Our Second Annual Motherlode of Miles: October 5-6, 2019

BEFORE YOU RUN, BE SURE TO PIN ON YOUR MOTHERLODE BIB.]

One mile run by one #motherrunner? As we can all attest, there’s inherent power and strength in that individual feat of running 5,280 feet.

What happens when you run more than one mile—and then we virtually collect all the miles?

We’ve been doing that our regular Sunday Pile of Miles on our Facebook page for years now, and the range of #motherrunners + miles that get piled on is always both awe-inspiring and motivating.  “I’m relatively new to this. Ran my first 5K yesterday. 39:17. I’m pretty proud. 9 months ago, I could barely walk a mile,” writes Zara in this week’s post. (We’re proud of you too, Zara: Big congrats!)

Reality is always better—and, um, more real—than social media, though, so last year, we turned the fabulous virtual thing into our first Motherlode of Miles Weekend, a real-life, meet-your-tribe, get-in-some-miles-and-laughs event. Hundreds of you participated.

“Friends were made, coffee was had, mom talk was wonderful!” reported #motherrunner Kelsey, who hosted a run in the mitten state. “There may be more mom runs in Marquette Michigan …we are talking about doing it monthly,”

It was a such a fun weekend, we’ve been talking about the next Motherlode around these parts for months, and can’t wait to share the (new + improved!) details with you!

Our Second Annual Motherlode of Miles (#MOMweekend): October 5-6, 2019

ALL THE IMPORTANT DETAILS IN Q + A FORM:

I want to host a group run. How does that work?
Sweet! Here’s what you need to do: You pick the time, meeting place, and route, and share those details with us. (The signup sheet is also at the bottom of this post.) We need all group #MOMWeekend runs to be submitted and solidified by Wednesday, October 2. 

I want to attend a group run. How does that work?
Check this page regularly, as we’ll update it with information with runs around the country. All you have to do is show up; no sign-up form required!

All group runs will be listed by October 2. Last year, we had 47 group runs—and this year, we’d love to have even more!

Is there any cost to participate? 
Nope! But this year, since we’re hosting it in October, breast cancer awareness month, we are fundraising for the Donna Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on the helping financially with critical needs of families living with breast cancer. Donations of any size are welcome.

What’s your connection with the Donna Foundation?
Dimity+ Sarah love, love, love the vibe of women’s races, and have known for years about the Donna Marathon. (Our respective locations—Colorado and Oregon—however, made it tough to actually take part in person.) In addition, we have admired its founder, Donna Deegan, a three-time breast cancer survivor and all-out badass.

This year, when we decided to add a charity component to the Motherlode, we knew we wanted to help somehow with breast cancer. We—and you, we’re sure—have known too many women and families affected by breast cancer. (Not surprising, since one in eight women will have invasive breast cancer in her life.) Talk of biopsies and bilateral mastectomies, Herceptin and reconstruction pops up way too often on our social media channels, on our runs with friends, in our everyday conversations.

I am planning to run solo/run with a friend/enter a race that weekend. How can I participate?
You have three easy options:

1. Pin our special Motherlode bib to your gear on October 5 or 6 and run your miles.
2. Post your mileage—and ideally a picture—on the Facebook page when we call for the Motherlode Pile of Miles on both Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7. (Related: We’d love to see selfies, smiles, and miles on social media all weekend long. Hashtag it with #anothermotherrunner and #momweekend2019)
3. Help us reach our Motherlode Move Forward Goal by donating to the Donna Foundation.

With logistics out of the way, we want to emphasize this: #MOMWeekend is for ALL runners and walkers, and was designed with community in mind.

You don’t have to be training for something; you don’t have to be fast or fit; or even classify yourself as a runner. You just need to want to have some forward motion, laughs, and connection with like-minded women on a weekend morrning.

Show up and you may find a new Best Running Friend–or some motivation that went MIA.

MOTHERLODE OF MILES GROUP RUNS:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

[BEFORE YOU RUN, BE SURE TO PIN ON YOUR MOTHERLODE BIB.]

