A group of women police officers in Northern Kentucky — some of them runners, some of them fitness buffs — have banded together to put out a calendar that not only will stress their physical strength, confidence, and fearlessness, but encourage other women and girls to do the same.
Proceeds from the calendar, which will be shot next week, will go to the Women’s Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky, said Erlanger Police Detective Jill Stulz. The calendar should be available, for $15 each, in early October, which is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“We are doing this to be different, to show that you don’t have to look like a fashion model to be your best self,” Stulz said. “Women can be strong and fearless no matter what they look like, or how old they are. I am aiming to have the calendar geared toward women and girls, however I feel like everyone will be able to look at it and think it’s awesome.”
She said she’s been thinking about doing something similar for a while, but never was able to settle on an idea. Then earlier this year, she saw a calendar that a group of male firefighters had put together for charity.
“It instantly clicked,” she said. “Why can’t there be a tasteful, female officer calendar out there, and have those proceeds go to charity?”
She so far has recruited 10 officers from Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties to participate, and is calling the group Northern Kentucky Women in Blue. Right now, it is a loosely organized group, she said, but the response has been positive enough that it might become more formal in the future.
Stulz, who grew up in Ft. Thomas and is married to a police officer, said she used to keep fit through running. But since having two daughters, now ages 1 and 3, she said most of her running tends to be chasing around her two girls.
Instead, she has gravitated toward weight training, which she said is a little easier to fit into the busy schedule of a working mother.
“For law enforcement officers, fitness is very important,” she said. “Being unhealthy and not exercising makes us more susceptible to work-related injuries. If we can’t adequately defend our community, we’re not doing our jobs.
“I would like to run more,” she added. “It’s just dedicating the time is what my problem is. Work tends to be a bit demanding, so making myself get out and go is my biggest hurdle.”
This is a big problem for most people. Runners often say the hardest part of running is getting the first foot out the door. Sometimes it’s too hot; sometimes it’s too cold. Sometimes it’s just too dark outside to run safely.
This is where a gym can come in handy. It provides a generally safe, clean, and climate-controlled place to work out. For some people, a gym and some weights is all they need. For those who prefer to run — or bike, or swim — a gym workout often builds up muscles and provides strength training to help one go longer and faster.
The officers’ calendar will portray women who become strong, fearless, and confident through fitness. It will show the female officer out of uniform, in their workout clothes, participating in various types of physical activities.
“One of those activities will be running,” Stulz said. Most “everyone will be doing some sort of gym activity — bench presses, lifting, box jumps — a little bit of everything. The photographer will be working with everyone to see what they prefer and what they have in mind.”
The photographer is Jacalyn Mains of JMM Photography in Newport. A Ludlow company, Glossa Professional Makeup Artistry, will help the women officers prepare for the shooting. Sweet Viola Designs of Blue Ash will put together the calendar. All the local companies are donating their time and talents to the endeavor.
Stulz said the aim of the calendar is not only to raise money for the crisis shelter, but encourage even more people to get off the couch.
“People who exercise and are healthy are able to live their life to the fullest,” she said. “Not only does it impact their physical health, but their mental health, too. Exercise makes one less prone to illness, depression, diabetes and obesity. And especially for girls and women, exercise is essential because it reduces stress, anxiety, boosts energy, helps maintain healthy bones, joints, and muscles — as well as increases self-esteem and gives one a sense of accomplishment.”
Paul Long writes weekly for the NKyTribune about running and runners. For his daily running stories, follow him at dailymile.com or on Twitter @Pogue57