Big Timber Running Club
by Run Hub NW
Big Timber Running Club is Eugene’s largest running club, providing a fun and supportive team structure for community members of all levels to train and race together. The success of Big Timber is based on the collective success of our runners, across all paces. Whether your goal is to finish your first 5K or to attempt an Olympic Trials qualifying time, there is a place for you in Big Timber.
Big Timber Perks
- Training plan developed by head coach and Olympian, Ben Blankenship, for each season
- Team/coach supported workouts and runs
- Training in a team environment with people that have common goals
- Big Timber gear: singlet, hat, decal
- 15% discount at Run Hub (regularly-priced merchandise, some exclusions apply)
- Members-only special events (quarterly)
- Members-only access to team gear and merchandise
- Private Facebook page for club communication and banter
- Discounts and preferential pricing on some of the area’s best races
- Club scholarship application / fees on a sliding scale
- Sanctioned club member of the Road Runners Club of America and USA Track & Field.
- At least 10% of the club registration fee goes to Run Hub Gear Grants, which support local middle and high school runners (distribution happens in March and September of each year)
What are we training for?
In addition to year-round Tuesday night workouts, Big Timber has a fall, spring, and summer schedule of races. You’ll join with other Eugene runners to train for those races and toe the start line together.
While each season will have a different primary distance and terrain focus, Tuesday trainings will always offer you a chance to mix things up a bit.
Fall season
- Duration: ~12 weeks, September to mid-December
- Focus: 10K – Half marathon distances
- Terrain: Road and trail racing
- Peak Races: Run to Stay Warm 10K/Half Marathon and Frozen Trails 15K/25K
Spring season
- Duration: ~16 weeks, January to April
- Focus: Half to full marathon
- Terrain: Road racing
- Key Races: Eugene Half Marathon/Marathon
Summer season
- Duration: ~12 weeks Mid-May to mid-August
- Focus: Various distances
- Terrain: Trail racing
- Peak Races: Emerald Valley Trail Series, Butte to Butte, Oakridge Triple Summit Challenge, Mt Hood Trail Games, Haulin’ Aspen
Meet the Coaches
Ben Blankenship
Head Coach
Ben Blankenship is a U.S. distance runner, as well as the founder and Executive Director of the Endless Mileage Project. He is an Olympian, a 3-time U.S. Champion, and a world record holder. He finished 8th in the 1500m at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, 5th in the 1500m at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, and was a semi-finalist in the 1500m at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. He has since transitioned to longer distances on the trails and roads.
Outside of running, Ben enjoys lifting, biking, exploring the outdoors, working on cars, and spending time with his partner and their two dogs.
Ben has coached both teams and individuals, and he is focused on helping all athletes maintain a holistic, well-rounded, and healthy approach to running. He is excited to learn and grow with the members of the Big Timber Running Club, and to guide the work to help everyone collectively achieve goals.
Lauren Calcagno
Assistant Coach
Lauren Calcagno has been running competitively since she was 12 years old. She ran varsity throughout high school, and also self-directed a 5K community race to benefit the local foundation that protects the nature area/bike trail she grew up running on. She then ran cross country and track at UC Berkeley where she majored in Nutritional Sciences.
After graduating from UC Berkeley, Lauren decided to move to Eugene solely to work in the running community. She is currently involved with multiple running institutions around town, including serving as Big Timber’s assistant coach. Through all her endeavors, Lauren has learned the joy running can bring to one’s life and immensely values the many relationships running has given her. Her goal as a coach is to cultivate this joy into the lives of others, while also empowering athletes to achieve their running goals in a healthy, sustainable, and positive way.
Dustin Pearce
Club Founder
Run Hub Northwest co-owner Dustin Pearce has been coaching for more than 20 years. Most of those years were spent coaching high school cross country and track athletes while working as a high school science teacher. Dustin has been a coach for spring training and Beginner 5K teams through Run Hub.
As an athlete, Dustin ran competitively in high school and then for Missouri State University where he earned All Conference honors. Dustin is on the comeback trail after a couple of surgeries in 2018, but hoping to get healthy again and make an attempt to break 1:20 as a masters runner for a half marathon in the next year or two. As a coach, there is nothing Dustin loves more than to see his athletes grow and accomplish goals that they might not have thought possible.
Dustin currently serves as the club administrator working with the Big Timber Board of Directors, coordinating team logistics and subbing in as coach when needed.
Big Timber Membership Options
Big Timber Membership
$120/year
A Big Timber membership allows you all the benefits of club membership and includes a team approach to coaching. The team workouts and training plan will be geared toward the current season’s distance, focus and terrain.