My first time to wear red socks
Whenever I run, I like to be as incognito as possible. We’re talking border-line ninja. I think my goal is to blend in as much as possible so nobody will notice the super-slow girl bringing up the rear. So my running attire for races is pretty standard: black shirt, black pants, white socks. No crazy socks. No tutus. No funny hats. If nobody notices me, I’ve accomplished my mission.
So pulling on long, bright red socks Sunday morning felt pretty weird.
Granted, I wasn’t exactly running a marathon yesterday. I wasn’t even running the half or 5k. I was heading out with my husband and 3-year-old daughter for the Oklahoma City Memorial Kids Marathon. I did my last half – my fourth one – back in March so I would be able to participate with my little girl in her big race. For the Kids Marathon, runners put in 25 miles on their own and then finish the last 1.2 miles at the race. (If you don’t think that sounds far, try putting in that kind of distance when you’re legs are, like, 12 inches long.)
I read in the Landrunners Oklahoma City Running Club newsletter that people were encouraged to wear red socks in honor of those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing earlier this month. After some digging, we were able to rustle up some red socks for all of us. (That’s us in the photo above before the run.)
Granted, a 3-year-old really doesn’t have a preference on her socks on any given day, so it’s not like we really explained to her the reason she was sporting brand new ones. But we wanted her to be a part of it, even if she didn’t know why. At the expo, some children handed out bracelets braided with red, white and blue yarn. We tied one around our daughter’s wrist the morning of the race, and she asked what it was for. All we could really explain was that it was to remember some people who were hurt. It was to help them feel better.
I saw a lot of red socks during the kids event, and we spotted plenty of race finishers wearing them as they staggered away from the finish line. Lots of people wore shirts in support of Boston, including my next-door-neighbors. As we walked back to the car after the fun and celebration, we passed the Oklahoma City National Memorial. My mom overheard a dad explaining to his daughter, “This is a very special place.”
Life is full of hurts. Terrorism is one that frightens us, whether it’s in our city or hundreds of miles away. I can’t stop terrorism, but I can do small acts of love, even if it’s only socks.
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon registration caps set
In case you were wondering, here’s how registration stands for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. This year we’re doing the kids marathon as a family, and I realized I had signed up my daughter and my husband but not myself! Yikes! So hurry up and register before the price increase April 1 or before all the spots are gone for your event.
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary girls running club in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon registration costs go up soon
I know, I know. The holidays are crazy. If you’re like me, you probably have been slacking like the slackiest of slackers when it comes to your running schedule because you just – for the love of God! – want to sleep in a little bit. (Do you see all those people dressed like Santa and running like champs? I am not one of them.)
But if nothing else, the holidays are a time to remember to register for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon before the first price jump. Costs go up Jan. 1.
Marathon: $95 to $110.
Half marathon: $65 to $80.
Relay: $250 to $275.
5K: $35 to $40.
5K for age 12 younger: $20 to $25.
But never fear: if you’re doing the Kids Marathon, the price never changes. It’s just $10 for children and $20 for adults running with them.
Jogging strollers recalled
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a recall for the Baby Jogger City Versa strollers. Click here for more info. Here’s a picture of the recalled strollers.
John Marshall High School hosts first 5k
Check out these fun times at John Marshall High School. The school hosted its inaugural 5K recently. More than 130 people registered ahead of time, including students from Webster, North Highlands, Britton, Centennial, John Marshall, and Northwest Classen. From Principal Aspasia Carlson: “It was a wonderful evening, with music and Oklahoma Fidelity grilling for all who attended. Family and community members also participated in the 1-mile Fun Walk around the new track. We hope to have an even bigger event next year!”
All these kids can beat me
I’m going to be honest: this is a race I would lose. For real. By a lot. Nevertheless, if your child is interested, here’s a really awesome opportunity coming up next month:
The Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department is looking for a few great kids! Seventy-five kids, in fact, who want to test their mettle in the Department’s inaugural Kidathlon on Saturday, August 4, from 7 – 11 a.m. at Earlywine Park, 3101 SW 119. The half-day event, which includes swimming, biking and running, is open to children aged 5 -17.
Participants will be grouped by age, with each age group competing at different distances.
“We’ve been looking at new events to integrate into our roster of activities,” said Christopher Hamilton, recreation division manager for the Parks and Recreation Department. “The Kidathlon gives children of all athletic abilities the opportunity to take part in their own triathlon and learn the basics of multi-sport competition.”
The warm-up for the Kidathlon begins at 7 a.m. on August 4, with the first age group kicking off competition at 7:30 a.m.