CALIFORNIA

LONG BEACH

Meet: Portfolio Coffee House 2300 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814 (Corner of 4th street and Junipero across from the Golden Burger)

Time: 9:00 am

Route: 2-3 mile easy run or run/walk

Post-run: We will enjoy a nice cup of coffee at Portfolio Coffee House.

#Motherrunner Host: Jenny Davies

PASADENA

Meet: 1000 Park Ave South Pasadena, Ca 91030 (The Pasadena Pacers meet here; you’ll see signs as well as lots of people in red Pacer shirts!)

Time: 6:45 am

Route: 8 miles

Post-run: As part of the Pacers marathon training, we’ll have post-run refreshments as well as a pancake contest that day!

#Motherrunner Host: Lynne Garcia

SAN DIEGO

Meet: Bonita Cove, 1100 West Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109 (Parking lot is on Mission Bay Drive, across from the Bahia Hotel, turn west into Bonita Cove, park on the lot on the right/north side, meetup at the tables near the bathroom.)

Time: 8 am

Route: 5 miles (or less: easy to make it any mileage you’d like!) from Bonita Cove bathroom to Mission Beach Lifeguard Tower 18 and back (route)

#Motherrunner Host: Danielle Yee

COLORADO

GRAND JUNCTION

Meet: Junior Service League Park Redlands Pkwy, Grand Junction, CO 81507 (Meet at the white pavilion right past the Redlands riverboat access. There is a parking lot right there. I’ll be there with a Pink BAMR hat!)

Time: 7:30 am

Route: 2-mile loop or access to entire river trail for longer runs.

Post-run: We’ll head to the Starbucks right over the bridge after the run.

#Motherrunner Host: Abigail Mangum

CONNECTICUT

WEST HARTFORD

Meet: Elizabeth Park. Meet at the Pond House restaurant. Plenty of free parking available.

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 3-mile or 5-mile loop through pretty neighborhoods.

Post-run: Snacks and pictures in the gazebo!

#Motherrunner Host: Mary Eberhardt

GEORGIA

ROSWELL

Meet: 575 Riverside Road Roswell GA 30075 (Meet at the parking lot near the Riverside Park Sprayground)

Time: 7:30 am

Route: We’ll head out for 4 miles going from the park on the River trail toward Old Alabama, on toward Old Riverside Road. You can run up to a 10k.

Post run: We’ll do coffee and post-run snacks at the picnic tables near the Sprayground pavilion behind the restrooms.

#Motherrunner Host: Emily Smith

MICHIGAN

MARQUETTE

Meet: Marquette Commons,112 S 3rd St., Marquette, MI 49855. We will meet up/park by the bottom of the back stairs that head up to Washington street/Babycakes.

Time: 8:00 am

Route: Out and back to Lake Superior along the city bike path. Host is running 3; bike path loop is 7 if you’d like to run longer.

Post run coffee/pastries: At Babycakes Muffin Company (223 W Washington St).

#Motherrunner Host: Kelsey Holmberg

MINNESOTA

ST. PAUL

Meet: Coffee Bene: 53 Cleveland Avenue S., St Paul 55105 (there’s a meeting room to leave a layer if you’d like)

Time: 7:30 am

Route: 2-mile easy shake-out. (You can run longer if you’re not racing on Sunday!)

Post-run meetup: At Coffee Bene, where we’ll grab a latte and talk running + racing.

Also, check out all the other AMR events for Twin Cities Marathon weekend!

#Motherrunner Hosts: Dimity + Sarah

NEW YORK

PITTSFORD/ROCHESTER

Meet: Towpath Bike Shop, 3 Schoen Place Pittsford, NY 14534

Time: 7:30 am

Route: 4-mile run with option of 5+miles.

Post-run meetup: Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters (3349 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY)

#Motherrunner Host: Monica Bays

SOUTH CAROLINA

GREENVILLE

Meet: Spill the Beans, 531 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601 (Parking available along the streets)

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 3-4 miles towards and along Swamp Rabbit Trail; For those needing a longer run SRT goes 10+ miles up towards Travelers Rest

Post-run meetup: Post-run coffee and hang out at Spill the Beans; Lululemon across the street for retail therapy.

