Great running post!

I've got a post from Angry Feminist Running Rants I've been sitting on for a couple of weeks now, you've prompted me to publish it next week...

Chandrasutra (aka Melanie McBride) also blogs about running at Running Sutra (http://runningsutra.wordpress.com/), if you're looking for more feminist runners...

Melinda
Sour Duck

I had put running back on my list of things to do this year. But I ran into a problem with my post-baby weight. So, I had to bump up the "lose the baby weight" goal and that took as long as I expected and now it's getting chilly out. GAH. But the weight needed to go; my ankles would never have survived the 5k that I wanted to run. Of course, now that I'm down to my pre-pregnancy weight, we're planning on TTC next year. So who knows when I'll get to run again.

Sigh. I miss the feeling.

Family Living; Hatfield Style
Jenna

I'm always in search of good running blogs, particularly those authored by feminist women. I assumed I'd really like "angryfeministrunningrants" (as I can relate to all of those qualities on any given day!) but was disappointed when I read the subhead:
"Foamin' at the mouth and cussin' like the man-hater I am"

I don't know if this is just an *American* feminist thing, but I see these sorts of statements tossed around as some index of political bravado, particularly by baby feminists who seem to be trying to outdo each other for the "she's all that" in the anger department. Given the real battles that exist, this is surface level signifier that is involved in drawing attention to oneself than to a particular issue, problem or meaningful objective. And while I would say that I spend a good part of my time feeling enraged and angry about our sexist world, I also spend just as much time being a *whole person* with an identity that goes (thankfully) well beyond my politics - complete with joy, love, compassion, health and reflection. By making our anger/rage/rant the central hallmark of our feminism and then wrapping our whole identity around this signifier we betray the possibilities of being so much more (not to mention playing into the very worst stereotypes). It's hardly a worthwhile appropriation to accept negative stereotypes that hurt the rest of us, particularly those generations before us who brought, in my opinion, a lot more warmth, humanity and love to the objectives of feminism. Certainly, anger is central to all of us. But it shouldn't be the sole signifier of our value - as women, as human beings.

Furthermore, to identify ourselves according to our hatred - on any level, is counterproductive and harmful to everyone.

The way I see it, all these trendy young American feminists are just contributing - on yet another level - to the facile , small-mindedness that the rest of the world associates with your nation. Why not participate in global political movements with some nuance, sophistication and humanity? Why not aim a little higher? I urge the young American feminist bloggers to take a look at blogs from other countries, other generations. I urge them to stop naming their blogs angry this or angry that. It's counterproductive and sophomoric.

Thank you so much for the kind mention! I took a "break" from running from my mid-20s until I was about 44. It's hard to start again when you weigh *far* over 200 pounds, like I did. . . . but it sure beats the alternative, right?

I've been back with exercise as a regular part of my life since 2000. Life is better this way for me. But I never did really "love" running itself - I loved what it did for me, though.