I’ve come to the point where I really doubt whether any woman has truly ever loved her body. We are so full of criticism for ourselves, aren’t we? Yesterday I tried something new. I didn’t climb a new peak or try skydiving, though I’d love to. I showed up at the gym for “Run Club.” If you know me, this is nothing short of a miracle. What can I say? They won me with “free childcare.” I am sort of a lone runner. Races are cool, cause everyone is running their own pace. But during the week? My only, and favorite, running buddy is my dog. A faithful, fluffy, fur ball trotting along beside me at MY pace, encouraging me with his silly grin. See, I am almost the world’s slowest runner. So running with a CLUB was on my short list of “never dos.” Yet I found myself signing up and showing up without even a second thought. And I spent the next five miles watching the silhouettes of the faster runners disappear over the hills in front of me and thinking, “It truly doesn’t even bother me! I wonder what has changed?” Here is what I decided: Somehow I stopped defining myself by a number. Be it a number on the scale or a number on my watch. Somewhere I stopped competing with others and started competing with only myself. I can come up with a thousand things I hate about my body. But here is the truth:

• I am blessed with legs that are strong for long miles; with arms that can grip the handle bars and hands that slip in small granite cracks.
• I am blessed with balance and coordination and a body that can slice through water effortlessly.
• This body has birthed three beautiful kids.
• These quads have summitted ten 14’ers.
• These hands have handled newborns and climbing ropes with tenderness and strength.
• This back has stood proud for over 500 miles of running in the last year without giving out.
• These knees have taken the explosive power of mogul skiing and are still performing strong.
• These feet have kicked, pedaled, and strided my body across the finish line of my first Half-marathon and first triathlon.

And, Lord Willing, it will do it all again. So, well done body! You perform everyday despite numerous complaints and abuse. You are amazing and a glory. And though age may weary you eventually, nothing can dim the spirit you house.