Doug Schunk

If you would have told me eight years ago that I would want to wake up before I needed to just to workout, I would have laughed hysterically at you on my way to a box of donuts. Now, there are many reasons why I prefer to run in the morning.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of being a part of the Hyland’s Hood to Coast relay team. Hood to Coast is considered to be the original relay race. Started in 1982, it is a 199-mile race in Oregon that starts at the base of Mount Hood and finishes at the beach in Seaside. Before…

Running by yourself gives you immeasurable freedom. You can choose the pace, course, and distance you want at any instant. For me the best thing about running alone is that you can let the mind wonder. To combat this idea of running alone, many marathons and ultramarathons offer a relay option.

What makes someone a runner? Is it the first time you run a mile without stopping? Or is it after you make your first trip to Rapid Transit to get your first pair of running shoes? Or once you’ve completed your first 5k? Or your first half marathon? Or your first marathon?