If you aren’t familiar with Iron Girl®, imagine this: thirteen events, nationwide, ranging from a 5K run walk all the way to a full grueling triathlon. And they’re all just for women. The Iron Girl mission to empower women toward a healthy lifestyle inspires us and resonates with our values. It’s a whole new angle on competition. Supportive. Community-oriented. Designed for all of us to help each other reach our athletic potential. Athleta is honored to be the title sponsor for the 2011 Iron Girl event series, and have the pleasure of introducing you to one of the inspirational women behind the organization.
Judy Molnar is not your average woman – nor does she want you to see her that way. A towering presence at 6’2, a whole head and shoulders above the average woman, and not at all slight of build, Judy knew she wasn’t like everyone else from the start. It was a quality her mom encouraged, telling her once, “… Remember, you are tall so people will look up to you.” Years later, and many struggles and triumphs later, these words still ring true — Judy is currently the Vice President of Iron Girl. And, she is still as tall as ever.
Before she became involved with Iron Girl, Judy had faced an ongoing battle with her weight, going back to her days as a student at Clemson University. Her weight eventually escalated to the point where a doctor labeled her “morbidly obese” — an unkind label, to say the least. Seeing those words, Judy had a revelation: “It doesn’t matter what label you wear – know that you can change it!” Soon after, Judy witnessed Oprah running her first marathon, proving that the marathon is not restricted to the elite athlete. For Judy, this was a real instigator: “…if Oprah can do a marathon, I can do one too.” As is her nature, Judy tackled her new found quest for health with a confident, bright-eyed swagger, inspiring others along the way.
Today, Judy Molnar has many marathons and triathlons under her belt, but she looks back on her first Ironman with the most pride. For her first time competing in the event, she was lucky enough to have her family and fiancé beside her when so many others said she couldn’t do it. Despite not finishing her first attempt, Judy was determined and finished on her second try. She realized afterward, “My accomplishment was not about finally finishing Ironman, but what I learned along the way to help me finish it.”
Judy seeks to inspire others through her work with Iron Girl, and through her bestselling book, You Don’t Have to Be Thin to Win. Judy believes women should “take a chance to step outside and rediscover themselves,” and one of the best ways to do this is through physical activity, whether it’s a marathon, triathlon, or anything that involves creating a place and being immersed in it. As Judy says, “Only you can swim the next stroke, pedal on and run that next step — no one else is there to do it for you.” With Iron Girl, Judy expands upon this idea, creating events where women can embrace their accomplishments through a collectively female atmosphere. It’s an avenue for women to “find their tallness,” as she likes to put it, and find out what makes them unique: “We are given many gifts, we just need to learn how to embrace them and grow.” For her, it’s all about seeking that camaraderie we often go our entire lives without fully appreciating.
Of course, says Judy, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a time when you run an entire marathon with a hole in your pants, and no one tells you about it. It’s all in good fun.
This article is very inspiring! I consider myself a novice/beginner athlete. I completed my first 5K race in 2010, pushing my 3 year old in a jogging stroller. I have signed up for 3 5K races this year and hope to become a better runner. I learned how to bike and swim in my late 20s right before I gave birth to my son seven years ago, so hope to do a triathlon someday soon. I run 3 times a week and ride my bike 2 times a week. I juggle this schedule while working full time in the healthcare industry, teach undergraduate courses as an adjunct professor, manage my own website and care for my family (husband and two children). It’s a constant balancing act, but I enjoy every bit of it! I bring my kids to workout with me whenever possible so my exercise time turns into family time as well. They admire my ambitious goals and my son (who is just seven) already tells me he can’t wait until he starts competing in his swim team.
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Hi Judy
Great story and great article and inspirational for me too. The title of your book is fantastic “You don’t have to be thin to win”
I’m an athlete myself, triathlons mainly but have done a number marathons also.
Really enjoyed your post, thanks for writing it.
Be Inspired!
Sean M Kelly
The Irish Inspirational Blogger! (and Athlete!!!)
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i love this story. it’s very inspiring, alas i can’t help feeling deflate by the fact that this wonderful woman is connected to an organization titled iron girl and not iron woman. it’s absurd really, a national organization with a mission of empowering women has a child’s title.
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To Stacey: I realize that perhaps the organization didn’t think through the implications of the event’s title when there are people, such as yourself, who are offended by the insuation of girlishness, that it triggers something demeaning for you. Personally, at age 48, I love my girlishness, and am more offended when people insist I be labeled just one thing. I have girlfriends, not women-friends (it’s more fun & easier to say). I love that there is still youthfulness in my mind, my life, and yes even my aging but not ancient body. And Judy, I’m going to get your book for my daughter. Right-on Iron Girls!
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I am going to purchase your book and can’t wait to read it. I have completed the Iron Girl Columbia, Maryland 2 times now. I am 42 years old and began doing triathlons at age 40. I am signed up for this year’s race also. The first Iron Girl race, my mother and I did as a mother/daughter team. At one point when exiting the bike course, she and I pulled in together! She began doing triathlons at age 60 and competed for 5 years. Now she is no longer to race due to a back surgury she endured last April. She did get me started though. I continue to swim, bike and run among other fun activities and try to fit it all in early in the morning. Iron Girl was a great experience. I met many inspiring “women” and the feeling of completing the race is amazing! It’s all for me! I also love that my family comes to watch and run in with me at the end!
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All I can say is that we should not be limited by the labels others give us, and that Judy deserves to be lauded for her incredible efforts for herself and for other women as well. For myself, I may not run marathons, and, unfortunately, my mother was not an example, but in her honor, I continue at age 58 to exercise daily – I teach yoga twice a week, walk a few miles several times a week, do some strength training, and continue to work my brain. Keep on spreading the good word, Judy!
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Any plans to add an event in new England??????
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I bought Judy’s book after reading this article. Thank you, Judy. You are an inspiration. I started running in February as a way to lose the 60 pounds. I’ve lost more than 20 now, and am working toward running my first 5K, the Global Race for the Cure in Washington D.C. Your book is helping me believe in myself and push on toward becoming a healthier person. I’m trying not to focus on the scale, but on the strength and health that comes with running 3 days and weight training two days. I’m doing it! And actually enjoying it. Your book really helps me believe in myself. THANK YOU! Maybe someday I will run a marathon. Right now I’m trying to stay positive about completing the baby 5K. For me, it will be a tremendous accomplishment.
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What’s a label? It’s what we believe of ourselves that counts. I don’t like being addressed as ‘girl ‘, much either; but, I know there is a girl in all of us, and that’s what makes the difference. Strength and youth, what we relish the most, is part of the mystique behind the word girl. I don’t see any reason for offense, but feeling inadequate in the face of a society that instigates the idea, that to be accepted you need to look svelt and appear shapely as a model; that to me is offensive. This is a primary reason why so many young women die of bolemia and anorexia. Someone needs to raise a voice to this violence of the mind being brought on by the media and such. Irongirl is a good start.
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