And though she be but little, she is fierce. ~Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare

Standing a mere 5 feet and 1/8 of an inch tall, I have a pretty daunting, intimidating presence…. Or maybe not. Throughout the majority of my 28 years, I’ve lived my life being tagged as the short, petite, delicate, cute, or vertically challenged little girl. 28 years of that can wear on just about anyone’s nerves.

For those of you who have read Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink, you’re likely familiar with what he refers to as the “Warren Harding Error.” Malcolm discusses how the mere stature of an individual can alter the perception of others to believe that they are more or less capable of accomplishing complex or difficult tasks. President Harding has been historically recounted as one of the worst American Presidents, offering no political skills, but harboring astoundingly good looks (tall, dark, and handsome). Essentially, Malcolm’s argument was that although President Harding did not harness the skills to maintain a successful presidency, he looked the part, and for many at the time, that’s all that mattered.

Malcolm Gladwell also notes that on average, a person earns $789 more annually per inch they are taller. Being a woman of smaller stature, I find that my judgment is constantly in question. Through years of observations (28 to be exact), it seems as if my height (or lack thereof) has something to do with my work being perceived as reputable or my opinions receiving validation. Time and time again, I’ve had friends and even family members chuckle when I say that I won’t walk into a boardroom where I am the presenter without my 3 inch heels in tow. Trust me, it makes a difference. To those that doubt this, I say, are you kidding me? That’s a whopping $2367.00 in artificial height profits annually! You can bet your bottom, I’m tempted to glue those stilettos to my feet!

Running marathons has proved to be no different than anything else I’ve done. Of course, I have had my supportive family and friends with words of encouragement along the way. However, the perplexed look on a strangers face, or the “but you’re so small” or the “you don’t look like a runner” comments from a colleague or a new acquaintance always seem to remind me once again, of the societal perceptions surrounding those of us with a smaller stature. Words like incapable, delicate, and less substantial come to mind. Sometimes, I feel very much like the girl in this picture – struggling to change something, a societal way of thinking to no avail. (Thanks to Jenny for the photo. This is actually the card of encouragement she gave me prior to the Chicago Marathon in 2008 – Yes, I keep them)

There is a silver lining, though. Some of us respond encouragingly to negative reinforcement, some positive, and some both. I once read a quote by Henry Ward Beecher that said,
“The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.”

Perseverance
I think I like that word.

I know I run like a girl. Try to keep up!