24 Comments
User's avatar
Amelia Boone's avatar

I’m with you on the “don’t follow people who make you feel bad!” And I hope people understand it’s not personal either - it’s my own triggers. Sometimes they are friends in real life, just can’t deal with the social media presence. It’s a weird world.

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Amelia—it means a lot to me you read my newsletter, and I hear you re: triggers. I appreciate your Instagram and Notes posts; you're still in my feed!

Expand full comment
Polly Elizabeth's avatar

You nearly lost your husband! Sent away from the E.R. to drive 60 miles in the mountains, and he had an oxygen saturation level of 74! Yes, it is important to be grateful for science, modern medicine, and vaccines. Once again, stellar writing Sarah.

Expand full comment
Josh Jackson's avatar

Beautiful reminders to be grateful. I feel that every single day my sciatica doesn't run pain up and down my leg. Being able to walk even a mile with no pain is a gift. I mutter, "I am grateful, I am grateful, I am grateful..."

Thanks for sharing part of your story!

And for the shout out!

Expand full comment
Jude Gamel's avatar

Thanks for speaking some truth to power. I too have trimmed my Instagram feed of those ‘inflencers’ who denigrate science and praise RFK & MAHA. It is a disgrace.As a retired Critical Care and Open Heart Recovery Nurse I’ve seen up close and personal the devastation wrought by chronic disease.

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Thank you for reading & for your work as a high-level nurse. And also, thank you for your new paid subscription, I really appreciate it!!

Expand full comment
Jamie Tommins's avatar

Incredible, harrowing story. It always amazes me to hear others' stories from the pandemic, and how much so many of us went through. Really a generational experience for all of us. Thanks for the shout out too, and thanks for writing this

Expand full comment
Mike Hahn's avatar

Poweful read, beginning to end. Thanks for sharing these parts of your story. Do you follow @callievinsonn on Instagram? She’s the first one that came to mind, thinking of body-positive “runfluencers” (ick, but it’s the word)

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Thanks for reading! Yes I follow Callie

Expand full comment
Gabi's avatar

I did an IG purge recently too and am LOVING IT! I find that I go on the app way less since I’m “caught up” with content way quicker now. I feel less compelled to keep scrolling.

Expand full comment
Jennifer O’Connor's avatar

Ooh thanks for that podcast recommendation. I will definitely give it a listen!

Expand full comment
Cindy's avatar

Thanks Sarah for sharing your experiences. I am 8 weeks post op from bunion surgery on one foot and just got out of the boot- literally learning how to walk again. Feeling crazy FOMO so haven’t looked at Strava for weeks. Will need to do the other foot in the fall. Ugh. Keep up the smart work and wishing you and your daughter continued healing.

Expand full comment
Buzz Burrell's avatar

Wow - you have very intense backstory's!

POLIO / VACCINES

When the Salk vaccine was introduced there was celebration in the streets. People were

euphoric, it was a live-saver.

When the Covid vaccine was introduced there was protesting in the streets.

WTF? My Conspiracy Theory: 5% of the people who received the DTP vaccine when they were kids developed “severe illogic syndrome”.

COVID

Very glad your husband your family survived and prospered!

The Covid Pandemic to me was “interesting” with no problems. I got vaccinations and boosters the day they were available, wore a mask indoors, and … OMG … washed my hands!

My only big problem was I contracted Covid in Italy, and very distressingly had to scratch from the Dolomyths Sky Race after I had picked up my bib. Boo-hoo, poor me.

MOAB

Please do not say you’re running, “just a 30k” ... running one mile really well is just as hard as finishing a hundred miler.

Good luck at Behind the Rocks this weekend! Shoot me a note if you want to say hello (warning: I’m boring - nothing bad happens)

And I look forward to seeing you at RUFA Moab on April 5 - THANK YOU for Registering!

https://runsignup.com/Race/UT/Moab/RunningUpForAirMoab

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Terrific, thanks Buzz! I love all your feedback & comments. I likely won't have time to connect with you in Moab this Fri/Sat because I need to spend time with my sister who lives in Moab. But I'll see you at RUFA.

Expand full comment
Scott Dunlap's avatar

I'm out of commission at the moment - so glad to hear you are clawing back!

Expand full comment
Jodi Earley's avatar

Hi Sarah- I very much enjoyed this post & appreciate your candidness as always! As you might know, I’m not a runner; only years ago I ran track in HS& a few 5&10 k’s for fun in my early 30’s. After having 2 children, running never felt the same for me. I workout regularly & love to hike, but struggle with my physique changing as I age. I recently learned that I have some female health issues & am looking at surgery & that scares the shit out of me! Not taking our health for granted is so important. I hope your daughter can heal soon & I’m so glad Morgan had a full recovery. You are incredibly strong & it’s wonderful that you are recovering & training again! Keep up all the inspiration through your articles ❣️

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Thank you Jodi, and best wishes to you. Surgery is always scary. Research the heck out of whatever you have so you are armed with info, and ask for help from friends and family! Our bodies are strong and resilient. Take care

Expand full comment
Jodi Earley's avatar

Thank you Sarah❣️. I’m busy doing lots of homework & have talked to several friends with similar issues.

Expand full comment
Monica Ochs's avatar

I can relate to ALL of this! Being a nurse, working through covid I found mask intolerances and vaccine denials incredibly frustrating. I have pretty much removed myself from social media because I think for me, it is unhealthy and a time suck. Oh…and the body dysmorphia. Ugh. I am also back to training (ran a muddy Chuckanut last weekend) post open heart surgery. Building up to yet another HR100 qualifier-High Lonesome! I am hoping to be out there ~2 weeks before so hopefully I can give you a high five as you run past smiling during HR!

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

Monica - it's so good to hear from you, and I would love to see you here in the San Juans mid-July! That's awesome you're doing HiLo. Thank you for all you do as a nurse. I'm going to text you a private message.

Expand full comment
Arizona Ashventures's avatar

I just listened to that YDS episode this week and really appreciated it, as someone who struggled with an eating disorder in my teens and 20s, and still experiences body dissatisfaction issues. I am working on curating my Instagram feed to only follow people that inspire, not cause me to compare!

Expand full comment
johngreinerferrisstudio's avatar

I'm nowhere near the caliber of athlete that you are. I'm an aging runner who can't run anymore because of knee surgery a few years ago, who has taken up walking. (Hey, it's really the same as running, just slower, that's all.) I'm training for my first 20-miler hike in June, and it feels great to be again focused on training on something fairly big (for me.) Your writing is always something I look forward to reading, how being an athlete is about being this total person that everyone has the potential to be. It isn't just about miles, it's about taking care of yourself mentally and it extends to loved ones and friends and the world. Thanks!

Expand full comment
Sarah Lavender Smith's avatar

That means so much to me, thank you!

Expand full comment
Aaron Barnhart's avatar

Last week I cut all my ties with Prof G Podcast, aka Scott Galloway. I think Scott is mostly a force for good in the Democratic Party and I admire his openness and his attempt to counter the Elons of the world. But last week he did a live show from SXSW in which he went on an extended rant about how Trump is deliberately tanking the economy to make people desire a dictator even more … this went on and on and I found it highly triggering!

I wrote a little about my visceral reactions to the news in the Soup Club piece. And I think it is indicative of the kind of content I need to be wary of, BECAUSE it's so entertaining and appealing in many ways. But this isn't the first time Scott has taken me to a dark place in his mind, and I just don't need that and it's not worth it to get his insights into business and politics.

Expand full comment