August 09, 2009
Morsel of Meaning
This Thursday is the last meeting for my girls and their weekly running group Kids in Motion, a program offered through Moms in Motion. They call their team the Green Frogs. They have had guest speakers each week and Coach Melody has asked me to come and talk to the girls at the end of the session.
I have given speeches countless times but for some reason this one makes me more nervous than usual. It reminds me of when I spoke to the first-grade classes about creative writing and had cocoon-popping butterflies in my stomach with so many pairs of 7-year-old eyes on me. Children have an uncanny way of seeing right through you, so you'd better be clear: Say what you mean and mean what you say. The audience, particularly my daughters sitting in it, combined with the subject matter being a topic in a ZIP code very close to the neighborhood of my heart, makes it highly personal. Gulp.
How do I properly tell a group of 7-and 8-year-old girls what running means to me? How do I express in language that will resonate with them how running kept me together when everything else seemed to be falling apart? Or how it keeps me sane and clear headed, and creates a pocket of silence in my core that no level of noise or chaos can touch for the remainder of the day? Or how it gives me an identity and a community that I wouldn't have otherwise? Or how it saved me twice from post-partum spiral? Or how it can alter my mood from sour to sweet, resetting my gratitude meter, in a mere 30 minutes? Or how it reminds me that I'm beautiful even when I feel nothing close to cute? Or how it reminds me that I'm strong and resilient, even at my puniest? Or how it cultivates a foundation and awareness of endurance that far exceeds the mere physical? Or how it has become a standing date with my girlfriends, scheduled, reliable, and heaven-sent? Or how it is a proven method to transcend cattiness, PMS, mood swings, and body image issues?
Like sitting on an over-packed suitcase and trying to pull the zipper, it may be impossible to translate something so big to fit into 20 minutes, or condense 30 years of experience into a bite-sized 7-year-old morsel. But even if they take one thing -- one single thing, away that lodges into a crack and sticks there -- it will be more than enough for me.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Bolder Boulder
The air is warm, flip flops, & BBQ's it's time for summer. When I think of kicking off the summer I think of the BB! It's one of the most fun races ever! Its only a 10k, and I love 10k's. It is the perfect length for a race in my opinion. Not too long not too short. You are surrounded by a ton of spectators and there is a huge number of participants. It's the only race I've ran where spectators are handing out free beer! It is also significant b/c my husband proposed to me at the finish line last year!!!!! It will be fun to run it together this year as husband & wife.
Look soon for pictures!
Look soon for pictures!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A little somethin' somthin' from Hudson
I really want this blog to be ours,Team Soma! A place where we can share our thoughts, our encouragement and our struggles together. So please feel welcome to make your very own post. Here is a recent post from Hudson! She just finished the Colfax marathon with an incredible time of 2:03!!!! Way to go girl!!!!! I hope you will send us pictures soon! :0)
From Hudson....
I did it! I just ran my third half marathon! What a great feeling it is to cross that finish line and hear people cheering you on. But the road to that finish line is not always easy. Some days it seems impossible to run one mile, other days I feel like I am ready for the Boston Marathon. To anyone who thinks they can not do it, they can! When Jessie first came to me a few years ago and told me I should run 13.1 miles with her, I thought she was nuts! I could not even run one mile without walking, but we did it! And last weekend I shaved almost 30 minutes off my last half time!
I love runners! We are such an interesting breed. We put ourselves through massive amounts of pain and torture for what? The accomplishment and satisfaction of finishing a race , to lose weight, or just for the fun of it. We are so supportive of each other. I have had complete strangers high five me on a trail or tell me good job after running next to me on a treadmill. I love runners! No matter how hard a run or race was we always go back. It might take a few days to recover but we always have our next run in mind. Don’t ever forget “we run because we can!”
From Hudson....
I did it! I just ran my third half marathon! What a great feeling it is to cross that finish line and hear people cheering you on. But the road to that finish line is not always easy. Some days it seems impossible to run one mile, other days I feel like I am ready for the Boston Marathon. To anyone who thinks they can not do it, they can! When Jessie first came to me a few years ago and told me I should run 13.1 miles with her, I thought she was nuts! I could not even run one mile without walking, but we did it! And last weekend I shaved almost 30 minutes off my last half time!
I love runners! We are such an interesting breed. We put ourselves through massive amounts of pain and torture for what? The accomplishment and satisfaction of finishing a race , to lose weight, or just for the fun of it. We are so supportive of each other. I have had complete strangers high five me on a trail or tell me good job after running next to me on a treadmill. I love runners! No matter how hard a run or race was we always go back. It might take a few days to recover but we always have our next run in mind. Don’t ever forget “we run because we can!”
