A review of Scout Basset鈥檚 new memoir, 鈥楲ucky Girl: Lessons on Overcoming Odds and Building a Limitless Future鈥�
The post This Paralympian Defined Her Own Future. It Includes Podiums for Others Like Her. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Scout Bassett learned an important lesson from an early age: you have to create your own luck.
Born as Zhu Fuzhi (鈥淟ucky Girl鈥� in Chinese), Bassett had to endure years of life鈥檚 cruel irony in her name. As an infant, she survived a fire that resulted in the loss of her leg, as well as the early abandonment by her biological parents.
Part autobiography, part self-help, part social critique, Bassett鈥檚 new book offers a candid view of her life, athletic career, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles facing athletes with disabilities, especially female athletes. Bassett鈥檚 intention of this book was to help 鈥減osition ourselves to be overcomers鈥攖o be champions鈥o have the fortitude, the grit, the strength, and the mental toughness to do just that.鈥�
The book tells Bassett鈥檚 personal journey from a poverty-stricken Chinese orphanage, to a small northern Michigan town, to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympics, and to the heart-breaking miss of making the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics team.
Bassett takes a straightforward narrative writing approach to the story of her childhood. Her earliest memory was tainted with hardship and abuse in the orphanage: living on a bowl of rice every day, sleeping in a narrow cot with another orphan, surviving abusive disciplinary acts such as waterboarding. The children never went outside; Bassett never even saw a housecat until after her adoption鈥攐r any animal for that matter.
Following her return to China as a Paralympian after the Rio Games in 2016, Bassett was thrown back into her childhood trauma. The experience of seeing that the orphanage had not changed much鈥攖he same rice for the children, the same permeating urine smell in the building鈥攍eft Bassett with panic attacks long after her return to Los Angeles.
Being adopted into a conservative Christian family in northern Michigan was her first salvage, though it didn鈥檛 solve her problems of feeling like the other. Bassett never knew what a school was, let alone being the only Chinese student in a majority-white school and the only student of disability.
鈥淕rowing up and being ethnically Chinese, disabled, and adopted, I can鈥檛 remember a time when I didn鈥檛 feel like an other. This dynamic was most obvious at school, with my peers, and the sports teams I was on.鈥�
Even after arriving at UCLA, she felt she wasn鈥檛 fully accepted by some Asian American students. 鈥淏y the time I got to college, I hadn鈥檛 spoken Chinese in over a decade鈥 was raised by a white family鈥or my roommate, I was too culturally white to be Asian,鈥� she writes. 鈥淣ot white enough to be white, mind you鈥ut not Asian enough to be Asian.鈥�
RELATED: Des Linden in Her Masters鈥� Era: 鈥淚鈥檓 Glad I鈥檓 40鈥�
When Bassett discovered running at age 14, it was an indescribable sense of freedom which enabled her to overcome a mindset of victimhood and otherness. 鈥淩unning was really that transformative for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 grew in confidence; I grew in self-belief. I held my head just a little bit higher.鈥�
Eventually, through running, Bassett realized that 鈥淏eing an other is a lonely place to be,鈥� and shared a bit of advice: 鈥淒on鈥檛 allow your otherness to lead you to embrace a victim mentality鈥f you鈥檙e reading this right now and you feel like an 鈥榦ther,鈥� here鈥檚 what I鈥檇 say to you: Do not hide. Please, don鈥檛 hide. Don鈥檛 mask who you are鈥our path is not going to look like everybody else鈥檚, but aren鈥檛 you glad?鈥�
Arriving at UCLA in 2007 started a new chapter for Bassett. Not only was she more exposed to people of all ethnic groups and religious backgrounds鈥攊ncluding more Asian Americans and the LGBTQ community鈥攕he was inspired to pursue Paralympics once a female coach asked her.
Then came more obstacles: a lack of training facilities and lack of coaches who are willing to work with Para athletes. Bassett was undeterred. She started training herself by watching YouTube videos and showing up before dawn to train on the track.
After graduation from college, Bassett went against everyone鈥檚 advice and quit her job at a medical device company. She lived in her car and on people鈥檚 couches to minimize her expenses so she could train full-time. In two years, she competed in the U.S. Championships but came in last. This only made her focus more and double down on her efforts.
The toughest part of Bassett鈥檚 pursuit was not the demanding physical training, but the prevalent sense of loneliness when choosing a path less-traveled. 鈥淭he obvious truth is that loneliness is a natural byproduct of life in an orphanage. But what I鈥檝e learned since is that loneliness is a natural byproduct of life鈥eriod鈥鈥檝e felt lonely on varying levels during almost every season of my life since.鈥�
Even being on the cover of Self magazine and having an made out of her own image couldn鈥檛 cure the everlasting loneliness. Bassett accepted the frequent loneliness and used it to fuel her training. 鈥淪ometimes, that might be to remain isolated so you can grind out a skill, learning, or development,鈥� she writes.
As Steve Magness writes in ,聽鈥淲hen we explore instead of avoid, we are able to integrate the experience into our story. We are able to make meaning out of struggle, out of suffering. Meaning is the glue that holds our mind together, allowing us to both respond and recover.鈥�
When Bassett found meaning in speaking for others who often feel lonely because of their 鈥渙therness,鈥� she realized that 鈥渢raining, mentoring, and advocacy have been my answer to loneliness鈥攚hich now doesn鈥檛 feel like loneliness at all.鈥�
This mindset has enabled Bassett to go from finishing last place at the 2012 London U.S. Paralympic track and field trials to competing as a Paralympian at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. After the setback of missing out on the Tokyo Paralympics, she then staged a strong comeback of winning the 100-meter at the 2022 US Nationals.
Bassett is unafraid to offer a critical look at the overall lack of systematic support for athletes with disabilities: lack of coaching support, lack of media coverage, and fewer Paralympic events to compete in. It goes all the way to the governing body: Only 4 out of 15 governing positions at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are held by women.
But perhaps the biggest hurdles of all are the limited options for Para athletes to continue developing and competing beyond high school. This is one of the intentions Bassett had set up her , to create a pipeline of Para athletes with adequate financial support. 鈥淚鈥檓 not talking about a few thousand dollars,鈥� she writes. We鈥檝e had a partner give a very generous donation that will allow us to give five-figure grants to these girls.鈥�
Christine Yu has also discussed the profoundly inadequate funding in women鈥檚 sports in her book, . 鈥淥n the whole, these institutions (NCAA, etc.) prioritize men鈥檚 sports over women鈥檚 sports.鈥� But on the Para athlete level, systemic support remains nascent. As recently as January 2014, the board of directors of the Eastern College Athletic Conference approved the for student-athletes with disabilities.
RELATED: Can Women Outperform Men in Sports? That鈥檚 the Wrong Question to Ask.
Bassett credits track running star Allyson Felix as one of her inspirations with advocacy. 鈥淎lyson has been a great role model for me as I鈥檝e gotten older in my career. She is the person who helped me to see I鈥檓 so much more than just an athlete鈥鈥檓 more than my wins. I鈥檓 more than my losses. And Allyson set that example for me to follow,” she says.
In creating her Scout Bassett Fund, Bassett hopes to also create other advocates like Allyson Felix and herself鈥攚hole champions on and off the track.
