D-M-X! If You Want It, We Got It. Come and Get It!

OK Runner, Norman, OK


A big fella strolled into OK Runner one afternoon wearing a pair of the original Reebok DMX shoes. They might have actually been the second generation or color way, but I remember them vividly. When I was in junior high Reebok ran an advertising campaign on this new technology they had invented. It was the company's goal to compete with Nike in the running market at the time of visible air pockets, so Reebok came out with air chambers on the bottom of the shoe. The air was supposed to move through the chambers to provide a more natural transition and overall more comfortable fit. Air that could move? I had to have some. I think I was the first fool in line to buy these guys when I was going through puberty. Such a foolish decision. The shoes sucked. I couldn't tell that the air moved, the shoes were heavy and they rubbed a blister on, what I now know to be, my lateral malleolus. Simply awful.

I still have the original pair, or at least I should if my mom hasn't thrown them out since I've been gone. They probably have only been run in for 50 miles and maybe worn another dozen times. It was surprising to see these old foes on a customer's feet. I'm sure he was happy to put something else on considering the horrible fit the 'boks are known to have. I know the Native American/American Indian looking dude had the shoes for quite some time because he told me so, but I wonder where they were purchased. I'm certain the shoes weren't tucked away in his closet for a decade. My guess is that he bought them at a discount store like DSW or Ross. And, no I'm not making a socioeconomic reference to the dude being Native American/American Indian. If I were I'd being saying something about alcoholism or diabetes. My conjecture is that since the shoes haven't been made in quite some time I suspect that a place like Ross would be one of the few stores to have some in stock. I really need to remember to search for my pair when I'm back home. The DMX 'boks are a classic shoe flop in my book.

Your Grandma Wears Skeleton Shoes

OK Runner, Norman, OK


This little grandma was a badass! She gave a whole new meaning to your parents' childhood phrase "your mom wears combat boots." Cookie came into the store one afternoon looking to kill some time browsing the apparel section of the running store. Yes, that's right, her name was Cookie. With a name like Cookie, she's gotta be sweet! I could see her handing out business cards with something like that printed on the back of her contact information. It's too bad she wasn't a real estate agent or baker because I really think she would have done well for herself. Instead, I believe I heard her say she was a former elementary school teacher. I wonder if she wore such cool shoes to class. She would have earned the respect of her students immediately if she had chosen to do so. My teachers in elementary school were certain to rock out in the ever so lovely S.A.S. leathers. Actually, I don't remember, but that probably was the case.

Cookie had a lot of spunk. She was definitely the type of figure who could remain upbeat even under the most depressing of circumstances. I see Cookie taking the news of a doctor telling her that she has breast cancer in a positive way. It would take a lot to get Cookie in depressed spirits as her attitude exuded positivity. Ms. Cookie immediately bonded with Anna as the two talked about grandkids and the teaching profession.

When I saw Cookie walk in the door I knew her shoes had to be posted because they seemed to be one of a kind. However, a few days later I spotted another person wearing shoes quite similar to Cookie's. That was a little rain on my parade. The shoes were probably purchased at Target for $19.99 and are most likely seen on the feet of teenagers. Regardless, I like the bedazzled look of the Chuck Talor-esque Converse shoes and think they were the perfect fit for someone like Cookie. Rock on grandma!

We Are Not the Champion

OK Runner, Norman, OK

I snapped these bad boys while a customer was outside testing out a new pair of running shoes. He was an odd but educated man who worked in the exercise science department at OU. He had been sent in for a bit of advice by OKC Marathon winner and OU student, Jenny Graef. When I was about to hand the left shoe to the guy so that he could try it on, he specifically asked to see the right one first. I wonder if he has a quirk where he needs to put on the right shoe first similar to how I have to tie my left shoe first. It doesn't matter the order of which the shoes are put on but the left shoes has to be tied first. I'm not sure why, but that's the way it's done. The guy today didn't seem too particular with other things but I was only around him for a few minutes. I wonder if there are certain ways to make a sandwich or eat a pancake? I just know that I wouldn't want to be a part of his lab or conduct any experiments with him because I would guess that the method of doing something would be more important than the results.

I'm getting detached from the shoes that he wore in which weren't in too bad other than the fact that they were made by Champion. Doesn't Champion make beefy t-shirts and jock straps? These were definitely from Champion's casual line of sneakers and hopefully weren't designed to be worn during athletic endeavors. The leather upper was generally clean and had a sense of old school simplicity to it. I liked the four stripes which reminded me of Adidas Sambas. I'm sure I will have a post about the classic indoor soccer boot at some point so I will save those comments for another day.