T • R • E • A • DTulsa Running Club’s Entertainment, Activities & Dates

Tulsa Running ClubContact Information

Mail: P.O. Box 3304Tulsa, OK 74101

Hotline: (918) 409-0797

E-mail: info@tulsarunningclub.com

Internet: www.tulsarunningclub.com

Volume 5, Issue 5 www.tulsarunningclub.com Fall 2011

Also in this issue

President’s Note..........2 Trail Update.................2 Trail Safety....................3 Runner Feature............5 Runners Give Back.....6 TRC Board...................8 Featured Race............10 Footnotes...................12 Muddy Race Recap...14

The Tulsa Running Club is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the benefits of running and walking by providing social, financial and moral support to Tulsa and the surrounding communities and to establish camaraderie among runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.

A Hot Day at Mohawkby Geoffrey Simpson - Mohawk 5000 Race Director

The 2011 Tulsa Running Club Mohawk 5000 was held on a relatively hot Friday evening, June 24th. We are now longing for the days where the highs stay in the 90s, but that’s exactly what we had for the race. The first event was the fun run, and we had

a fantastic turnout from the Tulsa SPCA. We love seeing the runners and walkers out there with their dogs, and if you are inter-ested, go find out more about their Jog the Dogs program, it is a great way for you to help out these dogs who love to just get outside and go!

The 5k was up next, and we had some fast runners out there again this year. The male overall win-ner was David Riden of Okla-homa City with a chip time of 17:03. There was a tight race for the female overall winner, with Melissa Truitt edging out Maggie Nelsen by four seconds to win with a time of 18:33. Both Melissa and Maggie are both from Tulsa, and

represented our city well.One of the highlights of the 5k was having Team David out in full force. Team David is a support group organized around David Addington, a strong young man who has battled childhood obesity, and it determined to change.

The supporters went every step of the way through the entire 3.1 miles in the heat to keep David motivated, inspired, and ready to reach the finish. Congratulations to David and all of the supporters. You can find out more about Team David on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/teamdavidinspires.

I can’t say enough about the wonderful vol-unteers who came out to support the runners. A huge thank you goes out to the Tulsa Boys Home who were out in force not only bringing ice cold water, but handing it out to the run-ners as well. This was my first year as the Race Director for the Mohawk 5000, and I look forward to mak-ing the race even better next year, and I invite all of you to join us again.

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Trail Updatesas of July 22, 2011

The east bank trail from 53rd to 58th has been re-opened for some time and is essentially complete although the contractor still has a few items to finish up on the punch list.

Re-opening of the restrooms at 56th & Riverside has been delayed because vandals broke in, took all the copper plumbing and caused serious damage to the interior. Repairs should be complete in about 2 weeks and we are replacing the piping with Pex tubing which isn’t as attractive to thieves.

The trail from approximately 48th to 53rd was intentionally left undone at this time pending the I-44 widening project. When the I-44 project is complete, we will renovate this segment of trail as well.

Design work is also underway to renovate the trail through Helmerich Park from 71st south to Joe Creek although additional funding is still needed. West bank: Trail lighting is now complete for the “Turkey Leg” which is what we call the trail section from I-44 south to Turkey Mountain. Renovation of the west bank trail from 11th Street south to the concrete plant is on hold pending the outcome of the City’s RFP (Request For Proposals) for the commercial redevelopment of the Festival Park area.

From the TRC President...By Shawna Simpson

As I write this, I am hoping that the heating pad that has sat over most of Oklahoma will be lifting! It’s been a hot one!

Speaking of a hot one, we’d like to thank those who came out to the 2011 Mohawk 5000. Thank you to the TSPCA Jog the Dog runners as well as the Tulsa Boys Home for all your help. Also a big thanks to our board, and to Geoffrey Simp-son, our Mohawk 5000 race direc-tor, for a job well done!

We hope some of you have en-joyed the refreshments at the Uni-versity of Tulsa Track Night. We plan to continue those events, but you’ll have to just come out to the track to see if we’re there - we’re keeping it a surprise!

