On Saturday June 8, 2019 I raced a 10k in shorts and crew socks, for what feels like the first time ever in my long distance running career. Sure, I probably wore something similar in middle school cross country but that was before I ~knew about body image goals~ Come to think of it, in middle school cross country I think I wore ankle socks to make sure I wasn't drawing too much attention to my legs by having socks cut my calves in half. But, since middle school, I've faced my own demons and fears about wearing clothes that showed off my legs. It was only a few years back, read 2016, that I started to believe I could & would wear shorts to train and race in. My legs are hella thic, but you know what else, they are also hella muscular. I don't have a thigh gap, I have some cellulite, I also have stretch marks and calves that are made of steel. I own about 5 pair of crew socks that I usually use for trail runs or solo runs. But on Saturday I wanted to wear my NYC skyline crew socks for a race in the heart of New York City - Central Park! I was a little nervous, I usually wear compression socks on my shins to race to help prevent shin splints so not wearing those was also new. Furthermore, the socks made indentations on my calves so I was nervous I looked silly and fat, but the socks felt great and breathable on my feet so I went with the gut feeling to wear the crew socks. Side note, this story is self centered, makes me feel good about my body and probably no one cares what I look like running because we are all trying to put one foot in front of the other. However, as a millennial I think about a lot of how I appear to the outside world and so yeah, I care how my legs look. The ending also has to do with how not great I usually look in race photos and how my friend captured me looking happy doing what I love. Saturday was a perfect morning in New York, I was running with a friend from my regular run club in Connecticut and I felt that a PR was easily achievable! As I ran into Central Park (we started on Central Park West), I knew John was going to be waiting to see me. He doesn't usually have his phone while he runs so this was a treat that he could even take a photo of me running. I didn't see the aforementioned photo (at the top of this post) until way after the race (duh, you were running silly). But holy cow, do I LOVE this photo. I'm smiling, my legs look strong as hell, I appear to have decent form and I know I was just stupid happy to be doing what I love in the city I love. It doesn't hurt that this photo is also a memory of a new 10k PR on a hilly course, but it is more than that. I'm most definitely not the fittest, skinniest or fastest on the course, but I have worked very hard to become faster, stronger and better this year. While they are just a pair of socks, the represent the work I've put in, the negative thoughts I've overcome and happiness I feel with how strong my body is at this moment. Next Saturday (June 15) when I toe up in Queens for another 10k, I'll be wearing my New York Mets crew socks proudly. I might go buy more crew socks to add to the collection tomorrow!
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Megan FloodMegan is 29 and a 14-time marathoner. She is hoping to Boston Qualify one day. She doesn't know exactly how this blogging will go, but she is giving it her best shot! Archives
June 2019
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Marathoning Megan