While we wait patiently to hear the fate of the races we’re looking forward to in 2020 and beyond, we thought we’d also do a little reminiscing. We interviewed 4 runners living and training in different parts of the US to talk about the experience of running their first hundo – the build-up, the race itself, and the “return to flight” afterward. If you’re inspired to run your own, or just want a peek into…
Springfield-based Nick Symmonds is a two-time U.S. Olympian (2008, 2012), silver medalist in the 800 meter race in the 2013 World Championships, and co-founder/CEO of Run Gum (reviewed here). Last June, Run Oregon’s Joe Dudman interviewed him on a number of topics ranging from starting Run Gum to race tactics to public causes that he supported, including LGBT rights and gun control. Since that interview, Symmonds announced earlier this year that he would be retiring from…
He’s a charismatic Olympic track star with strong ties to the Pacific Northwest, who races with flair, heart, and fierce determination, doesn’t stand still for BS, and campaigns for important causes he strongly believes in. Steve Prefontaine? No. It’s Nick Symmonds, Willamette University track star, two-time Olympian at 800 meters, and Silver Medalist in the 800 at the 2013 Outdoor World Championships. Not to mention, founder of my favorite road race, The Nick Symmonds Springfield 800.…
Jen A. Miller is an award-winning freelance journalist who is now the New York Times’ “Well” section running writer. Her work has also appeared in the Washington Post, Guardian, Runner’s World, Running Times, Allure and SELF. She’s also author of the running memoir, “Running: A Love Story“ (Amazon), which came out this year. On October 6th, she’s doing a group run then book reading and signing with Mark Remy at the Portland Running Company. The group run starts at…
This is the first in an occasional series where Run Oregon interviews local race and event directors. Our subject today is Mr. Lester Smith, Event Director of the Portland Marathon. Questions and answers have been edited for context and brevity. Q (Tung Yin/Run Oregon): What is your day job when you are not working on the Portland Marathon? A (Les Smith): I’m one of the founding partners at the law firm Bullard Smith Jernstedt Wilson,…
Jessie Rubin wrapped up her collegiate running career at Duke (yes, that Duke) and did what many smart, young runners do: moved to Portland. She recently organized a youth running camp, which incorporates lessons on healthy eating, positive attitudes & self-images, and a chance to make a music video about running … or whatever. This combination of positive thinking, interaction with youth, and just plain goofiness made us want to get to know here a…
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 person about a year ago. He was quick to share story after story about his experiences, trials, and triumphs, first with the marathon, and then ultra marathons, with me. Since his…
This post was initially written in 2011. We loved it so much, we wanted to bring it over here. One of the things we find, when interviewing local runners, is that their stories are just as inspiring as the stories of professional athletes. Our friend Scott McMullen, a runner and photographer from The Dalles, Ore., suggested we get to know Darryl Houghtelling because of his phenomenal journey from morbidly obese to running a 1:43 half marathon at…
James is relatively new to blogging with us, but we are thrilled to have a Southern Oregon blogger on board! He is staged out of the Central Point/Medford area and this part of the state is filled with running options we never knew of before! Age you started running: I started running at 26 I was a pack a day smoker and decided to quit and replace it with something better! Favorite running shoes: I’m…
I felt bad for me getting ready to interview myself because I already knew probably just about anyone is more interesting to interview than I am. Existential crisis notwithstanding, both parties may have gotten a little bored and thus took significantly longer than most RO contributors, and at least one of the parties now feels guilty about the quality and/or contents of said interview. Age you started running: I was 19 and college felt like it…
