Month: August 2025

fitness · gender policing · pseudoscience · sexism · trans

Women can’t compete in “Men’s” Sports? Really!?!

Diane Harper

The whole “women in men’s sports” and trans women in sports has gotten completely out of hand

A post on social media commenting negatively on a news article about a woman cyclist in Belgium who was stopped in a race because she was catching up to the men who had a 10 minute head start.

Next up, we have Trans women banned from women-only chess. Why do we even have women-only chess? Even if you accepted that women of similar size and training couldn’t compete with men in a physical activity, what is it about chess that is so physically demanding that women need their own category?

But wait, there’s more! Not to be outdone, The World Darts Federation has Banned women from women-only darts. Again, what is the inherent advantage men have over women that means they need their own special category? And why can’t trans women play with the women? What physical advantage do they have in darts?

After reading and thinking about these issues for quite a while, I remain convinced that most of the hysteria (and I have chosen that word deliberately) is because men are afraid they will be beaten by the women. And there is a long history of coming up with ridiculous reasons to keep women out. For example:

A recent episode of “We Regret to Inform You” on CBC radio was about Bobbi Briggs and Kathrine Switzer, the two women who fought to run the Boston Marathon. In addition to being a really good episode, I finally learned where the advice about not running so your uterus won’t fall out came from. It was Switzer’s doctor. For the record, Switzer ran anyway, it didn’t fall out, and she ran the Boston marathon at 70 (her ninth time).

‘As soon as they begin to be your equals, they will have become your superiors,’ warned Roman senator Cato in the 3rd century BCE, as women protested a law limiting their access to certain goods.

Well. The idea that improving women’s status in society is somehow a first step on the road to total female domination clearly has had quite the shelf life, hasn’t it?

ADHD · fitness · martial arts · trackers · training

Christine preps for a new year of TKD

Christine Hennebury

Since I spent most of the time between October 2024 and June 2025 either injured or recovering from an injury, it was not a great year for me at TKD.

I didn’t really have my usual capacity (and didn’t know why) and it was hard for me to invest the level of mental and physical effort required to properly practice.

Without the ability to practice/participate fully, I couldn’t properly enjoy TKD and I couldn’t get as much out of it as I normally would.

There’s nothing that can be done about last year, of course, but I’m determined to have more fun, do more work, and just get more out of my classes) this year.

While it would have been ideal if I had been practicing steadily all summer, that wasn’t possible for me, so I’m working with the time I have.

Aside from the fact that I was still easing back into my normal activities over the summer, I have to allow for my ADHD brain’s variable sense of time, in particular for something that is primarily related to myself. The start of TKD was in the ‘not now’ up until this week until the time frame suddenly shifted to ‘now.’ Once that shift happened, I had much more clarity around how to set myself up for a fun year at TKD.

Soooooo, once that clarity arrived I made a plan for the next 2.5 weeks and then I put that plan into a zine.

I like the zine format because it’s small and contained and it makes the project feel more doable.*

It’s not a super-structured plan (my brain noped out of that immediately!), I just wrote down all the things I could do to start prepping for class and then organized them onto the various pages with a way to track them (or a space to write notes about them) and it feels useful.

I intend to do some things daily (mobility exercises and yoga), some things almost daily (some focused cardio), and others 3-4 times between now and the first day of class (each of my patterns.)

As I mentioned above, the time frame between now and the beginning of classes is short enough that my ADHD brain will accept that time is real and that it is ok to prep for something happening that soon.

My plan is specific enough to ensure that I don’t have to spend too much time deciding what to do in the moment and, yet, flexible enough to let me choose what feels like the most fun on any given day.

I may not fill in all the little circles, stars, and hearts but I am going to work towards it and then be VERY kind to myself if I ‘just’ get 10 or 12 hearts coloured in. After all, 10 or 12 hearts is waaaaaaaaay better than what I would do otherwise.

Frankly, I’m looking forward to challenging myself over the next couple of weeks.

Realistically, ANYTHING I do to prepare will help me head into that first class feeling more like my old self.

And I really like that idea.

KiYA!

a photo of the cover of my practice zine. It says 'TKD Prep Work' on the top half with spirals behind the TKD, arrows pointing to the word Prep, and dots surrounding the word Work. On the bottom half it says August 21 to September 9. The text at the bottom is surrounded by a black frame.
Image description: a photo of the cover of my practice zine. It says ‘TKD Prep Work’ on the top half with spirals behind the TKD, arrows pointing to the word Prep, and dots surrounding the word Work. On the bottom half it says August 21 to September 9. The text at the bottom is surrounded by a black frame.
The photo is in portrait view but the text, etc. is in landscape. A photo of an inner page of my practice zine with the word Mobility at the top with trackers (circles to colour in) for hips, wrists, ankles, shoulders/neck.
Image description: The photo is in portrait view but the text, etc. is in landscape. A photo of an inner page of my practice zine with the word Mobility at the top with trackers (circles to colour in) for hips, wrists, ankles, shoulders/neck.
a photo of a inner page of my practice zine with the word Cardio at the top, the outlines of 15 stars to colour in (as a tracker), and thin black lines in the background. At the bottom of the page there is a blank space with the words "Make a list:" at the top of it.
Image Description: a photo of a inner page of my practice zine with the word Cardio at the top, the outlines of 15 stars to colour in (as a tracker), and thin black lines in the background. At the bottom of the page there is a blank space with the words “Make a list:” at the top of it.
a photo of the middle pages of my practice zine. This page has two trackers for two sets of the first group of patterns on the left side, and the name of the individual black belt patterns I know (or am working on) with circles beneath each one to track my practice for each one. The words 'Black Belt Patterns' are in the centre of the page. There are a few stars, some small dots, and a couple of spirals decorating the page.
Image description: a photo of the middle pages of my practice zine. This page has two trackers for two sets of the first group of patterns on the left side, and the name of the individual black belt patterns I know (or am working on) with circles beneath each one to track my practice for each one. The words ‘Black Belt Patterns’ are in the centre of the page. There are a few stars, some small dots, and a couple of spirals decorating the page.
a photo of an inner page of my practice zine. The word Yoga is at the top and there are a bunch of hearts to colour in to track my yoga sessions.
Image description: a photo of an inner page of my practice zine. The word Yoga is at the top and there are a bunch of hearts to colour in to track my yoga sessions.
The page is divided into three sections. The top section is headed by the word Kicks then there is an empty space, the middle section is headed by the word Footwork with a space beneath it, the bottom section is headed by the words Punches and Strikes with a space beneath it.
Image description: The page is divided into three sections. The top section is headed by the word Kicks then there is an empty space, the middle section is headed by the word Footwork with a space beneath it, the bottom section is headed by the words Punches and Strikes with a space beneath it.

*My ADHD brain perked up when I typed that. “Consider doing zines for other projects, Christine.” “Let’s make a note and revisit that later, Brain.”

A long stairway, by Chrisian Chen fr Unsplash. When is 7000 just as good as 10,000? When you’re stepping (says science)
fitness · research · walking

When is 7000 just as good as 10,000? When you’re stepping (says science)

catherine w

We are a numbers-obsessed people (we humans, I mean). We always want to know:

  • How much do I have?
  • How many do I need?
  • Is more ever too much?

These are hard questions. Luckily, I’m not here to try to answer them. But I can tell you one thing: the number of steps recommended per day according to scientific studies is definitely NOT 10,000, but rather 7000 seems to be a sufficient number for loads of health benefits. We’ve written about this before, but a new meta-analysis came out in Lancet Public Health re-affirms this claim.

The researchers found studies meeting their criteria that showed associations between number of daily steps and the following health outcomes:

  • all-cause mortality
  • cancer incidence
  • cancer-related mortality
  • cardiovascular disease
  • cardiovascular disease-related mortality
  • type-2 diabetes
  • dementia
  • depressive symptoms
  • physical functions
  • falls

Here’s what they said:

Three key findings emerge. First, even modest daily step counts were associated with health benefits. Second, 7000 steps per day was associated with sizeable risk reductions across most outcomes, compared with the reference of 2000 steps per day. Third, even though risk continued to decrease beyond 7000 steps per day, it plateaued for some outcomes. Notably, the dose-response relationship might differ by outcomes, participant age, and device type.

