A Letter from the President
By Gerhard Mallon-Behrens
Here's my two cents for the newsletter intro as the president:
After eight long years, it’s about time to put out a regular newsletter that keeps members informed about the great ways HOTV helps runners reach their goals, supports the community, and most importantly, builds and maintains relationships.
So, submit your writing to HOTV at hotvrunners@gmail.com and get yourself published. We’re looking for race reports, training tips, funny stories, inspiring messages, features about members, invitations to join a group, recommendations for restaurants or PTs, and ideas about events.
I could go on for a few thousand words about our finishers at the Runaway Pumpkin, Portland Marathon, McKenzie 50K, Condor, Fall Festival, etc… There is copious news about HOTV’s solid support of middle school running. There are the challenging and enjoyable runs on the weekly calendar. There is a lot happening out there.
Send something in. We want to hear from all of YOU!
The History of HOTV Running Club
By Clint Morrison
“There are a lot of runners in this town,” Judi Saam remarked. “We should start a running club. Let’s draw up some bylaws. I’ll be the secretary.”
“Let’s get a regular group doing track intervals. I need it to be before work. How about Tuesday mornings at six? I’ll be there.”
“Six miles or less if you want, every Wednesday,” Gerhard offered. “Six in the morning and six in the evening, Six at Six. I’m willing to meet and run with anyone who comes.”
“We have a lot of young runners who’d love a social run. I’ll be at Five Star Sports every Thursday at six, or I’ll arrange for someone else to be there. We can go somewhere afterwards, a different place each week.”
“How about a training group for the Corvallis Half Marathon? We could meet Wednesdays, do a time trial and work out paces and times for everyone, especially the newcomers. I’ll offer to lead it the first year.”
“What other community groups could we partner with? How about a run that finishes at the baseball field before a Corvallis Knights’ game? Could we take the lead in re-establishing the port-a-pot on the Bald Hill trails since we all run there a lot? I’ll make some calls and see what develops.”
A club takes more than a lot of runners, even a few long-standing groups who do regular runs together. Someone who knows how to infuse an organization with structure and spirit. A core of members who don’t mind meeting around a table, for even organizations have to run.
Some time back in 2008, an organizational meeting was held. We did some running perhaps at the CHS track, then convened at Woodstock Pizza on Kings. I don’t actually remember who was present, only that most of us didn’t know each other well but were keen to get this “club” thing off to a good start.
Being eager, many of us independently went to the Woodstocks counter and ordered a pitcher of beer and some glasses. On average, nearly one pitcher per person was served. And consumed. Thus the first concrete result of meeting as a club was that all of that beer set our training back by several weeks. Like any workout that starts out awkwardly and ends well though, the club concept grew.
We have never aimed to “own” or manage all running or events in the area, but to provide opportunities for runners to meet, train, plan, socialize, and build on each others’ successes. We have a very short list of events we put on as a club, but our members lend considerable expertise to the running scene as organizers and volunteers in area running events, elementary, middle, and high school running, trail building, informal training programs, and a certain “visual” presence of club shirts, banners, and energy.
The key to success for HOTV – as in the quotes above – has been ordinary people willing to say “I’ll be there, you come too!” E-mail and Facebook help a lot, but so does a willingness to talk to new arrivals, remember names, build bridges. Every runner is welcome, and at the social runs on Thursdays in particular, nobody runs alone.
We have “hatched” different weekly groups that don’t necessarily meet or know each other, so social events are a chance for club members to meet each other or reconnect. (Very important if you’ve been away from running due to injury or family and miss the group.)
Anyone with ideas or energy is welcome to work with and join the HOTV Board as we continue to grow and … to run.
Race Reflection: Silver Falls Trail Races
By Marc Weber
The Silver Falls Trail Runs, which started in 2010, have become a fall tradition for many local runners and draw a strong contingent of HOTV runners every fall. The Silver Falls Half Marathon inaugural race had 500 runners, and the event now fills the weekend of November 5-6 with 50 kilometer, marathon, half-marathon and 7-mile races and has 1900 registered runners for this years’ races, making it the biggest trail race in Oregon. A nice history of the event was published in the Salem Statesman-Journal in 2014.
