Venus de Miles Ambassador
Last week, I was contacted about being an ambassador for the Venus de Miles bike ride on July 28. Exciting!!!
Venus de Miles is a 25 or 61 mile supported, non-competitive, all women’s road ride in Lake County, Illinois (where I live!). Each entrant pays to participate as well as fundraises $75 to support Greenhouse Scholars, which provides scholarships to “high-performing, under-resourced college students.”
But I was kind of waffling.
I am so damn busy.
I have something going on every weekend until mid July. The idea of putting one more thing on my calendar freaks me out.
And then there is the other issue.
Sigh.
I recently wrote my “On Sponsored Giveaways” post and have just been thinking a lot about what I promote on here. I am still getting weird offers for things. And requests from people for me to randomly blog about stuff that, well, I just don’t want to blog about. Why would I promote something I don’t use or an event that I have never heard about?
So. I had to think about whether or not Venus de Miles was something I wanted to blog about. As an ambassasdor, I get a free ride, one to raffle off, some gear, my photo on their site, etc. And I just have to write for them (and do the ride, obviously).
Why was I so torn on this?! It was really bothering me that I couldn’t make up my mind. Here I was, given an opportuntity to do something I already wanted to do, and for free! Who wouldn’t immediately say yes?! Why was I overthinking it?
I guess my online integrity has become really important to me, lately, for some reason.
So, what did I decide? To do it. I already wanted to. I know I will have fun – even if I am out there on my mountain bike.
I just wanted to be honest with you guys, and share my decision making process.
Anyone else over thinking their blog lately?
Themocracy
That’s kinda why I quit blogging about my running. the others were getting political and I didn’t like where it was going. It started with the “taking pictures of food & meals” blogs and now into the exercise world. I blogged to make friends (online, then to become real-life), not to sell myself. Unfortunately, neither happened. I was getting those solicitations as well and so I stopped. Now I blog every once in a while about a marathon or about the running-themed wedding I’m having in 2 months. I doubt I’ll be back to blog full-time, which is unfortunate as I found it as a good way to be accountable for myself & keep track of runs/distance/feelings/weather, etc.
It sounds fun and I think this is a great thing for you to promote 🙂 You have a lot of online visible – I found you through google after all! – and realizing that comes with responsibility for your integrity is great, but first and foremost, this is your blog to blog about what you want to blog about. (I could have said blog more if I really tried there…) This is something right up your alley and you were probably going to blog about it anyway, right? So no guilt!
And…I hear you on the busy schedule. That’s a more concerning reason! Lol.
That is interesting that you found me through google! I don’t pay attention to that sort of thing (search results, etc.). For what were you looking when you found my blog?
How are you feeling post race? 🙂
I…think I was looking to see what the i-challenge medals looked like? And found your race recap? My brain is being eaten by the baby so I might be totally wrong, but I think that’s it!
Mostly great! No more muscle soreness, but when I tried to run yesterday my abs yelled at me again, so I decided to give it another day and I’m going to try again today. Last half I took the week off anyway after the race, so I’m not too worried – I just miss it! 🙂 Thanks for asking!
Ahh yes! For awhile I noticed my blog came up when you searched for that.
Good for you for listening to your body yesterday! Let me know how the run goes today, if you get out there! 🙂
The fact that you actually wanted to do the ride before being offered a chance to be an ambassador definitely means it wouldn’t be selling out to take this opportunity. It sounds like fun!
Fun! I still love your post about sponsored giveaways, and it still makes me give pause to the things that are sent to me. I think it’s awesome that you get to be an ambassador for such a worthy event. It’s not like you signed up to get a pack of fit gum.
ok, you can’t say no to a free entry of an event you already were planning on doing. I’d be mad at you if you turned it down!
There’s nothing wrong with doing sponsored posts/giveaways as long as it’s in line with who you are/what you blog about. If you started posting about omaha steaks then that would be a different story…
If Omaha Steaks contacts me, I will give them your info 😉 But not your super secret email address!
I’m glad you’ll be there! I’m excited about being ambassadors. It’s my first time!
But I can totally see why you might wonder if it’s taking on too much. Hopefully, though, it will be fun! We should get Jenny G. to make you a tutu!!
Congrats on being named an ambassador! It sounds like you put a lot of thought into it, so I’m sure you made the right choice. I think that as long as the product/race goes along with your values, it shouldn’t be a big deal. The race is raising money for a good cause, you get a free entry. Win-win. 🙂 It’s not like you’re promoting a crappy piece of gear that doesn’t work.
Me!!!
yay! Congrats on being an ambassador! I enjoyed reading the posts about it last year from people, seeing as how i am someone who will never ever ride a bike 🙂
Ha ha! Why not? 🙂
I hadn’t heard of it until now, I think it is a great way to tell others about it and participate
If it is something you WANT to do, you are not sacrificing your integrity. Now…if you start shilling for red meat, I’ll question you! 🙂
PS- I am working on a post about authentic blogging that you inspired!
LOL!
I am excited to read that post!
Exciting that you’ll be a part of the fun this year!
I think you definitely made the right decision and applaud you for taking time to think about it. Since you were already wanting to do it, this is perfect- as long as there wasn’t a clause that makes you wear a flowery hot pink cycling dress and sell your soul hehe
HA HA HA! HopefullY I get to wear what I want! LOL! 🙂
My calender is sooo busy too! I am trying to not schedule things for the next 5 months because I am already so busy! I am glad you decided to do the ride – I am sure you will enjoy it. Its tough tho to say no to things.
Yes! I had this whole long post written about how I can’t say no to fun things. But I didn’t post it because it was too whiny. Ha ha.
“Anyone else over thinking their blog lately?” Uhhh, yeah every day. I was recently contacted by a company for an offer I’m considering, but I am mulling over how to agree to it without feeling like a sell out. I was talking to some of my co-workers about it, who aren’t bloggers, and who are guys, and they were like, so, what’s the problem? I felt like the more I tried to explain myself, the crazier I sounded, like my blog is some big important thing. I mean, it is, to me, but sometimes I need to remind myself it is just a blog. It is optional. And I might have some specific idea in my mind about exactly what it sound be, but it can evolve over time. I’m trying to stop thinking about absolutes with my blog and the content (the “I would never do this or that”) and just do whatever feels right or is a good opportunity.
Well, now you have to tell me what the opportunity is!
Our blogs are just a moment in time and only a glimpse of who we are, but to be honest, when I see people promoting things I have a lot of “what the what?” thoughts and it does make me question why they would sell out just to get something for free (judgmental, I know).
That event sounds really fun. I don’t blame you one bit for accepting the offer. Besides, it’s something you wanted to do anyway. Are you still going to raise money for the charity?
Honestly, I am not sure. I will see what I can do, but I am not a fan of asking people for money. I was just planning to pay it myself if I registered and paid on my own.