#458: The (Slow) Return of Running Races
Sarah and Dimity speak with Dawna Stone, the new president of RunningUSA and the founder of Women’s Running magazine. The trio talk about:
-the powerful force of women running together;
-whether virtual races are here to stay;
-what in-person races might look like once they resume;
-the complex logistics of holding a large race; and,
-the question on every runner’s mind—fall racing season: yay or nay?
Before the guest joins at 13:11, Dimity shares a big (big!) 2021 athletic goal for herself. You heard it here first!
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Spring Races Are Back
The beginning of the end of the pandemic is palpable, so we put a call out on our Facebook page to see if anyone was racing in the next few months. Joy tingled up and down our hamstrings as we read the enthusiastic responses. “Thank you for this!” one mother runner wrote. “I actually miss standing in line for a porta-potty!”
Don’t we all.
In-person races are indeed making a comeback, so we gathered a smattering of offerings from around the country in case you’re ready to give it a go. Do not, we repeat, do not go run a race without the proper training. This is not meant to be a list of 20 ways to get yourself injured.
Similarly, we realize that some parts of the country/world have strict shelter-in-place guidelines going, while others are easing up considerably, so races may not be coming back in your ‘hood yet. Where they are emerging, race directors are diligent about prioritizing health, but obviously only head to a race if you’re healthy and feel comfortable with the event’s social distancing guidelines.
We’ve only highlighted a handful of races; find a full list here on Race Raves and add your favorite in the comments below.
MARCH
March 7: Hilton Head in Hilton Head, SC (Half and Quarter Marathon)
March 13: Gallatin Shamrock Run in Gallatin, TN (5K, 10K)
March 13: Heritage Run in Montgomery, AL (5K, Half)
March 13: St. Paddy’s Day Run in Fort Worth, TX (5K, 10K)
March 27: Spring Cleaning Run in Tucson, AZ (5K, 10K)
APRIL
April 3: The Carmel Marathon in Carmel, IN (5K, 10K, Half, Full)
April 3: Hippity Hop Half Marathon in Peoria, AZ (5K, 10K, Half)
April 10: Charlottesville Marathon in Charlottesville, VA (8K, Half, Full)
April 17: Anthem Marathon in Roanoke, VA (10K, Half, Full)
April 25: Clearwater Running Festival Marathon in Clearwater, FL (5K, Half, Full, 50K)
Have a race on your calendar this year? The Train Like a Mother Club will get you race-ready for your post-pandemic debut! Check out 5K, 10 Mile, Half-Marathon, Marathon, and Ultra programs!
MAY
May 2: Great Western in St. Charles, IL (10K, Half)
May 9: The Mother’s Day 10TEN in Washington Crossing, PA (10k, Ten Miler)
May 29: Virginia Wine Country Half in Leesburg, VA (5K, 10K, Half)
May 29: Happy Girls in Bend, OR (5K, Half). Our very own SBS will be emceeing and, if allowed, selling plenty of AMR merch. Get 15% off any Happy Girls race registration w/ code HGR21AMR.
As for myself, I’m using the TLAM 50K plan and training for the June 5th North Fork 50k in CO. I honestly can’t wait to spend the entire day away from my family, explore the trails, and eat snacks for hours on end.
Are you doing an in-person event this spring? Comment below.
AMR Answers #61: Washing Running Accessories; Easing Lower-Back Pain
Sarah and Dimity share advice about:
-washing running accessories for Jana (“it’s really a sniff test,” is Dim’s
short answer);
-the most effective stretches to relieve Kristen’s (or your!) sore, tight lower back; and,
-“greasy farts” (aka “farts with a surprise” or “sharts!”) for Kerry and her 10-year-old Paul.
Set your course with KORSA: Get $20 off your order + free shipping at roadrunnersports.com/amr
Got more questions? We have answers. Subscribe and listen.
AMR Gears Up: Favorite Socks
Best Running Gear for Layering: the next edition of Another Mother Runner Gears Up. We have #motherrunners—put key running gear to the test, then deliver the results so you can grab the gear that works best for your running and body.