鈥淭he main idea behind the Scout Bassett Fund is to allow these young women to train their way into Paralympic contention. But it鈥檚 also to give these young women a megaphone鈥攖o give them a chance to build their own platforms so they can join their voices with mine to fight for equality and to fight for better representation of disabled females on and off the track.鈥�
The post This Paralympian Defined Her Own Future. It Includes Podiums for Others Like Her. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>July was officially the hottest month on record. We reached out to Phoenix runners to learn about how to adapt and train in sustained heat.
The post How Runners in Phoenix Survived the Hottest Summer Ever appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>The city of Phoenix, Arizona, made at the end of July: 31 consecutive days of heat above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking its 18-day record in 1974.聽
Besides being known for its unrelenting heat, desert landscape, and a diverse and vibrant population, Phoenix is also home to a thriving running community, with several local running clubs and stores (Sole Sports, Runner鈥檚 Den, Tortoise & Hare Sports, to name a few), a series of races, and , a popular trail and ultra-race organizing company.
RELATED: Six Hot Weather Mistakes to Avoid
According to data from the , extreme heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the U.S., killing more people most years than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. And yet summer is also a key training season for many races in the fall like the Chicago Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, and the New York City Marathon.聽
As this year is , it is the residents from some of the country鈥檚 hottest regions who will continue taking the most heat. We reached out to several runners based in Phoenix to learn about best practices when adapting to extreme heat.
Heat of vaporization is the basic physics principle for how the body cools itself through sweating. As the body鈥檚 temperature rises above a certain threshold, the brain tells the sweat glands to perspire, and while the sweat evaporates from one鈥檚 skin, it takes the heat with it.聽
Fortunately, water from external sources does the same thing to cool the body, before you naturally start to sweat. 鈥淜eeping yourself wet is a great cooling strategy,鈥� said , ultrarunner and CEO of Aravaipa Running. 鈥淚f you have a cold bucket of water or some ice water, think about soaking yourself before you head out in the heat. In dry heat like we have in Phoenix, I always carry water with me, not only for hydration, but to keep my clothes or body wet, since it has the same cooling effect as your natural sweating mechanism.鈥�
ultrarunner, coach, and cancer survivor, who is in the middle of her 13.1 Project. 鈥淲hen you run in the heat, sometimes it鈥檚 easy to forget how much you鈥檙e sweating and how much salt you鈥檙e losing,鈥� she said.聽 Her 13.1 project includes running a half marathon distance every day for 250 consecutive days to honor those who are fighting cancer, survived cancer, or lost their lives to cancer.
鈥淚 am usually out of the door by 5 A.M. Most mornings this summer are around 90 degrees so I have to stay on top of my hydration game,鈥� said Hunt-Broersma. 鈥淚 make sure to take in plenty of electrolytes, since water itself might not be enough.鈥�
Nikki Duplissa, a runner, fitness lover, and school psychologist based in Gilbert, about 30 minutes east of Phoenix, also emphasized the importance of preventative hydration. 鈥淚f you think you have enough water, you might underestimate what you need. I tend to not sweat so I make sure I run with a water bottle.鈥�
Running in extreme heat requires careful planning of water stops, shades, and even indoor cooling breaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that 鈥�.鈥� Though many ultrarunners boast about their heat endurance abilities, it is always wise to plan for frequent water stops, quick cooling breaks, and possibly a change of temperature, indoors or outdoors.
鈥淩unning at 100 degrees or higher could be dangerous. You can always plan your route so you can get some air-conditioning and cool down before you go again,鈥� said Hunt-Broersma. 鈥淲ater stops are critical. Maybe it鈥檚 a route around your house or your car so you can refill your water bottle.鈥�
The increasing heat is not only concerning to runners, but also to race organizers like Coury. He first shared the tip of stashing water in a familiar long run route. 鈥淚f you are going for a long run in the Phoenix area and don鈥檛 have the luxury of driving a couple of hours out to Flagstaff, or to the mountains where it鈥檚 cooler, you need to either plan the route with water fountains, or stash a water bottle in different spots along the way.鈥�
As a racer organizer, Coury also started the very popular from April to September. The distance ranges from three miles to nearly 50 miles. 鈥淲hen the temperature reaches over 110 degrees during the day, we move to running at night. It鈥檚 a loop and we have unlimited ice and water. Some runners see it as a supported long run (to prepare for their ultra races).鈥�
Light-colored, quick-dry clothing protects the skin against U.V. rays and helps with cooling. 鈥淚 used to run without a shirt on to stay cool, but now I always wear a shirt to shield my skin from the sun,鈥� said , ultrarunner, Hoka Flyer, and social media manager for Sole Sports in Phoenix.聽
As Chan prepares for his first 100-mile race, Arizona鈥檚 , in late October, he sometimes has to run in the middle of the day to acclimate to the heat. 鈥淚 was raised in Phoenix and ran cross country, so the heat is not a strange element to me.鈥� Chan often trains in the area, one of the largest municipally managed parks in the nation. 鈥淩ecently, I started wearing a button-up mountain running shirt. You can either button up or down, depending on how hot it is. Hat and sunscreen are essentials. I also use an ice bandana.鈥�
With more runners carrying ice with them on the run or race, Aravaipa Running has recently updated its policy on ice. 鈥淲e no longer ration ice for our races. At one of our races this year, we had a local ice and water company that dropped an ice trailer for us. At Javelina, all runners have unlimited ice to use. They can take as much ice as they need to stay cool,鈥� said Jamil Coury.聽
One non-negotiable intervention while running in extremely hot conditions is anti-chafe cream. As an adaptive athlete, Jacky Hunt-Broersma always carries Squirrel鈥檚 Nut Butter with her in the summer. 鈥淚 have a lot more rubbing with my stump when I sweat a lot more in the summer. My stump also gets swollen and when it does, my prosthetic won鈥檛 fit. I have to apply the Nut Butter frequently to make sure my skin is good. I have to prevent my skin from breaking out or getting swollen. It鈥檚 an extra step in the summer.鈥澛�
国产吃瓜黑料 columnist Alex Hutchinson listed out 鈥渘umerous explanations we could offer for why life seems to suck more when you鈥檙e trying to push your limits all alone.鈥� Though the article focuses more on racing and time trials, it鈥檚 not hard to imagine that running in the heat with others鈥� company makes it feel easier.