The Tulsa Running Club will also be setting up water stops on River-side from time to time for those of you on long training runs. As fall nears, many of you have already begun training for the Tulsa Run and the Route 66 Marathon, and we are excited to see so many TRC members participating in these activities.

One change you will see very soon is the implementation of some new

membership software. We know that it’s hard to keep up with when you should pay dues, and we are going to be changing over to an on-line based system very soon.

Not only will this system help keep membership information, but it will also become a great hub for Tulsa Running Club information. We will begin having forums and a more interactive calendar on the site. Keep your eyes open for an email about the new system.

As fall nears, the Tulsa Running Club will have more and more sponsored runs. We will begin emailing you the discount codes for these runs as soon as we get them.

As always, we are looking for a few good runners. Many of our Tulsa Running Club board mem-bers have fulfilled their duties and will be leaving the board. If you have ideas and energy, we would love to have you join us. We are only as good as our volunteers and board members, and we need you.

If you are interested in joining the board or volunteering, please email us at info@tulsarunningclub.com

Run Happy!Shawna Simpson

2011 Newsletter Advertising Rates

Discounts available for multiple month runs. Sponsored Races receive additional discounts. To schedule an ad, please send an e-mail to info@tulsarunningclub.com.

• Business card size ad: $20• ¼-page ad: $40• ½-page ad: $55• Full page ad: $100

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32nd Annual Jenks Half Marathon and 5k Run SATURDAY, NOV. 5, 2011 8:00 am – Half-Marathon

8:15 am – 5K Run

Start / Finish at the Jenks High School Track Jenks, OK USATF Certified Event – Chip Timed – Overall Winner

Male/Female Award - Finisher Medals Longest running half marathon in Oklahoma!

For more information and for on-line registration, visit our website at www.jenkshalfmarathon.com

Trail Safetyby Kim McCall

Marathon and half marathon train-ing is in full swing and there are more runners training than ever on the trails and streets of Tulsa. This is a wonderful thing to see!

With all the runners training for various events there are safety issues. We want to see all of our TRC members along with non members make it to their goal race and cross that finish line with noth-ing but good training experiences had along the way.

The only injuries that should be nursed are ones from just being a runner, blisters, road rash from tripping that sort of thing.

We want to take this opportunity to remind runners of a few safety tips that can prevent avoidable and

unnecessary injuries. Most are common sense but ev-eryone needs to be reminded every once in a while.

1. When running along the River Park Trails keep in mind that you aren’t the only person/group on the path.

If you are running with a group stay only 2 people wide when another group is either passing or you are meeting a group going the opposite way. Trail etiquette will go along way and others will fol-low by example.

2. If your training run requires you to run on Tulsa Streets always run against traffic.

This gives you the best chance to be aware of traffic coming and go-

ing around you.

3. When running on the street keep your group to only 2 wide. Same reasons as on the River Park trail, we don’t own the roadway and vehi-cles don’t always want to share and go around us.

4. Don’t assume cars will always stop and go around you.

5. If you are on the trails and need to pass another runner always give a glance over your shoulder to make sure you aren’t going to cut someone off in mid stride.

6. If you are running in the early mornings wear light colored cloth-ing. This will give motorists the a chance to see you on the roadways

7. Wearing an iPod goes hand and hand with running. Please keep the volume turned down low enough so you can hear your surroundings or better yet keep the right ear bud out of your ear.

8. Carry a cell phone with you and let others know where you are run-ning and an estimated time you will be finished.

9. Don’t get so wrapped up in your run that you lose sight of your sur-roundings. Don’t run in question-able areas if you are alone and be cautious when with your group.

10. If you see another runner strug-gling or down do not hesitate to offer assistance

Tulsa Running Club Offers Speedwork

The Tulsa Running Club offers a weekly speedwork track session. All levels are welcome!

