AORTA News: December 29th, 2025
Upcoming Local Holiday Runs!
2025 Last Chance 3M/5M Run
*** Non-Members Welcome ***
Looking for one last end-of-the-year group run, or trying to log the last few miles to make it into the coveted 600 or 1200 mile club? This is your moment. We’ll have both 3-mile and 5-mile routes, and you’re welcome to modify them however you need to hit your personal goals. Expect encouragement, conversation, and plenty of good vibes.
Best of all - it’s FREE!
No registration fees, no pressure. If you’d like, bring a small dish, snack, or drinks to share, along with your New Year’s running or fitness resolutions.
So lace up, mark your calendars, and help us make this Last Chance Run a memorable way to close out 2025. Tag your friends, spread the word, and let’s finish the year strong - together!
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Location: TCBY (next to Kroger), Auburn, AL
Time: 7:00 AM
2025 Last Chance 3M 
2025 Last Chance 5M
2026 New Year’s Resolution Run!
*** Non-Members Welcome ***
Auburn Runners - kick off 2026 on the right foot! Join us for the New Year's Resolution Run on Thursday, January 01, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM from TCBY (next to Kroger). This fun, relaxed run is all about fresh starts, community, and positive energy.
Whether you're a seasoned runner or just getting started, everyone is welcome. Choose between the 5K or 10K route, challenge yourself, and bring friends or family to share in a great start to the New Year!
Date: Thursday, January 01, 2026
Location: TCBY (next to Kroger), Auburn, AL
Time: 7:00 AM
Cost: Free! (No t-ishirts or medals for this one!)
2026 Resolution Run 5K
2026 Resolution Run 10K
Interested? Email aortarunningclub@gmail.com to learn more!
New Recovery Center in Auburn Opens Jan 2026
Looking to boost recovery, reduce soreness, and stay strong through all your training miles? Degree Wellness in Auburn—opening soon in January 2026—offers runner-focused services like whole-body cryotherapy, cold plunges, and Normatec compression massage, all designed to ease inflammation, speed muscle recovery, and improve performance. Their wellness options help you rebound faster from long runs, stay consistent week after week, and feel better heading into race day. A great upcoming resource for any AORTA runner wanting smarter, more effective recovery.
https://www.degreewellness.com
Have Gently Worn Running Shoes?
Are your running shoes past their useful running life? Most are normally good for 300 to 500 miles but can still have a lot of “sole” left in them! If yours are ready for retirement, bring your gently used running shoes to Love2Run, our local running partner store, where they’ll collect them for a fantastic organization called “Sneakers4Good”, a social enterprise that ships them to developing nations for micro-entrepreneurs.
When you bring them, please check for the following:
1) Gently worn means they are clean in usable condition and have no holes.
2) Soles are intact and not too worn, cracked, or breaking apart.
3) Laces intact, in good condition, not frayed, and tied together.
Weekly Whimsy
The Mental Skills Every Runner Needs
October 10, 2025, RunningState
** Summary of article **
A marathon isn’t just a physical challenge — your mindset directly influences whether you make it through 26.2 miles. It’s about regulating effort, staying calm under pressure, and sticking to your plan even when discomfort rises.
What Marathon Mindset Is
- It’s your ability to balance effort with intention — resisting early adrenaline to pace smartly and finding the strength to keep going when fatigue hits.
- It involves metacognition — noticing thoughts and body sensations and steering them purposefully.
- Successful marathoners practice self-supportive mental habits, not harsh self-criticism.
Key Mental Traits for Marathon Success
1. Pacing patience: Hold back early to finish strong.
2. Situational awareness: Shift focus between internal cues (breath, cadence) and external conditions.
3. Constructive self-talk: Use short, positive phrases practiced in training so they come naturally on race day.
4. Resilience: Treat setbacks as learning, not failure.
5. Process focus: Concentrate on what you can control, not what you can’t.
How to Build Marathon Mindset
The article offers six practical steps:
- Write race-day rules (pace, fueling, contingency plans).
- Script specific self-talk cues and practice them in training.
- Practice focus shifts between internal and external attention.
- Use imagery rehearsal to visualize tough parts of the run.
- Train patience with progression runs.
- Use self-compassion to recover mentally from hard days.
Beyond Running
- These mental skills aren’t just for race day — they help in everyday life too, like breaking down big tasks at work, staying calm under stress, and being resilient through setbacks.
Link to full article: https://tinyurl.com/33seydnx
Quote of the Week
Some runs make you
feel invincible.
Some runs make you
feel defeated.
Every run makes
you stronger.
Anonymous
Video of the Week
How’s Your 2025 Running Knowledge?
This week on the pod it's our big running quiz of the year! Sarah, Andy and Rick go head to head - but who comes out on top? Play along at home!
** AORTA provides this informational video to its members as a courtesy and does not endorse any particular product, process, or service.
Ongoing Events
RunGo For Turn-By-Turn Directions!
RunGo provides turn-by-turn navigation allowing you to just enjoy your runs without having to think about looking for street names and when you may have to turn next. Other great features include, audio cues with your running stats, split updates, the ability to share your runs via social media, and create new routes. Another great feature of the app is the ability to work offline. You can create and download your routes ahead of time, before your run so you don’t have to use data during your run.
Race Volunteers Needed!
As a runner, we know your time is valuable. But if you have a couple hours to spare, we could use your help for one of the upcoming AORTA supported or directed races! Assisting at a local race is a fun and rewarding experience. You are surrounded by health conscious individuals that, like you, are motivated fitness enthusiasts and appreciate the effort of volunteers.
Water Stop Volunteers Needed
Water stop signs and coolers are available at the following location: 1536 Professional Parkway, Auburn, AL. (Thank you Adahli Massey!). Coolers and signs can be picked up Monday-Thursday from 8AM-4PM and on Fridays from 8AM-12 noon. Items are in the room next to the back door. If you are unable to pick up supplies on these dates/times, e-mail clemster@aol.com to make alternative arrangements (we deliver!).
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