Shame on you, Self Magazine

Oh, Self magazine.  Shame on you.

If you haven't heard yet, Self magazine has gotten itself in a bit of hot water this week.  Every month they publish a "BS Meter".  I'm not 100% sure what makes them experts in what's BS and what's not, but let's ignore that fact.

This month's BS Meter included the below picture and the following caption on the lame side:

"A racing tutu epidemic has struck NYC's Central Park, and it's all because people think these froufrou skirts make you run faster. Now, if you told us they made people run from you faster, maybe we would believe it."

via Glam Runner facebook page

SHAME ON YOU, SELF MAGAZINE.  SHAME ON YOU.

Since the magazine went on sale this week, it's come out that Monika (on the left, co-founder of Glam Runner who makes the tutu's) was dressed as Wonder Woman since she was running the LA Marathon during chemotherapy (for brain cancer) and it made her happy.  And, the skirts she and Tara (co-founder and Superwoman on the left) make raise funds for the San Diego chapter of Girls on the Run.

Now, clearly, the Self writer and fact checker didn't really do much research into the company (or look at the photo, Tara's bib clearly says 'Die Tumor Die!!').

Self editor-in-chief, Lucy Danziger, has since issued an apology to Monika, saying the following to USA Today:

"I am personally mortified.  I had no idea that Monika had been through cancer. 

It was an error. It was a stupid mistake. We shouldn't have run the item."

Here's the thing though.  Even if Monika hadn't been through cancer, why are running tutu's are "lame"?  Lucy's statement makes it sound like they are just sorry they made fun of someone with cancer (or that they got some bad press for it).  Maybe that's not how she meant it, but that's how it reads (to me).

Sure, okay.  Maybe tutu's aren't "your thing".  And that's fine.  They weren't my thing for a long time, but if wearing a tutu is what gets you through a race, then that's awesome.  We all know how hard it is to just get out there.  If wearing a tutu makes it easier for you to lace up your sneakers, go for it.  For a magazine who's motto is "Being fit, strong and active means feeling great, being happy and looking your most beautiful", why are they making fun of other women and tearing them down?  Are you not allowed to wear a tutu and feel those things?

How about this - let's support anyone (man or woman) for whatever they choose to run/race in.  I don't personally understand the barefoot runners in Central Park, but that's what they like do and that's totally their right.

In fact, I am making my way today to Lexington, KY to run the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon (checking KY off the list!) and packed in my suitcase is one of my own Sparkle Athletic skirts.  I plan on rocking it this weekend with PRIDE.  

#tutusrock