The age groups and event distances are as follows:
- Ages 5-6 25 yard swim, 0.5 bike, 0.5 run
- Ages 7-8 75 yard swim, 0.5 mile bike, 0.5 mile run
- Ages 9-12 75 yard swim, 1.0 mile bike, 1.1 mile run
- Ages 13-14 125 yard swim, 2.0 mile bike, 1.5 mile run
- Ages 15-17 125 yard swim, 3.0 mile bike, 1.5 mile run
The swimming portion of the Kidathlon will take place at the Earlywine Family Aquatic Center. The biking and running portions of the event will take place within the confines of Earlywine Park. Participants must bring their own equipment, including swim wear, bicycle and helmet, and running gear. Helmets and close-toed shoes are required for the bicycle portion of the event.
Pre-registration is required. Registration costs $30 for each participant and includes a t-shirt.
Those interested can register at Earlywine or Will Rogers Family Aquatic Centers, or by calling 297-2211. An online registration form can be downloaded at www.okc.gov/parks/kidathlon.
For the inaugural year, registration is limited to the first 75 participants.
For more information, call the OKC Parks & Recreation Department at 297-2211.
Kids in the Oklahoma City Princess Run and Little Dude Dash will help Salvation Army
Oh my gosh. Yes. I’m so excited. So. Excited. The is a race for adorable little girls and boys.
The third annual Princess Run and Little Dude Dash that will be at 2 p.m. April 1. The girls run in 2k and the boys is 1k. The race is for ages 12 and younger.The run will be in the Oklahoma City Boathouse District, which “will transform into a fairy tale village.” Yes. Proceeds benefit The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma and The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club.
The run is put on by runhers, a women’s running group based in Oklahoma City that promotes health and other fabulous things.
“The Princess Run and Little Dude Dash Festival is designed to celebrate and delight in our youth. On this day, these kids are our focus and with this being a kids’ only event (parents can run w/kids), our creativity and imagination allows us to be as playful as they are with this festival,” said runhers special projects director Sheila Kidder. “We want the event to entertain, engage and celebrate our amazing kids while offering support and awareness for all the great things that the Salvation Army OKC does for our youth.”
I just heard about this today and immediately was all over it. My daughter is 2 1/2, but I would love, love, love for her to do this. I’m waiting to hear back from the organizers to find out if I can walk along with her. She’s a little shy, so she might want some moral support.
This is going to be great, people.
The jogging stroller: friend or foe?
This summer, my mom bought me a jogging stroller so I could take my little girl out on runs with me. Well, it turned out to be the hottest summer this side of Hell. I haven’t taken my daughter out really at all. I took her on a walk here and there, but this weekend I finally took her on a run.
My training schedule called for five miles. At my pace, that’s about a 12-hour run. Or maybe it just feels like it. Mia and I headed down to the trails at the Oklahoma River for our big outing. I stashed a book, a music toy and a stuffed cow in the storage mesh under her seat just in case she needed a distraction.
Lucky me: she didn’t need any kind of distraction. She watched everything with wide eyes. She pointed at the river and the egrets wading in the shallow water. She saw birds flit from tree to tree. She watched grasshoppers bounce across the trail and into the grass.
Until mile four. Then, she was done.
Mia isn’t a whiner or a crier, but I could tell she was ready to go when she tossed her sunglasses over the side of her stroller.
I cut my run a mile short, but it was so fun taking her out. I’m sure I’ll drag her along in the future. On my short runs.
“Reading, ’Rithmetic and Running” in Mid-Del Schools
There’s an interesting story out of Mid-Del Public Schools about a program that combined running with academics. Here’s the first bit, but you can read the whole thing here.
Everyone in the school knows Marcus, and not because he is a model student. Marcus is “that kid,” the one who never turns in an assignment on time, has to sit on the curb during recess for fighting, the one who never misses an opportunity to make a substitute cry. Teachers view Marcus in multiple ways; a cross to bear, a project, a right of passage, one of the many kids we teach every day who has seen too much, knows too much, and has been let down too much. And yet for all of his problems, issues, and mischief, there is something about Marcus that draws you to him.
I have been teaching long enough to know that love alone won’t save Marcus and discipline alone won’t save him either. Our wishes and hopes for him will not help Marcus succeed in and of themselves. Marcus has to learn to overcome. He has to learn to work. We can help, but we can’t do everything.
I have to admit that when he came out for the marathon club, I was a bit shocked. “Will I get one of those plaques if I complete the marathon?” he asked on the first day of practice. Yes, I answered, but you have to complete every component of the R3 program: the reading, the math, and the running.
