What’s your story?
Maybe you came to sport late.
You found it in the gym or the studio.
Maybe you discovered it early, on a court or a course.
Maybe it’s walking, maybe it’s running, maybe it’s dance or yoga or swimming or hiking. Maybe you found your sport when you saw your daughter transformed by that first athletic success and knew that your own transformation was out there waiting for you. Maybe you found it on your way to something else—a kid’s practice, a healthier life, a friend’s race. But no matter where each of our sports stories begins, we all end up at the same place, a place where we are becoming our own best selves.
Tell us your story!
Founder, Missy Park
My new sport…Triathlon
I was very active with outdoor pick-up games and competions as a child and was a 4-sport athlete in high school and a 3 sport athlete in college. When I graduated from college I picked up running to stay in shape and did a few races a year including half marathons 1X/year. I loved watching triathlon competitions on TV and at the age of 45 decided I should do more cross training so I decided to train for a sprint triathlon. I went online and found a training program for beginners and followed it. My first triathlon was a great success. This year I have my youngest brother who just turned 40 competing in his first TRI and I will be competing in a second TRI at the end of the summer with this brother and my youngest sister who will be competing in her first one. I am in better shape now than I have ever been!
pauline
Last year I had an accident and broke my foot. It was very difficult not being able to participate in all of the sports I love – hiking, running, biking, yoga. After several months I began rehab and slowly but surely was able to do a little more each workout. Yoga helped tremendously, since I really needed to work on balance. This June I ran the Steamboat 10K and finished in an hour! I was jazzed. I am running better than ever, and even though I will always have some residual pain, I learned a lot about resilience, determination and the human spirit. I am so grateful each day that I am again able to get out there and sweat!!!!
Wow!!! So glad to see that you want to hear about me!!! I became a runner at the age of 14. It was “natural” to me….and still is 24 years later! I ran very well in high school…ok, let me brag…I was one of the top in the state!! During college I ran…and found out that I really wasn’t so good!!! There are others out there as good as me!!!??? I have now become a runner for me!!!! No more for pushing for time, no more pushing for that one more mile, no more PUSHING!! I run now for the love of it..and to keep my sanity!!! If it takes me ten minutes to finish a mile…so be it. If I stop and walk…so be it. If I don’t want to run one day…so be it!! I realized that the pain in both of my knees is real!! I really should slow down…Now I ski a little more, now I walk the dog a little more, now I run with my daughter a little more!! Thanks for listening!! You have a great company with awesome clothes!!!
My story began at 45 yrs. old. A friend wanted to lose weight so we started walking a h.s. track for 3 mi. Our goal was to run a local 5K. We worked our way up to running 3 mi. on the track and were ready for the race. I ran the race and came in 6th out of 144 women in my age group. Well that was all it took for me! So, I built up to 10Ks, 1/2 marathons and marathons. I qualified for (by taking 25 min. off my best marathon time) and ran the Boston Marathon this year 2009. I began coming in the top 3 of my races. But, that was not enough. At 49 yrs old I learned how to swim and bought a bike then started doing triathlons. I have since completed 17 tris with the longest being a 1/2 iron distance. Not only am I in the best shape of my life at 52 yrs old, but I have again found my childhood. I have found strength, confidence and I am having a blast. I am ready to take on the next 30 years!
Born in 1963, I had full advantage of Title Nine by the time I reached high school. I ran track and did some long distance running with personal satisfaction as my only reward. In college I discovered dance and weight training and this is where I aqcuired my live long pursuit of physical fitness.
My husband and I moved roughly once a year for many years but I was always able to use a find a local gym and work out regularly — whether that was the Michigan Technological University’s training facilities or the treadmill of our apartment complex in Rancho Cucamonga. Even throughout my third pregnancy I was a regular at the YMCA in South Euclid, Ohio.
But that was nine years ago and the fourth anf fifth child have added their own challenges to my getting a regular workout. At this point I bike regularly with the kids to school and dream of celebrating my 50th year on this earth by joining in the local triathalon competition.
Regardless of what I am doing now, I know my college education influenced my pursuit of regualr physical activity and will help me live to see grandchildren!
