Win-Win

on March 8, 2011

I am in the shower. I look down at my arm and notice this strange, pale triangle in the crook of my arm. I dip my head closer to inspect.

â€œHmmm,â€ I wonder. â€œHow the heck did I get that weird tan line on my arm?â€

Then I realize â€“ itâ€™s from running so much with my arms bent. That is a pretty cool tan line, if you ask me. Runner WIN!

(Yes, I wear sunscreen!)

In other news, today at Girls on the Run, I asked the girls to list qualities that make girls and women beautiful. With ZERO prompting that we werenâ€™t talking about physical characteristics, the girls raised their hands and listed things like:

Kindness
Gratitude
Personality
Being friendly
Humor
Willingness to help others

Self-esteem WIN.

Whatâ€™s a win for you today?

{ 96 comments }

Melissa March 8, 2011, 3:45 pm
Very very cool tan line!
Love the pics of the girls with the positive qualities.
Kristina @ spabettie March 8, 2011, 3:47 pm
I HAVE THE SAME TAN LINES !! 😀
Kacy March 8, 2011, 3:48 pm
I’m going to go eat tacos tonight that only cost $1 and they’re from a local restaurant and not taco bell. Major budget win. Then I hope to run, which might not be a win if the tacos don’t cooperate. We shall see.
Love the girls’ responses – it sounds like you’re a great influence on them!
- Maggie March 8, 2011, 9:46 pm
  Haha! Just did the same thing! Except probably not at the SAME taco place as you… Unless you’re in Ontario! Either way, tacos for the win!
Elizabeth@The Sweet Life March 8, 2011, 3:49 pm
GREAT
M March 8, 2011, 3:50 pm
I’m so happy to see those sweet girls – they are beautiful inside and out! And a huge good for you, Caitlin!
Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me March 8, 2011, 3:51 pm
GOTR is so sweet. I love it.

My WIN today has been rockin it like a mad fool at work. Oh ya!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table March 8, 2011, 3:52 pm
That is so cool that those girls immediately though about inner beauty.

I have 2 wins: a 42:22 min 5 mile run and an amazing sauce-creation on my BB burger. Cheers to Fat Tuesday! 🙂
Kira March 8, 2011, 3:54 pm
The girls are adorable! I work as a camp counselor in the summer and I love seeing how happy the kids are to be there!
Jenna@frombostonwithlove.com March 8, 2011, 4:01 pm
That.Is.Awesome! I love rocking sports related tan lines. Namely my hott shin guard tan from my soccer days.

I heart pasty white shins connected to golden tan knees. Its all about contrast 😉
- Liz March 9, 2011, 7:51 am
  total blast from the past — I forgot about my field hockey shin guard tan lines! thank you
Beth March 8, 2011, 4:02 pm
My win is being exhauted today from a great tempo run yesterday. Hopefully it will lead to a PR win this weekend!
Jennifer (The Fat Carrot) March 8, 2011, 4:07 pm
That is awesome! My 14 year old daughter loves to run! Unfortunately, at her high school, they make them choose between athletics and band (which she also loves – she plays the French horn and is AWESOME at it!)becuase there are too many rehearsal/practice time conflicts. This is really disappointing to her because she wants to do cross country.

Why am I telling you this? Because I remembered GOTR and looked for it in my area (because I love that is is about WAY more than running!). I found one, but it is only for girls 8-12. Do you know if there is a similar program targeted for older teen girls? I would love to sign her up for something like that because I think being a teen in this day and age is hard, and something like this would be so positive and encouraging to her!

Thanks for your help!

Sending lots of love,
Jennifer
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete March 8, 2011, 4:14 pm
I love the list the girls came up with!

My win for today is getting my work done early so I could meet Jason for lunch — its his birthday today!
Mary March 8, 2011, 4:16 pm
Win for me today, sleeping past 2pm because I’m working the overnight the next 3 nights 🙂

