Walking Around the World for Women
Plus, pro cycling in the U.S. is actually kicking ass—you just need to look beyond the men's WorldTour
Abigail Wise | Oct 28, 2019 |
Good morning! I’m writing this this morning (vs. scheduling it out) for the first time in a long time. I’m also doing this pre-coffee so please forgive any typos.

Jumping right in.
What I’m reading
Angela Maxwell Is Walking Around the World for Women: After being raped in Mongolia in 2015, she's using her trek to advocate for women's safety. [Diana Ostrom for Outside]
This Is the New Golden Age of American Cycling: Pro cycling in the U.S. is actually kicking ass—you just need to look beyond the men's WorldTour. [AC Shilton for Outside]
We Are Not Your Video Dolls: "This is a slap in the face to all of my female friends and colleagues in media. We have worked our asses off to carve out space for ourselves in publishing." [Jen See for Beach Grit]
Maggie Guterl Ran 250 Miles to Win Big's Backyard Ultra: Maggie Guterl became the first woman to win the Big Dog Backyard Ultra, the race with no end. [Ariella Gintzler for Outside]
North America's Best Ski Routes Are Disappearing: Cody Townsend thought his project, the Fifty, would be a mission to descend the 50 best lines in North America. But then climate change started to melt the snow right out from under his skis. [Heather Hansman for Outside]
Important criticism:
A 9-Year-Old Climbed El Capitan: Pearl Johnson is now the youngest person to ascend the 3,000-foot rock face. [Chris Van Leuven for Outside]
Running Legend Shalane Flanagan Is Retiring: After a career that brought numerous national titles and American records, she will continue on as a professional coach for the Bowerman Track Club. [Martin Frtiz Huber for Outside]
For a story
Notes from a tortured relationship with flannel
By Erin Berger
Real flannel, I learn, is a material woven so tightly it looks a little fuzzy. A flannel shirt is not just any oldshirt with a plaid pattern, it is a thick plaid shirt. But also, it doesn’t have to be plaid! I could feel a tension headache forming, so I Googled “celebrities wearing flannel” and took some deep breaths. But what’s this, the flannel shirt every celebrity owns? JUST A PLAID BUTTON-DOWN. My whole life, flannel has been sold to me as a wardrobe staple, but how can it be when nobody knows what it is?