As most of you know, although I am a Portland native, I currently live in Eugene, Oregon. I enjoy highlighting the Eugene area races for you, as Eugene is “Track Town USA” after all, right?!
At Run Oregon, we’re going to have several bloggers at the Eugene Marathon weekend of events. I will be racing in the Eugene Marathon 5k event, which takes place Saturday, May 9, 2015. I’ve raced in the Eugene Half Marathon three times now, but never the 5k, so I am excited to participate in this event for the first time. This post is just focusing on the 5k event, more details on the marathon and half will be forthcoming.
The course for the 5k starts just outside of Hayward Field, and will take participants east on 15th to Fairmount Boulevard. This area is really gorgeous! After zipping through some quiet neighborhood streets, we’ll get back onto the University of Oregon campus at 18th and Alder. The last mile of the 5k will take participants down 13th through the heart of campus, where we will make a final dash up Agate to finish on historic Hayward Field. Yes! 5k participants get to finish on Hayward Field just like those participating in Sunday’s Marathon and Half-Marathon! WoooHoooo!!!
This 5k truly will be a family event. You may choose to run or walk the 5k, and there will be a Kids Duck Dash Run occurring as well! And yes, the kids indeed finish on Hayward Field, also! The Duck Dash begins at 8 a.m., just prior to the 5k, which starts at 8:30 a.m.
Ashton and Brianne Eaton will be at the 5k event, as they are the 2015 honorary chairs on behalf of CASA. The 5k is a wonderful community event which aids in benefiting CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA volunteers dutifully assist, by lending a powerful voice, to children who are abused and neglected. Definitely read about the fantastic job CASA does in our community, it is a noble task that each one of the advocates do to help children.
You can participate in the 5k by being a virtual participant, too! For $25, you can log your 5k on your schedule, or simply sleep in knowing you did something valuable to support our community. Also, when registering for the 5k if you will participant in the event on May 9, you can show your support for CASA by purchasing a red “Champion Cape” for $5. These will also be available race morning near the start line. I think I’m going to buy 5 of these capes to power me to the finish line.
Yet another super fun aspect of the Eugene Marathon 5k is the Krusteaz Flap Jack. The Flap Jack is seriously famous. There are two fun ways to interact with Flap Jack. First, Flap Jack is fast. So, if you want to beat him, definitely train up and get your legs ready for some serious speed. In 2013, only four 5k finishers beat Flap Jack! If you beat Flap Jack, you’ll receive Krusteaz pancakes and coupons! But, for those of us not as speedy, and more interested in eating Flap Jack (I mean flapjacks, the pancake, not the runner), we get to participate in something fun, too! Brand new this year, Krusteaz will donate $1 to CASA for each participant in the 5k that does not cross the finish line before Flap Jack does. So, slow wins! More funding for CASA! And, we all get Krusteaz flapjacks at the finish line, regardless of it we cross first, middle, or last.
As you may have noticed, the Eugene Marathon, Half Marathon, 5k and Kids Duck Dash are a series of events, spanning the entire weekend, that are made for everyone to have an opportunity to participate. There is something for all of us. I hope to see you out there at any of the Eugene Marathon series of events, and know I will be there cheering you all on, regardless of the event(s) you choose to participate in!
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015
Distance: 5k
Start Time: 8:30 a.m.
Cost: $25
Register: Click here to register