COOL RUNNIN'S

Photos courtesy of Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa

With hundreds of miles of runs planned in the metro for November and December, there may be a few sore muscles thrown into this season's holiday mix. But never fear, Tulsa -- a little hair of that ever-so-fit dog that bit will bring back the smiles -- so keep running.

Here's a lineup of some of the season's best runs, walks, marathons and downright weird hybrids: something for every enthusiast.

Route 66 Mock Marathon & Half Marathon

A jaunt with the classic jive, the Route 66 Mock Marathon and Half Marathon commences Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8am. As this event is a prep run for the Williams Route 66 Marathon and Half Marathon, there is no registration fee. However, a $5 minimum donation is required to participate. Runners will begin at Veteran's Park, 600 S. Boulder Ave., and finish at Riverside Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave. Nov. 2 is the last day you may register online, but you may also sign up at the event and provide your donation in cash. For more info and to register visit runnersworldtulsa.com

Turkey TATURS

It sounds more like holiday comfort food, but Turkey TATURS is in fact quite the opposite. Turkey TATURS, sponsored by the Tulsa Area Trail & Ultra Runners, takes place Sunday, Nov. 4 at Turkey Mountain. The course may be conquered in a variety of lengths, 50K(31 miles), 25K(15 miles), and 10K(6 miles). All races begin and end at the Westside YMCA, 5400 S. Olympia Ave., with the 50K beginning at 6:30 am, the 25K at 7:00pm, and the 10K at 7:30am. Runners are encouraged to bring snacks, safety supplies, and water in addition to wearing appropriate clothing. Visit tatur.org for more info on the course or to register.

Mc Nellie's Pub Run

The McNellie's Pub Run kicks off at 3pm, Nov. 10, with the one-mile Fun Run getting underway at 3:10pm. Race registration opens at noon on the day of the run, with pre-registration online an option as well. To register online go to mcnelliespubrun.com and select the Tulsa location. The event most popular with those who wish to hydrate with something other than water is the 4-Mile Pub Run with Guinness Challenge, which requires participants to finish three 12oz Guinness pints during the 4-mile course. All races start in front of Fleet Feet, 418 E. 2nd St., and end at McNellie's Pub, 409 E. 1st St.

Williams Route 66 Marathon, 5k & Fun Run and Williams Route 66 Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay

Spanning two days, the Williams Route 66 5K Fun Run and Mascot Dash take place Saturday, Nov. 17 with the Williams Route 66 Marathon, Half-Marathon and Marathon Relay taking place Sunday, Nov. 18. Registration may be completed online, prices varying by the length of event chosen. Runs held Saturday, Nov. 17 begin and end at Veteran's Park, 600 S. Boulder Ave., with the 5K Run and Walk starting at 8am, the 1-Mile Fun Run at 9am, the Mascot Dash at 9:30am. Events held on Sunday, Nov. 18 all begin at 8am downtown at 7th and Main Streets. The Williams Route 66 Marathon also offers a Center of The Universe Detour, incorporating the strange Tulsa icon into a race which draws professional runners from around the globe, also adding an extra .3 miles onto the course. For more info or to register online visit route66marathon.com.

Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot is a nation-wide event generally held the day after Thanksgiving. Our local trot follows suit, taking off on a very black Friday, Nov. 23. Dark, but by no means dreary, this event is presented by Embassy Suites of Tulsa and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, with proceeds being donated to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. Tulsa's Turkey Trot is also given support by yet another familiar face, Fleet Feet. Located at, 5968 S. Yale Ave., with another location at 418 E. 2nd St., both Fleet Feet locations still offer registration opportunities for runners, even though online registration is closed. Race day registration is also an alternative, and begins at 7:30am in the official Winterfest Warming Tent. Credit cards are not accepted for race-day registration, but checks or cash will cover the cost. All three of the treks begin near the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave., at downtown's annual Winterfest Celebration, at 3rd Street and Denver Avenue. The 5k Run and Walk begins at 8:30am, with the Fun Run and Walk kicking off at the slightly more humane hour of 9:30am. The Fun Run and walk extends only a mile, with the 5k Run and Walk and the Marathon following the course further.

Half & Half or Double Half

Held Sunday, Dec. 16, the race begins at Turkey Mountain, 69th Street and Elwood Avenue, at 9am and offers both a 13.1 and 26.2 mile version. Registration may be submitted online, with the closing registration date being December 8. This event is unique as it features paved and unpaved path, with both the Half & Half and Double events being run simultaneously. Registration is limited to 500, and pre-registration will be available at Runner's World Tulsa during normal store hours from December 10-15. For more information visit runnersworldtulsa.com.

Race into the New Year

Also offering signup online, or as a printable mail-in form, Runner's World allows those who wish to run in the new year a chance to sign up at Runner's World Tulsa locations, until 1pm Saturday, December 31. A great way to jump start the year's resolution, Race into the New Year features a variety of events including a 5K course, a 1-mile Fun Run, and a Dog Jog. All runs begin and end at the River Parks West Amphitheatre, located in the River West Festival Park 2100 S. Jackson Ave. For more information visit runnersworldtulsa.com.