Running is my favorite exercise, and “24” is my favorite TV show of all-time. What would happen if you combined the two into one event? You might get something like the Willamette 24, minus of course the terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and mayhem. (How cool would it be, though, if the warning call for the last five minutes would be blasting out Kiefer Sutherland screaming, “We’re running out of time!!!”)
As you might guess from the name of this race, it’s “run as far as you can in 24 hours,” although there also also options for 6 or 12 hour runs, or a straight marathon. The race course is a USATF-certified 0.94 mile loop, about half pavement and half trail.
Race day is April 1, 2017, with start times of 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. – the latter for 6 hour/12 hour/marathon runners who want to run through the night.
Jack Bauer doesn’t seem to need to eat during any of his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days, but if you’re running 12 or 24 hours (or even 6), you probably will need to. The race menu includes soft drinks. candy, vegetable and chicken broth, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, pulled pork sliders, quesadillas, pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs.
Finally, the race has a benefactor: “Our race is helping to raise money for ‘Lilly’s Grant for Guidance,’ a fund in place to further suicide education in our schools, and counseling assistance for children within the Corvallis and Philomath School Districts.”
Willamette 24
When: April 1, 2017, at 8:00 a.m. (or 8:00 p.m.)
Where: Crystal Lake Sports Fields, 100 SE Fischer Lane, Corvallis, Oregon
Register: Online here ($150 for 24 hour race, $120 for 12 hour race, $80 for marathon or 6 hour race; entry fee includes race shirt and pint cup for all participants)