For Hunt-Broersma鈥檚 250 days of running a half marathon each day to raise funds for sarcoma cancer research, she has welcomed other runners to join her on her runs, including those visiting from out of town. In her about this project, Hunt-Broersma wrote:聽
鈥淩un virtually with me, join me out in Arizona, run 1 mile, run 13.1 miles, run a marathon, but keep on moving.鈥� On her , she posts all her group runs that others have joined. 鈥淩ecently, someone flew in from Kentucky to run with me in honor of his father who recently passed away. Someone who recently started at Arizona State University came to town and joined me for a trail run. We have a group on Strava and I鈥檓 always welcoming others鈥� company.鈥澛�
鈥淲hen we run with others, sometimes we forget we鈥檙e suffering,鈥� said聽 Chan. Sole Sports hosts group runs on Mondays and Thursdays in its Tempe location. At its Arcadia location, runners join the at . 鈥淓ven for group runs that start at 6:30 P.M. the sun is still out and it鈥檚 very hot outside, but we brace the heat together, and we have a beer to celebrate afterwards.鈥�
A flexible mindset is critical as runners navigate summer heat. 鈥淒oing an indoor workout like a class at Orange Theory has been great for me,鈥� said Duplissa. Ever since finishing graduate school and starting her new role as a school psychologist, Duplissa knew that her focus would be more on work and less on running for a few more months. 鈥淚鈥檒l be looking for a race soon.鈥澛�
As a race director, Coury also tried to accommodate runners鈥� needs and remain as adaptable as possible. 鈥淲e usually have a monsoon season in the Southwest, but it came late this year. When we have a high heat index, we鈥檒l delay the race start a bit later, or relax our drop-down standards. When we have high temperatures mid-race, we allow people to drop down without a penalty. We don鈥檛 want to mark those who aren鈥檛 feeling well in the heat with a DNF (Did Not Finish).鈥澛犅�
RELATED: The New Rules of Hydration
Hunt-Broersma balances her schedule with her kids鈥� needs. 鈥淟iving in Phoenix has taught me to be flexible. I have to drop my kids off at school in the morning, so each run might not turn out to be exactly how I have planned. You might have to learn to break your runs into two sessions, or run on a treadmill.鈥�
Most importantly, Hunt-Broersma practices a gratitude mindset. 鈥淓ven though the first mile is always uncomfortable, and I have to wear an extra sock in my stump, I am grateful to be alive and running with and for others.”
The post How Runners in Phoenix Survived the Hottest Summer Ever appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>For master鈥檚 world record holder Sue McDonald, it鈥檚 all about mental games and keeping the training fun
The post The Fastest 60-Year-Old Woman on Earth Is Only Getting Faster appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>If you follow master鈥檚 track and field, it鈥檚 hard to miss聽鈥檚 astonishing accomplishments this season, including eight world records in the 60-64 women鈥檚 age group鈥攕even ratified, one pending.
Having recently snatched world records in the indoor 800 meters (2:25.72) and indoor 1,500 meters (5:08.88), McDonald was unstoppable chasing outdoors records, too: 400 meter (62.34), 800 meter (2:22.52), 1,500 meter (5:04.27), mile (5:28.02), and 300 meter (48.89)聽at several Southern California track meets and the聽聽in July.
To add to her dazzling record collection, on August 13th at Mount SAC College in Walnut, California, McDonald聽finished the heptathlon with a world record point total of 6,269, improving on the previous world record of 5,815. (If you鈥檙e dying to know, here is how you聽.)
聽is a masters runner, mom, and coach. 鈥淏efore the event this past weekend, I had not competed in the heptathlon for 27 years!鈥� McDonald laughed. 鈥淚 was able to get in one javelin and shot practice session before the competition with Dan Lange, former USC throws coach for 32 years and my college teammate. I also went into the long jump cold, which I don鈥檛 recommend.鈥�
Terry Howell of聽聽is McDonald鈥檚 coach, and he鈥檚 inspired by her ambition. 鈥淪ue has a lot of fun competing, which is why she has such incredible longevity in track and field. She has this kid-like joy for as long as I鈥檝e known her.鈥�
You can clearly see this joy in her fierce, smooth strides going over hurdles at the 300-meter hurdles event at the masters outdoor nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina. After crossing the finish line in 48.89 seconds, McDonald smiled in her calm manner. 鈥淚 watched her every race on the livestream and thought, we鈥檙e just getting started!鈥� said Coach Howell.
With eight world records in one season, Sue McDonald felt she could do more.
鈥淚t does seem like the opposite of normal, but I鈥檓 not surprised I鈥檓 getting faster in my 60s,鈥� said McDonald. 鈥淚 spent a few years running marathons and triathlons. I was a high jumper in college. I did a lot of things, and I鈥檓 just doing different events than what I did in the past.鈥�
McDonald and Coach Howell recently appeared on聽听飞颈迟丑听. 鈥淪omeone recently asked me: 鈥榳hen do people slow down.鈥� My answer was: I don鈥檛 know. I guess it happens when it happens,鈥� said coach Howell.
What is the secret to Sue McDonald鈥檚 illustrious track and field career that spans over 40 years?
Sue McDonald first started running in the Parks and Rec league during elementary school. Since her high school didn鈥檛 have a track, she practiced at Los Angeles Junior College, which led her to be recruited to run there. She placed second in the high jump at the Junior College State Championships two years in a row.
By the time she graduated from California State University, Northridge, McDonald nearly qualified for the Olympic trials in high jump. She also competed in the heptathlon, with her strengths in sprints and jumps. After chasing the Olympic Trial qualifier in the high jump in 1988, McDonald retired鈥攆or the first time鈥攁nd eventually moved onto triathlons and road races. She joined a local cycling team in Santa Barbara to challenge herself in a different way and made great friends.
鈥淎fter three pregnancies, I didn鈥檛 have any plans to go back to track and field, until one day, after I turned 50, I looked up to see what the American and World Records were in the high jump for my age group. It was over five feet. And I thought, I used to warm up at 5鈥� 6鈥�! Seeing that record was what pulled me back into track and field. I started training for high jump again. Eventually, I did get the American record [for Women鈥檚 50], but missed the world record.鈥� said McDonald.
鈥淪ue is not a one-dimensional athlete,鈥� said Howell. 鈥淪he has been extremely dedicated, but also having so much fun with these different events鈥攖he high jump, pole vault, shot put, and javelin forces her to move her body in a multitude of ways, making her strong.鈥�
Strength has been a key component of Sue McDonald鈥檚 training consistently. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 lift heavy weights, but I do physical therapy types of exercises every day, and I lift two to three times a week for 30 minutes each time.鈥�
McDonald acknowledged that she had never been a high mileage person, only averaging under 30 miles a week. 鈥淢y definition of an endurance run for an athlete like me is three to four miles with strides at the end. I also do some longer intervals on Wednesdays, and shorter workouts on Saturdays. I also ride my NordicTrack bike at home and aqua-jog at a public swimming pool. When people age, they tend to lose their balance and stability, so I do a lot of single-legged exercises like single-leg Romanian deadlift and single-leg squats.鈥�
鈥淪ue looks for new challenges and never backs away from them. She simply loves what she does,鈥� said Mark Covert, McDonald鈥檚 junior college coach, who was the first athlete to ever cross a finish line wearing the famous Nike Waffles at the 1972 Olympic Trials marathon and has run at least one mile a day for 45 years.
New challenges and a variety of events are what make McDonald鈥檚 athletic career fun. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to having fun with these combined events. That鈥檚 why I do it,鈥� said McDonald. Even after such breakthrough performances, McDonald still does everything for fun.
David Epstein writes in his book,聽The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic聽Performance, 鈥淚t was a strong clue that one key difference between expert and novice athletes was in the way they had learned to perceive the game, rather than the raw ability to react quickly.鈥�
Sue proves to be a great example of perceiving a game before it happens. Since 2015, she has been revisiting a program called聽聽by Dr. Patrick Cohn. Before major competitions, McDonald would review her sports psychology program and also visualize how the competition might shake out, how she might respond to a tactical race at the championships, and how she might hang on if it鈥檚 a fast or slow tactical race with mixed age groups.
鈥淚鈥檓 a lot less nervous on the start line than five years ago,鈥� said McDonald. 鈥淭his is because of my mental training. I take a few deep breaths to try to calm myself down when I feel anxiety coming on. Fifty percent of my preparation is my mental game. It is easy to brush off because it is time-consuming. I definitely think more people should up their mental game if they have big goals.鈥�
As a fitness coach herself, McDonald also helps other athletes with their mental games.聽, Professor of Mathematics at Western Washington University, mom of three and current Women鈥檚 60 (W60) American record holder in the decathlon, credits McDonald for helping her with her strong psychological state during her decathlon competition.
鈥淎t the most recent meet at Mt. Sac, the pole vault I ordered did not arrive on time. I was then handed an incorrect substitute pole. It was all very stressful, but Sue was there and she helped me reframe my situation. Eventually, I was able to achieve a personal record because of her help,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hat makes multiple events like decathlon very challenging is all the changes. Between events, you have 30 minutes to change clothes and shoes, hydrate, and get ready for the next one. Your adrenaline goes up, and it goes down. Your body鈥檚 chemistry shifts very quickly. You also put your body through different motions. That鈥檚 a lot of transition in a very short time. As a heptathlete, Sue understands all the challenges herself and is capable of helping other combined event athletes like me very well.鈥�
To prepare for the聽, Sue McDonald dialed up her nutrition by doing two seemingly contradictory things: she gave up alcohol, and she went back to eating meat.
鈥淚 really like wine but gave it up because it interferes with my sleep. Now I only allow myself to have two to three of what I call聽Sue Sips聽from my husband鈥檚 glass,鈥� McDonald said. 鈥淚 wanted to go into Worlds with no regrets and do everything I possibly could, legally, to boost my performance.鈥� Without wine, McDonald is getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night, which has significantly improved her recovery, especially during multi-day events.
Nutrition has been a big part of her performance improvement. 鈥淚n January, I started to work with a metabolic practitioner,聽, who is the world champion in the 400 meter, a mom, and author. 鈥淚 was largely plant-based before with some seafood for a long time, until I decided to work with Cynthia. Reintroducing meat and poultry into my diet was one of the conditions Cynthia had proposed to me for our partnership.鈥� said McDonald. 鈥淚 felt I wasn鈥檛 getting enough protein in the past anyway. After reincorporating meat and poultry, my recovery has improved.鈥�
McDonald鈥檚 strategy is in line with聽鈥檚 recommendation in her book,聽Roar: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life: peri- and post-menopausal women should aim to stay at the higher end of the recommended range of protein intake (2.2 鈥� 2.4g per kg of bodyweight).
Besides coaching her own athletes and training with younger athletes from Blue Collar Running, Sue McDonald started a USATF track club named the Pursuit of Excellence Track Club (POETs), under the urge of Melissa Chiti, the 2022 W55 National Steeplechase Champion, a mom and librarian.
鈥淲hen we started POETs, we just wanted to have a group of masters athletes to support each other. We all compete in different events, from pentathlon to middle-distance and long-distance. We all strive to set a good example of how you can age with great health and enjoyment,鈥� said Chiti.
Since the founding of POETs, the聽club placed 11th out of 67 women鈥檚 teams and 15th out of 135 combined teams with only six athletes, at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, this past July. 鈥淪ue is always supportive of all the athletes in our club, and ready to share any and all expertise,鈥� said Chiti.
鈥淚 hope Sue sends this message to the track and field world: there is an event for everybody; whether you love to run, jump, throw, there is something for you. For elite runners, she inspires them to stay in the sport for a long time. For adult athletes and everyone else, she proves that age is just a number,鈥� said Coach Howell with conviction.
Looking toward 2024, Sue McDonald is excited to start training for the聽聽in Gothenburg, Sweden. 鈥淢aybe I can lower my own 400-meter world record, possibly break 62 seconds,鈥� McDonald said. With the support of her coach and her teammates, she feels nothing but confident.
This article was originally published on .
The post The Fastest 60-Year-Old Woman on Earth Is Only Getting Faster appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>How the athlete and activist is paving the way for the next generation of track stars to live and compete as their authentic selves
The post Nikki Hiltz on Their American Record, Queer Joy, and Chocolate Chip Cookies appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>If you follow track and field news closely, it鈥檚 hard to miss all the national titles Nikki Hiltz has been collecting: Indoor 1500-Meter National Champion, Outdoor 1500-Meter National Champion, and perhaps the most unexpected title of all, American record holder in the mile (4:16.35) at the Monaco Diamond League. Nikki went into the race feeling good about their fitness, but they were shocked about breaking this decade-old record.
Women鈥檚 Running caught up with Nikki Hiltz, a professional runner, Lululemon ambassador, and LGBTQ activist, after their recent wins and several break-through performances.聽
Women鈥檚 Running: First, congratulations on setting a new American record in the mile! What did it feel like to break the American record in the mile by Mary Slaney, set in 1985? Was the race in Monaco your best race ever?
Nikki Hiltz: Thank you! It鈥檚 definitely a surreal feeling to be the American record holder. As for whether this is my best race ever, I would say it鈥檚 definitely one of my top performances. On the other hand, my favorite races are the ones I win! Although I set the American record, I still only got sixth place, which just shows how incredibly deep the international field in this event is.
WR: How are you feeling with a tidal wave of congratulations pouring in from around the world after you set the new American record? Have you been able to rest?聽
RELATED:
NH: The outpouring of support and congratulations from people around the world has been heartwarming. While it can be emotionally draining to some extent to sift through some ignorance and transphobia, the love and encouragement I鈥檝e been receiving are definitely outweighing the negative. All the messages are incredibly uplifting. They give me great motivation leading into the world championships. As far as finding time to rest, I鈥檝e been really enjoying my phone-free runs lately. I鈥檝e been able to get away from all the noises to rest and recharge.聽聽
WR: How has living in Flagstaff been helping with your training?
NH: I moved to Flagstaff in March of 2022. It took me a while to fully adapt to altitude. Around one year in, I had one of the best strength workouts. It was then I realized that I had finally fully adapted to the altitude. A part of me feels at home here, because I spent a good amount of my childhood going to Lake Tahoe (over 6,000 feet in elevation). This feels like the right move, as if I was meant to be here.
WR: Tell us about your coach Mike Smith鈥檚 Double Threshold workout and his training group.
NH: It鈥檚 a training method made popular by Norwegian runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen. The idea is that you run two workouts in one day, get 10 to 12 miles at your threshold pace, and nothing faster. For example, six miles at threshold in the morning, and four miles in the evening.聽
My weakness has always been the third lap. I have good speed and a great kick. With the Double T (threshold), I can handle the faster pace for longer. Training at 7,000 ft altitude is also a tremendous boost.
I train with a small group, mostly with Northern Arizona University鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 team. Most of my training partners are 5K and 10K runners. They make me stronger. 国产吃瓜黑料 of running, they鈥檙e also supportive friends who bring great energy to practice. I have never felt stronger.
Recently, Woody Kincaid won the 10k race at the national championship. He made me realize that our training is clicking and gave me the confidence that I might be next.
