Sometimes event sponsor logos are given a quick glance on t-shirts or on websites. But to us, our sponsors are WAY more important than that and deserve HUGE recognition for the difference they make in our community.
Sponsors are often the unsung heroes of community events. Without the generous support of local businesses, many charity events and arts and school programs would be lost. These businesses help to make Sherwood the wonderful community that it is!
Today, we “sing” about our Title, Platinum and Gold Sponsors and hope that you have a look, patronize their businesses, and thank them for supporting this year’s Give n’ Gobble in Sherwood!
We can ever leave well-enough alone it seems. As soon as we think we’ve got the Give n’ Gobble as good as we can make it, we find another thing to improve it. This time we’ve been lured by the high-tech gadgetry of chip timing.
Chip timing is an extremely accurate computerized method of race timing. At this year’s event in Sherwood, runners will be given a lightweight, disposable chip to wear that uniquely identifies them as they cross strategically placed sensors.
By using chip timing, we eliminate many of the difficulties of traditional timing methods - like crowded start and finish lines, runners wearing the wrong numbers, matching times with numbers, and other human errors.
This is technology that major races like the Boston and New York City marathons use, so we’re excited to bring it to Sherwood!
The only downfall to chip testing for runners is that they can’t “fudge” their times anymore. Sorry! :^)
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.” - Edward Everett Hale
Money is tight these days for many of us, but there are important ways that we can all give back to the community that don’t require much financial or time commitment.
By donating used coats, serving meals at a shelter, giving a few cans of food, or just walking in a charity fun run like the Give n’ Gobble here in Sherwood, you can not only help those in need but also teach your children about compassion and empathy. Children look to us as mentors. So by seeing a simple act of charity performed by their parents or other family members, children are more likely to engage in the same behavior. Good deeds breed more good deeds!
Here are the simple ways you can join us in helping needy Oregon families this Thanksgiving:
1) Register for the 5k or 10k Thanksgiving Day Run in Sherwood, Oregon
So you’ve registered for the Give n’ Gobble! Yay! You’ve committed to doing something fun and healthy on Thanksgiving Day - and helping those less fortunate in our community. Good for you…good for all of us!
So after the race, maybe you want to continue your healthy ways and not gorge yourself on the heavy Thanksgiving foods. OK, so a little gorging will be OK, you did just run, walk or jog 5K or 10K.
But if you are looking for some healthy alternatives to the usual butter-laden Thanksgiving goodies, check out this menu idea…
The average American eats around 4,500 calories at the Thanksgiving table (that’s more than twice the daily amount most people should eat). The menu above packs in flavor, but doesn’t pack in the calories. If you make all the dishes above, and eat the suggested serving size, you’ll only being eating 1,410 calories - saving more than 3,000 calories.
Your waistline will thank you!
What do you to do to make your Thanksgiving dinner healthier?
It’s OK if you’ve never done a 5K Run/Walk before. It’s easier than you think. With just a little training you’ll be run-ready by Thanksgiving Day’s Give n’ Gobble!
The 5K is a relatively short race (5K is just 3.125 miles), and for a beginner, consider it more of a jog/walk combo than a run. When you think of it this way, there’s no pressure to “make” a certain time or “come in” a certain place. Just getting out and exercising with your friends and family, while raising money for the Sherwood Helping Hands food bank, makes you a winner!
Here are a few tips to help make your inaugural 5K more fun:
* Choose the right running gear - It’s important to have proper footwear. Head over to a specialty shoe store like Road Runner Sports (one of our generous sponsors) to get fitted for the right shoe for you. You should also consider our lovely Oregon weather when you think about what to wear. Choose clothing that allows you move well, wicks away moisture, and can keep you warm if the weather is chilly.
* Create a training schedule - First, check with your doctor before beginning any kind of training regimen, especially if you have any pre-existing health problems. Start out slow and be sure to stick with the schedule so that you are ready to roll by Thanksgiving Day.
* Go with a buddy - No one said you have to go it alone! It’s so much more fun and motivating to exercise with friends, so recruit your friends and family to join you. Since the Give n’ Gobble is about helping the community, the more people who get involved, the better! Even your kids can join in!
We’ve been planning this year’s fun run/food drive since the day after Thanksgiving last year. We just can’t stop thinking about ways to make the Give n’ Gobble better and better each year. You might call us a bit obsessed!
The thing is, we can’t do it without the generous help of volunteers. With more than 1,500 runners and walkers coming the Sherwood from all over the region on Thanksgiving Day, we have lots of important jobs for volunteers to do. This is also a great opportunity for the whole family to get involved! Kids of all ages are welcome to come and help with their parents and learn about the importance of helping others.
Here are some of the volunteer posts we need:
* Day-of Registration
* Course set-up and take-down
* Along the course cheering and direction
* Greeters handing out maps and visors
* T-shirt table
* Food collection station
* Refreshment station
* Community awareness - handing out flyers prior to the event
The Give n’ Gobble Thanksgiving Day Run/walk in Sherwood, Oregon, is a wonderful event that raises money for the Sherwood Helping Hands, a local food bank affiliated with the Oregon Food Bank. Over the last 4 years, this fundraiser has collected more than $50,000 and 25 tons of food for the charity. The event is completely volunteer-driven. That’s why we need YOU to help us make the 2011 race another huge success!
Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, buttery rolls with butter, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, chocolate pie, etc. Whoa! That’s alotta food. Did you know that the average American consumes 7,100 calories on Thanksgiving? Yikes.
But there’s a great way to offset that feast - and make a difference in the lives of those in our community…Sherwood’s annual Give n’ Gobble 5K run/walk and 10K run on Thanksgiving!
Starting at 9am on Thanksgiving morning at the Sherwood High School stadium, runners and walkers from all over the region (Sherwood, Newberg, Tigard, Tualatin, Portland, Wilsonville, you name it!) run to raise money for Helping Hands, a local food bank affiliated with the Oregon Food Bank - and burn a few calories before the day’s big dinner!
This single event funds Helping Hands’ annual expenses, enabling them to provide hundreds of needy families with not only canned food and other nonperishable items, but also dairy products, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
We are thrilled that this heart-warming (and heart-pumping) fundraiser has become a Thanksgiving holiday tradition drawing runners and walkers of all ages to do something fun and healthy with their family and neighbors - all while helping those less fortunate! We are looking forward to another amazing year.
An interesting Post from ZenHabits.net offers tips for the beginning runner, perhaps some of these tips will also inspire all of the long-term, dedicated runners too! Especially since the Give N’ Gobble Thanksgiving Day 5K Walk & 10K Run supports such a good cause- donations to the Helping Hands Food Bank. So keep up your training and read below for great tips!
“…just lace up your shoes and get out the door, after that it’s cake.” ZenHabits.net
Hold Yourself Back, Start Out Slowly
Start With a Small Amount of Time 10 - 20 minutes at First
Track Your Progress
Gradually Increase Your Times
Find an Online Forum for Community
Make It a Habit
Finally, Remember to Rest!
