I love reading Kristin Armstrong's blog. This post is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it.
PRETTY STRONG
Feeling comfortable in our skin isn't always easy. Running helps.By Kristin Armstrong
PUBLISHED 07/02/2007
A few months ago on a school morning, as I attempted to etch a straight midline part on the back of my wiggling daughter's soon-to-be-ponytailed blond head, I reminded her that it was chilly outside and she needed to grab a sweater."No, mama.""Excuse me?""No, I don't want to wear that sweater, it makes me look fat.""What?!" My comb clattered to the bathroom floor. "Fat?! What do you know about fat? You're 5 years old! You are definitely not fat. God made you just right. Now get your sweater."She scampered off, and I wearily leaned against the counter and let out a long, sad sigh. It has begun. I thought I had a few more years before my twin daughters picked up the modern day f-word. I have admittedly had my own seasons of unwarranted, psychotic Slim-Fasting and have looked erroneously to the scale to give me a measurement of myself. But these departures from my character were in my 20s, before the balancing hand of motherhood met the grounding grip of running. Once I learned what it meant to push myself, I lost all taste for depriving myself. I want to grow into more of a woman, not find ways to whittle myself down to less.The way I see it, the only way to run counter to our toxic image-centric society is to literally run by example. I can't tell my daughters that beauty is an incidental side effect of living your passion rather than an adherence to socially prescribed standards. I can't tell my son how to recognize and appreciate this kind of beauty in a woman. I have to show them, over and over again, mile after mile, until they feel the power of their own legs beneath them and catch the rhythm of their own strides.Which is why my parents wake my kids early on race-day mornings. It matters to me that my children see me out there, slogging through difficult miles. I want my girls to grow up recognizing the beauty of strength, the exuberance of endurance, and the core confidence residing in a well-tended body and spirit. I want them to be more interested in what they are doing than how they look doing it. I want them to enjoy food that is delicious, feed their bodies with wisdom and intent, and give themselves the freedom to indulge. I want them to compete in healthy ways that honor the cultivation of skill, the expenditure of effort, and the courage of the attempt.Grace and Bella, will you have any idea how lovely you are when you try? Recently we ran the Chuy's Hot to Trot Kids K together as a family in Austin, and I ran the 5-K immediately afterward. Post-race, my kids asked me where my medal was. I explained that not everyone gets a medal, so they must have run really well (all kids got a medal, shhh!). As I picked up Grace, she said, "You are so sweaty Mommy, all wet." Luke smiled and said, "Mommy's sweaty 'cause she's fast. And she looks pretty. All clean." My PRs will never garner attention or generate awards. But when I run, I am 100 percent me--my strengths and weaknesses play out like a cracked-open diary, my emotions often as raw as the chafing from my jog bra. In my ultimate moments of vulnerability, I am twice the woman I was when I thought I was meant to look pretty on the sidelines. Sweaty and smiling, breathless and beautiful: Running helps us all shine. A lesson worth passing along.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
My Heart...
As many of you know I have struggled most of my adult years with depression and body image issues. Although I have overcome most of my demons, they continue to haunt me. However, I find that I’m the most confident and alive when I am running. When I'm running I feel at peace with myself and my God. It is in those times when I’m running that I can take out all my frustrations of the day on the pavement beneath my feet. I can have the best conversations with God and thank Him for the beauty in this world. I am able to thank Him for the river that runs next to me, for the fawn that just crossed in front of me, for the birds above me, for the sunrise and the sunset. I also thank Him for the company of my running buddies who inspire me and encourage me to just keep running.
I remember when I first started running especially that first day on the treadmill when I couldn't even run fifteen minutes. I would walk 5 min, jog 5 min, walk 5 min, and jog 5 min. I remember struggling. I remember the side aches, my heart beating fast, and the way my chest felt tight. It took everything in me to keep going. But in that moment when I was overweight, unhealthy, depressed, and broken; I had a moment with God. I remember asking God for help. I asked that he would help me get through that grueling 30 minutes. I told Him that if he could just help me get through it, I knew I could serve Him better. I knew if I felt better about myself I would be able to serve him more graciously. Maybe if I felt better about myself, I wouldn't stay locked up in my apartment too embarrassed by the "muffin top" over my jeans or my tight fitting clothes.
God helped me get through that run and God helped me get through a true 30 min run without walking, later 45 min, 60 min, and then 2 :29 minutes when I ran my first half marathon. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment I felt that day.
