Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Race Preview: Uberthons Summer Half Marathon

Looking for a Half Marathon to run this Summer?  I have found you a great one!  The Uberthons Summer Half!
 I recently talked with Stephanie from Heirloom Roses. Last year when Stephanie started working for Heirloom Roses, she knew it was a perfect location for an Uberthons event.  After talking with

Stephanie and seeing some of the beautiful photos, I am sure this will be a perfect location too!  I'm really excited about running this on July 18th!


 Heirloom Roses is located at 24062 Riverside Drive NE, St. Paul, OR.

Not a fan of the half marathon? No worries, Uberthons offers a 5k and a 10k going on that same day as well.

Half Marathon ~ $75.00
10k ~ $40.00
5k ~ $30.00

Start time: 8:00 am

The Course includes one small hill at mile 6.  You get to go back down that hill at mile 10. The Incline cumulative gain is 258 feet.  The course is for the most part flat! 

This race is limited to 300 people, so don't delay in getting registered!  You can register here

Parking is very close, so there is no need for a bag check. 

There will be 7 water and electrolyte startions  along the course along with some watermelon stations. 

Packet pick up will be Thursday July 16th from 4 pm-8 pm at Road Runner Sports in Tualatin, OR. 

Check out more Q&A's here

Some facts and interesting information about Heirloom Roses 

Own Root Roses
All roses shipped and sold from Heirloom Roses are grown on their own roots. Own root roses provide more profuse blooms, are more winter hardy, disease resistant, and there is no graft to contend with. Our commitment to quality ensures that you'll always know what to expect when you order from us.
Own Root Roses Provide the Following:
Healthier Plants
More disease resistant
More Blooms
True to Type
No Virus
More Winter Hardy
Long Life
No Root Stock Suckers
Virus-Free Roses
Heirloom Roses has been a leader in bringing virus problems to the attention of the public and industry. Virus-free roses are healthier, more winter hardy, produce up to 20% more blooms and are more disease resistant.
As a family-owned business, we understand the value of history and tradition. That is why we are passionate about hand cutting and propagating each rose to preserve unique and rare roses and honor the art of growing them on their own roots.
Our love of roses is deeply rooted in our knowledge that gardens go beyond just physical beauty. It provides a place of solace or social gatherings, where peace and beauty can be enjoyed to refresh a soul.
Heirloom Roses is located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, one of the finest climates in the world for growing roses. Located just 25 miles south of Portland, also known as the “City of Roses,” our gardens feature thousands of beautiful, fragrant roses.
River-Side-Garden-for-Web
Visitors can walk through seven acres of gardens and be whisked away by the fragrance of each rose. From old garden roses to the very newest hybrid teas and everything in between, our gardens provide something for all rose lovers to enjoy.

We invite you to visit our gardens to relive memories and make new ones. Bring a book to read, brushes to paint, or lunch to enjoy in the midst of our roses. Whether you come alone or with the company of others, you will feel as if you are among friends at Heirloom Roses.
Gardens are open to the public, free of charge. Visit us year round from dawn till dusk. Roses are in bloom from May to October.

Follow Heirloom Roses on facebook here
Follow Uberthons on facebook here

Heirloom Roses can also be found on Instagram at HEIRLOOM_ROSES

Uberthons at UBERTHONSRUNNING

Happy Running Friends, Hope to see you at the Uberthons Summer Half

You can follow me at ZaoFit

Upcoming Races:

Uberthons Summer Half ~ July 18th
Albany Half  ~ Aug 15th

Monday, June 22, 2015

Blueberry Dessert

Looking for a easy "good-for-you" dessert this summer?  Blueberries are in season in now, making this even better!


Add to blender or food processor:
3/4 cup 2% cottage cheese
1/2 cup blueberries
2 tsp stevia or raw honey (I prefer the honey)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Blend till smooth. 


3 servings, 87 calories, .9g fat, 16.9g carbs, and 4.1g protein per serving.

