I once auditioned for the Ice Capades. I thought I could run away from a difficult period in my life to tour with the show across America. To be fair, I hadn’t skated seriously since high school. I thought my lack of training would be the biggest strike against me.
After the audition, the choreographer sat me down and said, “You’re a little heavier in the thighs than we like.” The words burned. I was fully prepared for a critique of my shaky skating skills, but not of my body. Not only were my skating dreams quashed, but I had to go back home to my bad boyfriend with my bad job and my fat thighs.
But I had a secret weapon. In the fog of my sadness,
I started running on a beautiful trail near my home. I ran to escape my unhappiness. I ran to get stronger. I ran because I wanted to change my life.
Had that audition been at a different phase in my life, the words of that choreographer may have done more than just temporarily sting. His words may have stopped me from getting into the Ice Capades, but they wouldn’t change the way I felt about myself. Even then, I knew that I was so much more than a pair a thighs.
Soon after, I broke up with my boyfriend, got a new job, and ran my first marathon. Since that time I’ve gone on to run countless road races. I’ve also become a mom to three daughters.
It’s no surprise that my girls want to participate in the sports that I do. Like most moms, my kids look to me as a role model. The
Dove Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls Contest is for moms just like me who have thought about quitting an activity they loved because of how they felt about their bodies. Until June 13, 2013, share your story of how you are an unstoppable role model for girls. Four women will win $2,500 each, and Dove will donate $2,500 to help raise a girl’s self-esteem. Let’s talk about how moms can improve how our daughters view their bodies.
I now know that it is because of my thighs that I am such a strong runner. Now my three daughters watch me head out the door to run several days a week. They know that running makes me feel unstoppable. My eldest daughter has even been inspired to run, revelling in the strength and power of her own body.
I have also returned to skating. Snooty choreographers aside, I love the sport. My daughters take skating lessons, too. They know how gliding over the ice makes me feel about myself. When we go to the local rink to skate together, I hope it makes them feel unstoppable, too, regardless of the size of their thighs.
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