Running Safety | TooTallFritz

You know me, or maybe people like me who walk around in shirts proclaiming “toughness”. We may not verbally tell you that we are tough or that we are a badass but our shirts, tights, or maybe even our socks will give you a clue.

Photos above: Kari – Running Ricig in the Relax Reflect Badass Tights, me in the 2012 Team Tough Chik TRI kit, & the Sock It to Me Badass socks.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. We don’t really consider ourselves to be “that” tough. We are projecting. We want you to believe that we are tough, even if we don’t necessarily feel it inside. Fake it til you make it, right?

Perception is everything. How others see us has a lot to do with how we carry ourselves. What we say. When we say it. And what we DON’T say will speak volumes. In today’s society, there is no place for weak women. The weak become prey. There are ~~assholes~~ predators lurking in the bushes, on our local trails, in our supermarket parking lots, everywhere really. Don’t be scared but think for a minute about what you want to NON-VERBALLY convey to them? What do you want them to think when they see you?

Be confident. Be a badass.

Bad things happen to good people. It’s not fair. It sucks. Some things are really beyond our control but how we react to a situation can possibly change the outcome.

Be smart. Be tough. Be confident. Be a badass …. even when you don’t feel like one.

I hope that when you see me in my “This is What Tough Looks Like” shirt, you think to yourself, “Hmmm, she’s not so tough; I just saw her crying on the trail during her 20 miler last week! I’m tougher than her!” I hope that makes YOU feel stronger. I hope that makes YOU feel like a badass. I hope that gives YOU a confidence boost. You are definitely tougher than me. You are definitely a badass. Live it. Own it. Project it.

Be confident. Be a badass.

So as your walking around today, I want you to focus on being confident. I want you to look people in the eyes when you pass them. I want you to say hello to perfect strangers. I want you to look tough and feel like a badass walking thru your everyday life. This is important, you need to project a confident air, even when you don’t feel it. So pay attention to yourself because you never know when someone else is watching you and trying to decide 1) if you are paying attention to your surroundings and 2) if you are badass or a victim. If can’t do it for yourself, do it for your daughters because those little eyes are watching EVERYTHING you do, learning your mannerisms, your strengths, your weaknesses, they are learning how to BE from watching you.

Be confident. Be a badass.

Badass Mother Runner shirt

In light of the recent attack of one of my run club members on Old Plank Trail in New Lenox, I want to revisit some previously written safety posts. Please take a moment to open the links below and go over the runner safety tips. If you have written a safety post in the past, please link it up in the comments below. Thank you and please be safe.

Six Degrees of Separation …… Virtual Run For Sherry Arnold – February 12, 2012

Safety 1st, 2nd & 3rd – April 19, 2012

** Be a Badass NOT a Victim ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, “a friend of a friend” statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer.

Today was the day for the Virtual Run/Walk for Sherry Arnold. Running communities throughout the world sponsored virtual run/walks to honor Sherry, a “fallen” runner, and all of the other runners who have left their homes to go for a run and never returned. I think each time we hear a story of a runner who has gone missing it cuts to each of our soul’s. I usually remember the names of these individuals for years, if not forever, after the fact. I find the six degrees of separation reference to be true in most instances and this time most of us need even fewer “degrees” as many of us are connected to Sherry thru her cousin Beth at Shut Up + Run. We may not know Beth personally but we know her “on-line”. We may not have known Sherry personally but we knew her thru the stories which Beth took the time to share.

So today, we did the only thing that we could possibly do…..we ran. Here is the group that showed up in single degree temps today to run. I only wish I could say that our static temp was indeed 6 degrees, but the truth of the matter is that it was 8 degrees at the start with a “feels like” temp of -2. The wind was howling and viscous so we grabbed a quick pic and took off running! From back: Kim, Susan, Kerry, Jenny, Kathy, Brian, Lori (middlish in purple), Stacy (Lori’s hubby!!), & CrazyBoyDon. Front: Joe, Meg (Jeni’s 11 year-old – middlish in black), Aby (my 10 year-old), Jeni – Sparkalish Roar, & Melissa.

As we were moving toward the trial, I also gave some brief safety tips. I will highlight them here in case nobody could hear me with the howling wind.

Run with a friend or a group when possible.
Carry a pepper spray or something to defend yourself if necessary. I like the PersonalSavers.com Wrist Saver. At $12.95, it’s definitely a good deal in my opinion. I ordered the small but its a tight fit on me. I did that though so that Aby can also use it.
Run without music or just use one ear bud with music at low volume if you must have it.
Pay attention to your surroundings at all times.
Make eye contact with the people you meet and the drivers of the cars that pass you up.
If you are running on the road, run against traffic. It’s the law and it allows you to see what is coming at you. React appropriately and don’t be afraid to dive in the ditch if necessary. I step off the road ALL THE TIME. I do not trust that cars see me. Plus, as soon as I see a car, I immediately look behind me to see if one is coming from the other direction, which will inhibit the oncoming driver from moving over to give me more room.
Don’t take a ride from strangers.
If at all possible carry your cell phone with you in case you have an emergency. I know today’s cell phones are usually big and bulky ~~so we can surf the web~~ so I had to purchase a spi-belt to carry mine.

I also use knucklelights (see above) at night and ALWAYS run in clothing that is VERY reflective and has multiple reflective accents. Always assume that cars/drivers/people CAN’T see you!
Tell a family member (or leave a note!) your running route but also inform them that the route may change if the situation changes. I always leave the house with a plan but frequently change it up due to circumstances: something that makes me feel uncomfortable, a wild animal, the wind, the traffic patterns, etc. So make sure the family knows the “intended” route but also have them be aware that ~~shit~~ things happen and a route is never written in stone ~~at least for me~~.
Trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, then it is wrong and it’s your responsiblity to change the situation.

So today, we ran for Sherry, no moment of silence or quiet reflection, just a quick safety check and then the joy of running. May Sherry and all the other “gone missing” runners feel our joy today and take comfort in our remembrance of them doing their favorite thing, regardless of the weather.

And of course, Michael wanted to participate too but with the weather, there was no way that I was taking him out in the jogger. So we grabbed a photo with him once we got home. And some of our friends who joined virtually who were not able to be in Frankfort, IL today. Angela from sunny Florida. Lynn who is local but couldn’t make it out with us today. Several of our F’N Running Club members were racing today and couldn’t join us in person but still ran with Sherry’s bib on their back’s. From left: Amanda – Get to Goal, Kelly – Running Kellometers, Gennie & Maggie – MagMileRunner: