Koritha - Koritha Mitchell

Just the Facts, Ma’am

August 23, 2015 by Koritha 2 Comments

Since it has taken me so long to post here, I’m just going to share my workouts for the past several weeks. Staying consistent with physical activity has certainly been helping my writing. I hope to incorporate more discussion of that later. For now, just the facts:

Week of July 6
Tuesday: ran 4 miles, walked 2
Wednesday: ran 3, walked 1 + resistance training
Friday: resistance training
Saturday: mowed lawn + leisurely 3-mile walk

Week of July 13
Monday: ran 5 miles, walked 1.5 + resistance training
Wednesday: walked 4 miles + resistance training
Thursday: Ran 5 miles, walked 2 + extra stretching before bed
Friday: mowed lawn
Sunday: ran 6 miles, walked 1 + core

Week of July 20
Monday: resistance training
Tuesday: ran 5 miles, walked 1.8 + core
Wednesday: walked 4 miles + resistance training + mowed lawn
Thursday: rest
Friday: ran 3 miles, walked 1
Sunday: ran 7 miles, walked 1

Week of July 27
Monday: resistance training
Tuesday: ran 3 miles, walked 1.25
Wednesday: walked 3.85 miles + resistance training
Thursday: mowed lawn + core
Friday: rest
Sunday: ran 10 miles (Scioto Miles 10-Miler)

Week of August 3
Tuesday: ran 4 miles, walked 2
Thursday: ran 4 miles, walked 1
Friday: 4-mile hike ——->
Saturday: ran 4 miles, walked 1

Week of August 10
Monday: ran 9 miles, walked 2 (long run should’ve done Sunday)
Tuesday: leisurely 6-mile bike ride
Wednesday: 4-mile interval workout with group + resistance training
Thursday: leisurely 10-mile bike ride
Friday: ran 4 miles, walked 1 + core
Saturday: ran 2, walked 1, ran 2
Sunday: ran 10 miles, walked 1.5 + core

Week of August 17
Monday: rest
Tuesday: ran 4, walked 1
Wednesday: 3.5-mile interval workout with group
Thursday: mowed lawn
Friday: ran 5 miles, walked .5 + core
Saturday: ran 11 miles, walked 2 (early long run)
Sunday: volunteered at Emerald City Half Marathon

What Are You Practicing?

July 5, 2015 by Koritha 4 Comments

These past two weeks, I have focused on fueling properly for my walking, running, and writing. It has felt good to begin getting back to more consistent running. I exercised 5 days the week of June 22nd and 6 days this week. Also, this 2-week period marked the first time since February that I ran 4 non-stop miles outdoors. (I’m working back up to be in good enough shape to begin my 10-week training plan for the Air Force Half Marathon, which is September 19th on a hilly course.) What became clearest to me since my last post is the importance of seeing everything as a practice. Everything comes down to what we practice.

I remember a time when I was pretty cocky about my running. I was consistent enough that I could pretty much decide to run a half marathon at any moment. I saw myself as someone who was race-ready; it was part of my identity. What I’ve realized recently is that always being race-ready was never actually part of being Koritha. It wasn’t a condition to be take for granted. It was the result of what I was practicing regularly. I was running very consistently and enjoying it immensely. Things are very different now, but that’s no reason to bemoan that fact as if it represents something deep. It’s simply not what my practices over the last several months will yield.

Likewise, eating well is a practice. If you do it, you will see and feel the difference. If you don’t keep doing it, you will see and feel the difference. So, it may not be a good idea to come to think of yourself as someone who is simply a healthy eater. Rather, you must practice healthy eating daily or maybe decision-by-decision. There’s no permanent condition that makes you “a healthy eater.” It’s a practice. It must be practiced.

Honestly, I don’t know how well I’m articulating this, but it has felt like a powerful insight these past two weeks. For me, it’s about not taking anything for granted. It’s about seeing myself as practicing that which I know fuels the life I enjoy. It’s in my power to practice that which will make me feel better as I exercise and as I think and write.