Easily my favorite race every year, runners get the chance to run around and behind the park’s waterfalls on the Trail of 10 Falls, navigate muddy trails and creek crossings, and finish up around a big fire at one of the park’s shelters with chilli, a beer garden, and a great post-race raffle. The Corvallis running community makes a strong showing at the race every year, and Corvallis runners show up consistently in the top group of finishers at each race. So pick your distance and come out for some fun on the trails this November in the company of a number of other HOTV runners!
Photo courtesy Sohel Khan
Eugene Marathon Training Group
Looking to run the Eugene Marathon this year? It's a beautiful spring race that takes place on May 7th. As an added bonus, it ends on the historic Hayward Field in Eugene. There are some brave folks meeting in the early mornings who have begun training for the race. They've already run through snow, ice, hail and rain. Check the Facebook page for times and places that they meet. It varies by week, but there is always a Tuesday speed workout, a Thursday tempo run and a Saturday/Sunday long run. If you're interested, grab a friend who runs your pace and show up for a run! It's a warm and welcoming crowd. If you're already training for Eugene and looking to run at another time of day, post to the Facebook group. You might find a partner.
http://www.eugenemarathon.com
Corvallis Half Marathon Training Group
There is a growing group of men and women training for our very own half marathon, which takes place on Sunday, April 9th. If you're looking for some motivation to get up and run in the morning, maybe signing up for the Corvallis Half is what you need. The group meets early in the mornings on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Check the Facebook page for a weekly training schedule. Also, if you're already signed up for the race and looking for a training partner, post to the Facebook group.
http://www.corvallishalfmarathon.com
Girls on the Run Willamette Valley
Girls on the Run Willamette Valley (GOTR) celebrates 9 years inspiring over 3,000 girls across the valley. From the start, HOTV Runners has supported GOTR. The Club has generously donated to the GOTR program locally, and members have volunteered in many ways.
Are you interested in getting involved? There many ways to have fun with GOTR!
1) Sign up to run the GOTR 5K June 3, 2017. This event features an enthusiastic start and finish, and a scenic route through OSU. You can sign up here.
2) Sign your daughter up for the 10 week program that starts in March. GOTR Program registration here.
3) Volunteer! Join our fun community by joining us as a coach, member of the 5K planning committee, 5K volunteer, site liaison or coordination volunteer—there are many ways that fit many schedules and interests.
4) Support girls as a SoleMate Charity Runner or Local Partner/Sponsor.
For more information see www.gotrwillamette.org or contact Tiffany Bailey at tiffany.bailey@gotrwillamette.org.
A Note from the Editor
Hello. I'm Janine Arthur and have been running with the club since early in 2009. Besides being a runner, I'm a wife, a mom of three boys, a teacher, an avid reader and an alumni of Oregon State University. It's my pleasure to finally put my English degree to further use by taking on this project. Originally, we had hoped to get the newsletter out earlier in the month, but everyone knows that things don't always go as planned. In months to come, look for it to arrive in your email inbox towards the first of each month. Hopefully this will be a space where we can learn more about people and events in this beautiful place that we can call our home. If you have ideas for articles to include in the newsletter or would like to nominate a runner to be featured here, please send an email our way. See you out on the pavement, in the woods or at the Corvallis Oval Office (aka "the CHS track").
Janine
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THIS MONTH'S EVENTS
Inaugural Fall Festival Committee Meeting
You may have heard: HOTV Runners will be directing the Fall Festival Run, beginning this year! We NEED club members to be part of the effort to re-establish the Fall Festival as the marquee race in Corvallis. Join the race committee for the inaugural meeting:
Wednesday, January 25th, 6:00 PM
Corvallis Radiology
938 NW Kings Boulevard
Contact Andy Tucknott if you will attend, or can't attend but want to help: atucknott@paynewest.com, cell: 541-760-2541, or via Facebook.
Annual Meeting and Potluck
It's time for the Annual Meeting and Potluck! We'll mingle, eat, elect the Board, recap 2016 and look forward to 2017.
Sunday, January 29th, 4-6 PM
Walnut Community Room
Scott Zimbrick Fire Station #5
4950 Fair Oaks Drive (Where 53rd turns into Walnut Blvd)
HOTV provides beverages of all kinds, table settings. You bring a dish to share. For added fun, bring someting fun to raffle off (tickets are free). As always, this is a family friendly event.
See you on the run!
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