Go Girl, Go!

Go St. Louis sponsors two major running race days during the year, a marathon and shorter races in the spring, and a Hallow-Dee-n half marathon and shorter races in October. In 2017 the Go St. Louis marathon was my last marathon (as in the last one I did and the last one I’m going to do). I then limited myself to half marathons, including the 2021 Hallow-Dee-n run in Dee mode. In 2023 I decided to drop down to the 10K distance, and won my age group in both. Thus, it was pretty easy to decide to compete in the 10K this year, aiming for three age group wins in a row.

One of the requirements is picking up your race packet the day before the race. For a couple of weeks prior, I mentally debated whether I should pick up the packet dressed. I wasn’t worried about running into anyone I knew–I don’t belong to a running club or anything like that, so I don’t really know many runners. The only concern was my presentation wasn’t going to match the name on the packet, and dealing with the people handing out the packets. I finally decided it really didn’t matter whether the person knew that I dressed, because they didn’t know me. In short, like a lot of times in the cross dressing world, our worries are greatly exaggerated. 

It was a reasonably nice day so I decided to wear an Akira top I had not worn before, under a pinafore dress from Australia, one I had worn previously with a combination of tops. I combined it with my multi-purpose jean jacket. I decided it was a reasonably sporty look for the occasion. 

The pickup location was St. Louis Union Station, the former train station originally repurposed as a shopping mall, and then again as a tourist attraction. I’d been a number of times in boy mode, but never as Dee. That was part of the appeal in going dressed.

Walking in–there were a fair number of other race participants and other tourists–was a non-event, as was actually getting my packet. I had my race number so I just had to ask for the number (and not my name). The volunteer gave me my packet without a fuss and I was on my way.

The next mission was to find some backdrops to take pictures. There is a main hall where I had previously been for a dinner and a wedding that had a high and elaborate ceiling, and I proceeded to it. There were also side rooms where I could set my phone and take pictures. It’s always fun to visit new places dressed, ones you have been to a number of times, but dressed a bit differently. 

After about a half hour of wandering around and taking pictures, I headed to Refresh, a thrift store I had seen but had not been to before. It had lots of nice clothes, and a second floor devoted to formal wear and prom dresses. My GG friend Ms. Dee-ism is looking for a more formal dress for a wedding we are both going to attend (she can wear a dress to the wedding; I won’t be). I was walking through the racks, taking pictures of dresses and texting the pictures to her. She was interested enough we later made plans for a shopping trip to the store at a later date. I tried on a few things, a splurged and spent $7 for a cute summer dress that will eventually show up in these pages. 

As to the actual race, I did pretty well, running 55 minutes and change. I finished just out of the top 150 (out of over 1,000 entries), but had my two run win streak snapped by a runner, from all places, Cleveland (no it wasn’t Kan-Dee; we are in different age groups and she is a shot horse*). I consider myself the local champion. Maybe come October I’ll pull out my Dee running outfit and see if Dee can get a win.

*editorial comment