#Motherrunner Host: Rebecca Atkinson + Ashley Wynne

SOUTH DAKOTA

SIOUX FALLS

Meet: Queen City Bakery 324 E 8th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57103; parking is in the back of the building.

Time: 2:00 pm

Route: 4-mile loop on the bike trail with an option for 8+ miles

Post-run meetup: Coffee and treats at Queen City.

#Motherrunner Host: Amy Rans

TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO

Meet: By the B cycle rack in front of the Hotel Emma at The Pearl (136 E. Grayson St. San Antonio, TX 78215) There is parking in front of the hotel and a free parking garage to the side.

Time: 8:00 am

Route: We will run along the Riverwalk downtown to The Alamo and back (4 miles) Optional miles can be added on return with a run from The Pearl to the San Antonio Zoo (4 miles)

Post-run meetup: At the Farmer’s Market at The Pearl

#Motherrunner Host: Pat Brockman

WASHINGTON

VANCOUVER

Meet: Vancouver Landing Amphitheatre, 110 Columbia St, Vancouver, WA 98660 (Parking available at the Port of Vancouver (across the street from Warehouse 23)). Wear any BAMR or MRTT gear if you have it!

Time: 8:00 am

Route: Out and back 3-4 miles or option for longer loops (8-12 mile options)

#Motherrunner Host: KC Johnson

WYOMING

LANDER

Meet: Covenant Presbyterian Church, 875 Fremont St, Lander, WY 82520

Time: 8:30 am

Route: Approximately 4 miles. You can choose to do another loop if you would like.

#Motherrunner Host: Anne Even

MOTHERLODE OF MILES GROUP RUNS:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

[BEFORE YOU RUN, BE SURE TO PIN ON YOUR MOTHERLODE BIB.]

CALIFORNIA

CONCORD

Meet: Peet’s Coffee at Todos Santos Plaza, 2072 Salvio St, Concord, CA 94520. Two parking garages nearby on Salvio St, as well as parking on the square. 

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 4 miles out and back from Peet’s to the Iron Horse Trail (all paved). Early option for 12-mile paved loop run (6 am meetup): about 9 min pace to make it back in time for 8 am meet up. (Marathon training!)

Post-run meetup: Peet’s Coffee. We can enjoy our drinks at the shop or in the park in the plaza, for a great post-run photo op! 

#Motherrunner Host: Sara Martinez

CANADA

KINGSTON, ONTARIO

Meet: CIBC Run for the Cure at St. Lawrence College, Kingston, ON Canada (100 Portsmouth Ave, Kingston, ON K7L 5A6, Canada)

Meet at Team Tent (K.Lo’s Krew) at Start/Finish Line. Parking on-site.

Time: 10 am

Route: 5K and 1K routes: walk or run. Register online or on-site for the CIBC Run for the Cure (Kingston site) with my team, K.Lo’s Krew.

Also enjoy: Pre-race team photo + festivities, post-run awards + celebration!

#Motherrunner Host: Jodi Snowdon

DELAWARE

WILMINGTON

Meet: Starbucks on the Wilmington Riverfront, 329 Justison St, Wilmington DE 19801. This is on the Wilmington Riverfront, right off of I-95. There is street parking. Also there are two lots at Justison and Beech (two blocks further down on Justison – all free).

Time: 10:00 am

Route: We will run a 3-mile loop on the Wilmington Riverfront and Jack Markell Trail, to the DuPont Environmental Education Center. Anyone who wants to go further can continue along the trail for another 3+ miles and return, so there are options for up to 13 miles total. There is a water fountain at the DuPont Environmental Education Center and a bathroom at Starbucks.

Post-run meetup: Coffee/tea/snack after if people are interested!

#Motherrunner Host: Pamela Harris

GEORGIA

DECATUR

Meet: Kavarna, a coffee shop in Oakhurst Village: 707 East Lake Dr, Decatur, GA 30030

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 4-mile loop with an option for more.

