Health Beat
With the 126th Boston Marathon in the rear view mirror, there's something important to note. Almost half the participants were women. According to the Boston Athletic Association, which is responsible for the event, 25,314 athletes started the race and 24,918 athletes crossed the finish line. Among them, 10,800 women started that race and 10,563 finished. Yes, it happens that runners drop out. 26.2 miles is a LONG way, even when you're trained. Life sometimes gets in the way. But the point of this story is the fact women ran in such large numbers. Fifty years ago, NONE were allowed to run. Back then, the B.A.A. only allowed women to run a race 1.5 miles or shorter. But Katherine Switzer had other plans. She competed in 1967. As she tells it, she had registered as K.V. Switzer, the way she usually signed documents. So no one at the B.A.A. realized she was not a guy. But when they did, there was a fight on the race course. Race manager Jock Semple tried to get her bib number. Without it she would not have been considered running, officially. There was a scuffle, but her thenboyfriend, with whom she was running, prevailed and Switzer covered the course. It would be five years before women got the go-head to officially race. The prevailing thought was that running distance wasn't good for the gals. HAH! Keep in mind that running boosts your mood, like other regular exercise, it can help you get a good night's sleep, the impact of running helps build bones, and the strength and toning achieved by running supports selfimage. In short, there's nothing in the research that finds running not to be good for women. Sure, not every person can run due to specific physical issues, but they're not based on sex. So remember, the latest research recommends we ALL get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week. So lace up those sneakers and get moving. Who knows, you might decide to run a marathon one day. It all starts with one step.
Benita Zahn, DPS, CHWC Health and Wellness Coach Benitahealthcoach@gmail.com benitahealthcoach.com