This Sunday, October 18th, my book, Running While Black, turns four years old! I wrote this book during the pandemic. The process started when my son was a year-and–a-half old and ended when he was three. He is now seven years old and looking at his growth makes clear to me how much time has passed since I published the book.
This story is adapted from the Out & Back newsletter. If you’re not a subscriber, you can sign up here.
When I reflect on what the world was like in 2022, it seemed to be a more hopeful time — at least on the face of it. Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s clear now that what was seemingly a progressive moment was just one side of the pendulum swing, which has since been followed by a conservative whitelash. When I’m feeling discouraged by the times we are living in, I rely on the words of historians and movement builders far wiser than me. With midterms just a few weeks away (visit https://vote.gov/ to register!), I hope these words resonate with you too. From The Root:
“I understand the frustration. It is valid. We have felt betrayed by a system that has not protected us from mass firings, attacks on civil rights, and the unraveling of so much we fought for. The disillusionment is earned. But do not let anyone tell you both parties are the same. They are not. That false equivalency is the lie powerful interests need us to believe, because they are counting on our cynicism. Unchallenged power is the easiest kind to wield. So know what time it is. This moment is not about the candidates or the parties. It is about whether we will use voting for what it actually is: a tool of resistance.”
In other news, it is Spooky Season, which means visits to pumpkin patches and preparations for Halloween. If you have kiddos, these are my two favorite farms to visit during this time of year:
Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm
Be advised that the corn maze is legit difficult. One year, we spent a few hours lost until we were able to find the copy of the map they handed us at the entrance and promptly misplaced.
Carpintino Brothers
They have a great petting zoo that includes a camel!
Finally, if you’ve been following my NYC marathon training journey, I’m registered to run the marathon in a little over two weeks. On what was meant to be my longest training run (twenty miles), I was attacked by a dog while running on a path in a public park. Thankfully, the injuries were minor, although I have lingering back and hip pain that I’m hoping will be resolved with PT. But the trauma of it is still with me. The dog was on a leash and on the other side of the path when it lunged at me, knocking me down, and biting through my shorts, tearing them apart. Luckily, my pocket was full of training gels (what you consume while running) and the dog mostly got his teeth into those and not my leg. I don’t want to think about how gruesome it would’ve been if my pockets were empty!
So, wish me luck that I’ll still be able to confidently complete the marathon!
Behind the Scenes
People often ask me how we pick the guests for our shows. There’s no exact science. The first season was the most difficult, of course. Not only was I new to Seattle, we were less than a year out from the beginning of the COVID pandemic and so many people were still being quite cautious, rightfully so, even though we were largely meeting outdoors. Over the past five years, I’ve developed a wealth of relationships because of this show and so new guests sometimes come as recommendations from past guests or mentions from people who watch my show.
To that end, I’d love to ask YOU: Is there someone in the PNW doing meaningful work in the outdoors with historically underrepresented groups that I should be connecting with? Please let me know. This will be an ongoing call so don’t hesitate to reach out at any time if and when you think of someone.
Get Outdoors
- Families belong together fundraiser ride – Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. This ride is open to all allies and people of conscience who refuse to stand still when thousands of immigrants are being unjustifiably detained or deported.
- Women’s Outdoor Connection Event – Oct. 23 and 24 at REI Seattle Flagship. A women-centered gathering that welcomes everyone who supports the mission of getting women outdoors.
- Seattle Sauna Festival – Nov. 7 and 8. The Pacific Northwest’s first large-scale gathering dedicated to the art of sauna.
- Seattle Running Collective Spooky Trail Run at Cougar Mountain – Oct. 25th at 9 a.m. This will be a beginner-friendly 2.8-mile trail run at King County’s Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. It's free with RSVP, and costumes are encouraged.
- Every Body Outside Retreat – Summer 2027. I'm hosting a retreat in Wyoming next summer! Join ME for a transformative 3-day art and movement retreat at the Teton Science Schools Kelly Campus, nestled on the eastern edge of Grand Teton National Park.
