By Brenda Barrera
Kathryn Bertine might not be a household name, but if you
support girls + sports + books, she’s someone to know. Not only is Bertine a professional
cyclist, but she has competed at a professional level in: ice-skating, triathlon, and
rowing. In addition to being a versatile athlete, she’s also an activist –
fighting for equality on and off the playing field. But wait . . . she’s also a
documentary filmmaker capturing the “passion, pitfalls, and power of women’s
professional cycling” in her documentary film, “Half the Road.” And, oh yeah, add
author of two books, AS GOOD AS GOLD (2010) and THE ROAD LESS TAKEN: LESSONS FROM A LIFE SPENT CYCLING (2014).
I was fortunate to meet Bertine at a screening of her
documentary, “Half the Road” at the College of William & Mary a few years ago
and treasure my autographed copy of THE ROAD LESS TAKEN. Today marks the start
of September and that means many teachers and students are trading their flip-flops
for laced up shoes and heading to the classroom instead of the seashore. Here’s
a gentle reminder: settling down with a good book doesn’t have to end with
summer vacation.
THE ROAD LESS TAKEN is a thoughtful, provocative collection
of essays and espnW features that are short, making for an easy read. Bertine shares
lessons gleaned from her years as a professional cyclist, a tough existence
with meager pay; where the stresses of finding a homestay and couch to sleep on
in a foreign country are typical for female professional cyclists. Many chapters
revolve around the sport of cycling and trying to qualify for a spot at the
Olympic games, but several are about personal, everyday experience that young adult
readers and older will enjoy.
A few of my favorite chapters include the humorous, “A
Cyclists Letter to Santa,” and a thoughtful reflection on Lance Armstrong in,
“The Guy in Yellow” where I found myself nodding in agreement. How is it
possible to feel so much dislike and yet empathy for someone who is so
polarizing? She shares her perspective as a cyclist, a female cyclist, a journalist,
and a person and sums it up: he is a flawed human being. I agree.
You don’t have to squeeze into spandex bike shorts and maneuver
cobblestones to appreciate the moving chapter, “The Bonus Wife,” which shares how
she fell in love with her husband, newly widowed and the treatment by mutual
friends that led her to study how society deals with grief. Many chapters explore
aspects of inequality in sport, but an inspirational article on retired NBA
player, Adonal Foyle, teaching ‘growl power’ to young girls – that is, take
charge, be confident, and go after what you want.
Bertine reveals her vulnerabilities alongside unwavering passion
for sport, equality, and tackling life’s many hills. There’s plenty of ‘growl
power’ in these pages to inspire readers to attack athletic challenges and move beyond everyday
obstacles.
For more information:
Kathryn Bertine website: www.kathrynbertine.com
Another great blog post, Brenda! Thanks for introducing us to Kathryn Bertine.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna - she's truly a positive force!
ReplyDelete