I was an artsy girl

I've never been a jock. I'm just not built for it. Back when I was in school doing artsy things like musical theater and show choirs, we used to joke all the time that we ought to be eligible for a varsity letter just like the athletes.

Well the American College of Sports Medicine (my new favorite publication) has released research that backs up all of my music geek friends. And I quote...

The physical challenges and demands of participating in competitive high school marching band are similar to those experienced by athletes who compete in sports, according to a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's 56th Annual Meeting in Seattle.

Gary Granata, Ph.D., R.D., studied 172 members of the Avon (Ind.) High School marching band, the Grand National Champion at the 2008 Bands of America competition. Through an anonymous questionnaire, band members reported fatigue, muscle soreness, and injuries, commonly associated with competitive sports and athletics. Performers are constantly moving, and often running, at velocities that reach 180 steps or more per minute while playing instruments that weigh up to 40 pounds.

It's just a matter of time fellow music geeks, before we are shown the respect we are due for the thousands of hours of step ball change and jazz hands!