There is no magic! That’s not bad news, though. Each moment brings an opportunity to practice what will be beneficial.

Fuel for Writing & Running

June 21, 2015 by Koritha Leave a Comment

After my 3-week hiatus, I returned to my personal trainer and have now had 3 weeks of consistent exercising and writing. I exercised 6 days during the week of June 1; 3 days during the week of June 8; and 6 days this week, the week of June 15. Upon returning to my trainer, I also made some grand proclamations about what I would do on my own. My solo training goals have become pretty ambitious, and I haven’t quite nailed a full week of achieving them yet. This is particularly true when it comes to wanting to develop a daily yoga practice. I’m just going to keep at it. Beyond that, these past three weeks have driven home for me (again!) the importance of eating well.

I remain convinced that working out to look a certain way can set us up for unhealthy cycles. If we understand that exercise is good for us, no matter our size, then we’re more likely to have a healthy attitude toward our bodies. For me, that often means focusing more on what my body can do than on how it looks.

Still, focusing on what my body can do places a spotlight on food. Just a little self-awareness makes very clear that what I eat matters.

It is simply true that avoiding sweets and processed food allows me to

think more clearly
write more clearly and concentrate for longer
exercise harder with less effort

So, understanding that I can’t “compete with what I eat” is a great reminder that I shouldn’t be trying. I should be kind to myself by eating only in ways that actually benefit me. When I know I want to write consistently and clearly and that eating well actually helps me do that, why be mean to myself and create another barrier to the writing productivity I seek? When I know that my bike ride or run or rowing session will be more enjoyable when I have eaten well, why rob myself of the pleasure and make my exercise sessions into more of a struggle than they need to be?

As my friend Michelle, who is also a life coach and personal trainer, says: “Think of food as fuel. Make choices that will propel you toward your goals.” For me, that means eating with writing and running in mind. Let’s do this!!!

Taking Time to Recharge

May 31, 2015 by Koritha 2 Comments

Since my last post, 3 weeks have passed, and it’s been a period of recalibration. The week of May 11th, I slipped, having worked out only twice. The week of May 18th, I exercised 5 times. This week, the week of May 25th, today’s 15-mile bike ride made for 6 workouts.

The recalibration came partly in the form of taking a break from personal training. I felt like I just needed a break from having appointments in my calendar. So, basically, I wanted reprieve from accountability! I think it’s been good because I’m feeling refreshed and ready to get back to it. I face Justin again tomorrow!

Ultimately, I used these 3 weeks to recharge and regain my focus. Accountability was especially crucial because I was enduring a semester that, without it, would have wreaked even more havoc on my health than it did. Once I had survived that, something needed to go. I could just feel it. I yearned to take back control of what was allowed to be in my life.

I no longer had to deal with certain people because my professional obligation to them was over, so what could I do to give to myself in ways that I had given to others who clearly didn’t appreciate what I had to offer? That was the question, and I decided to answer it with fewer obligations across the board. So, if there was a meeting or event I didn’t absolutely have to attend or a place I didn’t truly want to be, you can bet I wasn’t there these past 3 weeks.

I don’t often give myself that kind of permission. Now that I have, I believe it should become a regular practice. I’m thinking about doing it at least once per season. It may not be an entire 3 weeks, but it will be something. Once in a while, you have to ask yourself why you are shouldering so much responsibility. Colleagues and others will carry on when you’re dead. And it won’t matter that you killed yourself because you were so busy meeting their every single expectation.

As I moved away from my obligations to other people and focused on what I could do for myself, writing and reading took center stage. During that first week, I mostly rested and then went to New York to see dramatic readings of lynching plays. It was truly gratifying to witness these plays inspiring community-centered conversations, thanks to JACK Arts Center and Colloquy Collective. The next 2 weeks, I regained my writing focus by putting the finishing touches on an essay and then turning again to the manuscript of my current book project, From Slave Cabins to the White House.

