My Hood....
Peace.
One of my New Years resolutions was to make the blog more interesting by adding more pictures. I don’t generally like adding pictures, not because I don’t take them but because they are a pain in the ass to upload. But…. I personally don’t like blogs without pictures so I gotta do my due diligence and get on board with the current trend. See how much I love y’all?
I thought maybe the folks who read this might be interested in where I run. I run in my own neighborhood. I live in the notorious section of Atlanta called “Bankhead.” Not to be confused with Buckhead. T. I. made Bankhead nationally famous because it’s “hood.” And parts are scary rough; but in any neighborhood is cool. We haven’t had a ridiculous amount of crime. Just 1 dead body across the street. Who doesn’t have that? But this is where I choose to live so this is where I choose to run. Why should I be afraid of my own neighborhood? The street I live on is 1.25 miles in length, and I live in the middle. So to run from the house to Bankhead hwy and back to the house is 1.5 miles. And to run from the house to Collier and back is a mile. To run from the house to Bankhead then to Collier then back to the house is 2.5 miles total and a damn good work out. There are an ass of hills between the rest and Bankhead Hwy. When I do my long run which is from the house to Bankhead, across the interstate to Bolton Rd, down Bolton road to Fairburn, from Fairburn to Collier, then Collier to Harwell back to the house…. That’s 4 miles.
Looks idyllic doesn't it? Don't be fooled....
I run under and next to the interstate
There is a middle school on Collier with a track that’s .75 miles from the house. From the house to Collier is essentially flat. And I prefer flat. If I run from the house to the school and 4 times around the track, it’s the same workout as the Harwell lap without the hills. I tend to do that until I’m bored. There are reasons why I don’t like to run to Bankhead. In addition to the hills, there is a strip club, a liquor store, 2 apartment complexes, a bus stop and a truck stop. That’s a lot of crap. I have to dodge folks from hitting me. It’s not like you can’t see me. There is just no regard for runners in my hood. The cops are nice… sort of. If they recognize that I am exercising rather than fleeing from a crime scene then they are real supportive. I had one give me some good advice about how to look like I’m intentionally running. He suggested that I wear reflective gear, headphones (though on low) over earbuds and make sure my clothes always match. That way I look like a runner rather than criminal. The fact that I am a woman helps make me look innocent but it doesn’t help when creeps try to be lecherous while I’m trying to get my workout on. I have this issue until I get back to Collier when I run the long loop. So I do all that the cop suggested and I pack pepper spray.
Middle School track
Now a days it’s cold and dark. So… for the winter, I have been focused on speed. I want to earn an under 10 minute mile. No way to run faster but to run faster. I can’t run at the school while the school is in session so a Friday school run is out. Early in the day removes the jokers from the equation for the longer run but not too early. I run once the possibility of teenagers being out has passed. They are the worst. They make comments that a single female should not have to endure. There is no home training amongst some folks. I don’t fear that a child can or will kick my ass. I really shouldn’t have to deal with this. In a previous suburban/rural neighborhood, there were some boys playing basketball in my cul-de-sac. I pulled into my driveway and went to get the mail. One of the boys told me where he lived and invited me to come to the house to have sex with him. I immediately went to his house and told his mother what he said to me. This trick laughed and said. “Boys will be boys.” I explained to her if he said it again, that I had a gun and would shoot him. He never came back. It shouldn’t take all that to get respect. What happened to children just giving adults respect on general principal?
This weekend I actually gave the whole barefoot running thing a shot. I have had a pair of vibram 5 finger toe sneakers for 2 years now. When I first got them, I tried hiking in them. It was a terrible experience. You feel everything in these shoes; rocks, roots, brambles, etc. And you feel them like you are barefoot. So I have not been wearing them for any fitness purpose. BUT… I was very curious about the whole minimalist movement. I decided to give the vibrams a shot. Plus… You know I hate my new sauconys. Guess what? I really like these shoes. So much in fact when I get my next pair of shoes, they will be minimalist shoes. Probably not the vibrams, but something with a little more at the bottom. Probably Nike Free.
Here are my ashy ankles in my Vibrams
I’m flat footed. And minimalistic running feels good to my feet. I wear a lot of heels in my non-fitness life. I like the idea of my feet being as natural as possible during my down time. I’m barefoot in my house. And now I can be barefoot when I run and not have to worry about whether my feet are turning in or are properly supported. It’s like running commando. Minimalistic shoes are supposed to shift the foot strike into a natural alignment. I’m not really sure about that. I have a mid foot strike when in regular sneakers… that’s what the experts say you’re supposed to have… but a heel strike in the barefoot sneakers. I’m not looking to develop plantar fascialis. I feel some soreness in my left shin while running. Not both, just the left. I didn’t have that in regular sneakers until it was time to replace them. This is why I’m not sticking with the vibrams. I think I need more sole support than what they give. We shall see how this progresses.
I was perusing other minimalistic running blogs and one runner said that in the 4 years he had been running barefoot he never came into contact with glass. Well… I came in contact on my 1st day. A broken cheap vodka bottle. I’m never running barefoot on purpose.
