Emily Vigil: Why I Run [#NGWSD]

When I first began distance running (after bouts of sprinting in high school and middle distance in college) I remember coming home from one of my longest runs at the time to a ringing phone. One of my college journalism buddies wanted to get together. I said I had to shower first, because I'd just run eight miles. There was a pause, then his smart-aleck comment, "Wouldn't it have been faster to drive?"

As runners, we've probably all had to endure a certain number of odd looks, rude comments or strange questions. But I wonder how many of us could answer those critics as eloquently as my guest blogger today.

Sixteen year old Emily Vigil is a sophomore at Academy of Holy Angels in the Twin Cities. She's been running competitively since middle school. Emily began competing at the high school level when she was in 8th grade at Annunciation school.

Her progress was quick and notable –
Personal bests (so far!):
4K (cross country)   15:23
2-mile                        12:45
1-mile                          5:58
800m                           2:39
400m                           1:09

Emily enjoys the camaraderie of running for a team (favorite memories include having fun with friends on rainy practice days and once running when it was completely dark outside.)

But it's also clear she enjoys the competitive side – qualifying for the MN state cross country meet as a 9th grader and breaking 2:40 in the 800 are just a few of her highlights.

Emily hopes to race on a college team and has long-term goals of winning an Olympic gold medal in the 5,000 or 10,000. And she might try a marathon one day.

Lofty goals, indeed... and you'd be crazy to count her out. As a special treat for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, here's Emily's story, in her own words:

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Everyone Asks Why I Run: Here's my Answer

None of my friends understand why I like to run. They don't get why I look forward to running five miles every day, no matter what Mother Nature has to throw at me. They don't understand how I enjoy hard cross country practices, consisting of repeat 800's, sprints or eight-mile long runs. They don't know why I keep wanting to race despite how nervous I get beforehand.

My best friend has told me countless times that I'm crazy to want to keep running after back-to-back ankle injuries. And I have to admit, sometimes I find myself questioning my sanity as I'm lacing up my shoes to run five miles when it's below freezing or 90 degrees and humid. But running is so much more than the rarely ideal weather and the unending long runs. It's more than sucking wind during hard workouts, more than coming back from injuries, more than the indescribable pre-race nerves.

Running is something to look forward to at the end of every day. It's something constant; no matter how bad my day was, I can look forward to letting off steam with a run. Running is an excuse to get away, to work out my problems or forget about them altogether.

Those endless long runs and grueling hard workouts become worth it when you pass someone in a race with 400 meters to go, knowing that you worked that much harder than them the week before. It's the satisfaction of finishing a long run or hard workout and being better off for it. It's your teammates cheering for you at the finish line, telling you that you have less than a quarter-mile until you qualify for the state meet. It's something to be proud of; you get definite bragging rights for running eight miles in the rain.

Running definitely has it's pros and cons. I'm not going to saw that hard workouts and long runs are fun all the time; sometimes, they just suck. I'm not going to say that coming back from injuries is easy, because it isn't. And I'm definitely not saying that to be a runner, you don't have to be a certain level of insane.

But I will say that the good things outnumber the bad. That satisfaction of finishing a race with your best time makes up for the bad weather ten times over. The freedom you feel when you're running, the relief from stress, worries, and other problems makes the hard workouts worth it.

And for those of you who still think that I'm crazy for being a runner, think again; you might be even crazier for not being a runner.

– Emily Vigil

A Runner's Hoop Dreams

I have a confession to make.

I couldn't hula hoop as a child. I don't think I could keep a child-sized hoop aloft for even one revolution. I always thought it had something to do with the fact that I was built much like a pogo stick (another nemesis from my childhood). My center of gravity was just... wrong. At least that's what I tell myself. My cousins and neighborhood friends might tell you a different story. Perhaps I was just uncoordinated?

I grew up, learned what I was good at (throwing a softball, shooting a jump shot, running...) and thus was able to leave the hula hoop horrors of my childhood behind. Or so I thought...

Fast forward a number of decades and now, at the risk of losing whatever bit of street cred I may have as a runner (or would that be "road" cred?) I'm officially declaring my latest fitness "obsession."

The weighted sports hula hoop.











How's that for a surprising twist?

Many of us are familiar with the type of runner who just, well, runs. They often don't even lift weights. Or cross-train. Or possibly even stretch. They just run.

I can appreciate that commitment, but, although I identify myself primarily as a runner, I've rarely been "just a runner."

