Runversation: Here’s to a champion

Celebrating half-a-century of the run that set the mark for thousands of today’s women athletes

Wearing a blue sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, Bobbi Gibb was hiding behind the bushes close to the starting line. After the race began she waited till about half the participants had started and then joined the pack. As she kept running, the male runners realised she was a woman but to her surprise she was being cheered on by the crowd. After running for three hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds, she became the first woman to run the famous Boston Marathon in the year 1966. Gibb revolutionised women’s participation in long-distance running — which was until that day a male-dominated sport.

We know most women take superb care of their families, friends and jobs but rarely show the same commitment to themselves. Why is that It’s also common for most women to think, ‘If I can just check a few more things off my to-do list, then I can relax’. This is fine when you are in your teens or early twenties — the approach may work as the list may be finite. But as the clock ticks lives grow more complicated, the list often doesn’t have an end, and they may never get around to taking that time out.

Beyond that, it’s also easy to lose touch with who you are in this world consumed by the constant press to do life rather than experience life. Women for long have been conditioned to think and care for others first. This is a good thing in moderation but taken to the point of self-neglect, it can lead to self resentment and stress — and that’s not helpful.

Exactly 50 years later after Bobbi Gibb created history, women account for about 40 per cent of the participants in distance races across Europe, America & Australia; while in India they account for little under 20 per cent. But this number is slowly rising. Running has become popular with women for a host of reasons. It can be accommodated around routines of home and work, it can be solo or social, competitive or plainly as a method to stay fit — reducing stress while engaging with fellow runners.

Running is also an extremely important way to carve out time for yourself — in a society that still expects women to put the needs of others first. For most women then, running provides a stress-free environment where they can feel inspired, empowered and comfortable in their bodies, no matter the proportions.

As a female athlete competing in today’s arena you are a very special breed. You are the trailblazer, a leader. You have bucked the trend and you are going against the status quo. You are also making a statement that it is important for young women to be physically and mentally strong, aggressive, competitive and high-achieving. So don’t just whisper this message to the masses. Shout it out, proudly! Go Girl! Push through and have faith that you’ll get to the finish line.

The author can be reached at gs.sudhakarrao@gmail.com