I
was very aware, having attended so many road races, that
the average woman was intimidated by participating in
an event they considered was athletic, competitive and
not exactly welcoming to “slow “ people! The
Walkers!
I
also was aware of what participation in sport had done
for my attitude in everyday life! That good personal health
and fitness both mentally and physically was a very empowering
entity. I believe that if we feel empowered we can cope
with any adversity with better strength and courage.
To be able to create a platform for the “average”
woman to be able to achieve the same feeling would be
a huge challenge. I had attended a wonderfully inspiring
women’s event in Anchorage Alaska a few times and
watched how the race directors Larry and Vicky Ross established
an environment where women of all ages and abilities felt
welcome.
From
first to last, they were all cheered and clapped, the
awards ceremony included everyone and the mother/ daughter
combinations were numerous! AND so many volunteers and
cheerleaders were MEN!
Another factor that I bought was my New Zealand heritage!
The fact that NZ is a very community minded country. Sports
participation is through clubs that are family oriented
and very inclusive. Not like in the USA where people find
it hard to find an enjoyable and supportive arena to continue
in sports and fitness after college.
Also
throughout the years of attending so many events, I had
learnt so much of what was successful and what wasn’t!
I had spent so much time with other race directors and
all the media people that I knew a great deal about the
behind the scenes work that was necessary for a successful
event to have longevity! I had absorbed a great deal and
was drawing on a wealth of experience.
Longevity and consistency is very important to me and
when I agreed to begin the Celebration it was very important
that due to me giving my name and reputation to it that
the integrity of the organization was a priority and that
we strive for longevity.
I
considered I would be creating a legacy and it was very
important from the beginning that there was a high standard
set in terms of quality, work ethic, and professionalism!
This would be run like a business. All the successful,
high profile events in the World are! That’s why
they last!
I also did not want to be JUST a figurehead but to be
very much involved in a daily basis.
That I knew about and approved of every element.
By choosing a women’s only event I knew we would
be up against a “ discrimination” label. However
I felt strongly that I could convey the right message
to the public as to why an event like this could be very
important to a community.
I
realized that there were probably 2-3 generations of women
who grew up before
Title IX not having the skill or confidence to pick up
exercise at a later age due to feeling intimidated and
overwhelmed by all the “ jock” language that
was currently present and the depiction in magazines of
the “ thin-only” culture.
Exercise
was portrayed as so extreme that there was no inspiration
“ just to begin” as many women felt they were
so low down on the scale that there was no welcoming place
for them to start.
As
much as I had been a world class runner, I very much appreciated
that running is tough and not many people enjoy it! I
am a huge advocate of walking and wanted to create an
event that encouraged women to come out and walk at their
own pace, enjoy it and continue the feeling by choosing
to do so a few more days a week.
Hence
choosing the 5k distance (3miles) a very achievable distance!
I wanted to create a platform to impart knowledge that
it is consistency of exercising at something you like
rather that an extreme workout that is the best way! That
the simple choice of walking 3-4 miles, 4 times a week
would greatly enhance your mental and physical well being.
There are many run/ walks that have been founded to raise
funds and awareness for various diseases or causes but
I chose to take a different route! The focus of the Celebration
would be to encourage the consistency of movement in our
daily lives so that women would be in better overall health
and also better equipped mentally and physically if they
ever found themselves in the position of needing to cope
with a challenge in life!
I
wanted the Celebration to be such a BUZZ! That women would
be surprised as to how easy it was!
Of course it took some convincing other people that this
would be a great thing for Boise! The city had never had
a large event like this. In fact the largest road race
in the state had been around 4000 at a mixed event.
First
there was the visit to the Mayor to get his support! I
realized immediately that I had to communicate the “women
only” message very well to men!
I would begin by asking,“ have you a mother, daughter,
grandmother, sister who would never enter a road-race
as they know them BUT would enter one if they knew the
environment was very encouraging and non-competitive?
The answer was always a resounding YES! The Mayor welcomed
the idea and has remained a strong supporter all along!
Next
there were sponsors to find and once again we met some
great guys who really supported the idea! I spoke at Rotary
meetings, got the support of the media and eventually
went around town speaking at every gathering of women
I could find!
