Growing up with a mom, a sister, two grandmas, several aunts and girl cousins, and female family friends, I can say that I'm lucky to have had a lot of great women in my life. My mother, who passed away when I was a teenager, deserves her own blog post about the countless ways she inspired me, but unlike an ultramarathon, I'll make this short and sweet. My mother encouraged me to be unique, open minded, and to not take life too seriously. As is the case with many Irish-Catholic moms, she loved to hug, laugh, and have a good time, but didn't hesitate to throw down the guilt trip or give me an earful when I was out of line. She was always the happiest when she was in the company of my three aunts, especially during holidays. Like my mom, my aunts always encouraged me to do what made me happy and follow my passions. Sure, there's been the occasional instance where they've questioned some of the decisions I've made, but I know it all comes from love and their protective nature. Although I didn't spend much time with my aunts on my dad's side until my adult years due to geographical inconveniences, they've inspired me to fight back when life punches me in the gut. Between the three of them, they've battled the hardship of tragically losing a teenage son in a car accident, progressed through weight loss and living a healthier lifestyle, recovered from breast cancer, and managed a thriving dental practice for over thirty years. After all they've been through, they've still managed to stay strong and maintain a positive outlook on life. My sister and I, though we occasionally fought as kids, have always been close. She helped a lot throughout my teen years by giving me advice on hair styles, fashion, and what girls like and don't like. I gave her and her friends rides to and from school once I started driving and we would share laughs and tell each other things that we were too scared to tell our mom and dad just to get it off our chest. We grew even closer after our mom passed away, and today she is an extremely talented artist. Her artwork and the projects she creates for her product design classes never cease to amaze me. My mom's best friends from college, whom I affectionately refer to as Aunt Gina and Aunt Cheryl have been highly influential in introducing me to the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and spending time outdoors. I spent ample amounts of time with them as a kid, with most of our interactions involving sailing on lake St. Clair and vacationing in Northern Michigan during the summer and doing snow sports in the winter. Even though my former wife and I are no longer together, I will forever be grateful for everything she taught me. I'm still learning of course, but I came out of it a wiser man, if anything.
In addition to family, I've drawn inspiration from several female athletes, musicians, and public figures throughout my life. Cheryl Strayed, Amy Winehouse, Pam Reed, and Ann Trason, to name a few, however I'd have to say that Catra Corbett has had a more substantial influence on my life than any other female athlete. She has battled her way through drug addiction, overcome an eating disorder, and has pushed through hard times with failed relationships. She is now a vegan runner who has completed over 250 ultramarathons, is a dog lover, and over all, just a total badass. The experience of meeting her in person at Ragnar Los Coyotes and getting an autographed copy of her memoir really touched me on a personal level. My favorite thing about her is her unique style. During her years as a drug addict, she frequented goth nigh clubs and wore black clothing and make up. As part of her transformation from a drug addicted goth to a vegan ultramarathon runner, she has undergone a complete shift in her clothing style by sporting bright and flashy colored running skirts, socks and shirts while running and dying her hair bright colors. She does what she loves and is not shy about who she is. In a way, she reminds me a lot of the women in my family who encouraged me to be unique and be proud of who I am.
In conclusion, I want to say thank you and give a big hug to every woman in my life who has influenced me in a positive way. My hope is that International Women's Day will continue to gain exposure and observance in the United States as the years go by, and that more men will adopt the same sentiment that I have towards this holiday. And to all the women out there who are doing great things, keep kicking ass!
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