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.
It’s too cold. Seriously.
I’m at my desk, which is, you know, indoors. I’m freezing. It seems like everywhere I go, I’m freezing.
Remember when it was 70 degrees?
Oh right. That was Friday.
Oklahoma weather is ridiculous, and I am a 100 percent certified cold-weather wimp. I have been using it as an excuse to skip morning runs. “It’s daaark and cooold! I can’t go today!” Then it occurred to me, it will be dark and cold for all of winter. This doesn’t bode well for a half-marathon at the end of March.
So I have two options: get a gym membership or bundle up like Ralphie’s little brother from “A Christmas Story.” Because I’m being cheap and stubborn, I’m choosing the second option. Here’s what Runner’s World says you should wear in the cold:
50°F and Up
Bottoms: Consider a longer-cut short than you’d wear in the summer, or wear capris.
Tops: A long-sleeve technical shirt, or a short-sleeve shirt and arm warmers. Thin vest.
Add: A lightweight baseball cap–style hat.35°–50°F
Bottoms: Capris or three-quarter-length tights. Alternatively: long tights or pants.
Tops: Layer two long-sleeve shirts, or wear one long-sleeve with a breathable wind- or waterproof jacket, a thicker vest, or a thin midlayer.
Add: A wicking beanie, thin gloves.20°–35°F
Bottoms: Brushed tights or pants; consider a pair of wool underwear. Wear socks high enough to cover any exposed skin.
Tops: Double up on long-sleeve shirts, or wear a long-sleeve shirt with a thin midlayer and thin jacket, or a heavier version of either.
Add: Beanie hat, thicker gloves. Sunglasses protect your eyes from chilly gusts. (Consider clear lenses on cloudy days.)0°–20°F
Bottoms: Brushed, insulated tights or pants made of wind- and water-blocking fabrics.
Tops: A long-sleeve shirt tucked into your bottoms and/or a midlayer that zips up to protect your neck, plus an insulated jacket. Long socks.
Add: A scarf or “gaiter” around your neck that you can pull over your chin and mouth. A warm beanie that covers your ears. Thick gloves that fit snugly. Sunglasses.Below 0°F
You’re kidding, right? Hit the treadmill!
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary girls running club in Oklahoma City
Running in the snow?
Apparently, people can run in the snow. I would not know this from first-hand experience because I am a huge wimp who’s terrified of slipping and falling and laying stranded somewhere awkward until a random passer-by stops and calls 911. Nevertheless, running in the snow apparently does happen in some locations. Weird.
Here are some tips from Runner’s World on the experience most of us who live in Oklahoma don’t have to mess with but for a few times a year:
- Wear trail shoes.
- Run in fresh snow instead of the packed-down stuff if you can.
- Take teeny tiny steps.
- Run slowly. (Check! I’m super good at this.)
- Don’t run in snow every day. It uses those weird muscles that hibernate until you do some kind of strange exercise. Those are the ones that hurt the most. So run inside and outside – not outside all the time.
- Walk over ice. Seriously. Running on ice is just dumb.
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.
Another reason to love Ziggy Marley
And then winter came
I have lots of favorite excuses for not running, but bad weather is one of my absolute favorites. And, lucky for me, it’s winter! Runner’s World has a great story about staying warm while you’re outdoors. They offer 10 tips, but here are my favorite three:
- Make a plan. Meet up with someone who will hold you accountable. If you don’t have a running buddy, tell yourself that you can go back inside after 5 minutes if it’s awful outside. Usually, it won’t be awful. It’s a terrible trick you play on yourself.
- Warm up inside. Do some yoga moves or clean your house. Get your blood pumping before you go outside.
- Change as soon as you get back. Get out of your cold clothes and drink something warm.
Giving my news shoes a test run
I took my new shoes out for a test run this morning.
It was awkward.
I’ve only ever had one pair of running shoes. That’s right. I’ve had one pair of running shoes that I’ve used for three half marathons during the past two years. Yikes. Apparently this is bad.
My new Nikes look kind of like these, only they’re dark purple. They’re super light and feel nicer on my back than my Asics. I don’t know yet if that’s because my Asics were so old or if it’s because they’re better for me.
It felt strange running in new shoes. It was like a first date – awkward, uncomfortable, weird. My old ones have been with me for so many miles. What do I do with them? I didn’t throw them away or give them away or anything. They’re just in my running bag, looking lonely. I guess I’ll figure out what to do with them later.
The new ones made me feel a little creaky in the knees, but maybe they need some more break-in time. We’ll see. At least thing time I’m going to try not to keep them for two years.
My love-hate relationship with the Williams Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa
OK, Tulsa. I’ll admit it. I was super mad at you.
I realized a few weeks before the Williams Route 66 Marathon that there was a time limit on your water stops. If you ran slower than a 15-minute pace, you were out of luck. Too slow? Better carry your own water. I’ll be honest: it made me so mad.
I’m a slow runner. This isn’t modesty talking. I’m so slow, I sometimes get passed by walkers. Really. Once, my husband took a picture of me running, and we later discovered there was a man walking in hiking boots – hiking boots! – who was passing me. I don’t like to talk about my pace because honestly, I’m embarrassed. It’s slower than a 15-minute mile.
So when I realized that there was a limit for the water stops, I was scared. What if I couldn’t make it that quickly? What if ran out of water?
Also, setting a time limit can weed out the walkers and slow people like me. It’s pretty disheartening. Doesn’t my training count? Don’t my miles count? I do all the same miles. I do all the same runs. It just takes me twice as long as some people, even three times as long as the fastest folks. Does that mean it doesn’t count? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
I bought a water bottle belt the night before the race and my running buddy, Megan Rolland, gave me some Gu to put in the pocket. (She told me to eat it at Mile 6. I was pretty sure if I didn’t eat it right then, I would collapse on the course.) I wrote the mileage for the water stops at the time limits for a 15-minute pace. If I could make it to the first water stop at Mile 2, then I wouldn’t have to use my water until after then.
I headed out onto the hilly first half of the course with the determination to make it to the first water stop. I checked my watch over and over and over. I squeaked in and drank both water and Gatorade. I kept moving and made it to the next water stop. And then next. And on and on. Finally, I hit the last one – Mile 12 – just as they were packing up. I was there right at the 15-minute pace. Me. I was running a 15-minute pace. It was only 1.1 miles to go and I was spent.
It took me 20 minutes to finish that last bit. I ran a few steps, walked, ran a few steps, walked some more. It took so long.
I crossed the finish line and still didn’t really believe my watch or the time on the clock above. I shuffled through the food tent, my legs dragging. I met up with Megan, who had finished more than an hour an a half earlier, and then found my family. I sat down for a long, long time.
When I finally stood up, my husband took me to the timing tent, where a sweet woman in a cozy sweatshirt printed out a ticket for me. I beat my best time by 20 minutes.
Twenty minutes? Was that even real?
Yes.
So, thanks, Tulsa. I was running as fast as I could so I wouldn’t dehydrate and die, and I set a personal best. So I guess I’m not that mad at you now.
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!”
