Not necessarily about sewing (although maybe a bit because I want to get into sewing my own exercise and running clothes) or knitting (unless you consider people who literally knit and run), but I can't stop looking at the latest cover of Women's Running. The link's been open on my computer all day, and I keep going back to look at it. According to this article, the magazine's been making a buzz because they chose to feature a plus-sized model for their August cover.
It's apparently connected to an article about how popular athletic clothing brands are starting to provide more sizes of running gear (omg that's fantastic!), but also to show that not all runners are the lithe figures usually associated with runners. The model here, Erica Schenk, has been running for a decade.
I...can't believe how inspiring this is! I finally understand why people talk about the need for more representation in the media. I mean, I've always understood in my head that representation of different types of people are important, but it's never hit me so hard as it did to see someone closer to my shape looking strong and powerful like this in a magazine.
Whitehorse has a large community of very intense, hard-core runners. I have a buddy who is a big time, dedicated marathon runner, who travels all over Canada and the USA for races. She runs up to something like 75 km a week while in training, and she's pretty quick too. But in her weekly running groups, which can number up to 60 people? She's usually in the bottom 5 runners. BOTTOM FIVE. How does a beginner, and one in pretty poor shape, even start? How the heck do you find the motivation, especially when you've been told before that "you have the wrong body for running"?
Well, this is one way. I think I'm going to dust off my running shoes and hit the trails tomorrow morning. :) CONSIDER ME INSPIRED.
(And maybe also inspired to buy some patterns from Fehr Trade!)
YEE FRICKING HA!!!!! This is awesome. GO you!! xo
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome, Maryanne. :)
DeleteYay you! I really hope you enjoy running :) Covers like this make me so happy-I hate the narrative that says we need to be skinny to be healthy, or that if we're not getting skinny then we must be doing fitness wrong. One summer I got really into cycling, and it's still something I enjoy, but I was riding 10 miles a day, 6 days a week, and I gained 15 pounds in leg muscle and actually went up a dress size! But you couldn't look at my workout and tell me I wasn't working hard enough. I love seeing athletes and hobby joggers/yogis/cyclists of all shapes-you can't tell us our bodies can't do things because we're not lithe sprites!
ReplyDeleteI really do enjoy running - I've done it off and on (more off than on, tbh) for years. I just find it hard to keep motivated, especially when I hear stupid commentary. But honestly, most of the people up here are awesome, and I keep forgetting that. Even the hard-cores give me a smile, wave, or thumbs up as I puff my way along, which is really encouraging. :)
DeleteInspired here too! And just downloaded my purchase. Thanks for the link. Onward we go!!!
ReplyDeleteWOOHOO! :D
DeleteWell, I wrote a long post here the other night but it didn't take for some reason :/. I love that you're going to make your own workout clothes. I also think you'd make a good runner. Knitting and running are a lot alike. They seem to require the same focus- the kind that distracts just the right amount and lets you relax at the same time. They are my therapy for sure.
ReplyDeleteI run and walk past runners that look like that cover model quite a bit. I run past all ages and shapes of people, on one of our main streets. I wouldn't think a thing of it, but you're right, I've never seen a woman like that on a fitness magazine. Our cultures fixation on thinness and youth is so boring. I am a few sizes larger than I once was, but I am absolutely a better runner than ever before. I feel as though I could run forever, except when it's 100 degrees.
Aw, I'm sorry your comment got eaten. I've learned that if I'm not already signed in (under the 'reply as:' section), blogger will eat my comment when I switch to what I want to reply as. :( I've learned to copy my reply before hitting publish.
DeleteI love that your such a good runner, and became better as you got older! So inspiring! But yeah, it's fixation on thin and young is beyond frustrating. It just self perpetuates too. But I'm hopeful that things are getting better. Things like this cover helps, I think. It helps me, anyways. ;)
Although I have to say...running in 100 degree heat?!?! Help me google, thats...THAT'S 38C WHAT THE WHAT??! That's unlivable how do you survive?!
Okay I haven't actually run when it was 100 this year. I wait til evening and it's in the 90s. But with the humidity we all go by the "feels like... 103" temperature report. I have to gradually get used to the heat and drink lots of water, but you do adjust.
ReplyDeleteI've been re watching The Closer (minus the crappy last season) when I knit at night and your post reminded me of the time my daughter loaned the first season to her best friend, but the girl gave it back after watching one episode because everyone in it was "old and there weren't any cute people." That cracked us up, but it is telling.