RWR: MEET LAUREN AKA FLESHMAN FLYER

"In 2015 I’m going to take chances. When challenges happen, I’m going to dig in faster. I’m not going to wait for time."

~ Lauren Fleshman

Today, I am extremely fired up to feature the fabulous Lauren Fleshman for my RUNNERSWHOROCK series.  It has been a while since my last interview and I guarantee this one will be worth the wait.  Lauren is most well known for her role as a professional track and field athlete and more specifically for her killer 5000M performances ie. 2006 and 2010 US Champion and 7th in the world in 2011, to name a few (click for more, there's lots).  But she's also known for her role as the creator and owner of Picky Bars, a company that makes insanely tasty performance and real food bars, her partnership with Oiselle, the women's apparel company that she currently runs for, and for being a wife and mom who can play the guitar and carry a tune.  How she finds the time to fit it all in, I have no idea.  Yet, somehow she pulls it off with grace and style.  I had the good fortune of meeting Lauren a couple times last year.  Her energy is incessant and always positive and her smile is infectious.  You just want to be around this cat.  She has big plans for 2015 and I, personally, can not wait to see her take chances as she prepares to fly.  I could keep going, but you've heard enough from me.  Meet Lauren, a runner who rocks.

RWR: LAUREN FLESHMAN

Name: Lauren Fleshman
Where you're from: Southern California, Canyon Country
Where you reside now: Bend, Oregon
Age (if you're ok sharing): 33
Occupation: Sportshuman, Writer, Picky Bars CMO,
Blog/website: asklaurenfleshman.com, column in Runner's World is "The Fast Life"

What do you love most about running? 
I love that running gives me a storyline within the greater storyline of my life. It's a relationship, an adventure novel, and it's been going for 20 years through adolescence, college, the lost early 20's, marriage, motherhood, etc.  Even though there are injuries and breaks, the storyline picks back up over and over again.

What do you love most about music?
The undeniable connection to something deep inside us as human beings, the way it can literally effect your physiology.

Out on the trail with Sally Bergesen of Oiselle

Lauren's Favorites:
Band (current, all time or both): Currently Alt J, All time Joni Mitchell
Album (current, all time or both): Joni Mitchell, 'Blue'
Race venue: USA: Stanford Track, International: London Crystal Palace Track
Music venue: WOW hall in Eugene
Race distance: 5k
Show you've seen live? Swell Season after the movie Once came out
Ice cream flavor: banana brownie which is almost never available, in which case mocha almond crunch.

THIS OR THAT:
Sweet or salty? Sweet
Live or recorded? Recorded
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Summer or winter? Summer





MORE MUSIC INFO:

Resemblance? I think so.

Which band or artist would you go see tonight if you could? 
Joni Mitchell

Which band or artist (wait...but no longer alive or playing together) would you go see tonight if you could? 
Rolling Stones

Which band or artist would you like to have dinner with tonight if you could? 
Joni Mitchell

Which band or artist would you like to be playing alongside you during your next race (or long run)? 
Vampire Weekend

Cutting it w/ husband, Jessie Thomas

Top 5 Songs for running, dancing or both?
Breathing Under Water - Metric
Five Seconds - Twin Shadow
Holocene - Bon Iver
Good Feeling - Avicii remix
Fade Into You (Jesse and my song) - Mazzy Star


Last 5 Songs you listened to today?
Breathing Under Water - Metric
Every Other Freckle - Alt J
Rise - Eddy Vedder 
Your Hand in Mine - Explosions in the Sky
Wait for the Moment - Vulfpack

"Here’s to a 2015 full of taking chances, working with time, and adapting to our reality in style." 

~ Fleshman Flyer

Go get 'em, Lauren!