GREAT Launch Meeting

Throw 25 hopeful women into a nice cozy family room and ask them to quickly introduce themselves and their athletic goals for this year and what do you get? Tears, of course.

The information meeting of Raise the Hope's 3rd season is in the history books and will be a great memory for all the girls and boys (what?? boys??) who attended.

Boys first...George Anderson, accompanying his participating wife, Patti, charmingly gave encouragement and great praise to the gals of Raise the Hope. The Andersons' business, "Kent Easthill Physical Therapy" is sponsoring RTH and we are VERY grateful to George and Patti for helping this program stay AFFORDABLE and giving it that family feeling they are so good at.

Then one gal after another told about themselves and their hopes for 2009, and their stories as triathletes and runners from their histories of varying length. Some let on in the telling of their stories, that they think because they aren't typically at the front of races, that their race experiences are different or less valuable than the "faster" athletes on the team. More than one impressive woman tells her story of what it was like to be last at a race. She tells of her feelings of discouragement, embarrassment, determination and then the great accomplishment that met her at the finish line! These are the gals that truly appreciate - maybe more than any other group of athletes on the larger Raise the Bar team - the reward of the finish line.

It doesn't take more than one or two races for any of us to want the second best reward - a personal best. And that's what we'll see from the Raise the Hope gals (and the RTB team!) this year as they take on the 2009 season.

Check back for race reports and furthur reports from the inspirational group of gals. And if you're a woman wanting to train with some down-to-earth girls who know how to work hard, play hard, and enjoy victory, then join us!! You're welcome to step into the program any time.

Patty Swedberg

The stories that were told around the room were nothing less than inspirational - women

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED :)


I can’t even tell you how excited I am about our 2009 program and looking forward to seeing your success this year. If you are new, WELCOME, and if you are returning, so glad to see you again, and if you are still thinking, good for you!

If you fall into any of those groups then come to the kick off potluck meeting January 29th. You can come check things out and decide if RTH is right for you. The RTH Calendar will have all the details soon.

Now, I know the thoughts that hit this time of year. Everyone is pushing New Year’s resolutions and survey shows that 80% of people will abandon them by Valentines Day. Not you, not this time J Really this is your YEAR!!!!!

The key to successful and permanent weight loss in finding something that you can do as a lifestyle and finding ways to help you to keep at it when obstacles get in your way. Raise the Hope will help you set real goals and give you not only the tools but the support and accountability to see it through. We all have great intentions, but we need more than intentions to see it through. RTH takes those intentions and helps support you and them to reality.

IT IS GOING TO FUN and you will form some amazing friendships along the way. Most of us came in alone and found a family. Really - it is amazing the bonds of friendships that have been formed.

READY??? Come on, we got a spot for you and can’t wait to see you cross that finish line.