Tuesday TTRS ~ Quality, Balance, Beauty.... from the Inside_Out

The Complete Runner's Day-by-Day Log/2010 Calendar 
Training Tip:
Quality vs. Quantity ~ "Don't overvalue distance.  Twenty miles a week of quality running will do more for you physically and mentally than thirty miles of plodding."


 Training Topic:

Figuring out how to make family and running fit together….

I’m constantly surprised at how my thoughts about things running-related seem to be in sync with the latest issue of Runner’s World.  Weird.  But good-weird.

So when the April issue arrived in our mailbox mid-March, I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw this article about spouses, families, and running.  I had been thinking about this a lot the last few months, after having a few unsolicited conversations with fellow blogger/runner-types. 

This seems to be a touchy subject for some, based on things revealed to me.  What do you do when  one person is  a runner and the other is a nonrunner or lacks  healthy habits?  Seems this disparity may lead to many things, not the least of which is hurt feelings about missed family events or resentment about incompatible health issues/concerns.  What do you do when one person embraces healthy lifestyle changes and the other is  not quite there (yet)?

Then there's the "DURF" group.  (DUal Running Family).  You have kids. You both need time to lace up your running shoes and hit the streets.  Somebody needs to be home with the kids, right??  Or.... Do the kids go with you?   

Running is a lifestyle. 

No doubt about it. 

What’s your life story? Married to a guy or gal who prefers to stay indoors or a fellow runner who demands his/her street time, too?  How’s this working for you?

Other Random Stuff:

Beauty..... from the Inside_Out

As some of you know, I've been an educator for 16 years, teaching at the middle, high, and college levels.  I love working and talking with young people.  You learn so much when you take the time to listen to them.  (When they're willing to talk, of course!)

As a middle school teacher for most of my classroom years, I'm particularly aware of how girls' self confidence either flourishes or wanes when they reach 'a certain age' - usually 7th grade.  Often,  girls  begin to 'dumb down' academically and become increasingly self-conscious in their middle school years, leading to poor grades, unhealthy eating habits/disorders, and little to no exercise. 

As a teenager whose own body took on a womanly shape very early and resulted in unwanted stares, comments, and behaviors, I understand why girls become self-conscious.  I also remember wishing I was more athletic, more self-confident, more self-assured as a teenager.  My own students' behaviors felt so normal to me, yet I wanted to shield them from the uneasiness I felt as a teenager and young woman in my twenties in the Navy, and from making the poor choices I made as a result of the unwanted attention and poor self-image.  I  counseled many students to fight the peer pressure and self-doubt ... "Be strong in  your convictions, in your own self image, in your own inner strength." 

The other issue that became increasingly obvious to me the last year I was in the classroom fulltime was the increase of weight and diabetes among teens.  Interestingly, I had not been diagnosed yet and knew nothing about diabetes, but was dismayed to have not one, but THREE high school students diagnosed with the condition  during one school year, two girls and one young man.  This alarmed me! 

And I watched each  struggle with learning how to cope.  Ironically, it would be another year before I would be diagnosed and have to deal with my own weight issues, denial,  depression, and coping strategies.  Looking back, I would have done things very differently to support my young students whose lives had been so radically changed, if only I understood the depth of diabetes and its effects on one's life.   

Today,  these  issues in kids, particularly girls, continue to frame my thinking.  I love the Dove commercials and campaign that began a few years ago, sending a powerful message to  our girls to see the real beauty inside.  Check out this one-minute film on beauty distorted:

I've said it before and continue to say it ......

As runners of all shapes, sizes, faces, and paces,

we can be role models for others in our community.  

Young people.
Older people.
People just like us.
People very different from us.
Each other.

And....

We can celebrate young people in our lives who are making positive choices, particularly girls who are strong, self confident, and active. We can nurture their continued positive self-image into and through their teen years. 

I'd like to introduce you to two young friends I recently met: 

This is "E" ~ the 7 year old niece of one of my work friends.  I recently learned that E was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just a few months ago and gives herself shots several times a day.  She's active, plays several sports and as you can see, is not overweight.  How (and why) did diabetes attack her system?

And this is "A" ~ an 11 year old friend who recently ran her first 5K and was getting fitted for her very first pair of running shoes.  Check out these awesome blue kicks she picked out. 

How can you nurture the self-confidence, positive self-image, and inner beauty of the young women in your life?   How can you nurture your own?

Run with quality. 

Find balance in your life. 

Nurture and celebrate inner beauty and healthy habits.

Happy running, friends.... Have a terrific Tuesday,

Robin