Oregon Zoo Hosts Annual Turkey Trot
November 24, 2006
www.orrc.net/races
The Oregon Zoo invites runners and walkers of all ages to the annual Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 24. The Thanksgiving Day event, organized by the Oregon Road Runners Club (ORRC), includes a 4-mile run and fitness walk beginning at 8 am and a 1-kilometer Tot Trot beginning at 9:30 am. A portion of the proceeds from the Turkey Trot will go to the Oregon Zoo to fund animal care and conservation programs.

“For over 35 years the ORRC has encouraged thousands of people to take steps to improve their health by walking and running,” said Dave Cook, ORRC president. “The Turkey Trot has become an annual tradition for Oregon families and their relatives visiting from out of town. It’s a great thing to do prior to sitting down to a big Thanksgiving Day meal,” he added.

All events are noncompetitive and do not include awards. There will be a clock at the start and finish line for self-timing. Each event will start across from the zoo at the World Forestry Center and finish inside the zoo by the concert amphitheater.

Parking is limited, so participants are encouraged to ride MAX. TriMet’s Washington Park light rail station is just steps from the registration area and the start and finish lines. TriMet timetables are available at www.trimet.org.

No pets or rollerblades are allowed in any of the events. Strollers and child carrier backpacks are allowed only in the 4-mile fitness walk and must start at the back of the group.

Participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food and personal care items for needy families and individuals. The Arc of Multnomah-Clackamas will have collection barrels at the zoo’s entrance during the event. The Arc provides essential services to adults and children with developmental disabilities.


Kilimanjaro Marathon,
Half, 5k, Plus Tour
February 22 to March 6, 2007
www.kathyloperevents.com

Once you make your reservation, there is nothing more for you to do except get to the airport in your hometown with your walking shoes packed. Hop on your flight, and you are on your way to Tanzania, East Africa.

With a one-night stopover in Amsterdam, the final leg of your journey brings you to the Serengeti Serena Lodge in Tanzania. The lodge is set high on a hill with breathtaking views of wild landscape-teeming with game.

All meals are included in the package, including a few African-style cocktail hours that follow guided “Nature Walks.” For the intrepid walker, an optional Balloon Safari launches at sunrise. Enjoy champagne as you glide over the Serengeti.

This action-packed adventure includes a safari-style tour of the countryside before the event takes place. You will travel to the Olduvai Gorge, where in 1959 Mary Leakey made her groundbreaking discovery of a hominid (human-like) skull dating back 1.8 million years. This day trip includes a visit to a Masai village and ends with dinner and a night’s stay at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. The lodge overlooks the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the natural wonders of the world.

Spend the next day exploring the crater on a guided tour in safari vehicles, where you can expect to see lions, water buffalos, elephants, leopards, and rhinoceros, as well as zebra, gazelle, warthog, and a variety of birds.

After another night’s stay, the next part of your trip takes you to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, which looks out over the Great Rift Valley and stunning Manyara Soda Lake. Dinner is served after another afternoon safari.

After breakfast at the lodge, you will proceed to Arusha for lunch and a mid-afternoon drive to Moshi and the Keys Hotel — your base of operations for the upcoming event (did you forget you were in Tanzania to hoof the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro? Don’t worry, you’re probably not alone.) This is the day you pick up your bib and packet, and get acquainted with the route of your marathon, half marathon, or 5k. The hotel offers the traditional night-before carb-loading pasta feast.

On race day, a 10-minute walk brings you in full view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The course winds through town and into the foothills. You’ll pass banana and coffee plantations, forests, and small villages, where the villagers will cheer you on your way.

The finish line is at a stadium packed with people, live music, and tents full of food and drink. End the evening with your new-found friends at a celebratory barbecue dinner back at the hotel.

Does a trip to Tanzania sound tantalizing? It does to us – and the dozens of people who sign up for it each year. Book your reservations early, because the event sells out quickly.

Oh, and one other thing: Traveling to Tanzania to walk a marathon is not your ordinary destination event, so be kind to yourself if you fall off your diet or training regimen. Long travel time, multiple day-trips before the event, and the chance to sample traditional African cuisine will have an impact on your body. Achieving your personal best on the course should not be your top focus on this excursion. Visit www.kathyloperevents.com for more information.

Nordic Walking World
Championships in PDX
October 1, 2006
www.portlandmarathon.org

Event planners recently announced that the Nordic Walking World Championships will be held as part of the Portland Marathon on October 1, 2006.

The Nordic Walking World Championships will be open to all levels, regardless of skills and abilities. Nordic walkers will start together and be chip-timed like all other participants. It is anticipated the championships will draw participants from all over the United States as well as Europe.

“Nordic walking is extremely popular in Europe, and I’ve noticed a dramatic increase in the United States in recent years,” says race director Les Smith. “Nordic walking is experiencing the most growth as a fitness activity for numerous reasons, and the competitive aspect is a natural evolution of this increased awareness.”

Fittrek, a United States based Nordic walking pole manufacturer, has been brought in to facilitate this year’s world championships.

Visit www.portlandmarathon.org for more information.

New Las Vegas Marathon Adds Half
December 10, 2006
www.lvmarathon.com

Devine Sports listened to last year’s participants whose top request was to add a half marathon to the already successful full marathon. Both events start with a pre-dawn fireworks display in front of the official host hotel, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The course extends along the entire neon corridor of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.

This event is popular for first-time participants with little or no running or walking experience. There is even a first-timer pep rally at the finish line the day before the race.

While “Elvis” is already spoken for, event organizers are offering personalized bibs for those who register before September 15, 2006.

The excitement begins with the New Las Vegas Marathon Quality of Life Expo in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on December 8 and 9, only to be topped off with another “only in Vegas” experience as world-class restaurants offer participants a dining discount for the pre-race “call your own shot” Carbo Load dinner.

Registration is limited, so make your plans now: The marathon is capped at 15,000 and the Half at 10,000 entrants. For more information, visit to www.lvmarathon.com or call 702-731-1052.

Big Sur Half on the Bay Adds Teams
October 29, 2006
www.bsim.org

New this year is the “Team Competition,” where groups of three to five individuals compete individually and as part of the team. Having one female team member is a requirement. Awards are based on the combined times of the two fastest males and the fastest female. Divisions include Elite (by invitation only), Open, and Masters (ages 40 and up).

The half marathon is capped at 5,000 participants, and you must be able to complete the course in 3.5 hours. There is also a 10-mile walk that is capped at 500 entrants. These two events sell out quickly, so early registration is a must. Less competitive walkers and runners can sign up for the Run Forest Run 5k.

With a half marathon, 10-mile walk, and 5k, the race directors have ensured there is an activity for every member of the family. In addition, a Health & Fitness Expo offers health screening checks and demonstrations, information about sports medicine and fitness programs, plus the latest styles and trends in fitness clothing, gear, and shoes. Visit www.bsim.org for more information.