No Sweat

Preface

I live in ann Arbor, Michigan, with my husband and seven-year-old son in a house we chose because it was close enough to town that we could do errands and get to work on foot or bike. Yes, I’m in good physical condition, but I am not one of those people who spends every morning at the gym or goes around spouting platitudes like “No pain, no gain.” In fact, growing up I was always a little awkward, a little shy, and not the girl who was picked first (or second or third) for most team sports.

Then, when I entered puberty, my self-esteem plummeted. One day after school, when I was at odds with myself and the world, I decided to put on my sneakers and jog around the neighborhood. I was probably out for only about fifteen minutes, but the ...