November 17, 2008

Run to Stay Warm | Sat Nov 21 - Eugene

Do you still have the energy to compete even though the season is dwindling down? Then take part in the only half marathon going on in the region! Even if you're not up for the half, Run to Stay Warm also features a 10k, 5k, and Kids 400m dash - there is something for everyone. All courses start and finish at the EWEB Plaza. From there you will wind along the mighty Willamette River and through Alton Baker Park. All courses are flat, fast and scenic. For details of the various routes, click here.

Not only will you get to run in a fall classic with beautiful scenery, you'll also be helping a great cause. Proceeds from the event will benefit EWEB's Customer Care Program to help income-eligible customers who are having difficulty paying their utility bills - more than 4,000 households are helped each year by EWEB. Awards will be given out to the top three overall male and female finishers, as well as the top finisher in each age division. All kids who take part in the 400 meter dash receive ribbons. To register, you can go to EWEB Customer Service Center or online. For more information, check out the website.

Posted by orbike at 10:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 11, 2008

Runner Profile | Rebecca Crockett

Because she played soccer for most of her life, Rebecca Crockett obviously spent some serious time running up and down the field. However, now that her soccer playing days are long over, starting distance running seemed pretty daunting. "I always imagined runners to be that crazy no-fat-on-any-part-of-his-body-dude you see running at 5 in the morning. But I came to realize that it's actually a sport that people of all shapes and sizes love. So I decided to give it a shot."

Rebecca convinced a friend to start a training program with her using a "Couch Potato to 5k" podcast. "The music can sometimes be pretty dorky, but it allows beginners like us to learn to pace ourselves and build up a solid base at the same time." Rebecca also found that having a friend to train with made running way more enjoyable than if she had been doing it by herself. "Running became a chance to socialize as well as get in shape."

Rebecca chose the Run Like Hell 5k to be her inaugural race. "I figured since there were costumes involved, it wouldn't be too intense." So she and three friends jumped on the costume bandwagon and decided to be 80's baton twirlers, which turned out to be a cure for her first-race jitters. "The glittery spandex we were wearing made me crack up at the start and forget a little about what I was about to do." Rebecca ended finishing faster than expected and was surprised at the amount of fun she had that morning. She has since decided to run more races and work her way up to a half marathon. How did she reward herself after her first race, though? "Cold beer, a soak in the hot tub, and then a Portland classic - a little stripperaoke!"

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