Running Fat Chef
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • RFC Podcast >
      • Season One
    • The Long Run Podcast
  • Learn About Me
    • About Me
    • Press
    • Videos
    • Partnerships
  • RFC Blogs
    • Endurance Blog
    • Journey To Tri
    • Fat Girl Guide to the Spartan Ultra Beast
    • Recipes >
      • Nom Nom Gallery
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

My Night Time Runs Are Not An Invitation for Sexual Assault

2/29/2020

7 Comments

 
Picture

Learning that a woman stated that I was asking to be raped in my "dangerous neighborhood" simply for running at night time made me sick to my stomach.  I placed my phone on airplane mode and tried to let go of my frustrations.

NOTE:  SENSITIVE COMMENTARY IS LOADED THROUGH THIS ENTIRE BLOG ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PHYSICAL HARM.
Embarking on this new career changed up a lot of my fitness routines.  You would think that because you're in the sports industry, this means that you would have more time to focus on your personal health.  Actually, quite the opposite can happen especially when you are an entrepreneur like I am.  At one point, my times for working out were pretty predictable but these days not so much.

As a road and trail runner, I am not easily rattled by the thoughts of running solo -- particularly at night or during the wee hours of the morning before the break of light.  Oftentimes I hear commentary from people who raise concern but I was pretty disturbed by some comments that came my way via inbox about my nighttime musings.  Without disclosing the person or to go into other details, several followers notified me about a woman ranting that I was going to 'get raped' for running around late hours of night.  Other things were mentioned as to elude that I should run with a male companion and even reaching with a wild attempt to weaponize my own words from media interviews describing my "dangerous neighborhood," hinting that I am too nonchalant about moving through the NYC streets familiar to me.

Initially it filled me with anger but I realize that there's a lot of people who feel this way -- and frankly it frustrates me to such a high level that these sort of scare tactics stop people from night running especially as a woman.  A few months ago, I partnered up with HOKA ONE ONE, Runner's World and Garmin about street harassment that I experienced during the 2017 New York City Marathon.  Fortunately I was not catcalled during this instance but was heckled from the sidelines by a spectator who didn't feel I was suitable nor fit to run a marathon.  Speaking out about this occurrence gave me a lot of media attention but I am no stranger to unwanted commentary; I'm far from alone in this instance.
View this post on Instagram

@iamlshauntay was harassed during the #nycmarathon in 2017. But nothing can take away the power running has given her. #runnersalliance

A post shared by Runner's World (@runnersworldmag) on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:25pm PDT

In fact, I am subjected to sexual harassment in my everyday life on a regular basis and you know what:  It doesn't wait for the late hours to commence.  I am a lot more level headed than years before and wanted to articulate my thoughts in a rational manner.  The best way that I know how to do this is in the form of a letter -- here it goes:

Read More
7 Comments

Reintroduction to Running Fat Chef

2/28/2020

3 Comments

 
Picture

Change is rarely embraced.  If people were truly that open, we would not have wars trying to preserve old shit like traditions.

Addressing the Pink Elephant:  Where Did You Go?

After spending four days in Fairbanks, Alaska and experiencing below twenty something degrees for the first time, I was reminded by my messy desktop that the other parts of my reality awaited me:  Hate Mail. Although this is nothing that anyone should brag about, I can say that I have a metaphorical trophy the size of Texas worth of disturbing comments -- so much so that I've abandoned this very open ended diary for months at a time.  It's hard picking up the pen or clicking away at a keyboard when your inspiration for blurbing shifts from wanting to talk about your many successes and failures without censorship to flicking off comments from yet another person who hates you.  These calluses are so thick that I rarely feel the cuts anymore.  Some would say that I am maturing; I think I am normalizing absurdity; perhaps I will know the answer to that in another decade.

The positives and negatives of being so visible and transparent about your adventures is knowing that with the power of anonymity gifted from the internet means you are opening yourself up to even more unsolicited advice and harassment -- even if you know who, what and where the source comes from.  It's more of a shit show when people expect you to get over it because it's under the guise of "knowing what you signed up for" or it's easy for others to speak on something that they don't have to experience on a daily basis.  In my worse experiences, I've been physically approached with more than just verbal lashings and vitriol.  If you ever find yourself in my reality, I want to reassure you that you're not alone and there's nothing okay about these situations.  Do whatever you need to do to protect yourself at the moment and when safe, report it in to the proper legal channels.  At the end of this blurb, you can find a small list of resources that may be helpful for you.

Read More
3 Comments

    Latoya Shauntay Snell

    For my pretentious ass bio, check out the about me page but for anyone interested in who I really am, make me a good meal at your house and I'll tell you a dope ass story.

    If you want to donate to my one woman operation, please feel free to donate below.  All funds will help me keep the blog running smoothly.
    Donate to RFC


    ​Archives

    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Beyond The Athlete
    Body Positivity
    Changing The Narrative
    Chemical Dependency
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Diversity In Sports
    DNF
    Eating Disorders
    Eating Disorders In The Fitness Industry
    Emotional Health
    Endometriosis
    Endurance
    Endurance Running
    Epic Stories
    Fat Shaming
    Fears
    Half Marathon Training
    How To Guide
    International Women's Day
    Intersectionality In Sports
    Marathon
    Marathon Training
    Mental Grit
    NEDA
    NEDAWEEK
    Online Bullying
    Online Harassment
    Partner Running
    Quarantine Fitness
    Race Cancellations
    Race Day Adventures
    Race Politics In Sports
    Running Advice
    Running Scared
    Running With Chronic Pain
    Self Care
    Shaming In Fitness
    Sports And Black History Month
    TMI
    Training
    Ultra Marathon
    Ultra Marathon Training
    Vaginal Health
    Why I Run
    Women In Sports

    RSS Feed

2016 - 2023 rUNNING FAT CHEF ™

  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • RFC Podcast >
      • Season One
    • The Long Run Podcast
  • Learn About Me
    • About Me
    • Press
    • Videos
    • Partnerships
  • RFC Blogs
    • Endurance Blog
    • Journey To Tri
    • Fat Girl Guide to the Spartan Ultra Beast
    • Recipes >
      • Nom Nom Gallery
  • Contact
  • Subscribe