RELATED:
WR: Speaking of confidence: How does setting a new American record boost your confidence in racing against the best runners in the upcoming World Championship in Budapest?聽
NH: Breaking the long-standing American record certainly boosts my confidence heading into the World Championship in Budapest. It shows that my fitness is peaking at just the right time. I was feeling confident in my tactics and my ability to race after the U.S. Championships. After setting the record in Monaco, I鈥檓 also now confident in my ability to run a fast race.聽
When competing at the highest level among the best in the world, there are two things you need to get through the rounds: your ability to handle a fast pace, and your ability to race well. I鈥檓 feeling positive about both attributes and my chance at the World Championship.
WR: Heading into the World Championships, do you have a plan for how to run the heats and advance to the finals? Or do you go into the qualifying round with a specific pace in mind?聽
NH: I usually go into round one and the semi-final at championships more nervous than I am at the final. Getting to the final is the hard part. Racing the final is the fun part because there鈥檚 nothing to lose. This year might be one of the hardest World finals to make just because there鈥檙e so many incredible women in the 1500 meter running so well right now. I鈥檝e also been doing this long enough to know that anything can happen in championship racing. This fact used to really scare me but now I think it鈥檚 also exciting!聽
WR: You鈥檝e been a vocal advocate for greater inclusion of non-binary and trans athletes. You dedicated your championship win to the LGBTQ+ community. How does living so fully into who you are factor into your performance?
NH: When I first came out about my sexuality, the weight came off and I was able to PR (personal record). But with my gender identity, it was an opposite experience. I was vulnerable and scared. That criticism weighed me down. I wasn鈥檛 sure how people were going to react to me being non-binary.聽
Now that enough time has gone by, I鈥檓 very comfortable with who I am. More people know what nonbinary means and are respectful of it. I used to hate who I was. Now I can鈥檛 be more proud to be part of the trans community. I feel so loved and supported.
RELATED:
WR: How is your partnership with Lululemon going? How do you decide what to wear on race day?
NH: I love working with Lululemon. Our partnership just reached a year. Lululemon sponsors other track athletes including Colleen Quigley, Hunter Woodhall, and Tara Davis. It鈥檚 quite a wide range that speaks to what the company is鈥攊t is all about community and diversity, it is about giving people voices. The pressure of winning is off. My favorite part is working with the product team, to create new things and to give feedback.聽
Lululemon sends me both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 clothing. The best way to explain my gender is fluidity. Depending on the day, I want to wear something that makes me feel powerful. I pick and choose based on what I feel that day and how I want to present my identity.聽
In running, we like to say, 鈥渓ook good, feel good, run good.鈥� It鈥檚 important to have options for race day so we can feel good about whatever we wear. We should not have any rules on what clothing we can wear. I love some recent racing kits Lululemon sent me. They鈥檙e buttery soft and feel so great!
WR: How is your Pride 5K planning coming along?
NH: We鈥檙e back on schedule. It鈥檚 on October 7th this year. The fall is a great time for me to organize a race because, as a professional runner, I鈥檓 the busiest in the summer. Setting the race in October also sends a signal that pride is year-round. My partner Emma is the more organized one between us. It鈥檚 been super fun to work on this passion project with my partner.
This year, the Pride 5K will have both a virtual component and in-person group runs. We are working with Lululemon to have these runs hosted in some stores. They鈥檝e been great partners.
WR: How do you balance so many of your pursuits?聽
NH: Having a purpose is how I balance everything. In 2019, I accomplished one of my biggest goals鈥擨 made it to the world team. Yet I felt a little empty afterwards, like, 鈥渢his is it?鈥� I was not clear on my purpose then. In 2021, when I was coming out with my gender identity with a lot of fear, it was my queer community that made me feel loved and accepted. I leaned on my community to find my way and my purpose. Starting the Pride 5K was the manifestation of my purpose鈥攖o give my community a stronger voice.
I have become a better athlete and a better person because of my community. I definitely have a lot on my plate, but I wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.
WR: You wrote: 鈥�There鈥檚 a lot of things I could probably attribute my recent successes to, but I think the most powerful tool I have is my joy. Queer people can thrive when we make a space for them, love them, and embrace them for who they are鈥our love allowed me to run free last night and break a 38-year-old American record. That鈥檚 powerful stuff.鈥�
Powerful indeed, when there has been so much hostility toward the trans community. How do you manage to hold onto your joy so consistently What advice would you give to others on holding onto hope and joy?聽
NH: The anti-trans legislation, as well as the hostility and discrimination the trans community faces, is extremely disheartening. As an openly-out trans person, what keeps me going is my community.聽
When I think about historic trans trailblazers, I think of Marsha P. Johnson. She was a Black trans woman who fought for trans and gay people鈥檚 rights during the 60s and 70s. She is famously credited with throwing the first brick at the Stonewall Riots in 1969. She was an activist for her community during one of the darkest times for queer people. She was known for her infectious smile and laugh and iconic flower crowns. Her joy always shone bright.聽
I always think, if Marsha could do all that for her community back in the 60s, I can show up for mine now. I owe it to her and our community to not only continue to advocate for trans rights and inclusion, but also to never forget to lean into my joy while doing so.
My advice to others facing hopelessness would be to seek out and find a supportive community, whether it鈥檚 within LGBTQ+ circles or beyond. Surround yourself with the people who lift you up and make you feel valued. When I can focus on the positive support I receive from allies, friends, family, and community, that is when I can thrive.聽聽
WR: What鈥檚 your favorite snack?聽聽
NH: Chocolate chip cookies!
WR: What鈥檚 your favorite thing to do other than running?聽
NH: It鈥檚 a tie between playing with my dog or playing the guitar.
WR: On a perfect Sunday with no plans at all, what would you spend your time doing?聽
NH: Every Sunday is my perfect Sunday! Sunday is the one day in the week I take completely off of training. I usually wake up, take my dog for a walk, then head to the farmers market in Flagstaff with my partner Emma. Then we relax for the rest of the day.聽
WR: What鈥檚 the legacy you want to leave behind?
NH: The recent wins are so fresh in my mind. I want to prove that queer joy is powerful. Queer people can thrive when the world embraces them for who they are. I want to pave a path for us to live authentically as ourselves, so when the next person comes, it becomes so much easier.
The post Nikki Hiltz on Their American Record, Queer Joy, and Chocolate Chip Cookies appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>What does Wimbledon tennis player Danielle Lao do in her off-season? She runs. A lot.
The post This Tennis Star Fell in Love with Running. Here鈥檚 What She Learned. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Many runners cite the lack of hand-eye coordination as one of the reasons they get into running. That certainly does not describe , a professional tennis player, Hoka ambassador, and author of , a book about her student athlete journey.
Lao, 32, has had an illustrious tennis career so far: two-time U.S. Open main draw qualifier, team captain of University of Southern California鈥檚 women鈥檚 tennis team, and two-time NCAA All-American. But perhaps most impressive of all, Lao played in the Wimbledon main draw during the pandemic, in 2021.
鈥淚 have never felt such pure joy on the tennis court,鈥� says Lao about playing Wimbledon. 鈥淚t was most definitely worth the wait and still worth talking about over a year later.鈥�
During her rise to tennis stardom, Lao also discovered running. In 2015, Lao鈥檚 boyfriend Nam was training for his first Ironman race. He had been running with , a weekly social run club in Pasadena, California, and had invited Lao to join the weekly run. Lao initially turned the offer down.
鈥淚鈥檓 a tennis player, and we only run sprints to train for explosiveness,鈥� says Lao. Her boyfriend then invited her to join the happy hour after the run. Lao fell in love with the group and also a part of the running route with hills. 鈥淚 became a bit obsessed with running this Arbor Street hill and wanted to be the fastest runner.鈥� The competitive nature of Lao鈥檚 drove her to come back for more.
The differences between running and tennis were apparent to Lao right away. 鈥淭ennis is such an individual sport,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e playing tournaments, it鈥檚 always me against you. It鈥檚 cut-throat; there鈥檚 no such thing as 鈥渨e all win.鈥� Running gives me such a community right away; people always root for each other.鈥�
Once Lao fell in love with the community aspect of running. During the pandemic, she still saw running as a way to keep up with her aerobic fitness, to make her a better tennis player. She would actively avoid trail running for fear of twisting her ankle, and she never ran in the rain. 鈥淩unning has been secondary to my tennis,鈥� she says, 鈥渢hough I鈥檝e developed such better movement patterns from running in the past few years.鈥�
When Lao became more serious about running, she signed up for her first ever half marathon鈥攖he San Francisco Half Marathon鈥攊n April. At the time, Lao was also considering another transition in life. She was still playing well in tournaments, but the relentless competition and travel took its toll.
鈥淚 realized I started to play [tennis] for the wrong reasons鈥攏ot letting my family down, not disappointing my coach鈥攔ather than playing for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 felt disconnected from the sport.鈥�
She started coaching other tennis players and discovered she was getting more joy from others鈥� games than her own. 鈥淗igh-level competition brings a certain amount of stress to you. Playing on the world level, against other highly ranked tennis players鈥攖hey鈥檙e all major stressors,鈥� says Lao鈥檚 tennis coach Roger Smith. 鈥淒anielle is a perfectionist. Her running is helping her relax and reevaluate her relationship with tennis.鈥�
This summer, Lao took on a new coaching role with the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA). She is coaching the summer collegiate team, which consists of top national college tennis players, in Lakewood, California.
In Lao’s pivot from a world-class tennis athlete to coach and now avid runner, here are five critical lessons she’s picked up along the way about embracing the running life.
As a tennis player and runner, Lao is intentional about time on her feet. 鈥淎n hour on the court equals one to one-and-a-half miles.鈥� These days, Lao thinks about the total training load for herself and her athletes, including time running, time walking, time on the court, and time in the gym. 鈥淎ll these hours should count,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s a runner and a tennis coach now, I am mindful of how everything adds up.鈥�
For Lao herself, she has been keeping weekly mileage around 30 miles, while coaching other tennis players. She also puts in three to four gym sessions per week, to keep up her strength.
鈥淕ood posture is important for a tennis player. I have to keep up with my upper body strength,鈥� says Lao. Monday is typically Lao鈥檚 long run day; to prepare for the San Francisco Half Marathon, she ran 10-13 miles. 鈥淚 know most runners get their long runs in on the weekend, but Monday is the day with the most flexibility for me.鈥�
鈥淭he community aspect is the biggest difference between tennis and running,鈥� says Lao. Though she鈥檚 always had lots of friends and served as team captain for the USC Women鈥檚 Tennis team, Lao acknowledged that the tennis world has a lot to learn from the running world.
鈥淗aving always trained as an individual athlete, I now realized how isolating it was,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n the running world, everything becomes better when you鈥檙e with your group. I truly embrace my support group, from my boyfriend Nam to my closest friend circle, my tennis friends, to my Dog Haus Running Club.鈥�
Lao鈥檚 advice is to embrace your own circle, while reciprocating and investing in relationships. Create your own running community if you don鈥檛 already have one. Her partnership with Hoka was a great example. Julia Green, social media coordinator for global brand communications at Hoka, mentioned how great Lao had been building community in her own way by integrating the running and the tennis world.
鈥淚 got to know Danielle when I was working at Picky Bars []. Danielle is such a connector and wonderful advocate. She brings her tennis friends to our shoe demos and group runs. Her excitement about spreading the love of running has been infectious and inspiring.鈥�
The training of a professional tennis player often gets repetitive and precise: train today as if you鈥檙e playing in a match.
More thoughtful coaches follow a more natural progression, from mastering the fundamentals to preparing for competition. 鈥淚n running, I have learned to build in micro-cycles: hills days, threshold runs, and easy running days,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 taking this idea to tennis coaching, too. Each day will serve a different purpose. We鈥檒l train for strength, explosive power, in addition to the fundamentals. Hopefully on the day of the competition, a tennis player will put everything together for a perfect match, just like a runner brings their speed and endurance together for a perfectly-executed race.鈥�
As a tennis player, Lao acknowledged it was very challenging to go easy on recovery days. 鈥淚 was either going fast every day, because we tennis players are great sprinters, or I was resting on the couch hardly moving at all,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here were no days in the middle.鈥�
With her half-marathon build-up, Lao has been learning about active recovery. 鈥淓asy recovery runs are a thing I had to learn and practice. You can play tennis intensely for two weeks without much recovery, but you can鈥檛 do that for running.鈥�
Navigating the vast space between track workouts, race-specific pace, and easy recovery pace has been a conscious effort for Lao. She also mentioned the importance of foam-rolling.
鈥淭his is something I鈥檓 trying to get better at. As a tennis player, you actually want tight muscles; you can鈥檛 lose that pop when you hit the ball. You have to be able to turn with tight control of your muscles. But with running, I have to incorporate foam-rolling and stretching to ensure I鈥檓 moving from the catabolic state to the anabolic state.鈥�
These days, active recovery also means having the occasional beer as a fun reward. 鈥淚n the past, when I was lifting so much and had to be very stringent about my macros,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had to take in 150 to 200 grams of protein on my lifting days. Everything I ate was incredibly planned. Now, I鈥檓 a lot more relaxed about my nutrition. This is not to say I gave up on eating healthy. I give myself more room to have a little fun, like drinking a cold beer on a hot summer day.鈥�
鈥淚n the past, running was a chore. It was a thing to check off. Ever since I made the transition to the mindset of 鈥業 get to do this; this is my me time,鈥� I鈥檝e discovered the profound joy in this forward movement alone.鈥� Lao is a huge proponent of practicing a gratitude mindset.
鈥淚n any capacity in life, whether it鈥檚 sports, or a job, or any craft, if you lean into the right intention and right effort; the hard things become opportunities you actually seek.鈥�
The post This Tennis Star Fell in Love with Running. Here鈥檚 What She Learned. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>How a successful running coach from California hopes to bring other female coaches along
The post Sharon Moreno Hernandez Redefines Toughness appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Last November at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Cross Country State Championship meet, the coach Sharon Moreno Hernandez brought her team to the fourth place in Girls鈥� Division IV, with the top runner placing 10th overall at her school, Bishop Amat Memorial High School in the San Gabrielle Valley area, in Los Angeles. It was her fourth聽 year as an assistant cross country and track and field coach.
鈥淲e were a fairly new team, and building trust can take years, so I鈥檓 very pleased with our results,鈥� said Moreno Hernandez.
