Corvallis Half Marathon 2016 ~ Race Review

Sunday April 17th I ran the Corvallis Half Marathon for the first time.  It was a beautiful Oregon morning, almost too beautiful (hot) for a race! High 70's makes for a HOT run!  

I arrived at Gill Coliseum  early to meet up with friends, pick up my race bib and walk around the wellness expo.  There were lots of booths to check out with plenty of fun drawings going on. Some of the booths I visited were: Running Princess

The Barbers

Country Vitamins 

The Old Spaghetti Factory

The Corvallis Clinic

Rainy Dayz

Timberhill Dental

Sam Fit

and many many more!

We soon headed out to the starting line.  There were lots and lots of port-a-potties, so the lines were short. A nice bonus when racing! The OSU Band was playing and making the atmosphere fun. 

Great job OSU Band...super fun to see Jordan playing the flute 

 As we were moved into the gated area, we quickly found our pace group.  The sun was already out and I was glad I got a free sample of sunscreen at the wellness expo.  I knew it was a "sunburn" day.
We started promptly at 9:30

Ready to race!

 on the corner of 26th and Washington St.  This was a chip timed race, so I wasn't worried about being in the front.  Some of my friends and I started back with the 9:00 minute mile group. 
I had decided ahead of time to run with my friend Olivia.  Today she was running her very first half marathon and I wanted to stick with her!  
The course was fairly flat but there was a couple small inclines with a couple small declines.  It was a big loop.  Check out the interactive map here.  
There was lots and lots of volunteers out on the course giving us directions, cheering for us and handing out water.  It was wonderful.  
Around mile five, when heading into the Bald Hill Natural Area, two running friends came up behind Oliva and I.  What a fun surprise to see Alyssa and Susan.  All four of us ran together for many miles, talking about Boston, how horrible the heat was that morning. How great running is and how it brings us together.  It was really a fun running the middle miles with these awesome women.
The miles became a little bit of a struggle due to the heat.  Our pace had dropped but we were all still running strong.  As we ran down

 27th and then 26th street, Olivia kept telling me "it's hot."  I knew she just had a few more miles left, so I tried to think of things to talk about to keep her mind off the heat.  I don't think it was working! 


She stayed strong and soon we were at mile 13.  I told Olivia her finish line was right there and she took off for a nice strong finish.  It was beautiful! 
Olivia was right, it was hot out! 

A quick brag about Olivia.
  "She was hospitalized back in 2009 and almost died. In 2012 she had cancer.  After her cancer, she decides to reclaim her health.  She lost 70 lbs and started exercising. 

Olivia's before and now photo! 

 I currently go to her fitness
classes Fitness with Studio Fuego.  She decided to train for a half marathon because it was hard, and she wanted to challenge herself."

Check out her before and after photo to the right!  

After we crossed the finish line, we meet up with Olivia's family.  A few tears were shed and then we went over to the nice finish area for some food and water.  A journalist from the Democrat Herald came over and did a quick interview with Olivia. Check it out here.  


There was a nice beer garden area but I decided to head home.  I walked around Gill Coliseum to my car.  It was a perfect cool down.  
I really enjoyed running the Corvallis Half.  I plan on running it again next year! I am hoping for cooler weather for 2017! 

Read my Pre Race Preview for register information and more here.

 

Fun to see Susan! 

Katie, Lindsay and Sheila

My Soxy Feet ambassador and Corvallis Half Finisher.

Erica and Olivia finish their half marathon!

Find me on facebook at ZaoFit.  I would love to hear your story! Hope you can join me for next years Corvallis Half!

Marathon Training Week Four

I can't believe I am in week four of marathon training already.  I feel like things are going well but it's time to ramp things up just a bit! I am going to start making sure I get in a weekly tempo run at marathon pace.  I will start this week's tempo run at six or seven miles at 8:15-8:20 pace and work up to ten miles in the next few weeks.  By next week, I will start adding in some speed work as well.  

This week was busy with work and a few other things but things will slow down some next week!  

I was given the honor of pacing a friend for her first half marathon this morning.  It was such a wonderful thing to watch her cross that finish line for the first time.  Tears were shed, and she walked away

From today's Corvallis Half

from that race somehow stronger!  I love that about running!  There is something that makes a person stronger after doing something hard.  Running a half or full marathon is very hard.  When you give it your all, it is such a powerful thing. I love you Olivia! 