When: Tuesdays at 6 p.m.Where: University of Tulsa track (Sixth and Delaware)

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The Kelsey Briggs Foundation Presents:

The 6th Annual Kelsey Briggs

Run Against Child Abuse

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Stars & Stripes Park at Lake Hefner

Half Marathon * 5K * 1 mile fun run/walk * Kids’ 50 yard dash

Registration begins at 6:30am

8:00am half marathon start—8:10am 5K start

**Early packet pick up at Red Coyote Running and Fitness (5800 N Classen in OKC)

On Friday, September 9th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

PRICING

Half Marathon—$45 5K-$25 **Prices will be higher on race day

USATF Sanctioned

Chip timing by DG Productions

Massage and chiropractic therapy provided for runners, food, booths, and activities for the entire family!

***Please register before September 1st to be guaranteed a free t-shirt

PRIZES

Cash prizes for top male/female in half marathon and 5K

Finisher medals for half marathon finishers

Plaques for top 3 male/female in half marathon and 5K

Medals for top 3 male/female in each age group

Register online at:

www.signmeup.com/75928

OR

www.kelseybriggsfoundation.org

For questions, contact

Amber Gregg at 405-227-2539

OR

Amber@kelseybriggsfoundation.org All proceeds go to the Kelsey Briggs Foundation , (a 501c3 non-profit) and their fight to end child abuse.

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The Student Becomes the Teacherby Jason Dochney

Here I am, wide awake and I should be sleeping. It’s race day for the Cinco de Mayo 5k! Am I nervous contemplating the time I’ll post about 17 hours from now?

No, I’m passed those race day jitters for myself, at least for this race.

Today my attention turns to our 18+ No Boundaries participants who will run their first 5k tonight. I have the privilege of pacing these new runners of Kings Pointe P1 as a Mentor from Start to Finish. The return of the Cinco de Mayo race marks my one year anniver-sary of graduating from No Bound-aries and becoming a runner. What I have found over the previous 12 months is remarkable.

We make so many good friends doing what we do, our overall health improves and if you follow the training schedule, you can realize re-sults that you once believed to be unat-tainable.

My running resume is fairly short compared to most, but I try to keep these ideas in place before, during and after my runs.

Mentally commit to a positive • attitude before your training runs & races begin

Lean on your Coaches & train-• ing partners for support

Pick them up when they need • motivation to cross the finish line.

Trust your training program•

Celebrate your accomplish-• ments

Set new goals•

Once everyone has crossed the Finish Line tonight, the majority of our No Boundaries graduates will continue their training just as I have.

Following No Boundaries, I have continued training and completed 5k’s, a 5 mile trail run as well as the Tulsa Run (1:51:47) and Williams Route 66 Half Marathon (2:48:12) in 2010.

Just last spring, I added a PR to the list in my second major race run-ning the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon (2:28:55). I am proud of each and every one of our new runner’s for making the commitment and look forward to supporting their new goals, just as so many of you have supported mine. Jason Dochney

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Runners Giving Back - The Joplin Day of Caringby Denise Shook

On June 11th several of us left Tulsa at 4:30 am to do a day of caring instead of doing the Boomtown 1/2 mara-thon in Joplin.

The 1/2 marathon was canceled due to the tornado that wiped out a mile wide of the town and traveled 6 miles through the town.

Once we got off the highway and traveled down the main street towards downtown I turned to my husband Archie and asked where the tornado damage was. He told us to look in front of us.

Before we got to the downtown area you could see the destruction of the tornado. Where there should have been restaurants and homes there was nothing or just splinters of buildings, trees that had been striped of leaves and bark.

All I could say was “Oh my gosh.” My heart went out to all the people who were now home-less from the storm.

We went and checked in and got our assignment, we were assigned to get on a bus and go to the high

school and help with debris removal.

We thought OK and had no idea what we would see or what to expect. We loaded buses to go to the high school.

The destruc-tion got worse the closer we

got to the high school. We were briefed, they told us we were going to walk into the neighbor-hood behind the high school to help clean up, we walked into the neighborhood and there was a quietness in the group, it was so hard to imagine anyone surviving all the destruction that was there.

I couldn’t help but wonder where the people were that lived in the homes, how were they coping? It was very over whelming and humbling.

