Mariah here!! Today we will be sharing a story about an inspiring woman Lindsay Walter for Talk it Out Thursday —
This past weekend, I thought about the goals of my Instagram and blogging, and how I can improve my content to achieve my goals. My objectives are to help others in their own fitness journey and to provide inspiration and encouragement. I want to continue posting about my own fitness journey in an authentic and encouraging manner. I also want to share more inspirational stories of other athletes and even non-athletes. I believe their struggles and triumphs can inspire and encourage us, provide new insight, and even challenge our preconceived notions. I hope the stories I share accomplishes that and so much more.
This month is Alopecia Awareness Month, so I have dedicated this post to Lindsay Walter, a runner who suffers from this condition. Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. Lindsay was born with beautiful red hair but began to experience hair loss around the age of two. Within a week, she lost all of her hair. She wore a wig because she was ashamed and embarrassed of her bald head. Kids would make comments to her like, “Lindsay doesn’t have hair” or “You’re a baldy” which made her feel even more embarrassed and isolated.
Lindsay found hope when a college friend invited her to church. As she read the bible and learned more about God’s goodness, she became more accepting of her condition. She saw herself the way God saw her, and in God’s eyes, she was fearfully and wonderfully made. At the same time, she was drawn to running and became inspired to run marathons. She felt accepted in the running community as fellow runners didn’t treat her differently. The camaraderie and sense of pride that came from finishing her first marathon got her hooked on long-distance running. From then on, she set individual running goals. The joy and inspiration she found through running coupled with God’s peace gave her the confidence to throw out her wig!
Lindsay has now completed 37 marathons and continues to run without her wig. She shows no signs of slowing down. She is currently training for her first 100-mile race in April. All the while, she provides positive encouragement to her followers and spreads Alopecia awareness. You can say she is courageous, but that may be an understatement. If you find her story inspiring, you can read more about her here. You can also follow her on Instagram.
I hope you guys enjoyed her story, and let me know what you think! I look forward to providing more inspiring stories! Stay tuned!
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit
I love when people find their acceptance in Him!