I have worked in the fitness industry my whole life and loved teaching aerobics. I just turned 40, and am in the best shape I have ever been due to my current workout love . . . pole dancing!! Not only has it shaped my body, but it has given me a sexy strut, a great attitude, and tons of fun dancing during class. I turned my passion into my main career and now have 3 pole dancing studios. Now I watch with a smile as other ladies tell me they are enjoying working out for the first time in their lives, and are getting sexy arm muscles as a result!
When I was thirty-five I separated from my husband. Even though I knew I needed a break from my declining marriage, I still felt depressed, distraught, and anxious almost every day. Too overwhelmed to stay in the relationship and constantly afraid that I’d made a terrible mistake by leaving, I couldn’t find anything to relieve the gnawing feeling of indecision that stalked me in my waking (and dreaming) life.
Then I went and spent some time with my friend Jerry. Prolific in both running and cycling, Jerry was smart enough to realize that I needed a physical outlet for all of my angst. With four words, he changed who I am and how I handle the most stressful events of my life. He said, “You need a bike.”
At first I thought he was nuts. I mean, I hadn’t been on a bike since I was twelve. I didn’t even know if I could still balance on a bike, much less ride more than a few miles. But Jerry would not be deterred. He took me to the bike shop and helped me pick out a suitable starter: a Jamis hybrid, black with silver accents. Jerry would always say, “Your butt has to make friends with the seat.” As soon as I got on that Jamis, I understood what he meant. Not only did my behind like the seat, the rest of me felt as if it had found a new home.
That was six years ago, and I have been cycling ever since. Being on the bike has shown me the strength of my body and the wisdom of my own heart. Whether I’m getting up out of the saddle to climb a hill or dealing with challenges at work, I know that I can handle it all. I may look like I’m struggling and I’ll sweat a bit, but that’s OK. I know that I’m resilient and I’ll get through it.
The bike has taught me that it’s never too late to start over. In starting over, I have discovered that I am one amazing chick. A chick who looks damn good on a bike.
This is a story of inspiration. It is not exactly my story… it is my mom’s! She was an athlete in high school, who also danced and played the cello. Four kids and decades went by in which she only ran after her children, danced to kid’s music, put on weight, and left the cello to collect dust in the back of a closet. Then in her mid 60’s, she transformed herself. She bought some walking shoes and started walking every other day, then every day, logging mile after mile (and loosing pound after pound). Then when she closed in on 70, she joined a gym and started doing water aerobics, palates, and exercise classes three times a week. Not enough of a challenge… so she joined Team in Training in honor of her brother (who eventually died from cancer) and walked/jogged a half marathon. When she came in first place in her age group at at 75 for fasted time in her third half marathon (in 3 years), I was at her side the whole way cheering her on. My mom is an inspiration… not only does she look great, she is healthy, active, full of energy and life! This year she will turn 77 and she isn’t slowing down! Go mom!!!!!
Well, as a kid I had played field hockey for over six years and always hiking or running with my family. In high school I was the captain of the girls junior varsity cross country team, the goalie for the junior varsity water polo team and one of the better breastrokers on the the girls jv swimming tem. I did all this as a freshman. Now I do yoga everyday and I swim two to three times a week and if I get the chance go for a walk in the deep sand on the beach. I love saving up my money just so I can get something from Title Nine!
I am a yoga junkie! Love to take it, love to teach it. I was always the athletic type. Involved in sports & a cheerleader in high school. Became a runner & aerobic instructor (AFAA) post children. Then was afflicted with an autoimmune disease called Lupus. Area affected is multiple joints. So severe at first that I was not able to get out of bed & barely had the strength to get to the bathroom. Got tired of this quickly.
I joined a gym with a pool fro some rehab. Got stronger, certified with AEA for water aerobics instructing added yoga to my water classes. My speciality became water therapy, my yoga speciality is for MS & gentle yoga for seniors.
At 49 I learned to surf in Maui visiting my daughter & at age 51 I have nearly over come Lupus, after a 12 year struggle. But nothing can compare to what exercise )all forms but especially yoga) can do for the body, mind & the spirit.