Try this recipe with other fruits too!

Follow me at ZaoFit

Monday, June 15, 2015

The Dam Marathon

Last Saturday, June 13th I got the opportunity to run The Dam Marathon Half. This is a race I had found last year on line, but didn't get down that way to run it.  This year, I not only got to run it, I got the honor of blogging for them.  

This race was hosted by Oregon Outdoor Sports and raised funds for Cystic Fibrosis. They offer a number of great events on July 13th, and are very affordable.

Marathon $69.00
Half Marathon $59.00
5k Walk or Run $20.00
10k Run $20.00
Hike $20.00

All events start at Green Waters Park in Oakridge, Oregon 

Marathon start ~ 8:30 am
Half start ~ 10:30 am
5k and 10k ~ 11:00
Hike ~ 10:30

Proceeds go to Fibrosis Healthy Life Foundation 

This event had some fun things going on.  Before and after the race, live music was playing. There was plenty of snacks, drinks, and kombucha for all the runners.  They had plenty of prizes being given out in a drawing at the awards ceremony. There was a bouncy house for the kids. There was also a taco stand and fresh squeezed lemonade stand.

The course started and ended at Green Water Park in Oakridge Oregon.  I ran the half marathon that day!  The half was part of the Marathon course, so I got to see some of the Marathon runners coming back on the out-and-back course.

There were plenty of hydration stations.  Every 2 to 3 miles I saw one. The tables had snacks and drinks.  There was restrooms at the start, miles 5, 7, and the finish.

The course is described as "beautiful!"  The first mile is a trail that crosses over a bridge through a tall forest.  The 2nd mile is along the Willamette River.  The 3rd mile is an upward climb along the west side of the dam.  The turn-a-round it the half way point, going back the same way, ending back at Green Water park.




I loved running this half. I do plan on running either the full or half in 2016.  It's not a course I would go out for a PR (personal record) at, but it's absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed every minute of it!  From the bridge, trails, and running along the Willamette river, to finishing up at the park! 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dam Marathon Half, in Julie's eyes!

Saturday July 13th I drove down to Oakridge Oregon, to run The Dam Half with my friend Amy.  I had just run Newport Marathon two weeks prier, so I went to blog and encourage Amy with a PR. It was supposed to be a beautiful course, so I was excited to get running! 
My race (the half) didn't start until 10:30.  I have never started a race this late unless it was an evening run.  It was getting warm, but I wasn't too worried knowing we would have some shade, and I wasn't going to be racing today.  Amy, her husband Eric, and I stood with the other runners as last minute instructions were given.  

Soon we were off, running through the grass onto a trail, and over a bridge.  Running over the bridge was terrifying yet spectacular all at the same time.  I love running by water, and the Willamette is one of the best!  The bridge, as big and awesome as it was, shook with every step.  I had a horrible thought of all us runners falling into the Willamette as the bridge broke from runners beating it to death!  The bridge did hold up, and soon we were heading up a trail head.  Part of the trail was paved and part was dirt and little rocks.  All pretty easy to run on.  It was narrow for about a mile.  Then it widen back up.  

I hadn't looked at the elevation chart or studied the course map at all.  Amy warned me of a hill a mile or two into the race.  I didn't feel the hill was too bad, but then again, I wasn't pushing


my pace either.  It did seem to last a long time.  There was more than just the one hill too.  I felt like the whole 6+ miles to the turn around was a lot of elevation gain.  When I got home and looked up the elevation chart.  Sure enough, I was correct!  

As we got to the turn-a-round, I looked at my friend Amy and said, "It's all down hill from here."  I think Amy sighed a sigh of relief in that moment! 

The turn-a-round sign was off the road next to an aid station.  I wasn't for sure at first if this was our turn-a-round or not.  I asked the volunteers and sure enough it was!  

