unconventional)!!! Will you be our friend (smile)?!?