As proud as she was, she couldn鈥檛 help but notice the lack of female coaches at CIF every year. 鈥淚鈥檝e been coaching for almost 20 years in running, and I have been a runner all my life, but I haven鈥檛 seen many female coaches at all. Throughout my running from middle school to college, I鈥檝e only had one female coach in high school for cross country.鈥�
In a report released by the Aspen Institute Project Play, only 25 percent of youth sports coaches were female in 2020. According to Tucker Center for Research on , women of color make up only 16 percent of Division I head coaches. Data on BIPOC female coaches in youth sport is sparse, too, but that doesn鈥檛 surprise Sharon Moreno Hernandez. She has been noticing her lack of company since the day she started running.
Moreno Hernandez first started running at age seven in Colombia, her home country. Shortly after she ran a three-mile race, her parents decided to move to the U.S.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to move here because I thought there was no running in America.鈥� Yet once she did discover running in America, her high school running career was dominated by male teammates and coaches.
鈥淚t was my brother who first recruited me to be on our high school cross-country team,鈥� said Moreno Hernandez. 鈥淚 had no idea what cross-country meant. I just knew that my brother鈥檚 soccer coach was the running coach. I joined because I loved running.鈥�
The more female coaches we have in running, the more our girls would feel empowered to grow.
During her first high school cross-country season, Moreno Hernandez was the only female runner on the team. She recruited another friend so she wouldn鈥檛 be alone. But often, she ended up running with the boys to not get lost. 鈥淭he boys didn鈥檛 reject me,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any of them were on the same soccer team as my brother, so they were protective of me. But that鈥檚 not always the case with other teams. It was hard to find a sense of belonging.鈥�
Yet Moreno Hernandez learned how to race and be part of the team. 鈥淢y high school coaches were great at instilling the idea of being tough,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ough as in, 诲辞-飞丑补迟-飞别鈥檙别-迟辞濒诲. No negotiation. It was about embracing all the hard parts about training.鈥� She enjoyed the training and the competition. When she didn鈥檛 have a full cross-country team, due to lack of other female runners, she embraced track competition to test herself.
Toughness was an idea Moreno Hernandez learned to be a better runner. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been taught to respect our teachers, coaches, and elders in our culture. So when my running coach told me to be tough, I interpreted it as obeying instructions and not bringing up my emotions.鈥�
Even though Moreno Hernandez was the top runner in her high school, she ended up getting sick with bronchitis right before CIF meets. In college, she was a walk-on at University of California Irvine (UCI) from 1994 to 1998. She then ran another cross-country season at Santa Ana College.
鈥淲hen we first met in college in 1994, Sharon came to a long and hard workout on the track. Because it was the first training session of the year, lots of people dropped out. We were the only two standing at the end,鈥� said , UCI All American, Hall of Famer and former teammate. College was where Moreno Hernandez had the opportunity to train with other female athletes. 鈥淚t was hard and lonely to train with the boys in high school. In college, we had so much comradery with each other,鈥� said Moreno Hernandez.
This wass when Moreno Hernandez started to rethink the idea of 鈥渢oughness.鈥� She still saw the importance of hard work and competing for place and time, but the team dynamic and female athletes supporting each other gave her meaning.
She eventually decided to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in clinical psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. She also started coaching other athletes around her and decided that her running talent could be channeled toward others. Studying psychology also allowed her to up her own and her athletes鈥� mental games.
鈥淢any kids in my [Hispanic] community did not know running as a sport existed. I wanted to introduce them to the sport, especially girls,鈥� said Moreno Hernandez. 鈥淕irls have certain emotional needs, and as a coach, I want to meet their needs; I want to show them that dedication, passion, and teamwork are what make you a tough runner, not just results, or hiding away your emotions.鈥�
RELATED: Meet the Runner Determined to Get More Women of Color Coaching
Green, now a civil engineer and a mom of three daughters, acknowledged the importance of having more female coaches in running and in sports. 鈥淪ometimes I hear my daughters鈥� soccer coach telling them not to cry. But crying doesn鈥檛 make us weak. It鈥檚 how many female athletes process our emotions. It鈥檚 good to have female coaches who understand this. I see how effective Sharon has been at building up her athletes鈥� mental games.鈥�
Janelle Santos, a freshman at Azusa Pacific University, acknowledged the important role Coach Moreno Hernandez played in her athletic career. 鈥淐oach Moreno [Hernandez] took me under her wings since day one and always helped me through my ups and downs in my high school running. I made it to CIF twice and got recruited to run in college, all thanks to her.鈥�
With her coaching accomplishments, Moreno Hernandez redefines toughness as pursuing personal growth relentlessly in her team. 鈥淔or me, coaching is never just about winning titles or championships. It is not about external validation. It鈥檚 about growing as a person. Anyone can use running to be a stronger and tougher person.鈥�
Moreno Hernandez is never afraid to practice what she preaches. Despite being diagnosed with asthma in her early 30s, she kept up with her own training as a middle-distance runner. She recently raced at the inaugural . At age 46, she ran a time of 5:47. 鈥淢y Personal Record (PR) days might be over, but I wanted to show my athletes there鈥檚 personal growth in different ways, such as longevity and competing with other master鈥檚 athletes.鈥�
RELATED: American Running Needs More Female Coaches
Moreno Hernandez鈥檚 post-collegiate coach, , said the same thing about her. 鈥淪haron鈥檚 quiet intensity always makes her a great runner. But her biggest impact on our sport is from her coaching and being a role model to many women like her. She is both tough and loving. As a female coach, she brings a unique perspective that鈥檚 much needed in our sport.鈥�
Just like Moreno Hernandez tries to redefine toughness through commitment to personal growth, she is hoping the coaching profession will welcome more female coaches like her for the growth of the sport overall. 鈥淲e bring different perspectives, besides emotional adaptability, and higher fluency of girls鈥� developmental stages. The more female coaches we have in running, the more our girls would feel empowered to grow. The more different role models we have, the more possibilities everyone in our sport would believe in.鈥�
The post Sharon Moreno Hernandez Redefines Toughness appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>Fleshman鈥檚 book offers a look at her journey in elite running in a system that was built for the opposite gender
The post Chasing Goodness: Lauren Fleshman鈥檚 鈥楪ood for a Girl鈥� appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>To start Lauren Fleshman鈥檚 book Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man鈥檚 World is to start with a question: did she mean something is good for a girl? Or a sarcastic she鈥檚 good鈥� for a girl?
Maybe the answer is a little bit of both? Part memoir, part critique of a sports system built around a man鈥檚 body, Fleshman offers a searingly candid look at her own victimhood and complicity, interlaced with compelling data and concrete ideas on how we can change this environment.
