I wanted to write a quick post today about The Female Athlete. I recently read an article by Nicole DeBoom (founder of Skirt Sports) and Bethany Stout on the female athlete. The article/post is about changing the way we view females as athletes.
There are so many more women involved in fitness and sports these days. I have always been involved in sports so it is just something that has always been a part of my life. I recently heard a Facebook Live session by Nicole DeBoom in which she told a story about her daughter making these princess-like characters out of Play-doh (spelling??) and someone asked her if she could make one of a girl kicking a ball and she replied that she would have to make that one a boy because girls don't kick balls. It kind of blew Nicole away and to be honest, it blew me away to hear.
I don't think that even as a child I would have thought that because I played soccer from an early age. I played sports with boys. It was just something I did. I never thought about it being different because I was a girl.
I have always been in reasonably good shape and reasonably fit compared to my peers. I enjoy exercise. I always have so it comes kind of easy to me. I think because I grew up playing sports with boys I had a preconceived notion in my head of what an athlete was supposed to look like.
Through my interactions lately with Skirt Sports and all types of different athletes with my job I have realized that I have been superficial and somewhat judgy in my thoughts about athletes and what they look like. In fact, I even had an argument with a doctor about being "fat, but fit." I argued that you can't be both and he argued against me.
I have realized how small-minded I have been about this. (Of course, I don't want to have to tell him he is right!) I have read countless stories of female athletes who do not match my preconceived expectations of what an athlete should look like. These same women are accomplishing feats I cannot do. I want to thank all the women out there who are willing to put themselves out there and go for it and break down the stereotypes and break down barriers such as those thoughts that I held and did not even realize I held them until I got deep into reading all of these stories.
The thing is, I love working with people who do not fit that mold, but I did not realize until recently that if I had to be totally honest with myself, I really had those same thoughts that created some of these stereotypes and barriers in the first place.
Another funny thing is that I read so many stories and books about runners and the ones that inspire me the most are the ones written by people who did not fit that typical mold of athlete. I guess maybe I am not surprised that some super fit looking person can do some amazing thing but when I hear the story of someone who doesn't look fit overcoming their doubts and fears it really inspires me.
Anyway, I want to encourage you to read this article/post on Buzzfeed. Read through each story. You will be inspired.
These are two books that gave me unlikely inspiration:
I hope you enjoy reading the article on Buzzfeed and are inspired like I was. Also, if you are like me and you are realizing that you have had a preconceived notion in your head of what an athlete looks like, I hope you will reconsider.
Also, if you are interested please check out my fivefabfaves on thefitfablife.
Have a great one!
Kristi