What a funny tan line! I am a big fan of the tank tan lines I have during the summer 🙂
Rachel @ Grateful Girl Goes Gluten Free March 8, 2011, 4:25 pm
I love your posts on GOTR so much! They are so inspiring.
lisa March 8, 2011, 4:30 pm
i used the word awesomesauce to describe my new low for the Adele cd “21”. It fit perfectly! Just letting you know 🙂

also, I contacted the boston GOTR and emailed them my resume and information and they never got back to me 🙁 I am so bummed! I think it is such a great organization!
- lisa March 8, 2011, 4:31 pm
  and I meant new love, not new low for Adele’s cd!
Sarah @ The Strength of Faith March 8, 2011, 4:32 pm
Um, I love the fact that you can see your husband drawing in the background of that picture.
- Coco March 8, 2011, 11:17 pm
  ME TOO!
  - Caitlin March 9, 2011, 11:01 am
    He is so cute 🙂
Evan Thomas March 8, 2011, 4:35 pm
I had my longest consecutive run without stopping of the year today–6 1/2 miles. Total win for me.
Lili March 8, 2011, 4:40 pm
You rock working on these positive messages with the GOTR!!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife March 8, 2011, 4:40 pm
cool tan line…. p.s. I love the girls’ responses- soo cool! Win–I lifted more on my shoulder track today teaching BodyPUMP 🙂
Courtney (greeneyedrunner) March 8, 2011, 4:43 pm
Aww I love the pictures that the girls drew! And the husband chilling on the ground drawing.

EPIC tanline 🙂
Red March 8, 2011, 4:43 pm
Hahaha, I have tan lines like that 🙂
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) March 8, 2011, 4:46 pm
My win today was totally hanging out with my husband who has been gone for 4 days! It was/is great!
Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story March 8, 2011, 4:58 pm
I haven’t cried yet today and that is a win for me. Of course I have grief counseling this evening so that will go out the window, but I’m ok with that because I set up the grief counseling as soon as I got home because I realized that I would need it.
Kristina March 8, 2011, 5:03 pm
The best part of the whole post was “I am in the shower.” Laughed for a good few seconds just reading the first sentence of your post haha.
Kristen March 8, 2011, 5:05 pm
love the runners tan! I get that when I bike in the summer too haha

The win for me today: I went to the gym for an hour (this may not seem like much, but the past two weeks I was either sick or too down to go….but I WENT TODAY! and kicked booty as well haha)
Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen March 8, 2011, 5:12 pm
I love their responses! I hope they spread the word 😀
Allison @ Happy Tales March 8, 2011, 5:13 pm
Haaaaaa I have those same tanlines, too! And yep, I also wear sunscreen. Year-round! My family is very prone to skin cancer, though (cousin had melanoma at age 15, my mom has had 26 bouts of skin cancer –just squamous/basil so far, though…dad’s had some skin cancer, too…as well as my aunt and grandmother) So I definitely need to protect myself ALL the time!
Kristy@RunTheLongRoad March 8, 2011, 5:16 pm
I always have those tan lines over the summer! Some other fun ones: tempo short tan line, T-back tank tan line, and huge Garmin tan line!!!!
abby March 8, 2011, 5:27 pm
Ha, I have those tan lines too!!!! I’m proud of them! Along with the sock tan line 🙂
Angie March 8, 2011, 5:28 pm
Love this post I love tan lines! Can’t wait till Its nice here in chicago so I can get some! Thanks for letting me know your workout plan! What exactly is your “boot Camp?” and how long is it for each day? Maybe you could do a post on an indepth look at your bootcamp workouts! 🙂
- Caitlin March 8, 2011, 5:35 pm
  http://adventureinauburn.blogspot.com/2011/03/soul-crushin-boot-camp.html
  
  There you go!
Lauren @ Team Giles March 8, 2011, 5:31 pm
I love runner tan lines. Well earned. 😉

My win today was getting to break away from work for a bit and have lunch with my husband! YEA! 🙂

I love when you post about GOTR. I can’t wait to help with the 5K in our local chapter.
Kristyn March 8, 2011, 5:32 pm
Love the “what makes women beautiful” without the prompting. =) Gotta love amazing kids! A win for me is definitely that all the girls (12 for the first time bringing it to our school…let alone county!!!) I had for my first GOTR session on Monday came up today me today at school saying, “Miss Pede, Miss Pede-I can’t wait to come to GOTR tomorrow!” My heart melted and I knew this was going to make such a wonderful impact on me. I knew that before I started, but now I’m seeing it first hand. It’s so motivating and empowering! Go you, Caitlin!
- Caitlin March 8, 2011, 5:35 pm
  <3
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) March 8, 2011, 5:42 pm
I have the same tan line too! I think it’s kind of badass 🙂
Laura (Starloz) March 8, 2011, 5:43 pm
kids are so incredible these days. it’s beautiful
Mary H March 8, 2011, 5:45 pm
I totally get the SAME TAN LINES in the summer and totally dig them!!!! Wow… I thought I was the only one!! 🙂
maria @ Chasing the Now March 8, 2011, 6:10 pm
I love that they chose non-physical attributes! WIN!
Melissa March 8, 2011, 6:27 pm
I love the qualities listed for beautiful! That made my day! It reminds me that there is hope for this world! That is a big WIN!
On a closer to home note, my 13 year old stepson was blowing off my 3 year old daughter. He was just being a teenager, but it was breaking my daughter’s heart (who only wanted to be near him). After about the third time of her wanting his company, he caved in and actually came into the kitchen to work with her on her letters. WIN! They are both smiling as I type!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:59 am
  <3 that is so sweet :) it's hard for teens sometimes i think but he sounds like a good kid!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) March 8, 2011, 6:30 pm
a win = booking a trip I didnt even know I was going to take 🙂

