Liza Fletcher & Safety While Running

Today's 10-mile run for #letsfinishlizasrun felt like crap.  I probably would have just cut it short, but I finished it because Liza will never be able to experience the glorious feeling of a crappy run ever again thanks to a scumbag that never should have been let out of jail in the first place (seriously... prior charges of rape, assault, robbery, kidnapping, and keeping a man in his trunk??  How was he free??).

And to those with the judgy comments of 1) why was she was wearing just a sports bra?, and 2) why was she running in the dark alone at 4:30am?  Have YOU ever run 10 miles in the extreme heat/humidity?  Probably not.  I can tell you that she was not trying to attract anyone's attention.  What she was doing though was trying to regulate her body temperature while working hard towards a goal.  And are you one of those people that says "Oh, I wish I could do that, but I don't have the time."  Yeah, Liza didn't have the time either, but ya know what, she made the time.  In addition to being a mom of two little boys with a full-time job, she trained hard and made it happen when she could, which for her meant at 4:30am.  Where there's a will, there's always a way, and this was Liza's way.  So, I challenge you to have even a fraction of Liza's grit and determination.  Maybe then you'll understand and shut your pie hole.

And to the media that was quick to point out the fact that Liza was an heiress to a billionaire and had some marital struggles.  Shame on you.  What couple doesn't have stuff to work through at some point?  We were being led to believe at first that her husband had something to do with it when really, he was probably already struggling to protect his two boys, that will now never see their mommy again, along with his own emotions.  I get that they have to explore all possibilities, but come on, wait until you have some actual facts before you break someone down even further.  But, I digress...

Wherever Liza is now, I hope she finished her run and then some.  And to all my fellow runners, men & women, don't let these scums scare and deter you from doing what you love.  Alternatively, let's do it safely, but let's do it even more now.  Trust your gut, and if you come across someone sketchy/suspicious, look them confidently right in the eye and let them know that you're a force to be reckoned with... 

And maybe get one of these:

www.goguarded.com

Rant over. 

Here are more tips to stay safe on the run:

* Run against traffic so that you can see who is coming towards you.

* If you wear headphones, leave one out so that you have an ear open to hear everything around you and, especially, behind you.

* Wear reflective gear and lights.

* Ladies, consider bunning your ponytails, wearing a hat, etc.. Sad to have to think of this, but ponytails are easy to grab.

* Run with your phone or tell someone your route before you head out. Running clothes, sports bras, & belts nowadays come with so many awesome pockets!

* There's safety in numbers of course! Buddy up when ya can. If you're like me and often enjoy the solitude of a run, just be sure to run in populated areas.

* Carry pepper spray, and/or as I mentioned above, get this: https://goguarded.com/.

* Carry something that can make noise if needed. ...an alarm, a whistle; etc.

* Change up your routine. Don't run the same route every day, especially if you run at the same time every day.

* Always assume cars have the right of way even when they don't. Cars can be a-holes and won't necessarily stop at crosswalks; etc. With that said, don't be an a-hole runner ... i.e. don't sprint across the street to beat a car - just wait until they go. You certainly don't want to risk getting hit or someone developing road rage.

* Unfortunately, social media, while awesome in so many ways, can make it easy to track our whereabouts (i.e. Strava). Be careful with including your locations, and be sure that you only accept people you know. Consider keeping your accounts private too.

* Also as mentioned above, trust your gut, and if someone looks suspicious, don't look away and show vulnerability. Look them in the eyes and let them know that you not only see them, but you're confident and not afraid.

Happy & safe running, y'all!

OA & Maine

I got chased by a wolf on my run yesterday.  Like I literally saw my life flash in front of me as I screamed like a 4-year old that doesn't want to put their shoes on.  And apparently, eating nachos doused in velveeta cheese while watching Saved by the Bell as close to the tv screen as possible after high school XC practice is what I recall most fondly.  

But in any event, about a quarter mile after being chased by this ferocious beast on the quiet country roads of Maine, its owner appeared out of nowhere.  Yeah, it was a dog.  Named Maverick.  Not even that big.  Just had pointy ears.  It just wanted to lick me.  So I then sat on the curb with ol' Mav for a couple of minutes and caught my breath while he happily slobbered on my face.  And then I thought to myself, huh, Mav didn't even catch me.  Well that's cool.  Maybe I didn't lose as much speed as I thought.  And then I said bye (to Mav.  Not the owner.  She was still laughing at me.) and started running again.

Anywho, this is a big part of what I love about running...just these unknown experiences that could happen as you head out the door, the wild thoughts & memories & epiphanies, and the ability to think more clearly and logically while solving all the world's problems.  All these things that don't seem to happen without running.  And oh how I've missed it!

