FITNESS magazine

It's out! Wicked exciting! On newstands around the country, the November/December issue of FITNESS Magazine! Flip to the last page, to their "That's the Spirit" column that celebrates women who combine fitness and charitable work and you'll find... me! Pretty cool, huh?

Cover of the November/December
2011 issue of FITNESS magazine

This was one of those rare, happy surprises. Out of the blue, the writer found mention of my 50/50 swim in the Boston Globe and contacted me in early August to do a story. It was interesting to be on the recieving end of an in-depth interview and to take part in a photo shoot. I'm definitely not a model, (Beer Baby Belly, anyone?) but it was fun to pretend for a few hours one sunny morning in Situate. It was a little unnerving to take photos in my bathing suit knowing that the pass-through readership rate for this publication is around 7.5 million, though. 7.5 MILLION people look at this thing each month. Yikes. That's a lot of eyeballs... My story will be in racks at the supermarket checkout, at the dentist's office, at the gym, in people's home mailboxes... Wow, a bit scary, but so very exciting!

In the end, the magazine used contributed photos-- one from my English Channel swim and my headshot from this blog-- and put together a lovely page about the 50/50 swim and a little insight into what happens during most of my big events. It was really flattering to be featured and I hope that it leads to some additional donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. That would be the ultimate reward for this kind of media attention.

At any rate, be sure to pick up your copy of the current issue of FITNESS magazine and send a message that they're on the right track by covering fitness-related events and people that make a difference. Thanks, FITNESS and L.E. for digging me up and telling my story so deftly!