It’s what mommy does
Diné overcomes domestic violence, finds healing through bodybuilding
Valerie Long, a bodybuilder and mother of six, works on her pull up at the Gallup Fitness Center. (Times photo – Paul Natonabah)
FRUITLAND, N.M.
Valerie Long works with 45-pound dumbbells at the Gallup Fitness Center in Gallup, N.M. (Times photo – Paul Natonabah)
Valerie Long watches what she eats, hits up the gym at least twice a day and her desk is surrounded by quotes about living a healthy lifestyle.
But her life wasn’t always like this.
There were times when she would be afraid to speak her mind, to do things she enjoyed and to simply be herself.
“I was just a person that was numb, I didn’t feel like I had a space as far as being a woman,” she said. “I was in a domestic violence relationship for 18 years and I did a lot of deep thinking, soul searching and figured that I needed to get into something that’s positive.”
She chose bodybuilding.
About 10 years ago, Long made the decision to leave that life of violence. She decided to be a single mother to six children and live a life she had always dreamed – one that allowed her to be happy, healthy and to be a good mother.
She said bodybuilding always interested her but she never had the strength to try it.
“It’s been a childhood dream of mine to compete,” she said.
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