Fleshman is a retired professional runner and an entrepreneur who co-founded Picky Bars and coached at Littlewing Athletics. Currently, she works as a brand strategy advisor for the female-led running brand, Oiselle, based out of Seattle. At a recent running camp by Oiselle, Fleshman mentioned that her intention for this book is to help readers re-think about the system. 鈥淲e have an attribution problem. When there鈥檚 a pattern of struggle, we tend to put the blame on individuals, instead of the systems that they鈥檙e setting them up for. When it comes to attrition in coaching, women in tech鈥� so many examples of predictable friction points that keep women out (of a smooth advancement curve).聽 We鈥檙e living our lives in a world that wasn鈥檛 built for us. If you can鈥檛 see yourself in my exact story, I hope you can recognize yourself in moments of your life when you fell off the train, but it wasn鈥檛 your fault. We are worthy of building a system around ourselves.鈥�
The story is always personal. Fleshman started and ended the book with her father, who was an alcoholic. The loving yet turbulent relationship between the two set the foundation of both Fleshman鈥檚 courage and insecurity about her options. 鈥淚 lived a lot of my teenage years and my twenties hedging鈥� I came from a place without a lot of financial stability. I had a lot of opportunities鈥� but I also felt they could be taken away at any moment,鈥� said Fleshman.
The working-class family background was Fleshman鈥檚 shadow behind her fierce competition on the track and at cross-country races, both to satisfy her own curiosity, and to win her father鈥檚 approval. Until one day, she realized she was performing to belong to a club marked with power. 鈥淕reatness, it seemed, offered a sort of protection, honorary membership to a more powerful class. Now I felt even more motivation to win.鈥� Fleshman writes.
And win did Fleshman: five NCAA championships at Stanford and two national championships. Yet like most of the elite runners, Fleshman鈥檚 decorated career is filled with many failures and abject heartbreaks: missing the Olympics team twice due to injuries and poor timing of training, coming in dead last at the Olympic Trials in 2012. Her laser focus on winning to her best ability has muted a little voice inside: something isn鈥檛 quite right with female athletes.
It was the female athletes鈥� obsession with the body and the right racing weight that led Fleshman to reflect about her role in running, besides winning. Yet, she waited for her turn to speak. She operated under the assumption that only winning would give her a voice and credibility. She had to be 鈥済ood鈥� to be heard. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 talking unless they were winning, reflecting back on rough times long gone.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 until she met the Oiselle crew in her 30s that she started to piece together how these issues are connected to each other. In the meantime, her Ask Lauren Fleshman website had been growing its readership steadily. She was getting inquiries frequently about the female body, with a common theme around 鈥渨hat鈥檚 wrong with me?鈥�. These forces finally came together to make her realize she wasn鈥檛 alone in feeling alienated, powerless and disposable in the world of professional running. She joined Oiselle as a partner in 2013, with a dream to build a system 鈥渆ntirely around the female athlete鈥�.
Fleshman is still hard at work creating conversations around the equality female athletes deserve. In the meantime, she鈥檚 candid about how the traditional white-female-centric feminism has failed repeatedly. 鈥淟ike generations of white feminists before me, I believed the most important thing was getting in the room with those in power; once rights had been secured for the group white men were most likely to cede it to, then it would be easier to expand those rights to others, or they would somehow miraculously trickle down. I couldn鈥檛 have been more wrong.鈥� Fleshman, along with Oiselle, has been on a learning journey of intersectional feminism, decentering the female body from the overall harmful sports environment. Recently, she has also been vocal about trans-women鈥檚 inclusion in sports.
Fleshman is an undeniably masterful storyteller, owning her own complicity in the system while holding others accountable, in a loving and nuanced way. It鈥檚 impossible to critique the 鈥渟ystem鈥� without talking about the complex characters in her life. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 write a memoir if you鈥檙e afraid to hurt people,鈥� Fleshman said.聽 To this end, she writes bravely about coaches鈥� lack of understanding of a woman鈥檚 body and their failure to protect it. When a coach mentioned that the women鈥檚 team did not have integrity like the men鈥檚 team, Fleshman writes, 鈥淭here was nothing overtly inappropriate about Vin鈥檚 integrity talk. All those observations were true to some extent鈥� What makes me cringe now is Vin鈥檚 鈥� and my 鈥� inclination to place blame on the women, without any acknowledgement of the forces at play for us. The outcomes he described 鈥� eating disorders, self-harm, self-sabotage 鈥� predictably show up on teams all over the world. But instead of asking why, we shake our heads in frustration and continue to blame the women. These behaviors look like personal choices, but they are choices made within a particular sporting environment that women had to fight to get access to but did not get a chance to create.鈥� (pg 84).
With the same delicacy and courage, Fleshman examines her own complicity: 鈥淚 had made comments among close friends, piled on when someone else criticized a poor performance, referred to someone as a head case.鈥� (page 158) More than anything, it was the failure of inaction, first seeing a Black athlete鈥檚 struggle with a Nike contract. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I could do anything about it. I didn鈥檛 think that was my job to do鈥β� It would take several years鈥� to develop the courage to become an active ally.鈥�
All the self-reflection and growth did not dampen the tenderness of Fleshman鈥檚 milestones so far: leaving for college, getting married to Jesse Thomas, and her father鈥檚 death.
For anyone who has ever left the comfort of childhood home in pursuit of their/his/her own life, Fleshman鈥檚 writing feels like inserting a scalpel into an old wound of guilt. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 coming back, not really. I speed down the freeway with the windows open while my air conditioner tried to catch up. I felt selfish. A good daughter would stay closer for college, emotionally support her mom and sister, keep attempting to predict and moderate the tides of her dad鈥檚 alcoholism. But I didn鈥檛 want to be a good daughter. I wanted the freedom to make a life.鈥� She quotes from Freeman in Paris, Joni Mitchell鈥檚 masterwork, 鈥淣obody calling me up for favors, no one鈥檚 future to decide but my own.鈥� (page 59) Tears started to flow when I read this part. There鈥檚 nothing more morose than being reminded of all the people you鈥檝e left behind as an immigrant.
The levity and joy from the scene of Fleshman and Jesse Thomas鈥檚 wedding excludes from the page: 鈥渋t was perfect 鈥� low on budget, but high on personality鈥� Kids fell asleep on parents鈥� shoulders in cookie comas. Someone passed out on the front lawn. Someone else went home with the photographer. It was exactly what we hoped for.鈥� If you鈥檙e a believer of economics professors Andrew Francis-Tan and Hugo M Mialon鈥檚 on the inverse relationship between cost of a wedding and the length of a marriage (the less you spend on a wedding, the longer the marriage tends to last), you鈥檒l be rooting for the long-lasting marriage between these true partners in life.
Fleshman ends the book with a dream and a run. After her father鈥檚 passing, she woke up with her father in his youth, standing by the closet. 鈥淭he idea of ghosts bent all logical reasoning, but I had no choice but to accept鈥� knowing I would be facing my first day without him.鈥� Grief leaks out of the page, with nowhere to go but to stain the page like ocean-blue ink. So much love. So much sorrow.
Mary Karr鈥檚 The Liar鈥檚 Club was a guiding light through months of Fleshman鈥檚 writing journey, amid a global pandemic and a personal mental health crisis. Navigating through many false starts, Fleshman went the extra mile and had the book vetted by a panel composed of a scientist, a journalist, a filmmaker and a writing professor for data rigor and story clarity.
What struck me the most, though, is the wide range of emotions I felt reading her memoir: The intensity of the heartache, the disappointment, anger, triumph, disbelief, and frustration, the joy, but the most important of all these was her unbridled love of running and life.
The post Chasing Goodness: Lauren Fleshman鈥檚 鈥楪ood for a Girl鈥� appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.
]]>