saw your tweet about your blog/name change possibly…that SUCKS! hope things work out for you 🙂
Michelle March 8, 2011, 6:49 pm
mmm tan lines……. still have tons of snow here. Cant wait!!
Jen March 8, 2011, 6:53 pm
That tan line is hilarious! It reminds me of the funny tan lines soccer players get…just a segment of tan skin between where their shorts end and their socks begin. I think all sports-related tan lines show true commitment!
Emma (Namaste Everyday) March 8, 2011, 6:58 pm
I love hearing about your girls on the run!!! Though I’m passionate about healthy food and fitness, my OTHER passion is education–especially of young girls! I want to be a GOTR coach some day, though I’m only 19 now. soon!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:58 am
  You’re old enough to do it now! 🙂 You should do it, they LOVE younger adults.
Laura March 8, 2011, 6:58 pm
Inspired by you I volunteered with the Raleigh GOTG tonight and had a blast!!
- Laura March 8, 2011, 6:59 pm
  *GOTR, not gotg!!
Krista @ Journey to a Healthy Berg March 8, 2011, 7:04 pm
That’s so funny about the tanline! A running win for me today was a new PR on my 3.0 miler 🙂 I was pumped!
Faith @ lovelyascharged March 8, 2011, 7:13 pm
Girl, that is one crazy-ass tanline. Win…lets see…it wasn’t my win, but I was excited nonetheless when my dog made it all the way outside before peeing…yeah, gross but it’s even less charming to clean up in the apartment hall!
Carly March 8, 2011, 7:27 pm
A win for me was starting week two of my 5k training. Though it’s not much compared to others, I felt so proud of myself. Another win was getting a paper back with an A on it. Sweet!

I’m starting to get involved in promoting GOTR around my area. I’m pretty excited!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:57 am
  Good luck on your 5K training 🙂 I’m sure it will be awesomesauce.
Wendy March 8, 2011, 7:37 pm
We did a similar activity last spring with our GOTR team, except we used butcher paper and had the girls lay down on the paper and traced their outlines. Then we hung them up around the room when we had our end-of-season banquet. It’s awesome to see them coming up with so many wonderful non-physical qualities about each other.

My win for the day – I did not have to pick up my daughter from school early. The nurse contacted me that she had a tummyache and slight fever around lunchtime, but it turned out to be nothing. Healthy kid WIN!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:56 am
  Glad she’s feeling better 🙂
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} March 8, 2011, 8:02 pm
My WIN for today is that the house is clean and we had an amazing dinner. It’s the little things, right?
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:56 am
  Major wins in my book!
Kiran March 8, 2011, 8:11 pm
ARK – act of random kindness! Just melts my heart 🙂
rebecca lustig March 8, 2011, 8:20 pm
Girls On the Run makes me soo happy!!
Jess@atasteofconfidence March 8, 2011, 8:26 pm
That tan line is so funny:)
Morgan March 8, 2011, 8:43 pm
Duh, winning!
Courtney March 8, 2011, 8:44 pm
Love the tan lines 🙂 haha you could call them “ran lines” cuz they’re from running! wow bad pun…
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:56 am
  I love ran lines!
Paige @Running Around Normal March 8, 2011, 8:45 pm
What a fabulous exercise. Very encouraging to hear the results 🙂
Ashley @ Feeding Ashley March 8, 2011, 8:51 pm
That’s the best tan line I’ve ever seen. 🙂 Awesome results. I like the picture of the husband in the back ground coloring lol.
Michelle March 8, 2011, 9:09 pm
I LOVE the GOTR exercise! Great work 🙂
Baking 'n' Books March 8, 2011, 9:10 pm
Question: Are all GOTR geared towards doing stuff to make your “love yourself” and positive image, etc??

