Grace D. Plunk: Running during the California Wild Fires Podcast

Today on the podcast I’m taking with someone affected by the massive wildfires in California. I’m hoping Oprah shuts the fire down asap. And a local half marathon was cancelled due to the fire.

Warm up:

Vegas is begging to go outside. Too bad. And he has a faux-hawk. Maybe he wants to show off his fancy new haircut.

Why I said I was a hypochondriac in the intro…

Do I have pink eye or am I just the worst? (Or both??)

And why am I still eating dirty grapes considering I…

Got super sick after going to Panama and think it was because of grapes…

Found a black widow spider in my grapes!!?

The main thing…

Fires in Southern California Fundraiser AND Virtual 5K Fundraiser

The fires in southern California are still raging. The Santa to the Sea Half Marathon was cancelled. The fire in the Ventura area is called the Thomas Fire and is only 10% contained right now. Firefighters are estimating it will be weeks before they have it completely out.

Sam is a runner in the Ventura area who had to evacuate. We’re touching base with her to see how it’s going

You can follow Sam on Instagram she is @girlw1dimple

Reminders for Runners in an area with Fires:

Check the air quality in the area before going for a run.

How Smoke from Fires Can Affect Your Health – via Air Now.gov

Pay attention to local air quality reports. As smoke gets worse, the concentration of particles in the air increases – and so should the steps you take to protect yourself. Air quality reports are available through local news media, your local air agency or on airnow.gov.

Use common sense to guide your activities. Even if you don’t have a monitor in your area, if it looks or smells smoky outside, it’s probably not a good time to mow the lawn or go for a run. And it’s probably not a good time for children – especially children with asthma – to be vigorously active outdoors, or active outdoors for prolonged periods of time. If you are active outdoors, pay attention to symptoms. Symptoms are an indication that you need to reduce exposure.

Air Quality near me:

The Lace Up Running Team has organized a 5K fundraiser and the proceeds will go to The Thomas Fire Fund. It is a Virtual 5K – so you can participate from anywhere in the world.

How to Sign Up for the 5K Fundraiser:

1. Make a donation to the Run for Ventura cause HERE (their Go Fun Me
2. Run a 5K (3.1 miles) anywhere in the world: indoors, outdoors, on a trail, road, treadmill, etc. Participants need to track themselves on a GPS watch, phone app or another tracking device (Garmin watch, Strava, MapMyRun, etc.).
3. Take a photo or screenshot of your distance and time from your tracking device.
4. Fill out this form by 11:59 p.m. PST on Dec. 21.
5. Share to social media using #RunForVentura and #ThomasFireFund

Prize winners will be announced and results posted on Dec. 22.

All the rules and how to donate are on the Run for Ventura Go Fund Me Page.