Reason To Run

11/23/2025

This time of year is a great time to find deals! If you’re a and interested in donating new running shoes to previously incarcerated women continuing their running journey, click the link in our bio!

Run group at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility has had more participants than ever in 2024 and 2025 which means more run packages to send out when our adults in custody release from prison!

Most of our funds go towards new to help continue the healthy journey started while incarcerated.

07/30/2025

How lucky are we that we get to experience the commitment, resilience, joy, and so much more of the adults in custody who make the choice to go on the journey of walking/running a 5k.

Yesterday 21 participants of run group at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility completed the summer 5k - even in 90° heat. People pushed themselves to meet their goals, to run across the finish line, and to close the first chapter of what we know will be a continued journey of improving physical and mental health.

If you’ve ever asked the question “why do people run??!!” please let me share the impact our participants voiced:
“Running has made me challenge myself”
“Makes me want to try harder”
“Confidence to run”
“From where I came to where I am, running has changed my life”
“Provided a way for me to feel proud of myself while incarcerated”
“I was barely going outside and being depressed to coming to the Tuesday run group”
“Bonding with my daughter”

Oregon Department of Corrections

07/24/2025

Our new website is LIVE!!! www.reasontorun.com

One of our 2025 priorities has been to update our website to highlight our program, ease the process for our past participants to contact us, and build a foundation to grow as an organization.

Thank you to our outstanding web designer of Alyssa Storm Design for listening to our goals and building a website that represents our organization and supports our past participants on their running journey. If you’re a non-profit or small business looking to build or refresh your website, we highly recommend Alyssa. https://storm.design

The website re-design was made possible by a generous grant from the Yarg Foundation. We are extremely grateful to everyone at the Yarg Foundation - the impact of this funding will continue for years to come by having a more functional and accessible website.

Oregon Department of Corrections

02/07/2025

Today’s Rotary guest speakers were Amanda Guile-Hinman (left) and Jenny Tomka, co-executive directors of the Reason to Run program, which promotes wellness for adults in custody at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility by training them to run a 5K race held inside the prison. This amazing program also supports these AICs with post-release care packages upon release. We host, and learn from, great presenters like Amanda and Jenny every week! Check out future presenters and club happenings at https://www.wilsonvillerotary.com/calendar/ or our Facebook events page at https://www.facebook.com/WilsonvilleRotary/events, to learn more.

02/07/2025

Thank you to Rotary Club of Wilsonville for having us join your meeting today to share the work we do to improve the mental and physical well-being of adults in custody at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. We are thankful to our community partners who support our efforts!

Oregon Department of Corrections

Today’s Rotary guest speakers were Amanda Guile-Hinman (left) and Jenny Tomka, co-executive directors of the Reason to Run program, which promotes wellness for adults in custody at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility by training them to run a 5K race held inside the prison. This amazing program also supports these AICs with post-release care packages upon release. We host, and learn from, great presenters like Amanda and Jenny every week! Check out future presenters and club happenings at https://www.wilsonvillerotary.com/calendar/ or our Facebook events page at https://www.facebook.com/WilsonvilleRotary/events, to learn more.

11/08/2024

Runners, walkers, friends, community - we need your help! First Tech Fed is offering an amazing opportunity to a to help fund efforts in support of our community!
Through our run group at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, we strive to help develop healthy habits, coping skills, belief in oneself, community, and so much more! As participants transition back into society, they take these skills into the world and we continue our support of their running/walking journey by providing a brand new pair of running shoes, sports bra, and socks.
Please help us continue this impactful work by nominating us for First Tech’s

Submit your nomination here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SOG24
🏃🏼‍♀️

Oregon Department of Corrections

10/27/2024

We’re 1 week from for our fall run group at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility! Our participants have been training for 6 weeks to prepare for the and we can’t wait to see everyone cross the finish line!

In the meantime, we prep! To complete 3.1 miles, participants will complete 12 (plus a little extra) laps on the yard. As we all know, tracking laps when you’re focused, tired, excited, etc. can be challenging so each person receives a lap counter with 13 strips of paper. To help with the mental aspect of running and to set incremental goals within the race, each counter has 4 color sections - 4 x 3 colors to represent each mile completed, and 1 white strip to show you’re on your last lap!

Shout out to all race organizers who do this on the regular! So much important work goes on behind the scenes to ensure an outstanding experience for all!

Look for a post-race update next week!


Portland Running Company Runwithpaula Events Eclectic Edge Racing Portland Marathon Oregon Road Runners Club - ORRC Foot Traffic Oregon Department of Corrections