I just read an article in the NYT called “See Jane Run. See Her Run Faster and Faster”  (Sorry, it likely requires registration). 

The gist of it is that the writer did a running race and noticed in the results that the fastest woman in the 45 to 49 age group beat the fastest woman in the 20 to 24 and the 40 to 44 age groups.  So she did some other random searches of other races and found similiar results.

So why is this, right?  Some of the reasons given is that younger women hang back and don’t want to look too passionate or committed at racetime.  It seems to take woman runners a couple decades of running to figure out what they’re capable of, learn how to go for it and then do it. 

I thought we women had gotten farther than that.  I thought we were ok with being driven and showing that to the world.  But maybe that’s only with brain prowess. Maybe physical displays of strength and speed are a last hold-out.  Don’t look, I’m sweating.  In public.  We prefer to hide our muscles in a Power Yoga class and not racing down the street with thousands of others.

I’ve been thinking about doing the Run for the Cure.  Since I’m now in the 40-something age group, maybe it’s time for a new goal.  I’m going to be a good role model and kick some ass against the sistas half my age :-)