Mother’s Day is coming up and so is the 2023 Hippie Chick Half & Quarter Marathon! This event, held on May 13th this year, used to be for women only, but in more recent years, Paula has shared the love and made it co-ed! This race takes place at Champoeg State Park and it should be another great race from Run With Paula Events. Champoeg primarily follows bike parths and park roads, and most of…
The Helvetia Half Marathon, 5k & 10k is coming up soon, on June 3rd. Like the Hippie Chick Half, (and let’s face it, ANY Runwithpaula Event,) it will be worth the wait. There are many reasons why I praise Paula Harkin’s races up and down and why her races are the best. Here are just a few: She’s got the best swag. The shirts, the medals, and the extras are all thoughtfully curated and high…
Every race of the three race PRC 5k Race Series, I’ve been racing a 7 year old. I don’t think he knows he’s racing me, but every month, we’ve been neck and neck through a lot of those miles. For this very last one, the February race, he had me beat until we got about a mile in and then he lost his steam. Experience does sometimes trump youth. Either way, I think we both…
The second run of Run With Paula’s super fun Winter 5k Series was a blast. As usual, the day was a bit cold and there were a few sprinkles coming down, but it could be (and HAS been) worse. There was plenty of parking, and lots of volunteers guiding the way with their light-up sticks. There was coffee, a short porta-potty line, and friendly faces everywhere. As always, everything was running like a well-oiled machine.…
If you’re a runner and you do road races in Oregon, you’ve heard of Run With Paula Events. Paula Harkin is the race director for several wonderful events throughout the year and her races are the Gold Standard. Every one of them is well marked, well organized, well supported, and (most importantly,) well loved. The courses are often challenging (Hello Helvetia Hills!) but beautiful (Ah, Bridge of the Goddess!!) and well worth the price tag.…
There was a time that getting beaten by a 7 year old at a 5k might feel a bit .. Humbling. But I later found out he was actually 10, not 7, (my kids are tall for their age and I’m horrible about guessing with other people’s kids) and if there’s anything my body has taught me in the last few years, it’s that I’m built for endurance but not necessarily for speed. I’m okay…
The 16th annual Give n’ Gobble 5k/10k takes place at Sherwood High School on Thanksgiving morning. This Sherwood traditional 5k run/walk and 10k run are open to participants of all abilities, and food and money donations benefit Helping Hands Food Bank. The race starts and ends at the Sherwood High School stadium and runs mostly through neighborhoods on paved paths. The 5k starts at 8:50AM and the course is mostly flat, while the 10k leaves…
I finally got to stand on the Bridge of the Gods again. It had been 8 years since the inaugural year of the Bridge of the Goddess Half Marathon/10k/5k, which was the first time I got to stand on that gorgeous bridge with the breath-taking views. 5 years ago, I did this race and the wildfires forced Paula Harkin to move the race to Vancouver. Last year I did this race again and we started…
Whoo hoo! Another Run With Paula Events is right around the corner! If you haven’t run the Beaverton Half Marathon/10k/5k before, you’ll get another chance on Sunday, October 16th 2022! There’s a good chance this popular Paula Harkin race will sell out, so make sure to register NOW! This USATF sanctioned event will start and end at Portland Running Company’s Beaverton location on Nimbus Avenue. The course will take you through Old Town Beaverton before…
The Bridge of the Goddess 2022 starts on the Bridge of Gods in Cascade Locks on Saturday, September 17th. This Half Marathon, 10k & 5k is a challenging out and back course along the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail with waterfalls, ferns and wildflowers to take in. With plenty of aid stations along the way and safe from traffic, the historic trail hugs the cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge and includes spectacular views. Plan…