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Soma Shout Out
WE DID IT! 13.1 Miles baby! Way to go ladies. I'm impressed & motivated by each of you!
Lacey~ Way to rock it with an amazing time! You were so dedicated in your training, and even ran through your injury. You are inspiring.
Sarah~ Way to go Stellar Zeller! She completed her first half marathon EVER! Way to set a goal and really go after it Sarah!
Bri~ Your story is motivational in itself Bri! Thank you for encourage us and reminding me that "I run because I can."
Jess G.~ If it weren't for you I never would have picked up a pair of running shoes. Thanks for believing in me. I be live in you and I'm so proud of you and all your accomplishments. You really are great! Marathon Mom!
Jess H. ~ Thanks for being the best super fan! It was so fun to see you and Chris along the way & you had the best sign ever! " Run fast - There is beer at the end!!!!
Way to go Team Soma! You are amazing in so many ways!!!!!
Lacey~ Way to rock it with an amazing time! You were so dedicated in your training, and even ran through your injury. You are inspiring.
Sarah~ Way to go Stellar Zeller! She completed her first half marathon EVER! Way to set a goal and really go after it Sarah!
Bri~ Your story is motivational in itself Bri! Thank you for encourage us and reminding me that "I run because I can."
Jess G.~ If it weren't for you I never would have picked up a pair of running shoes. Thanks for believing in me. I be live in you and I'm so proud of you and all your accomplishments. You really are great! Marathon Mom!
Jess H. ~ Thanks for being the best super fan! It was so fun to see you and Chris along the way & you had the best sign ever! " Run fast - There is beer at the end!!!!
Way to go Team Soma! You are amazing in so many ways!!!!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Body Image & Runners - Nancy Clark
I recently read this article & I think there may be a lot of truth to it. Let me know what you think.... I haven't been able to look at the recomended links, but they sound interesting. Happy running friends!
~j
The Athlete’s Kitchen: Body Image and Runners
Submitted by admin on January 5, 2009 - 8:11am.
Date: 01/05/2009 - 07:06
January 2009 by Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD -
Question: What are two things dogs and runners have in common? Answer: One, both dogs and runners love to exercise. Two, they both come in different sizes and shapes. Question: What is one thing dogs and runners do NOT have in common? Answer: Dogs are content with their natural physiques, while too many runners try very hard to change the way they look. These runners might be better off being like dogs. That is, does that bulky St. Bernard yearn to look like a lanky Greyhound? Heavens, no! Does the barrel-chested Labrador want to look like a sleek Setter? Doubtful. Each dog is very proud to represent his breed. Wouldn’t life be easier if each runner could be just as proud of his or her “breed”? As a sports dietitian, I spend too many hours helping runners find peace with their bodies. Most of these runners take the outside-in approach.They think if they change their body from the outside by losing undesired body fat or by adding some muscular bulk, they will be happier on the inside. Unfortunately, not true! No weight will ever be good enough to do the enormous job of creating happiness. This story, told to me by an athlete, proves that point: “I once weighed 124 pounds and was unhappy with that weight. I started exercising and dieting rigidly. I lost to 99 pounds but I still wasn't happy. I ended up binge-eating; I gained to 160 pounds, where I was miserable. I sought help from a counselor, stopped eating emotionally, and with time, got my weight back to 124—and was happy! Why couldn't I have been happy at 124 pounds in the first place? Because happiness has nothing to do with weight...”
Granted, some people do have excess body fat they can appropriately lose to be healthier as a person and lighter as an runner. They can rightfully feel pleased when they accomplish the goal of attaining an appropriate weight. But other runners just think they have excess fat to lose; they have distorted body images. A survey of 425 collegiate female athletes reports the women wanted to lose 5 pounds, on average (1). Another survey of the top women runners in the country found the same results (2). Even these elite runners wistfully believed they would perform better if they are leaner. Unfortunately, the struggle to attain a “perfect weight” can cost runners their health and happiness. Restrictive diets with inadequate protein, iron, zinc, calcium and a myriad of other health-protective nutrients—to say nothing of carbs for fuel—often contribute to injuries and poorer performance. So what can you do if you are discontent with your body? First of all, you should get your body fat measured to determine if you actually have excess fat to lose. Data can be helpful. (Find a local sports dietitian to measure your body fat via the referral network at SCANdpg.org.) You may discover you have less body fat than expected!