We went to this home and started piling up the debris for the trucks to take it away. Every now and then we would come across a picture of someone or another personal item and I would silently wonder about them, we put these items aside in hopes they would come back to claim.

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I was so impressed with the race directors who organized this and the American Red Cross. They all made sure that we had plenty of cold water and Gatorade to drink they checked on us to make sure everyone was doing ok.

I had an opportunity to visit with Jeff Galloway (he was there help-ing). We talked about why we run/walk and that everyone has differ-ent reasons but for most it’s to have that accountability and to make friends.

I told him I am a 1/2 marathoner and marathoner and I also coach a 1/2 marathon walking group. He asked me when deciding to do a marathon how did I decide to do it. I told him that I said I never wanted to do a marathon but secretly I told myself I really wanted to do one,

Runners Giving Back - The Joplin Day of Caringby Denise Shook

so I started training for the Disney World Marathon, then I changed my mind and was just going to do the 1/2 marathon so when I checked the website, I had already missed the cutoff to change my mind, so I did the marathon and it was the best experience ever!

If you ever get to speak with Jeff Galloway please do.

After working all day we loaded the buses to return where we started and they had set up the finish line and we all ran through the finish line and the race photog-raphers took our pictures, just like they would if we were finishing a

race, then they handed us medals, which we were not expecting and the Rotary club feed us.

This medal I will always remember in a special way and next year I will be there to do the Boomtown 1/2 marathon in 2012.

Articles Wanted!

Runners. What is it about runners that allow us to have such an open conversation about any-thing and everything with other runners? I guess a better question might be how can we have these conversations with a random runner we don’t even know?

Everyone has had one of these chats, either during a race or just out for a training run along Riverside. And some of the topics certainly aren’t ones you would strike up while standing in the check out line of your grocery store. Nothing is off limits while running, but try to talk about any bodily function when you don’t have running gear on and see what happens.

Do you have a funny story about one of these random conversations? Did one get you through a tough spot during a race? Do you know someone who has accomplished great things running?

What’s better than hearing running stories from other runners, send your story and we will pub-lish in the next TREAD! Stories can be 200-300 words and sent to newsletter@tulsarunningclub.com. Look forward to hearing your tales!

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Special Thanks to our TRC Sponsors

The Tulsa Running Club would like to recognize and thank its sponsors:

Gold Medal:

Silver Medal: Bob Soucek, CPA, CommunityCare, Glen’s Road Race Service, Peace Chiropractic, Tulsa Run & Walman Commercial Real Estate Services

Bronze Medal: Brookside Cleaners, Crystal Pools, ENGlobal Engineering & Sherwin-Williams

If you are interested in a TRC sponsorship package or would like more information, please send an e-mail to info@tulsarunningclub.com.

Tulsa Running Club Board Members and their DutiesName: Duties:

Shawna Simpson TRC PresidentKim McCall TRC SecretaryGary Hawkins TRC TreasurerGeoff Simpson IT Director / Mohawk 5000 Race Director

Robert Anquoe Kristin Bunch Wes Hollander Derek Jones William McFadden Darryl Stillson John Williams

Questions? Interested in joining the TRC board? Send an e-mail to info@tulsarunningclub.com.

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Race To End Alzheimer’sLocal runner fights Alzheimer’s disease on behalf of her mother

THE TEAM LEADER WHO SAW A DISEASE

STEAL HER MOTHER’S PAST AND IS DETERMINED

NOT TO LET IT TAKE HER DAUGHTER’S FUTURE.

ORU CAMPUSAUGUST 27, 2011

5K RACE - 8 A.M.

WALK - 9:30 A.M.

BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO RECLAIM THE FUTURE

TULSAWALK.ORG918.481.7840

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT ALZHEIMER’S CARE, SUPPORT & RESEARCH

Erin Peters is an avid runner, wife and mother, but there is one role in her life she never expected to hold, and that is the role of caregiver to her mom who was diagnosed with Younger-onset Alzheimer’s in 2001 at the age of only 58. Before the diagnosis, Erin started noticing changes in her mom’s behavior. She no longer could ver-balize words for everyday items or perform simple daily tasks, includ-ing boiling eggs or filling out a check. Soon the family discovered the culprit for her memory loss. “I remember the day my parents shared the news with us, we were

all optimistic but knew we had a battle ahead…I hold optimism for my children and realize we had no idea Alzheimer’s would be the hardest battle ever fought,” said Erin.