It was all a matter of using the language that was inspiring,
not threatening- of joking about being a freak of nature
myself! the struggles I had had to overcome, the obstacles
in my life ,but also the strength I had now due to that.
Basically sharing the story of my life!
I
also chose the word ‘Celebration” to be added
to the event title! It came to me when I was out on a
run! The idea that we should be celebrating the positive
aspects of our lives and ourselves! As wonderful unique
people ALL with something positive to offer our families
and our community! The word “fitness’ encompassed
the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of us all.
We would not be aligned to any National organization or
have any political agenda as the message was to be one
of every woman choosing their own reason to participate!
All
along our goal was to establish a strong organization
that would service the community and State for many years
to come. That eventually the 5k would be the “flagship”
event of a year- round platform that educated and motivated
women and children and their families on healthier lifestyle
choices.
We established a non- profit organization based on health
and fitness education and chose the founding beneficiary
to be the Booth Memorial Home and School, an establishment
that catered to pregnant and parenting teens.
This was very close to my heart as I was born to a teenage
mother and given up for adoption.
Through the following years the organization has supported
many other entities that embrace the same mission.
One
aspect I am very proud of is the initial decision to always
try to pay people for their talents and services! I had
often experienced the quote“ oh will you speak or
do promotion for free? It will give you great publicity”!
I also did my very best to “ buy Idaho”; put
on a first class show- no cutting corners- our first impression
was going to be important. In the early years it took
personal investment to ensure the success of the event.
The
way sponsors were treated was imperative to our future.
I preferred to use the word
“ partnership”. That a corporation can use
the Celebration platform to enhance their product and
company. I asked for their imput, ideas and creativity!
~
Teamwork
is a key word. Building a strong committee and ultimately
a strong Board. Bringing these people together, police,
parks dept, volunteers, media, sponsors, vendors, business
leaders etc. I wanted the Celebration to express a strong
community spirit, something Boise and Idaho could be proud
of.
So
when it came time to choose a T- shirt design I visited
a local designer who worked at night and slept late! I
could only get to see him after 3.00pm most days but he
was great! Even though the logo was to be for the first
year’s shirt it eventually become the icon! With
the name “Wild Woman” given by a 65 year old
lady who visited the office one day looking for that “wild
woman” silver charm!
The initial support was wonderful and when we did get
some calls from guys wanting to know why they couldn’t
enter we never denied them an entry but took the time
to explain what it was all about and asked them if they
would consider being a volunteer. To this day some of
those guys are still volunteering!
It
was all due to good communication and we have some great
guys connected to the event. We now occasionally get the
reverse from some of the ladies who don’t like seeing
a male band, or the 85 guys on tuxedo row, or male announcers!
Go figure!
The
first Celebration went off so well! 2400 entrants and
3 guys in drag who did such a wonderful job they were
hard to pick out. We took it all in good spirit! They
were funny!
Of
course with success always comes the critics and cynics!
Every year we got the people that were concerned that
those working for the Celebration were being paid too
highly! The first paid employees joined the organization
in 1997. It took 5 years to be able to afford that.
The general public has no idea what it takes to put on
an event of this magnitude, not to mention fund the other
programs. This is a great organization that is benefiting
a community in a variety of ways that has the support
and advice from a strong Board and the complements from
a Mayor and Governor.
As
we take the Celebration into another decade, I look back
and say, “ yes it has been a tough road, a lot of
hard work, sometimes not appreciated, but tremendously
rewarding.
Thousands
of women have now experienced the Celebration. A 2 day
Women’s Show has become it’s own wonderful
entity, drawing in the general public and showcasing the
talent of the children of the community.
The Finish-line Party has been hailed as the best in the
sport and the most special moment is when the hundreds
of over 70 year old ladies are acknowledged on stage with
medals and a rose and are escorted by those guys in tuxedos!
We can’t get them off the stage! For many it is
the first time in their lives they have been center stage!
The
event has showcased so many inspiring stories and will
continue to do so.
That is what it is all about. We take those stories and
share them with other women and children in the hope that
everyone will realize that no matter how hard life can
be sometimes there is always someone being tested more!
If we come together and gain strength and confidence from
others then life’s challenges may be easier to handle.
So that we can truly CELEBRATE why we are here.