Feeling fatIt’s easy to understand why so many runners have distorted body images. When you put on skimpy running shorts that expose your “flabby things”, or tights that shows every bump and bulge, you can very easily “feel fat.” Sound familiar? One solution to the “I feel fat syndrome” is to remember “fat” is not a feeling. That is, you don't feel “blond hair” or “freckled.” You also do not feel “fat.” Yes, you may be feeling uncomfortable with your body. But you are really feeling imperfect, inadequate, insecure, anxious—and any number of other feelings that get described as “feeling fat.” I encourage your to explore those real feelings, and figure out where you got the message that something is wrong with your body. The media is a good start, but it could also be a parent who lovingly said at a tender age “That outfit looks nice, honey, but if only you'd lose a few pounds...” What you hear is “I'm not good enough” and this can create a downward spiral of self-esteem. Weight issues are rarely about weight. They tend to be about feeling inadequate and imperfect.
What to doSo how can a discontent runner feel better about his or her body? One tactic is to stop comparing yourself to your peers. To compare is to despair. Rather, pretend you live on an island where your body is “good enough” the way it is. (You are unlikely to ever have a “perfect” body, so the second best option is to enjoy a body that is “good enough.”) If you step off your island and start comparing yourself to your peers, please notice: Do you end up being too fat, too slow, too ugly, too dumb? Do you ever let yourself rise to the top and be better than others? Doubtful. You are better off staying on your island, and calling yourself a Gorgeous Goddess or Handsome Hulk. With time and practice, you can change the way you see yourself and come to believe perhaps you are, indeed, good enough the way you are! Granted, changing the way you feel about your body is a complex process.
The following resources can help you in this journey to find peace with your body:www.nourishingconnections.com (free e-newsletter)www.findingbalance.com (has videos about resolving weight issues)www.adiosBarbie.com (offers resources, and insights into the media)For a plethora of books, visit the online bookshelf at www.gurze.com.Some of my favorites include The Body Image Workbook and The Don’t Diet, Live-It Workbook.
Life is more enjoyable when you can love your body and appreciate it for all it does and stop hating it for what it is not. When the drive for thinness comes with a high price, that price is unlikley worth the cost.
Nancy Clark, MS, RD, CSSD (Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics) counsels both casual and competitive athletes in her practice at Healthworks, the premier fitness center in Chestnut Hill MA (617-383-6100). Her NEW 2008 Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Food Guide for Marathoners, and Cyclist’s Food Guide are available viawww.nancyclarkrd.com. See also sportsnutritionworkshop.com.
References:1. Beals K and M Manore. Disorders of the female athlete triad among collegiate athletes. Int'l J Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2002. 12:281-293
2. Clark N, M Nelson, W Evans. Nutrition educational for elite female runners. Physician and Sports Medicine. 1988. 16:124-135
~j
The Athlete’s Kitchen: Body Image and Runners
Submitted by admin on January 5, 2009 - 8:11am.
Date: 01/05/2009 - 07:06
January 2009 by Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD -
Question: What are two things dogs and runners have in common? Answer: One, both dogs and runners love to exercise. Two, they both come in different sizes and shapes. Question: What is one thing dogs and runners do NOT have in common? Answer: Dogs are content with their natural physiques, while too many runners try very hard to change the way they look. These runners might be better off being like dogs. That is, does that bulky St. Bernard yearn to look like a lanky Greyhound? Heavens, no! Does the barrel-chested Labrador want to look like a sleek Setter? Doubtful. Each dog is very proud to represent his breed. Wouldn’t life be easier if each runner could be just as proud of his or her “breed”? As a sports dietitian, I spend too many hours helping runners find peace with their bodies. Most of these runners take the outside-in approach.They think if they change their body from the outside by losing undesired body fat or by adding some muscular bulk, they will be happier on the inside. Unfortunately, not true! No weight will ever be good enough to do the enormous job of creating happiness. This story, told to me by an athlete, proves that point: “I once weighed 124 pounds and was unhappy with that weight. I started exercising and dieting rigidly. I lost to 99 pounds but I still wasn't happy. I ended up binge-eating; I gained to 160 pounds, where I was miserable. I sought help from a counselor, stopped eating emotionally, and with time, got my weight back to 124—and was happy! Why couldn't I have been happy at 124 pounds in the first place? Because happiness has nothing to do with weight...”
