Now that Basque civil servants are being offered the chance to apply for 18 weeks of paternity leave, the same as the mother's, it's a good time to look inside our own families and see how this work-life balance affects all aspects of our lives, including running.
Until recently, it era considered normal for men to spend part of their libre time enjoying sports. Bike rides, soccer games, swimming trips and running. Many weekend mornings were dedicated solely and exclusively to them, while at home the children were left in charge of the wife, even if she also worked outside the home during the week and was a sports enthusiast. Unfortunately, this is something that has not disappeared and there are still many couples who argue about this issue, week in and week out. And the fact is that, in addition to the request for co-responsibility with the offspring, we women have added, increasingly, the need and the taste for going out to practice sports, so that either the times are shared, or the mess is already mounted.
However, there are still many mothers who practice what my friend Monica calls "clandestinerunning", which basically consists of going for a run when their children are either asleep or doing other activities. This way the mother's presence is guaranteed at all times, even if it means getting up early or running at night.
Conciliation is something that is also talked about in the 50/50/25 program in which Runnea Women Team is immersed. As Arantza Rojo, one of those responsible for the Behobia San Sebastian, said: "Encouraging the participation of women in races is not done by giving away bibs, but by applying a thorough plan in which all the aspects surrounding the realization of a race are worked on". One of these factors is the empowerment of women, based on the possibility of training as much as they need and to come to the day of the race with their homework done. For this to be achieved, men have to take the step towards effective co-responsibility.
Today, 90% of childcare falls to women. It is high time to reduce this figure to 50%, the same percentage that the Behobia aims to achieve between men and women to reach parity. To the extent that we can devote time to our training without having to juggle for someone to take care of the children, we will be closer and closer to that longed-for parity.
There is another important factor when it comes to defending our space in the world of running and popular races. The practice of sport will make us become role models for our daughters and sons.
We are going to give them an example of how important it is to lead a healthy and healthy life, based on good nutrition and sport, while we are going to instill values such as effort, responsibility, sacrifice and daily work.
We often think about what our children feel when they see us wearing Running shoes. Depending on their age, they will make us react in one way or another. If they are small and are at the age of constantly demanding attention, they will surely make us feel guilty. Yes, yes, guilty of denying them our presence for a few hours and leaving them unattended. Women are like that and we feel that our presence is a priority. Of course it is, but not 24 hours a day. For an hour or two that we spend away, we are not going to destroy their emotional balance. Of course, the attempt of blackmail on their part will be inevitable: "But are you going to go for a run with how comfortable we are together? Why don't you stay and play a game?" These are the questions that stick in you like swords and make you think if it is worth missing that moment to do a few kilometers.
I emphatically believe that yes, it is worth it. If your kids are in their teens, they'll probably wonder what kind of crazy idea it was to start running and ask you if you're too old for it. Children always see us as too old for almost everything. But even if they don't tell you, the day we arrive soaking wet after a race, but happy to have done what we love, we will be sending them a message that effort and work are the keys to achieving goals. They won't let us know, surely, but the example has been set.
To the youngest, we will be making them see, from a very early age, that without work there is no glory.
For all this, to be an example for our children and to feel good as women, we must advocate for work-life balance in our own home. They should take the step and know that when the tasks are balanced and both parties feel good, happiness is greater.
Find your space to train and to participate in races. Hopefully more and more men are waiting at the finish line for their female companions.