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(Ed. Note: New Pretty Tough team member Heidi Johnson-Fry competes in the duathlon and recently placed 5th in the 2009 Duathlon National Championships. She is a mom, a Girl Scout leader and a volunteer who works constantly to promote girls in sports. )

This is my first blog for Pretty Tough so, I hope I don’t disappoint!

I am a wife/mother and duathlete training for the World Championships in September and boy am I excited! I got this great opportunity from PrettyTough.com Friday night and was truly inspired by what they are doing for women and girls in athletics. I could not wait to race today!

Last week, during a track workout, at the university here, it turned out to be “track day” for the one of the local schools. I ended up sharing the track with a quite a few 5th and 6th graders and got a little choked up when, during my warm down, three girls came to the edge of the track and told me that I was “running really good” It was so moving to see their eyes light up when I told them, they were running great too. As a young runner, I would have died to see someone training on the track when I was there with school!

Saturday was the Governors Cup 5K in Helena, MT and I headed down there with my coach, Mom, Grandma and 2 toddlers this morning. It was only 1 1/2 hours away and oh-so-nice not to have to go a day early. We arrived in Helena to start “warming up” in non other than a snow storm and 38 degrees. Gotta love Montana in June. I was ready for this race after finishing up seven months of intensive training (the duathlon racing season starts in February). Starting tomorrow I will take an easier month of training before starting up hard again in July. I was hoping to race a competitive race and that I did, but boy was it cold. I finished in 2nd and think I did my best considering today’s conditions but I need to get some more racing under my belt before Worlds. I tell you what, 38 degrees and snowing is a little different than 93 degrees and humid at Nationals last month!

The best part of racing today was all the participants. I started as one of three female, seeded runners and hearing my kids yell “go mommy” just ROCKS. I feel so blessed to be setting an example for my kids, especially my six year old daughter, who is a budding athlete herself. I love being a role model for her and the five Daisy Girl Scouts that I have in my troop. I am anxious to let them know how I finished. They have been following my training/racing this year and are SO supportive.

What a great day! Until next time…Racing hard and training smart…Heidi

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