This month’s Boston Marathon has many people talking about the endurance of women versus the endurance of men. In fact, the horribly cold and windy weather conditions has experts talking about things like body fat and childbirth as possible reasons that a higher percentage of women than men stayed in this year’s race.
In a year that has been filled with Me Too moments, the success of women at the 2018 Boston Marathon may be just one more motivating factor for women to persevere. We live in a time when an increasing number of Americans are realizing the importance of exercising and making an effort to stay physically fit. And whether women are working toward their health goals for themselves or to be a better example for their children, the decision to exercise is one that can make you more productive today and live a healthier life in the future.
Unfortunately, there are a number of people who are not yet able to achieve their exercise goals because they are recovering from a recent injury or surgery. With the help of the right therapists and physical therapy equipment, however, many of these people will soon be on the road to recovery and ready to beginning working toward their larger fitness goal. And whether you need a motivational trainer or a therapist with the latest knowledge of physical therapy equipment, you might decide to use the latest perseverance statistics of women in the Boston Marathon as additional motivation.
Focus on the Goal. Some experts believe that the reason that women with stood the harsh weather conditions in the latest Boston Marathon is because they were able to readjust their goals. The wind, the rain, and the risk of hypothermia were significant factors in the 2018 event, but the reality is that women are often better at focusing, and if necessary adjusting, their goals. When the weather conditions dictated that the race times for this year’s event were going to be much slower, a growing number of experts believe that it was the women in the race who were able to readjust their goals. The fact that they were not going to be able to finish in their record times did not make the women who finished think that they should quit. Instead, they simply readjusted their goals. In many cases this meant embracing a slower pace so that they would have the needed energy to withstand the cold and wind throughout the rest of the race.
Support Each Other. Another theory about why a higher percentage of women stayed in the 2018 Boston Marathon rather than dropping out is women are more likely to support each others. And while some male competitors are in race to reach their own personal goals, the fact of the matter is that women are used to being there for each other. In this year’s race, for example, the New York Times reported about several women who remained in the race in an effort to help a fellow competitor finish. Desiree Linden, the first American woman to win since 1985, for instance, at one point made a decision to endure the grueling conditions to help another runner stay in.
If you do not want to be one of the six out of 10 Baby Boomers who will be managing a chronic condition by the year 2030, staying active may be the key. And whether you are just at the state where you are learning to use a variety of recommended physical therapy equipment or you are running marathons, staying motivated and active are key components.
In a time when one out of 10 Baby Boomers indicate that their physical activity is limited to a few days a month it is important more women realize they can focus on their goals and support each other to achieve a healthier future. From physical therapy equipment and options to help you work through a recent ankle sprain to more advanced medical help that might be needed to recover from a recent surgery, the Me Too moment is a time when women can continue to prove that they are willing to stay in the race until the finish!