Disclaimer: As a ROADiD ambassador, I receive complimentary products to try and share. My opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.
Fellow runners, you'd have to be living under a rock not to have heard the tragic story of Eliza Fletcher, the young mother of 2, who was abducted last week during an early morning run. Her body was found several days later and a suspect has been arrested. The reaction of the running community is one of shock. Non-runners have a different take, the most common is the belief that she shouldn't have been running alone at 4:30 in the morning. Or at any time of day.
This makes me angry and sad. When my boys were young, I had no choice but to get up and out the door by 4:30am in order to get my runs in before my husband left for work. I always joked that I ran with the skunks and the newspaper delivery person. People asked me if I was scared and I have to admit that I never was. While I never liked running in the dark, I loved the solitude of my early morning runs before I started my busy day as a mom and a nurse.
While those uber-early morning runs are in the past, I still prefer to run by myself. I still enjoy the solitude of being out on my trails and in my head, soaking up nature. Don't get me wrong. By running alone, I know that I am vulnerable. I carry my phone with me and when I remember, I wear my GoGuarded ring. I do my best to stay alert. Very rarely have I seen another person that made me leery, but when I do, I change my direction.
Would someone caution a man not to run by himself? Why do women have to feel so unsafe when they are running alone? And why do people blame the victim for incidents that happen because they are alone?
I have no answers. But I finished her run.
Weekly Rundown
Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 7.6 miles
Monday: rest
Tuesday: pool running
Wednesday: trail run 7 miles
Thursday: CrossFit
Friday: run 6 miles for Eliza
Saturday: rest
Running:
The weather was cool up at the lake! On Sunday, I woke up to 54 degrees. I got ready for my planned trail run on the IAT Sauk Point segment, which starts at the same spot as Parfrey's Glen,
where I hiked last Sunday. I didn't pack for such cool weather, so I wore what I brought--a tank and shorts. I thought it would be fine and it was. There was fog and low clouds, but thankfully it didn't rain at all for my run. I hoped to do the entire segment and yes, I did! Aside from Devil's Lake, this is probably the most technically challenging of all the local segments--lots of vert and rocks. I was really pleased with this run!
Wednesday morning was beautiful and the conditions were perfect for a trail run. I hoped for about 7 miles, but you know me...I like to wing it. Fortunately, I did a good job with my runner's math this time! I run there so much, so you'd think I'd have a bunch of different routes. The best part about this run? Was it the deer who let me get oh-so-close? The crazy cool orange mushrooms I saw everywhere? No, it was that my effort returned to normal. While I'm not 100% over Covid, this run showed me that I was pretty close!
It was another picture perfect morning as I headed out for my Friday morning run. This run had special significance--it was designated the run that would finish Eliza's run. I felt great and I moved faster down the bike path than I have in a month or so. I did stop for a few photo opps including this beautiful sunrise. But this run was done with Eliza in mind. It almost felt wrong, but I took the opportunity to appreciate what was a wonderful run.
Pool Running
It was back to the pool this week after a month off--not by choice. My pool was closed for maintenance. Freshly painted and cleaned, it felt great to hop in, even though the water was still cold, lol. I chose a Level 1 workout, thinking that I would ease back into it, but this particular workout was tough enough for me to break a sweat. It felt great and that good feeling followed me throughout my day. I guess I didn't realize how much these workouts lift me up! I really missed them.
CrossFit
SJ was out of town this week, so I signed up for the WOD on Thursday. When I arrived, I was pleased to see that there were deadlifts in the strength portion. We built to 60-65% (115#), 4 sets of 4. We alternated those with 20 second hollow hangs. The MetCon tho...it was a rowing extravaganza. We started out with 500m, then 10 burpees over the rower and 10 ball slams(30#). After that, it was 400m, 300m, 200m, and 100m, all alternating with the burpees and ball slams. I finished in 17:42 and oooh, I felt queasy. It's not pleasant but it definitely tells me that I pushed myself as hard as I could!
Final Thoughts
Eliza's tragic death once again reminds us that as women and runners, we need to be mindful of safety. One of my most enduring posts shares
self-defense weapons for runners. As a runner who almost exclusively runs solo, safety is always on my mind. I almost never listen to music unless I'm on the bike path, which is in a wide open area with a lot of homes lining it. I use
AfterShokz to listen to my music. They are open and allow in outside noise. I carry my phone. I wear my
GoGuarded serrated ring. I always wear my
RoadID.
This new Phoenix ID is orange, just in time for fall and pumpkin spice. I love the new plate color and it coordinates so well with my fall Brooks running gear. It's like they knew...
How was your week? Did you finish Eliza's run? What is your safety plan when you run?
I'm linking up with
Deborah and
Kim for the Weekly Rundown.
Yes, it was sad week. How could we as runners think of anything but Eliza?
