I was never an athlete. Not in elementary school. Not in middle school, and certainly not in high school where I actually earned my only “D”—in gym class. And when I say “earned,” I mean earned. I mean, you really have to work hard to get a “D” in gym. It’s not like any idiot can do it. I fondly recall skipping out on gym to do fun stuff like drive with my other hip friends to McDonald’s in my little fluorescent orange austin america to flip french fries on the hood and watch the birds gobble them up.
Does it get any better than that?
Yet I read about many of you who, after lounging through your 20s, 30s and 40s decide to “get back into” sports. Some of you were serious high school or college athletes (you know who you are!). And I get jealous. And think to myself, self? What were you doing all that time?!
I get jealous because, well, I’m shallow. Plus, I think: “Oh well sure, it’s easy to get back INTO something after a 20-year-hiatus” or “I wish I had a base like that to build on.” (Yes, I seriously think like this.)
Well, I can partially—OK, largely—blame the culture and the decades in which I came of age for my lack of athleticism. I went to elementary school in the 60s, where sports for girls were nonexistent (unless you count dodgeball, an activity which has now been banned at many schools for being harmful to children’s self-esteem—see this blog, exhibit A); an inner city middle school during the height of forced busing (sports took a back seat to daily chaos); and an all-girls Catholic high school in the 70s. My high school—Sacred Heart Academy—had great basketball and volleyball teams, and I should have been a shoo-in for either due to my height (5’9″) but I was too cool for sports. I was so in I was out.
I worked three jobs to get through college (yes in the snow), but even if I hadn’t I don’t think sports would have been on my agenda, though I do remember seeing the girls’ crew team recruiting and thinking that would be fun. (I was obviously clueless.)
In my 20s and 30s I always tried to exercise but it was half-hearted and I would never have dreamed of calling myself an athlete.
Do I have a point?
Hang on, I’m getting there!
This little reminiscence wrote itself as I listened to the latest episode of my favorite podcast, Phedippidations, episode #105, “Running Over 50.” And as I listened (which if you are over or even near 50 you should definitely check it out, and whatever age you should subscribe because this is a seriously great podcast), I had a little epiphany and it went like this: that THESE are my glory days, right now, right here—that they’re still before me, not behind me.
All thanks to being a slacker in high school!
I have things to look forward to! Running things! Sports things! And no matter how crappy I’m running right now, I 
know that I’m building toward something, I’m working toward something. It might not come today (uh, definitely not today), or tomorrow (got that right), or even a year from now.
know that I’m building toward something, I’m working toward something. It might not come today (uh, definitely not today), or tomorrow (got that right), or even a year from now.See? With age comes wisdom.
I suppose it’s possible I could quit this whole running thing, as I have threatened to many times, but I don’t think I will. I mean, I hate the actual running part as my loyal readers well know, but the other parts? Like the blogging part? And the racing part? And the people I’ve met part? And the “afterglow” part? These are what I think the (psychiatric) literature calls the “secondary rewards” of an activity. I like these things and I don’t want to give them up.
So, in celebration of my glory days, I have started afresh with another running program, the D.C Road Runners Ten Mile Program, led by this guy, culminating in this race in October.
And even though I tried to run six miles on Sunday and it felt like oh, six million, take it from me: there is glory in the trying.
You can read more of Jeanne’s blog at: http://runmomrun.blogspot.com/
What a wonderful and timely article. As I finished a 3 mile run this morning my thoughts turned to how long I’ll be able to keep running a part of my life. Some days it great and some days it’s as if you feel down right attacked by yourself! Thanks for the reminder to always remember it’s process, the journey, and the trying that matter most.
Jeanne –
I just listened to the podcast – great recommendation! Now to get motivated to run in the heat of Oklahoma…
Oh Jeanne, I’m so proud of you! Now I can say I know someone famous.
It’s fabulous reading all these stories!! You are all amazing women, and your stories just blow me away. You all should have your own blogs! Thanks to Title Nine for featuring my story. If I can do it, believe me, anyone can!
Great article. As a founder of a women’s walking and running club, Speedy Sneakers we have many ladies who are getting back into shape. My hope is that this blog will inspire many more ladies to join a club and start walking and running.
Ladies, inspire your daughters to walk and run and make it part of thier lives.
All of the best
http://www.SpeedySneakers.com
Walking and Running Clubs for Women
Wow, I swear I was reading about myself! Having never been an athelete either, I took up running 7 years ago and absolutley love it! Something I never would have enjoyed in my younger years, now I can’t wait to get out each morning for a run! I ran my first 5K a few years ago, then finally got up the courage to compete in an 8K and 1/2 marathon on the same weekend this past spring at age 49. I completed both and went on to run a 5K a month later. I look forward to running another half marathon (or maybe a full) in my 50th year this fall!
You go girl! I ran a marathon in 1999 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. I was not a runner. The only reason I finished, was that I had to raise money and after it was raised, I didn’t want to have to give it back and be known as a “quitter”! I really have not run since then. My mind is willing, but my body is not. I feel the same way you do about not liking it, but loving the “after effects”! Maybe I’ll start again and think of you when I do. Thanks-
I was a middle school, highschool, college athlete but then went away from being physically active for a bout five years and now am back at it with a completley new apperciation for being athletic, in high school and colllege i just did it because thats what you did and its what was expected of me, but i never got the true joy out of it, i enjoyed it but i never had friends on my sports teams, i never really got any accolades (even though i was good) and my family to this day cant tell you which sports i actually played! but after college and a few years of doing nothing i have recently started biking with a mission not just to get where i needed to go- recently i did my very first race it was 200 miles! and i loved it!!! i dont think i had untill that moment really gotten the althetes high so many people talk about, or the great comroderie and i’ve managed to inspire a group of my friends to join me next time! its amazing whats happned! i can now see myself being active for life, i never want to be not active again, i know i’m young and i hopefully have a long life ahead, but i’m hooked i want that high more and more each day! reading blogs or stories about folks who are 20-30 years my senior who still get that high gives me hope that i too will be an althete when i’m 50, 60, or 70! and that i can inspire generations to come!!
Thank you for posting this Blog Women need to hear taht they can be athletes, that they dont have to give up on there bodies just b/c they had a kid/kids! women can be STRONG!! Thnak you!
I relate completely! I ran my 1st 5k ever last December, at age 52. I’ve since run several more 5ks and have done 3 Sprint triathlons this year. I’m as fit as I’ve ever been! (running is still my least favorite thing to do but I’m going to train for a 10k this fall)
You ROCK Clair!
Keep an eye out for the Mother’s Day Title 9K next year…it may be right up your alley.
Here’s some info from the 2008 run:
http://www.titlenine.com/title9k
The training schedules there could be a helpful guideline as you start training for your 10k this fall too:)
Lovely post. Thank you for the inspiration!
Nice to hear someone else in this world didn’t do so hot in gym. I actually managed a few F’s no lie.. It took plenty of work.. I refused to run. I always hated it, I used to wheez so bad, I thought I was out of shape. Somewhere around the age of 14 or 15 I just said NO! While pregnant with my daughter I was finally diagnosed with Asthma. I finished an Ironman Triathlon in 2001. My son also has it ,and we made sure he got the Meds he needs to compete, run and play. Mom’s listen to your kids when they wheeze!! 😉 I hope my Gym teachers are reading this.