Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Rejection Isn't for Pussies

I wish I blogged more often.

In my "real" job I do a shit load of writing, so sometimes my brain and fingers are worn out from thinking and typing. But, here, in this space, I get to do the fun and crass writing, which I certainly cannot do as a social worker. Well, I could, but then I'd have a full time blogging job that pays nothing because I would have been fired from my social work job. Somehow saying the "f" word and talking about poop is frowned on by social services. Who knew?

So, what is the solution? Probably to blog more, but to say less (i.e, shorter and dumber posts).

Here's a shot at that.

First, to be fully transparent, I did not get THE JOB (if you aren't sure what "the job" is, you'll have to click and go find out). It was disappointing, but helped by the fact that I know who was hired is amazing. Also, I am hopeful there may be a job for me in the future as the business expands.

Some other opportunities I've applied for have not worked out either.

REJECTION is tough.

And then this funny guy has to give me the finger. Behind my back no less.
How am I so pale? Do you get really pale when you are rejected?

REJECTION and not getting what you want are a part of life.

We know this. We are told it all the time.

  • Dr. Seuss's And I Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street, was rejected by publishers 28 times (maybe he should stop rhyming. jeez)
  • Michael Jordan didn't make his high school varsity basketball team (maybe he had B.O. who knows)
  • In her twenties, Oprah was removed from anchoring a news show because she was deemed "unfit for television." (maybe she said "and you get a car, and you get a car" too many times)

When rejected, we are told to get back up and try again. But what about our fragile egos? What about our fears of further rejection? What about our desire to just hide out in bed eating Cheetos washed down with chardonnay and watching the Bachelor?< or, maybe that's just me.

Trying again takes guts. But in my mind it beats a life of boredom and complacency. 

The good news is that with not getting what you want, sometimes you DO get what you want. Or some bullshit like the front door closes but the bay window opens up...then slams down on your finger, then the sliding glass door opens up and...

I did have a win for the month as I was accepted onto this team of amazing athletes:


When they say "be the smartest person in the room so you are inspired" - this team will force me to be the least fit and oldest in the room so I will be inspired. So, next weekend I'm off to St. George, Utah for a training camp.

Suunto also sent me this gem to get my training rolling. I'll do a review on it once I've used it a few more times. But so far - this watch does everything including tell me when to poop.


Speaking of getting my training rolling - that little bitch 50k I had to drop out of last year due to ripping my hamstring is calling me back, so...

Dirty Thirty 50k on June 1

Triathlon is calling me back too, so...

70.3 (Harvest Moon) in Boulder on September 15.

And...because friends and alcohol are always a good mix...

Bourbon Chase Ragnar on October 18-19

My race calendar is filling up with good stuff. And I'm going to keep being gutsy and being the best version of me because if not I will get really fat and lazy and make out with Heidi all day long. And then I'll get dog breath and kennel cough, which no one wants.



So for now...off I go into the distance as training once again ramps up!


Answer at least one or you're not cool


If I did shorter but more frequent posts, would you read?

Tell me one race you're signed up for.

Last rejection you've gotten? How did you deal?

Ever tried Suunto products? I've always been a Garmin girl but I'm down for trying this new brand!


SUAR

49 comments:

  1. Yes
    Boston Marathon
    My wife LOL walked away mad. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. I would read your posts long or short. You crack me up. 😁 2. signed up for the Bolder Boulder for the first time. Coming in from Ohio. 3. Actually got a rejection today. Applied to be an ambassador for the Detroit marathon and got the big fat rejection email today. I can’t seem to make the cut for an ambassador. 4. A trail runner I follow on IG is raving about the Suunto. I’m intrigued

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cool! I'll be at the Bolder Boulder too! I'll probably spot you among the 50,000 people...yea, I've gotten my share of ambassador rejects too. Not ever really sure what they are looking for sometimes.

      Delete
  3. I will read anything you write. I'm signed up for the Shamrock Shuffle at the end of March, the Lakefront 10 miler in April, and the Chicagoland Spring half marthon in May. There might be a half in March but that will be a race day decision. Last rejection was a campaign I applied for; it was a product that I use daily and promote regularly. I was really upset. Guess they only wanted the big bloggers. I bet you would have gotten it. Bitter much? LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. MOAR Ultras! But seriously, I'm running my first 100miler at the end of March and I'm reading anything ultra or race related I can get my hands on. And life around those two things, training you name it. I'm a phd student and learning, adapting whatever is in my wheel house, so I really enjoy your 'musings'. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I’m dying to try Suunto. I have a few friends who LOVE them. I’m a Garmin girl.