It has felt incredibly good to make progress on this book. The more I work on it, the more I’m convinced that it offers real insights. I am engaging much more canonical texts than I did in Living with Lynching, but I believe the theoretical framework I am using (homemaking anxiety) will truly help readers see these works anew. Exciting! And there’s nothing better than having that excitement along with the joy of living the words I so often utter: Grateful I can move, so I’m moving.

Proactive: The Only Approach

May 10, 2015 by Koritha Leave a Comment

In the three weeks since my last self-care post, I have managed to get in at least 3 workouts per week while finishing a demanding teaching semester, participating in fruitful intellectual conversations (BPT2015), and revising and submitting an article. These past few weeks have underscored for me that being proactive about self-care is simply the only way to do it. When you understand that you are loving yourself by being physically active and eating well, you can move away from the idea of being “good” or “bad” to thinking about whether or not you are being loving toward yourself. This shift is important because it allows us to know that when we do not stay active or eat well, that’s not a reason to be mean to ourselves for being “undisciplined;” it’s an opportunity to notice that we aren’t loving ourselves actively. And if that’s the case, then the response can’t be more unloving thoughts and actions. The reaction must be, “how can I be more loving to myself?”

In a recent session with my personal trainer (Justin), I did something I typically do only when exercising alone: I said aloud “Thank you, Lord.” Justin asked, “What are you thanking God for?” I responded, “I’m thanking God that I can move my arm like this. I’m grateful I can move. Life is a gift, and I’m being reminded everyday that Black life is a miracle in a society that works so tirelessly to destroy it.” We easily moved to another subject.

If you’ve spoken to me in person, you know where I’m headed, but it can’t be said enough because I must remind myself as much as anyone else. When you are in an environment that constantly assures you that you are not valued and certainly not loved (and, make no mistake, the USA is such an environment), then valuing and loving yourself is an act of resistance. But, especially when society’s default is your destruction, the last thing you can afford is to allow your self-care to become a reaction. It MUST be a way for you to proactively affirm your worth as well as the value of the people who care about you. That is, I value my family, friends, and community enough to take care of myself. Giving until I’m spent doesn’t serve them or me.

The essay I finished will be the (unusually long) foreword to a special issue of the College Language Association Journal, titled Hands Up. Don’t Shoot: Critical and Creative Responses to Violence toward Black Bodies in the 21st Century. I wrote the essay as a manifesto on what I believe to be the only valid way to study (or simply talk about) violence. In short, those committed to justice must understand that violence is always a form of know-your-place aggression, and we must work to re-orient national conversations to acknowledge that fact. While making this case, I emphasize the importance of embodied practices of belonging. As Living with Lynching makes clear, such practices enabled communities under siege to endure the height of mob violence—and its photographic representation—still believing in their right to full citizenship. Those practices include cooking, hugging, debating, or even the dramatic readings of the plays themselves.

What I’m trying to practice, and I hope you’ll join me, is this: WHOEVER YOU ARE, becoming/staying physically active and eating well are embodied practices of belonging that affirm your right to life, despite the many messages that deny your value. We cannot wait to feel the weight of those life-destroying messages and react; we must be proactive in valuing and loving ourselves.

Performance Over Appearance

April 19, 2015 by Koritha 5 Comments

Last week, I declared that my goal this week would be to prioritize clean eating, yoga, and more cardiovascular exercise. I’m pleased to report that my eating was on target. I want to make yoga part of my daily routine, but that habit is far from formed. (I had substantial yoga sessions on Monday and Saturday and a mini-session today.) I met my weekly goal of 3 workouts, though. I had personal training sessions on Monday and Wednesday, I walked 5.25 miles on Wednesday, and I had a 45-minute walk/run treadmill session today in addition to mowing the lawn.

As I prepare for the coming week, I’m declaring the exact same goals and hoping to hit more of my targets. I want to stay with mostly home-cooked meals composed mostly of vegetables. (I’m about to cook veggies for the week right now.) Eating processed food doesn’t keep me feeling energized, and I am focusing on how I feel and what my body can do. With quality energy from whole foods, I will continue to work toward solidifying my yoga and cardio habits.