So, the latest research analysis is saying that, compared with 2000 steps a day, 7000 is great for a lot of very important health outcomes. In other individual studies, an average of 4200 steps a day provides modest improvement in lowering health risks. And, I might add, activity researchers happen to agree with this blog that every step counts– small amounts of activity contribute to health and well-being in lots of ways that we appreciate.

Oh, and speed doesn’t seem to matter, say some researchers. This from a WBUR CommonHealth article:

Researchers have also tried to pin down whether speed makes a difference. Here, the new Lancet study could not make any definitive conclusions, in part because there are various ways to measure intensity and because differences could simply reflect better overall fitness and physical function.

“We actually don’t see an association once we consider the total number of steps,” says Paluch, who has also looked at this question. “So, essentially, the total number of steps, regardless of how fast you’re walking, seems to have a benefit,” she says.

So– faster or slower, harder or gentler, up or down, to or fro– all of these add up to the message (which we knew already, but science is reaffirming it) that movement is key to a number of the features of well-being and health as many of us think of it.

Oh, last thing: those 7000 steps don’t all have to be all up. Just saying.

A very steep and long stairway. You make the call. By Ozlem for Unsplash.
A very steep and long stairway. You make the call. By Ozlem for Unsplash.

celebration · femalestrength

Casually Strong

Diane Harper1 Comment

One of my reflections from the blogger barbecue at Sam’s was just how strong and fit everyone is. Shocker! It’s a fitness blog after all.

Cate talked about tossing off 75 km rides on a poorly fitted bike with seized pedals in France. Others exchanging plans for upcoming charitable rides. There were mentions of camping adventures and favourite hikes.

Talk of a visit to Newfoundland turned to reminiscences about Sam and Sarah’s ride from Deer Lake to St Anthony’s some years ago, and whether that would be a fun group thing. I have been a passenger driving on that route several times. I immediately offered to drive the support van because I would never survive those hills.

What struck me was just how strong and fit (and smart and interesting) every single woman in the group was. Frankly, I felt intimidated and had to remind myself that I’m actually a pretty good swimmer and a decent cook.

I’m a little older, and can’t do those exact things but diversity is good and I have different interests and fitness goals and that’s okay. One of the things I have learned from hanging around (virtually until now) with the bloggers is that self-talk is a very useful tool, and for a while on Saturday I had to put that lesson to good use.

Will I continue to be impressed all they do? Heck ya! Will I feel more than the slightest twinge of wanting to be able to do what they do? Probably not because I will remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy.

I will just keep doing my little goofy activities that keep my brain engaged and my body moving, and sometimes help make swimming or cycling safer for other people. They make me happy and sometimes they entertain other people, and I love that for me.

Me with a post-walk ice cream. Chasing after the ice cream truck by following the sound of its music is one of my favourite summertime fitness activities. I have occasionally walked for more than an hour to track it down, and then walked home.
brown cardboard box on white wooden door Sam reflects on her pandemic purchases
fitness

Sam reflects on her pandemic purchases

Sam B1 Comment

I know that there were those of you who got closer to your families, discovered new hobbies, and enjoyed working from home. For some people, the pandemic isolation was a pause from our busy, interconnected, and overscheduled lives. I hear you.

That wasn’t my experience. I’ve never worked from home, which I know is weird for an academic, but as the parent of three kids in a busy multigenerational household, I found things went best if I worked at work and was engaged as parent, partner, and daughter when I was at home. I hated working from home, loathed online meetings with a fiery passion.

I missed travelling so much. I missed my friends and my communities. I love the people I live with, and I couldn’t have gotten through it without them, but it was a rough time.

And yes, I know I was also lucky. We have a house with a backyard. I had meaningful work that continued through the stay-at-home restrictions. Most importantly, no one in my close circles got very ill. Still, it seemed impossibly hard.

Anyway, mostly I’ve moved on, but occasionally things turn up that I bought during the pandemic that remind me of those days. This weekend it was the nap dress.

What’s a nap dress? A pandemic fashion trend–see Aren’t all dresses nap dresses? and Okay, I gave into another pandemic fashion trend and bought a nap dress (and it has pockets).