We're in Maine with family right now, and this trip couldn't have come at a better time in regards to my running.  I'm on week two of running again after six weeks off for what was thought to be a stress reaction in the cuneiform bone on the top of my foot.  Wrong-o.  After two MRIs and a CT scan, it turns out I have osteoarthritis and a cyst around both my first metatarsal and cuneiform bone.  The six weeks off was unnecessary, as you don't ever get rid of OA; it's all just about pain management.  And so even though I am very super largely mucho AGAINST cortisone injections, as they simply mask pain while potentially making the actual problem worse, since this ain't a problem that can be fixed, welp, here I am.  I guess that kinda makes me a traitor.  But oh well, this mama needs to run.  Racing fast is awesome and all, but what's more important to me is being able to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of running while thinking about random shit and getting chased by wolves.

Happy running, y'all!

42

Yesterday, I was running down Lake Brandt Road, singing loudly as I plodded along without giving two shits who saw or heard me, and then it hit me...it was the third time in a row I replayed the song "Bette Davis Eyes".  Oh dear lawd.

I am 42.

No, but really, it's cool.  I still feel energetic and quick as a whip.  Well, except something new hurts me every week, and I tend to not know what day of the week it is anymore.  Like, ever.

I had a great birthday last week.  It consisted of a family mountain trip over Easter, then friends that are more like family that know me well and gave me presents like:  middle finger sunglasses, an oversized pair of granny panties, a coloring book of animals humping each other, 40 single serve bags of Doritos, and a massive hunk of blue (or is at bleu??) cheese with a candle stuck in it.  Oh, and a massage gun, because again, something new hurts me every week.

So, running.  After the shit show that was the first two months of 2022, with non-stop school closures, covid & quarantine, and some calf asshole-ness, I've now been able to string together a bunch of consistent weeks again!  I ran the PTI 5K in March to see where I was, and it wasn't so bad!  Well, I'll rephrase that, it hurt like a mo-fo, but an 18:54 on just a couple of fartlek runs left me pretty happy and motivated to train more specifically again.

Because here's the thing with getting older.  You seriously just don't give a shit about anything.  For what everyone says about physical decline as you age, I will debate that in favor of mental gain.  I mean, minus the part about not knowing what day it ever is, but really, it balances.  Hear me out.  When I was, sayyy, 32, I would have OBSESSED about this 5K for weeks.  And I never would have let myself run it without having trained harder.  Now, I signed up for it three days before, decided the day before I wasn't even going to run it because of the 30-40mph forecasted winds (sounds awful, right?), drank three glasses of wine and ate a chicken cheesesteak that night instead, but then woke up at 6am and said, "Meh.  Why not.  You're gonna run regardless, so go race."  And so I did.  And it was freeing and glorious.  And I had a badass attitude about it.  So yeah, our oxygen capacity and ability to build muscle as we age does diminish (mind you, very gradually, so every time you use age as an excuse, check in on your training and life choices instead!!  ...there's your coach PSA for the day), but I swear the lower-key mental gains weigh heavier!

So, I have a fun goal that may be attainable, or it may not be, but it's fun to think about regardless.  ...and that is to PR in every distance from 5K to marathon as a master (master is age 40+).  #fasta-as-a-masta-that-loves-to-eat-pasta (apparently as you get older, you become a bigger dork too). The marathon would be the most meaningful to me obviously, and if I can get my shit together enough to get in the heavier miles, I'd love to go back to Indy to finish what I did not in 2019 (<--dropped at mile five with what ended up being a calf tear).  We will see.  For now though, I'm genuinely enjoying some shorter stuff!

This past Saturday, I ran a solid 14-miler.  ...my longest run in a very long time.  It felt great, except now as I write this, I'm icing the top of my foot.  I think my instep got bigger?? (I blame pregnancy, just like I blame pregnancy for everything, like this weird right-nose-nostril-cartilage collapsing thing...yep, definitely pregnancy.  And now next time I see you, you're totally going to stare at my nose).  Anywho, luckily today is my planned rest day anyway, so hopefully tomorrow will begin a few days of pain-free running before something else sets in.  Okay, but seriously, as the weeks become more structured and consistent again, I know much of this will get better.  Because consistency is EVERYTHING (<-- there's your second coach PSA for the day).

Happy old-ass and oxygen-diminishing, yet mental busting, running, y'all!  And thank you to everyone for making #42 and this week so special!

Cows at Kau

Ran straight up one heckuva grade for almost two miles in the ol' Smokies.  Glorious.

I ate my first steak in FOUR YEARS!  Yep, pregnancy seriously left me allergic to beef (see, I told ya...pregnancy!).  It was DELICIOUS.  Until about midnight, when it reallllllly was NOT DELICIOUS.

Granny

They can be sweet sometimes.

Meg turns 42 this year too.  Total dumpster trash.

Pessimists