We grabbed a drink of water as it was quickly heating up and headed back down the mountain.   I was a happy runner.  Enjoying every moment.  I found it fun to encourage the other's out running that day!  I did have a moment of wishing I was racing, but that quickly passed as it heated up more and more, and as I talked to Amy! She is good company after all! On the trail head back to the park Amy was able to pass people!  She was talking to me, so I was pretty sure she wasn't going to die!  I kept telling her how close we were.  How her husband was waiting at the finish line for her!  You know, all those annoying things people try to encourage you with,
but nothing matters but simply being DONE!  Well, Amy did it!  She came in 1 minute 20 seconds UNDER her goal PR time!  She PRed by nearly 12 minutes overall.  I was very proud of her!  She kept pushing, in the heat and when it got very difficult.  She wasn't expecting as
many hills as there actually were.  So the fact that she still went under her goal time, goes to show how strong she is!  

Amy, Eric and I sat and listened to some awards be given out, some music being played, and just relaxed in the beautiful weather.  About 76 degrees by now.

I do want to come back in 2016 for either the half or the full!  Who will join me?



Follow me at ZaoFit 

Upcoming races in 2015



August 15th Albany Half Marathon








Friday, June 5, 2015

The Dam Marathon ~ Race Preview

The Marathon Course
Let the FUN begin! June 13th at 8:00 am join us for The Dam Marathon

Marathon $69.00
Half Marathon $59.00
5k Walk or Run $20.00
10k Run $20.00
Hike $20.00

We will start at Green Waters Park in Oakridge, Oregon

Marathon start ~ 8:00 am
Half start ~ 10:30 am
5k and 10k ~ 11;00
Hike ~ 10:30

Proceeds go to Fibrosis Healthy Life Foundation

I am excited to run the Dam Half for the first time on June 13th.  The Hills Creek Dam gates are opened just for the runners! We will get to run across the actual dam, along the headwaters of the Willamette River. 
~There will be plenty of hydration stations (about every 2 miles).  ~There will be restrooms at the start, mile 13.9, mile 21 and the finish line. 
~There will be a bag drop if you need to leave some things to have handy at the finish line. 
Green Waters Park is a big park.  The Dam Marathon welcome's the whole family.  Local Rafting will be offered by Upstream Adventures for the day of the event.
~There will be live music by the Hank Shreve Band.  There will be food and fun!!! What an opportunity! It's not too late to join me! Register HERE!


Follow me at ZaoFit

2015 Scheduled Races:
August 15th Albany Half Marathon

Monday, June 1, 2015

Newport Marathon 2015 Review and Personal Blog

Newport Marathon 2015 was my 8th marathon, 4th time running Newport!
2015 was Newport's 17th annual Marathon.  It was held on Saturday May 30th on Oregon's beautiful central coast.  They offered a half marathon and a full marathon, both selling out well before May 30th.  I had five friends who were planning on running either the half or full who waited too long and were greatly disappointed.  This is one you need to register early to ensure your spot.

Newport Marathon registration fees:
Before March 1st ~ $85.00
Before April 1st ~ $95.00
Until it fills up ~ $105.00

Half Marathon registration fees:
Before March 1st ~ $75.00
Before April 1st ~ $80.00
Until it fills up ~ $85.00

The course starts for all walkers and runners up at Yaquina State Park.  6:00 am early start for walkers, 7:00 am for the marathoners and 7:45 for the half marathon.  We went North along the ocean, through some of Newport's neighborhoods. There are some rolling hills and lots of people out cheering for this part of the race.  About mile three we headed back to the starting area, then down under the Yaquina Bay Bridge to the Bay.  Going under the bridge is spectacular.  There are people everywhere.  There was a school band playing as we ran by.  As you go down along the bay, you get the fresh smell of fish and hold your breath for a second! This year the air was clear and the temperature was just about right.  A nice 53 degrees! About mile four, we ran by the Embarcadero Resort Hotel, right across the street from the finish line.  From there, we ran up a small 40 foot hill and then it leveled out.  We ran along the Yaquina River to mile 15 and then turned around and ran back to the finish!  At mile 26, we got a downhill strait into the finish line!

