Fox hot at ‘Freeze Yer Gizzard’ run

Lavana Fox could teach Dale Carnegie a thing or two about the power of positive thinking.
Crediting a lifestyle transition that saw her get serious about her health, Fox charged to a second-place finish in the women’s 30-39 division at the annual “Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run” during Icebox Days in International Falls on Saturday.
“I was telling all my friends I wanted to finish first, second, or third in my age group,” said a triumphant Fox. “When I crossed the line and then looked up to see how I’d done, it was very exciting.”
Her time of 47:20 in the 10-km event (which lived up to its name this year) was a mind-boggling 11 minutes better then her showing the previous two years—and also placed her seventh overall among all the women racers.
“I like a challenge and see how far I can take it,” said Fox. “Not too many people want to run outside in freezing cold temperatures.
“The ‘Freeze Yer Gizzard’ race is special because it’s close to home, and it’s something that I just always want to try and do better than the previous year,” she added.
This year’s race became a focal point of Fox’s new philosophy that was born last April.
“I lost 30 pounds, tried to treat my body better, and decided it was time to get serious about my health,” she remarked.
Fox won’t be resting on her laurels, though. She’s already in training for her third-straight Manitoba Marathon coming up on Father’s Day in Winnipeg—and has visions of even greater “Gizzard” glory to come.
“I definitely want to be first in my age category next year, and I’d like to be the best woman overall,” she said confidently. “I know the potential is there for me to grab a higher spot on the podium.”