I was selected to be a part of the 2026 BGR! Foundation Chicago Marathon Charity team, and I am so thankful for this opportunity! I am really appreciative of the folks who have donated to my fundraiser. Today, I want to share why I am raising money for this organization.
As a child, I was NOT a runner. I used to fail gym on the regular and could never run that 600-yard dash– a run in which we would run around the SCHOOL BUILDING…the 80’s were wild! I was resigned to being a chubby asthmatic girl who would do step classes in the privacy of her home to try to stay in shape. Suddenly, I was going through a divorce and needed a way to control the rage that I felt. The feelings and anxiety of loss of a marriage and the end of a relationship, the self-doubt I had of being a failure at family, was too much, so I started running. It wasn’t easy, but I thought if I were too busy trying to catch my breath and rack up miles, I would be too tired to be angry about everything. I signed up for a few races. I didn’t know what I was doing, so I joined a few run groups and I had various success. While the groups weren’t unwelcoming, I always felt like I didn’t quite belong and would eventually fall off because I wasn’t comfortable. I had signed up to do Broad Street and while I nervously waited for the race to begin, I saw a sight that would change my life. A sea of black and pink greeted me. There were women of all shapes and sizes stretching and warming up. Signs that read “Preserve the Sexy” and BLACK GIRLS RUN! and they welcomed me into their stretch circle, and after that race, I searched for more info about the group.
It took a while before I went out with the group. I stalked the page, checking out what folks were doing, and one day I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and went out for a run. It was me and my cotton tee shirt, and my Kohl’s sneakers against the world. What I learned from BGR, stop wearing those heavy/hot shirts, and that I was so much more than a failed marriage or the other negative thoughts racing in my head. There were women from all backgrounds and abilities out getting it in. Supporting me when I did my first 10k, my first race, my first everything. There was no judgment, no being left behind, and a whole new behavior was learned. Feeling empowered to set a goal and achieve it became the norm, and this is why I support Black Girls Run!
Organizations like BGR are so important because we live in an era where women’s bodies are policed and our autonomy is being challenged. Running is a way to empower us and having a community that supports and uplifts you is amazing.
Please consider supporting my fundraiser or spreading the word. Ready to run? Join me on the pavement!
Thank you for reading, and remember, preserve the sexy!
Yo
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