Newport's Course is USATF certified and is a perfect first time marathon course or a great pick for a PR or Boston Qualifier.  All four years I've run this course, I have walked away with a PR.  It's one of my favorite courses.

Newport Marathon offers aid stations about every two miles.  Each station has portable toilet facilities along with water and CLIF SHOT Electrolyte Hydration Drink.  Selected stations also had fruit and energy gels.  At mile 11 and 19 there were Oyster Shooters.  I had to pass, but many did stop for a shot including my friend Kim!  She is brave!

This year Newport offered pace groups.  They had pacers for a 3:05, 3:35, 4:00, 4:30, and 5:00 hour marathon.  Pacers were easily visible with pace signs held up above their heads and on their backs.

Newport made watching friends and family members easy by offering shuttle rides.  Some of my friends rode the shuttle out onto the course this year.  It was fun to see the shuttle bus go by with hands sticking out and yells coming from people cheering for us runners.

At the finish line, we were given a finishers medal and checked to make sure no aid was needed.  Several runners were sitting under the aid tent resting and getting help.  The staff and volunteers were wonderful!

Down around the corner was the "finishers area." We were given our finishers shirt, fruit, bread, etc. Our goody bag including a ticket for chowder and a drink outside in the grassy area.  There were covering's set up, music playing and lots of people enjoying being "done!"

I highly recommend this marathon for your 2016 race list.  Just remember, it will fill up fast, so don't put off registering.

Past results can be found here.
Race photos can be found here.
General information can be found here.
Questions for the race director? Contact Tom Swinford at run@newportmarathon.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My marathon, the good, the bad and the ugly of it all! 

At the start! 
For the last two years I have had a dream of qualifying for Boston.  In order to do this for my age and gender I need to run a sub-3:40 marathon.  I adjusted my training for Newport 2015 and focused in. My training went so well, I knew I would walk away from Newport with my first ever BQ (Boston Qualifier).  My goals included, A goal; 3:35 (this time would get me into Boston).  B goad; Sub 3:40 (this is my qualifying time).  C goal; Sub 3:53:52 (this would be a marathon PR).  

I was excited to be running as a blogger and with my husband who was running his 3rd marathon.  Also, my two friends Eric and Erika, running their very first marathons.  It was an exciting day! 

We took off promptly at 7:00 am, heading to some neighborhoods in Newport, I knew this part would be easy and fun.  I was with lots of people and on fresh legs.  The rolling hills didn't scare me one bit!  I got to see the ocean, the weather felt a bit warm for me, but really about perfect.  It felt a bit humid but not enough to worry.  It was a beautiful 53 degrees.  I was all smiles and off to a great start.  As I went around one of the little loops, I heard my friend Erika shout out my name as she ran by. It was about mile two and I could tell she was loving the moment as much as I was! 

Soon we were back by where we started, the Yaquina Bay State Park!  There were tons of people watching friends and family go by.  Also runners waiting for the half marathon to start.  A lady yelled out, "Hi, Julie."  Must of been someone from Dallas, but I didn't catch who it was!  I saw a Hood to Coast friend, Tim as he waited to start running the half.  I saw my friend Eric's parents just before heading under the Newport Bridge.  This is my favorite part of the course.  It's about mile 3.5 miles into the race.  Still feeling good, get a small down hill, a school band is playing and there are people everywhere! I was soaking it all in!

As I ran down by the bay I smelled the "fresh fish" smell.  This year I didn't hold my breath.  I let it be part of the experience.  I ran onto the wooden sidewalk and just as the sidewalk was ending I heard, "go Mom!"  I looked up and saw my daughter Raelee, and my friends Jeanne and Chris.  I was really excited to see they were able to all meet up.  

