The start line of the 2019 Southern Oregon Runners Pioneer 9 mile and 5k run in Phoenix, OR
Jackie Hoffman celebrating her win at the Two Peaks 50k in Redding, CA
Here we were talking about how the change of the season will bring changes to running schedules, how we're all hunkering down and bundling up and that, indeed, Winter Is Coming then - POOF! A sunshiney 65+ degrees this past weekend surprised and delighted our whole valley and brought all the positive people and peppy dogs to the roads and trails. Maybe it was the weather or just the steller year of us all training together but our Woodlands family of friends were slingin' personal bests with several placing in their age group and standing on the podium at the Southern Oregon Runners Pioneer Run 9 mile & 5k while others crushed Two Peaks in Redding with Medford's own Ben Heidegger winning the 50-miler and our new Salomon BFF Jackie Hoffman taking the W for the 50k distance. The happiest of us all is our short shorts n' tees enjoying their extended days flowing in the mid-November balmy breeze. Mmmmm.
While it may feel like the dog days of fall, you only have to step into, well, almost any store to see the unavoidable signs that the holiday season is upon us. We don't mind, that just means time to get real serious about food and food-themed running events. A few of our crew mapped out the official 'course' for the Gravy Gallop group run on Thanksgiving as well as the Gravy Gulp Mile - think Beer Mile but with Thanksgiving-inspired treats along the way. More on that next week.
This Saturday is our monthly Running for the Gil's, an all genders and speeds welcome long run (2.5-3 hours) leaving at 8:00 AM from the top of Pioneer in Ashland. There will be a women's only group or you can choose the coed group, both equally as fabulous. Yes, we run but mostly we bond over what we will be ordering at Ruby's and Gil's afterward. *Pro-tip: whatever you order, get it with a side of guac and sweet pot fries. You're welcome.*
Enjoy a week of finding a few moments to go outside, close your eyes, and smile with the sunshine on your face.
Use the #RunWoodlands or #RunWow and share your adventures
Wagner Butte filling Evan & Hayley Schmidtke with gratitude for this beautiful Southern Oregon valley