    Hmmm biggest recent rejection... hmmm I can’t think of one which means I need to throw my hat into more arenas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Hmmm biggest recent rejection... hmmm I can’t think of one which means I need to throw my hat into more arenas." I LOVE your attitude!

      Delete
  6. I like your longer posts - they give me permission to sit down and read them properly, as opposed to in a rush or in the bathroom. I just signed up for my first race in over 2 years, after a disappointing run at PikesPeak Ascent, barely finishing and spending the last two years nursing my ego and tendinosis. Keep writing and running!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Makes sense...well,even if I start with the intention to be short, it never works out that way. So get ready to continue to sit down with that big cup of coffee or tea..

      Delete
  7. Love your posts and you. More. more please. Any length. I wouldn't reject one word from you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They feeling is always mutual. Move a body friend

      Delete
  8. Of course I’d read long or short! As long as shart is used at the same frequency regardless of post length. I’m signed up for my first Spartan race in July and then the Asheville Duathlon in September. As for rejection - frequently since I’m a consulting engineer that has to compete for projects. It always sucks to lose, but winning feels so good it’s worth it in the long run.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm sorry you didn't get the job. You were probably too good for it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulation in your win! I love reading your posts whether they are long or short. Your witty posts are inspiring and show your devotion and dedication and help keep me on track. I have not heard of Suunto but will be checking them out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that feedback...helps to know people are still reading...

      Delete
  11. Love your posts, short or long!
    Sucks getting rejected, my last rejection fell into the category of “now is not the right time”
    Races... first ultra (pikes Peak ultra 50k) and pikes Peak Marathon ������

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love your blog, and your blog readers. I still get lots of them coming to my blog from here. (Thanks guys!) Either that or you are compulsively hitting on my link to make me feel good. Thanks, I guess. Whatever makes you feel good. Even if the rejection doesn't, it's good for you, sort of like veggies. Or so I've been told. I look at rejection as part of the gatekeeping process. If you don't get rejected you aren't asking for enough. It still smarts, though. But the sooner you eat your veggies the sooner you get dessert.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always love your support and insights...and when I retire I'm going to blog a much as you do. Keep it up ♥♥

      Delete
  13. you are still writing more than me...

    so need another post on my blog!

    so just write!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read everything you write, so yes I'd love it if you posted more often, even if briefly. What runner doesn't love reading about running?? My next run is the Durham Women's Half in NC. My last rejection (besides any positivity from my 3 teenagers) was the NYC Marathon.. I was actually relieved bc I signed up not completely sure I have another marathon in me. I "coped" by signing up for 2 half marathons instead. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well two halves equal a whole, right? Plus you saved a shit ton of money not getting into NYC. I still want to run that one some day!

      Delete
  15. Sorry to hear you didn't get the job, but i love your blog and will read anything that you post!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I read all of your posts. I signed up for a Hot Chocolate 15K on March 30.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to read your blog more often even if it means shorter posts. Right now I am only signed up for a trail half in Chattanooga TN in May. I try to take rejections with a grain of salt. I am always redefining my goals, rejection just makes the redefining happen a faster than I planned but nothing happens quite as I planned anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your writing and am happy when I see you have posted a new episode of your life. I got rejected today for a half marathon ballot but I can still sign up for a charity place. I would have to raise £350 for the charity which is doable. I did my first ever half at the weekend so still on a high from that - I still can't quite believe I did it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Of course I would like more posts. I'm always glad to see your blog in my email. And thanks for the honest post on rejections. HaHa we have all been there and you made it bearable.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 1) I'd read anything you write; you're fun and real and I always love the subject matter. 2) Boulder Sunrise Tri (sprint) in June. The weekend before Bike MS. I can't swim (yet). 3) Nothing. But I'm in this awful, stagnant, mid-life-crisis phase that's dragging along...I think I need to light a fire under my ass and find some rejection.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats on Suunto! We were issued a Suunto watch when I was in the military. It was giant so I never wore it. I would most definitely still read your posts if they were shorter, although I don't think they need to be. I'm signed up for: Behind the Rocks 30K (end March) and the New Jersey Marathon (end April). I was once rejected by a guy in high school that said he'd go out with me except that I hung out with the "uncool" crowd. I'd like to ask his fat ass how he feels about that now, haha!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Still reading & enjoy different length entries --keep em coming! Signed up for the Pittsburgh Half in May!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would read anything you wrote, short or long. I am doing the Rockin K trail marathon in April and then my first 50 miler, Run Amok in November in TN. I have been turned down for pretty much every ambassador program that I have tried to get except the ones where you get a piddly percentage off of products and nothing more. I give up. I would love to find some dog products ambassador programs since I run with my dogs. I am getting to where I am scared to even try though.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I’ll read any posts you write! Not signed up for anything - yet! I need to choose a race! I got rejected by Coeur Sports to be an ambassador - I wear their cycle shorts a minimum of 5 days a week - whatever!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yes.
    Hardrock 100, Barkley Fall Classic (but I'll see you at Dirty Thirty because I volunteer there)
    I'm a single guy. I get rejected at least once a week. You get pretty good at it :)
    It's never bothered me, though. I know my worth. Sometimes I think I'm a superior choice for the job, girl, whatever; but if they went another way either 1) They're stupid and I really shouldn't be with them anyway, or 2) The chemistry wasn't right, so even though I'm the best, it wasn't a good fit.
    Being arrogant AF helps. You should try it :-D

