Sabrina's Siren Call

Lately I have drawn many parallels between my coaching and what motherhood means to me. I realize the more that I speak to others, the more that I accept this is all part of who I am. As I mentioned in my 80/20 guest blog, there are things that we grow accustomed to as women, that we will never tolerate for our daughters, just as there are things that we grow accustomed to as athletes that we as coaches will never tolerate for our athletes. Although I know not all of my athletes will have the same familial and loving relationship with me, I know that I will always fiercely protect my athletes. 

Currently, my athletes are mostly women who can identify with me. I am a curvy runner. I am a mother runner. I am a woman of color. I am a back-of-the-pack runner whose number one goal is not to get faster. I am an older athlete who did not grow up as an athlete. With one hundred percent certainty I can tell you that I read more books in high school than I ran miles from middle school into my adult years. Yet here I am, an athletic mother, a Certified Endurance Coach, helping others work daily to regain control of their health, fitness and personal athletic journeys.

When I run beside an athlete, I remind them to honor their bodies and their individual journeys. It is my honor to watch them find their strength, abilities and passions. As a back-of-the-pack runner myself, I enjoy reminding each athlete that they deserve to run at whatever pace will honor their body at the time and have just as much fun as the people at the front of the pack. We work to foster the athletic mindset as hard as we’re working on the athletic stamina and body. We function within our current unique life circumstances and push just as hard as we can push today.

The phrase ‘Each one, Teach on,” has been heavy on my mind lately. We think of this phrase when it comes to education. The more educated we become, the heavier the responsibility I believe we all maintain to educate others around us. When we experience a step up, it is our responsibility to reach back and help those that we know may also need a hand. I also feel like this applies to confidence, visibility and representation in our collective communities. If at any time we have overcome a resistance that we felt to being open about any part of our identities, it’s our honor to reach out a hand to others who need to overcome similar circumstances. As a curvy, runner of color, I am also finding power in visibility. While past opinions of pictures of myself might have focused on my perceived flaws, lately I look at pictures of myself working out and hope that someone, somewhere, can gather a glimmer of inspiration and motivation from my vulnerability and openness. 

When I ran beside a friend and client this week, I was overcome with emotion to hear her express her thankfulness to have friends run beside her. Earlier in the week I ran with a new group and I was proud to be in a position to support and encourage other runners. Others who look at our body shape and think that they can predict our running pace, for better or for worse, should remember that we cannot judge a book by its cover. If we can show up in public spaces with our heads held high and faith in ourselves, we are granting others permission to do the same. As I looked around this week, the diversity was both empowering and humbling. For many of us coaches, as we work to give athletes permission to show up as themselves, we have to remember to grant ourselves the same permission. 

Admittedly, I’ve spent more time in my adult years hiding than I have creating visibility and it is still often my reflex. It was not until I heard a podcast reminding us all to show up and let others see us that I truly thought about it. People may be quick to say “no one wants to see that” but honestly, yes, people need to see that. When I run down the street, I wear bright colors for safety. I need the drivers to see me. On a recent workout I was thinking, since I know people are looking anyway, I want other women to see me! If seeing my curvy figure sweating on the sidewalk will inspire them to get moving, then I’m doing my job. If someone can look at me and think, “if she can do it, so can I,” then my workout is doubly rewarding. As a Coach, a mother and an athlete, I am proud of the woman I am today. It is one of my greatest honors to inspire and encourage others. If another woman of any shape, size, color or speed looks at me running down the street and remembers that she too deserves to run in the body she is in right now, then I’m serving my purpose. As I continue to interview and take on new athletes, I am reminded that for many of us our goals are community wide. In order to live the most fulfilling lives that we can, we need to take care of ourselves, our families and continue to make our communities the best that we can.

Are you looking for an endurance coach for yourself or someone you know? Are you looking to increase your general fitness, activity levels and strength? If you are interested in talking to me more about your improved fitness, endurance and mobility, you can click here to fill out my quick intake form. This allows me to get to know you a bit and set up a FREE Consultation. Your unique life circumstances are important. Your health and goals are important. I’m here to help!

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