By Allison Pattillo
Socks can be tough–there’s a lot that goes into making no-bunch, blister-free running socks able to withstand long miles in sweaty shoes, and lots of washings–because the best ones tend to be those you don’t notice! Given all they accomplish, it’s time for socks to get a spotlight. We asked our testers to do just that. They sampled a variety of styles, with emphasis on ‘sampled’ since there are dozens upon dozens of sock styles and brands in the running world, and put them through serious miles and washings! Consider this list of our favorites for the moment, organized, roughly, from shortest to tallest, as a starting point for your sock shopping therapy, and please let us know your favorites below!
Tester Rating: 5
Review: These had a snug fit and were short enough to not show much (basically just the blister-prevention tab at the heel) above our minimalist runner’s shoes for a winning combination. Our tester, who usually tends towards more cushioned shocks to help combat her black toenails, was pleasantly surprised with how much protection (and comfort) these provided, enhanced by light compression and great moisture wicking, while also being much thinner. She distilled her review in a sentence by saying, “My feet seem to be really happy in these socks.”
Price: $14.99
Perfect For: Runners who like barely-there socks but are prone to blisters and/or black toenails.
Get it here: swiftwick.com
Icebreaker Run+ Ultralight Micro
Tester Rating: 5
Review: One of our wools sock loving runners said these were the softest she had ever worn. “I also love how low cut they are, yet my shoes didn’t ‘eat’ them, as often happens with very low-cut socks,” was another plus. Believe it or not, wool is a smart fabric for year-round performance and is odor-resistant. These socks are designed to be durable and our tester said they “hugged my high-arched foot and stayed put perfectly.” Wool socks do tend to be more expensive but make for a worthwhile investment.
Price: $18
Perfect For: Those who like to run in barely-there socks, and also appreciate wool’s temperature regulating (even when wet) and anti-stink properties.
Get it here: icebreaker.com
Injinji Women’s Run Lightweight No-Show
Tester Rating: 5
Review: Our tester, who had never tried the brand, admitted to being skeptical about the individual toe-pocket style. Yet, she now has a new favorite brand! “These fit beautifully,” and she didn’t notice her toes on the run. She did notice the pleasant lack of blisters and the fact that they stayed put on her feet, as did her feet in her shoes. Since they are her new favorites, she’s even more pleased with the wide variety of color and style options. This is a brand you have to test to appreciate!
Price: $13
Perfect For: Anyone with blister-prone tootsies.
Get it here: injinji.com
Balega Enduro Reflective Quarter
Tester Rating: 5
Review: Our testers loved the fact that these were soft, comfortable, and did not cause blisters. “The evidence of how much I like them is that I now dig in the laundry to find them before runs!” (edit note: #relatable, but don’t worry, she’s ordering more! If frequent washing isn’t your thing, choose from Balega’s Silver collection for odor free running!). This brand is known for their dialed fit, and these deliver with a deep, no-slip heel cup and contoured knitting to wrap your arch in a hug. This quarter-height sock also has glass refractive beads knit into the ribbed top to provide increased visibility in low light conditions.
Price: $16
Perfect For: Savvy runners who want a smart mix of visibility and comfort.
Get it here: balega-socks.implus.com
Tester Rating: 4.5
Review: With a thin sock, lightweight cushion, and welcome ankle compression, these will keep you running in comfort. Our tester said that while she usually runs in socks with more cushion, she really enjoyed the snug fit and breathability of this style. She also found the moisture-management to be impressive, making them ideal for damp and humid conditions, even more-so with the stay put and blister-resist fit. If you want to try the line, but mini-crew isn’t for you, Aspire comes in a full range of options from no-show to knee high.
Price: $15.99
Perfect For: Runners who like sleek socks with compression.
Get it here: swiftwick.com
Synchroknit Trail Junkie Mid-Crew
Tester Rating: 5
Review: With nice cushioning, a contoured fit, and some invigorating compression around the arch, these will be your favorite cold weather running socks. Synchroknit is all about using a patented knitting system to create a sock shaped like your foot for a truly superb fit. They have a comfortably secure fit, and even stayed put (and kept feet comfortable with no need for a sock change) through a magical testing day that included running, snowshoeing, and ski touring.
Price: $20
Perfect For: Staying comfortably warm whether your run entails cold breezes, freezing rain, snow, or slush.