    ReplyDelete
  26. Like others have said, I'd read any length – it's been hard finding well-written running blogs and yours is one. I've always felt like every rejection eventually leads to something that makes me say "I'm so glad that other thing didn't work out." I could write a book about my rejections. For years I wanted to write for late night shows (SNL, Tonight Show, etc.) and have submitted over 20 packets over the years. Only once I got an interview with a late night host, and went in thinking "OMG I HAVE THIS JOB" and I didn't get it. For the last year I was working in TV production and got let go in November. But it's okay. I'm actually thinking of going back to school to study – of all things – social work. (I hadn't realized that was what you did.) Or Health Psychology. I'm still debating. So who knows, maybe in 10 years when I'm a world famous and very wealthy social worker (LOL) I will be happy that I never got to work in late night. Sorry this was long.

    ReplyDelete
  27. If I did shorter but more frequent posts, would you read? Definitely!

    Tell me one race you're signed up for. The Fall Foliage Half Marathon in Rhinebeck, NY in October.

    Last rejection you've gotten? How did you deal? For a job position I wanted at my current company. I was upset but the realized it was for the best that I didn't get it.

    Ever tried Suunto products? No.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sure, I'd read it! I applied to be an ambassador for a brand for about 5 years in a row now. Rejection every time. Whomp, whomp :( I think I might give up next year! Congrats on the Suunto gig. Very cool! I did just find out that I'm getting a pair of Brooks shoes to be a wear tester. That makes up for my rejection! Win some, lose some.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I always read! My hubby and I are Run coaches at a triathlon store and I am well known for talking about poop! After 22, I was burned out on marathoning, but decided I wanted to try to go back to Boston with new runner friends. At age 59, I PR'd and BQ'd at St George Utah in October so I am on a roll again, registered for Mountains2Beach Marathon in CA with my daughter, and I also qualified and got into New York (which I NEVER thought would happen). Also have done the Bourbon Chase and had a blast!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I will always, always read. Short, long, medium.
    Sorry for the rejection ... that sucks! Holy Crap - that watch is huge!
    I hope you decide to write a review on it.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Short or long, I love to read your posts and having been reading them for years.
    I’m signed up for Oak Barrel half marathon, St. Jude half marathon in Nashville and the Bourbon Chase...maybe I’ll see you.
    Last rejection, I didn’t get a job. I dealt with it with wine of course.
    I’ve never tried Suunto. I actually run with a Garmin and an Apple Watch.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Got "benched" completely this summer from running - I consider hat a huge rejection to the idea that I was doing ok. Finally unbenched (is that a word?) but nothing more than 10k. That is brutal. But signed up for the Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden this week - making lemonade out of these lemons!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love ALL your posts!
    first 50 miler Mohican in June
    rejection....oh yes.... sixth try for the NYC marathon lottery.... try again next year year 7

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dang! 6 times! You should get an entry purely based on trying!

      Delete
  34. More post, please! Or not...I’m following regardless.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This month has been a Blur so finally playing catch-up. Yassss,Bourbon Chase! My daughter has a team, Ruby's Ramblers... and you'll be coming through My home town Danville, Ky we are a major exchange.

    ReplyDelete