I guess I'm one of those gym rat types who has fallen in love over and over again at the gym - with the equipment. I've had my phases with stair climbers and recumbent bikes, rowing machines, nordic ski machines, and even a stint with 1980s aerobics classes. Perhaps ironically, I've never been a fan of the treadmill. Running on a treadmill makes me dizzy.

Then take me outside and, again, my first choice would be running. But I also enjoy inline skating, bicycling, hiking, you name it.

However, when hula hoops began to be re-introduced as an adult fitness aparatus, I was, to say the least, skeptical. One instructor I met (who was also selling a version of the product) told me "It's so easy!" "But I don't know how to hula hoop," I said. She replied enthusiastically, "You don't have to know how to hula-hoop!" Riiiiigggghhhttt...

Because I had been having a love-hate relationship with my own running for a few years now–I still love it, but sometimes it really, really doesn't seem to like me–my elliptical trainer has become my best friend, at least for the time being.

But I wanted to add something else to my routine of elliptical workouts, running and light weights. So I finally gave in and bought a weighted sports hoop.

It sat in the box for a few months. Finally, I assembled it.

It stood against a wall for another few months. Finally, I watched the short intructional video on the manufacturer's web site. No problem!

The first time I picked it up, I couldn't get it to do 1/2 revolution. And it had the added bonus of feeling like someone was smacking me with a sock full of rocks. When I finally got it around 2.5 revolutions (2.5!!) I thought I'd won the equivalent of a hula-hooping marathon.

Yet it still didn't feel like something I could do long enough to work up a sweat or increase my heart rate or ... well, anything helpful in the fitness area. I found myself laughing at the warnings all over the box:"Don't do for more than 20 minutes per day." Seriously? 20 minutes? In a row???

Turns out I wasn't doing it properly. (And this might explain my childhood embarrassment as well.)

I had to make an ever-so-slight adjustment to my stance - putting one foot slighty in front of the other. I immediately hit 50 revolutions, and smugly thought I'd figured it out. But what was this about 20 minutes?

I kept plugging along, making incremental increases, until one day when it just clicked for me. I did 20 minutes in a row!! And now I routinely do 30 minutes at one time, almost daily. (My "world record" is 3,210 revolutions in 30 minutes, for those of you keeping score at home. Yes, I count.)

I've also been pleasantly suprised by a bonus benefit. My regular hooping (5-7 days/week for more than 4 months now) has improved my running.

For the last few years I'd been having more and more aches and pains with running. Mostly aches: in my hips, glutes and pelvic bones. It started out a few years ago and had gradually worsened to the point where just about every run (even the short ones) left me overly stiff for the rest of the day and often into the next day.

However, since I've been hooping regularly, even my longest runs feel great. I don't stiffen up afterwards and I feel great the day after. It's been my little miracle in a bright, multi-colored circle.

I bought the Sports Hoop on a lark, hoping it would just be a fun distraction. But I seriously love it. I actually miss it when I don't do it one day. I've now purchased a lighter, though slightly larger hoop which came with an instructional video by Marisa Tomei.

I assembled that hoop. It's sitting against a wall, waiting for me.

Now that I've confessed, I'd love to hear your hula hooping stories. Pictures would be better. Videos would be great! Have you, your daughter or your grandmother caught the hooping bug? Send me a video! I'd love to see it!

Next I'll need to look into these adult-sized fitness Pogo sticks I've read about. Who's with me?

Paying it Forward–Rally for Girls’ Sports Day

I've always believed sports can be an integral part of any young girl's development. That belief stems from my own introduction to athletics as a young girl.

For me, sports were first and foremost a bonding experience with my dad. He made sure, early on, that I knew how to throw a baseball properly and shoot a perfect jump shot.

As I began to participate in organized sports, it was my dad who bought me my first softball glove and first pair of basketball shoes. Early on, we bonded over the pain and nuisance of wearing eyeglasses while participating in sports - so he bought me my first ulgy, black athletic eyeglass holder - thankfully, he then allowed me to begin wearing contacts by sixth grade.

But it was once I discovered running - specifically high school track - that I really began to embrace athletic participation. And, you guessed it, it was my dad who bought me my first running tights, racing spikes and even my first sports bra.

My participation in high school track led me to college at the University of Minnesota where I competed on the track team. Later I volunteered for years as a track official with the team. But even I have been surprised by what athletics did for me longer term.

Today I still run, albeit longer distances at much slower paces than my high school sprinting days; I even competed for a couple of USATF-MN teams post-collegiately. I've coached high school athletes, and worked at countless road races, track meets and cross country races. And I make a living as a freelance writer by telling the stories of other people's athletic endeavors.

