Welcome to Wednesday Word, a weekly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. Each Wednesday you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is empower….. I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.
Empower – to give official authority or legal power to;
to promote the self-actualization or influence of;
make (someone) stronger and more confident,
especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights
~ Merriam-Webster
I don’t think I could pick a better time than on Global Running Day to talk about empowering women through the sport of running. I often mention my two running groups, the Cruisers, a coed team I founded several years ago, and my local MRTT chapter where I enjoy the sisterhood of 971 other running mamas.
With both groups, I have watched as friends gain confidence in all walks of life through the sport of running, but it has been with my MRTT friends where I have seen the most growth. I have witnessed self-conscious women nervously joined in on a group run sure that they would never be able to keep up, and not only did they keep up, but they set a challenging pace for the group. I have watched as moms join our Couch To 5K group and two months later run their very first race. I’ve seen the joy in a friend’s face as she finished her first half marathon…
Our MRTT chapter members empower their fellow sisters daily by:
- Confidently showing anything is possible
- Setting goals and asking for others to join
- Inspiring with encouraging words
- Sharing dreams (even the big scary ones)
- Reminding that everyone is worthy
- Strengthening self-esteem
- Leading through example
- Instilling self-confidence
The most fabulous thing is that it’s a two-way street; and watching the self-confidence of my friends soar is empowering to me!
Happy Global Running Day!
Who can you empower?
Grab My Button!
Next Wednesday’s Word: Consistent
It’s wonderful to have not just one but two running groups to choose from. Running is very empowering!
Sonia recently posted…#I’vegotthatpower
Agreed – I count my blessings!
Oh my gosh, yes, Running is empowering on its own but add MRTT to the mix and we are all kinds of awesome! Every day I see women inspired and empowered to chase their fitness goals and then that spills over to other areas of life as well.
Coco recently posted…I Can Do Hard Things
So true! We are very fortunate to live in areas with such active MRTT chapters.
It’s fantastic to see how your friends not only improve and get stronger, but what a gift to know that you had a hand in helping that transformation! Hope you have a super Global Running Day!
Anne recently posted…Swim-powerment and Juneathon!
I think that’s one of the best parts of being a member of a running group – watching the growth of our fellow members.
Happy global running day! It is very empowering to watch others reach their goals & think maybe I can do that,too.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Empower: To give power to someone
Hope you had a great Global Running Day, too, Judy!
Great word!
Great post!
I love reading about the cruisers and your meet groups. ..totally empowering to me.
Thanks, Tamieka! I know I’m biased, but both groups are made up of some pretty amazing people. 🙂
I love how “National” running day has turned into “Global” running day. I think that goes to show that runners are definitely empowering others. Good post!
I think you could be on to something, Meranda!
You know I wholeheartedly agree with this post! I am blown away sometimes by the incredible women in our MRTT group as well. Happy running day
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Celebrating Global Running Day
I know! 😀
I don’t run with a group, but I can see how that could be empowering for both the group members and the leaders!
I empower people in my job–especially the parents of newborns. Along with being an NP, I’m a certified lactation counselor and I try really hard to educate and empower new moms to stick with breastfeeding. Recently I had a really rewarding experience–a new mom I saw on Saturday was really struggling with breastfeeding. I worked with her. They came back yesterday and that mom was grinning from ear to ear! Both she and her husband were so proud that their baby was gaining weight without supplementing with formula. That felt great!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Empowered By The Miles: Global Running Day 2016
I just found your original post hiding in my trash folder along with some other comments, mostly yours from various blog posts. I don’t understand why your comments keep going in there since you’re an approved commenter. I’m so sorry, and promise to be better about checking my trash folder in the future.
My comment won’t post! Trying again…
I empower people off the road as well as in the running world. In my job as an NP, I am also a certified lactation counselor. While caring for newborns, I also education and empower moms to breastfeed. This past week I was working with a new mom who was really discouraged. Yesterday she came in, beaming from ear to ear. Her baby was gaining weight, drinking only mom’s milk. That felt great and reminds me why I do this very tough job.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Empowered By The Miles: Global Running Day 2016
Sorry about that – this comment posted.
Women empowering other women is the best thing ever! Such a great use of our time compared to others that want to tear us down!
That’s such a great point, Mary Beth. I will never understand why people try to tear others down, but it sure does happen.
971 other running mamas….now that is absolutely inspiring!
Lauren recently posted…Running Can Empower YOU
Isn’t that fabulous? I’m sure we’ll be over 1,000 by the end of June…
Empowerment is so important, especially among young women. I try to empower my teenage girls and the ladies who work for me !
Karen – Fit in France recently posted…National Running Day
They are lucky to have you in their lives!
I LOVE how runners empower each other! Here’s an example of empowerment for ya: My friend Katie recruited several BAMRS from MRTT to be “wing women” and cheer on runners during the Marine Corps Historic Half in Fredericksburg. They put on fairy wings and their MRTT shirts and placed themselves on the toughest parts of the course. As their fellow MRTT runners came through, they were there to encourage and inspire them, and run with them. I had one to run with me a little bit, in fact! Here’s the link to Katie’s blog post about it:
https://runinspired.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/historic-half-wing-women/
Cheers!
Sharon recently posted…J. Brians Taproom 15K: A Brief Report
That doesn’t surprise me in the least; and, thanks for sharing Katie’s blog post. I’m heading over there now to read it.
I don’t have a group of women torun with (I wish I did) but I’ll say I find this very strong group of incredible virtual women runners and athletes to be very inspirational and empowering to me!
HoHo Runs recently posted…My Empowerment
That is so true, Holly! I am constantly inspired by my virtual running friends. 🙂