Run, throw, and catch like a girl

Saturday Night Live had a sketch once that was called the “Run, throw, and catch like a girl Olympics.” I admit, I thought it was funny. But I also didn’t take offense because I was raised in a family where we were all physically active and I was never made to feel like I wasn’t good enough because I was a girl. I played sports all through my youth, mostly soccer and tennis and then started running as an adult. I confess, I enjoy it that I can run faster than my husband and that I beat my brother’s time in the Ironman we did together (in the interest of full disclosure he was scarily dehydrated, but…still). I’ve always thought that I’m a better person for having been athletic my whole life and the evidence seems to be stacking up that sports in one’s youth has a long lasting positive effect.

The NY Times reported on some recent research by economists about the lasting effect of sports and girls and Title IX. Their conclusion is that participating in sports has a positive effect on education and employment in later life. Playing sports and being active was easier when I was a kid, cable TV didn’t really become part of our life until I was in junior high and the video games that were around then weren’t all that exciting. So we spent our free time outside, dragging ourselves home when the streetlights came on. Life is different now but we can help our kids be active by being active ourselves. Model good habits and encourage outdoor activities. For me, I’m going to push my daughter to run, throw, and catch like a girl because there’s not a single thing wrong with that!

Here’s something for your running mix to remind you of your days as a girl.