I will be blogging about the Corvallis Half later this week, so stay tuned. 

This week I'm looking forward to a really fun group run on Saturday out on a country road.  I'm looking forward to pushing myself a little harder too! 

Run with me April 18th to April 24th...
Monday, 5:30 am, 60 min. run
Tuesday, 5:30 am, 60 min. tempo run at marathon pace.
Wednesday, 5:30 am, easy pace 60 min. run
Thursday, 7:00 PM Fitness with Studio Fuego HIIT class with Olivia
Friday, xtrain on the bike
Saturday, group run ... see event post for details. Gonna be a fun one.https://www.facebook.com/events/217221075287790/
Sunday, 7:30 am run

  

I would love to hear your story, find me at ZaoFit on facebook here!

Twitter here!

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Athlete IQ here!

Marathon Training ~ Week 3 ~ Running with Friends

As I go into week three, training for The Oregon Marathon I am reminded how powerful running with others is.  This morning a  group of us met up in Independence. We all wanted to run with Kristi's before leaving to run The Boston Marathon. Running Boston is so many runners dream, and Kristi is getting live this dream next weekend!  As a group, I think we all feel we get a little piece of the experience, just knowing Kristi.  We are all so excited for her! 

We ran nine miles ending at The Pink House for breakfast to celebrate with Kristi.  As I sat there looking at everyone, I realized how different we all are.  We are such a diverse group. We get together to run and we have such a great time, simply running and sharing together.  Training with people has brought me the greatest friendships, taught me so much about people and life!  I love the people I run with.  I also think it's pretty cool that people actually want to run with us.  This morning a new girl showed up and she was welcomed to the group as if she had always been a part!  I love that!!!

I sure don't mind to run a lone at times, I think it's good for my head, but I always look forward to meeting up with the group!  I love them! 

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  I would love to hear your story!

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Athletic IQ here

This week at a glace:

April 11th - April 17th
Monday, 5:00 am, 50 min run
Monday, 6:15 PM, RIPPED with Olivia at Fitness with Studio Fuego
Tuesday, 5:00 am, 50 min run
Wednesday, 5:30 am hour run
Wednesday, 5:30 am hour run
Thursday, 5:30 am hour run
Friday, 5:00 am long run
Saturday out of town, hope to get in an short afternoon run.
Sunday, 9:30 am, the Corvallis Half Marathon
*subject to change depending on who\if anyone is meeting up for the day, so be sure and send a message my way! smile emoticon 
‪

 #‎‬ZaoFit~Julie

Corvallis Half Marathon Race Preview 2016

 Corvallis Half ~ Race Preview

------------------> Register HERE <-------------------

Saturday April 16th 5k 

Sunday April 17th half marathon

Course description: The 5k "One of the flattest around, you can expect a PR"

The half marathon is described as "scenic" "mostly flat with two gradual climbs and two gradual descents. The course is on paved roads, bike paths and sidewalks."

Check out more details about the course HERE!

Packet Pick up for 5k ~ Samaritan Athletic Medicine, 845 SW 30th St, Corvallis, OR from 9:00 am to 10:20 pm

Half Marathon ~ Health and Wellness Expo at Gill Coliseum

Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 

The Expo will also be open on Sunday from 7:30 am - 1:00.  Be sure and stop by. 

Register Online HERE

5k $35.00

Half Marathon $75.00

Both $85.00

ALL net race proceeds are given to charity!   This is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club. Funds go to Linn Benton Food Share, Corvallis Public School Foundation, OSU Foundation Track & Field Foundation and many more. Check out more about where the funds go HERE! 

One thing to note that's different this year.  We can't finish on the 50 yard line this year due to stadium renovations. The finish line will be moved to Ralph Mill Lane between Reser Stadium and Gill Coliseum. Check out the course maps HERE! 

Finish with the wellness expo and the beer garden, all just steps away from your finish after Sunday's half marathon.

Are you a football fan? The OSU Beavers football team is hosting their Spring game on that Saturday after the 5k.

Like Corvallis Half on facebook HERE

Follow me (Julie) on facebook at ZaoFit.  I would love to hear your story.