Get it here: synchroknit.com
Smartwool Women’s PhD Run Light Elite Pattern Crew
Tester Rating: N/A
Review: Tuns out the Smartwool Crew socks we originally reviewed were so popular, they are no longer available. So as not to disappoint all of you Smartwool loving runners, we decided to highlight this cool new offering! The fun pattern is obvious. What you don’t see until you try them is the narrower, women’s specific fit, body-mapped mesh zones (yes, specifically for a woman’s foot), enhanced durability, and a sweet spot amount of non-bulky cushioning, which, when combined, create what should be an awesome year-round running sock.
Price: $22.95
Perfect For: Striding it out on the trail in style.
Get it here: smartwool.com
Check out all of the AMR Gears Up columns here!
Did we miss your favorite running gear for layering?
Let us know in the comments below!
#457: Ashlee Lawson Greene: New Mom + Co-Founder of RUNGRL
Sarah and Amanda have a conversation with Ashlee Lawson Green, co-founder of RUNGRL, a digital media and event platform for Black women focused on running and wellness. A new, first-time mom and a certified running coach, Ashlee shares:
-a positive-yet-realistic perspective about adjusting to a post-partum body;
-the mission and goals of RUNGRL, including inspiration, information,
and celebration;
-the importance of creating space for various runners;
-insight on increasing inclusivity and decreasing “othering” in the running community; and,
-ways to overcome race day or long run anxiety.
In the intro, Sarah details how a local Portland mother runner nudged her out the door on a recent snowy Saturday. Ashlee (with her 4-month-baby on her lap!) joins in at 14:17.
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Sarah’s Signs of the Times
by SBS
It’s late January 2020 and I’m driving my then-14-year-old son, John, to high school. Unlike his twin sister, who walks to our neighborhood school, John attends a high school ~2.5 miles from our house as he’s part of the school’s pre-professional dance company. Thus, twice a day, John and I make the 10-or-so minute drive together; the streets are set up in a grid pattern, so we have almost countless routes to take.
Fairly quickly, though, we establish a can’t-miss attraction: AAA Heating and Cooling.
[record scratch] Wait, what?!?For some keep-Portland-weird reason, this repair service posts the most clever, witty messages on its business sign, a different question or quip on each side.
I’d never really noticed the mini-billboard before transporting John 2x/day, yet now we eagerly await new messages, whether “DEAR KARMA I HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU MISSED” or “IT WAS US WE LET THE DOGS OUT” (I mean, what the what?) We chuckle the rest of the way to school, discussing how quirky the messages are and wondering who crafts them. We vow we’ll remember them, but quickly realize they need memorializing so I buy a pocket notebook adorned with a kitty face that we keep in the van, and John hurriedly jots down the best musings. The sign becomes our shared “thing.”
Yet, I confess, the unrelenting nature of the twice-daily to-and-from trips wears on me. I find myself daydreaming about John’s junior year, when he’ll be able to drive himself.
Then, on Friday, March 13, all those drives—and laughs—come to an abrupt halt when Portland schools, like institutions worldwide, shut down. Suddenly I possess the clarity to see those drives for what they were: precious one-on-one time with my beloved son, who opened up and shared on those rides like he rarely does at home. I’m so verklempt about school being closed and dance rehearsals being canceled, I can’t bring myself to venture by our beloved sign.
On an early May morning, though, I find myself within a block of our pals at AAA Heating and Cooling. I’m in a (rare) upbeat mood thanks to a peppy playlist so I brave the billboard—and the memories. There, in the already-bright sunshine, it says, “HEY, CORONAVIRUS, I HATE YOUR HAIRCUT!,” which makes me snicker. But it’s the silly declaration on the back, “WELP, IT LOOKS LIKE JAY-Z HAS 100 PROBLEMS NOW” that makes me LOL.
I laugh like I haven’t in weeks. So hard tears spring to my eyes. And as the tears roll down my cheeks, mixing with my sweat, I realize my laughter is morphing into crying. A short-but-much-needed catharsis, as my thoughts flash back on drives past the sign, with John telling me about the tap number he’d demo’d that day or the French guest choreographer, creating a new ballet piece for the company.
After a few minutes, I wipe the sweat, tears, and snot off my flushed face, press the Resume button my GPS, and head for home. In the intervening 9+ months, I’ve started to run by AAA Heating and Cooling more often.
By the time school re-opens next September (please, oh, please!), then-16-year-old John might have his driver’s license, but there is no way I’m letting him drive solo to school. Sure, there’s the safety standpoint, but this mother runner’s reasoning is purely emotional: I crave that repetitive drive like I never could have imagined in The Before Times.