“I’m still working at home, working out at home, and napping at home. I’m starting to make clothing choices that make sense for not much leaving the house. I’ve written before about what to wear when working at home and working out at home. The nap dress is one answer to what to wear when working at home and napping, because (in my case) very long workdays, inconsistent sleep due to nightmares and pandemic anxiety, and late evening bike races.”

Here I am with my mother at the Fit is a Feminist Issue Backyard BBQ, wearing my pandemic nap dress:

I still like the nap dress, but it got me thinking about the things we bought during the pandemic and whether they still play a role in our lives.

First, there are the purchases that have just become part of our post-pandemic lives–webcams and headphones for online meetings, and a bike trainer with power so I could race on Zwift, join a bike team and hang out with cyclists from around the world. Zwift and Discord made a new community possible. I’m still doing some meetings virtually, and I’m Zwifting during the winter and enjoying it.

Second, there were the friend trends–the hygge headbands that the feminist philosophers adopted when we couldn’t get proper haircuts (I still wear some of mine) or the family fashions. My extended family all bought Oodies–large oversized fleecy hoodies good for hanging out in the backyard around the fire, where we had to visit since we couldn’t spend time together indoors. Those we’ve kept.

Third, some pandemic purchases have long since been given away. In that category I’d put all the cloth masks and work from home wear that looks forrmal on Zoom, but isn’t. I bought a fleece suit jacket that felt like PJs but looked like a real suit jacket online. It was one of the first things to go to the charity shop.

How did your pandemic purchases fair? Any still feature prominently in your life?

three red apples on wooden surface Sam and Claude design a weekly workout plan for the fall
fitness

Sam and Claude design a weekly workout plan for the fall

Sam B

I’m a fan of Claude, the AI assistant from Anthropic. Mostly I use Claude for work but occasionally I set Claude some other tasks. Claude’s outlines, and plans  are an excellent way to get started on a project.

My goal is a fall workout plan. Fall is fast upon us, August is speeding by, and I just know if I don’t plan now, I’ll blink and it’ll be November. I also know I need to start as I mean to continue. I won’t give myself a break for the first few weeks of the university year because that break would soon become a habit.

I asked Claude to help me design a 6-Day Active Lifestyle Workout Plan. Claude asked about my goals, and I said I wanted to build endurance for long bike rides and canoe trips while maintaining strength and mobility. I also told Claude what I was up to now: daily dog walks, bike commutes, physio, longer rides, and working out with a personal trainer once a week. I mentioned my swimming ambitions and that I’d be doing personal training twice a week in the fall.

Claude asked lots of questions!

Here’s some of them:

  • What are you hoping to achieve? (strength, endurance, weight loss, general fitness, etc.)
  • Do you prefer variety in your workouts or are you happy with routine?
  • Any activities you particularly enjoy or want to avoid?
  • What time of day works best for your additional workouts?
  • How much time can you realistically dedicate on the additional 4 days?
  • Do you have access to a gym, or would you prefer home/outdoor workouts?
  • Any injuries or physical limitations I should consider?

In the end,  after some back and forth,  ere’s what Claude came up with:

Claude had a bit more to say:

Detailed Daily Breakdown

MONDAY – Intense Cycling Workout

  • Duration: 45-60 minutes
  • Structure:
    • 10-15 min warm-up (easy pace)
    • 20-30 min intervals:
      • Week 1-2: 6 x 3 min at moderate-hard effort, 2 min recovery
      • Week 3-4: 5 x 5 min at threshold pace, 2 min recovery
      • Week 5-6: 4 x 8 min at tempo pace, 3 min recovery
    • 10-15 min cool-down
  • Benefits: Builds power, speed, cardiovascular fitness

TUESDAY – Personal Trainer (AM) + Swimming (PM)

  • Morning (60 minutes): Strength & conditioning focus
    • Functional fitness movements
    • Posterior chain emphasis (deadlifts, hip thrusts)
    • Core stability work
    • Paddle-specific movements for canoe training
  • Evening (45 minutes): Swimming for stroke improvement
    • Technical focus on all four strokes
    • Active recovery after morning strength work
    • Excellent for shoulder/core strength

