While we were "running the dots" yesterday morning my coach announced that she is not a runner. Mind you this is the person who introduced me to running like this, run 1/10th, walk 1/10th or running the dots to prepare for the Lincoln 1/2 marathon in May. She casually said it, like it wasn't even a thought, like I'd say I'm not purple.
Let me be crystal clear, I consider Monica my running expert, my coach. She ran the Lincoln 1/2 last year. She runs 5k's with her husband and daughter. She's running the Lincoln 1/2 with me this year. She works out in the gym with a trainer specifically for her running. But she doesn't see it, what I see in her long strides, in her confident gait or just in her sunny attitude about running. That she is a runner.
So I pressed it with her, like I do. What does she love about running. She was quick to answer. I love that at family things I'm out leading the charge. I love that I don't wear out. I love that when I went to New York City last year I didn't get tired, I didn't have to pop ibuprofen every four hours. I love that my daughter sees what I'm doing as normal. I love the energy.
So, still pressing her, why aren't you a runner? This almost stopped her in her tracks. Finally she answered, because I don't look like a runner.
Ok why does that matter? We talked a lot in our 6 miles. We talked about body image and what it's like to run and not be a gazelle, to weigh more than 140 lbs, to have more than 11% body fat. We talked about what it is like when too much moves or what it's like when your stomach sticks out further than your breasts, we talked about bulges and dimples. We talked about what it's like to run and try and leave that all behind.
I loved how honest we were with each other. There's something about the early morning on the trails in the sun where we could let some of the "shoulds" go and just move. I wish for more days like this for everyone of you, more honesty, more moving and more letting go of the things we allow to diminish us.
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