Fast and Female 2016

By Sadie Bjornsen

Fast and Female has been really fun for me to be a part of through the course of the last 10 years. I remember I was trying to convince my mother to drive me to Canada to attend the very first Fast and Female event, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it. I would have never imagined the transformation that would follow as I have become more passionate and motivated towards this organization every year. I even got to take a look at Fast and Female from a different side when I conducted my Senior Project for APU on a feasibility study of turning this organization into a US nonprofit. Fast and Female has the goal of empowering women through sport, and I have both learned and grown from it myself!

Last weekend we had our 8th annual Fast and Female event here in Anchorage, and we had one of our largest turn outs! While our goal is to keep these young women in sport, our goal is also to empower them in believing they have no limits. In the classroom, on the field, in a business, or against any struggle they face, the lesson is that confidence fosters success of all types. One of our favorite exercises we have developed is called the “Fast and Female Power Pose”. The goal of this exercises is for every young girl to focus on their strengths and their own courage. When you hold your chest forward, your head up, and your guns strong you are often able to find inner courage and strength! We hope to teach these young women when they are faced with a challenge, nervous at the start line, or sitting down for a challenging test that they can use this “Fast and Female Power Pose” to dig out their confidence and they will be the best version of themselves! I can tell you last Sunday, with 300 girls standing together in their Power Pose at one time, we were a force to reckon with!