running - Koritha Mitchell

It’s the start of a new year, and I find myself vowing to exercise and lose weight. What a cliché! But, honestly, I don’t care. Trying to avoid the cliche would require ignoring the truth about my current circumstances. Fortunately, my new year’s resolution means returning to the healthy habits—and, more importantly, the healthy mindset—that I have enjoyed for several years. Most who know me also know that I began running about 4 years ago and it changed my life, so I’ve been a “running evangelist” ever since. In the past few months, however, I have seriously fallen out of my rhythm.

I very much see and feel the consequences of months of not running regularly and of eating very poorly. More than that, I am facing a fact that must be addressed: I’ve been letting racism and other very American -isms win.

I have shared before that I run because it helps me to resist the many ways in which American culture works to steal my joy and health, if not my life. By revealing that personal truth, I have had the honor of convincing many people to try running and reap its countless benefits. It’s time for me to re-visit all that great advice and get back to being proactive about self-care.

I started New Year’s day with a 40-minute run/walk. I am truly starting over. That’s just a fact. No shame about it. I will take it easy because I still care more about moving for the rest of my life than about conquering particular challenges, such as a full marathon or completing races at a certain speed.

My concrete goals are to 1) exercise at least three times per week; 2) get back to the fitness level and size at which I felt my best; and 3) get back to maximizing the synergy I have enjoyed between my running and my writing.

I hope you will join me on this journey!!! I will post at least once per week about how my week went, and I will share the lessons I learn along the way, just as all running/walking buddies do in person. I hope you will find something useful in my posts, and I hope you’ll tell me in the comments what kinds of things I could share that might be even more helpful to you.

Here’s to a strong, inspired, productive 2015!

feature on my experiences as a Girls on the Run SoleMate in The Girl’s Book, 2014-15 Columbus Edition (click picture to enlarge)

I know that running improves my intellectual work, so I believe my running helps others because I always strive to do work that empowers people to be better citizens. Not surprisingly, then, I love it when my running even more directly helps others, as when I volunteer as a Girls on the Run SoleMate.

Girls on the Run is an international organization with “councils” wherever there are adults willing to support their important mission. Each council has several sites where girls can participate in the Girls on the Run curriculum, which focuses on 3rd through 8th graders. As they put it, “We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” You can support this crucial work by becoming a coach, by becoming a SoleMate, or by simply donating.

You can also volunteer on a one-time basis by volunteering at one of their 5K races. Each council caps off the girls’ 10-week curricular experience by sponsoring a 5K in the Fall and in the Spring. Wherever you live, consider opportunities by finding your nearest group on the main Girls on the Run website. For those in Columbus, Ohio, you can volunteer as soon as November 15th at this season’s 5K!!! For the girls’ safety, you will need to be cleared, so inquire early by visiting http://girlsontherunfranklincounty.org/5K/

Please read the feature on this page for a sense of how being a SoleMate works and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Let’s keep walking, running, and supporting girls!

Embracing the Cliché

Walking, Running, Supporting Girls