Empoword Community

Last Sunday, on a beautiful Minnesota fall morning, over 800 women set out to compete in the Iron Girl Dualtheon. I was one of them.

The power of women. Wow! It was so moving to see women 14 to 74 out there competing, doing their best, being health conscious, enjoying the camaraderie of other women. The cheering kids, friends and spouses on the sidelines with their homemade signs were also a sight to see. It wasn’t about winning or who was the fastest. It was about what we can do with our body if we put our mind to it. I was very grateful that I am able to move my body, get that endorphin rush, and feel the energy and vitality that exercising brings.

Before the race, I thought about what words I wanted to motivate me through the 2 mile run, 22-mile bike and final 2 mile run. I knew I would need to breathe. Breathing would help me with my pre-race nerves. It would help me get up the hills. It would help me keep going. I put an Empoword breathe cling on my bike (they stick perfectly!) where I could see it throughout the ride. It was amazing to me how many times I looked down, saw the “breathe” cling and made myself take an extra breath. The image stuck (no pun intended) in my mind as I rallied to run that second two miles.

The Iron Girl also reminded me, once again, that we all have a story to tell – each motivating and inspiring in its own way. There was the Iron Girl with rheumatoid arthritis who has lost 61 pounds; the Iron Girl who has had open heart surgery last year; the Iron Girl who manages her type-2 diabetes with running and cycling; the Iron Girls who are battling cancer and beating it. The stories leave me awe-inspired.

What is inspiring, motivating and mattering to you these days?

- Wendy Lutter
Empoword CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer)