strong women.

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Just like the description of this shirt, my goal is to “share the spirit of movement and community" … I hope you will join me on this journey!

Here’s to strong women.

May we know them.

I am surrounded by strong women in all aspects of my life.  All of the women in my family have been trailblazers in some way, and many of them run businesses that they created and built themselves.  I run for Willow Street Athletic Club – these women are tough (and fast!), and incredibly supportive of each other.  I have hosted the EFA Retreat (empowering female athletes) for two years now -- officially teaming up with Theresa DeLorenzo this year & moving forward .  Through the EFA, have been witnesses to some amazing moments of shared laughter, joys, challenges, embracing change and adventures, and building relationships.  My family hosted a professional runner who came into town for the Freihofer’s Run for Women back in June.  On Instagram, she has always been very transparent about her training, racing, setbacks and goals; in real-life, she was the same, and she shared personal stories with us that helped us to see that professional athletes are just like us – only faster. 

We know strong women.

Some of the Willow Street women after 2022 Firecracker 4 (Saratoga)

May we be them.

“I belong. I am strong. I am whole.”  This phrase was written on a sticky note on my bathroom mirror for a few weeks this spring, and it served (& serves) as a simple yet very powerful reminder of my strength when I am about to do something challenging.  I have been a runner for most of my life, and while my relationship with running and my goals have changed over time, I hold true to wanting to be the best that I can be in each moment.  Running has been a gateway to other activities like hiking and yoga, and the catalyst for overhauling my nutrition several years ago (and still fine-tuning it now).  I identify as a runner(d), and that in itself, I believe, is indicative of strength.

We are strong women.

On the summit of Saddleback Mountain (ADK), after a pretty arduous, terrifying & exhilarating climb!

May we raise them.

My niece, Charlotte, joined Girls on the Run this year at her elementary school.  She asked me to be her running buddy for their season-end 5K – of course I said yes!  Running with the younger girls was so good for my soul that day.  She ran the first mile without stopping; in total, I would estimate she ran about 85% of the race – pretty amazing for an 8-year-old on a hot day!  We were immersed in a culture of lifting young girls up to believe in themselves, support each other, and learn healthy lifestyle habits.  We then asked Charlotte to be Emma’s running buddy at a mile road race a few weeks later, and they had a blast!

The young girls in our family often refer to themselves and other females as “strong women” – and how right they are!  The examples we set for our children/grandchildren/“niecews” are not insignificant – even when we don’t think they are watching, they are listening and seeing and learning.

We raise strong women.

Some of the strong women in our family <3

Strong women are all around us.  In the darkest nights and brightest days … in the sunshine & rainbows and the thundering clouds .. on the highest mountain and in the lowest valley.  Without getting too political here in this post, I just find it hard to believe that the people running our country don’t see that – they don’t understand and appreciate the strength that is encapsulated within every woman.  (or maybe they do, and they’re afraid?? I don’t know, but that’s a topic for another day…)  Sometimes it takes a little coaxing to see that strength in action, but I assure you, it is there in each and every one of us. 

So once again: here’s to strong women!  You know them, you are them, you raise them.