Monday, February 02, 2015

Run, Like A Girl

A few days ago, during a long run, a runner said these words to a group of us. One of us was a woman, who heard the following: "oh, you're running with the boys now," to which I quickly corrected. "No, we're running with the girl."

I didn't realize many of you hadn't seen the original #LikeAGirl ad but last night it was apparent many of you had and seeing it take off on Instagram, flooding my feed with inspiration, has been amazing.

This is what I'll say as a man: I have training partners, running friends and people who had been a huge influence in my life as a distance runner. I've run thousands of miles beside them.

They push me, like all the best runners I've run with, to be better, stronger and I have found my stride, and my passion in running by the fact that I know and have run side by side with them. It happens that many of them, not by fluke but by the reality of numbers, are girls. Women.

They're strong of body and spirit and I look to chase more than to be chased. In any case, if you ask me what type of runner I'd like to be, I'd say it's to be like my friends, training partners and coaches. And if you'd like me to expand on that as one of those "boys" then yes, I'd like to #RunLikeAGirl

A few days ago, during a long run, a runner said these words to a group of us. One of us was a woman, who heard the following: "oh, you're running with the boys now," to which I quickly corrected. "No, we're running with the girl." I didn't realize many of you hadn't seen the original #LikeAGirl ad but last night it was apparent many of you had and seeing it take off on Instagram, flooding my feed with inspiration, has been amazing This is what I'll say as a man: I have training partners, running friends and people who had been a huge influence in my life as a distance runner. I've run thousands of miles beside them. They push me, like all the best runners I've run with, to be better, stronger and I have found my stride, and my passion in running by the fact that I know and have run side by side with them. It happens that many of them, not by fluke but by the reality of numbers, are girls. Women. They're strong of body and spirit and I look to chase more than to be chased. In any case, if you ask me what type of runner I'd like to be, I'd say it's to be like my friends, training partners and coaches. And if you'd like me to expand on that as one of those "boys" then yes, I'd like to #RunLikeAGirl
A photo posted by Kenny (@yumkerun) on