Running in BAMA: April 6-8th
COVID-19, “The Rona Era”
Before I found out about running in Boston Marathon, I planned on attending the Southern Sociology Society(SSS) conference in Birmingham, Alabama. It has been two years since I’ve seen my sociology and academic peeps, while conferencing. This year would be my first time conferencing since the height of the pandemic. I signed up for this conference and the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport(NASSS). Both are in April. SSS is from April 5-9th, and NASSS is from April 20-23.
The Boston Marathon is April 18th and the week of SSS is the last week of full training before tapering to get ready for the Marathon. All of that to say, I had to do some pivoting and adjusting while I was gone.
That meant trying to get some long runs in each day in Birmingham while Conferencing.
I was able to run for three days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. I ran a 10k, 5 miler, and 7miler while I was gone. 18 miles total, so not bad.
From the Airbnb I stayed in, it was a 1.5 mile run to downtown and where the conference hotel was. This was a way for me to explore downtown in the morning, while it was nice and cool.
One morning, I came upon the Civil Rights Trail. This was a pleasant surprise. There were makers along the city streets that told the story of a civil rights event that happened in that location. The start marker, had a picture, name, date, and a story of the situation that happened in that location. I was intrigued. I would run, stop, read, and process before running again. Clearly this was not a timed run.
I followed the map of where the historic locations were. I ran into Kelly Ingram Park, which had sculptures and was part of ground zero where the movement started. The park is across from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Baptist Church. Of course it was close at 7a.m., but the park I ran through had several historical sculptures that talking about the civil rights struggle. I would run, read, process, and run again. Then I came upon the picture and memorial of the 4 black girls that were killed at the 16th street Baptist Church.
I soon realized that I was looking at the 16th Baptist church, it was across the street. This was the church were that happened. I was having a moment and thinking about the struggles now and then. How racism has evolved not been removed, when a big literally shit on me. I had bird poop on my shirt. WTF.
I guess that was my sign to keep moving. So I ran with bird poop on my shirt. That was a first.
Through out the week, I would explore different areas of downtown. I cross the bridge and found the gentrified section of town. Running through the city, I got a better sense of the layout of the city, history, and the people who lived and worked downtown.
One morning running, Friday, I saw a black woman running. I was so excited. I didn’t know where people run downtown, if they run downtown. On my three days of running, beside the black woman, I saw one man. A white man riding his bike.
I assume people were staring at me for many reasons- not seeing folks run downtown, in general, let alone a black women running. It was all so interesting.
I had assume the mornings would be hot but they were very cool, which surprised me. I would have been ok, if I brought running tights to wear. I won’t lie it was great to run in shorts. I haven’t done that since Puerto Rico in January.
Running wise, I felt good and strong. My pace and body were on point. Cheers to still running, while conferencing , and exploring a new city.