ReplyDeleteI do not run in the dark and as often as I can, I run with a friend.
Kudos on your trail run and NOT falling! As you know, technical trails scare me.
I know you like to run with people! It's probably the better choice.
DeleteWonderful post Wendy. I am running solo quite a bit here since I haven't met any to run with (well, one friend, but not weekday mornings.) Often I'm more focused on not getting lost, but also hyper aware of my surroundings. Such a heartbreaking event.
DeleteThank you Jessie! It's so sad, but also a good reminder to stay aware.
DeleteI finished Eliza's run as well. It's all so very sad. I wish I knew the answer.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's up to us to figure out. We just have to stay alert!
DeleteThat trail on the IAT from Sunday looks like a beautiful place to run. It's great that your runs felt so good this week and that you're mostly recovered from Covid.
ReplyDeleteI run mostly alone and often before dawn these days, and as a result, I keep it close to home in my little neighborhood. I love the solitude of being out before daylight and since there are so few other people out, I'm on high alert.
I'm so grateful for feeling good again!
DeleteI am always grateful to have my squad to run with and do 99% of my runs with at least one other person. It is horrible that we have to be afraid to do something so simple. Anyway..what gorgeous photos this week. send those cool temps my way. Did you get in your pool run w Jennifer yet?
ReplyDeleteWe are meeting up tomorrow morning! I'm so excited!
DeleteA lot of my runs are solo, though this week it just worked out to be with friends for the bulk of them. Even with the Mollie Tibbitts tragedy so close by (that four years ago, already), I still feel safe. That being said, I do run with caution and a very high awareness of my surroundings. I strongly believe we cannot live (or run) in fear, but we can continue do our thing in a safe manner and with common sense.
ReplyDeleteI feel like these are random occurrences that can happen anywhere. Like you, I'm not going to change my practice but will always stay alert.
DeleteYou had some great runs! I'm envious of your cooler temperatures. And your photos are beautiful as always. I almost always run alone, but my routes are pretty safe. When I'm on the trails, it's not very populated but I've never had an issue. I'm going to get the GoGuarded ring- I'm not sure if that would have saved Eliza, but something is better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteThe best weapon is one you are prepared to use--I know my instinct would be to push back at an attacker and the ring is right there on my finger. Not sure I would have my self together enough to spray pepper spray or use something else!
DeleteWhile I would consider most of the places I run to be safe, the truth is nothing is ever safe, no matter how "safe" the area is. I don't listen to music on the run, but on rare occasions I do on a walk (usually at my mom, rarely at home).
ReplyDeleteI think all we can do is make sure we are fairly careful, and realize that the truth is nothing is going to change. We're vulnerable because for the most part we are just not as strong as a man. Should it be this way? Of course not. Will it continue? Yes. There are unfortunately so many things in this world that are out of our control and shouldn't be the way they are.
Exactly. But when a woman gets attacked on the run, it's a tough reminder of how vulnerable we are.
DeleteMost of my runs are solo, and while I keep alert I rarely feel afraid. I thought about Eliza and her family a lot this week.
ReplyDeleteIt really hit close to home for me!
DeleteWhat a nice idea to finish Eliza's run!
ReplyDeleteI am scandalously negligent when it comes to safety. I often run and bike alone without a phone or a Road ID. If ever anything happens to me, they would only have my house key to identify me. Time to change this.
Maybe I'm naive, but I feel that you live in a much less violent country than the US!
DeleteI'm glad you were able to finish Eliza's run and have seen a few people doing that. Unfortunately everything on my mind has been eclipsed by the sad news about our Queen here or I would have done something (I'm no monarchist but I've definitely been knocked for six by it all, including all the logistics of work and parkrun). I run alone happily in some places, other places (canals, certain bits of the parks) I will only go with a friend. Victim-blaming is so shitty and unhelpful.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about the loss of the Queen! I know you were expecting it but it's still such a sad happening. She really endured through a lot of personal stress.
DeleteYes, I agree without about victim blaming, but there is so much of that here!
The victim shaming was really, really pissing me off. You never once hear "Maybe men shouldn't feel that they have the right to attack women". It's always "Why was she running alone?" "Why was she running so early?" Ugh - so frustrating even though I know that's our reality. Like you, I still prefer to run alone even though I have often run with a group. All I can continue to do it be aware of my surroundings.
ReplyDeletePeople always used to ask about running with me, even when I insist that I like to run by myself. I almost started to feel like I 'should' be running in group, as if there was something wrong with me. Safety-wise, yes, it's probably a good idea. But it's not my jam.
DeleteThank you for finishing her run. I did, as well. I'm so angry about the whole thing, right now. I have friends sending me all kinds of links to weapons and safety devices, and while I love that they care, it's like "this isn't the solution! Just leave us (women) alone!" Ugh.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
Delete