Well, we did it!  Team ShapelyGirl completed the Broad Street Run on Sunday.

It wasn’t pretty sometimes; there were tears, momentary breakdowns, blisters, shin splints, an argument or two.  But we all made it across the finish line last Sunday. We made it through all 10 miles of this race that Philadelphia hosts every year to benefit cancer research. It was really something to see.  There were over 20,000 runners at the starting line.  Some of the world’s elite runners were there, but there were also many ordinary Philadelphians who took part.  They came in all colors, ethnic backgrounds and ages; soccer moms, CPA’s, and school teachers.  And of course, ShapelyGirls.

It was almost 10 weeks ago that I came up with the idea for a ShapelyGirl challenge: Would plus size women be interested in training to power walk or very lightly jog the Broad Street Run?  Would they take the challenge?  And even with the training could they do it?  I’ve done it every year for the past 9 years and I know how difficult it can be.  I knew that the biggest obstacle would most likely be a lack of belief in their own ability.  Anyone who knows me knows that I truly believe that larger women can and should be fit.  But would the world take us seriously?

For a while it wasn’t looking good.  I started to talk about the race in February in my workout classes and although some of the workout participants thought about it, none came forward and actually signed up. I was very emphatic in telling them that if they trained properly they could get through it and finish and how much time it would take to do 10 miles.  Slowly I began to see a spark of interest and a few girls filled out the paper work.  Then a few more made the leap and team ShapelyGirl was born.  I mapped out a training regimen for the14 of them and we got to work; nights, early mornings and every weekend.  For 8 weeks in a row they’d be mine.

The physical and mental training were equally important.  They began to realize that I believed in them and in that it was OK to believe in themselves. This group was so dedicated and motivated that it was inspiring to me.  And inspiring to the hundreds of thousands of people who learned about their courage in the Philadelphia Inquirer and on Channel 6 Action News.  When the team went out to dinner the Friday before the race people in the restaurant recognized us and came over to wish us well.  I was so proud of these women.

On race day they continued to make me proud.  What a glorious day it was. It was supposed to rain.  I was nursing a cold.  But the crowds were cheering, the great energy of the volunteers, the runners and my ShapelyGirls pushing all the way – how could it not be fantastic?  The sun finally came out.  As the end got closer it was me, one of my team members and another woman we’d kept encouraging not to give up.  The 3 of us joined hands and crossed the finish line together…literally the last 3 to do so before they re-opened Broad Street to traffic.  Most of the team had finished further up in the pack.

I take my hat off to those team members who kept me motivated and wanting to work harder.  We showed the world that curvy women could do it.  Since then I have had many e-mails from women who say they want to be part of the team next year. Well, we might not wait until next year.  We just might do the Half Marathon in September.  Are you in?