What did I win by playing sports? A lifelong passion for health & fitness; the ability to compete, win and lose with grace and dignity; the understanding of how to set and achieve goals; the knowledge of what it means to contribute to a team; self-confidence, self-respect & self-esteem; and, perhaps most importantly, the zeal to encourage, influence and support the next generation (as well as newcomers of any age.)

When the National Women's Law Center asked bloggers to write a post today, December 8th, about the importance of girls in sports and the benefits of athletics participation, I gladly signed up. In trying to come up with my angle on this broad topic I decided to seek out some of today's experts: girls who are just now moving up the ranks through athletic pursuits of their own.

Thankfully, opportunities for young women today abound, so I had many "subjects" from which to choose. I ended up asking the daughters of two friends to write just a glimpse into their athletic lives. Their stories follow.

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Nine-year-old Grace Byers is in fouth grade at Burroughs Community School in Minneapolis, Minn. She started figure skating in December 2008. When she's not skating, Grace practices yoga in mother and daughter yoga classes led by her certified intructor mom, Faith McGown. She also participates in the yoga classes Faith teaches to her figure skating club. An extremely active girl, Grace is learning to enjoy running with her mom, who has run Twin Cities Marathon and many other races.


This weekend I competed in a figure skating competition in White Bear Lake. I took first place in my event. Since I started skating three years ago I have won 10 medals and trophies.

Ever since I started figure skating I have been more focused in school and I am getting better grades. It’s made me a better student and a stronger person. Every year our school does a family fun run. In 4th grade you have to run 40 minutes. It used to be hard for me. Since I started skating, I run the whole thing. I even run some 5ks with my mom.

Even though I compete on my own, I am still part of a team. I am good friends with many of my teammates. We help and cheer for each other even when we compete against each other. I think all kids should have a sport. [Photo caption: Grace with her first-place trophy–Saturday, December 4, 2010. Photo courtesy: Faith McGown.]

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Maddie Peterson, 15, is a sophomore at Saint Louis Park Senior High School in Minnesota. This spring she will play Ado Annie in her school's production of "Oklahoma!"


In the fall I run Cross Country for Saint Louis Park. I’m the fifth fastest varsity runner on the team. Our girl’s team doesn’t think of running as a sport that you do after school. We think of it, as a way to make new friends every year and create sister-like bonds that will last all throughout your whole life even if you stop running. Since our girl’s team is so small we have more of a chance to get to know each other better. I’m glad I don’t go to a huge school with a giant team because you don’t get the same kind of relationships with every runner. This year I learned something from every girl on the team.

Over the summer when I train for the season my parents sometimes have us do family runs. Our family is very close but usually I prefer running alone. When I run with my family I’m distracted and it feels like they’re going extremely fast, but really I’m going too fast. When I’m running alone I can think and clear my head. My parents always say, “How come you can run with your team but you hate running with us?” and I tell them its because with my team I don’t feel any pressure from them. You can go as fast as you want at practice and everyone will be ok with it.

I want to be an opera singer when I’m older. I’ve often thought that my abilities to project my voice like I can come from my lung capacity from running and the endurance I’ve built up. I asked my opera teacher one day if it was a good idea to exercise and sing at the same time. He told me yes it is and he would sometimes hum his song while running. At practice I tried singing some songs while running. It wasn’t perfect but it’s a start! [Photo courtesy: Susan Peterson.]

NYC high school sprinting star in desperate need of bone marrow donor

I started my running "career" as a sprinter, way back in the day. (Actually, my first running was from the batter's box to first base, but that's a story for another day.)

Today, when I write feature articles about runners, one of the questions I often ask is what their favorite "discipline" is within the sport: cross county, roads, track or trail. My very unscientific study has found that often the first discipline introduced is the favorite. For example, I have many friends who love cross country. When I ask why that is, they'll often recount how it was the first sport they tried out for in high school.

For me that sport was track and it's what I always answer as my first love (followed closely by road racing.) And within track, although I went on to run middle distance in college and dabbled in distance racing post-collegiately, I always think first of my sprinting days.

My decades-long interest in sprinting (and sprinters) is why this NYDailyNews.com story about a young New York City woman first caught my eye. Reading her story touched my heart. Ahtyana Johnson is a senior at Cardozo High School. She's a highly-recruited sprinting star who was recently diagnosed with an often-fatal, rare blood disorder. She's currently in need of a bone marrow donor.

From the NYDailyNews.com article "If you are healthy, young and have a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant, the odds in your favor are in the 97-plus percent range," said Sandra Walter of the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation. [photo courtesy: NYDailyNews.com]

Fundraiser for MN Trail Running leaders

If you're in Minnesota this weekend, please consider attending the Larry & Colleen Pederson Benefit Run on Saturday (November 27, 2010). Runners will gather at Afton State Park for a run, potluck and silent auction. The event is open to all and will begin at 7:00 a.m. at the park’s visitor center.

The following is directly from the event website:

"The Pederson Benefit Run was created to support our friends Colleen & Larry Pederson, who sustained a tremendous amount of damage to their home during the recent flood in Zumbro Falls, Minnesota. After the flood, many people who were able to do so, volunteered to help Colleen & Larry with cleaning up the mess & the damage left behind after the water receded. The work has seemed endless, with many hours spent cleaning, tearing down walls, ceilings, pulling out the floor and the fireplace, before rebuilding could begin. Still many, especially those who were not able to be there in person, have asked what more can we do? As trail runners we thought let’s do what we do best…Run! And the idea for the benefit run was born.

"Over the years Larry and Colleen have become familiar faces in the Trail Running Community, dedicating countless hours of their time so that runners may enjoy the sport they love so much. Each year some of the fun that we get to experience on the trails because of them are The Fall Superior Races, Zumbro 100 & In Yan Teopa. Larry also founded the Upper Midwest Trail Runners Association, visit the website for further information about UMTR and the races they direct."

Gabriele Anderson joins WomenTalkSports (plus Twitter & Facebook)

Last week the WomenTalkSports blog network added Gabriele Anderson to their Professional Athlete Directory. For those of you who don't know, Anderson runs for the elite, post-collegiate Team USA Minnesota. She was also a standout during her tenure as a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher distance runner.

Anderson had a busy week last week, as she also set up this Facebook page and joined Twitter with the very apt username: GabeRunsHappy. I've never met Anderson, but from everything I've ever heard and/or read about her, "GabeRunsHappy" seems to describe her perfectly.

She's an outstanding athlete, as evidenced by a second-place finish in the 1,500m at last spring's NCAA outdoor track meet and a 7th-place finish in the same event at the USA Outdoor Championships meet. She also is a two-time cancer survivor. You can read (and hear) about her accomplishments through the following links.

–Gabe's U of M bio

–Anderson's Team USA MN bio

–May 27, 2010 Minneapolis Star Tribune article about her racing highlights [and cancer battle] to date

–June 23, 2010 article on Runner's World Racing News page

–September 27, 2010 article on the Universal Sports website.

–Sunday, October 31, 2010, Anderson was featured on the Women Talk Sports Weekly Radio Show.

I'm looking forward to reading more and more about Gabe and her running endeavors in the coming years. [photos courtesy of the University of Minnesota.]


About WomenTalkSports: "With the goal of promoting and empowering female athleticism, WomenTalkSports.com is an online network that connects the best blogs relating to women's sports. The site aims to raise the level of awareness of women in sport by providing comprehensive sport coverage, spotlighting outstanding achievements, and working with sporting associations on advocacy issues and empowering programs."

September Events in the MN Running Community

There are a number of special events–besides road, trail and cross country races–going on this September in the Minnesota running community.


On Sunday, September 12, Kevin Brochman and Cary Kangas are hosting a speedgolf tournament to benefit the Cynthia Schroeder Brochman Memorial Scholarship fund at Saint Olaf College. Brochman was an active member of the Minnesota running, snowshoe racing and cross country skiing communities. She also enjoyed golf and volleyball. The Bob-n-Broc' Speedgolf Tournament is an especially appropriate honor because it combines two of the activities Brochman was passionate about: running and golf.


Later in the evening (6:30 p.m.) on Sunday, September 12, USATF-MN will host its annual meeting at Broadway Pizza in Minneapolis. All USATF Minnesota members 18 years of age or older are encouraged to attend and participate. The Annual Meeting will feature the election of officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) for the upcoming year. There will be a free pizza buffet for all USATF Minnesota members in attendance.


On Saturday, September 25 there will be a fundraiser for Colin Farbotko. He is a Minnesota triathlete, runner, skier and web designer. Farbotko, a former board member for MDRA, is battling ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.) "A benefit thingy for Colin & Marney" is a fundraiser to help remodel the home of Farbotko and his wife, Marney, to make it wheelchair accessible. The event will be a walk starting at the Lake Harriet bandshell with a BBQ to follow. Additional donations are encouraged.