More than 5.4 million Americans are living with this deteriorating disease and unless something is done, that number is expected to triple by 2050. As the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, Alzheimer’s disease is the only one among the top 10 without a way to prevent, cure of even slow its progression. It kills more Amer-icans than diabetes, and more than breast cancer and prostate cancer

combined. Unfortunately, Erin’s mom was diagnosed Alzheimer’s before age 65, which has been found to progress more quickly than for those individuals who are diagnosed after 65 years of age. Erin soon reached out to the Al-zheimer’s Association to cope with emotions and questions about the disease and to access the free sup-port services they offer individuals and caregivers experiencing Al-zheimer’s. Also, at this time, Erin incorporated running into her ac-tive lifestyle as a way to deal with Alzheimer’s.

cont...

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THE TEAM LEADER WHO SAW A DISEASE

STEAL HER MOTHER’S PAST AND IS DETERMINED

NOT TO LET IT TAKE HER DAUGHTER’S FUTURE.

ORU CAMPUSAUGUST 27, 2011

5K RACE - 8 A.M.

WALK - 9:30 A.M.

BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO RECLAIM THE FUTURE

TULSAWALK.ORG918.481.7840

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT ALZHEIMER’S CARE, SUPPORT & RESEARCH

“There are many studies that correlate brain and heart health which was a big incentive,” said Erin. “I also find running to be a great stress reliever which is key in coping with the day-to-day re-ality of caring for a family mem-ber suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

In 2005, Erin began volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Associa-tion to raise awareness and funds through the Tulsa Memory Walk and the Annual Tulsa Memory Gala. “We need people to realize that Alzheimer’s is an epidemic and funding for critical research is needed to find a cure,” said Erin.

“By being involved, I feel like I am doing something to help my mom in her battle against Alzheimer’s.” Last year, Erin decided to take her passion for running and combine it with her heart for fighting Al-zheimer’s disease by coordinating a USATF sanctioned 5K, “Race To End Alzheimer’s”. More than 200 Tulsa runners attended the run, and along with other participants at the Tulsa Walk, raised over $344,000 for Alzheimer’s care, support and critical-research. “Tulsa has such a great running community and I want them to have the opportunity to come together and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s

disease,” said Erin. Erin is planning the 5K Race To End Alzheimer’s again for a sec-ond year and it is scheduled to precede the Tulsa Walk To End Alzheimer’s on August 27, 2011 at the ORU Campus.

The whole Tulsa community is in-vited to attend the run and the walk as a movement to reclaim the future. “It has been heart wrenching to stand by and watch help-lessly as my mom

We Want Your Articles!

Do you have an article you would like to see printed in the TRC newsletter? If so, please send an e-mail to newsletter@tulsarunningclub.com.

has been fighting a losing battle against Alzheimer’s. I cannot have my children go through the same process with me and I absolutely cannot have this remain an incur-able disease for their generation.” The end of Alzheimer’s starts here. Call 918.481.7840 or visit tulsawalk.org to register to the Walk and to access the registration link for the Race To End Alzheim-er’s. For more information about how the Alzheimer’s Association can help, call 1.800.272.3900 or visit alz.org/alzokar

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Footnotes: You’ve Got to Move it, Especially When TravelingDVT and How to Prevent Blood Clots During TravelBy Dr. Maureen L. Crotty, DPM

Are you planning to travel anytime soon?

If you’ll be spend-ing long periods of time sitting

still (either in your car or on an airplane) you may want to take heed of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

What is DVT? It can be painful and dangerous if you don’t know what it is and how to identify it while you’re travelling. DVT can affect anyone but is most prevalent in adults over 60 years of age. DVT mainly affects the larger veins in the lower legs and thighs.

