To Be a Sport
Despite what you may think, I’ve never been an athlete.
Growing up, sports were something I always felt like I should do, but never really something I wanted to do. I was perfectly happy to sit in an empty refrigerator box and read stories about babysitting clubs, blond twins from Sweet Valley and a red-haired orphan’s adventures on Prince Edward Island. I’d plow through books faster than my mom could buy or borrow them and as a result, I’d read the same stories over and over again. Or else I’d write my own, hunting and pecking away at my grandma’s electric typewriter.
Even though my parents always cultivated my love of reading and writing, I was also encouraged to try something a little more physical. Anything. “Just get out and get some color on those cheeks!” I was lazy. I was clumsy. I was slow. I wished someone would assassinate the president if it meant we’d get out of his stupid fitness tests with that torturous arm hang. And the jog-a-thon, the school fundraiser wherein we’d hit up our neighbors and relatives for money per lap we’d run in an hour, was a nightmare. My hard sell was, “Listen, Grams, we know I’m not going to be setting any records here. Why don’t you just give me a flat $5 and call it good?”
I’m sure my lack of athleticism was only magnified by my brother’s ability to turn even a race to the mailbox into a gold-medal winning event. They didn’t call him “Fast Eddie” for nothing. He even went to the Junior National Olympics in the sixth grade, and medaled on his 4×400 relay team. I stayed home and read in my box. And though I was well-read and becoming a skilled writer, it didn’t earn me medals, accolades or popularity. It simply made me different and introverted.
I pretty much stayed in my box until the summer when I was thirteen and I grew a foot. Then, instead of being encouraged to run, I was constantly told, “You should play basketball!” Yes, Shorty, and you should play miniature golf. But I quit fighting it and got out in the driveway with my brother, who quit running long enough to show me how to shoot and dribble. And through a lot of hours, shoveling snowy driveways, spending summers at camps, sprained ankles and jammed fingers, I actually became pretty good. Good enough to earn a little money to play in college. I felt accomplished and proud.
Not so proud of the red lipstick and Aqua Net bangs. Yeesh.
My sports story could have ended there. Sometimes I wish it had. But something in me wanted to prove that I wasn’t that awkward little girl struggling around the grade school track during the Mile Run. I wanted to not be the outcast trying to catch the “mean girls” that I tried to befriend as they’d walk around the track at recess, only to have them take off running when I’d get within about 15 feet of them. I wanted to catch them and prove that I was good enough.
And so I started running. I didn’t love it. It wasn’t a passion. But I felt redemption when I finished my first and second half-marathons. I had turned myself into a runner, surprising everyone: my family, my friends and mostly myself. I felt accomplished and proud.
The problem is, I just wasn’t meant to be a runner. Not everyone is. Some people don’t have the joints, the lung capacity, the right arches in their feet or even the right spine structure, for goodness sake. And I promise, it doesn’t make you any less of an athlete, it doesn’t make you lazy and it doesn’t mean you don’t have ambition. It just means you aren’t a runner, and that is that. I’m just sorry it took a ruptured disc and some surgery for me to realize that.
And now, as a mom, I see Gigi’s sports story beginning. She’s seen me run. She knows I played basketball. And she has the added benefit of looking to other women for inspiration.
I’m proud that my daughters are alive at a time when they can see women’s college soccer be celebrated.
A time when men will take their shirts off for the women.
You can take yours off too, Pea Daddy. I won’t complain.
It’s exciting that women’s sports warrant a mascot, as creepy as he may be.
I’m glad my girls can be a cheerleader,
and concessions-tester,
or they can participate themselves,
if they so choose. But if they want to write, sing, paint or cook, I hope that with our encouragement and support, it will give them just as much pride and confidence as scoring a goal or winning a race.
As for my own sports story, even though I’ll never run a marathon, or even another half-marathon for that matter, I know there’s got to be a new ending for me. I’m ready to find a new challenge, be it on foot, on bike or in the water. Or maybe I’ll just be on the sidelines, happy to coach, cheer and peck away on my keyboard.
I have a feeling I’ll still feel accomplished and very, very proud.
“Some people don’t have the joints, the lung capacity, the right arches in their feet or even the right spine structure, for goodness sake.” – So true. I’ve spent the past few weeks going back and forth in deciding if I want to be a runner or if not (my ankles and feet aren’t taking the new sport well). I have good days and bad. And if I have too many bad days, then I’m giving it up, before it becomes dangerous, as it did in your case. Thanks for reminding me that we aren’t all runners and that’s OKAY.
