BORN TO FLY

“Oh, good,” she said matter-of-factly when told what her time was. “At last.”

Photo cred:NYTimes

Yesterday, a running legend passed away.  Her name was Diane Leather.  She was the first woman to break the 5 minute mile.  Sadly, I just learned about her today through an article in the NY Times that my sister-in-law sent me.  Women weren't really running "long" distances back in 1954.  And they sure as hell weren't breaking any records.  At least none that were worth talking about.  And while her feat was monumental, it went largely unrecognized.  She made several attempts before she got it.  Unlike today, there were no pacers, no fans in the stands, no sponsors offering contracts.  Nothing.  She was just a woman, a chemist actually, with a goal.  The crazy thing or, I should say crazier, was that she was not the only woman in the race for the sub-5 mile record.  Several others were aiming for the same goal.  Their names?  I have no idea.  You already know why.  Today, women are breaking barriers in running and in sports that back then many believed were totally unthinkable.  Perhaps some still do.  But, barriers are made to be broken.  As Leather watched the women running around the track at the Helsinki Olympics and thought to herself “I’d love to do that,” she had no idea what an impact that moment and her later actions would have on women all around the world who may have thought the same thing but were told it couldn't or shouldn't be done.  And then she went ahead and did it.

As many of you already know, I run for Oiselle.  A women's running company.  A company that believes in the power of sport and how it changes lives.  A company that believes that our bodies are made to move, to run, and that our lives are inherently better when we're doing just this.  A company that believes in gender equality in sport and beyond.  A company that believes that women rise through sport.  A company who's owner is an admitted sports feminist, but also a mother, a runner and a leader and follower of women.  All women.  Recently, Oiselle recommitted to their mission.  A mission that includes changing the sport as we know it and building the sisterhood.  A mission that I am proud to get behind.  Because, in the end, we are all born to fly.  Rest in peace, Diane Leather.  And thank you.  

Listen to this:
I Am Free - Cosmos & Creature