A blood clot can develop and block blood flow, causing pain and swelling. A blood clot that breaks free and moves through the bloodstream is called an embolism.

An embolism can lodge in the brain, heart, or lungs and cause severe damage.

The risk factors for DVT and blood clots include:• long periods of bed rest;• cigarette smoking;• fractures in the pelvis or legs;• giving birth within the last 6 months;• heart failure;• medications such as estro-gen and birth control pills;• obesity; and• recent surgery.

There are ways to avoid DVT if you happen to have any of these risk factors. First and foremost, moving your legs often during long plane trips, car trips, and other situations in which you are sitting or lying down for long periods of time can help prevent DVT. You can do ankle circles, knee bends, and thigh lifts right in your seat.

It’s also important to get up and move during plane travel. If you are travelling by car, stop periodically and walk for a few minutes. By mov-ing around, you decrease your risk of DVT significantly. Clinical evidence suggests that wearing compression socks or tights while travel-ling reduces the incidence of

DVT on long flights, especially if you have any of the risk factors identified above.

These products help improve circulation, which can be particu-larly important to decrease the risk of DVT. If you’d like to talk with a podia-trist about any questions you may have to help maintain healthy feet and ankles, or for a complete evaluation, please give us a call at Green Country Podiatry.

Our Doctors and staff are always ready to help if you need treat-ment of foot and ankle condi-tions.

Please logon to www.gcpod.com, or call 918-747-4855 for more information.

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The Dirty 30 - Couple Styleby Jessica Baxter

Today, with every my every muscle screaming for attention, it is hard to remember whose idea it was in the first place to run the The Dirty 30 5k.

I remember coming across their booth at the OKC Marathon expo and reading the flyer, “1 Day + 2 Charities + 5k + 7 Tons of Mud + 15 Obstacles” and noticing that race day fell temptingly close to my husband, Clint’s, thirtieth birthday.

I remember suggesting that running The Dirty 30 might be a funky way to celebrate his milestone birthday. But it was my husband himself who clicked ‘send’ on our registration forms and thereby sealed our fate.

We pulled into Mulhall, Okla-homa amid record high tem-peratures with our rattiest, retired running shoes on foot. Clint and I lined up with blind optimism, ready to run the inaugural race.

The race director announced a few vague warnings about loose rock and bottle necking, and we were off to run the hardest 5k of our lives.

The first mile boasted gnarly trail running along a dry creek bed. The wave start allowed only 300 run-ners on course, so quickly we fell into a manageable pack.

Abruptly after crossing a steep ravine, we encountered our first ob-stacle: a 16-foot wall, draped with only a knotted rope. Next came a hill, and some more intense trail running, and then to what should have been a water station but was instead a tent of very apologetic volunteers. No water, but onward we ran.

The following miles are a blur of mud, tires, gangly legs, barbed wire and soggy shoes. Back to back mud pits were the highlights of the course, and it was inside of them that I accepted how drastically un-

derrated upper body strength is.

In fact, I would surely still be there trapped inside of the six-foot puddles if my husband had not turned around and fished me out.

We crossed fences and hay bales, and cooled ourselves in a swim through a cow pond. After scal-

ing the cargo-net, I ditched my weighty shoes and joined the world of the barefoot runner. Barefoot runner chasedby fire ants.

I don’t remember who crossed first (ok, I do) and I don’t remember exactly how long it took me to rinse all of the red dirt out of my ponytail, but I do remember the feeling of cross-ing the finish line of the hardest 5k I have ever run.

Hot, squishy and spectacular.

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9th Annual Cleveland High School600 N Gilbert Cleveland, OK

08.27.11Registration Opens at 6 AM

Race Starts at 8 AM

Proceeds go to: Cleveland High School

Athletic Department Mannford Public Schools Keystone Public School Woodland Public School Jennings Public School Prue Public School

Register Online Today! cimtel.net/5k2011/registernow.html

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For more information, call one of our Customer Care associates at 918.865.3311 or visit our web site at cimtel.net.

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