What a sweet post! You’re such a good mom to your girls. It’s nice that we live in an age where all options are open to them.
I did cross country in ninth grade and was the worst one on the team. I spent most of the season being terrorized by my teammates who didn’t like anyone who was quiet and took honor’s classes. Even though I’d been running with my dad since I was 9 years old, it wasn’t until I was in college that I got really into it. I think that some bodies are not made for running, but bodies are also ready to run at different times. At 14, my body was not prepared for distance running. But at 19/20, it was ready and rearing to go.
By the way, I made your blackberry oat bars tonight. They were delicious! I wonder how it would taste with coconut oil instead of margarine. Next time, I may at a few chocolate chips for good measure.
Thanks for such a thoughtful post! It’s so encouraging because sometimes there is pressure to try everything and then excel at it all when really not everything is for everyone! And adorable pic of you typing away! And, whoo! Babysitters Club, haha. This post made me smile a ton! : D
Oh my gosh! I loved going to Pilots games as a kid. My parents would take me all of the time and then I started going to the soccer camps there during the summer. Fond memories. What a sweet post….and impressive that you played basketball in college! I was a pretty bad basketball player and in 9th grade I was crushed when I didn’t make the “freshman” team…that ended my career.
What an awesome post, Sarah! I love this “It just means you aren’t a runner, and that is that. I’m just sorry it took a ruptured disc and some surgery for me to realize that.” I like to run to a point, a few miles. I have done tons of 5 and 10k’s and halfs and marathons and there is something about running for HOURS that I do not like. I dont like running more than 30 minutes, really. There is head-clearing, and invigorating, then there is…this is hard, this sucks, i dont want to be doing this. And that’s what happens after about a half hour for me. Plus, my joints are made for longer distances either.
Anyway love the empowerment vibe going on in this post.
And the last pic of you two…both of you are gorgeous. And have great hair that grows like weeds I am thinking
Have a great week hon!!!
I am also a fellow non-runner, and I’m sure I’m not built for it. Figure skating? Bring it on. Anything that involves flexibility actually – a physio once told me that I probably gravitated towards figure skating exclusively because all of my joints hyper extend. He also said for that reason, I would make a poor rugby player (weirdly, a sport my friends wanted me to do with them, but my mom wouldn’t let me because she didn’t want me to get injured and not be able to skate).
It’s so great to see parents who are open to whatever interests their kids want to pursue. Let them try whatever they want, and they’ll find what works for them, be it a sport, an art, or something else.
I agree that not everyone is made for running. Even if I felt my body were made for running (I don’t), I doubt I would enjoy it.
And man that is a buff mascot. Nice choice, ladies.
Aw what a great day. My (girl) cousin plays professional soccer. It’s so cool to see her do that.
You know what i figured out about myself in the past year? That running on the treadmill or “working out” in a gym is not something i ever see my self doing again. Even as a trainer, i hate being inside using machines. I would rather use my body weight and hit up what nature has to offer! I truly believe that you would be one of the best coaches in the world! Soccer seems like it would be a sport that you would enjoy, especially if it meant that Gigi and Lulu would have a bomb coach… I know you don’t really have a ton of time to yourself, but roller-blading is one of my favorite activities in the fall. I bet your joints would appreciate that a little more than running
I love reading your blog! You are such a talented writer and I LOVE that each of your posts tells a story of inspiration or a life lesson! I picked up running last summer and slowly worked my way up to 6 miles, then my hips started to hurt… bad! I don’t know if I pushed myself too hard too fast or if I am just not cut out to run that much. Now I stick to running 2 miles with a 5k here and there! Thanks for the post!!
That mascot is so creepy! And that last picture of you is just gorgeous.
I love that you encourage your girls to embrace their passions. I remember when I was little, I wanted to do EVERYTHING! Soccer, dance, softball, swimming, horse back riding, cooking….anything and everything and my parents let me! Once I chose something, I had to stick it through but it really helped me discover who I really was and where my gifts and passions really lied. I thank my parents all the time for this and one day your girls will too!