To get me in the right frame of mind, I’m revisiting what has become one of my favorite videos of all time. This always puts me in a great mood. Everyone is focusing on what their bodies can do. THAT’S where it’s at, people! I mean, really. Have you ever noticed that everything seems better when you focus on what your body can do, not just how it looks?

Time to Celebrate!

April 12, 2015 by Koritha 2 Comments

This week included a short trip to Oberlin College and lots of rain, which (unjustifiably) led to less exercise than planned. Fortunately, I still hit my goal of 3 workouts: I had personal training sessions on Monday and Friday and then mowed the lawn and took a 4-mile walk on Sunday. I have not been thrilled with my eating choices lately, so I will focus on what’s going well and take this opportunity to celebrate a new friend.

Despite understanding how important resistance training is for women’s bone health, I’ve never been able to convince myself to do it on my own. Enter Justin, my personal trainer!!! I’ve been working with him since February, and I can tell how much stronger I am. Of course, he also has the paperwork to show how much stronger I am. He’s been increasing my weight on some of the exercises, and he often says that I “power through” and “finish strong.”

He has a friendly, laid-back style. In fact, he seems so easygoing and nonjudgmental that I sometimes don’t realize how much he kicked my butt until I feel it the next day. Because he’s so professional and personable, he has been promoted to Manager of Training for Columbus Fitness Consultants. Congratulations, Justin!!!

I bought a WaterRower in January & ended up talking directly to Jerry Greenspan. He exudes expertise and passion.

I started working with Justin in February after realizing how limited my range of motion was, thanks to a consultation with Jerry Greenspan. He owns CFC, and his background in biomechanical engineering creates the foundation for his advice and for how he selects and develops his staff. All CFC personal trainers must complete a one-year internship designed by Greenspan that takes their understanding of the mechanics of human movement beyond that of most personal trainers. I’m excited for Justin as he transitions into managing a team of 4 full-time trainers and 6 part-time trainers. I’m excited for Jerry as the Upper Arlington CFC branch moves to a new location on April 27th.

Following Jerry’s advice, and with Justin’s guidance, I stopped running in February to focus on increasing my range of motion and strength. I’ve been making good progress, so I have now been cleared to run one mile at a time on the treadmill. (I must still walk outdoors.) In the coming weeks, I will increase my cardio overall because I’ve fallen back into relying almost exclusively on my training sessions. I’m grateful for the accountability, but it’s clear that I would be even happier with my progress if I would complement my CFC efforts by doing a couple key things on my own.

If I’m feeling this strong now, I know I would have energy to spare if I would keep my eating clean and get back to doing cardio more regularly. Lately, the only “extra” I’ve been doing is trash-talking! I constantly claim that I will soon be strong enough to beat up both Justin and Jerry. Talking trash is fun, but it’s not giving me the benefits of veggies, walking, running, and rowing!

Re-thinking Accountability

April 5, 2015 by Koritha 2 Comments

My last self-care post was three weeks ago now, but those ideas have continued to sustain me. I am still focused on building healthy habits rather than resisting unhealthy ones. This is how the past three weeks have looked:

March 16 – 22, I exercised six times on four days. I had three personal training sessions, walked 3.5 miles with my Wednesday group, walked a 5K, and did a home yoga session. March 23 – 29, I was traveling and did not push myself to get in my third workout. My two exercise sessions that week only happened because of built-in accountability: a scheduled personal training session and a treadmill workout with a friend who reached out to make arrangements before either of us left home so there would be no excuses. She saved me!

This week, March 30 – April 5, I worked out five times. I had three personal training sessions, I walked 4 miles with my Wednesday group, and I did some yoga this morning. I’ve been claiming for years that I would begin a consistent yoga practice, but I never have. Needing to take a break from running has definitely highlighted for me the problems caused by my lack of flexibility. It is past time to address this in a much more proactive way.

