We’ve all entered races we knew we had no chance of winning. When you find yourself against a boat made up of people half your age and twice your height, when you’re in a scratch crew that can’t even begin to sit the boat, when your opponents steam past in the warm-up looking slick and strong… All you can do is dig deep and row your heart out, hoping that at least you can console yourself with aching legs and the knowledge you tried your hardest.
And so I expected it to be with the Bloggers’ Lounge Awards. Open to bloggers around the world, and with no dedicated sports category – just a wide-open health and fitness category – I really thought that an obscure blog about a sport that normally gets hidden away under “other sports” wouldn’t have a prayer. But hey, I’m used to not winning, as you all well know, so I thought I’d give it a go anyway. What did I have to lose?
Last time I updated you, I’d got through to the finals, and there I imagined it would end. It was time to garner votes, and against hot competition with many thousands of Twitter followers I really didn’t have a chance.
Except that you all came good. So I didn’t win – the top prize went to Nic’s Nutrition - an excellent read with good advice, a lovely design and a following to match. But I did win highly commended – in other words the runner-up. In rowing terms, the silver medal. I can take no credit for this – it was all down to you kind and lovely people who took time out of your day to rummage around the Bloggers’ Lounge site and pick me out amongst all the others.
So thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s virtual fizz all round – do help yourself – and, as I promised, undying gratitude. Mwah!