Post-run meetup: At Kavarna for coffee and pastries!

#Motherrunner Host: Karen Antell

IDAHO

POCATELLO

Meet: Portneuf Wellness Complex, 2375 Olympus Dr, Pocatello ID 83201

Time: 8:00 am

Route: ~2 mile loop, Join for one loop or more! Run, jog or walk, stroller friendly. (Bring a cup of coffee if you want!)

#Motherrunner Host: Jenny Clough

MAINE

ELLSWORTH

Meet: Knowlton Park, 11 Shore Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (Meet up near Parking lot A, near Giant Urn.)

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 3-4 mile out-and-back along Shore Road. Option for ~6-mile loop.

Post-run Meetup: At Flexit Cafe & Bakery.

#Motherrunner Host: Kathy Snow

MICHIGAN

HARRISON TOWNSHIP

Meet: L’anse Creuse High School, 38495 L’Anse Creuse Rd Harrison Township Michigan 48045 (Meet in main parking lot)

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 3.3-mile loop. Once we got the bike trail there are options to run longer. (First part of the run is on a non-paved road. Then it’s on a paved bike trail.)

#Motherrunner Host: Jill Maxey

NEBRASKA

OMAHA

Meet: Visitor Center,8901 S 154th St Omaha Nebraska 68138

Time: 7:00 am

Route: 7.1 miles or a shorter loop

#Motherrunner Host: Penny North

NEW HAMPSHIRE

EXETER

Meet: Exeter Band Stand, 10 Front St, Exeter, NH 03833

Time: 8:00 am

Route: 3-mile with option for more

Post-run: Coffee and conversation at D Squared Java, 155 Water Street.

#Motherrunner Host: Carrie Anne Becker

OREGON

PORTLAND

Meet: Starbucks 2730 SW Moody Ave., Portland, OR 97201; Schnitzer Parking Lot is located north on Moody, just past the Robertson Life Sciences Building (Starbucks is part of this building but faces the Tilikum Crossing Bridge). Parking in this lot is free on weekends.

Time: 7:30 am

Route: 3-mile riverfront loop with options up to 6-7 miles.

Post-run meetup: Starbuck’s on Tilikum, where we started.

#Motherrunner Host: Steffanie Seiler

PENNSYLVANIA

CARLISLE

Meet: Orange and South St. Carlisle PA 17013; next to the Dickinson trails. You can park along Orange St.

Time: 1;00 pm

Route: 3-4 miles

Post-run meetup: At Molly Pitcher Brewing Company 130 W High St. Carlisle PA

#Motherrunner Host: Sharon Parrish

WASHINGTON

SEATTLE

Meet: Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Co (University Location), 2901 NE Blakeley St, Seattle WA 98105. There is street parking near this coffee shop. Meet just outside the coffee shop, which is very close to the Burke-Gilman trail.

Time: 8:30 am

Route: 4 miles out and back on Burke-Gilman trail to the “wall of death” (where trail goes under Eastlake) and back.

Post-run meetup: Coffee/snacks/hangout afterward at Zoka!

#Motherrunner Host: Marian Blazes

WISCONSIN

MADISON

Meet: Olin Park, 1106 Olin-Turville Court, Madison WI 53715. Please park in the lot by the Turville Point Conservation Park at Olin Park.

Time: 7:30 am

Route: We will run 3 miles total, out and back along John Nolen Drive on the Capital City Trail.

Post-run meetup: We’ll head to Lakeside Coffee Shop (402 W Lakeside Street).

#Motherrunner Host: Shawnee Parens

MILWAUKEE

Meet: Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon 5K, 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee; Meet up in front of Summerfest main gate (where event parking is).

Time: 8:00 (race starts at 8:30)

Route: A 5k race

Post-run meetup: We can take post-race pics and hang if people are interested.

#Motherrunner Host: Kim Zabkowicz

 

 

Other questions?
Ask in the comments below, or email us and we’ll help you out!