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Running with a Police Escort
Running with a Police Escort: Tales from the Back of the Pack | Jill Grunenwald
18 posts | 6 read | 9 to read
In the fall of 2012, quirky and cat-loving Cleveland librarian Jill Grunenwald got an alarming email from her younger sister: her sister was very concerned with Jills weight and her overall mental and physical health. Having always struggled with her weight, Jill was currently hitting the scales at more than three hundred pounds. Right then, Jill looked in the mirror and decided that she needed to make a life-style change, pronto. She enrolled in Weight Watchers and did something else that shethe girl who avoided gym class like the plague in high schoolnever thought shed do; Jill started running. And believe it or not, it wasnt that bad. Actually, it was kind of fun. Three months later, Jill did the previously unthinkable and ran her very first 5k at the Cleveland Metropolitan Zoo. Battling the infamous hills of the course, Jill conquered her fears and finishedbut in dead last. Yep, the police were reopening the streets behind her. But Jill didnt let that get her downbecause when you run for your health and happiness, your only real competition is yourself. Six years and more than one hundred pounds lost later, Jill is still running and racing regularly, and she is a proud member of the back of the pack in every race that she has entered. In Running with a Police Escort, Jill chronicles her racing adventures, proving that being a slow runner takes just as much guts and heart as being an Olympic champion. At turns heartbreaking and hilarious, Running with a Police Escort is for every runner who has never won a race but still loves the sport. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sportsbooks about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
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swynn
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"But, that's why they have those ATMs with exuberant fees sitting near the cash register, right?"

Huh. They must have a better class of ATMs in Ohio. Around here all I can find are the sort with exorbitant fees.

Aimeesue 😂 4y
Megabooks Lol! 4y
14 likes2 comments
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swynn
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Mehso-so

This is a running memoir from a back-of-the-pack runner. I loved the affection for a sport that I also love and perform poorly; the body-positivism; the race reports; and the message that *everyone* who runs is a runner. Only complaint is undereditng: it's compiled from blog posts and it shows in its chatty, repetitive, rambling style sprinkled with "whatever"s, "you know"s and "amirite?"s. Probably better experienced as an audiobook.

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daniwithtea

We are still in the midst of moving, but I‘m excited to join you all for round 2 of the #bookfitnesschallenge. My goals are 6 books over 6 weeks, and to keep up 10k steps a day, which I‘ve hit almost every day recently thanks to the move. I have running goals as well, but I‘ve tied those to my fitness challenge at work. (Any other Littens doing the Cigna global fitness challenge?)

Clwojick Off to research that challenge now 😉🤔💙 5y
wanderinglynn Great goals! 🙌🏻 5y
8 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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Not for me, but this has strong reviews on Litsy so I thought I‘d share this sale price today.

I don‘t run, never want to run distances, and my chronic condition would never permit it. So I don‘t want to read a book that makes me feel guilty about not wanting to run. And yet...this book sounds oddly compelling. I‘ll bet it‘s a fun read for the right audience.

Clwojick Stacking! 5y
39 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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daniwithtea
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My gym was one of many places still without power today. It was 20 degrees with 40 mph wind, so the park wasn‘t an option...instead I ran a mile in my hallway. 😂

When I read the tagged book a couple of months ago, I had no idea that it would spark me to become a person who runs circles in a hallway out of sheer desperation...

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daniwithtea
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This book (which is *fantastic* btw) inspired me to give C25k another go. Running slow - at the same pace that I walk - was totally the key for me; I‘m not sprinting and gasping for breath like the last time I tried this. I‘m only in week 1, but I already have my eye on a Halloween 5K. Yay for books that change mindsets! (And for 20-minute miles!)

xicanti When I started running, I read something about how if you're a new runner and you could possibly be running slower, you're going too fast. That helped me a lot! I figure I'll improve my speed once I've got my endurance back. 6y
daniwithtea @xicanti that is great advice!! 6y
19 likes2 comments
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Kmatti
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Day 3 #riotgrams Favorite Titles. I couldn‘t resist picking this one up at this year‘s Ohioana Library Book Festival when the title made me giggle. It‘s still sitting in my TBR pile, but my goal is to read it this summer.

10 likes1 stack add
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silentrequiem
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Well, thanks to this book, I just signed up for a virtual race I saw on Facebook. It's Star Wars themed so the swag will be epic.

JoeStalksBeck Come over and win some books 7y
12 likes1 comment
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silentrequiem
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YES! I'm still slightly bitter the last 5K race I did didn't give out finisher medals, especially since (surprise!) I wasn't as acclimated to the change in elevation from Silver Spring, MD to Albuquerque, NM as I'd thought and nearly passed out. I still finished, though I walked the last two-thirds.

13 likes1 stack add
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silentrequiem
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I have a whole rant about bra sizing in the US (FU, Victoria's Secret, I'm not a 34B. So stop trying to cram me into one!) and a whole other one about sports bras. Look, I'm a 32F (or a DDD in US because apparently women can't handle more than a D cup, WTF). Fuck your S/M/L sports bra sizing. I get uncomfortable uniboob in a M but the L band is too large. Why can't I have a 32F sports bra???

mjdowens Right on✊?. Even us "middle of the road" sized boobs cannot seem to find a relatively good sized, comfortable bra these days. If the cup is just right, then you get sag out the sides. Screw pretty lace, that shit doesn't hold up when you need it to! 7y
silentrequiem @mjdowens Mine aren't huge, but sized correctly, I'm an F cup because of how bra sizing is supposed to work. Somewhere along the way, US bra manufacturers decided to screw over women so they can produce less sizes. If I went to VS, they might put me in a 34C or 36B. Because they train their sizers to fit women to the sizes the carry. 7y
drokka Maybe this will help? https://www.barenecessities.com 7y
See All 17 Comments
silentrequiem @mjdowens I'm a huge fan of buying European bras. They are made well AND pretty. And they have more sizes. Generally available pretty inexpensively if you know where to look, too. 7y
mjdowens I may need to look into that. Bra shopping is the worst chore ever. I have spent days looking and trying them on to only end up with 1 or 2 that are acceptable fits. (edited) 7y
silentrequiem @drokka Thanks. I generally get mine from Breakout Bras. I just haven't bought some in awhile because $$$. And the $20 Target sports bras don't do it for me. 7y
silentrequiem @mjdowens If you have a Nordstroms near you, go get sized. They carry European brands and it would be a place to start. Then you can try some of the online discount stores. 7y
mjdowens Really? Nordstroms? That is one store I honestly have not looked at for bras. Will have to make a trip there very soon. There is a Barnes & Noble right next door, so it could be a double treat. Thanks👍 (edited) 7y
drokka I didn't notice the price on these ones. 😲 I have trouble with bra shopping too. They insist on doing the measurements and all that, despite my telling them that won't work, but they persist. So they decide I'm like a 44F and bring me those. I laugh because i know those are way too big. So I try them on and the clerks then haven't a clue what to do. Walmart sold the only bras I ever liked but not anymore. I dread the day I need a new one. 7y
silentrequiem @drokka There is a store that offers free bra sizing via Skype. I've heard very good things about it. I'll see if I can find the name for you... 7y
Hooked_on_books Have you tried ThirdLove? They have lots of sizes and an option to try one for a month before you pay: thirdlove.com/books. 7y
silentrequiem @drokka It was the Butterfly Collection, which unfortunately looks like doesn't exist anymore. Boo. 7y
silentrequiem @Hooked_on_books I have. Their styles don't really work for me. I need lots of bottom and side support and their bras don't do that. They also don't have a sports bra which is what I've been looking for. 7y
moranadatter Good question. 7y
readinginthedark I had trouble finding a sports bra, too. I have to get a 34DD one with a hooked band--the S, M, L sizes fit wonky. But in VS's defense, I used to work there, and I was trained to size accurately, and to recommend somewhere else if we didn't have something that would fit. I'd say the worst claim they make is consistency in service. I've had such varied experiences in different locations since leaving! (edited) 7y
silentrequiem @readinginthedark I'm glad to hear that some stores do train correctly! The one I got fitted at in college put my 30" ribcage into a 34 band and nothing was supported. It took a few years for all my breast tissue to migrate back to where it is supposed to be. 7y
readinginthedark @silentrequiem Yeah, some of them have tried to put me in a C. 😕I'm lucky I learned it earlier, I guess. I can size myself now. 7y
19 likes17 comments
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silentrequiem
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Picked up one of my ongoing books-in-progress. And this quote made me laugh. 🤣

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silentrequiem
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Traveling for work so I'm getting some knitting and reading in before bed. I'm already exhausted and the meeting hasn't even started yet. #knittersoflitsy

julesG Wonderful colours. Is this self-striping yarn? 7y
LauraBeth Beautiful! 7y
Paperback.Propensity So beautiful! 7y
26 likes4 comments
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Pandalibrarian
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Right after I turned 50, I ran a 10k, finished last, and got 2nd place in my age group. It was awesome! I really related to Jill's adventures in running and appreciated her humor and insights. Hope to meet her sometime!

6 likes1 stack add
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silentrequiem
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I was going to order a pizza for dinner but I'm being good and made spinach papusas with fried eggs on top. Settling in with a fun memoir about running.

BooksForEmpathy That sounds delicious!! 7y
silentrequiem @BooksForEmpathy Not as good as pizza but healthier. Still, pretty tasty. 7y
Daisydo Looks super yummy! 7y
24 likes3 comments
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Kappadeemom
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LOVE this book! It has been such an inspiration to read about the journey of another slow runner!! Got my 11 miles in today 🏃🏼🏃🏼#marathontraining

CallMeIshmael Great job! Running a marathon is one of the truly great experiences of my life 8y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kappadeemom
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Yep, this one reason why I run #milkshakes

LauraJ Okay, that is hilarious...the look on the dad's face 😆 8y
10 likes1 comment
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Kappadeemom
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Ran my 3 miles and now it's time for pancakes. I LOVE the title of this book! I've been running for about 3 years - very slow - and I have been the girl that has been in last place. I even had a very fat cop roll down his window and shout "Hey - you might want to start running now that you are in last place! Har Har". I thought, "hey, fatass, maybe you should pull back from the table". SMH. This one should be good.

britt_brooke Last place or not, at least you're doing it! ???? I used to have a tank that said "Slow as hell, but I'm still beating everyone on the couch." 8y
9 likes1 comment