RUNNING SAFE, SHARP & SOUND

"The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that one in five women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. And when a 2016 Runner’s World survey asked readers how often they receive unsolicited sexual attention while running, 43% of women responded that they regularly experienced that kind of behavior"

~ Huffington Post, May 2019

I'm scared to run alone. There.  I said it.  Maybe not every time I leave my house.  But definitely when it's darker out or in remote areas when I'm on my own.  I do try to run with friends but the reality is I have to do a lot of my training solo.  Most of us do.  And once in a while, if I'm traveling perhaps or running long on trails, I have to go in an area that's new to me or less populated, which really should be a treat but, sadly, from a safety perspective, is less than ideal.  Despite this, however, I will still go.  Because I want to run every day.  Because it's fun to run in new and interesting places.  Because I like running early in the morning or as the sun is setting.  And because I refuse to live in fear.  Women, runners or not, are frequently talking about this issue.  And when they talk, they share.  This article gives you a sense of what various women are doing to protect themselves when walking or running alone.  They run with their dog, with mace, or with a key or other random small, sharp object facing out.  And some just simply won't go during riskier windows of time.  I get it.  But I don't have that freedom in my schedule.  That said I am committed, both to myself and to my family, to run safer and smarter with the tools that are available to me.  And while there are several good options out there, these two, in particular, are my personal favorites.  They enable me to run when I want and where I want, still on guard, of course, but feeling a hell of a lot safer than I was when I used to run without them.  Check them out.  Let me know if you have questions.  Or tell me what else you're doing to stay safe.  Because, as much as I hate to say it, this is our reality and we have to do what we can.  And, more importantly, what we want.  I have to believe we can do both.

RUN ANGEL
The Run Angel bracelet does two things.  First, when activated, it emits an extremely loud 120db high-pitched audible alarm that can both startle an attacker and attract attention if there is a problem. In addition to the alarm, the bracelet has a free companion app and pairs with smartphone devices over Bluetooth. When the button is pushed by the wearer, their chosen 'guardians' will receive an SMS and email showing the date, time and their location.  Talk about peace of mind.  I can't tell you how much safer I feel when I'm running with this on.  Side note, I bought one for my 13 year old who walks home from school.  It doesn't hurt for all of us to have one, really.  Feel free to use code TRAX15 at checkout if you want to get one for yourself or a family member.

DEFENDER RING
The Defender Ring is a small but incredibly mighty tool.  In a nutshell, it is a very sharp, pointed knife weapon hidden in a ring that the can be worn 24/7 if so desired.  Because it certainly looks nice enough for that.  The blade is hidden beneath a decorative ball on the top of the band which can easily be unscrewed in 2-3 seconds tops.  Yes, I tried it.  The blade can cut through rubber, plastic and metal and can rip, tear and cut through human skin.  So this little gem can inflict pain, cause some legitimate damage and collect DNA due to the sharp nature of the weapon and its ability to pierce and cut skin at low force and slow speed.  All that in a tiny and tastefully designed ring.  The ring comes in various colors and has a few different designs.  I wear mine all the time.  I kind of feel like....well, one can never be too safe. Use code RWM15 at checkout if you'd like to order one for yourself.  RUN HARD. STAY SAFE.

Listen to this:
JEKYLL AND HIDE by Bishop Briggs

THIS IS....

"Instead of saying, I'm damaged, I'm broken

Say I'm healing, I'm rediscovering myself, I'm starting over."

~ Horacio Jones

Two weeks ago I was limping as I ran.  But I still ran.
This is denial.
On Friday, Jan 24th, I stopped mid-run, turned around and walked home.
This is acceptance.
On Sunday, Jan 26th I was supposed to race. I didn't.  The following Sunday, Feb 2nd, I was also supposed to race.  Again, I didn't.
This is reality.
For ten days I stayed off my foot and cross trained.
This is patience.
On Monday of this week, I tried my first run.  Four miles.  Not a step more.
This is caution.
On Tuesday, despite my successful run the day before, I did not run again but got back on a machine.
This is will.
On Wednesday, I ran again. Five miles. I so badly wanted to do more.
This is desire.
I have no idea when I'll race again.
This is okay.
‪Two weeks ago it hurt to walk.  This week I ran 9 miles.
‪This is progress.‬
Last fall I was doing my recovery runs comfortably around 8 minute pace. Today, 8 minute pace felt really hard. ‬
‪This is starting over.‬

Listen to this:
Run - Emika

FIRST POST

“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. 
The question is: What are we busy about?”

