I almost didn't post today. But have you ever been so inspired, so moved that you have to post? You have to share? That's what happened today. I apologize if it's a bit rambly - the biggest take aways are to watch the video and then check out my friend's blog post.
By now, most of you have probably seen the Always #LikeAGirl video. I have seen many bloggers write about it, I've even commented on some of those posts. If you haven't seen it, please take 3 minutes to watch it.
Growing up as a girl (obviously), I was lucky that I was never told that I couldn't do something because I was a girl. My dad taught us to pitch and hit baseballs, we played basketball with my cousins (all boys mind you), however, I never felt like I was supposed to do those things. Girls were and are called Tom Boys if they get out there and rough and tumble, play in the dirt, chase said cousins with a snake (yes, I did that).
For me, I thought that I could do things like gymnastics, ballet, cheerleading. Very "girly" things. The only time I ever ran was because we had to in gymnastic or cheerleading. I thought working out for women was Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. I didn't have any female role models who participated in sports like running. And having asthma, I didn't think I'd ever run for that matter.
I didn't find running until my early 30's after it became almost impossible to find a decent (worthy paying for) advanced, adult ballet class. And when I first started running, I felt like I ran like a girl. And that meant slow. That meant in a non-athletic capacity. Now, I'm proud to run like a girl - a very strong, athletic, and kind of sort of fast, girl. I love to see the shirts or magnets that say: I run like a girl, try to keep up. Hopefully that means that the idea of doing something "like a girl" is changing. Slowly, but maybe?
What I've also seen, that I never saw or knew about before, through blogging I read so often about moms running with their kids, encouraging their children to run, seeing posts about their kids' first races, etc. It's really inspiring to me. I love this on so many levels.
So when I read my friend Tia's (Arkansas Runner Mom) post today, I knew I had to share. First of all, Tia and I met in real life at the RRCA Running Coach Certification course last year. I had read her blog here and there, but it was great to actually meet her.
Tia is a mom of four and an amazing athlete, like crazy fast. I know that she's doing a race tomorrow, the Firecracker 5K, so when I read the title of her post, "My Most Important Run of the Year," I was confused for a moment. I mean, Tia runs marathons and BQs for breakfast, so why was a 5K her most important run?
But the minute I opened up the post, I remembered seeing her post about her and her daughter running 10 miles together. The amazing part is that her daughter was running the miles for her birthday - 10 miles for ... 10 YEARS.
I don't know about you but I cannot fathom having done that when I was 10 years old. In fact, I didn't run 10 miles until about 4 years ago. I really hope you go check out Tia's post. I truly find it inspiring and I think that THIS is what Running #LikeAGirl means!
By now, most of you have probably seen the Always #LikeAGirl video. I have seen many bloggers write about it, I've even commented on some of those posts. If you haven't seen it, please take 3 minutes to watch it.
Growing up as a girl (obviously), I was lucky that I was never told that I couldn't do something because I was a girl. My dad taught us to pitch and hit baseballs, we played basketball with my cousins (all boys mind you), however, I never felt like I was supposed to do those things. Girls were and are called Tom Boys if they get out there and rough and tumble, play in the dirt, chase said cousins with a snake (yes, I did that).
For me, I thought that I could do things like gymnastics, ballet, cheerleading. Very "girly" things. The only time I ever ran was because we had to in gymnastic or cheerleading. I thought working out for women was Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. I didn't have any female role models who participated in sports like running. And having asthma, I didn't think I'd ever run for that matter.
I didn't find running until my early 30's after it became almost impossible to find a decent (worthy paying for) advanced, adult ballet class. And when I first started running, I felt like I ran like a girl. And that meant slow. That meant in a non-athletic capacity. Now, I'm proud to run like a girl - a very strong, athletic, and kind of sort of fast, girl. I love to see the shirts or magnets that say: I run like a girl, try to keep up. Hopefully that means that the idea of doing something "like a girl" is changing. Slowly, but maybe?
What I've also seen, that I never saw or knew about before, through blogging I read so often about moms running with their kids, encouraging their children to run, seeing posts about their kids' first races, etc. It's really inspiring to me. I love this on so many levels.
So when I read my friend Tia's (Arkansas Runner Mom) post today, I knew I had to share. First of all, Tia and I met in real life at the RRCA Running Coach Certification course last year. I had read her blog here and there, but it was great to actually meet her.
Tia is a mom of four and an amazing athlete, like crazy fast. I know that she's doing a race tomorrow, the Firecracker 5K, so when I read the title of her post, "My Most Important Run of the Year," I was confused for a moment. I mean, Tia runs marathons and BQs for breakfast, so why was a 5K her most important run?
But the minute I opened up the post, I remembered seeing her post about her and her daughter running 10 miles together. The amazing part is that her daughter was running the miles for her birthday - 10 miles for ... 10 YEARS.
I don't know about you but I cannot fathom having done that when I was 10 years old. In fact, I didn't run 10 miles until about 4 years ago. I really hope you go check out Tia's post. I truly find it inspiring and I think that THIS is what Running #LikeAGirl means!
Thanks Heather!! I'm showing this to Abi. : )
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