Walking trails aren't necessary in Norman

I am a long-distance runner training for my third OKC Marathon, so believe me when I say that I have run over much of Norman.

I would like to say that Norman is an excellent place to run as is. In my hometown, there were only two neighborhoods to choose from. Otherwise, I had to run down roads where cars were going more than 35 mph, and their drivers were not exactly looking out for runners.

After four years and one marathon season of that, Norman is like a runner's paradise. Crosswalks and sidewalks and those nice metal buttons that make all the cars stop for you are priceless.

But stopping at lights does break the pace, so if you can't stand the main roads, there are more than enough neighborhoods to run in with minimal pauses to look both ways before crossing the street.

A trail would be nice, but I don't see where there's space for one within walking or running distance of campus. And I highly doubt any trail is going to be more than two or three miles long if it is built, meaning that I'd rarely use it.

Why run three two-mile laps when I can literally run to

Wal-Mart instead?

I encourage anyone that thinks they have to have a trail to run in Norman to just get off campus and explore. Norman is an amazing city, with a park or garden around every corner.

There are also wonderful people. To any of you drivers that have waited on me to cross the street or fellow runners that smile as we pass, I want you to know I appreciate it.

-- Amanda Drabek, chemical engineering sophomore
hello there & you too