This actually brought a tear (ok tears) to my eye. To be a mother of two little girls who are already so full of life and to know that it’s one of your missions to make sure they have positive female role models…. you are such an amazing inspiration! PS I love love love your blog. When I open my reader of hundreds of new posts, I ignore all the rest if you have a new post. You are the FIRST one I click =)
I love how women’s activities and sports are much more popular now too. I remember in high school, our girl’s basketball team was #1 in the nation and their games were much more packed than the guys’ games. it was pretty awesome. I love the pride you instill in your daughters to pursue goals and feel good for it.
when i was a kid i would read anything in front of me that had words on it. the back of the cereal box was a hot commodity in our house, i would fight my brother to read it every morning, no matter how many times i read it. my mom always supported my less than athletic efforts, but there was always a little bit of disappointment that i hadn’t found my sport. i taught myself how to run based on sheer will when i was 25. three years, and two half marathons later i am still going, not too far and not to fast.
the thing that learning how to run taught me is that there is always time, and there isn’t really anything a i can’t do if i really want to. if i can get myself through 13.1 miles of running (in the pouring rain!), then there isn’t a whole lot this lazy book worm (oh i read every baby sitter book i could grab!) can’t do.
Cute post – I, too, went through books faster than my mom could buy them for me. It wasn’t until high school that I became an “athlete”. Up until then, I was fine reading, writing, and playing with friends!
Ah, this sounds weird, but I so wish I had someone like you in my life, like to sit down and chat with regularly with…I think everyone wants a bit of Mama Pea
I wasn’t an athlete growing up…phys ed class was awkward and a nightmare…but in high school I found my passion is solo activities (running and skiing). i continued well into my early 20′s, loved it, and was half-darn good at it. Alas, my body has failed me, and I am a runner no more. I have to say its been a huge struggle for me to accept (it was a huge part of my “identity” and feeling of self-worth, and I hadn’t even realized it), now I try to find/explore other things in the world that I can..something, anything to find a little “more ” again.
I think you are so amazing…and your first paragraph I relate to much! Sweet Valley, Babysitters Club, Anne of Green Gables, Fear Street, etc etc….and typing on an old typewriter…fun stuff.
Great post! Watching and supporting female-centric sports is such an encouraging message to send to lil girls. I run from time to time, though I am not a ‘runner’, but I sometimes wonder if it’s the best thing for me. I enjoy it, but my body sometimes revolts with a headache so I have to be careful.
Love this post, for a few reasons:
1. I did tap dance for 9 years and went on occasional bike rides with my dad, but that was it for me as far as active hobbies. Otherwise, I was content to curl up on a chair or on the porch, reading. Thank goodness we had a huge library nearby!
2. “And I promise, it doesn’t make you any less of an athlete, it doesn’t make you lazy and it doesn’t mean you don’t have ambition” YES! I spent most of 2009 trying to become a runner, and had to pull out of my first half marathon 3 days before the event because of IT band problems. According to my family’s medical history, I just don’t have the knees for running, and that’s okay! I’ve since taken up cycling, which my husband also loves, and I am so much happier on a bike ride than I ever was on a run!
3. “I have a feeling I’ll still feel accomplished and very, very proud.” — You should! You are an amazing writer and a fantastic mother, and you have lots to be proud of.
i 100% relate to this entire post (except for the having kids thing…hopefully someday soon
). that’s verbatim my sports story, all the way down to the books you liked to read. the only thing is i decided to play volleyball and i actually did LOVE that sport. but i always had pressure to play basketball just because i was tall and had eye-hand coordination. and even though i don’t compete anymore, i still consider myself an athlete…i feel like 15 years of participation earned me that much 
Posts like this make me so happy. I love that Gigi is going to be a little soccer player. When I was a kid I played soccer and did dance, and I feel like I was very balanced because of it.. I knew how to play rough and I knew how to be a delicate ballerina. HA!
P.S. The arm hang was the devil.
think I’m a non-runner who loves running and is in denial…but my lower back has been pretty cranky with me the past year. Hence, I tried on some climbing shoes this weekend (yes, I do live in Nebraska, where we have about 3 climbing walls in the whole state) and am getting my bike fixed up. And I’m getting a yoga mat. I’m not going to quit running; it’s just time to branch out and listen to my body! And regarding yesterday’s post: I totally agree, this blogging thing is your “ballet”. Because you love it, it’s always top-notch and always fun to read. Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
I so wish you lived closer…Gigi could start soccer with Ryan tonight! I’m sure Jeremy will have to talk him down from wearing his soccer shoes and lugging his new ball to school today. Camping was awesome btw…I’m dragging the Pea Fam with us one of these trips. The girls would love it, I promise.
I totally love this post.
