6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL February 24, 2016
c.g.
Daytripper
On the Run
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
A
bout halfway through a
long run, my body be-
gins to search itself for a deeper
store of energy, and I can only
hope that I’ve got enough en-
ergy left to give. At about this
time, thought processes also go
deeper, and a kind of meditative
trance can accompany the steady
pace of footsteps on pavement.
At the turnaround point of an
out-and-back run on Cottage
Grove’s famed Row River Trail,
though, one thought begins to
stand out above all others — get
The author and his
running partner, Jack.
home!
Such are the revelations that
have crept back into my con-
sciousness since I began a new
training program early this year.
On Saturday morning, March 5,
I’ll be one of a growing num-
ber of runners/walkers who will
board a bus in Cottage Grove
and be dropped off at Dorena
School, and I expect that famil-
iar refrain — get home — to
guide me as I tick off the 13.1
miles on the trail back toward
Bohemia Park.
The fi rst annual Cottage
Grove Half Marathon has al-
ready drawn upwards of 150
participants, according to or-
ganizer Mike Ripley, who also
organizes the Oregon Gran
Fondo in Cottage Grove. If
they’re anything like me, those
who have already signed up and
paid their entry fee for the race
will realize that the commitment
we’ve made has already paid
dividends long before the sound
of the starting gun.
These days, I’m sleeping
better and waking up more re-
freshed. I’m eating better (al-
beit more, of course) and am
typically in a better mood. Long
runs offer time to think, and by
the end of each one, I’m ready
to attack whatever else life can
throw at me. My chocolate Lab,
Jack, has run every mile with
me, and he’s looking as svelte as
ever. (How I’m going to break it
to him that he can’t run the ac-
tual race with me is a subject I
don’t like to ponder).
It’s been 12 years since a
friend back home in Illinois in-
troduced me to the joys of run-
ning. I’d run as part of other
sports and for in high school, of
course, but until we started to
really rack up the miles, I was
unaware just how satisfying that
long, slow glide can be. Moving
to Eugene in 2004 and experi-
encing highlights like Hayward
Field and Pre’s Trail sunk the
hook in deeper. In June of 2005,
the Newport Marathon became
my fi rst 26.2-mile conquest, and
I got to know many of the streets
of Cottage Grove and its sur-
rounding hillsides (not to men-
tion some of the coolest people
in town) while training for the
fi rst Eugene Marathon in 2007.
These days, it’s still a pleasure
to show off the massive hill at
Howard Loop to other runners
when the opportunity arises, or
get in three hills during one run
by combining the CGHS Spirit
Trail, the Mt. David loop and
the path around Fir Grove Cem-
etery. (The latter is extremely
peaceful and offers no small
amount of perspective). But the
Row River Trail continues to
beckon with the upcoming race,
and attacking its long straight-
aways is the overriding goal,
even while taking in its at-times
blissful scenery.
The CG Half Marathon should
be quite fast, and Ripley is con-
fi dent that it will provide excel-
lent exposure for running in the
area. At this point, I’m hoping
for good weather and no injuries
and looking forward to stepping
off that bus in Dorena.
More information on the
Cottage Grove Half Marathon
can be found at:
cottagegrovehalf.com.
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Cottage Theatre
announces
auditions for
‘Scapino!’
Cottage Theatre will hold au-
ditions for Scapino! on Sunday,
March 13 and Monday, March
14 at 6:30 p.m. This play by
Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale is a
zany modern day farce inspired
by Moliere’s 1671 comedy “Les
Fourberies de Scapin.” It is the
third production in Cottage The-
atre’s 2016 season and is direct-
ed by George Comstock. The
play will run for three weekends,
June 12-26. Roles are available
for 10 men and four women.
These auditions are open to
any interested actors, and no ap-
pointment is necessary. Actors
are asked to bring one bad joke
to share; no other preparation
is necessary. Additional details
are available at www.cottageth-
eatre.org or by calling Cottage
Theatre at 541-942-8001.
cialty plants. Doyle will intro-
duce this year’s lineup of Log
House’s new innovations and
specialties of ornamental and
vegetable plants
As always, this presentation
is free and open to the public.
The Garden Club meets on the
fi rst Tuesday of each month at
The First Presbyterian Church
on the corners of Adams and
Third Streets. The presentations
begin at 7 p.m.
Windy Ridge in
Drain
The North Douglas Per-
forming Arts Council Presents
“Windy Ridge” on Friday,
Feb. 26 at the Drain Civic
Center, located at 205 West A
Street, from 7-9 p.m. Admission
is $5 per person, and refresh-
ments will be available.
Windy Ridge blends together
rock and blues, a little country
and original material for fl avor.
Left Coast
Country
Doyle at Garden
Club
Cottage Grove Garden Club
opens the growing season once
again on Tuesday, March 1 with
a presentation by Alice Doyle,
co-founder and co-owner of
Log House Plants, a Cottage
Grove company renowned for
the “Mighty Mato” Tomato”
and “Ketchup ‘n’ Fries” spe-
Left Coast Country is a mod-
ern string band formed in 2010
from the exploding newgrass
scene in Portland. They are hit-
ting the road in support of their
forthcoming full-length, Pines
Fly By, which will be released
digitally and physically nation-
ally in retail stores on Feb. 27.
They’ll visit Cottage Grove’s
Axe & Fiddle Pub on Thursday,
Feb. 25.
Humans and
Wisdom
discussion
As part of this week’s Smith-
sonian Institution Exploring
Human Origins activities, the
local Wisdom Seekers Club in-
vites the public to the Cottage
Grove Public Library on Thurs-
day, Feb. 25, from 6-8 p.m. for
an exhibit tour and wide-rang-
ing discussion of “What Does
It Mean To Be Human?” Topics
to explore will include scientifi c
and philosophical perspectives
on human awareness, memory,
curiosity, imagination, inven-
tion and technology, empathy
and social interactions, spiritu-
ality, creativity in art, music and
other fi elds and what our place
is in our universe (even NASA
has an “Origins” program).
Moveable Feet
Moveable Feet dance for ages
eight to adult takes place at Cre-
swell Community Center, 99
South First St. in Creswell on
Friday, March 4 from 7-9 p.m.
The event is free. All dances
will be taught and prompted.
More information is available
at: Infohttp://moveablefeet.wee-
bly.com or 541-895-2254.
Health Services Directory
Counseling & Mental Health
South Lane Mental Health
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
Serving Cottage Grove Since 1988
Preventive and
Cosmetic
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942-8437
1551 E. Main St.
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(behind International Fitness)
605 Jeferson Ave.
Cottage Grove
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Emergency appts. available daily
New patients welcome
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541.942.2471
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