Part of my plan for the year for the BHAG was to run the Fort Hill Brewery Half Marathon.
This was to take place in April 2020...
Then the fall of 2020...
Then the spring of 2021.
Now, it will take place Sunday, October 3, 2021.
For real!
The training has not been easy. It has been quite tough getting my mind wrapped around racing since the completion of the Rev 3 New England Half Ironman back at the beginning of August.
Holy crap...that was just 2 months ago. Where has the time gone?
My mental state hasn't been what it needs to be to race, but unlike a triathlon, where you could really hurt yourself (or even die) by not preparing, a Half Marathon isn't likely to kill me.
I just may have to walk a lot.
Regardless, since backpacking with my running mates (who will be racing with me), I've kinda got my groove back.
I even ran 5 miles just a couple days after hiking. My legs are still sore just thinking about it.
But the one thing that I did during that run, was something I never dreamed I do.
It was a warm and humid day, and by mile 3 of the run, I was overheating. So I did something about it.
I took off my shirt, and ran in just my sports bra.
You'd think by now in 2021, that it would not be such an issue to do this.
Many women run/workout in just their sports bra. There are zillions of commercials and advertisements of women working out in their bra.
I can remember vividly when Brandi Chastain removed her shirt after winning the World Cup in 1999.
After kicking the final penalty shot in a shootout to win the championship against China, Chastain did what her male counterparts did...ran down the field, took off her shirt, and celebrated!
The following year, the International Federation made a rule that to remove one's shirt during a match would result in a Yellow Card. For men and women.
But since then, many women have toss their shirts, and worked out.
So why did it take me so long to ditch the shirt?
I really don't know.
Nope, that's not true...I do know.
I hate my body.
I have these love handles on the sides. I have a belly which kinda looks like I'm 5 months pregnant at times.
And don't get me started on my thighs.
I'm soft.
But I'm also a 51 year old peri-menopausal woman that even with the rolls could probably kick someone's ass if need be.
So, as I have discovered as I have gotten older, I don't care as much anymore about what people think. If they have a problem with my folds, tough crap. That's their problem.
It has taken me a long time to become more forgiving of myself.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm still very self-conscious of my body, and I still don't like it when my belly sticks out a little too far. But I also have never really cared what people thought about the clothes I wore or how short my hair is.
Maybe because what I wore was always a little too big to hide the rolls? And my hair too short for some, because (I'll admit it), it is easy to take care of.
Let's face it, I am 100% tomboy, and that is never going to change. And maybe those rolls don't fit into my tomboy persona.
But my husband loves me just the way I am. So who cares about everyone else.
I will probably still keep my shirt on most days, but I also think there will be more days in the future when it comes off.
Because I'd much rather be comfortable in my own skin, than make you comfortable in yours.
And if it gets too hot this weekend while running my half marathon, the shirt may just remove itself.
But probably not, because the weather is going to be perfect!
And, I'm not quite ready to expose myself to a couple hundred people I don't know...but you never know what can happen.
Regardless, I will enjoy the day. And keep on pushing myself.
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