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.

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 Freedomthon 5k ~ July 4th

Uberthons Summer Half ~ July 18th

Albany Half  ~ Aug 15th

Uberthons Fall Half ~ Sept 12th
Runaway Pumpkin Half ~ Oct 17th
Uberthons Halloweenathon 5,10, or 15k ~ Oct 31st.

Uberthons Winter Half ~ Jan 23rd

The Roaring Run at Roaring River, Half Marathon Review 1/31/2015

Erika, Emily, and me (Julie)

The Roaring Run at Roaring River was held this year on Saturday January 31st at Roaring River Country Park, Scio, OR

They offered a Half Marathon, a 10k and a 5k.  

The half marathon started at 9:00 am or you could chose to start at 8:30 (early start).  

The Half started off at $30 if you registered by Dec 1st and gradually went up to $50.00 day of race.

The 10k started at 9:30 am.  It was $25 and went up to $45 if you waited till race day to register.

The 5k started at 10:00 and was $20.  It went up to $40 if you waited till race day.

There was special pricing for youth ages 7-18.  Any event started at only $7 (before Dec 1st) and went up to $30 the day of the race. 

Eric won 3rd in the 10k

Awards were promptly at 11:00 am.  There were age group winners who received 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons.  There were fun prizes given out if your bib number was on a mile marker or if you guess the "theme" of the music playing at each mile maker.  The theme was "weather."  Whoever guessed got put into a drawing and a winner was picked.  They won an I pod shuffle.   My friends bib number was out on a mile maker.  They were giving out t-shirts but didn't have her size.  She ended up with a entry for next years race....nice, very very nice!!!!

The course was chip timed and the Half Marathon Course was USTF certified!

There was limited parking at the park so they offered parking at Lacomb School.  At least two buses were going back and forth (every 15 mins) before and after the race.  I parked at the school and road the shuttle to the park.  It was very cold that morning and the bus was nice and warm!

A bag check was offered near the finish line.

All finishers received a finishers medal and got to enjoy Dutch Bros. chocolate milk, a hot potato bar, orange slices and bagels. 

A big fire was burning keeping us cold runners warm after the race. 

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

My side of the race!

It was a very cold foggy morning.  It was colder than I expected it to be but I run better in colder weather, so maybe that's a plus!  My husband and I both were going to run the half marathon.  We parked at the school and rode the shuttle over to the park.  Our friends got there early and parked in the park.  The shuttle bus ride was a few miles.  We were dropped off in time to use the port a potties before taking off.

 Packet pick up was going on over near the finish line.  My friends had already picked up our packet, so we were good to go!  

9:00 am came quickly.  My friends Erika, John and Emily were also running the half with Jerry (my husband) and I.  

Eric was running the 10k a half hour later so he took all our extra layers back to the car before he started at 10.  It was so cold the tips of my toes felt frozen.

As soon as we started running I forgot about my cold toes.  We started on Fish Hatchery Road.  It was calm and beautiful.  We ran about 3/4 of a mile out, then ran back to where we started.  Then kept going out from there.  It was a very large loop course.  I was worried the short out-and-back may get congested but it didn't at all.  The road was plenty wide.  As the other runners went by I looked for my friends and gave them all a thumbs up!  We were just getting started!!!

I planned on using this race as a faster "tempo" run.  I wanted to hold a 8:00-8:10 pace for the first 10 miles, then see how the last 3.1 miles goes when I get there!  There was a few inclines in the road but I was doing well.  My pace was under an 8:00 and I was feeling pretty good.  

About mile 4 there was a water station.  I chose not to stop for water.  I ran on wondering how long I could keep up this pace.  

About mile 7 we turned onto Richardson Gap Road.  I felt like there was a slight headwind on the road and I also felt like the elevation was starting to go up.  In other words, it was starting to feel hard to keep up my tempo pace.  

It was very foggy but that didn't bother me.  I just took it mile by mile.  Looking for my bib number at every mile marker to see if I won a prize.  It was how I kept my brain busy out there all alone.  I didn't have anyone close with me this time to pace with.  I will typically pick a person or two to pace with during half marathons, but the others were too far ahead or behind for that to work this time.