Because the past three weeks have been hectic, including not only teaching but also organizing #NotRacistOSU events and visiting Brandeis, accountability has remained my saving grace. I am therefore seeing the need to somewhat re-think accountability. Like many Americans, I have always assumed that if I want to reach a goal, I should simply be self-disciplined. If I can’t manage to do that, then I’ve failed in the most basic way and can’t expect good outcomes. However, when I look objectively at the juggling act that our lives require, it’s clear that needing accountability is not a sign of weakness or failure.

Recognizing that you need to create structures of accountability is not about lacking discipline. It’s about recognizing that something is only a priority if you are willing to prioritize it in concrete ways. And I can’t think of a more concrete way to prioritize something than to allot to it some of my most valuable resources–time and money. If anything is worth time and money, it’s health. So, something as fleeting and amorphous as “self-discipline” won’t do the trick. If it will benefit my health, it belongs in my calendar and in my budget.

Still with me???

#NotRacistOSU…Represent!

March 24, 2015 by Koritha 8 Comments

Central Ohio really came out to support #NotRacistOSU on Monday, March 23rd. We were 750 people strong!

Many commented on the marked presence of students from St. Charles Preparatory School because several students came to the mic during the post-film discussion. NBC4 did a brief story, “Racism Documentary Prompts Frank Talk,” that featured one of those students.

However, I KNOW there were many other schools and organizations represented! Let’s hear from you! And I’m not just talking about students. Whatever your role in the community, please speak up. I couldn’t think of a way to do this during the event without taking too much time, but we want to stay connected, so please comment below. Who was in the house???

Resources: I’m Not Racist…Am I?

March 20, 2015 by Koritha Leave a Comment

In preparation for the screening of the documentary I’m Not Racist…Am I? at Ohio State University at 5:30pm on Monday, March 23rd, I had a great conversation with musical artist Yaves Ellis, a renaissance man who is also Director of Public Affairs at RadioOne. When he asked how listeners could learn more, I said I would use this space to keep people connected and informed. Please use these resources and share widely. The more people we reach, the more we will all benefit! (To listen to our conversation any time, visit Eye on the Community: I’m Not a Racist! Am I?)

For the most comprehensive information about the documentary, including how to bring the film to your school or organization, visit notracistmovie.com.

For details about Ohio State’s March 23rd event, visit Film Viewing or the Facebook event page. Also note that we are using the hashtag #NotRacistOSU to share information about this event and to generate conversation during and after the screening.

The documentary helps viewers acknowledge the role that whiteness plays in our society, so Yaves asked an important question about this concept. My answer was based on research such as legal scholar Cheryl Harris’s groundbreaking essay “Whiteness as Property” and George Lipsitz’s foundational study The Possessive Investment in Whiteness. However, for shorter discussions of these issues, see “The American Way: Mediocrity, When White, Looks Like Merit,” “Supreme Court Agrees with Michigan Voters: Affirmative Action Must Remain for Whites Only,” “Interpreting American Experience: Which Facts Command Your Attention?” and “What are You Speaking to Power?”

I also spoke in terms of know-your-place aggression. For a discussion of this concept as it relates to incidents on Ohio State’s campus, see “OSU Haters: Exposing Know-Your-Place Aggression.”

I hope that the OSU screening of I’m Not Racist…Am I? adds to ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts throughout Central Ohio. This event was inspired by my seeing the film at The Wellington School in September 2014, and Bexley Public Schools sponsored a screening in February 2015, so we are clearly not alone in working to make our institutions and our nation live up to their claims about valuing equality and justice. Also, sixteen OSU colleges, departments, and programs came together to sponsor this event—with especially strong support from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion—suggesting that many people understand the urgency of this work.

Whatever your position or location in Ohio, please feel free to reach out with information about your own efforts in the comments section and/or via email (mitchell.717@osu.edu). Let’s also use the hashtag #NotRacistOSU long after March 23rd to share resources and continue the conversation. Let’s keep our commitment to being the change we want to see!