REAL BODIES

When I first started running I relied on one book.
THE yellow book, my running "bible".

I had not clue what I was doing until I got that book and the Facebook group that is  Run Like a Mother: The Book.

I met Dimity and Sarah last month at the Disneyland Half Marathon Expo and they were just as wonderful as I thought they would be.  I am so happy I got the chance to tell Sarah what their book meant to me.  (Dimity was busy with another mom who stopped by their booth when that talk happened).

So all that to say that if they ask for help for something for their blog or any articles they write for Runner's World I want to help if I can....even if it means taking my shirt off. WHAT?

You read that right. 

So Dimity came up with the great idea of showing what a mother runner looks like.
Real people.  Real bodies.  No magazine cover girl body.  Real ones who gave birth and who come in all shapes and sizes and also of all ages.  And who are runners.

So I got an email from Dimity asking for a picture of me in a running bra (yikes is what I first thought) and shorts or running skirt.  I could crop my head off or send the picture and let people know who I am.

I asked Bill to take my picture. 
I did not crop my head.
I hit send.

I can say without any doubts that 3 yrs ago I am not sure I would have taken the picture. 
I can say that it is 100% sure that I would have cropped my head off if I had decided to send a picture.  In a way this makes me sad.  Back then I was not taking good care of myself and I was always putting ME last on the list.

I am not happy because of how I look today on that picture.
I am happy because I have enough confidence to send the picture and not crop my head and be grateful for the body I have.  The one who carries me through the miles now.

I feel honored and also proud to be in that group of Mother Runners.
Please go read the post What does a Mother Runner look like?  HERE.
If you are a mom, I encourage you to send YOUR picture!

This is my picture:
43 yrs old.  2 kids.  4 surgeries. 2 yrs of running. 75 lbs weight loss. Work in Progress.

As you can see my stomach does not see the light of day much..it is actually almost blue...that is how pale it is in person.  I never ever show my stomach.