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.
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.
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..."
Catching up again hope you’re not reading this on vacation. This post hit home hard one with the body image and getting older and all that jazz. I’m a white knuckler in terms of an unbelievably long history of eating disorders and poor body image and low self esteem. Running helps but it’s a slippery slope so I have to be a little careful. In terms of COVID I’m not really at a point yet where I can look back on it. I spent it in a NY ER not in the city but still pretty awful. Your husband was one of the lucky ones in retrospect. I can say we are still seeing the after effects and likely will be for at least a generation. We are sooooo not ready if it happens again any time soon. Anyway hope to catch you at an ultra one of these days stay safe out there and good luck with your race.
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.
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
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)
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 ❣️
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
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
Catching up again hope you’re not reading this on vacation. This post hit home hard one with the body image and getting older and all that jazz. I’m a white knuckler in terms of an unbelievably long history of eating disorders and poor body image and low self esteem. Running helps but it’s a slippery slope so I have to be a little careful. In terms of COVID I’m not really at a point yet where I can look back on it. I spent it in a NY ER not in the city but still pretty awful. Your husband was one of the lucky ones in retrospect. I can say we are still seeing the after effects and likely will be for at least a generation. We are sooooo not ready if it happens again any time soon. Anyway hope to catch you at an ultra one of these days stay safe out there and good luck with your race.
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.
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!!
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
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)
Thanks for reading! Yes I follow Callie
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.
Ooh thanks for that podcast recommendation. I will definitely give it a listen!
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.
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
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.
I'm out of commission at the moment - so glad to hear you are clawing back!
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 ❣️
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
Thank you Sarah❣️. I’m busy doing lots of homework & have talked to several friends with similar issues.
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!
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.
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!
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!
That means so much to me, thank you!