SBS as Glee’s shout-it-out Sue Sylvester last Halloween

As many of you know, the seed of our book Run Like a Mother was training for the 2007 Nike Women’s Marathon and writing about it for Runner’s World magazine. I vividly remember confessing to our wonderful editor Tish (a mom and veteran of dozens of marathons), “Readers won’t like me compared to Dimity because I admit to being competitive.” Tish allayed my fears by telling me some readers would actually relate more to me because they, too, are driven at races.

Fast-forward to writing the book, and my “no one will like me” concerns surfaced again. This time it was Dimity calming me down, reminding me we had vowed to be honest and forthcoming in our writing. And, to paraphase Dim’s mantra of, “It is what it is,” I told myself, “I am what I am.” Like it or lump it, I’m competitive. With myself and others.

Thus I was delighted when I read a recent review of RLAM, which read, “Shea somehow remains likable despite her brazen admission that she brags about being speedy.” Alone in my office, reading that, I had a Sally Fields’ “You like me, you really LIKE me!” moment. I was so delighted with the reviewer’s comment, I posted it on my Facebook wall, which elicited some interesting-to-me comments that I want to share.

Laura, who just started RunMommaRun in Eugene, Oregon, wrote, “LOVE IT! I recently re-read some stuff you wrote about getting over being comfortable and pushing your body so your mind learns it can do it. I really struggle with thinking I’ll die, fall over, or have to quit if I push to hard. Dammit, I want to get faster too so I can brag about it! Loved it in the book when you said something like, “thank God for Facebook” so you can post about your speed. That’s awesome.”

Christine, a marathon-mom who lives outside of Chicago was kind enough to write, “I love the parts where Sarah is totally honest about how hard it is to go hard. And how hard it feels, but then how good it feels. So refreshing. That’s what it is. And I so wish more women knew this because we too can do it! We can give birth but we can’t run 8-minute miles? Come on! Yes, we can!”

Finally, my beloved friend and dedicated 5K runner, Joanne, commented, “Women feel good when they accomplish something–I don’t see it as a ‘brag.’ It is a way to convey how proud we are of what we have done.”

Where do you land on the boast v. post spectrum?