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ATHLETE EXPOSED
You ’ re in the zone . Your heart is beating fast , your legs are powering you forward in rhythmic bliss , your GPS watch confirms your pace is on track , and you can see that there are only a few more metres to go before summiting that massive hill , when suddenly , a camera flash goes off in front of you . “ Oh , no !” you think to yourself . “ Was I smiling ? Do I have sweat stains under my armpits ? Are my running tights see-through ? – BY SAM STOKESBERRY
We ’ ve all experienced it at least once – that dreaded race photo . The one that you untag yourself from on Facebook before any of your friends spot it . You know exactly which one I ’ m talking about … And as a female athlete , it can be incredibly disheartening to see a photo of yourself that highlights your insecurities . Whether it ’ s stretch marks , arm flab , or cellulite , the struggle is real … and everyone deals with it . In other words , the ‘ good news ’ is you ’ re not alone .
PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
The key to overcoming these common ( and stubborn ) insecurities is to realise that no body is perfect , and no two bodies are alike . Every person ’ s physique is perfectly imperfect , and this includes even the most elite athletes . So when doubt begins to creep in and mess with your mental game , try to remember the why factor behind your running . Find your joy , find your confidence , find your spark , and remind yourself what inspired you to get moving in the first place . Identify your strengths and the things you love about yourself , and focus on those , not your weaknesses . Because hey , we all have those .
Every athlete has different goals and motivations for running , whether it be camaraderie with our fellow runners , the scenic views of the mountain trails , the PB during the time trial , or the glass of beer or wine at the finish line . Deep down , we can all be certain that the sport of running is worth so much more than a medal or a race photo . I speak from personal experience when I say , don ’ t let an unflattering action photo define who you are as an athlete , and don ’ t let it mess with your mojo . No matter your weight or height or age , your body is a machine and it ’ s built to do incredible things . So any scar or stretch mark or dimple of cellulite that you may bear , just confirms that you ’ re a fighter who takes challenges as they come and refuses to give up .
And if that doesn ’ t encourage you , maybe this will : When it comes to a solid race photo – or any photo , for that matter – a good photographer will always tell you that the key to taking a beautiful picture is great lighting . Terrible lighting can cast unflattering shadows and angles that accentuate all the wrong things , while concealing all the right things . It can add years to a person ’ s age and kilograms to a person ’ s weight . Bad lighting doesn ’ t care how fit you are or how good your butt looks in a little black dress . Bad lighting doesn ’ t discriminate . So when that unbecoming photo finds its way onto your Facebook page , laugh , shake it off , and think back to how it felt when you crossed the finish line , like a champion . So to misquote a classic break-up cliché , “ It ’ s not you , it ’ s the bad lighting .”
WE ’ RE ACTUALLY AMAZING …
For all my fellow female athletes who may battle with maintaining a healthy body image , here are a few more facts to boost your ego . It ’ s scientifically proven that women have an overall higher body fat percentage than men , by roughly 6 % to 11 %, so don ’ t panic if your husband or boyfriend eats twice as much as you , but still has a six pack . This is due to our body ’ s increased production of sex and reproductive hormones ( like oestrogen ). Because of our higher levels of oestrogen , women are able to burn more fuel from fat than men , which preserves our muscle glycogen stores . This anatomical advantage is also what gives us the amazing , superhero-like ability of being able to grow tiny humans inside our bodies and birth them into the world . So , the fat that we store up not only gives us super sexy curves , it ’ s also highly beneficial for sustaining and protecting the human race – and that ’ s something we should take great pride in !
So , the next time you spot a photographer in a race , don ’ t dive into the bushes in an attempt to dodge the dreaded picture you think will result . Run with pride , celebrating the fierce athlete that you ’ ve become . Then , be prepared to look back at that race photo and see a beautiful and strong ( and potentially very sweaty ) athlete staring back at you . And be proud of her .
About the Author : Sam is an American athlete doing missionary work combating human trafficking in South Africa and has more than 13 years of running experience . Nowadays she focuses on trail running ( and captaining her soccer team ), often using her training runs to increase her fitness , breathe in the scenery , and push her limits as a runner . And she openly admits to making awkward running poses every single time she passes a race photographer .
Image : Courtesy Amoija Events
“ I speak from personal experience when I say , don ’ t let an unflattering action photo define who you are as an athlete , and don ’ t let it mess with your mojo .”
32 ISSUE 94 MAY 2017 / www . modernathlete . co . za