The expression “place of speech” has become almost jargon, but it is in fact appropriate to show how much this place may not belong to those who try to speak — and legislate — for those who are there. The hardships that women face when simply running, from issues linked to personal safety to the impossibility of having a good sanitary pad, simply escape me. (Me = white man + Galician features + above average height + only one year of public school).
That’s why I decided to open this space, after almost fifty (which seems like eight hundred to me) columns written since April, for the medical student Isabela Schultz, 20 years old, a friend of my daughter Vitória, who, although she doesn’t run yet, doesn’t hide her happiness when some jabaculê from a sports brand lands at home.
Without further ado.
“My running journey began during the pandemic, at the age of 16, when all the gyms were closed and running was one of the few safe physical activities to practice. I came from water polo and training was in my routine, but at the beginning it was very unpretentious The distances were short and I had no support.
It was only recently that I truly incorporated running into my life. I signed a consultancy, started following a spreadsheet and created goals. I think I owe this, or part of it, to this ‘boom’ of influencers that, whether we like it or not, has a huge impact on my generation.
Running during the pandemic worried my parents, as the city was deserted and there were reports of robberies every day. Over time, I learned that women require special care when running. It must be different for men. Because we are ‘easy targets’, time, clothes and route are things to be thought about carefully.
It’s annoying having to take precautions to perform a pleasurable activity, and I believe I can speak for almost all of us women that running at night is always something to avoid — that’s the reason the treadmill exists. Another frustrating experience I had was wanting to run during a trip and having to plan and research the route down to the smallest detail.
But all these worries seem irrelevant when, and this happens straight away, some man shouts out the car window, stares at me, or starts following me.
The hormonal cycle still needs to be reconciled. It is not uncommon for very strong cramps or malaise to keep me away, as Paulo says, from gravel. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a pad that can withstand longer runs without having to make adjustments during training.
Also because of this, I usually take tests outside of cycle days. But if the desire is strong, ‘let’s go’.
Finally: women-only races have increased a lot and I’m doing my first one this Sunday (1st), in São Paulo. I think the proposal of women rooting for each other, celebrating achievements together and creating a community in which similar frustrations in relation to sport are shared is very interesting.
Running is, after all, an individual activity and having people around who motivate, support and understand each other makes the running experience even better.”
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