All paces and faces welcome.
By: Erin E. Wood, Ph.D.
Erin's beloved All-City Space Horse. Photo Credit: Erin E. Wood, Ph.D.
ALL PACES AND FACES WELCOME.
A phrase I have included dozens of times on the invites for cycling and running events.
At first, I used the phrase because I felt like it was fun and catchy. A good way to make sure that people knew they didn’t need to be fast or have the most expensive gear to participate. But, as time went on, I realized that this phrase was basically the motto I live my life by.
My professional life.
My personal life.
My whole life.
I was born and raised in Northwest, Arkansas – around a decade before it became “cool” – and I always had a love for the outdoors. Granted, not in the traditional sense. Rather, I spent my school days outside during marching band practice or playing softball. In the summers you could find me playing mermaid out by the pool—even once I was too old to admit that I did.
In 2012, I moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma as a bright-eyed freshman, ready for the fall semester at Oklahoma State University. A school close enough to home that I could visit, but far enough that I could be independent. After four years at Oklahoma State University, I was extended the opportunity to remain there for another five years to complete my graduate studies. While it was never my intention to fall in love with Oklahoma, I did.
While in graduate school, I found new ways to channel my love for the outdoors through running, cycling, and hiking. I found an amazing, supportive running group that provided me the space to run four miles and drink two beers every Wednesday. Then, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, needing to get out of the house, I found my own little cycling group (belovingly referred to as #salsasquad) that opened up the doors to new adventures.
After graduating with my Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in May 2021, I moved down to San Antonio, Texas to begin a NIDA T32 funded postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Because I believe that being active is one of the best ways to learn about a place, I have spent almost every free evening attending various running or cycling groups in the hope of finding my niche. I have found new gravel roads to fall in love with, and new running trails to call “home.”
Amidst all these amazing experiences, I have always felt a twinge of sadness as I have been made to feel that my experiences were less valid or less important just because I don’t fit the “traditional” mold of an athlete. I have competed in several running and cycling events only to have the finish line and party packed away by the time I finish just because I’m not as fast as the other participants. I’ve received DM’s telling me my accomplishments are not as worthy just because my experiences were different than the norm.
The realization that I am not alone in these experiences breaks my heart.
Therefore, I introduce to you the ALL PACES AND FACES WELCOME blog. This will be a space dedicated to telling the running, cycling, and outdoor adventure stories regardless of their pace or their face. I hope that in the future this blog will provide a platform to share the experiences from multiple different people, perspectives, and activities.
If you are interested in telling your story, please let us know. I would love to help you share it.
Until then, I shall be sharing my own experiences and sharing the beauty of nature through my eyes.
Welcome, I’m glad you’re here.
--Erin
Erin taking a mid-run stop during the 2021 Mid South 50k. Photo credit: Larin Davis.
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