WEEKEND WARRIOR
FRANCES LAWHEAD, 35 OCCUPATION: Dermatologist, with a focus on skin cancer, at Memphis Dermatology Clinic. SPORT: Running and Tennis. FAMILY: Husband Jake, two daughters Sadie and Iris, and a dog named Raza. FIT CLUB: I’m religious about Paul Sax’s Tuesday night track workout. I also play tennis on a few USTA teams and in several tournaments a year. My favorite place to play is the University Club. WW HALL OF FAME: In 2015 I was top female overall in the Lisa Lassandrello 5K (19:38), Zoom Through The Zoo 4-miler (25:23), Bud Mile (5:32), Forrest Spence 5K (20:04), and Sole to Soul 5K (21:27). I know of some super-fast women in Memphis who clearly didn’t attend those events. FAVORITE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: This year I broke 1:30 for the half marathon (Germantown Half Marathon), and had PRs in the four mile, 5K, three mile, and one mile. My husband (a great tennis player) worked with me a lot on the court, and I was undefeated at 4.5 USTA tennis locally and at state in 2014, so I got bumped to the 5.0 level. He also convinced me to enter some higher-level tournaments (more junior and college-player oriented). It has forced me to work on my game in new ways, and I’ve met some really great players. I ❤ RUNNING & TENNIS: I’m thankful every time I get to play tennis or run. IN TRAINING FOR: I have some 5K goals, and I’m running the St. Jude Half Marathon. Chris Winter with BPC Performance has been helping me this last month with my training schedule. No pressure, Chris.
HEALTH+FITNESS | November 2015
OBSTACLE COURSE: I had back-to-back pregnancies with C-sections. I was a new mom, back at work, out of shape, exhausted, and slow. Paul Sax kept telling me I would be faster than I ever had been. It took two and a half years, but he was right. Having experienced it firsthand, I try to always encourage runners who are new moms.
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“I am thankful every time I get to play tennis or run.” COURSE ADJUSTMENT: I’m not a natural “morning person” and fought it until about a year ago, but I realized if I really wanted to get better without sacrificing time with my family, I had to be great at being a “very early morning person.” BEST EATS: I’m mildly obsessed with everything on the menu at Bounty on Broad. WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW? I make an effort to read dermatology medical journals once a week. Other than that, the kids and I are currently loving Walter The Baker and The Very Fairy Princess. Interview by Hailey Thomas. Photo by Sarah McAlexander.