Wednesday 30 January 2013

2nd Annual Run For Sherry

I wanted to draw everyone's attention to this virtual run in honour of Mother Runner Sherry Arnold, on February 9th, 2013.  It is being organized by Sherry's cousin Beth over at Shut Up and Run.  Sherry left home on January 7, 2012, and never came home.  The unthinkable happened to Sherry (Beth tells her story here), and now her family is left without a mother, this is such a devastating, heart wrenching thought.  I ran the inaugural run last year and sobbed at the thought.



The run costs nothing, all you are asked to do is print the race bib from Shut up and Run, and run, walk, cycle, snowshoe...Whatever you want, with Sherry and her family and memory in your thoughts.  The goals of the run are as follows:


  1. To get the MOST love, momentum and energy moving in honor of Sherry. This run symbolizes a hope for continued healing and honors a woman who was courageous, strong and loved by so many. When we run for Sherry, we also run for other runners who have been brutally attacked.
  2. The run symbolizes our promise to run as SAFELY as we can, but to not fearfully scramble inside to treadmills or to stop doing something we love due to fear. Please read HERE for more information on steps you can take to run more safelysource
I truly believe in the power of uniting in positive thought, and energy, and coming together in prayer to benefit others.  

Much to my Mom's dismay (Hi Mom!), I regularly run in the early morning.  Here are a few things to keep in mind to stay safe out there:

  1. Vary your route to prevent someone from becoming aware of your routine.  You don't want to be running by the same spot at the same time on the same day every week.  Don't be predictable.  If you don't have a number of safe routes to choose from, run your regular route backwards sometimes.
  2. Tell someone where you are going and how long you will be gone.  
  3. Stay on the sidewalk, but run towards traffic.  This allows you to see approaching cars,  and someone pulling over.  On the one occasion that someone pulled over as they approached me I immediately crossed the street.  They just happened to be pulling over to go into the house I was running by, but you can never be too careful.
  4. Stay in well travelled residential areas so you can go up to a house for help if you need it.  Run where there are businesses that are open early in the morning (coffee shops, convenience stores, gas stations, 24 hour gyms).
  5. Carry a cellphone.
  6. Carry a whistle.  
  7. Do not listen to music.  Keep the earbuds out to heighten your awareness.
Stay safe and keep running!

And just to bring a smile to your face after a serious post.  Cooper got a new shirt.




-Lex

Will you join us on February 9th?

Share your safety tips with us!



4 comments:

  1. oh my goodness!! THose pictures are just to adorable! -Avery

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lex, you forgot one. Run fast, run very very fast. So Noone can catch you!!!
    Love, mom

    ReplyDelete