Be Inspired. Vote for Jonah Holland, Weblogger and TRIgirl

I'd be the first one to have rolled my eyes some 15 years ago if you had told me that Jonah Holland, staff photographer for VCU's Commonwealth Times student newspaper, was destined to become one of Richmond's biggest triathlon boosters and competitors. That says less about the dumb assumptions I made about people at that stage in my life than it does about the force that is Jonah.

In addition to being a mom, Jonah is an active part of Richmond's TRIgirl coaching community, a triathlete and one part of Richmond's West End News community weblog.

Now shes a finalist in a national contest to be a member of  Team EVOTRI -- a group of triathletes who promote the sport. Here's what Jonah told me in a recent email about Team EVOTRI:

I entered by submitting a You Tube video,  something totally out of my comfort zone -- but that is what the triathlons are all about, leaving your comfort zone.  The great thing about Team Evotri is that they take everyone from back-of-the-packers (like me) to pros and equip them with top-of-the-line goods ... plus flying me out to Wisconsin for special team training. It is an amazing thing that they would offer someone like me this sort of opportunity.

If I do win, I've committed to giving back to the Richmond community by hosting clinics based on what I learn after they fly me out to the training weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, in June. Since the day I fell in love with the sport, it has always been my mission to get other people like me involved, because it has had such a huge positive impact on my life. So, if I win, one of the things I'd like to do is host clinics for newbies and help them learn how they can do their first race.

The contest is pretty simple. Round one is happening NOW. (You only have until Wednesday night, so run!) Round two of voting runs from Thursday to Saturday -- so run back on Thursday! Lather, rinse, repeat. And then run back one more time (It's for triathlons, you goofs!) on Monday and vote again.

First, go to the EVOTRI site and check out Jonah's video -- which features most of the Richmond TRIgirl community and her two kids, as well as Jonah herself. (Or watch it above.) Then send an email to vote@evotri.com with Jonah Holland in the subject line. One vote per email address.

Let's repeat for emphasis:

Send an email to vote@evotri.com with Jonah Holland in the subject line.