Inspirational Runner

Running With Raven – Thoughts from Paula Harkin

March 12, 2017 // 0 Comments

Before you read this Q & A, be sure to read my review on Running With Raven; it will give you a good idea as to what the book is about! I wanted to get Paula Harkin’s thoughts on the book Running With Raven by Laura Lee Huttenbach. Like [read more...]

From the Heart: Jenn & Ron

April 23, 2016 // 1 Comment

“Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh The Bend Marathon is Sunday, April 24th and I’m sure [read more...]

From the Heart: Norberto Roman

February 9, 2016 // 0 Comments

Soldiers hold a special place in my heart. They endure so much, sacrifice more than people can comprehend and allow me, and my boys, to enjoy the luxuries of a free county. Unfortunately, so many of these heroes develop conditions that last well [read more...]

From the Heart: Kevin De Angelis

January 26, 2016 // 0 Comments

‘The most important key to achieving great success is to decide upon your goal and launch, get started, take action, and move.’ ~John [read more...]

Guest Recap: 2015 Everest Marathon

December 21, 2015 // 0 Comments

Teresa met Darryl Houghtelling last September at the Gorgeous Relay and, thanks to Facebook, has been able to stay in touch. This man is an inspiration in so many ways. He’s probably one of the most tenacious and supportive runners [read more...]

From the Heart: Sondra Rose Completes New York Marathon at 77

November 23, 2015 // 0 Comments

“I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” ~John D. Rockefeller I run for selfish reasons. Running allows me to [read more...]

From the Heart: Chuck Coats, Not Just a Fast Guy

October 3, 2015 // 0 Comments

I met Chuck Coats at the Three Capes Relay this year and wanted just a little bit of his energy. Even at the end of a relay this guy was still bouncing around, ready to go for more. I ran into him again at the 12 Bridges Relay and even though he [read more...]

From the Heart: Albert Franklin Miller Jr.

September 29, 2015 // 0 Comments

From the first moment you meet “Ultra Al”, you will immediately be mesmerized by his apparent passion for running and his incredible history with the sport. While he has been a friend of my husband’s family for many years, I only met him in [read more...]

From the Heart: Michael Westphal fights Parkinson’s disease

August 31, 2015 // 0 Comments

Parkinson’s disease affects approximately one million people in the United States. It’s a progressive disease that causes a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that primarily affects the motor systems. Stiff and aching muscles, [read more...]

From the Heart: An Update of Inspiration

April 18, 2015 // 0 Comments

I checked in on some of our past inspirational athletes and wanted to pass along an update. I know that for me it’s easy to make excuses, but this group reminds me that every day is a gift and I have the choice to take advantage of that gift or [read more...]

From the Heart: Greg Mitchell

February 26, 2015 // 0 Comments

“Luck doesn’t get you to the Olympic games. You can’t wish your way onto the podium. You can’t buy it or hope for it. It’s not enough to dream about it. Luck didn’t get me to London. I swam there.” ~Ryan Lochte I don’t [read more...]

From the Heart: Angie Gerber

February 4, 2015 // 4 Comments

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” ~Martin Luther King Jr. So many of us dread birthdays and, I have to confess, I celebrated my [read more...]

From the Heart: Kristin Coleman’s weight loss journey

December 31, 2014 // 5 Comments

‘Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out’ ~ Robert Collier Most of us find it a challenge to lose that ‘last’ 5-10 pounds, imagine losing 100 pounds. Kristin Coleman did just that, she lost one hundred pounds [read more...]

From the Heart: Kerry Loehr

December 5, 2014 // 0 Comments

‘Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending’ ~ Maria Robinson One of my favorite things about running is the people it brings into your life. I love the Gorgeous Relay guys [read more...]

The running community in real life – what I’m thankful for

November 27, 2014 // 1 Comment

In 2005, I had recently moved to Tigard and was working at a very small company in Lake Oswego. I didn’t know anyone in the Portland area besides my co-workers and my mom’s cousin, and I wasn’t in a financial position to sign up [read more...]

From the Heart: Joleen Skarberg

October 31, 2014 // 0 Comments

‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger’ ~Friedrich Nietzsche I’ve loved the Girlfriends Half Marathon for years and am embarrassed to say I had no idea who was the woman behind this run. I’m not talking Sherri McMillan, [read more...]

From the Heart: Elaine Lane

October 8, 2014 // 2 Comments

‘The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.’ ~John Bingham The last gift Elaine Lane received from her dad before he passed away was a race entry, so there was no way she was going to skip [read more...]

Volunteering at the ORRC Best Dam Run – a different kind of recap

October 4, 2014 // 1 Comment

My wedding anniversary is September 25th. So, even though I’m on the board for ORRC and a volunteer Race Director for one of it’s events (The Hagg Mud 25k/50k), I have never been to their Best Dam Run 10k. It’s always my wedding [read more...]

From the Heart: Bob Hammitt

September 13, 2014 // 1 Comment

With the 13th anniversary of September 11th this week, Boston registration opening and the 200th anniversary of our National Anthem, I’ve thought a lot about Bob Hammitt. My favorite part about the Foot Traffic Marathon on Sauvie’s Island [read more...]

Meet the Robinsons

September 1, 2014 // 2 Comments

I’m sure you all know people who you consider “pillars” in the running community. I know several people like that. There are two that I find so delightful that I decided to do a blog post about them. Steve and Michelle Robinson both started [read more...]

From the Heart: Johnny Harr

August 26, 2014 // 4 Comments

I have no problem coming up with a list of reasons to skip a workout if I’m not in the mood. For Johnny Harr, he has a valid excuse, but refuses to use it. At 36, Harr was training for a 35 mile endurance run in Montana and started experiencing [read more...]

From the Heart: Joe Dudman

June 20, 2014 // 2 Comments

I’ve admired Joe Dudman for years and it’s not because he once ran 84 races in a single year, or that he’s earned 540 race shirts, while both are impressive, but he’s an amazing athlete and my admiration has only grown after getting to know [read more...]

From the Heart: Robbin Bryant

June 6, 2014 // 0 Comments

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” ~ Maya Angelou I first heard about Robbin Bryant last year at the Vancouver USA Marathon. Active and athletic his entire life, Bryant was [read more...]

Those that matter don’t mind …

May 12, 2014 // 5 Comments

I went for a short, slow run on Mother’s Day – my first in two weeks after a nasty sprained ankle and four days on crutches. I saw four other moms out with their little ones and cheerfully greeted each of them, “Happy [read more...]

From the Heart: Whoirun4

May 2, 2014 // 0 Comments

There are more times than I’d like to admit that I’ve put off heading out for a run. I’m not one of those people that can’t wait to lace up and hit the pavement and many, MANY times I’ve had to just suck it up and go out, with zero [read more...]

From the Heart: Andie Proskus

March 31, 2014 // 11 Comments

Andie Proskus discovered she had a muscular disease her sophomore year at Beaverton High School. What started with her hunching over, turned out to be a neuromuscular disease that made walking painfully difficult. A weakening of the muscles, also [read more...]