WEDNESDAY – Hip Mobility Routine + Dog Walk

  • Evening Hip Mobility (15-20 minutes): Evidence-based cycling-specific routine
    • Hip flexor release (couch stretch, low lunge): 4-5 minutes
    • Piriformis and deep hip rotator work: 3-4 minutes
    • IT band and lateral chain mobility: 2-3 minutes
    • Glute activation and integration: 3-4 minutes
  • Dog Walk (30 minutes): Light active recovery
  • Benefits: Addresses cycling-specific restrictions, promotes recovery

THURSDAY – Swimming

  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Focus: Stroke technique improvement
  • Benefits: Active recovery between strength sessions, upper body conditioning
  • Perfect timing: Easy day before Friday’s trainer session

FRIDAY – Personal Trainer

  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Focus: Strength & conditioning
  • Areas of emphasis:
    • Functional movement patterns
    • Core and posterior chain strength
    • Power development for cycling
    • Preparation for weekend long ride

SATURDAY – Long Bike Ride

  • Current: 60km rides
  • Progression Plan:
    • Weeks 1-2: 60-65km
    • Weeks 3-4: 70-75km
    • Weeks 5-6: 80-85km
    • Weeks 7-8: 90-95km
    • Week 9+: 100km+
  • Pacing: Mostly easy/moderate with some tempo segments
  • Fueling: Practice nutrition strategies for longer rides

SUNDAY – Yoga & Stretch + Dog Walk

  • Yoga & Stretch (45-60 minutes): Full-body flexibility session
    • Complement Wednesday’s targeted hip work
    • Address areas tight from week’s training
    • Focus on spinal mobility and shoulder flexibility
    • Relaxation and stress relief
  • Dog Walk (30 minutes): Gentle movement, fresh air
  • Benefits: Complete active recovery, mental restoration

Monthly Progression Notes

Month 1: Foundation Building

  • Establish routine and movement patterns
  • Focus on form and consistency
  • Gradual distance increases on bike

Month 2: Intensity Development

  • Increase interval intensity on Tuesday
  • Add complexity to strength exercises
  • Longer endurance sessions on Friday

Month 3: Peak Performance

  • Sport-specific training intensifies
  • 100km bike rides achieved
  • Advanced mobility and stability work

Recovery & Adaptation Tips

  • Sleep: Prioritize 7-9 hours nightly
  • Hydration: Extra attention on long ride days
  • Nutrition: Fuel properly before/after longer sessions
  • Listen to your body: Adjust intensity if overly fatigued
  • Hip care: Daily hip circles and stretches, especially on cycling days
  • Bike fit: Ensure proper setup to prevent hip tightness

Equipment Needs

  • Gym access: Already available
  • Bike: Current setup
  • Yoga mat: For mobility work
  • Resistance bands: Hip activation exercises
  • Foam roller: Optional but helpful for recovery

I also got a whole other document on evidence-based hip mobility routines. That’s a lot of reading, Claude!

The only missing pieces are hot yoga and Aquafit on the weekends, but they might work best as random add-ons when they fit.

Will I do all the things every week? God no. But by temperament, I’m a “aim high and get 80% of it done and don’t feel bad about it” person.  YMMV. I know other people do better with moderate,  reasonable goals and meeting them, but that’s not me.

Thanks, Claude! I’m excited about the fall. Will report back.

From left: Diane, Carla, Kim, Susan, Cate, Sarah, Natalie, Samantha, and me (Catherine). FIFI Bloggers August BBQ– it’s becoming a thing
fitness · season transitions · vacation

FIFI Bloggers August BBQ– it’s becoming a thing

catherine w1 Comment

August is a glorious month. Yes, it’s the last month of summer, bringing with it wistfulness and reflection back on all the things that one could have done this summer (like, say, painting my dining room, revamping my fall courses, reading at least twelve books, taking up parasailing– okay, not that last one). But it’s also the month of perfect ripeness (like the fresh tomatoes I ate today), perfect blue skies and blue water (like what I enjoyed at Lake Huron this week) and perfect leisurely company– like the FIFI Bloggers BBQ, held at Samantha’s house on Saturday.

