The “Mini” Marathon

 
ROW 1: 2014 OLYMPIC SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE GOLD MEDALIST, JAMIE ANDERSON AND YOUR SOS EDITOR, CLAUDIA LEBENTHAL; SUPER STYLIN’ RUNNER AT THE START; FINISH LINE PRE-RACE; ROW 2: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER SARAH HENDRICKSON; VIEW FROM THE RACE; WINNER MARY KEITANY (31:15) WITH EDNA KIPLAGAT (3rd) AND BETSY SAINA (2nd). Photo courtesy of NYRR

 
On a steamy summer day more typical of August than June, elite and recreational runners alike took to New York City’s Central Park and bordering Central Park West Saturday morning for the Oakley Mini 10k. I was invited to run on Team Oakley, the sponsor of the race, and decked out in cool Oakley Women gear, I joined the record number of 7,874 finishers. Although it’s called the “Mini”, this morning’s heat made the 6.2 mile race feel more like a marathon.

Founded in 1972 by New York Road Runners, what was then called a the “mini” marathon was the world’s first road race exclusively for women, and featured 72 finishers in its inaugural running. The race got its name from NYRR founder Fred Lebow who convinced sponsors to support a 6 mile “mini” marathon and named it after the miniskirt. It was later lengthened another .2 miles to a 10k race. For those of you who grew up in NYC like myself, you might remember its former name, the “Leggs Mini Marathon” — the title sponsor being the panty hose packaged in the egg shaped container.

Running alongside me this morning were Oakley ambassadors Jamie Anderson, 2014 Olympic Snowboard Slopestyle Gold Medalist, and Olympic Ski Jumper Sarah Hendrickson. Oakley’s new ONE OBSESSION campaign invites all athletes to join the brand’s global network of 450 renowned ambassadors in living out their passions. Always fun having Olympic athletes as teammates and not bad getting to hang out at the VIP tent right at the finish line either!

 
 

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