State #40 Oklahoma
Last state of 2018!!! And this was another milestone in the journey
Route 66 Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5k
Tulsa, Oklahoma
November 18, 2018
Division Place: 62/459
Gender Place: 471/2932
Overall Place: 1137
Chip Time: 2:09:17
Pace 9:52/Mile
5k:
Division Place: 19/180
Gender Place: 74/1198
Overall Place: 214
Finish: 0:27:56 / 9.00/mile
12,000 people participated total in all the races
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How does one get to Tulsa? Since I was flying standby (because sista girl needs to save money) my route was BOS-ATL-TUL. I left on the 6:05am from BOS-ATL. The irony of flying early on Standby was getting a choice of comfort class and being in an aisle or in the back with a window. I picked the window seat because I was too tired to order a wine, prosecco, or even eat snacks. My ass was tired and needed sleep.
Once in ATL, my dad and I planned to meet. I found out that we would be on the same flight from ATL to TUL. Because of ice and bad weather in Cincy, I would meet my dad in TUL.
ATL-TUL flight
I sat in the middle of two very large white men. I was assessing all the people on this flight going to Tulsa and I could count on one hand the folks that looked like me. While in my middle seat, my neighbor, Slade (he introduced himself to me) wanted to tell me his life story. I found out his political and social views, and learned his brother is an asshole, his mother has Alzheimer, Slade’s wife died but he has a girlfriend now, he loves history, etc..etc. At least the flight went fast.
OK cities: TULSA/ Ponca City/Oklahoma City/Norman
When I picked up my dad, we drove to the airbnb I rented for us. In our time in Tulsa we explored Greenwood and learned about Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Riots, Gilcrease Museum, downtown Tulsa, and 66 route.
One day we drove to Standing Bear Museum and Education Center (we were close to the Kansas state line).
After the race on Sunday, Dad and I went to Oklahoma City to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial and National Museum and then the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Ok.
OK State
Oklahoma means red people and it was meant to be a native state. There is oil in this state. Sooners are people that entered the state to claim land before it was assigned. The history of this state is just as interesting as it’s unique shape
RACE
PRE- RACE and 5K
Went to the Expo for Bib pick-up. Black Girls Run had a booth at the Expo
Great to see women of BGR and other women whom I’ve gotten to meet and know on this running journey
First time EVER running a 5k (Saturday) and a half (Sunday).
BGR photo shoot for the 5k on Saturday. So many black women from around the country here to run. Beyond amazing. And the weather was perfect for running
I got a sample of the running route for the half the next day
Half Marathon
It was freezing for the run. So glad I layered up
As I was taking pictures at 7am at the starting line, I was told this area was for runners and I would have to move. Even with my bib number on and being dressed like a runner.
There was pre- half marathon photos with BGR ladies
Native American drummers, drummed before we ran. You could feeling the vibration of the drumming in my bones
There were 8 shot stations/stops along the way. It was fireball, jello shots, whiskey shots. It was a shot-a-palooza
We ran along the Arkansas River and a cross from the 450 million new “Gathering” area. That was around mile 7-10
We ran in an extremely wealthy area of Tulsa. The homes, I guess was from oil monies. We ran through a boarding school and passed a synagogue- who knew
The route was windy and hilly-the flatness was running along the Arkansas River
One of the party/shot stations was playing BBD’s- Poison. I so wanted to stop and break down and dance
With close to 12,000 folks running, I never ran alone.
I was suppose to get two medals- Route 66 half and BGR Route 66- half medal but I only got one
I regret not drinking while running
