The Timeless Message of Girls on the Run

I am so thankful to be part of Girls on the Run-as a girl, as a mom, and as a runner. I'm blessed to be able to experience the positive effects in the individual girl's lives and to observe that extend to their family and community.

A new season is starting and I will miss the girls who have 'graduated' and moved onto 6th grade. I'm hoping the Puget Sound area will grow enough to be able to offer Girls on Track for middle school and junior high when girls are really trying to figure out who they are uniquely and also trying to fit in- whatever that means.

At the beginning of every new session, I ask the return girls what they like most about being a Girl on the Run. Usually, they say the games and snack time and hanging out with their friends; and I think-isn't that what I love about being a Girl on the Run? Playing outside, 'fueling up' after a great run and being with my friends.

Next, I ask them to share a little about their favorite lesson with the new team members and it is during this time when I know that while running may not always stay with them, the message of making choices and transforming those into the best actions and outcomes will ring true.

At different points in my life, I have come back to: plugging into positive messages through visualization or meditation; reminded myself to own the choices I have made; sorting out emotions and understanding that all emotions are part of the human experience and it's healthy to feel them all; celebrating gratitude and catching myself if I start to take things for granted; putting negative self talk in the trash; fueling for health and "running my own pace" as that applies to the broad scope of life; standing up for myself and being assertive in a constructive, respectful way; and giving back to my community.

Empowerment- that's what I want for all girls.

I'm a runner...I'm a RUNNER...I'M A RUNNER

It has taken me a long time to say that with confidence. My running journey began after both my girls had started school and I had to do something about the "baby" fat. I was a closet runner (treadmill at the gym or early morning so no one would see me) all through training for my first 5K. The more I ran, the more running started to feel like freedom and independence and rebellion. Freedom from the daily grind and my desk job, independence because I could do this for myself and rebellion from all the junk I had started believing about myself-I'm not good enough or fast enough or athletic enough. That was in 2003. Fast forward to now, I have completed 9 marathons (including an ultra), a half-iron distance triathlon, participated in a Ragnar relay and find myself addicted to trails. There's a saying, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and I say, why not run it?

Words to Live By

I Choose...

to live by choice, not by chance
to make changes, not excuses
to be motivated, not manipulated
to be useful, not used
to excel, not compete

I choose self-esteem, not self pity

I choose to listen to my inner voice
not the random opinion of others

You Know You're a Triathlete when...

This totally describes my life.

1.Going Commando because you forgot to pack underwear in your Gear Bag becomes normal

2.You Keep an entire second set of Toiletries in your workplace

3.Bonking’ is what happens when you run out of energy on the bike!

4.Food becomes known as ’Nutrition’

5.You now own more Race T-Shirts than regular T-Shirts

6.You tell your partner that you’d like to get away together for a weekend and then announce there happens to be a Race taking place in the same location!

7.All of you friends and family buy you running gear and give you “sports store vouchers” on your birthday!

8.Your MP3 playlists have titles such as “Get up and Train!” “Interval Session” & “Harden the f*** up”

9.Lycra becomes something to be proud of

10.You always have several Bike Water Bottles next to your kitchen sink

11.You always have more “Training Gear” in your laundry than normal clothes

12.Your Co-workers describe you as ‘Crazy’ on a regular basis

13.Almost all of your internet favorites are Triathlon related

14.You think cycling to and from ‘Running races’ is Normal

15.When you arrive back from training, your partner automatically hands you some food or a sports drink so you don’t get into a bad mood from low blood sugar

16.Showering 2 or 3 times a day is not unusual

17.You walk around all day wondering why people have been giving you strange looks. It’s only when you look in the mirror that you notice the ‘Goggle marks’ on your face that never went away! (Don’t worry about it Panda eyes)

18.You get worried about going out for drinks at night, in case it effects your training the next day!

19.You secretly think of holidays abroad as an opportunity for a ‘Training camp’!

20.You spend more on Race Entries than on Nights out drinking

21.You avoid telling your co-workers what you ACTUALLY did over the weekend because you know they’ll think you’re a freak!

22.You have an ridiculous T-Shirt suntan!

23.Your friends hate waking up with hangovers and receiving your SMS messages saying “Just had a brilliant 5 mile run – beautiful morning!”

24.Like a ‘Boa-Constrictor’ you slowly commandeer at least one entire room in your house for your ‘Gear’

25.When you see a new movie is being released on DVD your first thought is: “That would be good to watch on the Turbo Trainer!”

26.When you travel overnight you pack one bag for your normal clothes and another bag for your Training gear

27.Your bike becomes a true friend!

28.The smell of Deep-Heat makes you think of Race morning

29.You think it’s normal to queue at a portaloo with strangers while you all check your watches and dance from foot to foot

30.When you hear the word “transition” it triggers a Jason Bourne like reaction and you suddenly find yourself getting changed with a stopwatch in your hand!:)

25 Things

1. I have two beautiful, amazing daughters who inspire me everyday

2. I am lucky to be their mom

3. I want to be a teacher when I grow up

4. my dream is to teach in an orphanage or children's home

5. I was adopted as a baby

6. hoping to go to Seoul next year

7. still learning to face my fears

8. stories of human trafficking keep me awake some nights

9. Every day I am thankful for freedom

10. I believe education is the best investment

11. love to run in the rain

12. recommend the book "The Audacity of Hope"

13. attempting to read the Bible cover to cover

14. this morning I feel blessed to have a job

15. Happiness is about endurance, struggle and accomplishment

16. in training for 2nd marathon, 1st triathlon

17. looking forward to a day when a candidate will take public office and the color of his or her skin will not be called out by the media

18. icecream is my weakness

19. I love the theater

20. I miss Albuquerque sunsets over the mesa

21. But Seattle feels like home

22. have discovered the art of belly dance

23. recently met my favorite author, Terry Brooks

24. always up for a run, a road trip, a hike, a board game, an americano

25. I hope there is running in heaven

The Top 10

Reasons to Run:

Running makes me feel better everday

Running is a positive addiction

Running is inspiring

Running feels like freedom and rebellion and independence

Running = great legs

Running is the fountain of youth

Running is like a best friend, always dependable

Running is honest

Running is sweaty and sweaty is sexy

Running is a parable about life



I think this sums it up:
"Bid me run and I will strive with things impossible"- Shakespeare


But most importantly:
Run for fun