Here we all are, well-fed and feeling very convivial:

From left: Diane, Carla, Kim, Susan, Cate, Sarah, Natalie, Samantha, and me (Catherine).
From left humans: Diane, Carla, Kim, Susan, Cate, Sarah, Natalie, Samantha, and me. From left dogs: Chase and Cheddar.

Samantha hosted us at her place in Guelph, and folks came from all over Ontario for the party. I had made plans a while ago to combine a trip from Boston to my friend Norah’s rental cottage in Goderich on Lake Huron with a weekend visit to Guelph to visit with Samantha, Sarah, Kathleen (Sam’s mom), her in-town kids, resident animals and any neighbors who stopped by.

This week was one of near-perfect relaxed activity:

  • swimming in Lake Huron
  • walking on the lakefront boardwalk in Goderich
  • drawing the trees and flowers of the area in my journal
  • hanging out with Sam, Sarah, and the fam
  • dog walking and farmers’ market purchasing
  • prepping for and enjoying a yummy potluck BBQ meal

But the best part was seeing folks I hadn’t laid eyes on in a while and also meeting some of the bloggers I’d never seen in person. Diane met all of us for the first time in the flesh– thanks so much for coming, Diane!

We shared stories, bubbly beverages of all sorts, yummy salads brimming with the best produce Ontario has to offer, and loads of other treats brought by folks. Not to play favorites, but Diane’s just-picked fresh cherry tomatoes will go down as some of the best I’ve ever had.

Like you, we bloggers have gotten to know each other through our writing. But there’s nothing like sharing space, food, hugs and laughs together. preferably in someone’s leafy green backyard. Don’t you agree?

This is the second year we’ve met as a group. Not everyone was available– this is just the reality of complex full lives– but I’ve gotten to see just about everyone in the past two years. And I’m pretty sure we’re going to do a repeat event next August.

Now, all we have to do is either a) find a way to transport our Newfoundland bloggers Martha and Christine here next year; or b) ROAD TRIP TO THE ROCK (which is supposedly a nickname for Newfoundland, according to Google; my apologies if this is wrong). Anyway, you get the idea.

I hope all of you, dear readers, are enjoying the last half of August, including (especially?) the tomatoes.

Possibly a view of a road in Newfoundland. It's what Unsplash gave me, courtesy of Volodymyr Grytsiuk.
Possibly a view of a road in Newfoundland. It’s what Unsplash gave me, courtesy of Volodymyr Grytsiuk.
Sat with Nat · strength training · weight lifting

Nat is making muscles with Michel (and Andy!)

natalieh (she/her)

I’ve come to enjoy strength training. I had a run of a few years going into my gym at work. It was twice a week for an hour. Not enough for big gains but definitely enough to support my wellbeing.

I had a few injuries last year and I stopped going to the gym. There were so few things that I could do there that I couldn’t do at home it didn’t feel worth it.

When looking at my overall movement I had not been consistent at home. Yes, I was doing Physio exercises and the occasional strength workout but. It was sparse.

Michel wanted to get back to a regular strength routine. I am happy to take classes with him. We grunt, fart and laugh as our bodies ineffectually do things.

To put more structure to our training we decided to go back to a Peloton favourite, Total Strength with Andy Speer.

It’s a great 4 week program to begin/restart strength training. It’s 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of strength and 10 minutes of stretching.

I’m not great at warming up or stretching so this has been a welcome change.

This week we wrapped up week 1 with a short test.

A Strava screenshot showing a smiling Andy with open arms. The text announces the 5 minute strength test with Michel in my group.

What’s great about beginnings is the early gains. I got 22 squats and 12 pushups. I’ll let you know my week 4 results. They are sure to change.

I was talking with my RMT Kiet about restarting strength training. I shared that I was starting even easier than i thought I could do to build success.

He agreed that a common mistake is to go too hard too early and then folks don’t go back.

I focus on form, then get the speed up on reps and finally add more weight.

It’s a slow ramp up that works for me.

I hope you are finding fitness things that are working for you!

