Last night I was perusing Instagram before heading to bed when I came across a picture of a fellow FitFluential ambassador wearing a running tutu. I admit, I looked closer at it because this ambassador happened to be a guy running in a tutu. While that is perfectly fine with me, it’s also not as common as seeing a woman run in a tutu. I tend to follow people who inspire me, and many of them are runners who happen to occasionally wear a running tutu.
I read on down his caption where he explained he was sharing this picture in support of Monika Allen – a woman whose picture was used under a “BS Meter” story in SELF Magazine basically bashing women who wear tutus while running calling it an “epidemic”. SELF Magazine actually reached out to ask for permission to use the picture, but didn’t tell her why they were using it.
That picture?
Well… I will let Monika from GLAM RUNNER explain it… this was taken from the GLAM RUNNER facebook page.
Excited to see our tutus in SELF Magazine … but shocked to see that running tutus are classified as lame. Especially considering the fact that this picture is from last year’s LA Marathon when Glam Runner founders Tara and Monika ran together as superheroes … because Monika was recently diagnosed with brain cancer and was running a marathon in the middle of a year of chemo.
Yep! They posted a picture of a woman fighting brain cancer, bashing her tutu! The same tutu she makes and sells to fundraise for Girls on the Run San Diego. A charity that trains young girls to run their first 5k, but also works with them on body image, self esteem, and more.
As a woman I have one question…
WHY ARE WE BASHING ANYONE WHO IS DOING SOMETHING THAT IS HEALTHY WHEN WE SHOULD BE UPLIFTING THEM?
Seriously, WHO CARES if a woman or man chooses to run in a tutu? Shouldn’t we be applauding the fact that women accounted for 8.6 million finishers nationwide (a record number) in races in 2012. (According to running usa.)
Last year I “ran” my first 5k and I did so wearing a bright green tutu.
That neon green running tutu made me happy. It made me forget for a moment how nervous I was to be out on that cold and wet rainy morning. That for as many years as I could remember I was told I would never be a runner, and I even told myself I was not a runner, yet here I was trying to run my first race. I could care less how I ran that race, all I wanted to do was finish it, and that silly green running tutu kept me pushing forward.
If a tutu makes a runner happy or distracts them from the pain or self doubt that people sometimes go through during a race, what does it matter to anyone else?
When I finished that race that day I told my husband I wished I could run every day in a tutu.
As I train for my next 5k I can be sure that I won’t be reading SELF Magazine, and my next tutu order is going to be going to Monika and GLAM RUNNER.
One of the things that pushes me through my love/hate with running is reading other people’s stories. I wish I would have found Monika’s in a better way than I did, but regardless of how I found it you can be sure I will be cheering her and every other runner I meet on – running tutu or not!
Shame on you SELF Magazine for not only featuring a inspirational woman in a negative light, but for using a photo from a business that is in the business of training new young runners to love a sport. You could have easily used any race photo and blurred out the faces, but I’m actually glad you didn’t.
Had you done that your little bashing blurb would likely have been overlooked. Instead you can use this as an opportunity to be the example to others. Bashing, berating, judging… that all stops when people like your magazine stop making it “okay”. The less we see of it, the less okay it is. Next time – take the high road and support women in running. I think we have had enough of the opposite.
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ok I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS REALLY TRUE when I saw it yesterday.
sad sad sad.
I saw that too. Self should be ashamed. Boo!
This makes me sooo mad! Shame on you Self magazine! It doesn’t matter if I wear a clown suit as long as I get out there and do something that matters!!!!
I am so glad that Self was caught in their own nasty web. Good for Pavement Runner (and you) for calling them out, they should be ashamed. While wearing tutus is not my thing, I love anything that brings more people to fitness and running.
I can not believe this, this is such a shame…. so sad!
I think it’s fantastic that people run to begin with. What they wear shouldn’t matter at all.
What a fantastic post this is! I am so proud of you for running that race. I am not a runner etiher but I am doing the Pretty Muddy Run this summer. Maybe I will wear a tutu!!
either 🙂
Congrats on completing it. PS I love the tutu, you rock it well.
i have seen this all over. very disappointed in the magazine.
Oh wow, that is totally mean spirited! I have never seen anyone wearing a tutu running, where have I been? You totally rock the tutu, by the way! So cute!
Unfortunately the media will do and say whatever it takes to make extra money. It is quite shameful.
Honestly I love the tutus on runners! Bad move SELF magazine. i don’t like you any longer! Most of the time; when I see women running with tutus it is for a movement. A purpose. A fundraiser! So yeah; the only thing lame about that is calling it lame. I think it is motivational and moving and inspiring that they are willing to look a little silly for such important causes! It’s like the photographer that dresses in a pink tutu and takes self portraits. His art work is known world wide. And they are actually quite beautiful. And it is done all because his wife is fighting cancer and it’s a way to help ease the pain for her and the other women he meets in the cancer unit. And all the money made from those photos goes towards cancer research. So I see women wearing tutus in marathons and I get excited and happy and think “YES! You Rock that tutu and be proud!”
I think it is very upsetting that people are bashing these people who are trying to make a positive impact…shameful but I’m not surprised.
LOVEd your post!!!! WAY to go and you looked like you were ROCKIN it… Self should be ashamed… really.. thanks for sharing your post
Wow. It is so awful that someone somewhere will always have a problem with something. If that makes sense. Yay for you for actually completing a marathon! And for speaking up!
Oh geez! Whatever gets people motivated should be celebrated!! We have a superhero race here where people wear capes!! Why the heck not??!?!
Self was way out of line with that! Why do they care what people wear while they are running? If it makes them happy, it is none of their business.
Darn, why does the public have to be so mean and judgemental! I loved that neon green tutu you were wearing. I don’t think I would have wanted to get it dirty in color run! Good for you! I hope your future runs are succesful and you always wear your tutu with pride.
LOL! I saw this photo on Facebook and thought it was a woman!
I’ve seen people wear tutus during 5k races and while it isn’t my thing, I think it’s an awesome way for people to express themselves and show that it’s just good, clean, HEALTHY fun! I can’t believe that SELF would be someone to bash it.
Sad. 🙁 The running tutu is awesome – no matter who is wearing it!
Shame on Self magazine. I hope they are getting every bit of backlash they deserve. Great blog post. You said it all.
I could care less what people wear when they run, as long as they have clothes on. Congrats on your first 5k!
It is unfortunate when people or media criticize without doing the proper research. I personally think the Tutus are fun and why not have fun when you are participating in events like this. I don’t run so if I took it up this might help keep me motivated and inspired to keep moving.
Wow, that is terrible. Who cares what people wear while they run? If they’re happy, then let them be.
Wow that was really done in poor taste, especially considering this was done by a cancer survivor! The magazine sure made itself look bad!
I’m doing my first 5K tomorrow… in a TUTU! It’s a Diva Dash and who cares if we are in tutus? They are fun, they make the daunting task of exercise just a little easier. You look great 🙂
Good Luck Amanda!! Let me know how it goes!!
I couldn’t have said it better. I’m sure people know tutus don’t make them run faster. But they sure make the race a better experience. I give kudos to anyone who wears a tutu or cool costume in a race.
I just ran a Color Run 5K today. There were many superheroes, women and men in tutus, etc. I think it’s fun and makes the run easier and more interesting. Glad you felt the same and shame on Self for ridiculing that brave woman. It was out of line for them to do so period, but the fact that she had cancer and used the tutus to fund raise for a worthy cause merely adds to their shame. Did they ever print a retraction and/or apology? If not, Self is beyond help. Shame on them AND anyone who continues to patronize them.