One of my original goals when I did the Couch to 5k program in 2009 was to achieve a runner’s body. You know the body I’m referring to: thin & muscular…or, to be honest, just thin. I come from a long line of “hardy” women. Big boned. Thick. Nothing petite about us. I lovingly(?) refer to my “hot dog fingers” and my “pork chop feet.” Images of female runners were of the sleek, thin perfect woman. I wanted that runner’s body!
Fast forward 9 years. Surprise! I haven’t achieved that runner’s body. Honestly, there have been times when I’ve been discouraged by that. What I have is my body in much better physical shape & much healthier than I ever was in my earlier years. The big bones are still there, along with the wide feet and thick fingers.
I remember 2 years ago I was at the Publix Women’s Half-Marathon/5k in Savannah. My husband was with me. Thousands of women were there. I was standing in the way-way back corral before the race & my husband told me to look around. Look at the variety of women there. All shapes and sizes. They all have a runner’s body because they are ALL runners! Thanks to him, I realized there is no ideal “runner’s body.” My body is my body. My DNA is my DNA. I have the big hands, feet and bones of my mother and my grandmother and probably great, great grandmother and so on…
The best thing I can do for my body is to love it as it is. One of the best ways to show that love it is to keep it healthy and strong. I do it through exercise, nutrition, sleep and self-care. Now that I have entered my 6th decade of life, I appreciate that more than I ever have before. Even though I still have a devil of a time finding shoes to fit my pork chop feet, I have learned to love the body I have. And hey, I realized that with these bones I don’t have to worry about osteoporosis, so there you go!
Happy Running!
Kerry
Love this! Keep kicking Couch Kicker!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Girl! Guess who I ran into yesterday at Fowler Park? Our C25k instructor Dixie! We were both taking an upper body class. She remembered we were the inaugural Couch Kicker class!
LikeLike
Awesome article! One of the hardest obstacles to overcome in fitness is aligning our expectations with our realities. Finding satisfaction with an exercise program, embracing overall health, and keeping those both going for the long term are much more valuable than an “ideal” body. It can be hard to let it go, but by finding an exercise program you truly enjoy, you start placing your health and overall well-being over societal constructs of how a runner “should” look.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true! Thanks for reading and commenting:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just realized who you are! You do a morning workout called “Running with Zena” right? Thanks again for your comments!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lady, I am right there with you with those big bones! It doesn’t matter how much I run, I’m never gonna be a stick! Like you though, totally learning to embrace and appreciate this runner’s body that I do have–very grateful to be able to get out there and move!
PS_Love women’s races! I always think the same thing as your hubs: Look at all of us–all different shapes, sizes, and ages. SO awesome!
Happy running! x
LikeLike
Thank you for reading and for the comment! Big boned women Unite!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!! x
LikeLike