RECREATION

Kristin Armstrong's newest book guides readers toward grace

Girls on the Run teaches self-confidence along with running

By Pamela LeBLanc
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, April 27, 2009

Kristin Armstrong, a regular contributor to Runner's World magazine and author of a pair of devotionals and a children's book, wants you to know that she's far from perfect.

But from the wreckage that was her life in 2003 — when she and cyclist Lance Armstrong divorced — has emerged a dedicated mom, a successful writer, a lickety-split runner and a woman passionate about her Christian faith.

She explains a little about how she became more true to herself in her latest book, "Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace" (March 2009, FaithWords, $18.99). "Each of the 12 chapters is a different attribute of what I consider to be the graceful woman — not that I am one, but I'm trying to go that way," she says.

The book sprang from a conversation Armstrong had with a friend during a long training run. It covers inner beauty, confidence, softness, trust, truth, generosity, forgiveness, courage, diligence, wisdom, authenticity and freedom. "The one word in there that really rings for me is authenticity, because I think an element of that is inherent in all the traits," Armstrong says.

At the book's back is a list of study questions, best discussed with close girlfriends. Of those, Armstrong has no shortage. She's worked hard to cultivate her circle of "wily, hilarious and generous girlfriends."

"I think female friendships are sliding lower on priority scale because we're all so busy," she says. "We don't really protect the time to spend time with our friends, and I really do want women to realize some of the greatest growth happens when you're with women who challenge you and love you and keep it real."

As for herself, Armstrong says she's trying to grant herself enough grace to "realize I want to improve in various ways, but I'm also enough already — and that's a big change for me," she says.

She hopes the book will help guide other women down a similar path. "I think if a woman read this book and felt at the end of it they had a sense of hopefulness and a greater sense of connection to God and their authentic self, then my heart would sing."

Another book — a mom's devotional — is already in the pipeline, and Armstrong says she's enjoying the research for it. After dropping off her three kids — twins Bella and Grace, 7, and Luke, 9 — at school each day, she returns home and holes up in her office to focus on Scripture and her family. "It's already blessing my parenting a lot," she says.

Russell Secker has started his foot-powered trek across Europe.

The Austin runner, who in years past completed ultra-runs across Germany and France, is now running across six countries in the Trans Europe FootRace. He'll be running an average of 45 miles a day for 64 days in a row.

The run started in Italy on April 19 and finishes in Norway on June 21. You can follow Secker's blog at secker.blogspot.com/.

Two days in, he had this to say: "Toenails on my left foot are starting to take a pounding, even despite running with toe boxes cut out of my sneakers. I think maybe slightly tight socks plus rain today were the culprits. Jan the medic has worked on them already. Now I need to invent a modified sock design to alleviate the pressure on what's left of my toenails for tomorrow's longer stage." Ewwww!

Running can strengthen more than just the heart and legs of pre-teens. Through the Girls on the Run Program, wrapping up its first year in the Austin area, running can improve self-confidence and character, too.

The 12-week program gives preteen girls an outlet to learn to cope with peer pressure and do fun activities. They meet twice a week for an hour at a time, usually right after school. And it involves running, of course.

A session might include a discussion of bullying, a healthy snack and an exercise like running laps around the track, pausing each round to tell the coach what they'd do if someone bullied them.

The end result? Improved grades and higher self-esteem, which means fewer problems down the road, says Shorey Russell, treasurer of the Austin chapter. "When girls have low self-esteem, that leads to things like extreme peer pressure, experimenting with drugs, and early sexual behaviors."

Molly Barker, a marathon runner and Ironman triathlete, started the program in Charlotte, N.C., in 1996. Now some 160 affiliates across the U.S. and Canada work to instill strong values in third- through fifth-graders.

"They're still receptive at that age to what adults have to say," Russell says. "They're also reaching that age where bullying and name-calling starts happening. A lot of it centers around what they look like and things that are less important than a girl's personality."

The Austin chapter started with a single team last year. Bridge Point, Becker and Allison elementaries are participating now, and organizers hope to expand to more schools in September. This year's young runners will celebrate the end of the season at the Schlotzsky's Bun Run 5K on Sunday .

Registration for the 12-week program is $150, but scholarships are available. A happy hour for parents or donors to learn more about the organization is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Paggi House, 200 Lee Barton Drive. For more information or to donate, go to www.gotraustin.org.

Time again for that rare opportunity to swim down Lady Bird Lake — legally. The Money Box Cap2K Open Water Race is set for 10:30 a.m. Sunday .

I've done the race six or seven times, and love gazing at the limestone cliffs along the river, checking out blue herons and hawks along the way, and peering up at the onlookers on the pedestrian bridge below Loop 1.

The 2,000-meter race, organized by the American Swimming Association, begins just off of Red Bud Isle and finishes at the Texas Rowing Center on the east side of Loop 1. Expect water temperatures between 69 and 72 degrees.

The race benefits two charities — Swim Safe for Austin Kids, which provides swimming lessons for underprivileged kids, and Friends of Deep Eddy Pool. Non-swimmers can book passage on Capital Cruises' double-decker boat for $15 ($8 kids). A picnic and awards ceremony will follow the race at Eiler's Park. Entry is $110 through race day. To register, go to www.cap2k.com.

Austin's hiking, biking and camping crowd gets its own version of movie madness May 4-5, when the Banff Mountain Film Festival returns to the Paramount Theatre with a selection of mountain-themed, high-adrenaline films. Tickets are $20 a night or $35 for two and are available at Whole Earth Provision Co., the Paramount Theatre or www.Gettix.net . Proceeds benefit the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve.

pleblanc@statesman.com; 445-3994