I’m always looking for reasons to stay motivated in a fitness regimen, as doing it for the sake of staying alive simply hasn’t been enough over the years. In high school, I was motivated throughout the year to stay in shape so I could play volleyball in the fall, in college… okay, in the beginning of college it was so I could keep up with my gorgeous roommate when we went out dancing. In post-college, it’s been so I’m not huffing up a flight of stairs while carrying a 20+ lbs. infant, a diaper bag, a purse, miscellaneous parcels, and my sanity. But now that I’m trying to actually lose weight, there’s the motivation to push myself a little harder while resisting the urge to “treat myself” with a little cake afterward. And I’m finding that a cute wardrobe that exists in my closet 5 months from now isn’t quite carrying as much weight as I’d hoped.

So when my friend Blondie mentioned the 1st Annual Stilletto Stampede to be held in Charleston, SC, I immediately perked up. Seems that if I can sprint 100 meters in a pair of 3″ heels, I have a shot at $10,000! And, since that’s definitely not going to happen (I’m not a runner, I’m an uphill-walker/bellydancer) I’m going to try for the “Best Costume” category and attempt to bring home $1,000, instead. This just sounds like too much fun. Plus, it benefits the MUSC Children’s Hospital, which I’m always in support of helping as they’re a great organization in general.

So yeah! Now I have something to get in shape for! Even if I know I’m not going to win, trying to sprint 100 meters every day will motivate me to not coming in dead last.

I’m taking suggestions for costumes, but I love the idea of getting a few friends together and going as a group costume, like the Spice Girls or the Golden Girls or Charlie’s Angels, depending on the size of the group and the hilarity involved. (How great would it be to get reallyreally tan and go as Destiny’s Child? Pahahaha.) Or even as a group of zombie cheerleaders and we can cheer for the other women running in morbid tones. Oh man, my mind is reeling!

If you’re in the South Carolina area and enjoy wearing heels, I recommend checking into at StilettoStampede.com.
Thanks again to Blondie for the tip.