And the pictures of the girls with the waffle cones is now making me crave icecream.
beautiful post Sarah. You should be very proud of being an absolutely amazing writer, artist in the kitchen, mother, and overall person! and that is just the beginning, the list goes on and on. You got a gift
I loved Sweet Valley High books!! I miss running ( I was a track runner and cross country runner)and due to medical issues can no longer run. I am sometimes jealous of my friends who still run marathons, but I am still happy and proud to cheer them on
Regan and Parker love soccer, Regan played last spring and it was hilarious, she is asking to lay again. Of course she had to have pink soccer shoes, a pink soccer ball ( which all the other girls were jealous of and kept taking from her so we had to stop bringing it and that was DRAMA), the pink soccer socks and a pink soccer scrunchie. First day of practice and her uniform is YELLOW, she was NOT HAPPY. I tried to tell her that pink was not going to her uniform but she didn’t listen, ahhh 4 year olds.
Kyle has played since he was 4 and is now 17 and I played since I was 4 and played indoor and outdoor until I a few years ago.
Im sure Kyle would go and take his shirt off with pea daddy to root on those girls, can’t say the same for Clint~haha
I didn’t read the BSC but I did read SV and a ton of other stuff. I also had TWO typewriters!
I don’t even watch soccer but man I wish that I had access to learn how to play. We didn’t have many girl teams for stuff where I grew up. There was basketball, softball, and volleyball. BORING. Soccer would have been so much fun!
I’m actually the other way around–best athlete in the class as a kid, but I just don’t think my adult body is built for it! Other super-hero bloggers can run 100 miles or lift twice their body weight…but despite steady exercise over the past three years I still can’t run farther than half a mile at a time and I’m sore for days if I cover more than 2-3. That’s okay. I won’t win medals, but as long as I keep getting my heart rate up and throw in some push-ups, I’ll live a long comfortable life.
go pilots!!
i think soccer is great for youngins… even if all they do is run up and down the field doing cheerleader moves like my niece with absolutely no care for where the ball is… gets their lil bodies movin and they learn how to be part of a team.
put the soccer schedule in the mail for me along with the dance recital schedule…
do you think you can talk gigi’s team into wearing tutus on the field??
this post struck a chord with me as i was NEVER into sports. and still am not. i am sooo athletically challenged, it is sad. it is actually kind of a sore subject for me! i love that you are letting your girls do what they want and that you back up their choices. however, i wish my mom had forced me to play at least one sport rather than take piano lessons and start my own neighborhood restaurant…
xo
This is beautiful and makes me want to hug someone immediately. I wasn’t really an athlete but I played softball for about six years and my mom was at EVERY game. When I stopped playing she was fine with it as long as I was happy. Mom’s love and support = awesome.
Oh, and those aquanet bangs and Hottt! I sported some of my own thanks to my Mom. I think she went through a can of hairspray weekly between my hair and hers.
I agree with you. Mom’s love and support does equal awesome. I thank my Mom all the time for always being there for my brother and I and now my husband.
I love how you pointed out that you don’t have to be a runner to be active. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that in the “health” blog world.
Love the last picture – you make me so excited to be a mom!
What a lovely post! i love how totally supportive you are to your girlies!
I LOVE seeing you all supporting the female college teams in your area. Very cool!
I live near the University of Colorado and their girls soccer team is doing pretty good with fans, but the tennis, volleyball and basketball teams have such a small amount of fans at the games. There are tons of girls in the Boulder area that play sports and I wish more parents would bring them out to the games.
I also wish more girls and boys realized that it IS possible to play at the college level. Now not everyone is going to be able to play at a upper tier Div1 school, but there are a lot of smaller schools and junior colleges that have teams too. I have a lot of friends who played at the Div1 level (3 for girls soccer) and I see kids achieving this everyday. I have a friend who works in college athletics and she said that she wished she had known when she was in high school that playing in college was a possibility. Many people view it as an impossible dream, but it does happen for many kids every year.
Are your girls signed up for the Pilots Kids Club? It looks like they have some events where the girls can meet some of the players. It looks like a lot of fun.
http://www.portlandpilots.com/sports/2008/7/31/GEN_0731080331.aspx
Have a beautiful day!
Excuse me while I clear the lump from my throat. I never was the athlete…just the band geek with great calves from marching backward.
I turned myself into a runner and was going to run a half marathon this fall post back surgery. My body had other plans. Now I am learning that 5 miles will be okay and I need to find something else I love. Just wish it wasn’t so dang hard because I love running.
You amaze me! Thanks for being you and so awesome to your little girls
You rock, Mama Pea.