Granted, some people do have excess body fat they can appropriately lose to be healthier as a person and lighter as an runner. They can rightfully feel pleased when they accomplish the goal of attaining an appropriate weight. But other runners just think they have excess fat to lose; they have distorted body images. A survey of 425 collegiate female athletes reports the women wanted to lose 5 pounds, on average (1). Another survey of the top women runners in the country found the same results (2). Even these elite runners wistfully believed they would perform better if they are leaner. Unfortunately, the struggle to attain a “perfect weight” can cost runners their health and happiness. Restrictive diets with inadequate protein, iron, zinc, calcium and a myriad of other health-protective nutrients—to say nothing of carbs for fuel—often contribute to injuries and poorer performance. So what can you do if you are discontent with your body? First of all, you should get your body fat measured to determine if you actually have excess fat to lose. Data can be helpful. (Find a local sports dietitian to measure your body fat via the referral network at SCANdpg.org.) You may discover you have less body fat than expected!
Feeling fatIt’s easy to understand why so many runners have distorted body images. When you put on skimpy running shorts that expose your “flabby things”, or tights that shows every bump and bulge, you can very easily “feel fat.” Sound familiar? One solution to the “I feel fat syndrome” is to remember “fat” is not a feeling. That is, you don't feel “blond hair” or “freckled.” You also do not feel “fat.” Yes, you may be feeling uncomfortable with your body. But you are really feeling imperfect, inadequate, insecure, anxious—and any number of other feelings that get described as “feeling fat.” I encourage your to explore those real feelings, and figure out where you got the message that something is wrong with your body. The media is a good start, but it could also be a parent who lovingly said at a tender age “That outfit looks nice, honey, but if only you'd lose a few pounds...” What you hear is “I'm not good enough” and this can create a downward spiral of self-esteem. Weight issues are rarely about weight. They tend to be about feeling inadequate and imperfect.
What to doSo how can a discontent runner feel better about his or her body? One tactic is to stop comparing yourself to your peers. To compare is to despair. Rather, pretend you live on an island where your body is “good enough” the way it is. (You are unlikely to ever have a “perfect” body, so the second best option is to enjoy a body that is “good enough.”) If you step off your island and start comparing yourself to your peers, please notice: Do you end up being too fat, too slow, too ugly, too dumb? Do you ever let yourself rise to the top and be better than others? Doubtful. You are better off staying on your island, and calling yourself a Gorgeous Goddess or Handsome Hulk. With time and practice, you can change the way you see yourself and come to believe perhaps you are, indeed, good enough the way you are! Granted, changing the way you feel about your body is a complex process.
The following resources can help you in this journey to find peace with your body:www.nourishingconnections.com (free e-newsletter)www.findingbalance.com (has videos about resolving weight issues)www.adiosBarbie.com (offers resources, and insights into the media)For a plethora of books, visit the online bookshelf at www.gurze.com.Some of my favorites include The Body Image Workbook and The Don’t Diet, Live-It Workbook.
Life is more enjoyable when you can love your body and appreciate it for all it does and stop hating it for what it is not. When the drive for thinness comes with a high price, that price is unlikley worth the cost.
Nancy Clark, MS, RD, CSSD (Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics) counsels both casual and competitive athletes in her practice at Healthworks, the premier fitness center in Chestnut Hill MA (617-383-6100). Her NEW 2008 Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Food Guide for Marathoners, and Cyclist’s Food Guide are available viawww.nancyclarkrd.com. See also sportsnutritionworkshop.com.
References:1. Beals K and M Manore. Disorders of the female athlete triad among collegiate athletes. Int'l J Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2002. 12:281-293
2. Clark N, M Nelson, W Evans. Nutrition educational for elite female runners. Physician and Sports Medicine. 1988. 16:124-135
Friday, April 3, 2009
Defeated
This is my fourth long distance race, I and feel more defeated today than when I took my first steps to run nearly 3 years ago. Why isn’t running what it once was for me? It was a time for me to sort out my thoughts, hang out with God, focus on me, and work hard to be healthy. Now, I have zero motivation. I go to the gym and see the skinny girl next to me running at 8.5 and feel instant defeat. Since this is my fourth race shouldn’t be a cake walk? Shouldn’t I be in shape and prepared? Shouldn’t I know better than to compare myself to the skinny girl next to me on the treadmill? What is my problem?
I’m going to work on making running what it was to me. I’m going to go back to the basics. Praying before I start, praying while I’m running. Repeating “it’s only one foot in front of the other.”
I’m going to work on making running what it was to me. I’m going to go back to the basics. Praying before I start, praying while I’m running. Repeating “it’s only one foot in front of the other.”
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