Down the street I went, going by the Embarcadero about mile four.  I knew my friend Kim would be there waiting to run with me for a good chuck of the marathon.  There she was, excited and ready to go!  She told me my husband Jerry was doing great and so was Eric.  I wasn't worried about Erika because I had seen her and she looked fantastic. 

I was running a little ahead of pace and feeling good as Kim and I heading out along the river.  Miles went by quickly as Kim told me some stories about her life I had been wanting to hear about.  She made me laugh, want to cry and gave me joy out there on the course.  Just four week earlier, Kim qualified for Boston at the Inaugural Pacific Northwest Marathon. Now she was there, wanting to make sure I did too!  From mile 4 to 11 she ran with me.  She then took a break, but would be back about mile 20.  

I ran on, feeling overall good but getting a little tired.  Kim and I had been busy chatting so I had decided to just have some down time by myself and settle into a nice tempo pace.  As soon as Kim left, one of the guys running around us decided he was going to talk to me now.  He started asking me questions, what's your goal time, how many marathons have you run?  Normally I love chatting with other runners during a race, but I wanted some time to myself now.  I ran a little with him, then slowed down just enough for him to go on ahead of me.  I needed a breather, I knew it was going to get hard. 

I knew, Chris, Jeanne, and Raelee would be seen out on course very soon. Sure enough, about mile 13 there was Jeanne and Raelee cheering away!  Jeanne let me know Chris was just ahead waiting to run a few miles with me.  I was glad, I was in need of some good words from my coach!  

I went up around the corner and there was Chris waiting.  He let me know Jerry was doing great, Eric looked good and Erika was doing better than all of us!  She was locked into her tempo pace and running like a pro!  

I was feeling the stress of the marathon but holding on for dear life.  I knew I still had a chance but I had to hold on to a 8:20 pace.  I had been running a 8:10 pace.

Chris told me to to hang on to the anchor man (man with the blue anchor shirt on).  He said, "he's running nice a steady, don't let him get too far ahead, just stay with him."  The turn-a-round (mile 15) was coming and Chris was dropping off to go run with Jerry for a few miles.

The turn-a-round is a fun part of the race.  As you get close to the turn-a-round you see the fast runners going back to the finish.  As you go around the turn-a-round you see everyone behind you!  I got to see all my friends!  Everyone looked great. There were people all along the road cheering.  I thought to myself, less than 11 miles! Just run back to town and into the finish line.  Basically that's just a tempo run.  I did tempo runs over and over again.  I can do one more!!!

I knew Kim would be waiting around mile 20, so I just had a short 5 mile run to get to her.  At one of the aid stations (about mile 17) the volunteers were like, "you want splashed?"  I tend to run overheated and so I said, "yes, splash me!"  Well they didn't splash me, they drenched me.  I was soaked.  I felt my core temperate drop.  It was a very odd feeling.  I've had this happen after a long run but it was always after, when I can shower and get changed into warm clothing.  I was running in wet clothing and there was nothing I could do about it.  I ran on but felt sick to my stomach.  Kim was waiting for my about mile 19.5.  I was dry by then but still felt like crap.  I threw up and kept going.  Kim was ready to run with the second half of her awesome life story. 

 I was slowing down by quite a bit by mile 20.  She wanted this so badly for me.  She gave me all the encouragement a person could ever hope for out there on the course. 

At mile 22 or so I told her it wasn't gonna happen.  She stayed with me anyways, giving me water when needed and just being a friend, even though I was failing, failing hard!  

As we ran up the incline that felt like a mountain at mile 25 I told Kim, "we are running up a hill!!!" She said, "this is nothing, come on!!!!" I just love her, that totally sounds like something I would say on a good day!  At mile 26 she ran ahead so I could run down the hill into the finish shoot by myself.  As I went across the finish line I saw my Dad, Kim and Raelee.  All of them waiting with love and encouragement for me.  


