Post your VRAA testimonials here

I loved the last round of the VRAA!! I've been apart of two now and it has driven me to run farther and farther each time! I have to say, I take part in a little smack-talking here and there and that's a great motivator. OK, I lied, I smack-talk every chance I get, in threads, pm's, email and real life. The VRAA motivated me to join a running club of an arch enemy on that damn 'Team W,' just so I can add some more points! The VRAA also helped me to ramp up my cross-training, adding loads of swimming to my weekly activities!! I have no idea what my final point number was or where I ranked but I tried every day to put up points and rush home and log them in with a big smile on my face!!<br><br>
Thank you roots and Harry Trotter and everyone else who's been apart of the VRAA, it's an awesome experience, give it a try if you've never done it before, the extra motivation is fantastic and the people are great!!<br><br>
Except for Damn Team W, I still hate them.

Watching my team mates suffer, I mean post mucho points, was a big thrill even beyond posting my own.<br>
The VRAA made me a better person. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/angel4.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="angel4">

I LOVE the VRAA. It has inspired me to actually do my runs on days where I would have otherwise wimped out and I have added more workouts into my schedule because of it. The VRAA is keeping me in shape and it had better restart before my marathon!

This was my first time participating in the VRAA and I'll definitely be back for more! It provided me an awesome opportunity to run more/challenge myself, buddy up with other KRers I had not previously <i>met</i> and support one another both virtually and IRL (I had the most awesome LR with Kruss b/c of the VRAA). Love the VRAA!!!

VRAA helped me with my first triathlon for certain. I think all that extra little work I was sneaking in, from core work to yoga, helped a ton. And the point system helped me to figure out perhaps when I was working a bit too hard for too many days in a row and needed to take an easy day or even rest.

On the days I don't feel like running, VRAA gets me out there anyway. Sometimes it's like having a running buddy.<br><br>
Plus it keeps me doing my PT exercises when I think I'm too tired. I'm not, I'm just lazy! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
So...when's the next round start???

I loved this round of VRAA. I had a great team and loved getting to *virtually* know all of them and meet 3 of them IRL-runningNInyc, Jill and Beaker. Something tells me some day SGH and I will eventually meet up (we have been on the last 2 VRAA teams together-maybe DE trail "marathon" in March?) and I really want to run with Roots some day before I die<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> My team was very supportive and I miss them!

VRAA was a great motivator for me! Since the end of the last round and our current break I've definitely backed off on my cross-training. It was also a great chance to meet other kicksters that I don't normally see around the board. Can't wait for some more VRAA experiences.

For a while VRAA was the ONLY motivation to keep me on track in my IM training. Between grad school, mom sick & then dieing...I needed something a little competative, yet fun to keep me going.<br><br>
(Somehow Tithers thinks that VRAA won't be going on for her IM...all her big events get the boot!)

VRAA for me meant that in July I had 31 workouts (out of 16 that was my goal for the month) and August had 29 (and that was with being on vacation for 10 days).<br><br>
It's the first time I've been part of an athletic team and actually felt like I could contribute something.

Awe, Tithers. I know.<br><br>
We'll do our best to schedule you in. No promises, though. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Sad"><br><br>
If it makes you feel better, I missed out for my 50 and 100 milers earlier this year. Who scheudules these things, anyway? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/violent1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="violent1">

Great response, all!<br><br>
VRAA has helped me to squeeze in those extra 10, 15, or 20 minutes each day. It was only 2-4 extra points, but the game, and my teammates gave me the motivation to do so. Also, I rode my bike to work more times this year than in past years. All due to the game! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="cheers"><br><br>
In the larger picture, my VRAA testimonial is this: The VRAA helped me to train for my longest ultramarathon to date. The April and May rounds of the VRAA helped me to add those extra sessions of cross-training and core work. Knowing my team was counting on me for mega-badass points became a daily motivator. And...it didn't hurt that I'm constantly chasing down <b>joplus</b> and <b>Flounder!</b><br><br>
Hang tight all. We'll get the next round up and running soon.

yea! i can't wait to join all of you. it looks like so much fun!

How about next week? Am I being pushy? 'Cause next week would totally work for me...

I was deep into marathon training when the VRAA came around. I can't say that I added any more workouts or even added miles as a result. I was already in high mileage mode, but what I did do that I found interesting was add .25 - .5 miles to many of my runs. It showed in the standings too, for example after a weekend where many of us did 20 mile runs, I would be ahead of all the 20 milers with 81 points because I ran 20.25 instead of just 20. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">

I love this quote! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="cheers"><br><br>
Great stories, all.

Awww. When is that trail marathon? I'm dying to get into trail races. We can definitely meet up one of these days.<br><br>
My last two teams (E and V) were full of supportive and impressive fellow athletes. Some I got to know a little better through VRAA, and others I got acquainted with for the first time.<br><br>
As many of you know, I live in a town with next to no running community and an overwhelmingly sedentary, unhealthy culture. Participating in VRAA is a great antidote for that!

I'll meet up with you guys at a trail race, definitely! I've got my eye on two different ones in Jan (Chilly Cheeks Trail run) and Feb (Ugly Mudder Trail Race). Both are in Reading, PA if you guys want to meet up with me.

We're 25 days into this round. I wonder if anyone can share a few words of inspiration.<br><br>
What has the VRAA done for you? Lay it on us -- give us the good and bad.