I saw several farm animals out, even in the foggy coldness!  I just kept moving forward.  Finally I got to mile marker 10.  My tempo run was done.  Now I took a minute to talk to myself.  Was I going to speed up, slow down, or just maintain the pace into the finish line.  I had just over 3 miles left to go.  

Since it felt as if we were going uphill slightly, I decided maintaining was the best I could do at the moment.

About mile 11.5 or 12 I took my gloves off.  I needed some fresh air to finish strong (I know this sounds silly, but that's how I felt at the time).  Soon I saw Eric.  He has finished his 10k and was looking for his wife Erika.  He took my gloves and I found out he ran his best 10k ever (a PR for Eric)!!!  He ran on to find Erika.  It was just the boost I needed to finish with a little more kick!  Seeing a friend on the course is such a nice thing when you are getting tired!

I went over a beautiful covered bride.  A school band was playing and the beat of the drums helped me speed up.  I was feeling really good!  

Then the last little hill came.  There was no more music, my friend was gone...just me and a line of parked cars and a hill!!!!  I could hear the announcer at the finish line.  Soon, I took a right into the park. There it was, the finish line!  Still very foggy and very cold, I was done!  I had just PRed by 3.5 minutes! My husband was waiting for me!

He got my jacket and we grabbed an orange and some water.  Off we went to look for Erika and John who were hoping to break 2 hrs today for the first time!  

I ran into Susan (another running friend) who had finished the half.  I always love seeing her at races!

Erika and John

Erika's Sub 2 hr Half Marathon!

Soon I saw Erika coming around the parking lot!  She was MOVING, but I couldn't see the clock to know if she was under 2 hrs or not!  

I headed to the finish line and sure enough, she made it, just under 2 hrs.  So did her brother John!  GREAT job you guys!

Waiting for awards!  I got a 2nd pace ribbon, whoot whoot!

Eating potatoes with friends! 

This is a race I would recommend for your 2016 race calender.  The price is affordable, its a fundraiser for Lebanon Cross Country team.  Its a great country course.  It's got a fun finisher atmosphere with fun prizes.  It even ends with a meal!  The hot potatoes and chili was a nice bonus!  This is already on my list for next year with my friends! Hope you can join us!

Race photos can be found here. 

Race results can be found here.

Follow me at ZaoFit. If your in the Dallas/Salem area, we often have free group long runs on the weekend.  

Happy Running! 

~Julie

The Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon 2014 Pre Race News!

Are you looking for a Fall Half?

 I recommend The Runaway Pumpkin Half!

Feeling good in the 2012 race!

It's October 18th in Lebanon, OR (Cheadle Lake Park) at 9:00am.

I have run this race twice and it's one of my favorites for several reasons.  I love to race in the Falls (cooler weather).  It's a really fun atmosphere with a costume contest.   You can walk or run.  It's a fundraiser for the ABC House in Albany, OR.  The ABC House is a Child Abuse Intervention Center serving Benton and Linn Counties.  It also has great food at the end!

Me getting ready to run in 2012 (a PR year for me!)

There are a number of ways you can help or take part in this awesome fundraiser.  

~Run or walk the half marathon.  You can register here for $65.  Price goes up on Oct 7th.

~Buy a hoodie for $25 here.

~Can't make it? You can support ABC house by being a Virtual Runner for $45 here.

~Volunteer on race day.

The Runaway Pumpkin course is perfect for a beginner or if your looking for a Half PR.  Nice and flat.  It's a loop course.  Partly running along the water.  Race is capped at 1500. Currently just over 700 have registered. It is chipped timed. If you like to dress up, there is a contest for the best costume but costumes aren't required.  Packet pick-up will be Friday the 18th at the Phoenix Inn & Suites in Albany from 8-4.  If you can't make that, you can pick up your packet Saturday morning from 7:00-8:45.  You will get your awesome shirt at this time too.  There will be age group winner/prizes and the first place male/female will receive a $250 gift card to Lowe's and a free entry for next years race!  How sweet is that!?

2011, a fun year!

Read about my 2012 race here. 

Read about my 2011 race here.

 Follow Runaway Pumpkin on

Facebook, here.

Instagram, here. 

Twitter, here.

Join me on my facebook page ZaoFit and tell me if your running this race!  I would love to meet you! ZaoFit~Julie Mullins