~ Henry David Thoreau

So, clearly, I haven't posted yet this year.  It's not because I haven't wanted to.  I have.  I've actually written up a few different pieces.  I just haven't been able to get them done.  I mean, like, done, done.  I wish I had some really exciting story to share with you on why I haven't been able to put the pieces together and get them published.  I don't.  Life just seems to be a bit crazier than usual lately.  And a lot more unpredictable than in years past.  And the every day things that typically keep me from focusing on RWM for a minute here and there are being thrown at me in full force.  Thus, I just can't seem to get ahead of them.  Which means my windows of time for writing and thinking and editing and re-writing and then sharing seem to be few and far between.  But, that said, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel and say I'm done with this blog.  Posting here has always been very therapeutic for me.  Whether it's about running or music or my kids or something totally random, more often than not, I end up connecting with a handful of readers who've shared a similar thought or experience and that always helps me process and move on.  Hopefully it helps them, too.  For obvious reasons, my running agenda tends to be the common thread here.  It's the subject that always brings me back; that gives me a reason to open up a discussion, if you will.  Right now, my running situation is pretty lame in that I'm battling plantar fasciitis that does not want to go away despite all my efforts to fight it and because I'm not in very good shape after having taken a couple forced but lovely weeks off over the holidays.  I'm currently training for Boston so I am nervous about both of these situations.  But they are a work in progress.  And I don't have much more to tell you about it.  Yet.  And, then again, between that and the rest of my non-running day to day grind which is all over the place, I haven't been able to churn out the posts as I usually do. Yesterday, I slogged through a two hour run and, in addition to thinking through the reasons why I haven't posted yet this year (see below) I decided that I really wanted to get something published before people started to give up on this blog, myself included.  Which brings me here.  I forced myself to sit and get this one down today because I want to reconnect and because I know that when I get the ball rolling here it will help me motivate to get it rolling elsewhere in my life.  Or, at least, that's what I'm hoping.  So, please don't give up on RWM just yet.  I'm hoping this will be my first of many.  Roll on!

TOP REASONS WHY I HAVEN'T POSTED THIS YEAR....

...UNTIL NOW

~ Because I'm trying really hard to focus on post-run self-care at the moment.  Meaning, not finishing a workout, walking in the door, grabbing my keys and leaving to do errands or siting down to write a blog.  Between my foot, which needs extra TLC right now and my body in general, which isn't quite where I want it to be in terms of strength and flexibility, I'm devoting about 10 minutes to stretching, rolling and core before I move to my next 'to-do'.

~ Because since adding a second dog to our household, my choice so no complaining here, my next 'to-do' is almost always getting the dogs out for a walk.  Both are very energetic and get bored easily.  By the time I've dropped the kids, run and stretched, etc. they are usually giving me the stare down which means, time to focus on us or we will be really annoying until you deal.  If I even attempt to sit and write when they are in this state?  Forget it.  Let the barking begin.

~ Because between the foot and the fact that I'm out of shape the races I had planned to run in January are not happening.  Which means I have no good pre, post or race day stories to share with you.  And writing about the long run or repeat 400s is just about as exciting as watching paint dry.

~ Because my girls, age 12 and 15 are ridiculously busy after school and I am their driver.

~ Because this is my older daughter's first year competing on her high school gymnastics team.  It's a winter sport.  And there are a lot of meets.  And I'm trying to got to all of them.  Because I love watching her do what she loves.

~ Because in those short blocks of time where I might be able to sit down and bang out a post I'm finding that I would rather have coffee or lunch with a friend.  My life is nuts right now.  It's much harder to connect with people in person.  So, I'm making the effort to do it whenever I have time.  It doesn't happen a lot but I really value it when I can make it happen.

~ Because if I do have a window of time and I'm not running, stretching, driving my kids around, watching my kids do their thing, or meeting up with friends, I'm probably ready to go to bed.  Sorry.  Not sorry.