I agree that not everyone has a body built for running! It was forced on me as cross-training for figure skating when I was 11, and it’s also why I’m told I’ll need full knee replacements in the next few years (I’m 24!) – and I’m absolutely adamant that my children won’t obediently follow a painful regime to please their coaches or parents. Kudos to you for giving your two beautiful girls every option they could possibly want…even a new generation of well-spoken readers-in-a-box
I swear I commented on this earlier but who the heck knows, don’t see it now.
I loved this post because I have been struggling a lot with my inability to run. I have been so frustrated and mad at my body but you put things into perspective for me. I’m just not built to run and that’s okay. I can do tons of other things…yoga, weight lifting and even kickboxing (which I love.)
Your girls are lucky to have your support!
All that time you spent in the cardboard box definitely cultivated a killer writing ability. You just have such a way with words… If I could accomplish something half that impressive, I’ll be happy (and my mom will be proud).
really appreciated your comments about running…i, too, grew up the “musical bookworm” of the family, and my brother was the all-star sports dude. running has proven to be “my thing,” and i think it’s almost better that i got sporty later in life – never had to experience a burnout, at least!
love your blog – the girls are adorable, your writing style rocks and i love your “philosophies of life!”
Awesome post, what lucky girls to have such a supportive mama. Just wondering, do you ever leave your hair curly/ natural? I think I saw one pic of you with curly hair and thought it looked gorgeous… just curious as another curly-haired woman
Thanks Elizabeth! I haven’t been wearing my hair curly lately…mostly because I haven’t been washing it much. When I wear it curly, I use a lot of product so I have to wash it every 1-2 days. When I wear it straight I can get at lest 3 or 4 days out of it. But at least we have the choice, right?
This is so beautiful. Your girls are so so very lucky to have you. Isn’t it exciting knowing that they can let their passions guide them through life?
I love the freedom you give your girls to explore and be creative, it’s so awesome to get a taste of that freedom on your blog! Plus, as a pilot, I love the photo of Gigi in the pilot shirt, and the fact that you brought them to a UP soccer game =)
such a great post mama! these are the things young girls need to hear and understand that it’s ok just to have fun!!!
and yes, skippy natural pb is fine. if i didn’t like my tj’s pb so much it is what i would eat.
we will totally find time to have a heart to heart…even if i have to stay up past my bedtime at 9.30 
I agree not everyone is runners. I am not… though I still think I am, haha. I have not really ‘ran’ in a long time, I have been finding other exercises that I have really been enjoying instead, and to me that is all that matters. Finding something that I enjoy that keeps me active
That mascot is so creepy-what is with the sideburns? I wish it was rocking female mascot instead. Loved the shout out to the Babysitters Club, I definitely read all those books, but by the time I was actually old enough to babysit I was already on to Stephen King!
Love that the photo w/the guys with no shirts pops up HUGE on your header, haha. I just can’t get over your posts. The way you + pea daddy parent your daughters, is just amazing. G looks sooo excited trying on those cleats! I’m excited to see what your next sports venture is. I picked up swimming + biking this year and completely love them both!! I’ve also found a new love for walking w/my crazy 5 finger shoes. MY next venture is going to be learning to play the violin!! I can’t wait
This post warmed my heart. <3
Another fabulous, heartfelt post Mama Pea. I think the girls are lucky to have you to inspire and support them in what they choose to do.
I am not meant to run or be much of an athlete. I think I’ll be a professional leisurely bike rider and part-time yogi.
We are twins. Minus the fact you have two kids. If we lead parallel lives like I think we might, I am very excited for the next 10 years of my life.
I loved ready Sweet Valley and BSC when I was young! Did you know that they are coming out with another Sweet Valley book in early 2011? Crazy!
I, too, was never into sports as a kid and I loved reading and read all the same books as you. I had back surgery a year ago for a herniated disc and “crushed” nerves (to use my surgeon’s term). It was awful and it took me a long time to recover. One of my legs became numb and weak from nerve damage and I kind-of dragged it along behind me for a while. But, I’m happy to say that, because of physical therapy, it’s functioning normally now. I have two more bulging discs and I’m trying to be so careful so I don’t have to go through another surgery. I’ve realized a lot of things aren’t possible for me and my back nowdays. I’m doing the Body-For-Life program again and will be walking instead of running, but that’s okay because I was never really that fond of running in the first place. It’s nice to know there are other people out there who’ve gone through similar things and come out on the other side victoriously.