Mad Manatee Mentors v.2 thr.3 CLOSED (Poptart/pet pic bribes considered) (Page 22)

Oh Randee, his sad.  Absolutely gut wrenching.

I do feel really good about it, although it seems a little unreal that I actually ran that far!  After my 10k, I was on a high for several days and couldn't keep the grin off my face--until work descended into utter chaos and I turned into a stress monster.  I'm finding that I'm now really looking forward to my runs (strength training not so much!) as a way to clear my head from all the work crap.  That's new for me.  It used to be that I was just training as a means to an end, whereas now I'm actually enjoying the training itself.

I had a great weekend!

Hiked in some snow with my friends (furry and human) and got a few fresh turns with my splitboard.

Then had a race on Sunday where I got to race against AND chat with Lauren Fleshman

I mean, she only beat me by like, three and a half minutes. That's not SO bad

But regardless of her professional status, Oiselle was unable to unseat our club as Regional Champions and we won the meet. Woop woop!

Good morning, "majestic" manatees

(This pic was posted from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with the heading "Manatees are so majestic")

Unbelievable. No words. Can only hold all those who knew her in my heart.

Good morning, "majestic" manatees

(This pic was posted from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with the heading "Manatees are so majestic")

Randee, I am so saddened to see this, your whole community is in my thoughts and prayers. What a terrible thing to happen.

Congrats to you and DH for your success in Philly!  Truly sorry to hear your celebration has the dark cloud of the incident on the trail.  Please keep us posted when they find out more information. 

As someone who runs alone 99% of the time, and often on trails, I don't like to hear about such happenings.  Although I'm not naive enough to think it couldn't happen to me, I'd like to think it won't.  I occasionally carry pepper spray with me, but generally just rely on being aware and in tune to my surroundings and try to stay observant and alert, listening and watching.  I know that doesn't guarantee safety, but it's a step in the right direction.  The need to be alert is one of the reasons I'm anti-headphones (not saying the woman in the story did or didn't, I'm not casting any blame here).  I don't want to not do what I enjoy because of fear. 

I'll step off my 'women doing activities alone shouldn't have to fear the world' soapbox now.

Ugh. This whole thing is terrible. In fact, it's  something I've been struggling with since the incident I had. I've been spooked pretty easily while I run. 

I naively thought I was tough, and that I could react and potentially defend myself if anything ever happened. But sometimes there is just 0 time to react. Although I didn't get knocked out, or ever knocked down I was totally paralyzed by the blow. I don't think I quite understood what it would be like to get hit by a man. 

I refuse to let something like this stop me, but I am searching for an appropriate solution. Other than the obvious precautions. I hate running with pepper spray but it might  necessary.

I second Melanie's sentiments in regard to being aware and running without headphones. 

Ugh. This whole thing is terrible. In fact, it's  something I've been struggling with since the incident I had. I've been spooked pretty easily while I run. 

I naively thought I was tough, and that I could react and potentially defend myself if anything ever happened. But sometimes there is just 0 time to react. Although I didn't get knocked out, or ever knocked down I was totally paralyzed by the blow. I don't think I quite understood what it would be like to get hit by a man. 

I refuse to let something like this stop me, but I am searching for an appropriate solution. Other than the obvious precautions. I hate running with pepper spray but it might  necessary.

I second Melanie's sentiments in regard to being aware and running without headphones. 

I run alone too and often by a park where I had an icky encounter with a guy one time.  I never wear headphones except when I'm on the drainer.  I'd feel a lot safer if I could run with my dog but he pulls too much.  I too try to stay really aware, but I evidently don't always do that.  When I was running up a hill in Breckenridge, I ran right past 3 moose and didn't see them!!

I have a coworker who runs with pepper spray.  She has a little elastic thingie that holds it on her hand so she doesn't even need to grip it at all; it's just right there.  I've thought about getting one but haven't.  I mostly run at night and on neighborhood streets except for my long runs and I've honestly been more concerned about getting hit by a car.  I've been obsessing about getting lights and reflective stuff.  So many things to consider.  I really try not to get freaked out by the risks I take for my training, but it's hard sometimes.  I guess there's only so cautious I can be without getting paralyzed.  Ugh.

We also have a lot of gang activity in our area.  Most of the casualties are people who know their attackers but there's the occasional random bystander who gets shot.  My rec center is right near a gang hot spot and I'm running to and from there tonight.  I'm trying not to worry but I'm still a little anxious, especially tonight because of the racial unrest that's going on as a result of the Ferguson decision.

Do the male Manatees ever think/worry about random attacksf?

This whole discussion is unfortunate, at best. It saddens me to think that people feel uncomfortable doing simple outdoor activities. I am in a very safe neighborhood, and I run in the predawn morning, which is probably the least likely time (in my mind anyway) to be in a precarious situation. My only real fears are the paper delivery guy in his fast moving pick-up truck and animals that I spook when I run by. So, I wear a headlamp/blinking rear light for the paper guy. And try to stay as alert as possible to what is going on around me. But none of that will help in the event of a skunk, which I have come across in the past. 

I do listen to music on about 50% of my runs.

ETA: I just read Ann-Marie's post and now am not as comfortable in the predawn. But I do agree with her advice for Mary.

This whole discussion is unfortunate, at best. It saddens me to think that people feel uncomfortable doing simple outdoor activities. I am in a very safe neighborhood, and I run in the predawn morning, which is probably the least likely time (in my mind anyway) to be in a precarious situation. My only real fears are the paper delivery guy in his fast moving pick-up truck and animals that I spook when I run by. So, I wear a headlamp/blinking rear light for the paper guy. And try to stay as alert as possible to what is going on around me. But none of that will help in the event of a skunk, which I have come across in the past. 

I do listen to music on about 50% of my runs.

ETA: I just read Ann-Marie's post and now am not as comfortable in the predawn. But I do agree with her advice for Mary.

Mary, as far as your run tonight, perhaps you should chose a different route tonight.

I need friends in high places

Dude...I was at a gay (mostly men) club,  where 50% of them are dressed better than myself and the other 50% are in women's clothes dressed better than myself, surrounded by 12 of my friends.

Ok, most of that was a joke but my point is that things can happen anywhere. 

And although I am expressing my struggles with it all, mostly we can just be aware and cautious and keep doing what we love. The rest of the stuff -life- is unpredictable. 

I run alone too and often by a park where I had an icky encounter with a guy one time.  I never wear headphones except when I'm on the drainer.  I'd feel a lot safer if I could run with my dog but he pulls too much.  I too try to stay really aware, but I evidently don't always do that.  When I was running up a hill in Breckenridge, I ran right past 3 moose and didn't see them!!

I have a coworker who runs with pepper spray.  She has a little elastic thingie that holds it on her hand so she doesn't even need to grip it at all; it's just right there.  I've thought about getting one but haven't.  I mostly run at night and on neighborhood streets except for my long runs and I've honestly been more concerned about getting hit by a car.  I've been obsessing about getting lights and reflective stuff.  So many things to consider.  I really try not to get freaked out by the risks I take for my training, but it's hard sometimes.  I guess there's only so cautious I can be without getting paralyzed.  Ugh.

We also have a lot of gang activity in our area.  Most of the casualties are people who know their attackers but there's the occasional random bystander who gets shot.  My rec center is right near a gang hot spot and I'm running to and from there tonight.  I'm trying not to worry but I'm still a little anxious, especially tonight because of the racial unrest that's going on as a result of the Ferguson decision.

Do the male Manatees ever think/worry about random attacksf?

Do the male Manatees ever think/worry about random attacks?

CONGRATULATIONS SALTY AND CO!!!