OUCH!
Peace
One of my New Years resolutions was to make the blog more interesting by adding more pictures. I don’t generally like adding pictures, not because I don’t take them but because they are a pain in the ass to upload. But…. I personally don’t like blogs without pictures so I gotta do my due diligence and get on board with the current trend. See how much I love y’all?
I thought maybe the folks who read this might be interested in where I run. I run in my own neighborhood. I live in the notorious section of Atlanta called “Bankhead.” Not to be confused with Buckhead. T. I. made Bankhead nationally famous because it’s “hood.” And parts are scary rough; but in any neighborhood is cool. We haven’t had a ridiculous amount of crime. Just 1 dead body across the street. Who doesn’t have that? But this is where I choose to live so this is where I choose to run. Why should I be afraid of my own neighborhood? The street I live on is 1.25 miles in length, and I live in the middle. So to run from the house to Bankhead hwy and back to the house is 1.5 miles. And to run from the house to Collier and back is a mile. To run from the house to Bankhead then to Collier then back to the house is 2.5 miles total and a damn good work out. There are an ass of hills between the rest and Bankhead Hwy. When I do my long run which is from the house to Bankhead, across the interstate to Bolton Rd, down Bolton road to Fairburn, from Fairburn to Collier, then Collier to Harwell back to the house…. That’s 4 miles.
There is a middle school on Collier with a track that’s .75 miles from the house. From the house to Collier is essentially flat. And I prefer flat. If I run from the house to the school and 4 times around the track, it’s the same workout as the Harwell lap without the hills. I tend to do that until I’m bored. There are reasons why I don’t like to run to Bankhead. In addition to the hills, there is a strip club, a liquor store, 2 apartment complexes, a bus stop and a truck stop. That’s a lot of crap. I have to dodge folks from hitting me. It’s not like you can’t see me. There is just no regard for runners in my hood. The cops are nice… sort of. If they recognize that I am exercising rather than fleeing from a crime scene then they are real supportive. I had one give me some good advice about how to look like I’m intentionally running. He suggested that I wear reflective gear, headphones (though on low) over earbuds and make sure my clothes always match. That way I look like a runner rather than criminal. The fact that I am a woman helps make me look innocent but it doesn’t help when creeps try to be lecherous while I’m trying to get my workout on. I have this issue until I get back to Collier when I run the long loop. So I do all that the cop suggested and I pack pepper spray.
Now a days it’s cold and dark. So… for the winter, I have been focused on speed. I want to earn an under 10 minute mile. No way to run faster but to run faster. I can’t run at the school while the school is in session so a Friday school run is out. Early in the day removes the jokers from the equation for the longer run but not too early. I run once the possibility of teenagers being out has passed. They are the worst. They make comments that a single female should not have to endure. There is no home training amongst some folks. I don’t fear that a child can or will kick my ass. I really shouldn’t have to deal with this. In a previous suburban/rural neighborhood, there were some boys playing basketball in my cul-de-sac. I pulled into my driveway and went to get the mail. One of the boys told me where he lived and invited me to come to the house to have sex with him. I immediately went to his house and told his mother what he said to me. This trick laughed and said. “Boys will be boys.” I explained to her if he said it again, that I had a gun and would shoot him. He never came back. It shouldn’t take all that to get respect. What happened to children just giving adults respect on general principal?
This weekend I actually gave the whole barefoot running thing a shot. I have had a pair of vibram 5 finger toe sneakers for 2 years now. When I first got them, I tried hiking in them. It was a terrible experience. You feel everything in these shoes; rocks, roots, brambles, etc. And you feel them like you are barefoot. So I have not been wearing them for any fitness purpose. BUT… I was very curious about the whole minimalist movement. I decided to give the vibrams a shot. Plus… You know I hate my new sauconys. Guess what? I really like these shoes. So much in fact when I get my next pair of shoes, they will be minimalist shoes. Probably not the vibrams, but something with a little more at the bottom. Probably Nike Free.
I’m flat footed. And minimalistic running feels good to my feet. I wear a lot of heels in my non-fitness life. I like the idea of my feet being as natural as possible during my down time. I’m barefoot in my house. And now I can be barefoot when I run and not have to worry about whether my feet are turning in or are properly supported. It’s like running commando. Minimalistic shoes are supposed to shift the foot strike into a natural alignment. I’m not really sure about that. I have a mid foot strike when in regular sneakers… that’s what the experts say you’re supposed to have… but a heel strike in the barefoot sneakers. I’m not looking to develop plantar fascialis. I feel some soreness in my left shin while running. Not both, just the left. I didn’t have that in regular sneakers until it was time to replace them. This is why I’m not sticking with the vibrams. I think I need more sole support than what they give. We shall see how this progresses.
I was perusing other minimalistic running blogs and one runner said that in the 4 years he had been running barefoot he never came into contact with glass. Well… I came in contact on my 1st day. A broken cheap vodka bottle. I’m never running barefoot on purpose.
OUCH!
Peace
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