Don’t Go Looking for the Effort
fitness

Don’t Go Looking for the Effort

alisonconway652 Comments

In Covid times, two of my fellow-travellers were James and Simon from GCN (Global Cycling Network), whose endurance ride up the Passo Falzarego and V02 max session up the Passo Pordoi (available free on YouTube) helped pedal me through a running injury. Years later, when I tune in for the occasional session on my trainer, the sound of their voices still cheers me up. They helped me through a lousy time.

One of their mantras stuck with me. Warning riders not to rush into their first tough interval on the endurance ride, James says wisely, “We’re going to look for the effort to come to us.” This idea runs counter to all of my thinking. If you want to do a thing, make yourself do it! If you’re not doing it right, try harder! Stressing about it shows how committed you are!  

But sometimes, trying harder only leaves me frustrated and defeated. So, this summer, I decided to back off effort entirely during my runs. Instead, I’ve been enjoying the beautiful summer mornings that London, UK, has offered me, jogging around my local parks and along the Regent’s Canal. I have a Park Run start line steps from my front gate, so I’ve enjoyed meeting locals and running around Highbury Fields on Saturday mornings. And, without thinking about it, I’ve been getting faster each week. I don’t set out to race. I just wait for the effort to come to me. 

I’ve tried applying this approach to other activities. Like walking home from work. Some days I’m tired and would rather sit on a bus than walk 3.5 km. But when I tell myself that there’s no rush and remember the lovely community garden that I pass along the way, where there are roses blooming, I think less about effort and more about pleasure. The effort, such as it is, takes care of itself.

Maybe I need to get out of my own way more often and just show up—so that when the roses along the way appear, I’m there to smell them.

Camping together gives women autonomy and community
camping · challenge · femalestrength · fitness · fun · kayak · kayaking · paddling · rest

Camping together gives women autonomy and community

elan.paulson

I recently went kayak camping with 6 friends at a remote Ontario provincial park called Killarney. Over 6 days and 5 nights we kayaked on a lake to 3 different camp sites. It was a chance for some holiday rest but also some active challenges.

Each site stop meant packing and unpacking my (borrowed) kayak: sleeping gear, food gear, hygiene gear, camp chair, bug repellants, clothes, and drying line. These were stored in dry sacs that kept stuff dry in inclement weather or if the kayak tips. We also agreed to each pack out our own garbage, which had to be stored every night in our kayaks to avoid attracting animals.

Though I was a girl guide and did family trailercamper trips as a kid, I am newer to camping where you haul your own gear, purify your own water, eat primarily rehydrated food, and eliminate in a “thunderbox”. On every trip I learn more through observing others and asking questions to find what arrangements suit me best (eg, tent vs hammock for sleeping, what vegetarian foods I can take, etc.).

I’m on my own to make sure I can carry what I pack, I pick up after myself, and I keep myself clean, dry, sated, and injury-free. Although this seems like regular adult stuff, in nature with no other amenities than what I carry, I must plan ahead and be self-sufficient. As one of my friends said during the trip, “Doing this as a woman, as a group of women, is empowering.” (Another one said camping is having fun while being mildly uncomfortable.)

What is empowering is not just taking care of yourself but also working together as a group. These women harnessed 7 kayaks in a trailer safely for highway driving, navigated to a remote provincial park, kayaked to multiple camp sites, used fishing gear, arranged in pairs for food prep and clean up, found wood, set up big tarps in case of rain, and shared anything that was needed, from extra salt to insect repellant to tampons to skin bandages.

For nearly a week were on our own but also together: travelling, paddling, swimming, fishing, card playing, plein air watercolor painting, food and drink imbibing, mosquito repelling, storytelling, and looking out for each other.

I am grateful to have learned so much about the tricks and tools of kayak camping from these women. It’s given me a sense of accomplishment and pride in a hobby that’s fun but not always easy or convenient. I’ve chosen from here this quotation, attributed to Madonna (who may or may not also be a kayak camper), to sum up my thoughts:

“As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other’s worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and enlightened by.” – Madonna

What do you do, on your own but also with others, that gives you a sense of personal autonomy as well as community?

7 kayaks hauled by a truck
7 women in kayaks
5 women sitting in front of a campfire at dusk
The view, of an overturned kayak near the water’s edge, from my tent at dawn