Running has improved my relationship with God. Running has inspired me. Running has made my body healthier. Running clears my mind. Running helps my depression. Running forces me to do something for me. Running has inspired me to do something for others who may be in similar situation as I was/am. Running has inspired to reach out to those women who want to do something for themselves for once, for those who want to set a goal, and for those who want to establish friendship and community with other runners.
My heart is to start a running club. The details are blurry but my vision is not! My vision is to have a group of women running together, supporting each other, and cheering one another on to get through that first 30 minutes together while sharing in tears, laughter & sweat. My vision is to embrace each other’s goals and learn from each other while having community together, eating, stretching, and recovering together. Lastly, my idea also includes serving and donating our time or our money to an organization to help the less fortunate in our community and in our world.
I'm inviting you to be a part of my running club. I can commit to 1-2 runs per month as a group. I will pick a location to meet at and we will run together cheering each other on. We will finish our run, feel proud, and celebrate with food and drinks at my house. I will choose a charity and if you feel compelled to, you may donate monetary funds to that charity or donate our time volunteering. I have listed a links below of an organization that I have been in contact with.
Running has changed my life and I hope I can encourage you to help it change yours as well.
I remember when I first started running especially that first day on the treadmill when I couldn't even run fifteen minutes. I would walk 5 min, jog 5 min, walk 5 min, and jog 5 min. I remember struggling. I remember the side aches, my heart beating fast, and the way my chest felt tight. It took everything in me to keep going. But in that moment when I was overweight, unhealthy, depressed, and broken; I had a moment with God. I remember asking God for help. I asked that he would help me get through that grueling 30 minutes. I told Him that if he could just help me get through it, I knew I could serve Him better. I knew if I felt better about myself I would be able to serve him more graciously. Maybe if I felt better about myself, I wouldn't stay locked up in my apartment too embarrassed by the "muffin top" over my jeans or my tight fitting clothes.
God helped me get through that run and God helped me get through a true 30 min run without walking, later 45 min, 60 min, and then 2 :29 minutes when I ran my first half marathon. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment I felt that day.
Running has improved my relationship with God. Running has inspired me. Running has made my body healthier. Running clears my mind. Running helps my depression. Running forces me to do something for me. Running has inspired me to do something for others who may be in similar situation as I was/am. Running has inspired to reach out to those women who want to do something for themselves for once, for those who want to set a goal, and for those who want to establish friendship and community with other runners.
My heart is to start a running club. The details are blurry but my vision is not! My vision is to have a group of women running together, supporting each other, and cheering one another on to get through that first 30 minutes together while sharing in tears, laughter & sweat. My vision is to embrace each other’s goals and learn from each other while having community together, eating, stretching, and recovering together. Lastly, my idea also includes serving and donating our time or our money to an organization to help the less fortunate in our community and in our world.
I'm inviting you to be a part of my running club. I can commit to 1-2 runs per month as a group. I will pick a location to meet at and we will run together cheering each other on. We will finish our run, feel proud, and celebrate with food and drinks at my house. I will choose a charity and if you feel compelled to, you may donate monetary funds to that charity or donate our time volunteering. I have listed a links below of an organization that I have been in contact with.
Running has changed my life and I hope I can encourage you to help it change yours as well.
Training Runs @ Budwieser 7:45am
These runs are hosted by Runners Roost. The training runs all start at Budwieser at 7:45am. They provide food, drinks and prizes after the run. I have participated in the past & they are a lot of fun and well orginized. Please let me know if you are interested.
2/22/09 6&7 Mile Loop
3/8/09 7 & 8 Mile Loop
3/22/09 7 & 10 Mile Loop
4/4/09 1o Mile Loop
2/22/09 6&7 Mile Loop
3/8/09 7 & 8 Mile Loop
3/22/09 7 & 10 Mile Loop
4/4/09 1o Mile Loop
Group Runs
February 7, 2009 3 Miles Boyd Lake
March 7, 2009 6 Miles Spring Creek
April 4, 2009 7 Miles Cashe La Poudre
All Group runs will begin at 9am!Please leave a comment if you would like to carpool.
Mimosas & breakfast will be provided after group runs!
March 7, 2009 6 Miles Spring Creek
April 4, 2009 7 Miles Cashe La Poudre
All Group runs will begin at 9am!Please leave a comment if you would like to carpool.
Mimosas & breakfast will be provided after group runs!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Definition
Soma:
1.The living body.
2.It is a large or small number of men/women closely united into one society, or family as it were;a social,ethical,mystical body.
1.The living body.
2.It is a large or small number of men/women closely united into one society, or family as it were;a social,ethical,mystical body.
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