I didn't see Jerry anywhere but knew he was most likely over in the recovery tent.  I stood there talking with them for a few minutes and a volunteer came over and told me I didn't look well and led me over to the recovery tent and told me to stay there awhile so I could be monitored. It felt so good to sit down.  I didn't want to ever get up. I felt like throwing up but couldn't make myself do it.  I saw Jerry sitting in the tent.  I could tell he was ok.  I waited for Eric and Erika to come in so we could all go get finishers shirts together.  Soon they were in along with Stacy and Michael, two other Dallas runners. We were all pretty spent!  After what seemed forever, we made out way down to the finishers area, got our chowder and shirt and laid in the grass for a long time.  We weren't in any hurry.  Just enjoying the moment, enjoying being done!

The aftermath!  I finished Newport 2015 with a time of 3:52:17 (8:55 pace).  This was my "C" goal to PR. I PRed by 35 sec.  The day of the marathon, and even the day after, I was ok with this.  As sore as I was Saturday night and Sunday morning, I knew I ran my hardest.  Monday morning I was back home and had time to process the race.  When I'm really honest with myself, I am heartbroken.  I trained better then ever.  My speed work and tempo runs were A+ on course for a sub 3:40 marathon! I know I can do it!  When it comes down to it, I know the water was an excuse to slow down.  It did affect me, but it shouldn't have!  I am looking for a Fall marathon. I'm too close to give up on a BQer.  When completely honest with myself, I know I have to stop slacking on my 20 miler runs.  I give myself too much freedom to slow them down too much.  They are suppose to be slower runs, but sometimes run them too slow, giving myself a break I didn't need.  It's all part of the beauty of the marathon!  It takes work!  It's hard to get it right, but when you get it right, it's amazing!


Bragging moments on my friends!  I'm so proud of these people!

My husband Jerry!  Two years ago he ran his first marathon at a Sub 4:00, today was his 3rd marathon, running a Sub 3:30 (3:29:51)

 My friend Erika,  running her very first marathon today finishing at a 4:05:30.  She ran the most beautiful splits for Newport.  When I meet her a year ago she was running 10k's and struggling with getting faster.  Now she runs half marathons and now marathons and has a goal of a Sub-4!  I know she will do that!

Eric ran his first marathon today too.  He ran a 4:10:28.  I don't know if he will try to break 4 hours or not.  I now he is really excited to do some triathlon's.  I know one things for sure, he ran a killer first marathon and nobody can ever take that away from him whether he chooses to run another or not! Great job today Eric!

A special thanks to Chris and Kim who ran and encouraged me during the good and the bad parts of the marathon Saturday!  What you two did was an incredible act of friendship.  Thanks for your coaching Chris.  Thanks for your kindness Kim. I have enjoyed getting to know you over the last few months of training together.

Also thanks too, Erika for keeping me going.  I could always count on you to meet on the corner at 5:30 am or on the track or wherever our run for the day was.  You kept me accountable over the last five months!  Accountability is so important!  
Thank you Jerry (my husband) who, when I would be crying in the kitchen before a tempo run because I was stressed out or scared of failing would calmly say, "this is important, you need to go do your run!"  I would go run and then the stress would go away and I would feel better!  Thanks for believing in me Jerry!
  For Jeanne who often crewed our group long runs.  Joining us for food at the end with a ride home.  Bringing us water on a hot day, or sitting in a cold garage with food waiting for us at the end of a 20 miler! You made our group fun!
  Thank you Kim, Betsy, Emily and Kristi for running some of my long runs with me.  You girls are simply amazing to me.   Thank you Susan B. and Becky M. for your encouraging words as I trained over that last year!  You are an amazing runners and I really look up to you!

So, I will choose to move on!  I still will qualify for Boston!  I am currently shopping for a Fall Marathon! 

Other races I'm doing in 2015:
August 15th Albany Half Marathon
September 12th Uberthons Fall Half
October 17th Runaway Pumpkin Half

Follow me at ZaoFit 





Run Love, Self Love

This morning I headed to the hills for an easy run on sore legs. The ache I felt was a good ache. The ache that you know you ran a good trai...