Listen to this:
Holy Horses - Temples

2019 YEAR IN REVIEW

Dear RWM Readers,
Well, here we are.  Another year is almost behind us.  It always blows my mind how quickly they fly by.  Especially now that my own girls are so much older.  I try really hard to keep up with them but more often than not, if I blink I'm likely missing something.  Such is life.  I guess I should be grateful that so much is going on, much of it good, that I can barely keep up.  As far as running goes, I had a pretty successful year; finally chipping away at my half marathon PR back in May and then running a couple decent marathons this fall.  I had hoped to sneak in under three hours again this year but it simply wasn't in the cards so I'll be going for it again in 2020 because, well.... why the hell not?  I had the pleasure of guiding Michaela Flaherty at Boston in some pretty strange weather - early morning thunderstorms, rain, glaring sun, mad heat, humidity and then rain again at the finish -  though it was nothing compared to the Nor'Easter of 2018.  She was very pleased to have successfully crossed the line and will be racing again next spring.  My Lexington XC team had yet another incredible season this past fall.  The girls won their Middlesex League Meet and took first place at the EMASS Divisional Meet, something they have now done four times in the past six years which is no small feat.  They finished third in the state of MA last month, edging out their fourth place rivals by one point.  Such a gritty crew, they were.  As always, they were so much fun to coach and while I'm very sad to say goodbye to my seniors, I'm already fired up for next fall.  In the gym, Rosie killed it this past spring, taking third overall in her age group at her state gymnastics meet and, for the first time ever, qualifying for the Regional meet, a goal she set her sights on many years ago.  She also graduated from middle school and is now a freshman at Winchester High. What?  She continues to compete for her WGA team and has also joined her high school team this winter.  I'm so excited (and nervous) to watch her fly over the next couple months.  Grace continued to dominate on the soccer field and also started running XC, which I'm obviously thrilled about.  I wouldn't say she loves running.  Yet.  But, after taking a couple wins at her school races, I can tell that her interest has shifted and is now somewhat piqued.  I even dragged her out with me on a very cold morning this fall for a local 5K which she crushed, taking second in her age group.  After that, she made it clear that she is done with racing in frigid temps, but I'm hoping to get her back out with me next spring.  On the music side, there was a ton of new work flowing from various bands and individual artists this year.  Sia, Beck and the Broods released albums that are constantly on replay for me.  Haim, AWOLNATION and Fitness, a new duo with Kenny Carkeet, formally of AWOLNATION, dropped some awesome singles that will hopefully lead to full albums in 2020.  Super excited for those.  All in, it was a fantastic year (a few of my favorite highlights below) and not a moment goes by when I don't realize how ridiculously lucky I am.  As far as the blog goes, I haven't been posting as much this year as in years past but based on feedback from friends and readers it seems as though it's worth continuing to share my stories.  Either that, or the people I asked are very nice, which is also a good thing.  I'm not sure how things will shape out moving forward but, as I said, I'll continue to write in some fashion as I truly love the connections I've made here and hope that I'm inspiring others or, at the very least, making people laugh at some of the craziness that is my life.  I created this blog back in 2011.  I definitely didn't think I'd still be at it eight years later.  Big thanks to all of you for following along on my journey.  Cheers to a new year and a whole boatload of new adventures for you and I alike.  Stay awesome, my friends.

Rock on,

RUNNING WITH MUSIC 2019

Ran the Donna 1/2 Marathon down in FL in honor of my Mom

JANUARY ALBUM:LA FORCE-LA FORCE

JANUARY SONG:PEOPLE(feat. Adele Kosman)-LINES

Guided Michaela Flaherty for her first Boston Marathon

FEBRUARY ALBUM:AARTH-THE JOY FORMIDABLE

FEBRUARY:ALL I WANT-BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

w/ Rosie after her State Gymnastics meet

MARCH ALBUM:DON'T FEED THE POP MONSTER-BROODS

MARCH SONG:SHOW YOU WHAT I CAN DO-ROYAL TEETH

Grace flying to the finish at her XC meet

APRIL ALBUM:IN THE LAND OF-WINTERSLEEP

APRIL SONG:START A RIOT-BEGINNERS

Rosie's 8th grade graduation

MAY ALBUM:LSD-LABRINTH, SIA & DIPLO

MAY SONG:SAW LIGHTENING-BECK

Family week at Lake Winnepesaukee

JUNE ALBUM:HOLLY - SLEIGH BELLS

JUNE SONG:OUT OF MY HEAD - LOUD FOREST

Yankee Homecoming 10 miler w/ my Whirlaway teammates

JULY ALBUM:HARD LUCK-ROYAL TEETH

JULY SONG:BLOOD BROTHERS-AMY SHARK

Oiselle Big Birdcamp

AUGUST ALBUM:ENTERTAIN YOU-BRONZE RADIO RETURN

AUGUST SONG:YELLOWJACKETS-FITNESS

Chicago Marathon #25

SEPTEMBER ALBUM:THE DARKER THE WEATHER/THE BETTER THE MAN-MISSIO

SEPTEMBER SONG:ONLY HUMAN-MISTERWIVES

LHS EMASS Division 1 Champs

OCTOBER ALBUM:IN THE MORSE CODE OF BREAK LIGHTS-THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

OCTOBER SONG:HALLELUJAH-OH WONDER

Grace taking aim on the soccer field

NOVEMBER ALBUM:KIN-ELECTRIC GUEST

NOVEMBER SONG:NOW I'M IN IT-HAIM

Rosie taking flight in the gym

DECEMBER ALBUM:HYPERSPACE-BECK

DECEMBER SONG:THE BEST-AWOLNATION

#LUCKYME

Listen to this:

RWM DAILY SONGS 2018