Win? Right – must force myself to think of the good…um, getting through work another day without crying?

That’s GOTTA count!

I think Charlie Sheen is doing enough WINNING for all of us…I don’t know if that’s a LOL or sad though…
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:55 am
  All the GOTR lessons are geared towards being healthy emotionally and physically, so we talk about stuff like confidence, bullying, listening, charity, healthy eating, etc.
Cara March 8, 2011, 9:16 pm
That tan line is awesome! I also love the GOTR exercise and the responses from the girls. That truly is a WIN!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey March 8, 2011, 9:28 pm
I love that tan line – and a LOSE for me is the fact that you already have a tan line.
Anna @ Doing Good & Living Well March 8, 2011, 9:33 pm
How sweet! Loved this post. Also adorable is your husband sneaking into the final picture.
Kate March 8, 2011, 9:46 pm
I love my triathlete tan lines- I’d never been even the palest brown before in my life (I’m still pretty white!)

And it is SO fantastic that those were your girls’ responses!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin March 8, 2011, 9:47 pm
My favourite tan line is the one I get from my Birkinstock sandals! 😀

What a great activity for the girls. I love hearing about all the things you plan for them!
Jenny March 8, 2011, 9:51 pm
My win? Finishing a 4.5 mile run after a full day of work and business travel. 24 hour hotel gyms rock!

Great GOTR update!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write March 8, 2011, 9:57 pm
Yay. I love the girls’ responses! That just proves that all this self-bashing is 100% learned, and it’s up to our generation to change it!!!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:54 am
  AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!
sarah k. @ the pajama chef March 8, 2011, 10:07 pm
i’m so jealous that you have a tan (even just a tan line) already! i need the sun! 🙂 haha
Kristina March 8, 2011, 10:32 pm
So funny about the tan line-I always notice I sweat in my elbow for the same reasons-weird! I’d love to catch a tan line…if only I could run outside more than 3 months out of the year!
britt will be fit March 8, 2011, 11:03 pm
having dinner with my family after a long work day
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good March 8, 2011, 11:34 pm
Hearing your GOTR girls answers about beauty warms my heart. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Ellie@fitforthesoul March 9, 2011, 4:03 am
hahahaa what a funny tanline! That made me crack up kkkkkk. Awww i think it’s so wonderful that the girls had no prompting and yet listed such wonderful qualities~They’ve been taught very well 🙂
Katherine: Unemployed March 9, 2011, 6:30 am
Not to be tacky or a self promoter (oh wait, that is exactly what I’m being) but I just posted about starbucks offering some free sweets and I think it’s something you should check out. Maybe your girls on the run could go with you?

I love this idea for them to draw the characters of themselves. It’s so important to develop muscles and a strong self esteem at the same time!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:53 am
  Oooo I will check out this coupon for sure. Thanks!
Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) March 9, 2011, 7:11 am
Haha…I love the runner’s tan line. I get that in the summer too.

Win for me today: I got to sleep in! 😀
Meaghan March 9, 2011, 9:00 am
Haha that is an awesome tan line! 🙂
Jillian@ Reshape Your Life March 9, 2011, 9:27 am
I love the tan line, I love that the girls didn’t pick physical aspects and I LOVE that picture of your husband drawing a picture and sitting on the ground like he’s one of the girls… It made me giggle.
Jillian@ Reshape Your Life March 9, 2011, 9:27 am
I love the tan line, I love that the girls didn’t pick physical aspects and I LOVE that picture with your husband in the background drawing a picture and sitting on the ground like he’s one of the girls… It made me giggle.
Gretchen @ Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! March 9, 2011, 9:51 am
Fried pickles are amazing. With your blog title today, I was hoping you figured out a way of making fried pickles less guilt-inducing, haha!
- Caitlin March 9, 2011, 10:53 am
  Someone else commented that you can bread and BAKE pickles. Must try soon!
Christina March 9, 2011, 11:17 am
Runner tan score!!! That is so funny though! Good thing you’re wearing sun screen though, that would have been an awful sunburn line!
Christina March 9, 2011, 11:17 am
Runner tan score!!! That is so funny though! Good thing you’re wearing sun screen though, that would have been an awful sunburn line!
Amber K March 9, 2011, 11:58 am
Awesome self-esteem win! What a hilarious tan line. I try and avoid the sun because I still haven’t been able to find a sunscreen that doesn’t make me break out like crazy.
Katie @ peacebeme March 9, 2011, 12:03 pm
That is so awesome that they did that without prompting!

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