Blog Archives
Form and Cadence – Guest Post
Do I qualify?
A few weeks ago I was out at a festival when I ran into a friend and her mother. I was clad in a tank top and jean skirt (it was hot out) and working on getting a nice burn (sunscreen, I should learn to wear it). Somehow it was brought up that I ran my first marathon and am planning to run another. At this point I noticed my friend’s mother. She was looking me up and down with an odd look on her face. She was judging me. Hard core.
No, I’m not the smallest individual out there. I run next to plenty of women who are 30+ pounds lighter than me and this is something I’ve always struggled with. I’m not particularly quick and I don’t have the physique of a runner. So, should I be allowed to identify as a “runner”?
Now this is something that I struggle with frequently. I will never have that skinny runners body. Non-existent thighs and flat chested? Yeah right. When I watch others running around me, this is something I always look at.
That and their form. I constantly check people out as I drive by to see their body positioning. Are they over striding? Heel striking? Arms flailing? Does proper body movement make someone a runner? If so, then I don’t qualify on that account either. Although I will admit mine is getting better, I’m more aware of my high arms and make an effort to relax my shoulders.
And then there is the speed debacle. In college, when I was training for 5ks (on a dreadmill), I was able to keep up a much faster pace. I set a 5k PR senior year of college and haven’t come close since. I’ll never qualify for the Boston Marathon (thank goodness I finagled my way in this year), but I’d like to see myself improve.
So what am I? Who knows. For the time being I plan to keep getting out there and doing my thing. People are bound to judge me for it, but such is life.
What about you, are you a runner? What do you think characterizes a runner?
Boob Job
It was seven years ago today (well, yesterday) that I took the plunge and went under the knife. When I tell most people that I’ve had a “boob job”, they assume I got implants. The girls are still rather large and I always make sure they look their best. But I didn’t increase them. I was sixteen years old when I underwent breast reduction surgery.
Let’s be serious, any type of plastic surgery is risky and especially for a young girl. I was unhappy, I didn’t know what I wanted I just knew I didn’t want them. I went into the surgery not knowing the outcome or how I’d feel. I’ll be honest, I never knew what the recovery process would be like.
Waking up from the surgery I was loopy and in pain. I couldn’t look at them for quite a while (showering was not a fun process). It took several weeks for me to become remotely comfortable with what I had done.
Seven years later and I can honestly say I’d do it again. This time I’d be less naive; ask the surgeon for a smaller set and make sure to douse them daily with Vitamin E to diminish the scars. Some days I’m still not overjoyed with how they look, but I know I made this decision for a reason. I can comfortably run with one sports bra, I can wear most tops without buying up a size, and I can find a bra without going to a specialty store.
Cosmetic surgery isn’t for everyone. I suggest researching extensively before making an appointment with a plastic surgeon. And most importantly, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons (I’m still uncertain if I did).
On a lighter note, I had a lovely day with my family and friends. Yes, we ate a bit much, but these things happen. I leave you with this cuteness:
Have you ever considered going under the knife? What would make or break your decision?
My beloved Fiona
I don’t know what I would do without you!
Today a few lovely ladies on the twittersphere were discussing product sizing, especially for us that are more endowed. Finding an appropriate sports bra has always been difficult for me, I remember wearing two bras just to get through a workout. It was miserable.
At some point (seven or so years ago) someone introduced me to the “Last Resort” bra. What a name. Personally I like to call it my “dominatrix” bra. With hooks up the entire front I felt kinky every time I put it on. My friends found it quite entertaining, I think they were jealous. And since I had no other options, I wore it constantly until I was able to put on a slightly smaller brassiere.
Even when I decreased in size, I still had some trouble determining which bra would be most effective. I went through some dreadful cotton bras that I found in big box stores, but I bounced in them and that just isn’t pleasant (you know what I’m talking about). And then one day I was perusing Title 9 when I saw her, my Moving Comfort Fiona. It had four plus dumbbells, it had to work! I ran out and purchased one to test. I jumped up and down, I ran jogged on the treadmill, I attempted to jiggle as much as possible. In the end it didn’t make me feel like I was about to hit myself in the face. Success! Since then I have purchased nearly a dozen Fiona’s in varying colors. When I found out that Moving Comfort made a racerback in my size I was ecstatic. Do you know how many cute tops I had been missing out on for all these years?! At the moment I only own one Juno, but it is on my wishlist for this summer (did I mention my birthday is coming up?).
So tell me – What sports bra works best for your girls? What athletic brands fit you the best?